Famous People Who Died At 78

The list of famous people who died at 78 includes Mahatma Gandhi, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dean Martin, Andrew Jackson, Idi Amin. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, artists, actors and poets and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 78 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & Germany and many more countries.
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 1 
Dwight D. Eisenhower
(34th President of the United States (1953–1961))
Dwight D. Eisenhower
98
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 14, 1890
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Denison, Texas, United States
Died: March 28, 1969

The 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower held office from 1953 to 1961. An army officer During World War II, he was part of many successful operations. He signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, and his two terms as president saw widespread economic prosperity in USA. He is ranked high among American presidents.

 2 
Dean Martin
(One of the Most Popular and Enduring American Entertainers of the Mid-20th Century)
Dean Martin
54
Birthdate: June 7, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Steubenville, Ohio, United States
Died: December 25, 1995

An actor, singer, and comedian, Dean Martin earned the nickname The King of Cool for his effortless self-assurance and charisma. One of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, Dean performed in nightclubs and concert stages and appeared in film and TV productions. Such is his popularity that his songs continue to be featured across popular culture.

 3 
Eleanor Roosevelt
(Longest-Serving First Lady of The United States)
Eleanor Roosevelt
41
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 11, 1884
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: November 7, 1962

Feminist and civil rights icon Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was the longest-serving U.S First Lady. She was a prominent human rights activist, wrote columns, and hosted a radio show. She was named to Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century in 1999.

 4 
Andrew Jackson
(7th President of the United States)
Andrew Jackson
27
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: March 15, 1767
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Waxhaws
Died: June 8, 1845

Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of USA. His presidential reign has been termed as Jacksonian democracy and witnessed the shift of political power from established elites to ordinary voters. Coming from humble beginnings, Jackson knew the struggle of the masses and thus, worked towards creating a more inclusive country.  His picture has been featured on the front side of $20 bill since 1928.

 5 
Kublai Khan
(Founder of the Yuan dynasty in Mongolia and China,)
Kublai Khan
14
Birthdate: September 23, 1215
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mongolia
Died: February 18, 1294

Also known as the Emperor Shizu of Yuan, Kublai Khan served as the fifth khagan of the famous Mongol Empire. After the division of the empire, Kublai Khan founded the Yuan dynasty in China and ruled as the first Yuan emperor from 1271 until his death in 1294. Hence, he played an important role in re-creating a militarily powerful China.

 6 
Mahatma Gandhi
(Indian Freedom Fighter who Employed Non-violent Resistance & Known as 'Father of the Nation')
Mahatma Gandhi
241
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: October 2, 1869
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Porbandar, India
Died: January 30, 1948

An Indian lawyer and anti-colonial nationalist, Mahatma Gandhi was a major figure in India’s fight for independence from British rule. He is renowned for his employment of non-violent resistance and civil disobedience methods. Despite his popularity, he had numerous detractors as well and was assassinated in 1948. He is widely considered the Father of the Nation in India.

 7 
Coretta Scott King
(Civil-Rights Activist and the Wife of Martin Luther King Jr)
Coretta Scott King
20
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: April 27, 1927
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Heiberger, Alabama, United States
Died: January 30, 2006

The American civil rights activist was an ideal foil for her famous husband Martin Luther King Jr. in promoting racial equality. The author and singer led the Women's Movement and fought for the rights of the LGBT community. She was also known for mobilising African-Americans during the 1960 US presidential election. She founded the King Centre, a not-for-profit organization.

 8 
Claudius Ptolemy
(Astronomer, Cartographer & Mathematician)
Claudius Ptolemy
28
Birthdate: 0090 AD
Birthplace: Egypt
Died: 0168 AD
Claudius Ptolemy was a 2nd-century mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, and geographer, who had written a number of scientific treatises, such as The Great Treatise, Geography, and the Tetrábiblos. He lived in Alexandria under the Roman rule in Egypt. He had also authored Harmonics, a book on music theory.
 9 
Ralph Waldo Emerson
(Famous For his Essay 'Nature' and Speech Entitled 'The American Scholar')
Ralph Waldo Emerson
19
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 25, 1803
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: April 27, 1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American philosopher who led the transcendentalist movement that developed in the eastern United States in the 1820s and 1830s. He is credited with popularizing individualism through his numerous lectures and essays. Emerson influenced many thinkers and writers that followed him; he mentored Henry David Thoreau, who went on to become a leading transcendentalist.

