Famous People Who Died At 59

The list of famous people who died at 59 includes Clark Gable, William the Conqueror, Oliver Cromwell, Solomon, Rock Hudson. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, emperors & kings, poets and spiritual & religious leaders and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 59 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & Italy and many more countries.
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 1 
Clark Gable
35
Birthdate: February 1, 1901
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cadiz, Ohio, United States
Died: August 16, 1960

Popularly known as The King of Hollywood, Clark Gable appeared as a leading man for 30 years in an acting career that spanned 37 years. One of the most bankable Hollywood stars in the history of American cinema, Clark Gable was named in the greatest male star of classic American cinema list published by the American Film Institute.

 2 
William the Conqueror
(Former King of England (1066 - 1087))
William the Conqueror
33
Birthdate: 1028 AD
Birthplace: Falaise, France
Died: September 9, 1087

William the Conqueror was the first Norman King of England who ruled from 1066 to 1087. William's conquest had a profound impact on England; his government merged elements of the Norman and English systems that laid the foundations of the medieval English kingdom. He is credited with building castles, mottes, and keeps, including the White Tower and Tower of London.

 3 
Solomon
(King of Israel)
Solomon
12
Birthdate: 0990 BC
Birthplace: Jerusalem, Israel
Died: 0931 BC
Also known as Jedidiah, Israeli king Solomon, known for his wisdom, is a figure that appears in the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, the Quran, and Hadiths. He ruled over the United Monarchy. His sins such as idolatry and marrying foreign women led to the disintegration of his kingdom.
 4 
Virginia Woolf
(One of the Most Important Modernist 20th-Century Authors)
Virginia Woolf
80
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 25, 1882
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kensington, London, England
Died: March 28, 1941

Virginia Woolf was an English writer who pioneered a narrative mode called stream of consciousness to describe the thoughts and feelings of the narrator. Regarded as one of the most prominent modernist 20th-century writers, Woolf's works have gained much attention for inspiring feminism. Her life and work have inspired several films, novels, and plays.

 5 
John Cassavetes
(One of the Most Influential American Directors of the Later Half of the 20th Century)
John Cassavetes
7
Birthdate: December 9, 1929
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: February 3, 1989
John Cassavetes is best remembered for his Academy Award-nominated performance in The Dirty Dozen and for his Academy Award-nominated screenplay and direction in Faces and A Woman Under the Influence, respectively. His movies explored the cinéma verité style of filmmaking and included frequent collaborations with his wife, Gena Rowlands.
 6 
Rock Hudson
(One of the Most Popular Movie Stars of His Time)
Rock Hudson
19
Birthdate: November 17, 1925
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Winnetka, Illinois, United States
Died: October 2, 1985

Considered a heartthrob and one of the most popular movie stars of all time, some of Rock Hudson’s successful movies are the Magnificent Obsession, Giant, Written on the Wind, Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, Come September and Send Me No Flowers. He also acted in television. It was speculated that he was a homosexual. He died due to AIDS-related illness.

