Famous People Who Died At 55

The list of famous people who died at 55 includes Henry VIII of England, Friedrich Nietzsche, Kate Spade, Vasco da Gama, Claude Debussy. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, emperors & kings, poets and composers and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 55 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & Germany and many more countries.
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 1 
Friedrich Nietzsche
(German Philosopher, Cultural Critic and Philologist)
Friedrich Nietzsche
48
Birthdate: October 15, 1844
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Röcken, Lützen, Germany
Died: August 25, 1900

German philosopher, cultural critic, composer, and poet Friedrich Nietzsche has had a profound influence on modern intellectual history. He held the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel. His work spanned philosophical polemics, poetry, cultural criticism, and fiction. He suffered from numerous health problems from a young age and died at the age of 55.

 2 
Henry VIII of England
(King of England (1509 - 1547))
Henry VIII of England
70
Birthdate: June 28, 1491
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kent, England
Died: January 28, 1547

Henry VIII, the second monarch of the Tudor dynasty, ruled England from 1509 to 1547. He married six times, leading to differences with the Roman Catholic Church, which prohibited divorce, thus forming the Anglican Church. The "father of the Royal Navy," he was known for his tyranny and extravagance.

 3 
Emily Dickinson
(One of the Leading 19th-Century American Poets)
Emily Dickinson
27
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 10, 1830
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 15, 1886
Victorian-era poet Emily Dickinson apparently wrote around 1800 poems, mostly revolving around themes such as death and immortality. However, she was a recluse, dressed up in white, and mostly interacted with people through correspondence. Her poems were mostly without titles and had short lines, slant rhyme, and unconventional punctuation.
 4 
Vasco da Gama
(Explorer)
Vasco da Gama
29
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1469 AD
Birthplace: Sines, Portugal
Died: December 24, 1524

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was the first to link Europe and Asia through an ocean route, when he reached Calicut in 1498, thus enriching Portuguese trade with Asia. He made a second voyage later. He was made Count of Vidigueira in 1519 and the viceroy of India in 1524.

 5 
Louisa May Alcott
34
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 29, 1832
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Germantown, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: March 6, 1888
Novelist and short story writer Louisa May Alcott is best remembered as the author of the 1868 novel Little Women and its sequels, Little Men and Jo's Boys. She initially wrote using the pseudonym “A. M. Barnard.” She never married and remained a life-long feminist and abolitionist.
 6 
Saladin
(Sultan of Egypt and Syria (1174 - 1193))
Saladin
21
Birthdate: 1138 AD
Birthplace: Tikrit, Iraq
Died: March 4, 1193
Named the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saladin founded the Ayyubid Dynasty. He abolished the Fatimid Caliphate and later defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin, thus taking control of Palestine. As the de facto Caliph of Islam, he controlled a vast area, including Egypt, Syria, and Yemen.
 7 
Kate Spade
(Fashion Designer, Founder and Co-Owner of the Designer Brand ‘Kate Spade New York’)
Kate Spade
49
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: December 24, 1962
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Died: June 5, 2018

Kate Spade was an American entrepreneur and fashion designer. Spade is credited with founding Kate Spade New York, a popular luxury fashion design house, which competes with the likes of Michael Kors. Kate Spade is also credited with creating stylish and affordable handbags that caused quite a revolution in the fashion world.

 8 
Tammy Wynette
(American Music Artist Who is Known as the ‘First Lady of Country Music’)
Tammy Wynette
25
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 5, 1942
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Itawamba County, Mississippi, United States
Died: April 6, 1998
Country singer Tammy Wynette, named the First Lady of Country Music, is best remembered for the track Stand by Your Man. She remains one of the best-selling female country artists of all time. She was also married to country singer George Jones, which made them a musical power couple.
 9 
Claude Debussy
(French Impressionist Composer Best Known for His Opera 'Pelléas et Mélisande')
Claude Debussy
17
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 22, 1862
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Died: March 25, 1918

Claude Debussy was a French composer whose career spanned over 30 years. Regarded as one of the most influential composers of his generation, Claude Debussy's works have influenced several other composers, such as Bill Evans, George Benjamin, Olivier Messiaen, and Béla Bartók. Claude Debussy is also regarded as the first Impressionist composer, though he rejected the term.

 10 
Robert Urich
(Actor and Producer)
Robert Urich
16
Birthdate: December 19, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Toronto, Ohio, United States
Died: April 16, 2002

Robert Urich was an American actor whose contribution to the TV industry earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; he was the only person on the walk with a name starting with the alphabet U until Usher was added. Apart from his contribution to the entertainment industry, Robert Urich also worked towards raising money for cancer research.