 10 
James Naismith
(The Inventor of the Game of 'Basketball')
James Naismith
11
Birthdate: November 6, 1861
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Almonte, Mississippi Mills, Canada
Died: November 28, 1939
Canadian-American physician and coach James Naismith is considered as the inventor of basketball. He authored the first basksetball rule book and established the University of Kansas basketball team. He served as the Kansas Jayhawks athletic director and coach, and trained legends such as Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith.
 11 
Richard Belzer
(Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Author)
Richard Belzer
6
Birthdate: August 4, 1944
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Died: February 19, 2023
Richard Belzer is best known as John Munch from the series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU. He continued to play the role in several other series and a TV movie. He has also written several books on conspiracy theories, of which two became bestsellers.
 12 
James Herriot
33
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 3, 1916
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sunderland, County Durham, England
Died: February 23, 1995

James Herriot was a British writer and veterinary surgeon. Many of his books about animals and veterinary practice inspired several films and television series, including the 1975 British movie All Creatures Great and Small. His early life inspired BBC's drama Young James Herriot. In 1994, Glasgow Veterinary College's library was named James Herriot Library in his honor. 

 13 
Franz Beckenbauer
(One of the Greatest Football Players in the History of the Sport)
Franz Beckenbauer
22
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 11, 1945
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: January 7, 2024
German former footballer Franz Beckenbauer spent most of his career with Bayern Munich, winning championships such as the European Cup. He won the World Cup for West Germany twice, first as a player in 1974 and then as a manager in 1990. He was also a Sky Germany analyst.
 14 
Robert Forster
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Max Cherry’ in the Film ‘Jackie Brown’)
Robert Forster
5
Birthdate: July 13, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, United States
Died: October 11, 2019

A prominent actor who was active in the entertainment industry for five decades, Robert Forster was known for his versatility. As a college student, he initially planned to study law but eventually changed his mind and ventured into acting. Dedicated to his profession with a passion, he continued working even after being diagnosed with cancer.

 15 
Jason Robards
(Actor)
Jason Robards
6
Birthdate: July 26, 1922
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: December 26, 2000
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 16 
Roy O. Disney
(Co-Founder of Walt Disney Company)
Roy O. Disney
9
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: June 24, 1893
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: December 20, 1971

Roy Oliver Disney, older brother of Walt Disney, co-founded The Walt Disney Company and was its first CEO. He had also served in the U.S. Navy and had been a banker. He postponed his retirement plans following the death of Walt Disney and supervised the completion of Walt Disney World.

 17 
Simone de Beauvoir
(French Existentialist Philosopher, Writer, Social Theorist, and Feminist Activist)
Simone de Beauvoir
21
Birthdate: January 9, 1908
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: April 14, 1986
French author and existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir is best remembered for her feminist treatise The Second Sex and her novels The Mandarins and She Came to Stay. Her literary contributions also include essays, biographies, and her autobiographical works. She won the Prix Goncourt and the Jerusalem Prize.
 18 
Michael Nesmith
(American Musician, Songwriter and Actor)
Michael Nesmith
11
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 30, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Died: December 10, 2021
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 19 
Vladimir Nabokov
(Best Known For His Novels 'Lolita' and 'Pale Fire')
Vladimir Nabokov
8
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 23, 1899
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: July 2, 1977
Russian author Vladimir Nabokov, also known by his pen name, Vladimir Sirin, is best remembered for his controversial novel Lolita. His other works include the novel Pale Fire and his memoir, Speak, Memory. He was also an entomologist, specializing in lepidoptery. He also liked composing chess problems.
 20 
Martin D. Ginsburg
(Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Husband)
Martin D. Ginsburg
17
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: June 10, 1932
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City
Died: June 27, 2010

Martin D. Ginsburg was one of the most successful tax attorneys and the husband of U.S Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Apart from serving as a lawyer, Martin also taught at several prestigious law schools, such as New York University Law School, Columbia Law School, and Harvard Law School. After representing business magnate Ross Perot in a case, the two became good friends.

