Famous People Who Died At 61

The list of famous people who died at 61 includes Anthony Bourdain, Ernest Hemingway, John Gotti, Bill Paxton, Benito Mussolini. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, composers, actors and emperors & kings and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 61 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & Germany and many more countries.
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 1 
Ernest Hemingway
(American Literary Icon Who Was Known for His Straightforward Prose & Use of Understatement)
Ernest Hemingway
87
Birthdate: July 21, 1899
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, United States
Died: July 2, 1961

Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist and short-story writer who had a strong impact on 20th-century fiction. He published seven novels and six short-story collections and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea are some of his classic works. He ended his own life in July 1961.

 2 
Anthony Bourdain
(American Celebrity Chef and TV Personality)
Anthony Bourdain
65
Listed In: Food Experts
Birthdate: June 25, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: June 8, 2018

Anthony Bourdain was an American celebrity chef. He was also a renowned author, media personality and travel documentarian. His shows about the exploration of international culture and cuisine were very popular. Apart from writing several books on food and cooking and travel explorations, Bourdain also wrote fiction and historical non-fiction. In June 8, 2018, he died by suicide in France.

 3 
Bill Paxton
(Actor and Filmmaker Best Known for His TV Series 'Big Love')
Bill Paxton
34
Birthdate: May 17, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Died: February 25, 2017

Versatile actor, Bill Paxton is recognised for his work in the movies, Apollo 13, Twister and Titanic, as well as the television series, Big Love. Before these, he began his career as a set-dresser, learnt acting under Stella Adler, did various minor roles and finally bagged films like The Terminator and Alien. His work as a director are Frailty and Fish Heads.

 4 
Sally Ride
(The First American Woman and The Third Woman in Space)
Sally Ride
26
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 26, 1951
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Encino, Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: July 23, 2012
Astronaut and physicist Sally Ride was the first American woman and the youngest American astronaut to enter space. Following her death, it was revealed that she had been in a 27-year lesbian relationship with tennis player and professor Tam O'Shaughnessy. Sally herself was a ranked junior tennis player, too.
 5 
Andre Braugher
15
Birthdate: July 1, 1962
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Died: December 11, 2023
Andre Braugher is best known for his Emmy-winning performances as Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street and as Nick Atwater in Thief. Fans also loved him as Raymond Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as Woodchuck Coodchuck-Berkowitz in BoJack Horseman, and in the movies City of Angels and Poseidon
 6 
Roddy Piper
(Canadian Professional Wrestler and Actor)
Roddy Piper
16
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 17, 1954
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saskatoon, Canada
Died: July 31, 2015

Canadian professional wrestler, amateur boxer, and actor, Roddy Piper, is best remembered for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).  He headlined multiple PPV events and hosted the popular WWF interview segment Piper's Pit. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He also appeared in a few films and TV shows.

 7 
Miguel Ferrer
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Bob Morton’ in the Film ‘RoboCop’)
Miguel Ferrer
11
Birthdate: February 7, 1955
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
Died: January 19, 2017

Miguel Ferrer was an American actor who achieved popularity after portraying Bob Morton in the 1987 cyberpunk superhero film RoboCop. His popularity led him to be featured in a couple of music videos. After his death at the age of 61, Peter David named Spider-Man 2099's alter ego after Miguel Ferrer.

 8 
Gregor Mendel
(Know for Creating the science of Genetics)
Gregor Mendel
10
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: July 20, 1822
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hynčice, Vražné, Czechia
Died: January 6, 1884

A scientist, meteorologist, mathematician, and biologist, Gregor Mendel is considered the founder of the modern science of genetics. He conducted a series of experiments on pea plants between 1856 and 1863, establishing many rules of heredity. Besides his work on pea plants, he also described novel plant species and conducted experiments with hawkweed and honeybees.

 9 
Oliver Reed
18
Birthdate: February 13, 1938
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wimbledon, London, England
Died: May 2, 1999

Oliver Reed was an English actor who was considered one of the most bankable actors at the peak of his career. Characterized by his hellraiser lifestyle and macho image, Reed's problem with alcohol addiction was highly publicized and overshadowed his acting achievements. He often got into trouble because of his drinking habit and was once arrested for disturbing the peace.

