Famous People Who Died At 88

The list of famous people who died at 88 includes Charlie Chaplin, Harry S. Truman, Michelangelo, Edmund Hillary, Aurangzeb. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, poets, artists and actors and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 88 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & France and many more countries.
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 1 
Charlie Chaplin
(The Greatest Comic Artist Ever & One of the Most Important Figures in Motion-Picture History)
Charlie Chaplin
92
Birthdate: April 16, 1889
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Walworth, London, England
Died: December 25, 1977

Cinema lovers around the world hold Charlie Chaplin in high esteem. One of the biggest stars of the silent film era and an icon, he left the audience in splits with his comedic performances. Even today, his performances in movies like Modern Times and The Gold Rush are considered classic. The legendary actor was also a writer, director and producer.

 2 
Michelangelo
(Regarded as the Most Accomplished Artist of His Era (High Renaissance))
Michelangelo
26
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: March 6, 1475
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Caprese Michelangelo, Italy
Died: February 18, 1564

Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet Michelangelo was a prominent figure of the High Renaissance. He is credited to have influenced the Western art in unprecedented ways. He is widely regarded as the greatest artist of his age and one of the greatest artists of all time. He was equally revered and respected as an architect.

 3 
Bill Russell
(One of the Greatest Basketball Players of All Time)
Bill Russell
39
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 12, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Monroe, Louisiana, United States
Died: July 31, 2022

Bill Russell was an American retired professional basketball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players ever, Russell led the US national basketball team to victory and helped his team win an Olympic gold at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Also known for his accomplishments in the civil rights movement, Russell was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

 4 
Harry S. Truman
(33rd President of the United States)
Harry S. Truman
50
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 8, 1884
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lamar, Missouri, United States
Died: December 26, 1972

Harry Truman was the US president from 1945 to 1953 and his administration successfully guided the US economy through the post-war challenges. He established the Truman Doctrine to contain Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War. He authorised the first and only use of nuclear weapons during a war when he sanctioned bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

 5 
Robert Frost
(American Poet Who was Known for His Realistic Depictions of Rural Life)
Robert Frost
47
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 26, 1874
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: January 29, 1963

Robert Frost was an American poet. An influential poet, Frost was honored with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, the only poet to receive four such awards. One of America's public literary figures, Robert Frost received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960. His works influenced other poets like Robert Francis, James Wright, Edward Thomas, Richard Wilbur, and Seamus Heaney.

 6 
Fred Astaire
(The Greatest Dancer in Film History)
Fred Astaire
27
Birthdate: May 10, 1899
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Died: June 22, 1987

Fred Astaire was an American actor, television presenter, dancer, choreographer, and singer. Widely regarded as the most influential dancer in film history, Astaire was known for his innovation, perfectionism, and an uncanny sense of rhythm. Also known for his fashion sense, Fred Astaire remained a male fashion icon throughout his career, which spanned more than seven decades.

 7 
Adam West
(American Actor Who Portrayed 'Batman' in Several Movies and Television Shows)
Adam West
13
Birthdate: September 19, 1928
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Walla Walla, Washington, United States
Died: June 9, 2017

Adam West was an actor best known for his portrayal of Batman in the 1960s live-action TV series of the same name. One of the first actors to play Batman, West is considered the most popular actor to play the iconic character. After his death, the Bat-Signal was projected on Los Angeles’ City Hall as a tribute to the actor.

 8 
Edmund Hillary
(One of the First Climbers to Have Reached the Summit of Mount Everest)
Edmund Hillary
43
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 20, 1919
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Died: January 11, 2008
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to reach the top of Mount Everest, as part of the British expedition led by John Hunt. Hillary also reached both the poles. He later served as an ambassador to Nepal and founded the Himalayan Trust to help the people of Nepal.
 9 
Rip Torn
(Actor)
Rip Torn
10
Birthdate: February 6, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Temple, Texas, United States
Died: July 9, 2019
Rip Torn is best remembered for his Emmy-winning role of Arthur in The Larry Sanders Show and his Academy Award-nominated role of Marsh Turner in Cross Creek. Fans also loved him as Zed in the Men in Black franchise. He lent his voice to many animated films and video games.
 10 
James Arness
(Actor)
James Arness
21
Birthdate: May 26, 1923
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Died: June 3, 2011
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)
 11 
Akira Kurosawa
(Japanese Filmmaker Who is Regarded as One of the Most Important & Influential Filmmakers in Film History)
Akira Kurosawa
21
Birthdate: March 23, 1910
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Shinagawa City, Tokyo, Japan
Died: September 6, 1998

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker. Widely considered one of the most influential and important filmmakers of all time, Kurosawa's works opened up Western film markets to the products of the Japanese entertainment industry, enabling other Japanese filmmakers to achieve international recognition. Such is his impact as a filmmaker that he is credited with contributing to the development of Asia.

