Famous People Who Died At 69

The list of famous people who died at 69 includes Elizabeth I of England, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Saddam Hussein, Griselda Blanco. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, emperors & kings, philosophers and poets and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 69 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & Italy and many more countries.
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 1 
Alan Rickman
(Actor and Director)
Alan Rickman
92
Birthdate: February 21, 1946
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England
Died: January 14, 2016

One of the most admired British actors, Alan Rickman gained global recognition for his work on stage and screen. The late actor excelled at portraying villainous characters especially in movies like Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny. Other notable works of the versatile actor include Harry Potter film series and Truly, Madly, Deeply.

 2 
David Bowie
(Regarded as One of the Most Influential Musicians of the 20th Century)
David Bowie
156
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 8, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: January 10, 2016

English singer-songwriter and actor David Bowie is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Dubbed "The Greatest Rock Star Ever" by Rolling Stone magazine, he rose to international prominence in the 1970s with his innovative style of music. Deeply dedicated to his profession, he remained musically active until his death in 2016.

 3 
Louis Armstrong
(American Writer & Professor of Biochemistry Best Known for His Hard Science Fiction Novels)
Louis Armstrong
52
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 4, 1901
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: July 6, 1971

Louis Armstrong was an American trumpeter and singer who played an important role in the development of jazz. Thanks to his playing, trumpet became known as a solo instrument and jazz, which was previously known as a collectively improvised folk music, became a soloist's art form. Not surprisingly, Louis Armstrong is widely accepted as the embodiment of jazz. 

 4 
Elizabeth I of England
(Queen of England)
Elizabeth I of England
59
Birthdate: September 7, 1533
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Palace of Placentia
Died: March 24, 1603
Elizabeth I, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, ruled as the Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. She had been declared illegitimate after her mother’s execution. Nicknamed The Virgin Queen for her unmarried status, she established an English Protestant church and served as its governor.
 5 
Genghis Khan
(Great Khan of the Mongol Empire (1206 - 1227))
Genghis Khan
20
Birthdate: 1158 AD
Birthplace: Khentii Mountains, Mongolia
Died: August 18, 1227

The founder and first Great Khan and Emperor of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan is often considered to be the greatest conqueror of all time. A brutal ruler, he enjoyed exceptional military successes and occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China. Besides his military accomplishments, he is also credited with revitalizing the Mongol Empire's writing system.

 6 
Desi Arnaz
(Actor, Producer and Bandleader Best Known for His TV Sitcom ‘I Love Lucy’)
Desi Arnaz
40
Birthdate: March 2, 1917
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Died: December 2, 1986

Desi Arnaz was born wealthy but lost everything in the 1933 Cuban Revolution. He paired up with his first wife, Lucille Ball, in I Love Lucy, thus inventing the modern sitcom/syndicated show format, with live audiences. He owned a production company and was the bandleader of the Desi Arnaz Orchestra.

 7 
Harold Ramis
(American actor)
Harold Ramis
19
Birthdate: November 21, 1944
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: February 24, 2014
 8 
Margot Kidder
(Actress and Activist Known for Her Role as ‘Lois Lane’ in the ‘Superman Film Series’)
Margot Kidder
28
Birthdate: October 17, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Yellowknife, Canada
Died: May 13, 2018

Margot Kidder is best remembered for her roles as Lois Lane in the Superman movie franchise and as Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror. Fans also loved her in the hit Broadway play The Vagina Monologues. She was a vocal anti-war and pro-environment activist. She eventually died by suicide.

 9 
Richard Wagner
(Known for His Operas and Music Dramas ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ and ‘Tristan und Isolde’)
Richard Wagner
34
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 22, 1813
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Leipzig, Germany
Died: February 13, 1883
German composer and conductor Richard Wagner is best remembered for his operas and music dramas. He explored the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, which combined many forms of art, including the visual, poetic, and musical. He also established the opera house Bayreuth Festspielhaus, which hosted his works The Ring and Parsifal.
 10 
William Blake
(English Poet Who is Considered a Seminal Figure in the History of the Poetry of the Romantic Age)
William Blake
31
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 28, 1757
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: August 12, 1827
William Blake, author of The Songs of Innocence and of Experience, was a prominent figure of the early phase of the Romantic Age, known as the pre-Romantic era. Known for his visual artistry and poetry, he was also a staunch abolitionist and a forerunner of the "free love" movement.
 11 
Evel Knievel
(American Stunt Performer Known for His Motorcycle Kumps)
Evel Knievel
25
Birthdate: October 17, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Butte, Montana, United States
Died: November 30, 2007

Evel Knievel was an entertainer and stunt performer. He attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps in his career, a feat that gained him much popularity. In 1999, he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He was known to be a man of values and actively preached anti-drug messages to youngsters. He also campaigned for motorcycle helmet safety. 

