Famous People Who Died At 51

The list of famous people who died at 51 includes James Gandolfini, William III of England, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Calamity Jane, Margaret Tudor. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, emperors & kings, artists and poets and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 51 includes people from United States, Germany, France & United Kingdom and many more countries.
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 1 
William Shakespeare
(English Playwright & Poet Who is Regarded as the Greatest Writer in the English Language)
William Shakespeare
224
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 26, 1564
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Died: April 23, 1616

English playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He is also often called England's national poet. Many of his works have been translated into other languages and his plays continue to be produced till day. Popular during his lifetime, he acquired an iconic status after his death.

 2 
Napoleon Bonaparte
(Emperor of the French (1804-1814))
Napoleon Bonaparte
154
Birthdate: August 15, 1769
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ajaccio, France
Died: May 5, 1821
French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte ruled as the French emperor from 1804 to 1814 and again in 1815. He strengthened France’s position in Europe through the Napoleonic Wars and extended his kingdom. However, he was eventually defeated by the Seventh Coalition at the Battle of Waterloo and sent to exile. 
 3 
James Gandolfini
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Tony Soprano’ in the TV Series ‘The Sopranos’)
James Gandolfini
27
Birthdate: September 18, 1961
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Westwood, New Jersey, United States
Died: June 19, 2013

James Gandolfini was an American actor who achieved the rare feat of being identified more as the character he performed rather than as himself. Years of immaculately performing the role of a powerful crime boss for the TV series, The Sopranos, defined Gandolfini’s legacy forever as a character actor, a legacy he gracefully carried over to the big screen.

 4 
Madam C. J. Walker
(Entrepreneur)
Madam C. J. Walker
48
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: December 23, 1867
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Delta, Louisiana, United States
Died: May 25, 1919
Madam C.J. Walker is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first female self-made American millionaire. She manufactured and promoted a cosmetic-and-hair-care line catering to black women, through the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company. She was also the richest African-American businesswoman when she died.
 5 
John Smith
(British Explorer)
John Smith
11
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 6, 1580
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Lincolnshire, England
Died: June 21, 1631

John Smith was an English explorer, soldier, colonial governor, author, and Admiral of New England. In the early-17th century, Smith played a major role in the establishment of the first indissoluble English settlement in America, which came to be known as the English colony at Jamestown. Apart from helping Jamestown survive various challenges, Smith's leadership also helped the colony flourish.

 6 
Thomas Becket
(English Nobleman Who Served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162)
Thomas Becket
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 21, 1119
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cheapside, London, United Kingdom
Died: December 29, 1170
Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury or Thomas of London, served as the archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until 1170. He is known for his conflict with King Henry II of England, regarding the powers of the Church, following which he was killed by the king’s followers.
 7 
Roger Maris
(Baseball player)
Roger Maris
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 10, 1934
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hibbing, Minnesota, United States
Died: December 14, 1985
 8 
Harald Hardrada
(King of Norway (1046 to 1066))
Harald Hardrada
13
Birthdate: 1015 AD
Birthplace: Ringerike
Died: September 25, 1066

Harald Sigurdsson, or Harald, was the king of Norway from 1046 to 1066. He also made an aim for the Danish throne and the English throne. He was a mercenary and a military leader before taking over as the king. His death marked the end of the Viking Age.

 9 
Jack Swigert
(Astronaut)
Jack Swigert
22
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 30, 1931
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
Died: December 27, 1982

Jack Swigert was an American astronaut who flew to the moon and spent nearly six days in space. He was an engineer who also held a masters degree in business administration. He was involved in the infamous Apollo 15 postal covers incident. He ventured into politics with mixed fortunes.  He was elected to the US Congress but died before being sworn in.

 10 
Carl Wilson
(American musician)
Carl Wilson
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 21, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hawthorne, California
Died: February 6, 1998
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 11 
John Singleton
(Director)
John Singleton
9
Birthdate: January 6, 1968
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: April 28, 2019
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 12 
Marcel Proust
(French Novelist Who is Regarded as One of the Most Influential Authors of the 20th Century)
Marcel Proust
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 10, 1871
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Neuilly-Auteuil-Passy, France
Died: November 18, 1922

Marcel Proust was a French novelist, essayist, and critic best known for writing the world-renowned novel In Search of Lost Time, which was published between 1913 and 1927 in seven parts. Many writers and critics regard him as one of the 20th century's most influential and important authors.

