Famous People Who Died in 1975

Deaths 1 - 200 of 356

Jan 9 John Slater, British actor (Deadlock, 3 on a Spree), dies at 58
Jan 9 Pierre Fresnay, French actor (Monsieur Vincent, Grand Illusion), dies at 77
Jan 9 Pyotr Sergeyevich Novikov, Russian mathematician (group theory), dies at 73
Jan 11 Max Lorenz, German heldentenor famous for Wagner roles (b. 1901)
Jan 12 Caryn Campbell, Bundy victim, disappears from Snowmass, Colo
Jan 16 Thor Johnson, American conductor (Cincinnati Symphony, 1947-58; Nashville Symphony, 1967-75), dies at 61
Jan 18 Gertrude Olmstead, American silent film actress, dies at 77
Jan 19 Thomas Hart Benton, American painter and muralist (Lonesome Road), dies at 85
Jan 20 Franz Andre, Belgian conductor, dies at 81
Jan 21 Ernst Gernot Klussmann, German composer, dies at 73
Jan 21 Marie Lohr, actress (Pygmalion, Small Hotel, Escapade), dies at 84
Jan 22 Andrew George Burry, Swiss-born manufacturer and businessman (b. 1873)
Jan 22 Klaas Voskuil, Dutch journalist, dies at 79
Jan 23 Karel Paul van der Mandele, Dutch financier and director (Rotterdam Bank), dies at 94
Jan 24 Erich Kempka, German chauffeur to Adolf Hitler, dies at 64
Jan 24 Larry Fine, American actor and comedian (3 Stooges), dies at 72
Jan 25 Charlotte Whitton, Canadian politician, Mayor of Ottawa (1951-56), dies at 78
Jan 25 Vivien Kellems, American industrialist, who battled the Federal tax system as discriminatory against single people, dies at 78
Jan 26 Lubov Orlova, Russian actress (Moscow Laughs; Man of Music; Tanya), dies at 74
Jan 27 Bill Walsh, American producer and writer (b. 1913)

Jan 28 Ola Raknes, Norwegian psychoanalyst and philologist (b. 1887)
Jan 30 Boris Blacher, German composer (Purloined Letter), dies at 72
Jan 31 Štefan Németh-Šamorínsky, Slovak organist, choirmaster, composer and pedagogue (Birch Trees), dies at 78
Feb 1 Richard Wattis, British actor (Hobson's Choice, Prince & Showgirl, The Man Who Knew Too Much), dies from a heart attack at 62
Feb 3 Robert Evett, American composer, dies at 52
Feb 3 Umm Kulthum [Ibrahim], Egyptian singer and actress, dies at 76
Feb 3 William D. Coolidge, American physicist and inventor (modern x-ray tube), dies at 101
Feb 4 Julian Fuhs, German-American jazz pianist and bandleader (Follies Band), dies at 83

Louis Jordan (1908-1975)

Feb 4 American musician, songwriter and bandleader ("Caldonia"; "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"; "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"), dies of a heart attack at 66

Feb 5 Åke Persson, Swedish bebop jazz trombonist (Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, 1963–71), dies at 42
Feb 7 Brendan Fay, actor (Hustler, Man on a Swing), dies at 54
Feb 8 John H. Secondari, American author and newscaster (Open Hearing), dies at 55
Feb 8 Martyn Green, British actor (Gilbert & Sullivan, Iceman Cometh), dies at 75
Feb 8 Robert Robinson, British chemist, Nobel laureate (b. 1886)
Feb 9 Constant Burniaux, Belgian writer (The Abandoned) and art historian (Temps Inquiets), dies at 82
Feb 10 Nikos Kavvadias, Greek poet and writer (b. 1910)
Feb 11 Richard Ratsimandrava, Malagasy soldier and statesman, assassinated (b. 1931)
Feb 13 Eric Harding Thiman, English composer, dies at 74
Feb 13 Henry P Van Dusen, US protestant theologist, dies at 77
Feb 14 Heintje Davids [Hendrika David], Dutch cabaret artist (Zandvoort by the sea), dies at 87
Feb 14 Julian S. Huxley, English biologist, 1st director-general of UNESCO, dies at 87

P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975)

