Famous Deaths on May 26

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703)

English navy administrator and Member of Parliament famous for his Diary of the English Restoration period, dies at 70

1742 Pylyp Orlyk, Ukrainian Zaporozhian Cossack starshina and diplomat, dies at 69
1753 Willem Maurits, Dutch count of Nassau and governor of Zeeuws-Flanders, dies at 73

Louis Mandrin (1725-1755)

French smuggler considered the French Robin Hood, tortured and executed at 30 in front of 6,000 onlookers by being broken on the wheel for 8 minutes and then strangled

1762 Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten, German philosopher (b. 1714)
1799 James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, Scottish judge (b. 1714)
1818 Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, Russian fieldmarshal (Minister of War during Napoleonic invasion), dies at 56
1824 Capel Lofft, English writer (b. 1751)
1831 Ciro Menotti, Italian patriot (b. 1798)
1831 Georg Hermes, German philosopher and theologist (Hermenianen), dies
1832 François-Louis Perne, French composer, dies at 59
1840 Sidney Smith, British admiral, dies at 75
1848 Vissarion Belinsky, Russian literary critic (Sovremennik) and influential Westernizer, dies of consumption at 36
1864 Charles Sealsfield, Austrian-American writer, dies at 71
1868 Michael Barrett, Irish nationalist, last British public execution
1871 Aimé Maillart, French opera composer (Les Dragons de Villars), dies at 54
1873 August Conradi, German organist and composer, dies at 51
1876 František Palacký, "Father of the Nation", Czech historian and politician (led Czech National Revival), dies at 77
1880 John Curwen, English Congregationalist minister and founder of Tonic sol-fa music system, dies at 63
1881 Jakob Bernays, German philologist (b. 1824)
1883 Abdelkader El Djezairi, Algerian leader, scholar and national hero (b.1808)
1883 Edward Sabine, Irish astronomer (b. 1788)
1891 Frederick Bowen Jewson, Scottish composer, dies at 67
1902 Almon Strowger, American inventor (b. 1839)
1905 Alphonse de Rothschild, French banker, dies at 78
1907 Ida McKinley, US First Lady (1897-1901) and wife of the 25th US President William McKinley, dies at 59
1908 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Indies theologist (Ahmadiyya motion), dies at 69
1912 Jan Blockx, Belgian opera composer (Bride of the Sea), dies at 61
1914 Jacob Riis, Danish-American social reformer and "muck raking" reporter (NY Tribune, NY Evening Sun), dies at 65
1924 Johann Heinrich Beck, American composer, dies at 67
1924 Victor Herbert, American cellist, composer, and conductor (Babes in Toyland; Eileen), dies of a heart attack at 65
1926 S V Petlura, Ukrainian ataman, assassinated by Shalom Schwarzbard
1933 Horatio Bottomley, British financier and politician (b. 1860)

Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933)

American country singer and singing brakeman, dies of a pulmonary hemorrhage at 35

1938 John Jacob Abel, American pharmacologist (endocrine glands), dies at 81
1939 Charles Horace Mayo, American surgeon and co-founder (Mayo Clinic), dies at 74
1939 Cornelis Jacobus Snijders, Dutch military leader - Supreme Commander of Dutch Navy (1910-18), dies at 86
1943 Edsel Ford, American President of Ford Motor Company (1919-1943) and son of Henry Ford, dies of stomach cancer aged 49
1944 Cyril Francois, South African cricket all-rounder (5 Tests, 252 runs, 6 wickets), dies in a motor accident at 46
1944 Henricus Verbunt, Dutch civil servant and resistance fighter, executed by German forces at 34
1944 Jacob J. Hage, Dutch farmer and WW II resistance fighter, executed at 23
1944 Robert van Spaendonck, Dutch resistance fighter, dies at 27
1946 Friedrich German prince, last ruler of Waldeck and Pyrmont, dies at 81
1948 Theodore Morell, German doctor, Hitler's personal physician, dies at 61
1950 Antonina Nezhdanova, Russian soprano (Bolshoi Theater), dies at 77
1951 Lincoln Ellsworth, Arctic explorer, dies at 71
1952 Dámaso Alonso, Spanish linguist and poet (Hombrey Dios), dies at 55
1953 Albert Spalding, American violinist and composer, dies at 64
1954 Franz Pfemfert, German journalist and writer, dies at 74
1954 Lionel Conacher, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Stanley Cup 1934 Chicago Black Hawks, 1935 Montreal Maroons) and politician (MP Trinity), dies from a heart attack at 54

Alberto Ascari (1918-1955)

Italian auto racer (World F1 champion 1952, 53), dies in a testing accident at 36

1956 Al Simmons, American Baseball HOF outfielder (career BA .334; 3 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1929, 30; AL batting champion 1930, 31; Philadelphia A's), dies of a heart attack at 54

Ed Walsh (1881-1959)