 21 
Buddy Hackett
(Actor & Comedian Known for His Films: ‘The Music Man’ & ‘It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’)
Buddy Hackett
6
Birthdate: August 31, 1924
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: June 30, 2003
Buddy Hackett is best remembered for playing Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man and Benjy Benjamin in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. He had also appeared in The Love Bug and voiced Scuttle in The Little Mermaid franchise. He also owned a huge collection of firearms.
 22 
Thales
(Philosopher)
Thales
6
Birthdate: 0624 BC
Birthplace: Miletus Ancient Theater, Turkey
Died: 0546 BC

One of the Seven Wise Men of Greece, Thales was a 6th-century mathematician who believed that the Earth was a flat disk floating on a huge ocean. Legend has it that he had predicted a solar eclipse that stopped a major battle and had also laid down several geometrical theorems.

 23 
Esther Rolle
(Former Actress known for Florida Evans in Maude and Good Times)
Esther Rolle
8
Birthdate: November 8, 1920
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Pompano Beach, Florida, United States
Died: November 17, 1998
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 24 
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
(French Impressionist Painter)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
11
Birthdate: February 25, 1841
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Limoges, France
Died: December 3, 1919

French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, father of actor Pierre Renoir and director Jean Renoir, was a key Impressionist painter. His best-known works include The Swing, Diana, and Seated Girl. He was known for his use of vibrant colors and feminine sensuality in his works. He also painted landscapes and portraits.

 25 
Donald O'Connor
(Actor)
Donald O'Connor
3
Birthdate: August 28, 1925
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died: September 27, 2003
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 26 
Mario Puzo
(Novelist, Screenwriter)
Mario Puzo
8
Birthdate: October 15, 1920
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: July 2, 1999

Mario Puzo is remembered for his iconic crime novels, most notably the New York Times bestseller The Godfather, which was later turned into a movie trilogy by Francis Ford Coppola and won Puzo two Academy Awards for the best screenplay. Puzo also wrote the screenplay for Richard Donner's Superman.

 27 
B. J. Thomas
(Singer)
B. J. Thomas
11
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 7, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hugo, Oklahoma, United States
Died: May 29, 2021
 28 
George Marshall
(3rd United States Secretary of Defense)
George Marshall
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 31, 1880
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Uniontown, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 16, 1959

George Marshall was an American statesman and soldier who played a key role in the Allied victory during the Second World War. Marshall served as the third US Secretary of Defense from 1950 to 1951. As Secretary of State, George Marshall advocated economic recovery programs to aid post-war European countries, for which he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.

 29 
Steve Allen
(TV personality)
Steve Allen
5
Birthdate: December 26, 1921
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: October 30, 2000
 30 
Yvonne Craig
(Best Known for Her Role as 'Batgirl/Barbara Gordon' in the 1960s Television Series 'Batman')
Yvonne Craig
3
Birthdate: May 16, 1937
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Taylorville, Illinois, United States
Died: August 17, 2015

Yvonne Craig was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Batgirl in the iconic 1960s TV series Batman. Such was her popularity that she was called a pioneer of female superheroes during the 1960s. Also remembered for her skills as a ballet dancer, Yvonne Craig's training as a ballerina helped her a lot while performing stunts in Batman.

 31 
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
(United States Army General)
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
8
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 22, 1934
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Trenton, New Jersey, United States
Died: December 27, 2012
 32 
Dolores del Río
(Mexican Actress Who is Regarded as the First Major Female Latin American Crossover Star in Hollywood)
Dolores del Río
7
Birthdate: August 3, 1904
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Durango, Mexico
Died: April 11, 1983
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 33 
Don Williams
(Singer-Songwriter)
Don Williams
4
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 27, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Floydada, Texas, United States
Died: September 8, 2017
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 34 
Louise Brooks
(Actress)
Louise Brooks
4
Birthdate: November 14, 1906
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cherryvale, Kansas, United States
Died: August 8, 1985
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 35 
Tony Mendez
(CIA Officer)
Tony Mendez
21
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 15, 1940
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Eureka, Nevada, United States
Died: January 19, 2019
 36 
Christiaan Barnard
(Cardiac Surgeon)
Christiaan Barnard
3
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: November 8, 1922
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Beaufort West, South Africa
Died: September 2, 2001
Born to a preacher father of modest means, Christiaan Barnard completed his medical school on scholarships. In December 1967, he revolutionized medical science by performing the first human heart transplant by transplanting 25-year-old accident victim Denise Darvall’s heart into 53-year-old chronic heart patient grocer Louis Washkansky.
 37 
Zeppo Marx
(Actor, Comedian)
Zeppo Marx
5
Birthdate: February 25, 1901
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: November 30, 1979
 38 
Sarah Bernhardt
(One of the Most Popular French Actresses of the Late 19th and Early 20th Century)
Sarah Bernhardt
4
Birthdate: October 23, 1844
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: March 26, 1923

