Famous People Who Died At 74

The list of famous people who died at 74 includes Fred Rogers, Joseph Stalin, Muhammad Ali, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mark Twain. Famous personalities featured on this list, include poets, political leaders, actors and novelists and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 74 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & France and many more countries.
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 1 
Muhammad Ali
(The Greatest Heavyweight Boxer of All Time)
Muhammad Ali
204
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: January 17, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: June 3, 2016

Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali was a major figure of the 20th century. He was an inspirational figure for African-Americans during the civil rights movement. Because of his opposition to Vietnam War and his refusal to be drafted into military, Muhammad Ali became an icon for the larger counterculture generation.

 2 
Roald Dahl
(One of the World's Greatest Authors)
Roald Dahl
80
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 13, 1916
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales
Died: November 23, 1990

British writer, Roald Dahl, is considered as one of the greatest children’s authors. He is one of the best-selling authors of all-time and had a career spanning decades. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, The Twits and Matilda are some of his classic works. He also wrote short stories and novels meant for adults.

 3 
Mark Twain
(Lauded as the 'Greatest Humorist' the United States Has Produced)
Mark Twain
48
Birthdate: November 30, 1835
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Florida, Missouri, United States
Died: April 21, 1910

Mark Twain, “the father of American literature,” was one of the world’s greatest 19-th century humorists and authors. His novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were drawn from his childhood experiences in Missouri. In his later life, he sunk into bankruptcy and also recovered.

 4 
Fred Rogers
(Television Host and Creator of the Preschool Television Series 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood')
Fred Rogers
35
Birthdate: March 20, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Latrobe, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: February 27, 2003

TV personality, musician, and author, Fred Rogers, is best remembered for hosting the preschool TV series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which ran for over 30 years, from 1968 to 2001. His work was widely lauded and he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. Besides his TV career, he was also an ordained Presbyterian minister.

 5 
Bing Crosby
(Actor and One of the Most Popular and Influential Musical Artists of the 20th Century)
Bing Crosby
49
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 3, 1903
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, United States
Died: October 14, 1977

Bing Crosby was an American singer, actor, and comedian. Widely regarded as the first multimedia star, Bing was a leader in motion picture grosses, radio ratings, and record sales from 1930 to 1954. His intimate singing style influenced several popular singers, such as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, John Lennon, and Elvis Presley among others.

 6 
Dennis Hopper
(Actor, Filmmaker and Photographer Best Known for His Films: ‘Easy Rider’, ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘The Last Movie’)
Dennis Hopper
25
Birthdate: May 17, 1936
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dodge City, Kansas, United States
Died: May 29, 2010

Dennis Hopper was an American actor, photographer, and filmmaker. His directorial film debut Easy Rider glorified the counterculture of the 1960s and became the cinematic symbol of counterculture, inspiring several youngsters. Also a photographer, Hopper’s photographs of the 1963 March on Washington were published. Hopper is also credited with influencing actress Amber Tamblyn whose father was one of his friends.

 7 
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
(2nd President of UAE (2004–2022))
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
69
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 25, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Al Ain, Trucial States
Died: May 13, 2022

Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, son of the UAE’s first president, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is the reigning president of the UAE and the emir of Abu Dhabi. He heads the UAE Armed Forces and the Supreme Petroleum Council. In 2011, he was the world’s fourth-wealthiest monarch.

 8 
Meat Loaf
(American Rock Singer Known for His Powerful, Wide-Ranging Voice and Theatrical Live Shows)
Meat Loaf
42
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 27, 1947
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
Died: January 20, 2022

Born Marvin Lee Aday, rock singer Meat Loaf was best known for his Bat Out of Hell trilogy. Famous for his wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows, this Grammy-winning performer also appeared in over 50 movies and television shows. 

 9 
R. Lee Ermey
(American actor)
R. Lee Ermey
15
Birthdate: March 24, 1944
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Emporia, Kansas, U.S.
Died: April 15, 2018
R. Lee Ermey’s past as a Marine drill instructor later got him typecast in roles of authoritarian figures in movies. He is best remembered for his Golden Globe-nominated role in Full Metal Jacket. He also hosted the History Channel shows Mail Call and Lock n' Load with R. Lee Ermey.
 10 
Rosemary Clooney
(Actress and Singer)
Rosemary Clooney
29
Birthdate: May 23, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Maysville, Kentucky, United States
Died: June 29, 2002
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Rosemary Clooney, aunt of George Clooney, was known for her roles in movies such as White Christmas and for her hit jazz/pop tracks such as This Ole House. She chaired a foundation for the brain-injured, in memory of her sister, and also authored two autobiographies. 
 11 
Stan Laurel
(Comic Actor Who was Part of The Comedy Duo 'Laurel and Hardy'. and Appeared with His Comedy Partner Oliver Hardy in 107 Short Films)
Stan Laurel
15
Birthdate: June 16, 1890
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Died: February 23, 1965

Comedian Stan Laurel entertained audiences as part of the iconic duo Laurel and Hardy, along with Oliver Hardy, in over 100 films. He began his career with music-hall sketch comedy and worked as an understudy of Charlie Chaplin in Fred Karno's Army. He was known for his trademark bowler hat.

