Famous Deaths on May 3

Mehmed the Conqueror (1432-1481)

Ottoman Sultan (1444-45 and 1451-81) who conquered Constantinople, dies possibly from poison at 49

1567 Leonhard Paminger, Bavarian composer, dies at 72
1598 Anna Guarini, Italian singer (b. 1563)
1606 Henry Garnet, English Jesuit (executed) (b. 1555)
1614 Sasbout Vosmeer, Dutch Catholic theologist and apostole vicar, dies at 66
1622 Pedro Páez, Spanish Jesuit missionary (b. 1564)
1654 François de Kinschot, Dutch jurist and chancellor of Brabant, dies at 77
1679 James Sharp, English archbishop (assassinated) (b. 1613)
1693 Claude de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon, French courtier (b. 1607)
1703 Eglon van de Down, still-life painter, dies
1704 Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Bohemian-Austrian violinist and composer, dies at 59
1707 Michiel de Swaen, Dutch physician and poet, dies at 53
1724 John Leverett the Younger, American President of Harvard, dies at 61
1737 Abraham Patras, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (1735-37), dies at 65
1750 John Willison, Scottish minister and writer (b. 1680)
1752 Samuel Ogle, British provincial Governor of Maryland (b. c. 1692)
1758 Benedict XIV [Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini], Italian Pope (1740-58), dies at 83
1763 George Psalmanazar, British impostor (b. 1679)
1764 Francesco Algarotti, Italian art collector and encyclopedist (Viaggio in Russia), dies at 53
1779 John Winthrop, American astronomer (b. 1714)
1783 Pieter Valck, Dutch artist and sculptor, dies at 49
1792 Carlo Zuccari, Italian composer and violinist, dies at 87
1839 Ferdinando Paer, Italian opera composer (Agnese), and conductor (Paris Opéra-Italien, 1812-23), dies at 67
1841 Cornelis T Elout, Dutch minister of Finance the Navy and Colonies, dies at 74
1845 Thomas Hood, English poet and composer (The Song of the Shirt), dies at 45
1854 William Beale, composer, dies at 70
1856 Adolfo Fumagalli, composer, dies at 27
1856 Adolphe Charles Adam, French composer/critic (Giselle), dies at 52
1861 Anthony Philip Heinrich, America's 1st "full-time" composer, dies at 80
1863 Elisha Franklin Paxton [Bull Paxton], American general (Confederate Army), dies leading Stoneville Brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville at 35
1868 Olof Wilhelm Uddén, Swedish composer, dies at 68
1880 Jonathan Homer Lane, American astrophysicist who mathematically analyzed the Sun as a gaseous body, dies at 60
1881 Josip Jurčič, Slovene writer (Schone Vida), dies of tuberculosis at 37
1886 Mary Ewing Outerbridge, American citizen credited with importing tennis to the US from Bermuda (1874), dies of illness at 34
1893 Josef Rudolf Zavrtal, Czech composer, dies at 73
1902 David Capriles, Curacaos director of psychiatry, dies at 64
1910 Howard T Ricketts, American pathologist (studied typhus fever), dies of typhus at 39
1914 Daniel E. Sickles, American lawyer, politician (US Representative from New York, 1857-61 and 1893-95), diplomat, and Major General (Union Army), dies of a cerebral hemorrhage at 94 [1]
1917 Norman Callaway, Australian cricket batsman (207 in only FC innings), dies on WWI battlefield at 21
1918 Charlie Soong, Chinese Methodist missionary and key player in the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, dies at 55
1921 Teddy Pilette, Belgian auto racer (first Belgian Indy 500), dies in a road accident at 36
1926 Victor, Prince Napoléon [Napoléon V], French pretender to the throne, dies at 63
1931 Frank Hoyt Losey, American composer, arranger of band and orchestral music, and advisor to Edison Phonograph Company, dies at 59 [1]
1931 Otto Winter-Hjelm, Norwegian musician and composer, dies at 93
1932 Anton Wildgans, Austrian poet and playwright (Armut), dies at 51
1932 Charles Fort, American writer and researcher (specialized in anomalous phenomena), dies at 57
1939 [Karl Eduard] Wilhelm Groener, German general, dies at 71

Henry Ossian Flipper (1856-1940)

American soldier, former slave and first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, dies at 84