 7 
Booker T. Washington
(American Educator Who was the Dominant Leader of the African-American Community Between 1890 and 1915)
Booker T. Washington
33
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 5, 1856
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Westlake Corner, Virginia, United States
Died: November 14, 1915
Booker T. Washington was born into slavery but rose to be an advisor to many U.S. presidents and also became the director of the Tuskegee Institute. His Atlanta Compromise, initially accepted and later rejected by black leaders, urged the blacks to work for their freedom through education and not revolt.
 8 
Dusty Springfield
(Singer, Artist, Cleric)
Dusty Springfield
41
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 16, 1939
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: West Hampstead, London,England
Died: March 2, 1999
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 9 
George Best
(Northern Irish Professional Footballer Who Played as a Winger)
George Best
34
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 22, 1946
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died: November 25, 2005
Manchester United winger/midfielder George Best was the 1968 European Footballer of the Year and was placed sixth on the FIFA Player of the Century list. A skilled dribbler, the Northern Irish player was also known for his stunning good looks and his affinity for women and alcohol. 
 10 
Sitting Bull
(Warrior)
Sitting Bull
8
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1831 AD
Birthplace: Grand River
Died: December 15, 1890
Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull is symbolic of the Native American resistance against the U.S. government. After the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he surrendered and performed at Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. The U.S. government, fearing he might join the Ghost Dance Movement, killed him during an attempted arrest.
 11 
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Best Known for His Novella Notes from The 'Underground')
Fyodor Dostoevsky
19
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 11, 1821
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: February 9, 1881
Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky is remembered as one of the pioneers of existentialism. He is best known for psychological and philosophical themes in his works, such as Crime and Punishment and The Idiot. He was arrested for being critical of Tsarist Russia and spent a 4-year prison term in Siberia.
 12 
Bill Bixby
(Best Known for as Dr. David Banner in The TV Series 'The Incredible Hulk')
Bill Bixby
6
Birthdate: January 22, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: November 21, 1993
Actor/director/game-show panelist Bill Bixby is best known as Tim O'Hara from My Favorite Martian, as Anthony Blake from The Magician, and as Dr. David Banner from The Incredible Hulk. He has also delivered Emmy-nominated performances in the series Rich Man, Poor Man and The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
 13 
Truman Capote
(Known for His Novella “Breakfast at Tiffany's” and Non-Fiction Novel “In Cold Blood”)
Truman Capote
23
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 30, 1924
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: August 25, 1984
Truman Capote is best known for his novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, which was made into a movie that starred Audrey Hepburn, and the non-fiction novel In Cold Blood. His short story Shut a Final Door won the O. Henry Award. He was a lifelong friend of author Harper Lee.
 14 
Coolio
(Rapper Best Known for His Singles ‘Gangsta's Paradise’ and ‘My Soul’)
Coolio
32
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 1, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Compton, California, U.S.
Died: September 8, 2022
Rapper Coolio soared to fame with his Grammy-winning single Gangsta's Paradise. He continued winning accolades with hits such as C U When U Get There. He later released a cookbook and hosted the culinary show Cookin' with Coolio. He was also part of WC and the Maad Circle.
 15 
Conway Twitty
(Country Singer-Songwriter Known for His Hit Songs 'Hello Darlin' and ‘You've Never Been This Far Before’)
Conway Twitty
28
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Friars Point, Mississippi, United States
Died: June 5, 1993
Country singer Harold Lloyd Jenkins, better known as Conway Twitty, gained fame with his duets with Loretta Lynn. The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee released chartbusting singles such as Hello Darlin. He constructed an entertainment hub in Hendersonville, Tennessee, called Twitty City. He was also a skilled baseball player.
 16 
Hattie McDaniel
(Actress and Comedian Best Known for Her Role as ‘Mammy’ in the Film ‘Gone with the Wind’)
Hattie McDaniel
18
Birthdate: June 10, 1893
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas, United States
Died: October 26, 1952

Hattie McDaniel was an American actress, comedian, and singer-songwriter. She became the first African-American to be honored with an Academy Award when her portrayal of Mammy earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Also a radio performer, Hattie McDaniel was the first African American woman to express her skills as a singer on the radio in the US.

 17 
John Hughes
(American Filmmaker Known for His Coming-Of-Age Teen Comedy Films with Honest Depictions of Suburban Teenage Life)
John Hughes
19
Birthdate: February 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, United States
Died: August 6, 2009

Largely known for popularizing the teen movie genre in the 1980s, John Hughes had dropped out of university to work as an ad copywriter and then a comedy writer. He soared to fame with his stories in National Lampoon magazine and then directed many films of the National Lampoon franchise.

 18 
Doug McClure
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Cowboy’ in the TV Series ‘The Virginian’)
Doug McClure
20
Birthdate: May 11, 1935
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Glendale, California, United States
Died: February 5, 1995
Doug McClure is best known as the cowboy Trampas from the long-running series The Virginian, based on the Owen Wister novel of the same name. He inspired the character of Troy McClure in The Simpsons and also appeared in films such as The Unforgiven and series such as Overland Trail.
 19 
Billy Preston
(Musician & Songwriter)
Billy Preston
12
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 2, 1946
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Died: June 6, 2006

Billy Preston was an American musician and top session keyboardist who worked with popular artists like Ray Charles, Reverend James Cleveland, Sam Cooke, and the Beatles. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Preston struggled throughout his life with his sexual orientation. He chose not to come out as gay until before his death, due to his religious beliefs.

 20 
Robert Reed
(Actor)
Robert Reed
14
Birthdate: October 19, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Highland Park, Illinois, United States
Died: May 12, 1992
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 21 
Toussaint Louverture
(Leader of the Haitian Revolution)
Toussaint Louverture
19
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 20, 1743
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint-Dominigue (present day Haiti)
Died: April 7, 1803

Haitian general,  Toussaint Louverture, was the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution. A revolutionary leader, he was devoted to the cause of Haitian independence and fought hard until he was killed by the French in a treacherous manner. The revolution continued after his death, leading to Haiti’s independence. He is now known as the Father of Haiti.