 12 
Alan Shepard
(Astronaut, Aviator, Entrepreneur)
Alan Shepard
19
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 18, 1923
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Derry
Died: July 21, 1998

Alan Shepard was an astronaut and the first American to travel into space. In 1971, Shepard became the fifth and oldest astronaut to walk on the Moon; he was 47 years and 80 days old at that time. From 1963 to 1969, he played an important role as the Chief of the Astronaut Office. His work inspired several TV series.

 13 
Lana Turner
(One of the Highest Paid Actresses in the United States During the 1940s)
Lana Turner
37
Birthdate: February 8, 1921
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wallace, Idaho, United States
Died: June 29, 1995

Widely regarded as a legend of classical Hollywood cinema, Lana Turner was one of the most prominent and highest-paid actresses in the mid-1940s. Also considered a popular culture icon of Hollywood glamor, Turner also achieved success as a pin-up model. Her life and career have inspired several works across art, literature, music, and film. 

 14 
James Coburn
(Film and TV Actor)
James Coburn
13
Birthdate: August 31, 1928
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Laurel, Nebraska, United States
Died: November 18, 2002

James Coburn was an American actor who played the quintessential tough guy roles in action and Western films throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was characterized by his lanky physique and toothy grin. A martial arts student, Coburn was a close friend of Bruce Lee; he was one of the pallbearers at Bruce Lee's funeral in 1973.

 15 
Sam Walton
(Businessman)
Sam Walton
40
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: March 29, 1918
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Died: April 5, 1992
Sam Walton, founder of the retail chain Walmart and Sam's Club, was the richest man in the U.S. at one point. He made Walmart the world’s largest private employer. One of Time’s 100 most influential people of the 20th Century, he had also earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
 16 
Werner Heisenberg
(German Theoretical Physicist and One of the Main Pioneers of the Theory of Quantum Mechanics)
Werner Heisenberg
12
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: December 5, 1901
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Würzburg, Germany
Died: February 1, 1976
German theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg is best known for pioneering quantum mechanics. He received the 1932 Nobel Prize in Physics. He had also helped Germany plan nuclear weapon strategies during World War II and was the director of what is now known as the Max Planck Institute for Physics.
 17 
Franz Liszt
(Composer, Pianist and Teacher of the Romantic Era)
Franz Liszt
13
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 22, 1811
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Raiding, Austria
Died: July 31, 1886

Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer, conductor, arranger, music teacher, and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era. Considered one of the greatest pianists ever, Liszt's works influenced his contemporaries and successors alike. Perhaps his greatest legacy is his work as a teacher, although his rich body of work might suggest otherwise; he taught people like Karl Klindworth among other pianists.

 18 
George Frideric Handel
(German-British Composer Known for His Works: ‘Water Music’ and ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’)
George Frideric Handel
17
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 23, 1685
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Halle (Saale), Germany
Died: April 14, 1759

George Frideric Handel was a Baroque composer renowned for his oratorios, operas, anthems, and organ concertos. A great composer, Handel's works had a strong influence on popular Classical-era composers like Beethoven and Mozart. George Frideric Handel's life and work have also inspired several films, such as the 1942 British biographical film The Great Mr. Handel.

 19 
A. A. Milne
(Best Known for His Books About the Teddy Bear ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ and Children's Poetry)
A. A. Milne
16
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 18, 1882
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: London, England
Died: January 31, 1956

A. A. Milne was an English author best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh. He joined the British Army as a young man and served in both World War I and World War II. In his career as a writer, he wrote several novels, non-fiction pieces, articles, poems, screenplays, and children’s stories.