 12 
Patty Duke
(Actress and the-then Youngest Person to Receive an Oscar in a Competitive Category)
Patty Duke
16
Birthdate: December 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, United States
Died: March 29, 2016

Best known for her Academy Award-winning portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, Patty Duke was born to a cashier mother and a cab driver father. As a child actor, she was abused by her talent managers. Suffering from bipolar disorder, she later became a mental-health advocate.

 13 
Catherine de' Medici
(Queen Consort of France (1547 - 1559))
Catherine de' Medici
28
Birthdate: April 13, 1519
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Died: January 5, 1589

Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who played a key role in the political affairs of France during the rule of her sons, a period which came to be known as the age of Catherine de' Medici. Catherine is credited with saving the monarchy from deposition during the French Wars of Religion

 14 
Richard Feynman
(One of the Joint Winners of Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965)
Richard Feynman
24
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 11, 1918
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: February 15, 1988

Theoretical physicist Richard Feynman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, along with Julian Schwinger and Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, for his research on quantum electrodynamics. He also contributed to the development of the atomic bomb. Feyman made it to Physics World’s list of the 10 greatest physicists of all time.

 15 
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, 1963

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.

 16 
Gregg Allman
(Member of the Rock Band 'The Allman Brothers Band')
Gregg Allman
25
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 8, 1947
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Died: May 27, 2017

Gregg Allman was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is credited with co-founding the rock band The Allman Brothers Band along with his brother Duane Allman. Dubbed the Southern rock pioneer, Allman was recognized for his distinctive, soulful voice; Rolling Stone magazine named him in its 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list.

 17 
Alan Thicke
(Best Known for Playing Dr. Jason Seaver on the 1980s Sitcom ‘Growing Pains’ on ABC)
Alan Thicke
16
Birthdate: March 1, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kirkland Lake, Canada
Died: December 13, 2016

Best known for his star role in the television sitcom Growing Pains, Alan Thicke was a Canadian actor, songwriter and television host, who began his career as a series regular in It's Our Stuff, eventually appearing in numerous films and television productions. Also a popular game and talk show host, he patronized many NGOs including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

 18 
Jerry Orbach
(Actor, Singer)
Jerry Orbach
8
Birthdate: October 20, 1935
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: December 28, 2004
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 19 
Sergei Rachmaninoff
(Russian Composer Who Was Considered One of the Finest Pianists of His Era)
Sergei Rachmaninoff
15
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 1, 1873
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Starorussky Uyezd
Died: March 28, 1943

Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, conductor, and virtuoso pianist of the late Romantic period. Credited with exploring the expressive possibilities of the piano, Rachmaninoff's music continues to be featured in films. His four-year struggle with depression, which was followed by the critical failure of his Symphony No. 1, was depicted in the 2015 musical Preludes.

 20 
Emmeline Pankhurst
(English Political Activist Who Organised the UK Suffragette Movement)
Emmeline Pankhurst
22
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: July 15, 1858
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Moss Side, Manchester, United Kingdom
Died: June 14, 1928
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist best remembered for helping women earn the right to vote in elections by organizing the UK suffragette movement. For playing a major role in achieving women's suffrage in the UK, Pankhurst was named in Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century list in 1999.
 21 
Dennis Farina
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Joe Fontana’ in the TV Series ‘Law & Order’)
Dennis Farina
12
Birthdate: February 29, 1944
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: July 22, 2013
Dennis Farina went from being a CPD officer to an actor who is mostly cast in roles of police officers or mobsters. He is best known for his portrayal of Joe Fontana in Law and Order. He has also been part of movies such as Midnight Run and Get Shorty.
 22 
Jackie Coogan
(Actor)
Jackie Coogan
5
Birthdate: October 26, 1914
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: March 1, 1984
 23 
Vespasian
(Roman Emperor Who Reigned from AD 69 to 79)
Vespasian
11
Birthdate: November 18, 0009
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Falacrine
Died: June 23, 0079
Vespasian, the Roman emperor from 69 to 79 AD, established the Flavian dynasty. He was the first emperor from an equestrian family and a great military leader who was the legate of Legio II Augusta. Nero committed suicide when Vespasian besieged Jerusalem, leading to the Year of the Four Emperors.
 24 
Zora Neale Hurston
(Folklorist, Anthropologist)
Zora Neale Hurston
21
Birthdate: January 7, 1891
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Notasulga
Died: January 28, 1960