1942 Johan H. Westerveld, Dutch WW II resistance fighter and leader of Order Service (OD), executed at 61
1942 Thorvald Stauning, Prime Minister of Denmark (1924-26, 1929-42), dies at 68
1943 Leslie Heward, English composer, dies at 45
1954 Tom Tyler [Vincent Markowski], American actor (Stagecoach; She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), dies from heart failure at 50
1955 Philips Christiaan Visser, Dutch explorer and diplomat (Karakoram mountains), dies at 72
1955 Rudolf Schlichter, German artist and writer, dies at 64
1958 Frank Foster, English cricket all-rounder (11 Tests, 3 x 50, 45 wickets, BB 6/91; Warwickshire CCC), dies at 69
1961 Maurice Merleau-Ponty, French philosopher (work on existentialism and phenomenology), dies of a heart attack at 53
1964 Diana Wynyard, British stage and film actress (Cavalcade), dies of renal disease at 58
1965 Howard Spring, Welsh writer and critic (Heaven Lies About Us), dies at 76
1965 Otto Forst de Battaglia, Austrian diplomat and genealogist, dies at 75
1966 Wylie Watson, dies at 77
1968 Leonid Sabaneyev, Russian composer, dies at 86
1969 Imre Vincze, Hungarian composer, dies at 42
1969 Karl Freund, German cinematographer and film director (Dracula, I love Lucy, The Mummy), dies at 79
1969 Zakir Husain, 3rd President of India (1967-69) and scholar, dies at 72
1970 Candelario Huízar, Mexican violist, horn player, and classical and canción composer ("Surco"), dies at 82
1972 Bruce Cabot, actor (Diamonds are Forever), dies at 68
1972 Les Harvey, Scottish rock guitarist (Stone The Crows), dies from accidental on-stage electrocution at 27
1975 Samuel Gonard, Swiss lawyer and chairman (International Red Cross), dies at 78
1976 David Bruce [Marden Andrew McBroom], American actor (The Mad Ghoul, Flying Tigers), dies from a heart attack at 60
1976 Ernie Nevers, American College, Pro Football Hall of Fame fullback, coach (Stanford, Chicago Cardinals), dies of heart & kidney ailments at 72
1978 Wim van Doorne, Dutch auto manufacturer (DAF Trucks), dies at 71
1979 Erin O'Brien-Moore, actress (Nurse Choate-Peyton Place), dies at 76
1983 Armando José Fernandes, Portuguese neoclassical composer, dies at 76
1983 Vaughn Taylor, American actor (Jailhouse Rock, Johnny Jupiter), dies of cerebral hemorrhage at 72
1986 Robert Alda, American actor (Supertrain, By Popular Demand), dies at 72
1987 Dalida [Yolande Christina Gigliotti], French-Italian actress (The Sixth Day), singer (Bambino), and Miss Egypt 1954, commits suicide at 54
1987 Dicky Fuller, cricketer (one Test for WI 1935, one run, 0-12), dies
1988 Johannes Driessler, German organist and composer, dies at 67
1988 Lev Pontryagin, Russian mathematician, dies at 79
1988 Paul Vario, U.S. Italian Mafia of the Lucchese Family, dies of lung cancer at 73
1988 Walther Vanbeselaere, Flemish art historian, dies at 79
1989 Christine Jorgensen, 1st transsexual, dies at 62
1989 Edward Ochab, Polish Communist politician (b. 1906)
1989 Muriel Ostriche, American silent film actress dies at 92
1990 Pimen [Sergei Irzyekov], patriarch of Rus-orthodox church, dies at 79
1991 Don Whitmire, American College Football Hall of Fame tackle (Alabama, Navy - All American at both), dies at 68
1991 Gerrit Mik, Dutch psychiatrist and politician (D66), dies
1991 Jerzy Kosiński, Polish-American novelist (The Painted Bird, Being There), dies at 57
1991 Margaret Tallichet, American actress (Stranger on the 3rd Floor), dies at 77
1991 Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Egyptian singer and composer (b. 1907)
1992 Elizabeth Lennox, radio singer, dies of heart seizure at 98

George Murphy (1902-1992)

American politician (US Senator, California), actor and dancer (MGM Parade), dies of leukemia at 89

