Died On May 23rd
Discover the most famous people who died on May 23. The list includes people like John Forbes Nash, Jr., John D. Rockefeller, Roger Moore, Henrik Ibsen, Sam Snead. Famous personalities featured on this list, include poets, soldiers, lawyers and journalists and from other domains of life. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & France and many more countries.
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1
Roger Moore(Famous for His Portrayal as the Fictional British Secret Agent 'James Bond' in Seven Films)
Birthdate: October 14, 1927
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Stockwell, London, England
Died: 2017
Widely regarded as one of the most popular actors to play the iconic secret agent James Bond in films, Roger Moore was more than just an actor. He was also well-known for his humanitarian work, so much so that he was knighted in 2003 by Queen Elizabeth II for services to charity.
Birthdate: July 8, 1839
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Richford, New York, United States
Died: 1937
Widely regarded as the richest person in modern history and the wealthiest American ever, John D. Rockefeller was a business magnate who founded the Standard Oil Company. He was America’s first billionaire. He also defined the structure of modern philanthropy as the foundations created by him had a major effect on scientific research, medicine, and education.
Birthdate: May 7, 1965
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Calgary, Canada
Died: 1999
Owen Hart, also known as “The Golden Nugget” and “Blue Blazer,” was part of the Hart wrestling family. He had won several titles, such as the WWF Intercontinental Championship and the WWF World Tag Team Championship. He died in an equipment malfunction accident at the 1999 WWF Over the Edge.
Birthdate: June 13, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bluefield, West Virginia, United States
Died: 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.
Birthdate: September 20, 1929
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Died: 2015
Comedian and actor Anne Meara, mother of actor Ben Stiller, was part of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara, along with her husband, Jerry Stiller. She appeared in series such as Archie Bunker's Place and many films, too. She also earned a Writers Guild Award for co-writing The Other Woman.
Birthdate: December 24, 1809
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Madison County
Died: 1868
A frontiersman and a fur-trapper, Kit Carson played a major role in the US’s westward expansion. Mostly known for guiding explorer John C. Frémont, he was criticized for his contribution to the displacement of native Americans as an Indian agent. He became part of folk legend for his exploits as a fighter, too.
7
Sterling Hayden(Actor, Author, Sailor and an Office of Strategic Services' Agent During World War II)
Birthdate: March 26, 1916
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Montclair, New Jersey, United States
Died: 1986
Sterling Hayden mostly appeared in Westerns and film noir of the 1950s. He had also served in World War II. He gained fame with Stanley Kubrick's The Killing and Dr. Strangelove. He was also a sailor and once sailed to Tahiti to shoot a film that eventually remained unfinished.
8
Henrik Ibsen(Norwegian-Danish Playwright and Theatre Director)
Birthdate: March 20, 1828
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Skien, Telemark, Norway
Died: 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.
Birthdate: September 21, 1452
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ferrara, Italy
Died: 1498
Distingusihed for his clash against corrupt clergy and with tyrranical rulers, Girolamo Savonarola became a moral dictator of the city of Florence. He earned a reputation for austerity and detested every form of pleasure that earned him powerful enemies.
10
Sam Snead(The First Golfer to Win the Grand Slam of Golf)
Birthdate: May 27, 1912
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ashwood, Virginia, United States
Died: 2002
Known to fans as The Slammer, American golfer Sam Snead ruled the PGA scene for decades and won more than 185 tournaments throughout his career. His record of 82 PGA tour victories remains unbroken. Cartoonist and golf lover Charles M. Schulz mentioned Snead often in his Peanuts strip.
11
Ismail I
(Shah of Iran (1501-1524))
Birthdate: July 17, 1487
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ardabil, Iran
Died: 1524
Ismail I was the originator of the Safavid dynasty and ruled as the Shahanshah of Iran from 1501 to 1524. His reign is considered one of the most vital in Iranian history and his empire is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of Iran and one of the most powerful empires of the world during its peak.
