Famous People Who Died Today

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 1 
Edmund Hillary
(One of the First Climbers to Have Reached the Summit of Mount Everest)
Edmund Hillary
46
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 20, 1919
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Died: 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.
 2 
Thomas Hardy
(Novelist & Poet)
Thomas Hardy
7
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 2, 1840
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Stinsford, Dorset, England
Died: 1928
Victorian novelist and poet Thomas Hardy exhibited strong influences of Romanticism in his works. He wrote classic novels such as Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess of the d'Urbervilles. He mostly showed his characters struggling against social conditions and ending up in tragic situations.
 3 
Francis Scott Key
9
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: August 1, 1779
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Died: 1843
 4 
Aaron Swartz
(Computer Programmer)
Aaron Swartz
41
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: November 8, 1986
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Chicago
Died: 2013
Aaron Swartz was an internet hacktivist, best remembered for creating the web feed RSS, Markdown, and Creative Commons. He also worked with Reddit and founded Demand Progress, which supports internet freedom. He was later charged with computer fraud after breaking into a system at MIT and eventually died by suicide.
 5 
Anita Ekberg
(Swedish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Sylvia’ in the Film ‘La Dolce Vita’)
Anita Ekberg
11
Birthdate: September 29, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Malmö Municipality, Sweden
Died: 2015

Swedish actress Anita Ekberg is best known for her role in the comedy-drama film La Dolce Vita. She worked primarily in Italy and later became a citizen of the country. She began modeling as a teenager and eventually entered films as well. Beautiful and voluptuous, she became a popular name within a few years.

 6 
Lal Bahadur Shastri
(2nd Prime Minister of India)
Lal Bahadur Shastri
41
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 2, 1904
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died: 1966

The second prime minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, was known for his environmental campaigns and his support for the White Revolution. His slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, became immensely popular. He ended the war by signing the Tashkent Agreement, but died a day later.

 7 
Jack Soo
(Actor)
Jack Soo
1
Birthdate: October 28, 1917
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Oakland, California, USA
Died: 1979
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 8 
David Oswald Nelson
(Actor)
David Oswald Nelson
8
Birthdate: October 24, 1936
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Died: 2011
 9 
Pappy Boyington
13
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 4, 1912
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
Died: 1988
 10 
Alberto Giacometti
(Sculptor, Painter)
Alberto Giacometti
3
Birthdate: October 10, 1901
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Borgonovo, Bregaglia, Switzerland
Died: 1966

Alberto Giacometti was a Swiss painter, sculptor, printmaker, and draftsman. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most important sculptors, Giacometti's career and his friendship with American writer James Lord inspired the 2017 British-American drama film Final Portrait, in which Alberto Giacometti is portrayed by Australian actor Geoffrey Roy Rush.

 11 
Lewis Nixon
(United States Army Officer During World War II)
Lewis Nixon
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 30, 1918
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: 1995
 12 
Sheldon Leonard
(Actor)
Sheldon Leonard
1
Birthdate: February 22, 1907
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Died: 1997
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 13 
Michael Williams
(Actor)
Michael Williams
6
Birthdate: July 9, 1935
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Died: 2001
 14 
Theodor Schwann
(Physiologist)
Theodor Schwann
4
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: December 7, 1810
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Neuss, Germany
Died: 1882

Theodor Schwann was a German physiologist and physician best remembered for his important contributions to biology. He is credited with discovering the Schwann cells, which is named after him. He is also credited with discovering pepsin and the organic nature of yeast. Theodor Schwann also invented the term metabolism.

 15 
Michael Atiyah
(British-Lebanese Mathematician Who was the Co-Founder of 'Topological K-Theory')
Michael Atiyah
4
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: April 22, 1929
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: 2019

Recipient of Fields Medal and Abel Prize, British-Lebanese mathematician Michael Atiyah emerged as a leading figure in the UK mathematics during the latter half of the 20th century. He specialised in geometry and made remarkable contributions in the fields of geometry, theoretical physics, topology and global analysis, and is best known for proving the Atiyah–Singer index theorem with Isadore Singer.

