Famous People Who Died At 86

The list of famous people who died at 86 includes Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Nikola Tesla, John Forbes Nash Jr., Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, Bea Arthur. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, artists, composers and journalists and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 86 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & France and many more countries.
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 1 
Nikola Tesla
(Inventor, Engineer & Futurist, Who Obtained Over 300 Patents)
Nikola Tesla
109
Birthdate: July 10, 1856
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Smiljan, Croatia
Died: January 7, 1943

Inventor, engineer and futurist, Nikola Tesla, is best remembered for his contribution to the development of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. A prolific inventor, he had around 300 patents for his inventions. Even though he earned a considerable amount of money, he had poor money management skills and died a poor man.

 2 
Maya Angelou
(American Poet and Civil Rights Activist Known for Her Autobiography ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’)
Maya Angelou
60
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: April 4, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died: May 28, 2014
Poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou was a champion for black feminism and is best remembered for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing. The recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and over 50 honorary degrees was also a child sex abuse survivor.
 3 
Bea Arthur
(Actress and Comedian Known for Her Popular Sitcoms: ‘All in the Family’, ‘Maude’ and ‘The Golden Girls’)
Bea Arthur
34
Birthdate: May 13, 1922
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Died: April 25, 2009

American actress Bea Arthur worked extensively in television and was hailed for her comic timing. All in the Family, Maude and The Golden Girls are some of her acclaimed series. In her long career, she also worked in films like Lovers and Other Strangers, History of the World 1 and For Better or Worse. She won many accolades, including two Emmy awards.

 4 
James Garner
(Actor and Producer Best Known for His Role as ‘Bret Maverick’ in the Western ABC Series ‘Maverick’)
James Garner
18
Birthdate: April 7, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Norman, Oklahoma, United States
Died: July 19, 2014

James Garner was an American actor and producer. He is credited with mentoring fellow actor and producer Tom Selleck. He is also credited with helping celebrities like Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood establish themselves in the film industry. He was also an avid golfer and racing enthusiast; he owned the American International Racers racing team for a couple of years.

 5 
Andy Griffith
22
Birthdate: June 1, 1926
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mount Airy
Died: July 3, 2012
Known for his Southern accent and friendly demeanor, Andy Griffith initially wished to become a preacher. Fans loved him in The Andy Griffith Show, A Face in the Crowd, and Matlock. He won a Grammy for his country album I Love to Tell the Story and was a staunch Democrat
 6 
Claude Monet
(French Painter and Founder of 'Impressionism')
Claude Monet
34
Birthdate: November 14, 1840
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: December 5, 1926

Claude Monet was a French painter. The founder of French Impressionist painting, Monet's painting Impression, soleil levant gave rise to the term Impressionism. Often dubbed the driving force behind Impressionism, Monet mastered the art of painting the same scene several times so as to capture the changing of the light. Since his death, his paintings have sold for record prices.

 7 
Hank Aaron
(One of the Greatest Baseball Players in History)
Hank Aaron
33
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 5, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
Died: January 22, 2021

Baseball player Hank Aaron, also known as Hammer or Hammerin' Hank, is remembered for his stint with the MLB teams Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers. He also competed as part of the Negro League team Indianapolis Clowns. He was named to The Sporting News 100 Greatest Baseball Players.

 8 
Susan B. Anthony
(Social Reformer and Women's Rights Activist Who Was a Pioneer Crusader for the Women’s Suffrage Movement)
Susan B. Anthony
21
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: February 15, 1820
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Adams, Massachusetts, United States
Died: March 13, 1906

Susan B. Anthony's vital role in the women's suffrage movement changed the course of history. She led one of the two national suffrage organizations, which later became the National American Woman Suffrage Association, with Susan as its leading force. She also played an instrumental role in publishing The Revolution, a women's rights newspaper.

 9 
Alec Guinness
18
Birthdate: April 2, 1914
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: August 5, 2000

Alec Guinness went from being an ad copywriter, to a Shakespearean stage actor, to delivering an Academy Award-winning performance as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai. He was part of the Royal Naval Reserve during World War II and received the knighthood for his contribution to arts.