 11 
Woody Guthrie
(Singer-songwriter)
Woody Guthrie
20
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 14, 1912
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Okemah, Oklahoma, United States
Died: October 3, 1967
Legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie is best remembered for his songs such as This Land Is Your Land and Cocaine Blues, and the concept album Dust Bowl Ballads. He inspired artists such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, and performed with a guitar labeled “This machine kills fascists.”
 12 
Paul Lynde
(Comedian and Actor Known for His Role as ‘Uncle Arthur’ in the TV Series ‘Bewitched’)
Paul Lynde
8
Birthdate: June 13, 1926
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mount Vernon, Ohio, United States
Died: January 10, 1982

Paul Lynde was an American comedian, actor, game show panelist, and voice artist. Lynde was much-loved and admired by his peers and often featured in lists, such as the most-liked TV stars. Throughout his life, Lynde was rumored to be homosexual and was popular among the homosexual community. In 2020, it was revealed that Lynde's biopic was in the making.

 13 
Satoru Iwata
(Former President & CEO of Nintendo)
Satoru Iwata
9
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: December 6, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sapporo
Died: July 11, 2015
Former Nintendo president and CEO Satoru Iwata had started developing games while in school. He was the first Nintendo president not related to the Yamauchi family and revolutionized the gaming industry by focusing on a blue ocean strategy and introducing products such as the DS dual-screen console and targeting non-gamers.
 14 
Will Rogers
(Vaudeville Performer, Humorist)
Will Rogers
8
Birthdate: November 4, 1879
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
Died: August 15, 1935
 15 
Roald Amundsen
(Norwegian Explorer Who was the First to Reach the South Pole)
Roald Amundsen
45
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 16, 1872
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Borge, Norway
Died: June 18, 1928

Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer. Specialized in exploring the polar regions, Amundsen was an important figure of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, an era in the exploration of Antarctica. He disappeared in 1928 when he was involved in a rescue mission in the Arctic. Owing to his significant achievements in polar exploration, several places are named after him.

 16 
Gustav Klimt
(Austrian Symbolist Painter and One of the Most Prominent Members of the ‘Vienna Secession’ Movement)
Gustav Klimt
20
Birthdate: July 14, 1862
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Baumgarten, Vienna, Austria
Died: February 6, 1918

Austrian symbolist painter, Gustav Klimt, was one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His primary subject was the female body, and he produced numerous paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects. He was known for his deliberate painting style. He successfully avoided personal scandal despite having an active sex life.

 17 
Lee Remick
(Actress)
Lee Remick
10
Birthdate: December 14, 1935
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Quincy, Massachusetts, United States
Died: July 2, 1991
 18 
Solomon Northup
6
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: July 10, 1807
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Minerva, New York
Died: 1863 AD
Abolitionist Solomon Northup had authored the memoir Twelve Years a Slave, which was later adapted into the Academy Award-winning film 12 Years a Slave. Northup was abducted and sold as a slave to a planter in Louisiana. He was eventually freed with the help of the governor New York.
 19 
Johnny Ramone
(Guitarist)
Johnny Ramone
8
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 8, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Died: September 15, 2004
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 20 
Elizabeth Peña
(American Actress and Founder of ‘Hispanic Organization of Latin Actor’)
Elizabeth Peña
12
Birthdate: September 23, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
Died: October 14, 2014
Elizabeth Peña is best known for her roles in films such as Rush Hour and The Incredibles. She also co-founded the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. She has also been part of series such as Shannon's Deal and I Married Dora. She died of liver cirrhosis at age 55.
 21 
William Hopper
(Actor)
William Hopper
4
Birthdate: January 26, 1915
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: March 6, 1970
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 22 
Alauddin Khilji
(13th Sultan of Delhi (1926-1316))
Alauddin Khilji
37
Birthdate: 1261 AD
Birthplace: Qalāt-e Ġilzay, Afghanistan
Died: December 31, 1316
 23 
Elizabeth Woodville
(Former Queen of England (1464 - 1483))
Elizabeth Woodville
5
Birthdate: April 28, 1437
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Grafton Regis, England
Died: June 8, 1492

Elizabeth Woodville was the queen of England from 1464 until her husband King Edward IV's death in 1483. Elizabeth Woodville remained politically influential even after the demise of her husband. She also played a major role in Henry VII's accession to the throne in 1485. Her life and work have inspired several books, films, and TV series.