1992 Peter Bruni, dies of heart failure at 60
1994 Gustaaf Vincent Willem van Hemert tot Dingshof, Dutch Mayor of Maarn, dies at 78
1994 Milford Dolliole, American pioneer jazz drummer, dies at 90
1995 Michael Horden, actor (Fool, Green Man, Scoop), dies at 83
1996 Hermann Kesten, German writer (Allert de Lange), dies at 96
1996 Jack Weston [Weinstein], American actor (Dirty Dancing, The Four Seasons, Rad), dies of lymphoma at 71
1996 Patsy Montana [Ruby Rose Blevins], American country singer, songwriter and yodeler ("I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart"), dies at 81
1996 Tim Gullikson, American tennis player and coach (Pete Sampras coach 1992-95; Martina Navratilova Mary Joe Fernandez), dies of cancer at 45
1997 Narciso Yepes, Spanish classical guitarist (b. 1927)
1997 Sébastien Enjolras, French racing driver, killed in a practice crash at 21
1999 Godfrey Evans, English cricket wicket-keeper (91 Tests; 219 dismissals; Kent), dies at 78
1999 Joe Adcock, American baseball utility, manager (Milwaukee Braves; 2-time MLB All Star), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 71
1999 Steve Chiasson, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1967)
2000 John Joseph Cardinal O'Connor, Catholic Archbishop of New York (b. 1920)
2000 Yoshinao Nakada, Japanese composer, dies at 76
2001 Billy Higgins, American jazz drummer, dies at 64
2002 Barbara Castle, British politician (b. 1910)
2002 Evgeny Svetlanov, Russian conductor (USSR State Symphony, 1965-2000; Residentie Orchestra 1992-2000), pianist, and composer (Siberian Fantasy), dies at 73
2003 Suzy Parker, American model and actress (Chamber of Horrors), dies at 70
2004 Anthony Ainley, British actor (Doctor Who), dies at 71
2004 Darrell Johnson, American baseball player, dies at 75
2005 Pierre Moerlen, French rock-jazz fusion drummer and percussionist (Gong; Mike Oldfield), dies at 52
2006 Earl Woods, American author (father of Tiger Woods; 2 x books about upbringing & coaching), dies of prostate cancer at 74
2006 Karel Appel, Dutch painter (Vragende Children), dies at 85
2006 Pramod Mahajan, Indian politician (b. 1949)
2007 Ellsworth Milburn, American composer and educator (Menil Antiphons), dies of complications from pneumonia at 69
2007 Knock Yokoyama, Japanese comedian and politician (b. 1932)
2007 Walter "Wally" Schirra Jr, American US Navy Captain and NASA astronaut (Mercury 8, Gemini 6, Apollo 7), dies at 84
2007 Warja Honegger-Lavater, Swiss artist and illustrator (Little Red Riding Hood: Imagery After a Tale by Perrault), dies at 93
2008 Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, Spanish former Primer Minister (b. 1926)
2008 Michael Kaye, British arts director (LSO, South Bank), dies at 83
2008 Uroš Krek, Slovenian composer, dies at 85
2009 Ram Shewalkar, Indian Marathi writer, cardiac arrest.(b.1931)
2011 Jackie Cooper, American actor and director (Skippy, Superman), dies at 88
2011 Sergo Kotrikadze, Georgian footballer (b. 1936)
2011 Thanasis Veggos, Greek actor (b. 1927)
2014 Bobby Gregg, American drummer and record producer (Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone"), dies at 78
2014 Gary Becker, American economist (Nobel 1992) and recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom 2007, dies from complications following surgery at 83
2014 Jim Oberstar, American politician, dies at 79
2016 Carl Fredrik Reutersward, Swedish artist (knotted-gun sculpture), dies at 81
2016 Thomas W. Libous, American politician (Senate-R-New York 1989-2015) brought down by scandal, dies of cancer at 63
2017 Daliah Lavi [Levinbuck], Israeli actress (Casino Royale: Lord Jim), and singer, dies at 74
2017 Lukas Ammann, Swiss actor (Graf Yoster; Day of Anger; Class Reunion; Palace Hotel), dies of complications from surgery at 104
2018 Alfonso Dhlakama, Mozambican politician and opposition leader (RENAMO), dies of a heart attack at 65
2018 Bob Prewitt, American college basketball coach (SMU Mustangs), dies at 93
2018 Dan Grimm, American football player (Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons), dies of Parkinson's disease and dementia at 77
2018 David Pines, American physicist, dies at 93
2018 Demetrio Túpac Yupanqui, Peruvian academic and Quechua translator, dies at 94
2018 Doina Cornea, Romanian human rights activist and professor, dies at 88
2018 H. Basil S. Cooke, South African-Canadian geologist and paleontologist, dies at 102
2018 Jim Argue, American politician (Arkansas Senate, 1996–2008), dies of kidney cancer at 66
2018 Joe Scannella, American football coach (Oakland Raiders, Montreal Alouettes, Cleveland Browns), dies at 89
2018 Junior Rodriguez, American Louisiana politician who criticized FEMA's Hurricane Katrina response, dies at 82
2018 Monica Barnes, Irish politician (Teachta Dála, 1982–1992, 1997–2002; Senator, 1982), dies at 82
2018 Paolo Signorelli, Italian footballer (Trevigliese, Pro Patria, Atalanta), dies at 79
2020 Dave Greenfield, British rock keyboardist, and songwriter (The Stranglers - "Golden Brown"), dies of complications from COVID-19 at 71
2020 Frederick Charles Tillis, American jazz and classical composer, dies at 90
2020 Rosalind Elias, American mezzo-soprano (Wagner's Die Walküre - "Grimgerde"; Barber's Vanessa - "Erika"), and opera director, dies of congestive heart failure at 90
2021 Lloyd Price, American R&B singer ("Lawdy Miss Clawdy"; "Stagger Lee"; "Personality"), dies at 88
2021 Rafael Albrecht, Argentine soccer defender (39 caps; San Lorenzo, Club León), dies from COVID-19 at 79
2022 Norman Mineta, American politician and 1st cabinet member of Asian descent (Secretary of Transportation, 2001-06; US Representative (D)-CA, 1975-95), dies of a heart ailment at 90
2022 Tony Brooks, English auto racer (F1 World C'ship third 1958, runner-up 1959; 6 x F1 wins), dies at 90
2023 Lance Blanks, American basketball guard (Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves), executive (GM Phoenix Suns 2010-13) and broadcaster (ESPN, Longhorn Network), dies at 56
2023 Linda Lewis [Fredericks], British pop-rock-soul singer-songwriter, and guitarist ("Rock-a-Doodle-Doo"), dies at 72