 10 
Franz Joseph I of Austria
(Emperor of Austria King of Hungary (1848 - 1916))
Franz Joseph I of Austria
7
Birthdate: August 18, 1830
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: November 21, 1916

Franz Joseph I of Austria reigned as the Emperor of Austria from 1848 until his death in 1916. He also served as the King of Hungary, Bohemia, and Croatia and monarch of other states of Austria-Hungary. During his reign, Austria-Hungary decided to wage war against the Kingdom of Serbia, which eventually resulted in the First World War.

 11 
Groucho Marx
(One of America's Greatest Comedians of His Era)
Groucho Marx
11
Birthdate: October 2, 1890
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: August 19, 1977
Groucho Marx is best remembered for his roles in the 13 Marx Brothers films he made with his siblings, Harpo, Zeppo, Chico, and Gummo. Considered one of America’s best comedians, he is also the man behind the Groucho Glasses, inspired by his signature glasses, big nose, bushy eyebrows, and mustache.
 12 
Anthony Quinn
(Best Known for His Roles in the films 'Viva Zapata!' and 'Lust for Life')
Anthony Quinn
45
Birthdate: April 21, 1915
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chihuahua, Mexico
Died: June 3, 2001
Mexican-American actor Anthony Quinn is best remembered for his Academy Award-winning roles in Viva Zapata! and Lust for Life. He also delivered stellar performances in the films Zorba the Greek, Wild Is the Wind, and The Guns of Navarone. He had exhibited his artwork and also written two memoirs.
 13 
Sojourner Truth
(Abolitionist and Women's Rights Activist)
Sojourner Truth
16
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: 1797 AD
Birthplace: Rifton, New York, United States
Died: November 26, 1883

Sojourner Truth was an American women's rights activist and abolitionist. Born into slavery, Truth escaped to freedom in 1826. She then approached the court to recover her son, subsequently becoming the first black woman to emerge successful against a white man in such a case. In 2014, she was named in Smithsonian's 100 Most Significant Americans of All Time list.

 14 
Fred Willard
(Actor known for his roles in several Christopher Guest mockumentary films such as Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show)
Fred Willard
14
Birthdate: September 18, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States
Died: May 15, 2020
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 15 
James Cagney
(One of the Greatest Male Stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood)
James Cagney
17
Birthdate: July 17, 1899
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lower East Side, New York, United States
Died: March 30, 1986

James Cagney was an American dancer and actor who won the Academy Award for his performance in the 1942 musical, Yankee Doodle Dandy. In 1984, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to the entertainment industry. In 1999, he was named in the American Film Institute's Greatest Male Stars of the Classical Hollywood Cinema list.

 16 
Charley Pride
(Country Singer and One of Three African-American Members of the 'Grand Ole Opr')
Charley Pride
9
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 18, 1934
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sledge, Mississippi, United States
Died: December 12, 2020
Charley Pride was an American professional baseball player, guitarist, and singer. During the 1970s, Pride became the best-selling singer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley. In his illustrious career, Pride won many awards including three American Music Awards and four Grammy Awards. In 2000, Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
 17 
Roy Rogers
(King of the Cowboys)
Roy Rogers
12
Birthdate: November 5, 1911
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Died: July 6, 1998

Roy Rogers was an American singer, television host, and actor. Credited with co-founding one of America's earliest Western singing groups, Sons of the Pioneers, Rogers is widely regarded as one of the most famous Western stars of his generation. One of the earliest actors to popularize Western films, Roy Rogers was often referred to as the King of the Cowboys.

 18 
Bobby Charlton
(One of the Greatest Football Players of All Time)
Bobby Charlton
17
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 11, 1937
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ashington, Northumberland, England
Died: October 21, 2023

Widely considered one of the greatest players ever, Bobby Charlton was an important member of the England national football team that emerged victorious at the 1966 FIFA World Cup. The recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Ballon d'Or, Charlton received a knighthood in 1994. 