 22 
Peter Lorre
(Best Known for His Role as the Psychotic Child Murderer in the Thriller Film ‘M’)
Peter Lorre
17
Birthdate: June 26, 1904
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ružomberok, Slovakia
Died: March 23, 1964
Hungarian-American actor Peter Lorre went from stage-acting in Vienna to working in films in Germany. He soared to fame with the films M and The Man Who Knew Too Much. He left Germany during the Nazi rule. Fans loved him as Le Chiffre in the TV version of Casino Royale.
 23 
Nathaniel Hawthorne
(Novelist and Short Story Writer)
Nathaniel Hawthorne
7
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 4, 1804
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Salem, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 19, 1864

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American writer, known for dark romanticism and moral-themed novels and short stories. A descendant of judge John Hathorne of the Salem witch trials infamy, the writer was a friend of late American president Franklin Pierce. His well-known books include Twice-Told Tales, The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. Nathaniel was married to painter Sophia Peabody.

 24 
Reg E. Cathey
7
Birthdate: August 18, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama, United States
Died: February 9, 2018
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 25 
Teddy Pendergrass
(Singer)
Teddy Pendergrass
12
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 26, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kingstree, South Carolina, USA
Died: January 13, 2010
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 26 
Erik Satie
(French Composer and Pianist Known for His Work ‘Gymnopédies’)
Erik Satie
11
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 17, 1866
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Honfleur, France
Died: July 1, 1925

Erik Satie was a French pianist and composer. An influential artist during his time, Satie's works served as a predecessor to later artistic movements like repetitive music, minimalism, and the Theatre of the Absurd. Apart from being a musician, Erik Satie was also a prolific writer, who contributed to publications, such as Vanity Fair and 391.

 27 
Emperor Meiji
(Emperor of Japan from 1867 to 1912)
Emperor Meiji
5
Birthdate: November 3, 1852
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Died: July 30, 1912

Emperor Meiji of Japan presided over the all-round revolutionary transformation of his empire which emerged as a strong force on the global scene during his reign. His policies and actions led to Japan’s rapid growth and ended its isolation from the rest of the world. One of the noted changes during rule was the abolition of special privileges of samurais.

 28 
Harold Holt
(Former Prime Minister of Australia)
Harold Holt
21
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 5, 1908
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Stanmore
Died: December 17, 1967

Harold Holt was an Australian politician and the 17th prime minister of Australia. On 17 December 1967, Holt disappeared while swimming in rough conditions at Cheviot Beach. Following his disappearance, which gave rise to several conspiracy theories, Harold Holt was presumed dead. The Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre in Melbourne is named in his honor.

 29 
Gypsy Rose Lee
(One of the First Burlesque Artists to Imbue a Striptease With Grace and Style)
Gypsy Rose Lee
8
Birthdate: January 8, 1911
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Died: April 26, 1970

Gypsy Rose Lee was an American vedette and burlesque entertainer best remembered for her striptease act. She was also an actress, playwright, and author whose memoir inspired the 1959 stage musical, Gypsy. Lee's life inspired several works of art, including a song titled Gypsy Rose Lee by The Distillers. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 30 
Isoroku Yamamoto
(Japanese Naval Officer Who Conceived The Pearl Harbor Attack in 1941)
Isoroku Yamamoto
41
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 4, 1884
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
Died: April 18, 1943
Isoroku Yamamoto was a Marshal Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy. During World War II, he served as the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet and oversaw operations such as the Pearl Harbor attack. He died when his fighter plane was shot down by the U.S. Air Forces
 31 
Auguste Comte
(French Philosopher and Founder of Sociology and Positivism )
Auguste Comte
13
Birthdate: January 19, 1798
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Montpellier, France
Died: September 5, 1857
Known as the pioneer of sociology and positivism, philosopher Auguste Comte had an elite schooling at the prestigious École Polytechnique. Though infamous for being egocentric, he was known for his dedication to society and social upliftment. He authored The Positive Philosophy and was influenced by Henri de Saint-Simon.
 32 
Eli Whitney
(American inventor)
Eli Whitney
5
Birthdate: December 8, 1765
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Westborough
Died: January 8, 1825
 33 
Ovid
(Poet)
Ovid
8
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 20, 0043
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sulmo, Italy, Roman Republic
Died: 0017 AD

Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, better known as Ovid, lived during the rule of Augustus. He is held at par with Latin legends Virgil and Horace. Remembered for his mythological masterpiece the Metamorphoses, a 15-book Latin poem, he spent his final years exiled in a city on the Black Sea.