 13 
Édouard Manet
(French Modernist Painter Known for His Work ‘The Luncheon on the Grass’ and ‘Olympia’)
Édouard Manet
6
Birthdate: January 23, 1832
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Paris, Francece
Died: April 30, 1883

Édouard Manet was a French painter who played a key role in the transition to Impressionism from Realism in the 19th-century. Manet was one of the first artists from his generation to paint modern life. His early masterworks, such as Olympia, served as rallying points for young and aspiring impressionist painters. His works continue to influence painters around the world.

 14 
Rainer Maria Rilke
(Austrian Poet and Novelist Known for His Poetry Collections ‘Duino Elegies’ and ‘Sonnets to Orpheus’)
Rainer Maria Rilke
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 4, 1875
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Prague, Czech Republic
Died: December 29, 1926

Bohemian-Austrian poet and author Rainer Maria Rilke is best remembered for his numerous poetry collections and his only novel, The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge. His works contain metaphors, contradictions, and elements drawn from Greek mythology. Though most of his works were in German, he had also written in French.

 15 
Moliere
(French Playwright and One of the Greatest Writers of French Comedy)
Moliere
8
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 15, 1622
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rue Saint Honoré, Paris, France
Died: February 17, 1673

Moliere was a French poet, playwright, and actor. Considered one of the greatest French-language writers of all time, Moliere's plays are often performed at the Comédie-Française and have been translated into several languages. Moliere had a huge impact on the French language and is widely regarded as the creator of modern French comedy.

 16 
Bill Evans
(American Jazz Pianist Known for Lush Harmonies and Lyrical Improvisation)
Bill Evans
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 16, 1929
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Plainfield, New Jersey, United States
Died: September 15, 1980

Bill Evans was an American composer and jazz pianist. Many of his compositions and other works continue to influence jazz pianists and are played and recorded by several artists. His work has influenced players like Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Steve Kuhn, and Michel Petrucciani among many other musicians. Evans is an inductee of the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.

 17 
Robert Shaw
(British Actor Known for His Role as ‘Henry VIII' in the Drama Film ‘a Man for All Seasons')
Robert Shaw
2
Birthdate: August 9, 1927
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Westhoughton, Lancashire, England
Died: August 28, 1978
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 18 
Lapu-Lapu
(Chieftain of Mactan, Philippines)
Lapu-Lapu
10
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1491 AD
Birthplace: Mactan, Philippines
Died: 1542 AD
Lapu-Lapu, also known as Çilapulapu or Cilapulapu, was a datu of Mactan. He is remembered for his revolt against the Spanish colonizers of the Philippines and is regarded as the first Filipino hero. He defeated Ferdinand Magellan and his allies at the Battle of Mactan in 1521.
 19 
Ethan Allen
(Revolutionary War Hero)
Ethan Allen
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 21, 1738
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Litchfield, Connecticut, United States
Died: February 12, 1789

As a child, Ethan Allen was fond of deciphering passages from the Bible. He grew up to co-establish Vermont and led the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolutionary War. After failing to achieve Vermont’s separation from New York, he tried to unite Vermont with Canada.

 20 
Honoré de Balzac
(French Novelist and Playwright Known for His Magnum Opus 'La Comédie humaine')
Honoré de Balzac
11
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 20, 1799
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Tours, France
Died: August 18, 1850

Honoré de Balzac was a French playwright and novelist. Since his works gave a detailed, unfiltered representation of society, Honoré de Balzac is generally considered one of the founders of realism and an important figure in European literature. Renowned for creating multi-faceted characters, Balzac influenced several popular writers like Charles John Huffam Dickens, Émile Zola, Henry James, and Gustave Flaubert.

 21 
Bobby Moore
(Captain of the England Team that Won the 1966 FIFA World Cup)
Bobby Moore
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 12, 1941
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Barking, Essex, England
Died: February 24, 1993
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 22 
Ann Sheridan
(Actress)
Ann Sheridan
2
Birthdate: February 21, 1915
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Denton, Texas, USA
Died: January 21, 1967
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 23 
Yolanda King
(Civil Rights Activist and Daughter of Civil Rights Leader 'Martin Luther King Jr.')
Yolanda King
20
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: November 17, 1955
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Died: May 15, 2007

African American activist, Yolanda King, was the first-born child of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Exposed to social justice activism at a young age, she grew up to be an outspoken supporter of civil rights and LGBTQA+ rights. She was also known for her artistic endeavors. She died of heart disease at 51. 

 24 
Pliny the Younger
(Author, Lawyer)
Pliny the Younger
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 0061 AD
Birthplace: Como
Died: 0112 AD

Pliny the Younger was an author, lawyer, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Although Pliny the Younger wrote several letters, only 247 of them have survived and are of great historical value as they provide an insight into the relationship between provincial governors and the imperial office at that time.