 10 
Miyamoto Musashi
(Japanese Swordsman and Philosopher Who Became Popular Through His Unique Double-Bladed Swordsmanship)
Miyamoto Musashi
11
Birthdate: 1584 AD
Birthplace: Harima Province, Japan
Died: June 13, 1645

Miyamoto Musashi was a Japanese swordsman, writer, strategist, and philosopher. Widely regarded as a Kensei, Musashi became famous through his stories of bravery, which involves his undefeated streak of 61 duels. He is also credited with founding the Niten Ichi-ryū school of swordsmanship. His life has inspired several films, TV series, stage plays, and video games.

 11 
Peter Lawford
(Actor and a Member of the 'Rat-Pack' Group of Entertainers)
Peter Lawford
15
Birthdate: September 7, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London, England
Died: December 24, 1984

Peter Lawford, a member of the "Rat Pack,” appeared in quite a few MGM films such as Son of Lassie and Two Sisters from Boston. He also appeared in series such as The Thin Man. His first wife, Patricia Helen Kennedy, was the sister of John F. Kennedy.

 12 
George Eliot
(English Novelist, Poet and One of the Leading Writers of the Victorian Era)
George Eliot
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 22, 1819
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Warwickshire, England
Died: December 22, 1880

Mary Ann Evans, known by her pseudonym George Eliot, was an English poet, novelist, translator, and journalist. One of the most prominent writers of the Victorian era, Eliot's works are known for their psychological insight, realism, and detailed description of the countryside. Her novel Middlemarch was voted one of the greatest literary works in a 2007 poll conducted by Time.

 13 
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
(One of the Most Important Figures in German Idealism)
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
24
Birthdate: August 27, 1770
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
Died: November 14, 1831
German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel worked on ideas such as absolute idealism; the philosophy of spirit, or Geist; and the master–slave dialectic. His views influenced later thinkers and intellectuals, such as Karl Popper and Karl Marx, with the latter using Hegel’s views on the civil society.
 14 
Sergei Prokofiev
(Composer and pianist)
Sergei Prokofiev
36
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 23, 1891
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Krasne, Ukraine
Died: March 5, 1953

Sergei Prokofiev was a Russian Soviet pianist, composer, and conductor. Renowned for creating masterpieces across various genres, Prokofiev is widely considered one of the 20th century's major composers. Many other composers like Arthur Honegger have called Prokofiev the greatest contemporary musician of all time. An open pianists' competition, which is held every year in Ukraine, is named after Sergei Prokofiev.

 15 
Puyi
(Last Emperor of China)
Puyi
15
Birthdate: February 7, 1906
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Beijing, China
Died: October 17, 1967

Puyi served as the final emperor of China's last imperial dynasty, The Qing dynasty. After Manchuria was invaded by Japan, Puyi became a puppet at the hands of the Japanese and was chosen as the emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo. He then signed many edicts, given to him by the Japanese, including the one that made slavery legal.

 16 
Samuel de Champlain
18
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 13, 1574
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hiers-Brouage, Marennes-Hiers-Brouage, France
Died: December 25, 1635

Samuel de Champlain was a French colonist, navigator, draftsman, soldier, and explorer who made between 21 and 29 trips across the Atlantic Ocean. He founded Quebec and New France and is considered an important figure in Canadian history. He is also referred to as the "Father of New France." As a businessman, he founded many trading companies.

 17 
Walter White
(American Civil Rights Activist)
Walter White
7
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: July 1, 1893
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Died: March 21, 1955
 18 
Zheng He
(Chinese Explorer, Admiral and Diplomat)
Zheng He
21
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 23, 1371
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Yunnan
Died: 1433 AD
Chinese explorer Zheng He was also Chinese Ming dynasty eunuch. He was born Ma He, a Muslim, and was named Zheng by the Yongle Emperor, whom he helped to depose the Jianwen Emperor. He became the commander of Nanjing and led expeditions to places such as Southeast Asia and India.
 19 
James Horner
(Composer, conductor, and orchestrator of film scores)
James Horner
9
Birthdate: August 14, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: June 22, 2015
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 20 
Walter Scott
(Novelist and Poet known for his Works Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and The Lady of the Lake)
Walter Scott
11
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: August 15, 1771
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: September 21, 1832

Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and playwright. Scott's ability as a writer and his knowledge of history made him a pioneering figure in the formation of the historical novel genre. An influential writer, many of his works remain classics of Scottish as well as English-language literature. Scott was admired by other prominent writers like Letitia Elizabeth Landon.