 12 
Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Former King of Thailand (1946 - 2016))
Bhumibol Adulyadej
24
Birthdate: December 5, 1927
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 13, 2016

Bhumibol Adulyadej of the Chakri dynasty reigned as the ninth monarch of Thailand. Reigning from 1946 until his death in 2016, Adulyadej is the second-longest reigning monarch in the history. During his reign, Bhumibol Adulyadej retained enormous constitutional powers and was extremely popular among his subjects, with some even seeing him as close to divine.

 13 
Ricardo Montalbán
(Mexican Actor Best Known for His Role of 'Mr. Roarke' on the Television Series 'Fantasy Island')
Ricardo Montalbán
12
Birthdate: November 25, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Died: January 14, 2009

Ricardo Montalbán was a Mexican actor who achieved immense popularity in Hollywood during his illustrious career that spanned 70 years! He was the recipient of several prestigious awards including an Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award. Ricardo Montalbán is credited with establishing the Nosotros Foundation where he served as the first president.

 14 
Toni Morrison
(Novelist)
Toni Morrison
45
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 18, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lorain, Ohio
Died: August 5, 2019
Author, editor, and Princeton professor Toni Morrison is best remembered for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Beloved, part of a trilogy. Some of her other notable works include The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon. She received the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature. She also wrote several children’s books and plays.
 15 
Myrna Loy
(Best Known for Her Role in the Film 'The Thin Man')
Myrna Loy
6
Birthdate: August 2, 1905
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helena, Montana, United States
Died: December 14, 1993

Myrna Loy was an American actress best remembered for playing femme fatale roles. Loy was able to break her stereotypical femme fatale on-screen image by playing Nora Charles in the 1934 comedy-mystery film The Thin Man. Although she never received an Academy Award nomination, Myrna Loy was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 1991 for her contribution to cinema.

 16 
William Randolph Hearst
(Newspaper Baron)
William Randolph Hearst
19
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 29, 1863
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: August 14, 1951

William Randolph Hearst was an American newspaper publisher, businessman, and politician. He is credited with developing America's largest newspaper chain, Hearst Communications. Today, Hearst Communications has grown into a multinational business information and mass media conglomerate. William Randolph Hearst’s life and work inspired the creation of Charles Foster Kane, the main character in the 1941 drama film, Citizen Kane.

 17 
Alfredo Di Stéfano
(Argentine Professional Footballer and Coach Who Played as a Forward)
Alfredo Di Stéfano
40
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 4, 1926
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Barracas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died: July 7, 2014

Alfredo Di Stéfano was an Argentine-born Spanish football player and coach. Counted among the greatest football players of all time, Di Stéfano is remembered for his association with Real Madrid, where he played a major role in the club's domination of La Liga and the European Cup during the 1950s. In 2004, he was included in Pele’s FIFA 100 list.

 18 
Perry Como
(Singer)
Perry Como
11
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 18, 1912
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: May 13, 2001
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 19 
Cliff Robertson
7
Birthdate: September 9, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: La Jolla
Died: September 10, 2011

Cliff Robertson was an American actor whose career spanned half a century. He is best known for his portrayal of Charly Gordon in the 1968 drama film Charly, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Also a well-known aviator, Robertson owned several aircraft, such as a Messerschmitt Bf 108 and multiple de Havilland Tiger Moths.

 20 
Omar Bradley
(1st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1949-53))
Omar Bradley
7
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: February 12, 1893
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Clark, Missouri, United States
Died: April 8, 1981
 21 
Ian Holm
(British Actor Best Known for His Role in the Film 'Chariots on Fire')
Ian Holm
8
Birthdate: September 12, 1931
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Goodmayes, Essex, England
Died: June 19, 2020
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 22 
Titian
(One of the Greatest Venetian Artists of the 16th-Century)
Titian
6
Birthdate: 1488 AD
Birthplace: Pieve di Cadore, Italy
Died: August 27, 1576
Trained by Giovanni Bellini as a boy, Titian also joined hands with Giorgione to work on a number of frescoes. The Renaissance artist is regarded as one of the key figures of the Venetian school and is remembered for his masterpieces such as the three miracles of Anthony of Padua.
 23 
Gordie Howe
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Gordie Howe
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 31, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died: June 10, 2016
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 24 
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
(British Army Officer Who Served in the First and Second World Wars and the Irish War of Independence)
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
8
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 17, 1887
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kennington, London, United Kingdom
Died: March 24, 1976

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, was a British Army officer who played important roles in World War I, World War II, and the Irish War of Independence. He commanded the British Eighth Army during the Second World War and also oversaw the operations during the Battle of Normandy. Bernard Montgomery has a couple of statues dedicated to him.