 24 
Philip McKeon
(Child Actor and Radio Personality Best Known for His Role as ‘Tommy Hyatt’ in the TV Sitcom ‘Alice’)
Philip McKeon
6
Birthdate: November 11, 1964
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Westbury, New York, United States
Died: December 10, 2019

Former child actor and teen idol Philip McKeon is best known as Tommy Hyatt from the long-running sitcom Alice. He has also appeared in film such as Ghoulies 4 and in series such as The Love Boat. He is the older brother of actor Nancy McKeon.

 25 
Thomas Cromwell
(English statesman)
Thomas Cromwell
4
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: 1485 AD
Birthplace: Putney
Died: July 28, 1540
Thomas Cromwell was the 1st Earl of Essex and the chief minister to King Henry VIII from 1532 to 1540. He supported the English Reformation. He helped Henry leave Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, and later Anne of Cleves. He was eventually beheaded for treason and heresy. 
 26 
Del Shannon
(Singer, Singer-songwriter, Songwriter, Guitarist, Musician)
Del Shannon
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 30, 1934
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Grand Rapids
Died: February 8, 1990
 27 
Charles Martel
(Military Leader)
Charles Martel
15
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 0686 AD
Birthplace: Herstal
Died: October 22, 0741

Charles Martel was a Frankish military leader and statesman. From 718 until his death in 741, Martel served as the de facto ruler of Francia. He is credited with restoring centralized government in Francia and re-establishing the Franks as the masters of all Gaul through a series of military campaigns.

 28 
Rick Danko
(Singer-Songwriter, Bassist and Founding Member of 'The Band')
Rick Danko
2
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 29, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Norfolk County, Canada
Died: December 10, 1999

Canadian singer and The Band member Rick Danko initially performed as a rhythm guitarist and bassist for The Hawks. Part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Danko struggled with drug addiction and was once even arrested in Japan for smuggling drugs. He died in his sleep after a performance.

 29 
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
(English poet of the Victorian era, best known for her 'Sonnets From the Portuguese' and 'Aurora Leigh.)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 6, 1806
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kelloe, Durham, England
Died: June 29, 1861
 30 
Pernell Whitaker
(American Professional Boxer Who Was a Four-Weight World Champion)
Pernell Whitaker
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 2, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Died: July 14, 2019
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 31 
Edward Albert
6
Birthdate: February 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: September 22, 2006
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 32 
Brad Delp
(Singer-songwriter)
Brad Delp
5
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: June 12, 1951
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Peabody, Massachusetts, United States
Died: March 9, 2007
 33 
Mikhail Tal
(Soviet-Latvian Chess Player Who Became the Youngest World Chess Champion at the age of 23)
Mikhail Tal
17
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 9, 1936
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Died: June 28, 1992

Mikhail Tal was a Soviet Latvian chess player. Widely regarded as one of the best attacking players and a creative genius, Tal was renowned for his unpredictability and improvisation. He was also known as the magician from Riga for his daring, combinatorial playing style. Since 2006, the Mikhail Tal Memorial has been annually held in Moscow to honor Tal's memory.

 34 
Ogedei Khan
(2nd Khagan-Emperor of the Mongol Empire)
Ogedei Khan
7
Birthdate: November 30, 1186
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Khamag Mongol
Died: December 11, 1241

Ogedei Khan became the second Khagan of the Mongol Empire after succeeding his father Genghis Khan. Under his reign, the empire continued its expansion and reached its farthest extent south and west. Considered to be Genghis Khan's favorite son, Ogedei Khan is credited for continuing on the path set by his legendary father.

 35 
Birendra of Nepal
(King of Nepal from 1972 to 2001)
Birendra of Nepal
22
Birthdate: December 28, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kathmandu, Nepal
Died: June 1, 2001
Nepalese king Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, true to his royal lineage, had received an elite education at institutes such as Eton and Harvard. His murder, by his own son, Dipendra, during a dinner party massacre in 2001, that killed almost the entire Nepalese royal family, shocked the world.
 36 
Rudolf Diesel
(Inventor of Diesel Engine)
Rudolf Diesel
4
Birthdate: March 18, 1858
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: September 29, 1913

Rudolf Diesel was a German mechanical engineer and inventor best remembered for inventing the Diesel engine. After Diesel's demise, his engine became an important substitution for the steam piston engine. The engine became widespread in applications, such as agricultural machines, submarines, ships, and trucks. His life inspired the 1942 biographical film Diesel, in which he was played by Willy Birgel.