 20 
Ty Cobb
(One of the Greatest Players in Baseball History)
Ty Cobb
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 18, 1886
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Narrows, Georgia, United States
Died: July 17, 1961
During his 22-season career in Major League Baseball, Tyrus Cobb was known for setting numerous records with his aggressive approach on the field. The outfielder with a record career batting average featured in the list of all-time great players and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Associated with Detroit Tigers for more than two decades, he was also involved in philanthropy.
 21 
Frederick The Great
(Former King of Prussia (1740 - 1786))
Frederick The Great
19
Birthdate: January 24, 1712
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: August 17, 1786
Prussian king Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great and The Old Fritz, was the longest-reigning Hohenzollern king. He is known for his involvement in the Silesian Wars and the Partitions of Poland. He also supported art and culture, and reformed the judicial system of Prussia.
 22 
Richard Kiel
(Best Known for His Role in the Movie 'Happy Gilmore')
Richard Kiel
13
Birthdate: September 13, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: September 10, 2014
Richard Kiel is best remembered for his towering frame of 7 feet 2 inches, which led him to play villainous roles such as Jaws in the James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. Fans also loved him for his iconic role of Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore.
 23 
Sherman Hemsley
(Actor)
Sherman Hemsley
9
Birthdate: February 1, 1938
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: July 24, 2012
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 24 
Millard Fillmore
(13th President of the United States (1850 - 1853))
Millard Fillmore
14
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 7, 1800
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Moravia, New York, United States
Died: March 8, 1874
Millard Fillmore was the U.S. president from 1850 to 1853, succeeding Zachary Taylor after his death. The last Whig U.S. president, Fillmore had previously been a representative from New York’s 32nd District and the U.S. vice president. He played a crucial role in the passage of the Compromise of 1850.
 25 
Giuseppe Garibaldi
(Italian General Who Contributed to Italian Unification and the Creation of the Kingdom of Italy)
Giuseppe Garibaldi
13
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 4, 1807
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Nice, France
Died: June 2, 1882

Italian general, patriot, and republican Giuseppe Garibaldi is remembered for the role he played in the Italian unification and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy. He is considered one of Italy's "fathers of the fatherland." A highly proficient military general, he also led the Expedition of the Thousand on behalf of Victor Emmanuel II. He died in 1882.

 26 
Jean-Paul Sartre
(Novelist, Playwright, & Philosopher)
Jean-Paul Sartre
23
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 21, 1905
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: April 15, 1980

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher, writer, literary critic, and political activist. One of the most important personalities in the philosophy of phenomenology and existentialism, Sartre played a crucial role in 20th-century French philosophy. His work continues to influence literary studies, post-colonial theory, sociology, and critical theory. He was honored with the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature.

 27 
Maurice White
11
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 19, 1941
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Died: February 4, 2016
 28 
Julie London
(Singer, Actress)
Julie London
4
Birthdate: September 26, 1926
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Santa Rosa, California, United States
Died: October 18, 2000
 29 
Phil Everly
(Singer)
Phil Everly
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 19, 1939
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: January 3, 2014
 30 
Karen Black
(American Actress, Screenwriter and Singer)
Karen Black
7
Birthdate: July 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Park Ridge, Illinois, United States
Died: August 8, 2013

A multifaceted personality, Karen Black was an actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. In the 1970s, she appeared in many major studio and independent films, mostly playing eccentric and unconventional characters. She became known as a figure of New Hollywood. Her career spanned five decades and she continued working until shortly before her death.

 31 
Ken Curtis
(Singer)
Ken Curtis
10
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 2, 1916
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lamar, Colorado, United States
Died: April 28, 1991
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 32 
Jack Albertson
(Actor and Comedian Best Known for His Role as ‘John Cleary’ in the Film ‘The Subject Was Roses’)
Jack Albertson
4
Birthdate: June 16, 1907
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Malden, Massachusetts, United States
Died: November 25, 1981

Jack Albertson was an eminent American actor having presence in films and plays alike, as evident from his successful performances in The Subject Was Roses both on the stage and on the big screen. The winner of Tony, Oscar and Emmy awards had such a passion for his career that he continued his acting despite being diagnosed for colorectal cancer.

 33 
Dennis Waterman
(Actor and Singer Known for His Roles in the TV Series: ‘The Sweeney’, ‘Minder’ and ‘New Tricks’)
Dennis Waterman
18
Birthdate: February 24, 1948
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: May 8, 2022
Dennis Waterman was best known for playing “tough guys,” such as DS George Carter in The Sweeney and Terry McCann in Minder. He also appeared in films such as Scars of Dracula and The World Cup: A Captain's Tale. He has also been caricatured in the sketch-comedy series Little Britain.
 34 
Joseph Stalin
(Soviet Political Leader & Dictator Who Led the Soviet Union from 1922 Until His Death in 1953)
Joseph Stalin
202
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 18, 1878
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Gori, Georgia
Died: March 5, 1953

Controversial Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin, ruled the Soviet Union for around 25 years from 1929 to 1953 and is credited for making it a prominent industrial and military power of the world. During the Second World War, his army defeated the Nazis too. However, his regime was also one of terror and brutality where numerous Soviet citizens lost their lives.