Zora Neale Hurston was an author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. As an African American woman, she often depicted racial issues in the films she made. Her works also reflected her struggles as a black woman. In her early career, she conducted anthropological and ethnographic research and focused more on writing and film-making in her later years.

 25 
Afeni Shakur
(American Political Activist and Member of the ‘Black Panther Party’)
Afeni Shakur
26
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: January 22, 1947
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lumberton, North Carolina, United States
Died: May 2, 2016

Afeni Shakur was a political activist best known as the mother of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. Afeni Shakur was an important member of the popular political organization Black Panther Party where she mentored new members like Jamal Joseph, Dhoruba Bin-Wahad, and Cleo Silvers.

 26 
Nancy Kulp
(Actress)
Nancy Kulp
12
Birthdate: August 28, 1921
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: February 3, 1991

Nancy Kulp was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Miss Jane Hathaway in the popular television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1967. A multi-talented personality, Kulp was also renowned for her comedic skills. She also tried her hand at politics and teaching before succumbing to cancer in 1991.

 27 
Bear Bryant
(One of the Greatest College Football Coaches of All Time)
Bear Bryant
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 11, 1913
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States
Died: January 26, 1983

Bear Bryant was an American football player who represented the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama. Bryant is remembered for his illustrious career as a coach. He served as the head coach of the Crimson Tide for 25 years, during which he helped his team win six national championships. He is regarded as the greatest college football coach ever.

 28 
Dusty Rhodes
(One of the Greatest Wrestlers and Talkers in the History of Professional Wrestling)
Dusty Rhodes
15
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 11, 1945
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States
Died: June 11, 2015
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 29 
Buddy Rich
(Musician)
Buddy Rich
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 30, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: April 2, 1987
 30 
Aristotle Onassis
(Businessman)
Aristotle Onassis
15
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: January 20, 1906
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Karataş, İzmir, Turkey
Died: March 15, 1975

A Greek shipping magnate who was one of the world's richest men at one point, Aristotle Onassis held the world's largest privately-owned shipping fleet at the peak of his career. He was involved in the privatization of the Greek national airlines as well. He had liaisons with many famous and beautiful women and was married to Jacqueline Kennedy.

 31 
Johnny Unitas
(American Football Player Who Played as a Quarterback)
Johnny Unitas
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 7, 1933
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: September 11, 2002

Johnny Unitas was an American football player who played as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). A three-time NFL champion and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, Unitas is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL. In 1979, Johnny Unitas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 32 
Pablo Neruda
(Chilean poet)
Pablo Neruda
55
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 12, 1904
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Parral, Chile
Died: September 23, 1973

Chilean poet-diplomat and politician, Pablo Neruda, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. He was a versatile writer and his works include surrealist poems, historical epics, political manifestos, and love poems. He is considered the national poet of Chile. As a politician, he served a term as a senator for the Chilean Communist Party and held several diplomatic positions.

 33 
Rosalind Russell
(Best Known for Her Roles in Films: ‘His Girl Friday’,’ Gypsy’ and ‘Auntie Mame')
Rosalind Russell
3
Birthdate: June 4, 1907
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Died: November 28, 1976

Rosalind Russell is remembered as Hildy Johnson from the film His Girl Friday and as Mame Dennis from Auntie Mame. She won five Golden Globes and was nominated for several Academy Awards. Mostly seen playing professional women, she also won a Tony for her role in the musical Wonderful Town.

 34 
Hannah Arendt
(One of the Most Influential Political Theorists of the 20th Century)
Hannah Arendt
6
Birthdate: October 14, 1906
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Linden - Mitte, Hanover, Germany
Died: December 4, 1975

Hannah Arendt was a political theorist. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most prominent political thinkers, Hannah Arendt's articles and books have had a significant influence on philosophy and political theory. Her life and work inspired the 2012 biographical drama film, Hannah Arendt. Her work has also inspired several biographies written by popular authors.