Feb 14 English-American writer (Bertie Wooster novels), dies at 93

Feb 16 (Adanelle) "Norman" Treigle, American operatic bass-baritone, dies of an accidental sleeping pill overdose at 47
Feb 16 Morgan Taylor, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m hurdles 1924; bronze 1928, 32), dies at 71
Feb 18 Chivu Stoica [Stoica Chivu], Romanian politician (Premier of Romania 1955-61), dies at 66
Feb 18 Nazir Ali, Indian cricket all-rounder (2 Tests; first Indian Test 1932; Southern Punjab, Sussex CCC), dies at 68
Feb 18 Raymond Moley, US advisor to pres Roosevelt "Brain Trust", dies at 88
Feb 19 Luigi Dallapiccola, Italian 12-tone composer (Il prigioniero; Ulisse), dies of Pulmonary edema at 71
Feb 20 Edgar "Cookie" Fairchild, American bandleader (Jerry Colonna Show), dies at 76
Feb 20 Lillian Fontaine, actress (Suddenly it's Spring), dies at 88
Feb 20 Robert Strauss, American actor (Stalag 17, The Seven Year Itch), dies from a stroke at 61
Feb 24 Nikolai A Bulganin, Soviet-Russian marshal and 6th Premier of the Soviet Union (1955-58), dies at 79

Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975)

Feb 25 American religious leader, and Black separatist (Nation of Islam, 1934-75), dies of heart failure at 77

Feb 27 Neville Cardus, English writer and cricketer, dies at 86
Feb 28 István Kardos, Hungarian composer, dies at 83
Mar 2 Jean Kurt Forest, German composer, dies at 65
Mar 2 Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, Kenyan politician (b.1929)
Mar 6 Glen Hardin, American athlete (Olympic gold 1936 400m hurdles), dies at 64
Mar 7 Ben Blue, Canadian actor and comedian (Accidental Family, Frank Sinatra Show), dies at 73
Mar 7 Francine Larrimore, French actress (John Meade's Woman), dies at 76
Mar 7 Mikhail Bakhtin, Russian philosopher, dies at 79
Mar 8 George Stevens, American Academy Award-winning film director and screenwriter (A Place In The Sun; Giant; Swing Time; Gunga Din), dies of a heart attack at 70
Mar 9 Gleb W. Derujinsky, Russian-American sculptor, dies at 86
Mar 9 Joseph Dunninger, American magician and mentalist (The Amazing Dunninger), dies of Parkinson's disease at 82
Mar 9 Shirley Ross [Bernice Maude Gaunt], American actress (Cafe Society, Prison Farm, Waikiki Wedding), dies of cancer at 62
Mar 10 Léopold Samuel, Belgian composer, dies at 91
Mar 11 Philip Bezanson, American composer (Golden Child), and eductor, dies at 59
Mar 11 Sammy Spear, American big band trumpet player and orchestra leader (The Jackie Gleason Show), dies of a heart attack at 65
Mar 13 Ali Sastroamidjojo, Indonesian attorney, minister and premier, dies at 71
Mar 13 Ivo Andric, Yugoslavian novelist (Bridge on Drina, Nobel 1961), dies at 82
Mar 13 Jean Del Val, French actor (Sainted Devil, Flying Deuces), dies at 83
Mar 13 Ruth Schaumann, German author, painter and sculptor (Rose, Black King), dies at 75

Susan Hayward (1917-1975)

Mar 14 American actress (Young & Willing), dies of brain cancer at 56

Mar 15 Aristotle Onassis, Greek shipping magnate, dies at 69
Mar 16 Richard W. DeKorte, American politician (b. 1936)

T-Bone Walker (1910-1975)

Mar 16 American blues guitarist ("Funky Town"; "Well Done"), dies of bronchial pneumonia at 64

Mar 18 Alain Grandbois, French Canadian poet (Né à Québec: Louis Jolliet), dies at 74
Mar 19 John A DeMott, dies at 63
Mar 21 Berend Giltay, composer, dies at 64
Mar 21 Joe Medwick, American Baseball HOF left fielder (World Series 1934, Triple Crown & NL MVP 1937 St. Louis Cardinals; 10 x MLB All Star), dies at 63
Mar 21 Ralph Hawtrey, British economist (multiplier, quantity theory of money), dies at 95
Mar 22 Asa Smith Bushnell III, American sports executive (Secretary US Olympic Committee 1945-65), dies at 75
Mar 22 Catherine "Cass" Daley, American actress (Star Spangled Rhythm, Red Garters), dies from an accidental fall at 59
Mar 22 Paul Verhoeven, German actor and director (Das kleine Hofkonzert), dies at 73
Mar 24 Muriel Hutchison, American actress (Another Thin Man), dies at 60
Mar 24 Oscar Rasbach, American composer, dies at 86

Faisal of Saudi Arabia (1906-1975)