 25 
Margaret Tudor
(Queen Consort of Scotland)
Margaret Tudor
8
Birthdate: November 28, 1489
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Westminster Palace, London, Middlesex, Kingdom of England
Died: October 18, 1541
Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England, served as the Queen consort of Scotland, as wife of James IV, from 1503 to 1513. Following her husband’s death, she served as the regent till 1515. She was the great-grandmother of Scottish king James VI, or James I of England.
 26 
Mehmed IV
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Mehmed IV
4
Birthdate: January 2, 1642
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Topkapı Palace, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Died: January 6, 1693

Mehmed IV reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 8 August 1648 to 8 November 1687. After ascending the throne at age six following the dethronement of his father in a coup, Mehmed IV went on to become the second-longest reigning emperor in the history of the Ottoman Empire after Suleiman the Magnificent.

 27 
Tommy Dorsey
(Trombonist)
Tommy Dorsey
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 19, 1905
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: November 26, 1956
 28 
Antonin Artaud
(French Writer, Theatre Director and One of the Major Figures of the European Avant-Garde)
Antonin Artaud
12
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 4, 1896
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Marseille, France
Died: March 4, 1948

Antonin Artaud was a French writer, poet, dramatist, and theater director. Known for his raw, surreal, and transgressive themes, he was a major figure in 20th-century theater. He outlined his theories in the Theatre of Cruelty movement, expressed in the form of essays and plays. He died of cancer at the age of 51.  

 29 
Bobby Van
(Actor)
Bobby Van
5
Birthdate: December 6, 1928
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: July 31, 1980
 30 
Jan van Eyck
(Painter)
Jan van Eyck
3
Birthdate: 1390 AD
Birthplace: Maaseik, Belgium
Died: July 9, 1441

Jan van Eyck was a painter best remembered for his Early Northern Renaissance art. He was one of the early innovators of Early Netherlandish painting and one of the most significant painters of his generation. A highly influential painter, Jan van Eyck's style and techniques were adopted by the Early Netherlandish painters.

 31 
Frederick William I of Prussia
(Former King of Prussia (1713 - 1740))
Frederick William I of Prussia
2
Birthdate: August 14, 1688
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: May 31, 1740

The Soldier King Frederick William I of Prussia is remembered for transforming his nation into a prosperous state. He was known for his simple lifestyle, as opposed to his father’s kingly excesses. His experience at the War of the Spanish Succession led him to strengthen Prussia militarily, too.

 32 
Gustave Doré
(Artist Best Known for His Prolific Output of Wood-Engravings and Illustrated Texts)
Gustave Doré
1
Birthdate: January 6, 1832
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Strasbourg, France
Died: January 23, 1883

Best known for his wood-engraving, Gustave Doré was a child prodigy who began his artwork at the tender age of 5. A master lithographer and caricaturist, he began his career with Journal pour Rire. He also worked on commissions from authors such as Cervantes, Milton, and Dante.

 33 
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(4th President of Pakistan and 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan)
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
24
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 5, 1928
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Larkana, Pakistan
Died: April 4, 1979

Pakistani barrister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto served as the prime minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977. He had also been the president of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. He founded and chaired the Pakistan People's Party. His reign witnessed the formation of Bangladesh and the signing of the Simla Agreement.

 34 
Eero Saarinen
(Architect)
Eero Saarinen
12
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: August 20, 1910
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kirkkonummi, Finland
Died: September 1, 1961

Eero Saarinen was a Finnish-American industrial designer and architect best remembered for his impressive designs for monuments and buildings. He is credited with designing important structures, such as the Washington Dulles International Airport, the TWA Flight Center, and the Gateway Arch. He is widely regarded as one of the 20th-century's most prominent American architectures.

 35 
Anthony Wayne
(Senior Officer of the United States Army (1792-96))
Anthony Wayne
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 1, 1745
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Easttown Township, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: December 15, 1796
 36 
Leo Gorcey
(Actor)
Leo Gorcey
7
Birthdate: June 3, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: June 2, 1969
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 37 
Beth Chapman
(American TV Reality Star Known for Her Shows ‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ and ‘Dog's Most Wanted’)
Beth Chapman
34
Birthdate: October 29, 1967
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, United States
Died: June 26, 2019

Bounty hunter and reality star Beth Chapman soared to fame with the shows Dog the Bounty Hunter, Dog's Most Wanted, and Dog and Beth: On the Hunt, along with her husband, Duane "Dog" Chapman. While filming Dog's Most Wanted, she died of throat cancer, which had spread to her lungs.