12
Moms Mabley
(American Stand-up Comedian and Actress)
Birthdate: March 19, 1894
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Brevard, North Carolina, United States
Died: 1975
Birthdate: June 25, 1929
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, United States
Died: 2021
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
Birthdate: August 21, 1789
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris
Died: 1857
French mathematician Augustin-Louis Cauchy was initially a military engineer. In his early days, he and his family escaped the Reign of Terror and settled in Arcueil. He was one of the pioneers of mathematical analysis and made significant contributions to subjects such as error theory, calculus, and complex functions.
15
Cortez Kennedy
(American football player)
Birthdate: August 23, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Osceola, Arkansas, United States
Died: 2017
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
16
Alicia Nash(Wife of Mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr.)
Birthdate: January 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: San Salvador, El Salvador
Died: 2015
Born in El Salvador, Alicia Nash later moved to the U.S., where she became one of the first women to join MIT as a student. The physicist met her husband, renowned mathematician John Nash at MIT. Both Alicia and John were killed in car crash while returning home from Norway.
17
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
(King of Germany)
Birthdate: August 11, 1086
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Goslar, Germany
Died: 1125
18
Joe Pass
(Jazz guitarist who performed with George Shearing in 1965 and worked as a session musician in Los Angeles.)
Birthdate: January 13, 1929
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Died: 1994
19
Hana Kimura
(Japanese Professional Wrestler)
Birthdate: September 3, 1997
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Died: 2020
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
20
Leopold von Ranke
(German Historian and a Founder of Modern Source-Based History)
Birthdate: December 21, 1795
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Wiehe, Roßleben-Wiehe, Germany
Died: 1886
Leopold von Ranke was a German historian who had a major influence on Western historiography. A respected historian, Ranke is credited with founding modern source-based history. When he was ennobled in 1865, honors poured in from several historians and scholars across the world.
21
Giovanni Falcone
(Magistrate, Judge, Lawyer)
Birthdate: May 18, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Palermo
Died: 1992
Giovanni Falcone was an Italian judge, who spent several years of his professional life trying to overthrow the power of the Sicilian Mafia. He studied law at the University of Palermo and had a brilliant career. He eventually became a prosecuting magistrate and was involved in a long legal battle with the Sicilian Mafia. He was assassinated in 1992.
Birthdate: April 3, 1898
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: 1981
Birthdate: June 3, 1918
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England
Died: 1996
24
Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood
(Military personnel)
Birthdate: September 9, 1882
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London, England
Died: 1947
Birthdate: March 9, 1970
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London Borough of Hillingdon
Died: 2010
Simon Monjack was an English filmmaker, screenwriter, and make-up artist. Much of his professional life was overshadowed by his personal life, which included his marriage to American actress Brittany Murphy. Monjack's death attracted the attention of media as he died five months after Murphy's death due to complications similar to Murphy's undoing.
Birthdate: March 22, 1924
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States
Died: 2012
Literary historian Paul Fussell had been part of the infantry in World War II. He had also taught at various institutes, such as Rutgers University and the University of Pennsylvania. Best known for his books such as The Great War and Modern Memory, he was a World War expert.
27
Utah Phillips
(Former folk singer known for Goodnight-Loving Trail and Daddy, What's a Train?)
Birthdate: May 15, 1935
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: 2008
28
Wilhelm Kempff
(German Pianist and Composer Known for His Interpretations of the Music of 'Ludwig Van Beethoven' and 'Franz Schubert')
Birthdate: November 25, 1895
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jüterbog, Germany
Died: 1991
One of the greatest German composers of the 20th century, Wilhelm Kempff specialized in interpretations of legends such as Beethoven and Chopin. Born into a family of church musicians, he began learning the piano at age 9. He had also played for the Nazi officers, once a short distance away from Auschwitz.
Birthdate: February 5, 1725
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
Died: 1783
Birthdate: May 23, 1977
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kuznetsky District, Penza Oblast
Died: 1996
31
Antipope Benedict XIII
(Spanish Antipope and Nobleman)
Birthdate: November 25, 1328
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Illueca, Spain
Died: 1423
Antipope Benedict XIII, or Pope Luna, initially served as a university professor of canon law and later became a cardinal. He was made the pope after Clement VII’s death, on the grounds that he would resign to end the Western Schism later, but he didn’t and was thus deposed.