Mar 25 King of Saudi Arabia (1964-75), shot by nephew at 68

Mar 25 Juan Gaudino, Argentine racing driver (b. 1893)
Mar 27 Arthur Bliss, English composer (Olympians), dies at 83
Mar 27 Gertrude Niesen, American actress, comedian, and songwriter (Start Cheering; Rookies on Parade), dies following a long illness at 63
Mar 28 Renzo Massarani, Italian composer, dies at 77
Mar 30 Peter Bamm, German physician and writer, dies at 87
Apr 1 Eugeen Yoors, Flemish etcher and glass painter, dies at 95
Apr 3 Mary Ure, Scottish actress (Sons & Lovers; Where Eagles Dare), dies at 42
Apr 5 Inez Courtney, American stage and screen actress (The 13th Man; Crime Ring; The Raven), dies at 77
Apr 5 Victor Marijnen, Dutch politician (Prime Minister of the Netherlands 1963-65), dies at 58

Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975)

Apr 6 Chinese political and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (1928-1975), dies at 87

Apr 10 Marjorie Main [Mary Tomlinson], American vaudeville and screen actress (The Egg and I; Ma and Pa Kettle films; Another Thin Man), dies of lung cancer at 85
Apr 10 Sophia JW "Sophie" Hermse, actress (But a Dream), dies at 86
Apr 10 Walker Evans, American photographer (Fortune Magazine), dies at 71
Apr 11 Dorothy Patten, American actress, dies at 70

Josephine Baker (1906-1975)

Apr 12 American-French song and dance revue artist (Folies-Bergere), actress, and civil rights activist, dies of a cerebral hemorrhage at 68

François Tombalbaye (1918-1975)

Apr 13 Dictator and 1st President of Chad (1960-75), dies at 56

Apr 13 Larry Parks [Samuel Lawrence Parks], American actor (The Jolson Story, Love Is Better Than Ever), dies of a heart attack at 60

Fredric March (1897-1975)

Apr 14 American actor (Inherit the Wind), dies of prostate cancer at 77

Apr 15 John B. McKay, American test pilot (X-15), dies at 52
Apr 15 Richard Conte, American actor (The Godfather, Tony Rome, Hotel), dies from a heart attack at 65
Apr 17 Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Indian philosopher and leader, Second President of India (1962-67), dies at 86

Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975)

Apr 19 African American chemist who received 130 patents, pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants, dies at 76

Apr 21 Jack Westrup, English composer, dies at 70
Apr 22 Mary Philips, American actress (Farewell to Arms), dies at 75
Apr 23 R D Brinkmann, writer, dies
Apr 23 William Hartnell, English actor (first Doctor in Dr Who), dies at 67
Apr 24 Pete Ham, Welsh rock singer-songwriter, and guitarist (Badfinger - "Without You"; "No Matter What"; Day After Day"), takes his own life at 27
Apr 25 Mike Brant, Israeli pop singer ("Laisse-moi t'aimer" ("Let Me Love You")), commits suicide at 28
Apr 27 Nicholas Soussanin, Russian-American actor (Last Command, Captain Fury), dies at 86
Apr 28 Jan A. de Jonge, Dutch historian, dies at 48
Apr 29 Darwin Judge, USMC-corporal, 1 of last US soldiers killed in Vietnam
Apr 29 Michael John Shea, USMC-lt/pilot, 1 of last soldiers killed in Vietnam
Apr 29 William Craig Nystul, USMC capt, 1 of last US soldiers killed in Vietnam
May 3 Samuel Gonard, Swiss lawyer and chairman (International Red Cross), dies at 78

Moe Howard (1897-1975)

May 4 American actor and comedian (The 3 Stooges), dies at 77

May 6 József Mindszenty [József Pehm], Hungarian cardinal who opposed fascism and communism in Hungary, dies at 83
May 8 Avery Brundage, American businessman (5th President International Olympic Committee 1952-72), dies at 87
May 9 Philip Dorn, Dutch actor (Enemy Agent; I Remember Mama), dies of a heart attack at 73
May 11 Walter Kinsella, American actor (Martin Kane Private Eye), dies at 74
May 12 Joe Mooney, American jazz and pop accordionist, organist, and vocalist, dies at 64
May 13 Bob Wills, American musician, known as the 'King of Western Swing' ("Steel Guitar Rag"), dies from bronchial pneumonia at 69
May 13 Vladislav Zolotaryov, Soviet Russian bayanist (button accordion player), and composer (Six Children's Suites), takes his own life at 53
May 14 Ernst Alexanderson, Swedish-American television pioneer (Alexanderson alternator), dies at 97 [1]
May 16 Michael X, (Abdul Malik), hanged in Trinidad, for murder
May 17 Arthur Trappier, American jazz drummer (Blanche Calloway: Fats Waller), dies at 64
May 18 Leroy Anderson, American composer (Syncopated Clock), dies at 66
May 20 Dame Barbara Hepworth, English sculptor, dies in fire at 72
May 20 Jacques Stehman, Belgian pianist and composer (Symphonie de poche), dies at 62
May 21 Boris Klyuzner, Russian Soviet composer, dies at 65
May 22 Robert "Lefty" Grove, American Baseball HOF pitcher (6 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1929, 30; AL MVP 1931; Triple Crown 1930, 31; Philadelphia A's, Boston Red Sox), dies from a heart attack at 75
May 22 Torben Myer, Danish actor (Girl Who Came Back, Judgment at Nuremberg, Sullivan's Travels), dies at 90
May 23 Jackie Moms Mabley, American comedian and actress (Amazing Grace), dies at 81