 37 
Bill Haley
(Singer, bandleader, conductor,yodeler)
Bill Haley
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: July 6, 1925
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit
Died: February 9, 1981
 38 
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
3
Birthdate: December 26, 1194
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Iesi, Marche, Italy
Died: December 13, 1250

Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor reigned as the King of Sicily, King of Germany, King of Italy, and King of Jerusalem. An avid patron of the arts and science, Frederick played an important role in supporting literature. He promoted the Sicilian School of poetry, which played an influential role in developing literature in Italy.

 39 
Mary Frann
(Actress)
Mary Frann
8
Birthdate: February 27, 1943
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died: September 23, 1998
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 40 
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
(Founding Father of Bangladesh)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
43
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: March 17, 1920
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tungipara, Bangladesh
Died: August 15, 1975
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, is known as the "Father of the Nation" and “Bangabandhu" in Bangladesh. He was an Awami League leader and led the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. He was the first president of Bangladesh and later also served as the Bangladeshi PM.
 41 
Herman J. Mankiewicz
(American Screenwriter Best Known for His Academy Award Winning Film 'Citizen Kane')
Herman J. Mankiewicz
5
Birthdate: November 7, 1897
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: March 5, 1953
Herman J. Mankiewicz is remembered for co-writing the screenplay for the film Citizen Kane. He had also worked for the Chicago Tribune and The New York Times. He came to be known for his signature witty humor, known as "Mankiewicz humor” and inspired the 2020 Netflix biopic Mank
 42 
Mohammed Rafi
(One of India's Greatest and Most Influential Playback Singers)
Mohammed Rafi
20
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 24, 1924
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Amritsar, Punjab, India
Died: July 31, 1980
Legendary Indian playback singer Mohammed Rafi was known for his versatility. The winner of one National Film Award and four Filmfare awards, Rafi often collaborated with ace composer S.D. Burman. He also received the Padma Shri and sang in countless Indian and foreign languages, including Arabic, Persian, and Dutch.
 43 
William Adams
(Navigator, Merchant-Adventurer and the First Englishman to Reach Japan)
William Adams
9
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 24, 1564
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Gillingham, England
Died: May 16, 1620

One of the first-known Westerner to gain the title of samurai, William Adams, also known as Anjin Miura, was an English navigator who explored uncharted territories for his country. Apart from being the first Englishman to travel to Thailand and Japan, he was also the third from his country to travel to Vietnam.

 44 
Sophie Germain
(French Mathematician Known for Her 'Sophie Germain Prime Numbers')
Sophie Germain
3
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: April 1, 1776
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rue Saint-Denis, Paris, France
Died: June 27, 1831

French mathematician Sophie Germain had used the pseudonym M. Le Blanc to get hold of notes from the École Polytechnique, as being a woman, she was not allowed to attend the institute. She later contributed to the number theory and also pioneered the elasticity theory. She died of breast cancer.

 45 
Ken Block
(Rally Driver)
Ken Block
3
Listed In: Rally Drivers
Birthdate: November 21, 1967
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
Died: January 2, 2023

Hoonigan Racing driver Ken Block has had many accomplishments throughout his career, including 16 Rally American wins. He also has 5 X Games medals in his kitty. His globally hit YouTube videos of the Gymkhana series drew over 500 million views. His interests also include sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding.

 46 
Haing S. Ngor
(Physician and actor)
Haing S. Ngor
3
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: March 22, 1940
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cambodia
Died: February 25, 1996
 47 
Henri Becquerel
(Physicist, Discoverer of Radioactivity)
Henri Becquerel
3
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: December 15, 1852
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: August 25, 1908

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Henri Becquerel is known for his chance discovery of spontaneous radioactivity. Born into a family of scientists, Becquerel had been an engineer and a physics professor earlier. Marie Curie, who shared the Nobel with him and her husband, Pierre, was one of his doctoral students.

 48 
Michael Kamen
(Former Orchestral arranger who wrote the scores for many films including 2000's 'X-Men' and 1993's 'The Three Musketeers')
Michael Kamen
2
Birthdate: April 15, 1948
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: November 18, 2003
 49 
Elizabeth Gaskell
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 29, 1810
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chelsea, England
Died: November 12, 1865
 50 
Richard S. Castellano
(Actor)
Richard S. Castellano
1
Birthdate: September 4, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: December 10, 1988