 19 
John Forbes Nash Jr.
(Mathematician)
John Forbes Nash Jr.
39
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: June 13, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bluefield, West Virginia, United States
Died: May 23, 2015
The inspiration behind the movie A Beautiful Mind, John F. Nash was a legendary mathematician whose work in the area of game theory earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. In his later years, he was riddled with mental illness. He later died in a car crash.
 20 
Deborah Kerr
(British Actress Who was Known for Her Impeccable Grace and Beauty)
Deborah Kerr
7
Birthdate: September 30, 1921
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Helensburgh
Died: October 16, 2007

Deborah Kerr was a Scottish actress who holds the record for having the most Academy Award nominations under the Best Actress category without a win. However, she received an Academy Honorary Award in 1994 for her contribution to the entertainment industry. Deborah Kerr was made a CBE in 1998 and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 21 
Cesar Romero
(Best Known for His Role as the ‘Joker’ in the TV Series ‘Batman’)
Cesar Romero
18
Birthdate: February 15, 1907
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York, New York City, United States
Died: January 1, 1994

Cesar Romero was an American actor, dancer, singer, and vocal artist. He is best known for playing Joker in the television series Batman and his portrayal was included in TV Guide's 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time list in 2013. Cesar Romero's contribution to the TV and film industry was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 22 
Rosemary Kennedy
(Sister of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy)
Rosemary Kennedy
19
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 13, 1918
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Died: January 7, 2005
Rosemary Kennedy was the eldest daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and sister of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. A botched lobotomy conducted on her, to control her violent mood swings, rendered her unable to speak properly and paralyzed. Her family did not meet her for 20 years.
 23 
Jerry Van Dyke
(Actor)
Jerry Van Dyke
5
Birthdate: July 27, 1931
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Danville, Illinois, USA
Died: January 5, 2018
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 24 
B. F. Skinner
(American psychologist)
B. F. Skinner
13
Birthdate: March 20, 1904
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: August 18, 1990

B. F. Skinner was an American behaviorist, psychologist, inventor, author, and social philosopher. Skinner, who taught psychology at Harvard University, is credited with founding a school of thought in psychology called the experimental analysis of behavior. Regarded as a pioneer of modern behaviorism, Skinner was named the 20th century's most influential psychologist, according to a survey conducted in June 2002. 

 25 
Cab Calloway
(Singer)
Cab Calloway
7
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 25, 1907
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rochester
Died: November 18, 1994

Jazz singer and dancer, Cab Calloway, was a famous vocalist of the swing era.  From the early 1930s to the late 1940s, he led a very popular band that included musicians like  Dizzy Gillespie, Jonah Jones, and Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham. A man of color, he became the first African-American musician to sell a million records from a single song.

 26 
Frances Bavier
21
Birthdate: December 14, 1902
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York
Died: December 6, 1989

Frances Bavier was an American actress best known for playing Aunt Bee in the television series, The Andy Griffith Show and its spin-off, Mayberry R.F.D., winning an Emmy Award for her performance in 1967. Bavier chose not to marry and led a quiet life after her retirement. She promoted Easter Seal Societies and Christmas and often wrote letters to fans.

 27 
Della Reese
(Known for Her 1959 Hit Single 'Don't You Know?' and Her Role in the TV Series 'Touched by an Angel')
Della Reese
9
Birthdate: July 6, 1931
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Black Bottom, Detroit, United States
Died: November 19, 2017
Jazz and gospel singer and actor Della Reese, who was also an ordained minister, gained fame with tracks such as Don't You Know? and Some of her best-known films were Harlem Nights and A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. She played Tess in the series Touched by an Angel
 28 
Jimmy Durante
(One of America's Most Popular Personalities of the 1920s through the 1970s)
Jimmy Durante
6
Birthdate: February 10, 1893
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: January 28, 1980

Jimmy Durante was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. Widely regarded as one of America's most popular and familiar personalities of all time, Durante was often characterized by his Lower East Side accent, gravelly speech, and a prominent nose. Also known for his charitable work, Durante worked closely with Fraternal Order of Eagles, which raises money for abused children.