Ezzard Charles (1921-1975)

May 27 American world heavyweight boxing champion (1949-51), dies of ALS at 53

May 28 Eric Emerson, entertainer, dies
May 28 Roy Roberts, American actor (Petticoat Junction, Lucy Show), dies from a heart attack at 69
May 30 Michel Simon, Swiss actor (Panic, Plague, Two of Us), dies at 80
May 30 Steve Prefontaine, American runner (5K 1972 Olympic 4th), dies in a car accident at 24
May 30 Tatsuo Shimabuku, Japanese martial artist and founder of Isshinryu Karate, dies at 66

Eisaku Satō (1901-1975)

Jun 2 Prime Minister of Japan (1963-72) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1974), dies of a stroke at 74

Jun 3 Oswald "Ozzie" Nelson, American actor (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), dies from cancer at 69
Jun 3 Satō Eisaku, Japanese Prime Minister (1964-72), (Nobel Peace Prize 1974), dies at 74
Jun 4 Evelyn Brent, American actress (Nitwits, Last Command, Spy Train), dies at 75
Jun 5 Kenneth Horne, British writer and playwright (Fools Rush In; The Coming-Out Party), dies of cancer at 75
Jun 5 Paul Keres, Estonian and Soviet chess player, dies at 59
Jun 6 Larry Blyden, actor (Joe & Mabel, What's My Line), dies at 49
Jun 8 Murray Leinster [William Fitzgerald Jenkins], American science-fiction author (Time Tunnel; Land of the Giants), dies at 78
Jun 8 William F Jenkins, author (Time Tunnel, Land of Giants), dies at 78
Jun 9 David Frederick Barlow, English composer, dies at 48
Jun 11 Floro Ugarte, Argentine composer (From My Land; Saika), and educator, dies at 90
Jun 12 Alfred Kurella, German author and functionary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany in East Germany, dies at 80
Jun 14 Clancy Cooper, American actor (Enchanted Forest, Girls in Chains), dies at 68
Jun 14 Pablo Antonio, Filipino modernist architect (b. 1902)
Jun 16 Don Robey, American record label executive and record producer, dies at 71
Jun 17 Sid Gordon, American baseball player, dies at 57
Jun 18 Faisal Ibn Mussed Abdul Aziz, Saudi prince, beheaded in Riyadh shopping center parking lot for killing his uncle the king

Sam Giancana (1908-1975)

Jun 19 American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit (1957-66), dies of multiple gunshot wounds at 67

Jun 20 Daniel Ayala Pérez, Mexican violinist, conductor, and composer, dies at 68
Jun 21 Heinz Lau, German composer, dies at 49
Jun 23 William Hansen, American actor (1776, Pinky, Side Street, Homebodies), dies at 64
Jun 26 St. Josemaría Escrivá, Spanish Catholic priest (b. 1902)
Jun 28 Konstantinos Apostolos Doxiadis, Greek architect (b. 1913)
Jun 28 Rod Serling, American screenwriter and TV host (The Twilight Zone; Night Gallery), dies after multiple heart attacks at 50
Jun 28 Serge Reding, Belgian weightlifter (b. 1941)
Jun 29 Jerry Verno, British actor (River of Unrest, Ourselves Alone, Sweeney Todd), dies at 79
Jun 29 Tim Buckley, American singer-songwriter, dies at 28 of a heroin overdose
Jul 2 James Robertson Justice, British actor (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Moby-Dick), dies from effects of a stroke at 68
Jul 4 Georgette Heyer, English novelist (Friday's Child), dies at 71
Jul 5 Gilda dalla Rizza, Italian soprano, dies at 82
Jul 6 Otto Skorzeny, German/Austrian SS (Mussolini/Ardennen), dies
Jul 6 Ruffian, American racehorse (b. 1972)
Jul 7 Barbara Brown, American actress dies at 73
Jul 7 Jacob Bjerknes, Norwegian-American meteorologist (USAF in London), dies at 77
Jul 7 Ruffian, American thoroughbred racehorse (b. 1972)
Jul 7 Vito Frazzi, Italian composer, dies at 86
Jul 10 Achiel H van Acker, Belgian premier (1945-46, 1954-58), dies at 77
Jul 11 Kurt Pinthus, German-American writer, dies at 89
Jul 12 Carl Snavely, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (Bucknell, North Carolina, Cornell 180–96–16), dies at 80

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