Famous People Who Died In 1963

Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1963. This list includes people like John F. Kennedy, Sylvia Plath, Lee Harvey Oswald, C. S. Lewis, Patsy Cline and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, poets, artists and soldiers who died in 1963. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & Germany and many more countries.
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 1 
John F. Kennedy
(35th President of the United States (1961 - 1963))
John F. Kennedy
185
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 29, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Died: November 22

The 35th President of the United States, John F Kennedy was a charismatic leader who, during his tenure, ably dealt with Cuban missile crisis, proposed public service programmes and lent support to the growing civil rights movement. Before becoming one of the youngest Presidents of the country, he served in the navy, U.S. House of Representatives and the US Senate.

 2 
W. E. B. Du Bois
(Civil Rights Activists)
W. E. B. Du Bois
39
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: February 23, 1868
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Great Barrington, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 27

W. E. B. Du Bois was an American civil rights activist, sociologist, and Pan-Africanist. Du Bois played an instrumental role in fighting for full civil rights for people of color around the world. A co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Du Bois also played an important role as the leader of the Niagara Movement.

 3 
Robert Frost
(American Poet Who was Known for His Realistic Depictions of Rural Life)
Robert Frost
47
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 26, 1874
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: January 29

Robert Frost was an American poet. An influential poet, Frost was honored with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, the only poet to receive four such awards. One of America's public literary figures, Robert Frost received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960. His works influenced other poets like Robert Francis, James Wright, Edward Thomas, Richard Wilbur, and Seamus Heaney.

 4 
C. S. Lewis
(Known for His Classic Series 'The Chronicles of Narnia')
C. S. Lewis
24
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 29, 1898
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Belfast, Ireland
Died: November 22

C. S. Lewis was a British writer whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide after having been translated into over 30 languages. His works, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, have inspired the works of other famous authors. Lewis' work continues to attract readership and he was ranked 11th on The Times' 50 greatest British writers since 1945 list.

 5 
Patsy Cline
(One of the Most Influential Vocalists of the 20th Century)
Patsy Cline
30
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 8, 1932
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Winchester, Virginia, United States
Died: March 5

Patsy Cline was an American singer widely regarded as one of 20th century's most influential, celebrated, and respected vocalists. Her singing style helped influence several artists and musical genres. She also helped define the Nashville Sound style associated with country music. She has been a major influence on artists, such as Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt, and Dottie West.

 6 
Sylvia Plath
(Famous for Her Books 'The Bell Jar' and 'Ariel')
Sylvia Plath
61
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 27, 1932
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: February 11

Sylvia Plath was an American short-story writer, novelist, and poet. Plath is credited with popularizing confessional poetry and won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. Sylvia Plath achieved popularity and critical acclaim despite suffering from clinical depression for the most part of her adult life. Her story inspired the 2003 film Sylvia in which she was portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow.

 7 
Aldous Huxley
(Writer and Philosopher Best Known for His Novels: ‘Brave New World’, ‘Island’ and ‘Point Counter Point’)
Aldous Huxley
18
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 26, 1894
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Godalming, England
Died: November 22

English writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley wrote countless books, including novels, short stories, non-fiction, and poems. He is best remembered for his science-fiction novels Brave New World and Island. The seven-time Nobel Prize nominee was also a Companion of Literature of the Royal Society of Literature and a Vedanta believer.

 8 
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy
(Infant Child of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Who Lived Just Over 39 Hours)
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy
29
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 7, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bourne, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 9

Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, born in August 1963, was the infant son of U.S. president John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who died just a little over 39 hours after his birth. Patrick was born prematurely, with hyaline membrane disease (HMD), now known as infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS).