 29 
Ed McMahon
(actor, officer, radio personality)
Ed McMahon
2
Birthdate: March 6, 1923
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit
Died: June 23, 2009
 30 
Danny Aiello
4
Birthdate: June 20, 1933
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: December 12, 2019

Actor, Danny Aiello, is best remembered for playing Salvatore "Sal" Frangione in the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. The role earned him an Academy Award nomination. As a young man, he held many odd jobs before breaking into films. Handsome, talented, and ambitious, he soon made a name for himself in Hollywood.

 31 
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
(1st President of the United Arab Emirates)
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
18
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 6, 1918
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Died: November 2, 2004
 32 
Ivan Pavlov
(Physiologist)
Ivan Pavlov
9
Birthdate: September 26, 1849
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ryazan, Russia
Died: February 27, 1936
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov is best remembered for his research in classical conditioning. He became the first Russian Nobel laureate after winning the 1904 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his study of the physiology of digestion. His experiment on conditioned reflex using dogs is still studied in colleges.
 33 
Charles Grodin
(Actor, Comedian and Author Known for His Films: ‘Midnight Run’, ‘Dave’ and ‘Heart and Souls’)
Charles Grodin
8
Birthdate: April 21, 1935
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: May 18, 2021

Charles Grodin is an American actor, author, comedian, and former TV talk show host. He became a household name in the late-1970s and 1980s, as he appeared in prominent roles in several popular comedy films of the era. In 1993, he won the American Comedy Award for his portrayal of Murray Blum in the political comedy film, Dave.

 34 
Dick Van Patten
1
Birthdate: December 9, 1928
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kew Gardens, New York, United States
Died: June 23, 2015
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 35 
Ray Walston
(Actor & Comedian)
Ray Walston
4
Birthdate: November 2, 1914
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Laurel, Mississippi, U.S.
Died: January 1, 2001
 36 
Margaret Sanger
(Birth Control Activist Who Opened the First Birth Control Clinic in the United States)
Margaret Sanger
17
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: September 14, 1879
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Corning, New York, United States
Died: September 6, 1966

Margaret Sanger was an American writer and sex educator. She is credited with popularizing the term birth control. A birth control activist, Sanger established the first birth control clinic in America. She also set up organizations that later became the well-known non-profit organization Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She also played a key role in legalizing contraception in the US.

 37 
Edd Byrnes
(Actor)
Edd Byrnes
5
Birthdate: July 30, 1933
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Died: January 8, 2020
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 38 
Camille Saint-Saëns
(One of the Greatest Organists and Composers of the Romantic Era)
Camille Saint-Saëns
8
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 9, 1835
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: December 16, 1921
French composer and multi-instrumentalist Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was an icon of the Romantic era, known for masterpieces such as the First Cello Concerto and the opera Samson and Delilah. He was initially a church organist and then became a freelance composer and pianist. He also taught music in Paris.
 39 
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
(2nd President of India (1962 – 1967), 1st Vice President of India (1952 - 1962))
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
87
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 5, 1888
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Thiruttani, Tamil Nadu, India
Died: April 17, 1975

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the second President of India and served from 1962 to 1967. He is regarded as one of India’s most eminent scholars and wrote extensively on Indian philosophy and religion. Lifelong he defended Hindu traditions and culture against criticism from the West. September 5, his birthday, is observed as Teachers Day in India, in his honour.

 40 
Gore Vidal
(American Writer Known for His Novels: ‘The City and the Pillar’, ‘Julian’, ‘Myra Breckinridge’ and ‘Burr’)
Gore Vidal
9
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 3, 1925
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: West Point, New York, United States
Died: July 31, 2012

Gore Vidal was an American intellectual and writer. He served as a major inspiration to gays, lesbians, and bisexuals as he was openly bisexual and often incorporated LGBT characters in his novels, which was very unusual at the time. He was also known for his debates with William F. Buckley Jr., which inspired the 2015 documentary film Best of Enemies.