American Baseball HOF pitcher (World Series 1906; no-hitter 1911; MLB record 1.82 career ERA; Chicago White Sox) and manager (Chicago WS 1924), dies at 78

1959 Joe Kelly, American radio and television host (Quiz Kids, 1949-53), dies at 57
1962 Jules Van de Leene, Belgian painter, dies at 75
1963 Sharon Lynn [D'Auvergne Sharon Lindsay], American silent and sound screen (Way Out West; The Big Broadcast), dies of multiple sclerosis at 62
1966 Don Castle, American actor (Born to Speed; The Invisible Wall), and television producer (Lassie), dies of accidental pain medication overdose at 48
1966 Neal Dodd, actor (Only Women, You Belong to Me), dies at 86
1967 Antoon Spinoy, Belgian politician, dies at 60
1967 George E Stone, Polish actor (Viva Villa, Last Mile, 5 Star Final, Front Page), dies at 64
1968 William "Little Willie" John, American R&B singer ("Fever"; "Leave My Kitten Alone"), dies in prison while serving a sentence for manslaughter at 30
1969 Allan H. Loughead, American aviation pioneer (Lockheed Corporation; b. 1889)
1969 Kathryn Minner (née White), American character actress (Little Old Lady from Pasadena), dies of a heart attack at 77
1969 Paul Hawkins, Australian racing driver (b. 1937)
1971 John Longden, British actor (Man From Interpol), dies at 70
1973 Jacques Lipchitz, Polish-French-American painter and cubist sculptor, dies at 81
1974 Kitty Gordon, English entertainer, dies at 96
1974 Silvio Moser, Swiss racing driver (b. 1941)
1976 Edgar Moon, Australian tennis player (Australian C'ships 1930), dies at 71
1976 Juan Maino, Chilean leader of MAPU, "disappeared"

Martin Heidegger (1889-1976)

German philosopher (Being & Time), dies at 86

1977 Jim Boles, American actor (The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, One Man's Family), dies of cardiac arrest at 63
1977 William Powell, American R&B singer (O'Jays - "Love Train"; "Backstabbers"), dies of cancer at 35
1978 Cybele, Greek actress (b. 1887)
1979 George Brent, American actor (Baby Face, Dark Victory, 42nd St), dies at 75
1982 Nanny Larsén-Todsen, Swedish opera singer, dies at 97
1987 Emiliana de Zubeldía, Spanish-Mexican concert pianist, composer - chiefly for guitar (Landscape Basko), and educator (Academy of Music at the University of Sonora, 1947-87), dies at 98
1988 José Muñoz Molleda, Spanish composer and politician, dies at 83
1989 Don Revie, English soccer forward (6 caps; Leicester City, Hull City, Manchester City, Sunderland, Leeds) and manager (Leeds, England, UAE), dies from MND at 61
1991 Tom Cassidy, anchor (CNN), dies of AIDs at 41
1991 Tom Eyen, playwright (Dreamgirls), dies of cardiac arrest at 50
1992 George Morrow, American jazz double-bassist (Max Roach and Clifford Brown; Sonny Rollins), dies at 66
1993 Carleton Morse, American radio dramatist (One Man's Family), dies at 91
1993 Cor de Groot, Dutch pianist, conductor, and composer (Vernissage), dies at 78
1993 Marvin Young, American producer and silent film child actor (Player), dies at 90
1994 George Ball, American politician and diplomat (US Ambassador to the UN, Under Secretary of State), dies at 84
1994 Warren Harding "Sonny" Sharrock, American jazz guitarist (Last Exit), dies of a heart attack at 53
1995 Friz Freleng, American animator for Warner Bros cartoons (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies), dies at 88
1995 Ron Weatherburn, British jazz pianist, dies at 61
1995 Severn Darden, American actor (Luv, President's Analyst, Saturday the 14th), dies at 65
1996 Halka Grossman, Israeli resistance fighter and politician, dies at 76
1996 Matima Kinuani Mpiosso, Zairen rock guitarist (Zaika Langa-Langa), dies at 45
1996 Mike Sharperson, American baseball infielder (MLB All Star 1992; World Series 1988, 95), dies in a car crash at 34
1997 Erik Pausin, Austrian figure skater (Olympic silver pairs 1936; World C'ship silver x 5 [with sister Ilse Pausin]), dies at 77
1997 Jack Jersey, Indonesian-Dutch singer and producer, dies at 55
1997 Manfred Von Ardenne, German scientific pioneer, dies at 90
1998 (Emmanuel) "Emil" Braginsky, Soviet Russian screenwriter (The Irony of Fate), dies at 77
1998 Charlie White American professional baseball catcher (Philadelphia Stars; Milwaukee Braves), dies at 70
1998 Linda Hayes [Bertha Williams], American R&B singer (Yes I Know), dies at 74
1998 Sergey Yablonsky, Soviet and Russian mathematician and one of the founders of the Soviet school of mathematical cybernetics and discrete mathematics, dies at 73
1999 Paul Sacher, Swiss conductor and entrepreneur, dies at 93
1999 Waldo Semon, American inventor (polyvinyl chloride), dies at 100
2001 Anne Haney, American actress (Mrs. Doubtfire - "Mrs. Sellner"; Liar Liar - "Greta"), dies of congestive heart failure at 67
2001 Moven Enock Mahachi, Defence Minister of Zimbabwe (b. 1952)
2001 Vittorio Brambilla, Italian racing driver (b. 1937)
2002 Mamo Wolde, Ethiopian marathoner (Olympic gold 1968), dies at 69
2003 Gerald S. Hawkins, English-American astronomer (archaeoastronomy), dies at 75
2003 Kathleen Winsor, American writer (b. 1919)
2004 Dullah Omar, South African attorney and UDF-leader, dies at 69
2004 Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh, Russian astronomer (b. 1931)
2005 Chico Carrasquel, Venezuelan baseball player (b. 1928)