Sarah Bernhardt was a French actress known for playing important roles in popular French plays of the early-20th century.  Her decision to play Hamlet inspired Theresa Rebeck's play Bernhardt/Hamlet, in which Janet McTeer portrayed Sarah Bernhardt. In 1960, Bernhardt became the earliest born person to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 39 
Henrik Ibsen
(Norwegian-Danish Playwright and Theatre Director)
Henrik Ibsen
33
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 20, 1828
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Skien, Telemark, Norway
Died: May 23, 1906

Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian theatre director and playwright. One of the most influential and popular playwrights of his generation, Ibsen is credited with co-founding modernism in theatre, for which he is often called the father of realism. After William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen is the world's most often performed dramatist. His works have influenced other playwrights like George Bernard Shaw.

 40 
Peter Kropotkin
(Anarchist, Socialist & Historian)
Peter Kropotkin
4
Birthdate: December 9, 1842
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: February 8, 1921

Russian philosopher Peter Kropotkin was a passionate advocate of anarcho-communism. He was also an activist, revolutionary, economist, and sociologist. He was arrested and imprisoned for his activism in 1874. However, he managed to escape and lived in exile for over 40 years in different countries across Europe. He returned to Russia after the Russian Revolution in 1917. 

 41 
Dirk Bogarde
(English actor)
Dirk Bogarde
3
Birthdate: March 28, 1921
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: West Hampstead, London
Died: May 8, 1999
 42 
Terry-Thomas
(Actor)
Terry-Thomas
2
Birthdate: July 14, 1911
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London, England
Died: January 8, 1990
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 43 
Helen Reddy
(Pop Singer Whose Hit ‘I Am Woman’ Became a Feminist Anthem in the 1970’s)
Helen Reddy
21
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: October 25, 1941
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died: September 29, 2020

Australia-born singer-songwriter Helen Maxine Reddy moved to the USA when she won a ticket to New York City, eventually remaining there, struggling to establish herself until she got her first hit, I Don’t Know How to Love Him. However, her best remembered song was I Am Woman, which went on to become a feminist anthem, making her an international star.

 44 
Harold Pinter
(Playwright, Screenwriter)
Harold Pinter
7
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 10, 1930
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Metropolitan Borough of Hackney
Died: December 24, 2008
 45 
Charles Boyer
(French-American Actor)
Charles Boyer
12
Birthdate: August 28, 1899
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Figeac, France
Died: August 26, 1978

French-American actor Charles Boyer appeared in more than 80 films in a career that spanned over half a century. He pursued a theatrical career as a young man and eventually moved into films. He achieved extreme popularity with his roles in romantic movies like The Garden of Allah and Love Affair in the 1930s. He received four Academy Award nominations.

 46 
Katy Jurado
(Mexican Actress)
Katy Jurado
8
Birthdate: January 16, 1924
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Guadalajara, Mexico
Died: July 5, 2002
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 47 
Martha Raye
(Actress)
Martha Raye
5
Birthdate: August 27, 1916
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Butte, Montana, United States
Died: October 19, 1994
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 48 
Johns Hopkins
(Entrepreneur & Philanthropist)
Johns Hopkins
7
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: May 19, 1795
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Died: December 24, 1873
 49 
Ruth Williams Khama
(First Lady of Botswana as the Wife of 1st President Sir Seretse Khama)
Ruth Williams Khama
9
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 9, 1923
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Blackheath, London
Died: May 22, 2002
Ruth Williams Khama served as the First Lady of Botswana between 1966 and 1980. The wife of Seretse Khama, Ruth married Seretse at a time when inter-racial marriage was uncommon. Their wedding attracted huge media attention with some calling it one of the greatest love stories ever. Her marriage inspired films like A Marriage of Inconvenience and A United Kingdom.
 50 
Alphonse Mucha
(Painter)
Alphonse Mucha
2
Birthdate: July 24, 1860
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ivancice, Czechia
Died: July 14, 1939