 25 
Ann B. Davis
(Actress)
Ann B. Davis
4
Birthdate: May 3, 1926
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Schenectady, New York, United States
Died: June 1, 2014
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 26 
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky
(One of the Most Influential Composers of the 20th Century and a Pivotal Figure in 'Modernist Music')
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky
13
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: June 17, 1882
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lomonosov, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: April 6, 1971

Four-time Grammy-winning Russian composer and pianist Igor Stravinsky is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. He is remembered for his ballets The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring. He broke the traditional flow of music and incorporated his own style.

 27 
Milton S. Hershey
(Chocolatier & Businessman)
Milton S. Hershey
13
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: September 13, 1857
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Derry Township, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 13, 1945
 28 
Ed Koch
(105th Mayor of New York City)
Ed Koch
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 12, 1924
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: February 1, 2013
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 29 
Ursula K. Le Guin
(American Author Best Known for Her Works of Speculative Fiction)
Ursula K. Le Guin
8
Birthdate: October 21, 1929
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Berkeley, California, United States
Died: January 22, 2018

Ursula K. Le Guin was an American author. In a career spanning almost six decades, Ursula wrote about political and social themes like race and sexuality. Throughout her career, Ursula had a major influence on speculative fiction. Her book A Wizard of Earthsea is credited with inspiring ideas like 'wizard school', which was later popularized in the Harry Potter series.

 30 
Daniel Inouye
(Former United States Senator from Hawaii (1963 - 2012))
Daniel Inouye
7
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 7, 1924
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Died: December 17, 2012

Daniel Inouye was a US Senator from Hawaii. He was the highest-ranking Asian-American politician until 2021 when Kamala Harris of Indian origin became vice president. Inouye is also known for his participation in World War II where he lost his right arm. For his bravery in World War II, he was honored with the United States’ highest military award, the Medal of Honor.

 31 
Bill Bowerman
(Co-founder of Nike, Inc.)
Bill Bowerman
13
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 19, 1911
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Died: December 24, 1999
 32 
June Allyson
(Actress)
June Allyson
5
Birthdate: October 7, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, USA
Died: July 8, 2006
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
 33 
Blake Edwards
(American Film Director, Producer and Screenwriter)
Blake Edwards
12
Birthdate: July 26, 1922
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Died: December 15, 2010
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 34 
Ruth Gordon
(Actress)
Ruth Gordon
8
Birthdate: October 30, 1896
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Quincy, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 28, 1985
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
 35 
Cy Young
(Baseball player)
Cy Young
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 29, 1867
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Gilmore, Ohio, United States
Died: November 4, 1955
 36 
Joseph Cotten
(One of the Leading Hollywood Actors of the 1940s)
Joseph Cotten
10
Birthdate: May 15, 1905
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Petersburg, Virginia, United States
Died: February 6, 1994

Joseph Cotten was an American actor who achieved prominence on Broadway during the 1930s. He then became a leading Hollywood actor in the 1940s, playing important roles in films like Citizen Kane, Shadow of a Doubt, and Duel in the Sun. In 1960, Joseph Cotten was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 37 
Francis Crick
(Co-discoverer of the Structure of the DNA Molecule, Nobel Prize Winner)
Francis Crick
7
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: June 8, 1916
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Weston Favell, Northamptonshire, England
Died: July 28, 2004

Nobel Prize-winning British biophysicist Francis Crick is best known for his ground-breaking work to determine the structure of the DNA, along with James Watson, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin. He taught at various institutes, such as the Salk Institute, and was also awarded the Order of Merit.

 38 
Katsushika Hokusai
10
Birthdate: October 31, 1760
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Edo, Tokyo, Japan
Died: May 10, 1849

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese printmaker, ukiyo-e painter, and artist of the Edo period. He is best known as the creator of the monumental Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, a series of landscape prints, which includes the iconic print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. He is credited with transforming the ukiyo-e art form to include a much broader style of art.