 35 
Francesco Petrarch
(Poet, Scholar and Humanist)
Francesco Petrarch
13
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 20, 1304
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Arezzo, Italy
Died: July 19, 1374
Legendary Renaissance poet and the father of humanism Petrarch is remembered for his poems addressed to a certain Laura. While his lawyer father pushed him into studying law, Petrarch’s love for literature made him quit the domain after 7 years, following which he focused on writing. 
 36 
Merlin Olsen
(American Football Player)
Merlin Olsen
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 15, 1940
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Logan, Utah, USA
Died: March 11, 2010
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 37 
Dave Thomas
(Founder and CEO of Wendy's)
Dave Thomas
12
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: July 2, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Died: January 8, 2002
 38 
Hans Albert Einstein
(Engineer, Educator)
Hans Albert Einstein
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 14, 1904
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Bern, Switzerland
Died: July 26, 1973
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 39 
Gracie Allen
(Comedian)
Gracie Allen
6
Birthdate: July 26, 1895
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
Died: August 27, 1964
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
 40 
Bobby Jones
(American Amateur Golfer)
Bobby Jones
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 17, 1902
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Died: December 18, 1971

Bobby Jones was an American amateur golfer and lawyer. One of the most important personalities in the history of golf, Jones founded or co-founded the Augusta National Golf Club as well as the Masters Tournament. He also helped design the Augusta. Bobby Jones’ innovations, which he brought to the Masters Tournameny, have been used in professional golf tournaments around the world.

 41 
Dhirubhai Ambani
(Indian Business Tycoon Who Founded Reliance Industries)
Dhirubhai Ambani
43
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: December 28, 1932
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Junagadh
Died: July 6, 2002

Dhirubhai Ambani was an Indian business tycoon. He is credited with founding Reliance Industries, which is currently the largest company in the country in terms of revenue. Dhirubhai Ambani's life and career inspired the 2007 drama film Guru, in which his character was portrayed by Abhishek Bachchan.

 42 
Greg Lake
(Former Singer-songwriter who gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP))
Greg Lake
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 10, 1947
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Poole, Dorset, England, United Kingdom
Died: December 7, 2016
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 43 
Ken Stabler
(American Professional Football Quarterback)
Ken Stabler
10
Listed In: Football Players
Birthdate: December 25, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Foley, Alabama, United States
Died: July 8, 2015
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 44 
Maurice McDonald
(Co-founder of McDonald's)
Maurice McDonald
6
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: November 26, 1902
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Manchester, New Hampshire, United States
Died: December 11, 1971
 45 
Clarence Clemons
(Best Known as the Saxophonist of the Rock Band 'The E Street Band')
Clarence Clemons
7
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 11, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Died: June 18, 2011

Clarence Clemons, also popular as The Big Man, gained fame as the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. While he joined the Maryland State College on both football and music scholarships, a car accident later ended his football dreams. He also had his own band, The Red Bank Rockers.

 46 
Alan Bates
(British Actor Best Known for His Films: 'The Fixer', 'Whistle Down the Wind' and 'A Kind of Loving')
Alan Bates
9
Birthdate: February 17, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Allestree, Derby, England
Died: December 27, 2003

Alan Bates was an English actor who achieved popularity during the 1960s by playing important roles in films like Whistle Down the Wind and A Kind of Loving. The same decade, he also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Yakov Shepsovitch Bok in the 1968 British drama film The Fixer.   

 47 
Deke Slayton
(Astronaut)
Deke Slayton
6
Listed In: Engineers
Birthdate: March 1, 1924
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sparta, Wisconsin, United States
Died: June 13, 1993
 48 
Bonnie Franklin
5
Birthdate: January 6, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
Died: March 1, 2013
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 49 
Sukarno
(President of Indonesia)
Sukarno
22
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: June 6, 1901
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Surabaya, Indonesia
Died: June 21, 1970

Sukarno was an Indonesian politician who played a major role in the Indonesian struggle for independence. An important leader of the country's nationalist movement, Sukarno declared Indonesian independence from the Dutch Empire and became Indonesia's first president in 1945. He was successful in resisting Dutch re-colonization efforts and went on to serve as the Indonesian president until 1967.

 50 
Bell Hooks
Bell Hooks
13
Birthdate: September 25, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hopkinsville, Kentucky, United States
Died: December 15, 2021