 38 
Stanley Milgram
(Psychologist, University teacher, Sociologist)
Stanley Milgram
1
Birthdate: August 15, 1933
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York City
Died: December 20, 1984

Social psychologist Stanley Milgram was inspired by the suffering of the Jews during the Holocaust to understand what drove people to harm others, and thus created his Milgram experiment. He also taught at prestigious institutes such as Harvard and Yale. His studies also included the six degrees of separation concept.

 39 
Alois Alzheimer
(Psychiatrist, Neuropathologist)
Alois Alzheimer
7
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: June 14, 1864
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Marktbreit
Died: December 19, 1915

German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer is noted for identifying the first published case of presenile dementia, which his colleague and German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin later identified as Alzheimer's disease.  Alois publicly discussed his findings on brain pathology and symptoms of presenile dementia in late-1906 and penned a larger paper giving details of the disease and his findings in 1907.

 40 
Angela Carter
(Author of 'The Bloody Chamber' and 'Nights at the Circus')
Angela Carter
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 7, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Eastbourne, England
Died: February 16, 1992
Emperor Taizong of Tang
1
Birthdate: January 28, 0598
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wugong County, Xianyang, China
Died: July 10, 0649

Emperor Taizong of Tang was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He ruled for over two decades from 626 to 649. He is considered to be one of the greatest emperors in China's history. Under his reign, Tang China flourished. The emperor was a scholar of logic and scientific reason. He was married to Empress Zhangsun. 

 42 
Charles George Gordon
(British Army Officer Who Led The 'Ever Victorious Army' in China)
Charles George Gordon
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 28, 1833
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London
Died: January 26, 1885

Charles George Gordon was a British administrator and Army officer. He is best remembered for his work as the commander of the Ever Victorious Army in China, which played a key role in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion. The force, under Gordon's command, was also able to defeat much larger forces, earning him the nickname Chinese Gordon.

 43 
Mohammed V of Morocco
(Sultan of Morocco)
Mohammed V of Morocco
2
Birthdate: August 10, 1909
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Fes, Morocco
Died: February 26, 1961
 44 
The Singing Nun
(Singer-songwriter)
The Singing Nun
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 17, 1933
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
Died: March 29, 1985

Singer-songwriter Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers, better known as The Singing Nun, soared to fame with the Billboard-charting track Dominique. She was also a Dominican Order nun, who later took the name Sister Luc Gabriel. She often played the guitar and was accompanied by a chorus of 4 nuns.

 45 
Tony Williams
(Drummer)
Tony Williams
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 12, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died: February 23, 1997
 46 
Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
(Former King of Nepal)
Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
10
Birthdate: June 11, 1920
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kathmandu, Nepal
Died: January 31, 1972
Son of Nepalese king Tribhuvan, Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev took over as the king in 1955 and dissolved the Nepali constitution and parliament by a coup in 1960. He loved writing poetry and songs. His son, Birendra, who succeeded him, was later killed in the royal massacre in 2001.
 47 
Randy Castillo
(Musician)
Randy Castillo
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 10, 1950
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Died: March 26, 2002
 48 
Walter Reed
(U.S. Army Physician Who Led a Team Which Confirmed That Yellow Fever Gets Transmitted By a Mosquito)
Walter Reed
0
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: September 13, 1851
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Belroi, Virginia, United States
Died: November 22, 1902

Walter Reed was a U.S. Army physician best remembered for leading a team which confirmed that yellow fever gets transmitted by a mosquito rather than by direct contact. His work went a long way in the fight against yellow fever.

 49 
Takeda Shingen
(Head of Takeda clan (1541–1573))
Takeda Shingen
4
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 1, 1521
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kai Province, Japan
Died: May 13, 1573

Takeda Shingen was an influential daimyo, or feudal lord of the Takeda clan, in Japan, apart from being an able military leader. Also known as the Tiger of Kai, he had long military conflicts with Uesugi and other leaders. His life inspired legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s Kagemusha.

 50 
Paul Verlaine
(One of the Greatest French Poets of the 19th Century)
Paul Verlaine
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 30, 1844
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Metz, France
Died: January 8, 1896

Paul Verlaine was a French poet best remembered for his association with the Decadent movement and the Symbolist movement. He is regarded as one of the most important representatives of the fin de siècle in French and international poetry. His poetry served as an inspiration for composers like Gabriel Fauré, who composed several mélodies based on Verlaine's poems.