 39 
Władysław Szpilman
(Pianist Widely Known as the Central Figure in the 2002 'Roman Polanski' Film 'The Pianist')
Władysław Szpilman
10
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 5, 1911
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sosnowiec, Poland
Died: July 6, 2000

WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Szpilman was a Polish pianist of Jewish descent. He was a popular performer on Polish radio and in concert in the 1930s. He was also a prolific composer. He survived the Holocaust and was the central figure in the 2002 Roman Polanski film The Pianist. His son, Andrzej Szpilman, is also a composer and music producer. 

 40 
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
(American Philanthropist and Founder of the ‘Special Olympics’)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
11
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: July 10, 1921
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 11, 2009
Eunice Shriver, sister of American president John F. Kennedy and wife of diplomat Sargent Shriver, was an avid philanthropist. Motivated by her mentally challenged sister Rosemary’s condition, she began working for the disabled and eventually founded the Special Olympics. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her philanthropic work.
 41 
Jackie Cooper
(Actor, Director, Producer and the First Child Actor to Receive an Oscar Nomination)
Jackie Cooper
11
Birthdate: September 15, 1922
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: May 3, 2011

Jackie Cooper was an American actor, television producer, and director. He was the youngest and the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination. After receiving the nomination at the age of nine, Cooper remained the youngest Academy Award nominee for nearly 50 years. He later established himself as a successful actor in Hollywood.

 42 
Aurangzeb
(6th Emperor of the Mughal Empire (1658 - 1707))
Aurangzeb
46
Birthdate: November 3, 1618
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dahod, Gujarat, India
Died: March 3, 1707

Aurangzeb reigned over most part of the Indian subcontinent for 49 years as the sixth Mughal emperor. He helped the Mughal Empire reach its greatest extent and helped India become the biggest manufacturing power and the world's largest economy. He was known for his religious piety and led a very simple life..

 43 
Milkha Singh
(Indian Track and Field Sprinter)
Milkha Singh
43
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 20, 1932
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Govindpura, Pakistan
Died: June 18, 2021

Indian track and field legend Milkha Singh, also known as "The Flying Sikh,” was orphaned during the Partition of India. The former army man won four Asian Games gold medals. He also competed in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Summer Olympics, finishing fourth in the 400-meter event in 1960.

 44 
Chanakya
(Philosopher, Theologian)
Chanakya
19
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 0371 BC
Birthplace: India
Died: 0283 BC

Chanakya was an ancient Indian philosopher, teacher, jurist, economist, and royal advisor. Widely regarded as the pioneer of economics and political science in India, Chanakya is believed to have played a key role in the formation of the great Maurya Empire. He authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra, which is considered as one of the seminal texts on statecraft.

 45 
Jean-Paul Belmondo
(French Actor Who Helped Shape European Cinema)
Jean-Paul Belmondo
10
Birthdate: April 9, 1933
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Died: September 6, 2021

Jean-Paul Belmondo was a French actor and producer who ruled the French film industry as an actor for many years between the 1960s and 1990s. An influential and important actor of French cinema, Belmondo also played a prominent role in shaping European cinema. Widely regarded as an icon and national treasure, Jean-Paul Belmondo won many awards including a César Award.  

 46 
Roger Bannister
(The First Athlete to Run a Mile in Less Than Four Minutes)
Roger Bannister
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 23, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Harrow, England
Died: March 3, 2018

British middle-distance athlete and neurologist Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was the first athlete to run a mile in less than four minutes. Before achieving such feat, Bannister set a British record in the 1500 metres during the 1952 Summer Olympics. In the medical field, Bannister became a neurologist and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford.

 47 
L. S. Lowry
(Artist)
L. S. Lowry
9
Birthdate: November 1, 1887
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Stretford, Lancashire, England
Died: February 23, 1976

Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English painter, known for his bleak urban industrial landscapes, peopled with human figures akin to “matchstick men”. He became interested in the subject while working at a Manchester real-estate and began depicting what he saw. Although critics are divided over his stature, they all agree on the relevance of his works as a social commentary.

 48 
Shelby Foote
(Writer)
Shelby Foote
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 17, 1916
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Greenville, Mississippi, United States
Died: June 27, 2005
 49 
Sylvia Sidney
(Actress)
Sylvia Sidney
3
Birthdate: August 8, 1910
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: July 1, 1999
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 50 
Betsy Palmer
(Actress)
Betsy Palmer
2
Birthdate: November 1, 1926
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: East Chicago, Indiana, USA
Died: May 29, 2015
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)