32
Francesca Morvillo
(Magistrate)
Birthdate: December 14, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Palermo, Italy
Died: 1992
Francesca Morvillo was an Italian magistrate. In 1992, Morvillo became the first and only woman magistrate to be assassinated in Italy; she was killed alongside her husband Giovanni Falcone by the Sicilian Mafia. Her funeral was aired live on national television and a day of mourning was declared by the Parliament.
33
Hazel Hawke
(Social worker, Pianist)
Birthdate: July 20, 1929
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died: 2013
34
Georges Moustaki
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: May 3, 1934
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt
Died: 2013
35
William Aberhart
(7th Premier of Alberta, founder and first leader of the Alberta Social Credit)
Birthdate: December 30, 1878
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada
Died: 1943
36
Georges Claude
(French Engineer and Inventor)
Birthdate: September 24, 1870
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: 1960
French engineer and inventor Georges Claude was often referred as the Edison of France. He is most noted for inventing and commercializing neon lighting and having a near monopoly on the new technology, for conducting an experiment to generate thermal energy of the ocean and building the first Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant, and for the Claude cycle.
Birthdate: February 24, 1908
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Schenectady, New York, United States
Died: 1998
38
Bill Yoast
(American Football Coach)
Birthdate: November 16, 1924
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Florence, Alabama, United States
Died: 2019
39
Terry Furlow
(Basketball player)
Birthdate: October 18, 1954
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States
Died: 1980
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
40
Cyprian Norwid
(Poet Known for His Work 'Vade-mecum' & 'Promethidion')
Birthdate: September 24, 1821
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Głuchy, Poland
Died: 1883
Cyprian Norwid was a Polish poet, painter, dramatist, and sculptor. Although he did not find much success and monetary gains during his lifetime, Norwid is now regarded as a nationally esteemed poet. His works were rediscovered and popularized by the members of the Young Poland art movement. Cyprian Norwid is now counted among the four most prominent Polish Romantic poets.
Birthdate: April 18, 1930
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Yoro, Honduras
Died: 2011
42
José de Espronceda y Delgado
(Poet)
Birthdate: March 25, 1808
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Almendralejo, Spain
Died: 1842
Remembered as the "Spanish Lord Byron," Romantic poet José de Espronceda y Delgado became famous for his affair with Teresa Mancha. Initially imprisoned in a monastery for his revolutionary activities, he fled Spain and later lived in England and France. El estudiante de Salamanca remains one of his notable works.
43
Ranavalona III
(Statesperson)
Birthdate: November 22, 1861
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Merina Kingdom Madagascar
Died: 1917
44
Pierre-Jean de Smet
(Priest)
Birthdate: January 30, 1801
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Termonde, Belgium
Died: 1873
45
Demchugdongrub
(Mongolian Military Leader)
Birthdate: February 8, 1902
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sonid Right Banner, China
Died: 1966
Birthdate: July 20, 1934
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sweet Home, Arkansas, United States
Died: 1968
Birthdate: 1740 AD
Birthplace: Lancaster, England
Died: 1800
48
Mason Locke Weems
(Author)
Birthdate: October 11, 1759
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Died: 1825
49
Leonida Bagration of Mukhrani
(Princess)
Birthdate: October 6, 1914
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tbilisi, Georgia
Died: 2010
50
Dolores Veintimilla
(Ecuadorian Poet Best Remembered for Her Poem, 'Quejas')
Birthdate: 1829 AD
Birthplace: Quito, Ecuador
Died: 1857
Dolores Veintimilla was an Ecuadorian poet best remembered for her poem, Quejas. Veintimilla committed suicide at the age of 27 and some of her works were published posthumously. Although her works were never fully appreciated during her lifetime, Dolores Veintimilla achieved posthumous fame when her works reached the hands of subsequent generation of readers.