 41 
Martin Heidegger
(One of the Most Important and Influential Philosophers of the 20th Century)
Martin Heidegger
5
Birthdate: September 26, 1889
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Messkirch, Germany
Died: May 26, 1976
German philosopher Martin Heidegger was one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century and is remembered for his work on phenomenology, existentialism, and hermeneutics. He explained his ideas in his book Being and Time. He also introduced the concept of Dasein, or “being,” characteristic of human beings.
 42 
Victor Mature
(First male film star to be labeled a hunk, he appeared in Samson and Delilah in 1949 and The Robe in 1953)
Victor Mature
6
Birthdate: January 29, 1913
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: August 4, 1999
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 43 
Cyd Charisse
(American Actress and Dancer)
Cyd Charisse
10
Birthdate: March 8, 1922
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Amarillo, Texas, United States
Died: June 17, 2008

Cyd Charisse was an American dancer and actress best remembered for playing important roles in films that highlighted her dancing skills, although she stopped dancing in films later in her career. In 2006, Cyd Charisse was honored with the prestigious National Medal of the Arts and Humanities.

 44 
Garrett Morgan
(Inventor)
Garrett Morgan
22
Birthdate: March 4, 1877
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paris, Kentucky, United States
Died: July 27, 1963

Garrett Morgan is remembered for inventing the Morgan safety hood, which served as a prototype for later gas masks. He also invented the T-shaped traffic signal and a range of hair-care products, such as hair straightening creams. An NAACP member, he also launched a newspaper to cater to African-Americans.

 45 
Sidney Lumet
(Prolific Filmaker of the Modern Era Known for Eliciting Strong Performances From His Cast Members)
Sidney Lumet
5
Birthdate: June 25, 1924
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 9, 2011
Academy Honorary Award-winning director/producer Sidney Lumet is best known for directing iconic films such as 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon. He began his career with Off-Broadway productions. He later worked in multiple films with Sean Connery and came to be known as an "actor's director."
 46 
Isabel Sanford
7
Birthdate: August 29, 1917
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Harlem, New York, United States
Died: July 9, 2004
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 47 
Paul von Hindenburg
(President of Germany (1925-1934))
Paul von Hindenburg
11
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 2, 1847
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: PoznaƄ, Poland
Died: August 2, 1934
Paul von Hindenburg served as the second president of the German Weimar Republic, from 1925 to 1934. In 1933, he appointed Adolf Hitler as the Chancellor of Germany, and also signed the Enabling Act, which gave Hitler total administrative powers. Following his death, Hitler declared himself the Führer.
 48 
Henry Graham Greene
5
Birthdate: October 2, 1904
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Berkhamsted, England
Died: April 3, 1991

English author Henry Graham Greene, better known as Graham Greene, is remembered for his pathbreaking Catholic novels and thrillers. He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature. His works include The Third Man and The Human Factor, and his Academy Award-nominated script of the film The Fallen Idol.

 49 
Don Shirley
(Classical and Jazz Pianist and Composer)
Don Shirley
12
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 29, 1927
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pensacola, Florida, United States
Died: April 6, 2013

Don Shirley was an American jazz and classical pianist and composer. He is best remembered for his association with Cadence Records where he recorded many albums during the 1950s and 1960s. Apart from performing in numerous concert tours, Shirley also wrote organ symphonies and piano concerti. Shirley's friendship with his bodyguard Tony Lip was dramatized in the film Green Book.

 50 
John D. Rockefeller Jr.
(American Financier, Philanthropist and the Only Son of 'Standard Oil' Co-Founder John D. Rockefeller)
John D. Rockefeller Jr.
19
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 29, 1874
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: May 11, 1960

Financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. Was the only son of Standard Oil co-founder, John D. Rockefeller. An alumnus of Brown University, he was very principled and careful with money from an early age. He joined his father’s business and went on to become one of the largest real estate holders in Manhattan.