 34 
Juliet Prowse
(Film, Stage and Television Actress Who Had a Four-Decade Long Career)
Juliet Prowse
12
Birthdate: September 25, 1936
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Died: September 14, 1996

Juliet Prowse was an actress and dancer whose stage, film, and TV career spanned 40 years. She gained prominence during the 1960s by appearing in films like Can-Can and G.I. Blues, which accentuated her dancing skills and her attractive legs. Towards the end of her career, Juliet Prowse hosted PBS' Championship Ballroom Dance Competition

 35 
Helena Blavatsky
(Russian Writer and Co-Founder of the 'Theosophical Society')
Helena Blavatsky
3
Birthdate: August 12, 1831
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dnipro, Ukraine
Died: May 8, 1891

Russian philosopher Helena Blavatsky, or Madame Blavatsky, was one of the co-founders of the Theosophical Society. She popularized the slogan “There is no religion higher than truth.” She was inspired by the Arya Samaj and later converted to Buddhism. She also wrote books such as The Secret Doctrine.

 36 
Fanny Brice
(Model, Singer, Actress)
Fanny Brice
4
Birthdate: October 29, 1891
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: May 29, 1951

Fanny Brice was an American singer, comedienne, and actress. She is credited with creating one of the most popular radio comedy series of her generation, The Baby Snooks Show. Fanny Brice was posthumously honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the radio and film industries. Her life inspired the 1964 musical, Funny Girl. 

 37 
Emile Durkheim
(French Sociologist Who Established the 'Academic Discipline of Sociology')
Emile Durkheim
6
Birthdate: April 15, 1858
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Épinal, France
Died: November 15, 1917

Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist. He is credited with establishing the discipline of sociology for academic purposes and is widely regarded as the chief architect of modern social science. During his lifetime, Emile Durkheim published several works on topics like morality, religion, and education. He also played a major role in the development of sociology and anthropology as disciplines.

 38 
Anne Ramsey
(Actress)
Anne Ramsey
17
Birthdate: March 27, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Died: August 11, 1988
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 39 
John Donne
(17th Century English Poet Who is Considered the Preeminent Representative of the Metaphysical Poets)
John Donne
15
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 22, 1572
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London, England
Died: March 31, 1631
English metaphysical poet John Donne is best known for his touch of sensuality and spirituality in his poems. One of his best-known poems is The Canonization. He had also worked on Latin translations, elegies, sermons, and epigrams. He was known for his reckless lifestyle, that affected his financial status. 
 40 
Frank Morgan
(Actor)
Frank Morgan
4
Birthdate: June 1, 1890
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: September 18, 1949
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 41 
Barbara Jordan
11
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: February 21, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Houston
Died: January 17, 1996
 42 
Oliver Cromwell
(English Statesman)
Oliver Cromwell
31
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 25, 1599
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, Kingdom of England
Died: September 3, 1658
The Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Oliver Cromwell was a military leader and a devoted Puritan who belonged to an affluent landowning family. During the English Civil War, Cromwell fought against King Charles I and caused the deaths of at least 3,000 soldiers and civilians.
 43 
Charles Lamb
(English Essayist, Poet and Antiquarian Best Known for His Books: ‘Essays of Elia’ and ‘Tales from Shakespeare’)
Charles Lamb
9
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1775
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Inner Temple, London, England
Died: December 27, 1834

Renowned British essayist Charles Lamb was a major figure of the Romantic period. He is best remembered for his Essays of Elia and his book of abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays, Tales from Shakespeare, which he co-wrote with his sister, Mary. He had also once spent time in a mental facility.

 44 
Tug McGraw
(Baseball Player)
Tug McGraw
8
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 30, 1944
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Martinez, California, United States
Died: January 5, 2004
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 45 
Eliza Hamilton Holly
(Alexander Hamilton's Daughter)
Eliza Hamilton Holly
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 20, 1799
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York
Died: October 17, 1859
 46 
Sam Peckinpah
(Film director)
Sam Peckinpah
1
Birthdate: February 21, 1925
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Fresno, California, United States
Died: December 28, 1984
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 47 
Dred Scott
(American slave)
Dred Scott
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1799 AD
Birthplace: Southampton County, Virginia
Died: September 17, 1858
 48 
Olof Palme
(Prime Minister of Sweden from 1969 to 1976 and 1982 to 1986)
Olof Palme
9
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 30, 1927
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Östermalm, Stockholm, Sweden
Died: February 27, 1986

Former prime minister of Sweden, Olof Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party and rose to be one of Sweden’s most internationally renowned politicians. A prominent lawyer, he started his political career as PM Tage Erlander’s personal secretary. He had also held the ministries of education and communications.

 49 
Gustav Holst
(Was an English Composer)
Gustav Holst
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 21, 1874
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Died: May 25, 1934
 50 
Glenn Corbett
(Actor)
Glenn Corbett
0
Birthdate: August 17, 1933
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: El Monte, California, United States
Died: January 16, 1993