Famous People Who Died Today

Popularly known as the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock pioneered the Hitchcockian style of filmmaking. One of the most studied filmmakers in the world, Hitchcock is also one of the most influential in the history of cinema. In his career, that spanned six decades, he directed some of the greatest films of all time, such as Psycho and Vertigo.

Austrian-British philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein is remembered for his works related to logic, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of mathematics, and the philosophy of language. He taught at the University of Cambridge for many years. He published only one book during his lifetime. Most of his manuscripts were collected later and published posthumously.

Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann was the first known person to synthesize the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Interested in science from a young age, he studied chemistry at the University of Zürich. As a chemist, he conducted several significant studies and authored more than 100 scientific articles and books. He was a recipient of the prestigious Scheele Award.

Anne Buydens is a philanthropist and film producer. She is best known for her 65-year-marriage with American actor Kirk Douglas. A cancer survivor, Anne Buydens works towards raising money for cancer research. She is credited with establishing Research for Women's Cancers, which raised money to help set up a research facility in Los Angeles.

John Kenneth Galbraith was an intellectual, diplomat, economist, and public official. One of the most influential exponents of 20th-century American liberalism, Galbraith published many books concerning the American economy. Galbraith is one of the few individuals to be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Medal of Freedom. He also received 50 honorary degrees from various institutions.

Known for his wheel of emotion, or the Plutchik wheel, psychologist Robert Plutchik believed there were 8 primary bipolar emotions, which elicited some reactionary behavior if stimulated. He also taught at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His theory is used in modern psychology to understand behavior and control emotions.

Calvin Peete was an American golfer who became the most successful Black golfer on the PGA Tour before the arrival of Tiger Woods. Peete won 12 PGA Tour events in a professional career that spanned more than 25 years. Calvin Peete also represented the U.S. national team, helping his team win the 1983 Ryder Cup and the 1985 Nissan Cup.

Lautaro was a Mapuche war leader best remembered for spearheading the indigenous resistance against the conquest of Chile by the Spanish. He led the warriors of Mapuche to a series of triumphs against the Spanish. He was killed at the Battle of Mataquito in his early 20s. Lautaro is credited with developing tactics that were used even after his death.

Russell Kirk was an American historian, moralist, political theorist, literary and social critic. He is best remembered for his strong influence on 20th-century conservatism in the United States. He is credited with writing The Conservative Mind, which shaped America's postwar conservative movement. Russell Kirk was widely regarded as the leading advocate of traditionalist conservatism.

Michiel de Ruyter was a Dutch admiral best remembered for his achievements during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. An important member of the Dutch Navy during his time, De Ruyter is widely considered one of the most talented admirals of all time. Regarded as a Dutch folk hero, Michiel de Ruyter's life and career inspired the 2015 Dutch film, Michiel de Ruyter.

Babu Chiri Sherpa was a Nepalese mountaineer best remembered for reaching the peak of Mount Everest on 10 occasions. He was also a humanitarian and environmentalist who wanted to build schools in Nepal. Babu Chiri Sherpa's dream was realized before his death when a school was erected in his home village. 

Nick Joaquin was a Filipino journalist and writer. He is best remembered for his novels and short stories written in the English language. Counted among the most prominent Filipino writers of all time, Nick Joaquin was the recipient of many prestigious awards such as the National Artist Award and Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature.

Widely regarded as one of the most distinguished Greek poets of the 20th century, Constantine Peter Cavafy became known for his own individual style. During his lifetime, he preferred to share his work through local newspapers and magazines only. His first book was published two years after his death. He also worked as a journalist and a civil servant.

Israeli psychologist Reuven Feuerstein first gained an interest in psychology while teaching children who had survived the Holocaust. He believed learning isn’t fixed and developed concepts such as Structural Cognitive Modifiability and Mediated Learning Experience, to demonstrate the changeability of intelligence through interventions. He also established the Jerusalem-based ICELP.

Hailed by many as the founding father of 21st-century sociology, Charles Tilly was not only a revered sociologist, but also an influential political scientist and historian. Considered a major figure in the development of historical sociology, he published numerous books, monographs and scholarly articles, providing an insight into urban sociology, European nation-state formation, democracy, social movements, labor, and categorical inequalities