 16 
Edna Purviance
(Actress)
Edna Purviance
5
Birthdate: October 21, 1895
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Paradise Valley, Nevada, United States
Died: 1958
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 17 
Bob Lemon
(Baseball Player)
Bob Lemon
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 22, 1920
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: San Bernardino, California, United States
Died: 2000
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 18 
Hans Sloane
(Physician, Naturalist and 13th President of the Royal Society (1727 - 1741))
Hans Sloane
1
Birthdate: April 16, 1660
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Killyleagh, Ireland
Died: 1753

British doctor Hans Sloane traveled to Jamaica as a personal physician of the 2nd duke of Albermarle and was soon engrossed in the natural species of the region. He documented his collections, and they eventually helped form the British Museum. He is also known as the inventor of drinking chocolate.

 19 
Victor Noir
(French Journalist)
Victor Noir
2
Birthdate: July 27, 1848
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Attigny, France
Died: 1870
 20 
Ariel Sharon
(Prime Minister of Israel)
Ariel Sharon
10
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: February 26, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: British Mandate of Palestine
Died: 2014

Ariel Sharon was the Israeli prime minister from 2001 to 2006. As a commander of the Israeli Army, he had participated in the Palestine War of 1948 and the 1967 Six-Day War. He was removed as the defense minister after he led the massacre of Palestinians in the Lebanon War.

 21 
Beulah Bondi
(Character Actress Known for Her Roles of Eccentric Mothers)
Beulah Bondi
1
Birthdate: May 3, 1889
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: 1981
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 22 
Ernest Shonekan
(Nigerian Statesman and Lawyer Who Served as Interim Head of State of Nigeria)
Ernest Shonekan
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 9, 1936
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Died: 2022

Nigerian statesman and lawyer Chief Ernest Shonekan GCFR, served simultaneously as head of government and head of transitional council under Ibrahim Babangida. Following crisis of Third Republic, the Interim National Government was established with Shonekan as interim Head of State. Shonekan’s largely powerless government was eventually overthrown in the 1993 Nigerian coup d'état led by Defence Minister General Sani Abacha.

 23 
Rodolfo Graziani
(Italian Military Officer & a Loyal Supporter of Benito Mussolini)
Rodolfo Graziani
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 11, 1882
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Filettino, Italy
Died: 1955

Italian military officer Rodolfo Graziani commanded Italy’s Regio Esercito, or Royal Army. He was a fascist figure who held significant political posts under the monarchy of Victor Emmanuel III and then under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Known for his campaigns in Africa during World War II, he escaped imprisonment for his war crimes.

 24 
Richard W. Simmons
(Actor)
Richard W. Simmons
2
Birthdate: August 19, 1913
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Died: 2003
 25 
Robert Anton Wilson
(Writer, Novelist, Philosopher, Essayist, Playwright, Psychologist, Science fiction writer)
Robert Anton Wilson
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 18, 1932
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Brooklyn
Died: 2007
 26 
Spalding Gray
(Actor)
Spalding Gray
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 5, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died: 2004
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 27 
Isidor Isaac Rabi
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: July 29, 1898
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rymanów, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (today Poland)
Died: 1988
 28 
Vasily Kalinnikov
(Composer)
Vasily Kalinnikov
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 13, 1866
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Russia
Died: 1901
 29 
Gail Borden
(Inventor)
Gail Borden
0
Birthdate: November 9, 1801
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Norwich, Chenango County, New York, United States
Died: 1874
 30 
Carl David Anderson
1
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: September 3, 1905
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: 1991
 31 
Celia Sánchez
(Revolutionary, Politician)
Celia Sánchez
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 9, 1920
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Media Luna, Cuba
Died: 1980

Celia Sánchez was a Cuban revolutionary, researcher, politician, and archivist. A close colleague of Fidel Castro, Sánchez played an important role in the Cuban Revolution. She was one of the founders of a revolutionary organization called 26th of July Movement. She was also the first woman to become a part of the guerilla. Sánchez is considered a heroine in Cuba.

