Famous People Who Died Today

Musician and singer-songwriter Buddy Holly was a central figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. Born to a musical family, he learned to sing and play the guitar as a child. He began his career as a teenager and found much success within a short period. Sadly, he died in an aircraft crash when he was just 22 years old.

Widely regarded as the pioneer of Latin rock and Chicano rock, Ritchie Valens was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. Since his untimely death at the age of 17, Ritchie Valens has inspired several musicians and bands like Carlos Santana, Los Lonely Boys, and Los Lobos. Valens also inspired Robert Quine, Jimi Hendrix, Keith O'Conner Murphy, and Chris Montez among others.

From presidential cabin of Princeton University to presidential office of the White House, Woodrow Wilson ushered a series of progressive reforms that changed the American politics forever. The 28th President of USA, Woodrow Wilson introduced several ground-breaking policies including the Federal Reserve Act. He played a key role in founding the first intergovernmental organisation—the League of Nations—for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Credit goes to Johannes Gutenberg for transforming book-making from manuscripts to the printed form as he introduced the movable-type printing press in the 15th century. The German printer and publisher’s invention contributed to mass communication during the Renaissance. He was not successful in his business and was exiled during the later years of his life.  He was also a goldsmith.

Nancy Kulp was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Miss Jane Hathaway in the popular television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1967. A multi-talented personality, Kulp was also renowned for her comedic skills. She also tried her hand at politics and teaching before succumbing to cancer in 1991.

Audrey Meadows was an American actress best remembered for her portrayal of Alice Kramden in the popular television sitcom, The Honeymooners. Also a banker, Audrey Meadows was the first woman to serve as the director of the First National Bank of Denver, a position which she held for 11 years.

Anna May Wong was an American actress and the first Chinese-American to make it big in Hollywood. She is remembered as the first Chinese-American to gain international recognition as an actress. Anna made history in 1951 when she appeared in The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong, becoming the first Asian-American to be featured as the lead in a US television show.

Born to a cotton buyer, Betty May Adams, or Julie Adams, grew up to be a popular actor, best known for her classic horror film Creature from the Black Lagoon. She had also been part of series such as Murder, She Wrote and had co-written a book with her son.

Haya Harareet was an Israeli screenwriter and actress best remembered for her portrayal of Esther in the 1959 religious epic film Ben-Hur. Among her works as a screenwriter is the 1967 British drama film Our Mother's House, which was directed by Jack Clayton. She was an international star; she appeared in Israeli, Italian, British, and American films.

Gia Long was a Vietnamese emperor who is credited with unifying Vietnam in 1802 before founding the Nguyen dynasty. He reigned as the first emperor of the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 until his death in 1820. He also ruled as the emperor of Vietnam from 1804 to 1820. Gia Long is also credited with popularizing Confucianism in Vietnam.

Charlie Sifford was an American golfer who won two PGA Tour events. Sifford was the first Black golfer to join the PGA Tour at a time when African-Americans were excluded from PGA events. In 2004, he became the first Black to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Jan Steen was a Dutch Golden Age painter, counted among the leading genre painters of the 17th century. Born into a wealthy family, he received training under prominent painter Nicolaes Knupfer. For several years, he worked with renowned landscape painter Jan van Goyen, whose daughter he later married. He painted portraits, still life, and historical, mythological, and religious scenes.

Christiaan de Wet was a Boer general, rebel leader, and politician. He served as a field cornet in the First Anglo-Boer War of 1880–81. Following the war, he became a member of the Volksraad. In the Second Boer War, he took part in the Siege of Ladysmith and the surprise attack on Sanna's Post near Bloemfontein. 

Bohumil Hrabal was a Czech writer who adapted an expressive style of writing. Hrabal, whose works have been translated into many languages, is counted among the 20th century's greatest Czech writers along with fellow satirists Karel Čapek, Jaroslav Hašek, and Milan Kundera.

Saint Ansgar, or Oscar, was a medieval missionary and the first archbishop of Hamburg. He had been sent to evangelical missions in Denmark and Sweden. His frequent travels for work earned him the nickname the Apostle of the North. He was made a saint by Rembert, his successor.

Better known as the father of legendary Irish poet W.B. Yeats, John Butler Yeats was a talented painter in his own right. Initially a barrister, he later studied art formally and focused on painting but failed to sell his works and eventually died in a boarding house.

Choudhry Rahmat Ali was a Pakistani nationalist best remembered for playing a key role in the creation of Pakistan. Regarded as the pioneer of Pakistan Movement, Rahmat Ali is credited with coining the name Pakistan. Rahmat Ali is also credited with conceptualizing the idea of Pakistan and for publishing the Pakistan Declaration in the form of a pamphlet in 1933.

Military adventurer, conquistador, and colonist settler Bernal Díaz del Castillo is best known for his participation in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire under Hernán Cortés and for his memoirs, The True History of the Conquest of New Spain.  He was part of three Mexican expeditions, that of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, Juan de Grijalva and Cortés respectively.

Sam Youd, better known by his pseudonym, John Christopher, was a sci-fi author who gained fame for novels such as The Death of Grass and The Tripods trilogy. The Guardian Prize-winning writer wrote under other pseudonyms, too. He is remembered as the pioneer of young adult dystopian fiction genre.

Born to an affluent Hungarian businessman and piano teacher, Agi Jambor was a piano prodigy. Married to physicist and pianist Imre Patai, she later joined the Resistance against the Nazis, decked up as a sex worker under the alias Maryushka. After moving to the US, she taught at the Bryn Mawr College.