Eddie Albert (1906-2005)

American actor (Roman Holiday, Green Acres), dies of pneumonia at 99

2006 Édouard Michelin, CEO of tire manufacturer Michelin (b. 1963)
2006 Johann von Kielmansegg, German general (Commander-in-Chief of NATOs forces), dies at 99
2006 Kevin O'Flanagan, Irish rugby union winger (1 Test; London Irish RFC), soccer striker (FAI 10 caps; Ireland 3 caps) and administrator (International Olympic Committee 1976-94), dies at 86
2006 Ted Schroeder, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1942, Wimbledon 1949), dies of cancer at 84
2007 J Edward Oliver, British cartoonist (Record Mirror; Buster & Master's Mind), dies of cancer at 64
2008 Earle Hagen, American big band trombonist (Isham Jones; Tommy Dorsey; Benny Goodman), and Emmy Award-winning television composer (The Dick Van Dyke Show; The Andy Griffith Show; I Spy; The Mod Squad; "Harlem Nocturne"), dies at 88

Sydney Pollack (1934-2008)

American Academy and Emmy Award-winning director, producer (Tootsie; Out of Africa), and occasional actor, dies of cancer at 73

2009 Peter Zezel, Canadian professional hockey player (b. 1965)
2010 Art Linkletter, Canadian-American radio and television personality (People are Funny), dies at 97
2010 Christopher Moran, British Air Chief Marshal (b. 1956)
2010 Jean Constantin, Romanian actor (b. 1928)
2010 Kieran Phelan, Irish senator (b. 1949)
2011 Arisen Ahubudu, Sri Lankan scholar, author and playwright (b. 1920)
2011 Ben Roberts, British industrial relations expert (London School of Economics), dies at 93
2013 Jack Vance, American sci-fi author, dies at 96
2014 Didymos I, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (2005-10), dies at 92
2014 Manuel Uribe Garza, Mexican man who suffered from morbid obesity (peak weight of 600 kg), dies at 48

American Baseball HOF pitcher (9 x MLB All-Star; perfect game 1964; no-hitter 1958; Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies) and politician (US Senator Kentucky 1999-2011; US Representative 1987-99), dies of a stroke at 85

2017 John Severson, founder of 'Surfer' magazine and artist (known for his depictions of surf culture), dies of cancer at 83
2017 Zbigniew Brzezinski, Polish-American national security advisor to President Carter (1977-1981), dies at 89
2018 Alan Bean, American Naval captain and astronaut (Ap 12, Skylab 3, 4th to walk on the moon), dies at 86
2018 Ted [Samuel Frederick] Dabney, American electrical engineer and founder of Atari (Pong), dies at 81
2019 Bart Starr, American Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, coach (Green Bay Packers), dies of effects of stroke at 85
2020 Richard Herd, American actor (V: The Final Battle), dies of cancer at 87
2020 Stanley Ho, Chinese casino tycoon who transformed Macao, dies at 98
2021 Patrick Sky [Lynch], American musician, folk singer, songwriter, record producer, and uilleann bagpiper (Songs That Made America Famous), dies of cancer at 80
2021 Tarcisio Burgnich, Italian soccer defender (66 caps; Internazionale 358 games) and manager (Como, Genoa), dies at 82
2022 Alan White, British rock drummer (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band; Yes, 1972-2022; solo - Ramshackled), dies at 72
2022 Andy Fletcher, British synthesizer and bass player (Depeche Mode - "Just Can't Get Enough"), dies of an aortic dissection at 60

Ray Liotta (1954-2022)

American actor (Goodfellas; Field of Dreams: Cop Land), dies of heart failure at 67

2023 Jack Lee, American rock singer and songwriter (Blondie - "Hanging on the Telephone"; Paul Young - "Come Back and Stay"), dies of colon cancer at 71

May 26 Highlights