 21 
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
(Japanese Samurai)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
11
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: March 17, 1537
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Died: September 18, 1598

Japanese samurai and daimyō Toyotomi Hideyoshi of the Sengoku period, also known as the second Great Unifier of Japan, became the Chancellor of the Realm (Daijō-daijin) and Imperial Regent (kampaku). He constructed the Osaka Castle, banned slavery, and established the Tokugawa class system and the Council of Five Elders.

 22 
Jeremy Brett
(Actor)
Jeremy Brett
6
Birthdate: November 3, 1933
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Berkswell
Died: September 12, 1995
 23 
Samuel Coleridge
6
Birthdate: October 21, 1772
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ottery St Mary, Devon, Great Britain, United Kingdom
Died: July 25, 1834

Samuel Coleridge was an English poet, philosopher, theologian, and literary critic. He is credited with co-founding the Romantic Movement in England along with his friend William Wordsworth. Despite struggling from bouts of depression and anxiety throughout his adult life, Samuel Coleridge had a major influence on American transcendentalism and writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 24 
Benigno Aquino III
(15th President of the Philippines)
Benigno Aquino III
35
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: February 8, 1960
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
Died: June 24, 2021
Benigno Aquino III, also known as PNoy, or Noynoy, was the president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. He has also chaired the Liberal Party. Son of Filipino politician Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., he was named to Time 100 in 2013. He has also faced legal charges for corruption.
 25 
Kamehameha I
(King of Hawaii)
Kamehameha I
8
Birthdate: 1758 AD
Birthplace: Kohala, Hawaii
Died: May 8, 1819
 26 
Bobby Farrell
(Member of the 1970s pop and disco group Boney M)
Bobby Farrell
8
Listed In: Dancers
Birthdate: October 6, 1949
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: San Nicolas, Aruba
Died: December 30, 2010
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 27 
Lead Belly
(Folk and blues singer)
Lead Belly
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 23, 1888
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mooringsport, Louisiana, United States
Died: December 6, 1949
 28 
Prophet Muhammad
(Founder of Islam)
Prophet Muhammad
16
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 0571 AD
Birthplace: Mecca, Hejaz, Arabia
Died: June 8, 0632

Prophet Muhammad was an Arab religious, political, and social leader. He is credited with founding the world's second-largest religion, Islam. He is believed to have been sent to preach and confirm the teachings of other prophets, such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. He is also believed to have received revelations from God, which form the verses of the Quran.

 29 
Nicholas Colasanto
7
Birthdate: January 19, 1924
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Died: February 12, 1985
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 30 
Billy Martin
(Baseball player)
Billy Martin
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 16, 1928
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Berkeley, California, United States
Died: December 25, 1989
 31 
Lal Bahadur Shastri
(2nd Prime Minister of India)
Lal Bahadur Shastri
37
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 2, 1904
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died: January 11, 1966

The second prime minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, was known for his environmental campaigns and his support for the White Revolution. His slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, became immensely popular. He ended the war by signing the Tashkent Agreement, but died a day later.

 32 
Strother Martin
8
Birthdate: March 26, 1919
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kokomo, Indiana, United States
Died: August 1, 1980
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 33 
Jack Soo
(Actor)
Jack Soo
1
Birthdate: October 28, 1917
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Oakland, California, USA
Died: January 11, 1979
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 34 
Diego Velázquez (Painter)
(Spanish Painter and Leading Artist in the Court of King Philip IV of Spain and Portugal)
Diego Velázquez (Painter)
7
Birthdate: June 6, 1599
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Seville, Spain
Died: August 6, 1660

Diego Velázquez was a Spanish painter who served as the most important artist in King Philip IV's court. The leading artist of the Spanish Golden Age, Velázquez's work served as a model for impressionist and realist painters of the 19th century. In the 20th century, personalities like Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso re-interpreted some of Velázquez's most iconic images.