 35 
Ray Manzarek
(Keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, an iconic rock band that was prevalent from 1965 until 1973.)
Ray Manzarek
6
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 12, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: May 20, 2013
 36 
Marquis de Sade
(French Writer Whose Perverse Sexual Preferences and Erotic Writings gave Rise to the Term 'Sadism')
Marquis de Sade
15
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: June 2, 1740
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: December 2, 1814
Marquis de Sade is remembered for his erotic books such as The 120 Days of Sodom. He was known for his peculiar way of deriving sexual pleasure by torturing his victims, now known as “sadism.” He was jailed for several years for sexual abuse against men, women, and children. 
 37 
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
(Queen Consort of Great Britain and Ireland (1761 - 1818))
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
7
Birthdate: May 19, 1744
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Mirow, Germany
Died: November 17, 1818
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III, reigned as the queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1761 to 1818, and her reign saw the two kingdoms unite into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. An amateur art lover and botanist, she also expanded the Kew Gardens.
 38 
H. R. Giger
(Painter)
H. R. Giger
9
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 5, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chur
Died: May 12, 2014

H. R. Giger was a Swiss artist remembered for his airbrushed images of machines and humans intertwined in cold biomechanical relationships. He is also remembered for his work as part of the special effects team that worked in Ridley Scott's 1979 science fiction horror film Alien, for which the team won an Academy Award

 39 
Antoninus Pius
(Roman Emperor)
Antoninus Pius
6
Birthdate: September 19, 0086
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lanuvium, Italy
Died: March 7, 0161
Antoninus Pius was the Roman emperor from 138 to 161 and is regarded as one of the Five Good Emperors of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was adopted by emperor Hadrian. His reign was marked by peace and the construction of the Antonine Wall. He was largely an efficient ruler.
 40 
Leopold II of Belgium
(Former King of the Belgians (1865 - 1909))
Leopold II of Belgium
32
Birthdate: April 9, 1835
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brussels, Belgium
Died: December 17, 1909

Leopold II of Belgium reigned over Belgium as its second king from 1865 to 1909. He also owned the Independent State of the Congo from 1885 to 1908. Congolese people were subjected to torture and murder under Leopold's administration; the term crimes against humanity was coined by George Washington Williams in 1890 to describe the atrocities of Leopold's administration.

 41 
Lamar Hunt
(American Sports Executive and BusinessmanBusinessman)
Lamar Hunt
9
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: August 2, 1932
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States
Died: December 13, 2006

Businessman Lamar Hunt was a major promoter of American football, soccer, tennis, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States. He was the principal founder of the Major League Soccer (MLS) and American Football League (AFL). He was also the co-founder of World Championship Tennis. In 1982, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. 

 42 
Leon Russell
(American Musician and Singer-Songwriter)
Leon Russell
3
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 2, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lawton, Oklahoma, United States
Died: November 13, 2016
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 43 
Shah Jahan
(Mughal Emperor)
Shah Jahan
62
Birthdate: January 5, 1592
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Lahore
Died: February 1, 1666

Shah Jahan, emperor Jahangir’s son, ruled as the fifth Mughal emperor, from 1628 to 1658. He is known for commissioning the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, among other contributions to Mughal architecture. He was put under house arrest by his son, Aurangzeb, during his final years.

 44 
Aryabhata
(5th & 6th Century Indian Mathematician and Astronomer who Calculated the Value of Pi)
Aryabhata
187
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: 0476 AD
Birthplace: Assaka
Died: 0550 AD
Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata pioneered the concept of “zero” and used it in his “place value system.” He had also worked on the approximation of pi and laid down the basic concepts of trigonometry, such as sine and cosine. He also mentioned that the Earth rotates on its axis.
 45 
Dennis Edwards
(Singer)
Dennis Edwards
6
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 3, 1943
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Fairfield, Alabama, United States
Died: February 1, 2018
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 46 
Seamus Heaney
(Poet, Playwright & Translator Who Received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Seamus Heaney
5
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 13, 1939
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Castledawson, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Died: August 30, 2013

Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet, translator, and playwright. One of the most respected poets of his generation, Heaney was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. He also won other prestigious awards, such as the Eric Gregory Award. Several years after his death, Seamus Heaney is still considered one of the main contributors to poetry in Ireland.

 47 
Antonio Salieri
(Italian Classical Composer, Conductor, and Teacher)
Antonio Salieri
7
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 18, 1750
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Legnago, Italy
Died: May 7, 1825

Antonio Salieri was an Italian classical composer, conductor, and teacher considered a key figure in the development of late 18th-century opera. He was a protégé of eminent composer Christoph Willibald Gluck. For several years, he served as the director of the Italian opera by the Habsburg court. His works were performed widely across Europe during his lifetime. 

 48 
Norman Fell
(Actor)
Norman Fell
4
Birthdate: March 24, 1924
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: December 14, 1998
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 49 
Edgar Rice Burroughs
(Creator of Tarzan)
Edgar Rice Burroughs
9
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 1, 1875
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: March 19, 1950
 50 
Dan Haggerty
(Actor best known for playing the title role in the film and television series The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.)
Dan Haggerty
6
Birthdate: November 19, 1941
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Pound, Wisconsin, United States
Died: January 15, 2016
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)