 32 
Domenico Ghirlandaio
(Painter)
Domenico Ghirlandaio
1
Birthdate: June 2, 1448
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Died: 1494
 33 
Emilio De Bono
(Politician, Officer)
Emilio De Bono
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 19, 1866
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cassano d'Adda
Died: 1944
 34 
Giovanni Boldini
(Former Painter known as the "Master of Swish" because of his flowing style of painting)
Giovanni Boldini
0
Birthdate: December 31, 1842
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ferrara, Italy
Died: 1931
 35 
Naomi Mitchison
(Scottish Novelist and Poet)
Naomi Mitchison
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 1, 1897
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: 1999

Known for authoring books such as Memoirs of a Spacewoman and The Conquered, Naomi Mitchison was also a driven socialist. She served as an advisor to Botswana’s Bakgatla tribe and had also been a farmer. Honored with numerous awards and honorary doctorates, she lived till age 101.

 36 
Shanda Sharer
(Victim)
Shanda Sharer
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: June 6, 1979
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pineville, USA
Died: 1992
 37 
Monte Irvin
(Baseball Player)
Monte Irvin
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 25, 1919
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Haleburg, Alabama, United States
Died: 2016
 38 
Dimitar Miladinov
(Legendary Bulgarian Poet and Folklorist Known for His Collection 'Bulgarian Folk Songs' Alongside His Brother Konstantin)
Dimitar Miladinov
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1810 AD
Birthplace: Struga
Died: 1862

Initially a teacher, Dimitar Miladinov later established himself as a major Bulgarian poet and folklorist. He was also a major pillar of the Bulgarian national movement, or the Bulgarian Renaissance. His collection of folk songs is also considered crucial to the growth of Macedonian literature and culture.

 39 
Padraic Colum
(Poet)
Padraic Colum
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 8, 1881
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Longford, Ireland
Died: 1972
 40 
Thelma White
(Actress)
Thelma White
1
Birthdate: December 4, 1910
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Died: 2005
 41 
Domenico Cimarosa
(Composer)
Domenico Cimarosa
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 17, 1749
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Aversa, Italy
Died: 1801
 42 
Nathan Straus
(Merchant)
Nathan Straus
0
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: January 31, 1848
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Otterberg, Germany
Died: 1931
 43 
Denys Lasdun
(Architect)
Denys Lasdun
0
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: September 8, 1914
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London, England
Died: 2001

Denys Lasdun was a British architect best remembered for designing London's Royal National Theatre, which is one of the finest examples of Brutalist architecture in the United Kingdom. He is also credited with designing many schools and universities. In 1977, Denys Lasdun was honored with the prestigious Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).  

 44 
Ellis Rabb
(Actor)
Ellis Rabb
0
Birthdate: June 20, 1930
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Died: 1998
 45 
Josef Gingold
(Violinist)
Josef Gingold
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 28, 1909
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brest, Belarus
Died: 1995
 46 
Marcella Sembrich
(Polish Soprano Known for Her Extensive Range of Two and a Half Octaves)
Marcella Sembrich
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 15, 1858
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ukraine
Died: 1935

Marcella Sembrich was a Polish singer remembered for her charm, precise intonation, vocal fluidity, portamento, and impressive range of two-and-a-half octaves. Sembrich, whose voice was described as flute-like, had an illustrious singing career at London's Royal Opera House and the New York Metropolitan Opera. Off stage, Marcella Sembrich was a philanthropist and dedicated teacher.

 47 
Maurice Pialat
(Film Director)
Maurice Pialat
0
Birthdate: August 31, 1925
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cunlhat, France
Died: 2003
 48 
Hannes Kolehmainen
(Finnish Athlete and 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Who Was One of the 'Flying Finns')
Hannes Kolehmainen
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 9, 1889
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kuopio, Finland
Died: 1966

Legendary Finnish track and field athlete Hannes Kolehmainen was one of the Flying Finns and had won 4 Olympic gold medals and a silver. Known for undergoing rigorous training sessions, he also maintained a vegetarian diet. Though a bricklayer by profession, he had a sports-loving family and 2 brothers who were long-distance runners.

 49 
Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer
(Composer)
Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 12, 1703
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Turin, Italy
Died: 1755
 50 
James Martineau
(Philosopher)
James Martineau
1
Birthdate: April 21, 1805
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Norwich, England, United Kingdom
Died: 1900