 35 
Joe Diffie
(Singer-songwriter)
Joe Diffie
8
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 28, 1958
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Died: March 29, 2020
 36 
Hoyt Axton
(Singer-songwriter)
Hoyt Axton
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 25, 1938
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Duncan, Oklahoma, United States
Died: October 26, 1999
 37 
Jude the Apostle
(One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament)
Jude the Apostle
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 0001 AD
Birthplace: Galilee, Israel
Died: 0062 AD
 38 
Earl Hindman
(Actor)
Earl Hindman
4
Birthdate: October 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bisbee, Arizona, USA
Died: December 29, 2003
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 39 
Dan Duryea
(Known for His Roles in the Films: ‘The Pride of the Yankees’ and ‘None But the Lonely Heart’)
Dan Duryea
6
Birthdate: January 23, 1907
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: White Plains, New York, United States
Died: June 7, 1968

Dan Duryea was an American actor best remembered for portraying negative roles. However, he was also renowned for his versatility as he played a wide variety of leading roles as well. He also became famous as a TV actor and played important roles in series like China Smith and The New Adventures of China Smith.

 40 
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(Socio-religious Reformer)
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
26
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: May 22, 1772
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Radhanagore, West Bengal, India
Died: September 27, 1833

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian social and religious reformer. He is credited with co-founding the Brahmo Sabha, a social-religious reform movement. Often referred to as the Father of the Bengal Renaissance, Roy has had an influential role in fields like politics, education, and religion. In 2004, he was ranked 10th in BBC's Greatest Bengali of all time poll.

 41 
Theresa Saldana
(Actress)
Theresa Saldana
0
Birthdate: August 20, 1954
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: June 6, 2016
 42 
Don Draper
(Actor)
Don Draper
9
Birthdate: September 25, 1929
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Modesto, California, USA
Died: December 17, 1990
 43 
John Franklin
(Explorer, Royal Navy officer)
John Franklin
8
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 16, 1786
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Spilsby, England
Died: June 11, 1847
 44 
Aurelian
(Emperor)
Aurelian
9
Birthdate: September 9, 0214
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: September 25, 0275

Roman emperor Aurelian ruled from 270 to 275. His military triumphs reunited the Roman Empire and put an end to the Crisis of the Third Century. He built the Aurelian Walls in Rome. Known as the Restitutor Orbis, he defeated the barbarian armies of the Goths and the Alamanni.

 45 
Paul Ehrlich
(Scientist)
Paul Ehrlich
2
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: March 14, 1854
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Strzelin, Poland
Died: August 20, 1915

German scientist Paul Ehrlich is remembered for his contribution to immunology, which also won him a Nobel Prize. Known as the pioneer of chemotherapy, he also discovered the first-known treatment of syphilis. Born into a business family, he was introduced to the method of studying cells by his pathologist uncle.

 46 
Liu Xiaobo
(Chinese Human Rights Activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate)
Liu Xiaobo
6
Birthdate: December 28, 1955
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Changchun, China
Died: July 13, 2017

Liu Xiaobo was a Chinese activist, literary critic, and philosopher. He is best remembered for organizing campaigns that aimed at ending the one-party rule in China. He was honored with the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle for human rights in China. Liu is the first Chinese citizen to be honored with a Nobel Prize while residing in China.

 47 
James Fenimore Cooper
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 15, 1789
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Burlington, New Jersey
Died: September 14, 1851
 48 
Al-Razi
(Iranian Physician, Philosopher and Alchemist)
Al-Razi
3
Birthdate: 0864 AD
Birthplace: Shahr-e-Rey, Iran
Died: 0925 AD
 49 
Andre Marie Ampere
12
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: January 20, 1775
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Parish of St. Nizier, Lyon, France
Died: June 10, 1836

Andre Marie Ampere was a French physicist and mathematician. He is best known for being one of the founders of the science of classical electromagnetism. He was a professor at the École Polytechnique and the Collège de France and a member of the French Academy of Sciences. The base SI unit of electric current, the ampere, is named after him. 

 50 
Dwight Clark
(American football player)
Dwight Clark
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 8, 1957
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kinston, North Carolina, United States
Died: June 4, 2018
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)