 9 
Ernie Davis
(American Football Player Who Was the First African American to Win the Heisman Trophy)
Ernie Davis
21
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 14, 1939
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Salem-Buffington, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: May 18
Footballer Ernie Davis was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. The Syracuse University player was later drafted by the NFL team Cleveland Browns. However, he died of leukemia at 23, without playing a single professional game. His story inspired the movie The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.
 10 
Edith Piaf
(French Singer and One of Country's Most Widely Known International Stars)
Edith Piaf
94
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 19, 1915
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 11
France’s legendary singer and actor Édith Piaf, or the “Little Sparrow,” is best remembered for her iconic Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted song La Vie en Rose and the classic Non, je ne regrette rien. Raised by the prostitutes of her grandmother’s brothel, she began her life as a street singer.
 11 
Dick Powell
9
Birthdate: November 14, 1904
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mountain View, Arkansas, United States
Died: January 2
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 12 
Garrett Morgan
(Inventor)
Garrett Morgan
23
Birthdate: March 4, 1877
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paris, Kentucky, United States
Died: July 27

Garrett Morgan is remembered for inventing the Morgan safety hood, which served as a prototype for later gas masks. He also invented the T-shaped traffic signal and a range of hair-care products, such as hair straightening creams. An NAACP member, he also launched a newspaper to cater to African-Americans.

 13 
Jean Cocteau
(French Author and Artist Who Was One of the Foremost Creatives of the 'Surrealist', 'Avant-Garde', and 'Dadaist' Movements.)
Jean Cocteau
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 5, 1889
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Maisons-Laffitte, France
Died: October 11
While Jean Cocteau preferred calling himself a poet, his multidimensional works consisted of novels such as Les Enfants Terribles and films directed by him such as La Belle et la Bête. Cocteau relied on motifs such as eyes, blood, and mirrors, and mingled mythology and modernism.
 14 
Rajendra Prasad
(1st President of India)
Rajendra Prasad
6
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 3, 1884
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Siwan, Bihar, India
Died: February 28
Rajendra Prasad was India’s first and longest-tenured president, from 1950 to 1962. He was re-elected in 1957, thus becoming the only Indian president to serve two terms. He had previously been a freedom fighter and later also served as the president of the Constituent Assembly, which drafted India’s constitution.
 15 
Jack Carson
(Actor)
Jack Carson
1
Birthdate: October 27, 1910
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Carman, Manitoba, Canada
Died: January 2
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 16 
Elmore James
(American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter)
Elmore James
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 27, 1918
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Richland, Mississippi, United States
Died: May 24
 17 
Rogers Hornsby
(Baseball player)
Rogers Hornsby
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 27, 1896
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Winters
Died: January 5
 18 
John Farrow
(Film Director Best Known for His Films: 'Wake Island' and 'Around the World in Eighty Days')
John Farrow
2
Birthdate: February 10, 1904
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Died: January 27
Born into a dressmaker’s family, John Farrow went from being a sailor to a world-renowned filmmaker. Apart from his Oscar-winning screenplay of Around the World in Eighty Days, he was also known for his numerous affairs. He later married actor Maureen O'Sullivan, and had seven children, including actor Mia Farrow.
 19 
Francis Poulenc
(French Composer and Pianist Known for His Works: ‘Trois mouvements perpétuels’, ‘Les biches’ and ‘Concert champêtre’)
Francis Poulenc
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 7, 1899
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: January 30

French composer Francis Poulenc was most self-taught, as he was not encouraged to join a music school by his pharmaceutical manufacturer father. Part of the legendary “Les Six” of French music, Poulenc was also a skilled pianist. He is also remembered for the opera Les dialogues des Carmélites.

 20 
Yasujirō Ozu
(Japanese Film Director and Screenwriter)
Yasujirō Ozu
2
Birthdate: December 12, 1903
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Died: December 12

Yasujiro Ozu often ran away from school to watch movies at a local theater and later began his career as a camera assistant. He directed both silent films and talkies, including the masterpiece Tokyo Story, and is best remembered for his signature static camera effect and the use of the color red.

