Famous Deaths in April 1981

  • Apr 1 D[ennis] F[eltham] Jones, sci-fi author (Colossus), dies at 65
  • Apr 1 Eua Sunthornsanan, Thai composer and bandleader (b. 1910)
  • Apr 2 Delfo Cabrera, Argentine distance runner (Olympic gold marathon 1948), dies in a car accident at 62
  • Apr 3 Juan Trippe, American airline pioneer and entrepreneur (Pan Am founder), dies at 81
  • Apr 4 Brad Johnson, actor (Annie Oakley), dies at 56
  • Apr 5 Bob "Bear" Hite, rocker (Canned Heat), dies of a heart attack at 36
  • Apr 5 Cornelis Verolme, Dutch ship builder, dies at 80
  • Apr 7 Kit Lambert, British record producer and manager (The Who) (b. 1935)
  • Apr 7 Christopher "Kit" Lamber, British record producer and manager of The Who, dies of a cerebral haemorrhage at 45
  • Apr 8 Norman Taurog, American film director (Skippy), dies at 82
  • Apr 8 Omar Bradley, last US 5-star general, (Normandy) dies in NY at 88
  • Apr 11 Marie Ney, dies at 85
  • Apr 12 Hans Chemin-Petit, German composer, dies at 78
  • Apr 12 Hendrik F Andriessen, Dutch organist/composer (Te Deum), dies at 88

Person of interestJoe Louis

Apr 12 Joe Louis, [Brown bomber], US heavyweight boxing champion (1937-49), dies of cardiac arrest at 66

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis
Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion
Joe Louis
  • Apr 13 Prince Asaka Yasuhiko of Japan (b. 1887)
  • Apr 15 French Duynstee, Dutch states rights leader, dies at 67
  • Apr 16 Eric Hollies, English cricketer (13 Tests for England, 44 wickets), dies at 68
  • Apr 18 James H. Schmitz, American sci-fi author (Lion Game), dies at 69
  • Apr 19 Ernst Levy, Swiss composer, dies at 85
  • Apr 21 Harry Lee, cricketer (scored 18 & 1 in only Test for England), dies
  • Apr 22 Brailsford Reese Brazeal, dean (Morehouse College), dies at 76
  • Apr 23 Josep Pla, Catalan journalist and writer (b. 1897)
  • Apr 26 Jim Davis, American actor (Jack Ewing-Dallas), dies at 65
  • Apr 26 Madge Evans, TV panelist (Masquerade Party), dies at 71
  • Apr 28 Mickey "Toy Bulldog" Walker, welterweight champ (1922-26) dies at 79
  • Apr 28 Cliff Battles, Pro/College Football Halls of Fame halfback (Boston Braves/Redskins, Washington Redskins), dies at 70
  • Apr 30 Peter Huchel, German poet, dies at 78