 21 
Adolphe Menjou
7
Birthdate: February 18, 1890
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: PPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 29
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 22 
Georges Braque
(Painter Best Known for Inventing Cubism with Pablo Picasso)
Georges Braque
4
Birthdate: May 13, 1882
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Argenteuil, France
Died: August 31

French painter Georges Braque is considered one of the pioneers of Cubism. His 1908 masterpiece Large Nude is one of his most celebrated pieces. Critics often argue whether Braque or Picasso had first begun developing Cubism, and many of their works are very similar in nature.

 23 
The Great Gama
(Amateur wrestler)
The Great Gama
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 22, 1878
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Amritsar
Died: May 22

A world-renowned Indian pehlwan, or wrestler, Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt competed using the ring name The Great Gama. Also known as Rustam-e-Hind, he remained undefeated over an illustrious career of almost 5 decades and even saved many Hindus during the communal riots at the time of the Partition of India.

 24 
Pedro Armendáriz
(One of the best-known Latin American movie stars of the 1940s and 1950s)
Pedro Armendáriz
1
Birthdate: May 9, 1912
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Died: June 18
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 25 
William Carlos Williams
(Poet)
William Carlos Williams
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 17, 1883
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Died: March 4
 26 
ZaSu Pitts
(Actress)
ZaSu Pitts
5
Birthdate: January 3, 1894
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Parsons, Kansas, United States
Died: June 7
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 27 
Auguste Piccard
(Chemist)
Auguste Piccard
4
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: January 28, 1884
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
Died: January 28

Swiss-born Belgian physicist Auguste Piccard is best remembered for his research on the Earth’s upper stratosphere. He designed his own ships to explore the depth of the seas and also built balloons to study cosmic rays. His bathyscaphe remains one of his best-known inventions. He also co-discovered the magnetocaloric effect.

 28 
Abd al-Karim Qasim
(Prime Minister of Iraq from 1958 to 1963)
Abd al-Karim Qasim
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 21, 1914
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Baghdad, Iraq
Died: February 9

Abd al-Karim Qasim was an Iraqi nationalist and Army brigadier. He came to power after the 14 July Revolution, during which the Iraqi monarchy was overthrown. Abd al-Karim Qasim went on to serve as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 14 July 1958 to 8 February 1963. During his premiership, Qasim laid importance on education and greater equality for women.

 29 
Tristan Tzara
(French Writer Known for Being One of the Founders and Central Figures of the Anti-Establishment 'Dada Movement')
Tristan Tzara
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 28, 1896
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Moinești, Romania
Died: December 25

Tristan Tzara was a Romanian-born French avant-garde performance artist, poet, and essayist. A multi-talented personality, Tzara was also active as a playwright, journalist, art and literary critic, film director, and composer. Tristan Tzara is best remembered for co-founding the anti-establishment Dada movement, which he helped popularize. He is also credited with co-founding the Romanian literary and art magazine Simbolul.   

 30 
Paul Hindemith
(German Composer and Music Theorist)
Paul Hindemith
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 16, 1895
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hanau, Germany
Died: December 28

Although German composer and violinist Paul Hindemith had collaborated with leftist and Jewish musicians, his apolitical stance made him a favorite of the Nazis initially. However, he was later forced to comply with Nazi dictatorship. He moved to the U.S. after his performances were banned in Germany.

 31 
Theodore Roethke
(Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet)
Theodore Roethke
5
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 25, 1908
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan
Died: August 1
 32 
Margaret Murray
(Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Egyptologist)
Margaret Murray
2
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: July 13, 1863
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kolkata
Died: November 13

British Egyptologist and anthropologist Margaret Murray was also a scholar of witchcraft. Her best-known work is her 1921 book The Witch Cult in Western Europe, which inspired later witchcraft scholars such as Gerald B. Gardner. The University College London professor had worked in places such as Egypt, Malta, and Petra.

 33 
Fazlollah Zahedi
(Former Prime Minister of Iran (1953 - 1955))
Fazlollah Zahedi
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 17, 1892
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hamedan, Iran
Died: September 2

Fazlollah Zahedi was an Iranian statesman and lieutenant general who served as the 36th Prime Minister of Iran after overthrowing Mohammad Mosaddegh in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état with the help of the Great Britain and the United States. Fazlollah Zahedi was serving as the Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, when he died at the age of 71.

 34 
Dinah Washington
(Singer)
Dinah Washington
31
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 29, 1924
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Died: December 14
 35 
William Beveridge
(British Economist and Liberal Politician)
William Beveridge
1
Birthdate: March 5, 1879
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Rangpur, Bangladesh
Died: March 16

Born to a British civil servant in British India, William Beveridge was educated at Oxford. While he initially excelled in math and classics, he later studied law. A leading economist, he created the Beveridge Report, which formulated the welfare state policies in the U.K. after World War II.

 36 
Guy Burgess
(Spy, Journalist)
Guy Burgess
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 16, 1911
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Devon
Died: August 30
 37 
Thich Quang Duc
(Former Vietnamese monk who burned himself to death at a busy Saigon road intersection on 11 June 1963)
Thich Quang Duc
22
Birthdate: 1897 AD
Birthplace: Hội Khánh, Vietnam
Died: June 11
 38 
Pope John XXIII
(Head of the Catholic Church from 1958 to 1963)
Pope John XXIII
17
Birthdate: November 25, 1881
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, Italy
Died: June 3

Pope John XXIII served as the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church from 1958 until his death in 1963. He took many people by surprise when he called the historic Second Vatican Council, which addressed relations between the modern world and the Catholic Church. Pope John XXIII was canonized on 27 April 2014.

 39 
Aiden Wilson Tozer
Aiden Wilson Tozer
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 21, 1897
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: La Jose (now Newburg), Pennsylvania, USA
Died: May 12
American Christian pastor, Aiden Wilson Toze,r was also an author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor. He was a recipient of honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton Colleges for his accomplishments. His popular books are The Knowledge of the Holy, Attributes of God, The Divine Conquest, How to Be Filled with the Holy...  and The Best of A. W. Tozer: 52...
 40 
Nadejda Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven
(Aristocrat)
Nadejda Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven
0
Birthdate: March 28, 1896
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cannes, France
Died: January 22
 41 
Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria
(Politician)
Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 2, 1883
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Franzensburg, Laxenburg, Austria
Died: March 16
 42 
Edward A. Carter Jr.
(Soldier)
Edward A. Carter Jr.
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 26, 1916
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: January 30
 43 
Gorgeous George
(American Professional Wrestler)
Gorgeous George
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 24, 1915
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Butte, Nebraska, United States
Died: December 26
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 44 
Maria Tanase
(Romanian Actress and Singer)
Maria Tanase
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 25, 1913
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania
Died: June 22

Maria Tanase was a Romanian actress and singer. A versatile singer, Tănase's music ranged from operetta to traditional Romanian music. During her long and illustrious career, Maria Tănase became known as Romania's national diva. She was admired for her voice, charisma, originality, and good looks. She is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's major cultural icons.

 45 
Davey Moore
(Boxer)
Davey Moore
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Died: March 25
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 46 
Gene Lipscomb
(American football player)
Gene Lipscomb
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 9, 1931
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: May 10
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 47 
David Low
(Cartoonist)
David Low
0
Birthdate: April 7, 1891
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dunedin, New Zealand
Died: September 19
 48 
Ernesto Lecuona
(Composer, Pianist)
Ernesto Lecuona
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 7, 1896
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Guanabacoa, Havana, Cuba
Died: November 29
 49 
Margaret Preston
(Former painter and printmaker who is regarded as one of Australia's leading modernists of the early 20th century)
Margaret Preston
0
Birthdate: April 29, 1875
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Port Adelaide, Australia
Died: May 28
 50 
Edith Hamilton
(Educator)
Edith Hamilton
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: August 12, 1867
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dresden, Saxony
Died: May 31