Famous Deaths on September 2

Pheidippides (c. 530-490 BC)

Greek hero and inspiration for the modern marathon after he ran from Marathon to Athens to announce Greek victory in the battle of Marathon, dies at around 40 [1]

421 Flavius Constantine III, Emperor of Western Roman Empire, dies at about 51
459 Simeon Stylites, Syrian Christian ascetic who lived on a column for nearly 40 years, dies at 68 or 69
1031 Saint Emeric of Hungary [Prince Emeric], killed by a boar at 24
1274 Prince Munetaka, Japanese shogun (b. 1242)
1348 Joan, Princess of England, daughter of Edward III, dies of the plague at 15 in Bordeaux on her way to marry Prince Pedro of Spain
1397 Francesco Landini, Italian organist, composer, poet, and instrument maker, dies at about 72 {exact birthday uncertain]
1418 Jan III Chalon, prince of Orange, Governor of Burgundy, dies
1540 Lebna Dengel, Emperor of Ethiopia (b. 1501)
1566 Taddeo Zuccari, Italian Mannerist painter (Villa dei Farnese at Caprarola), dies at 37
1606 Carel van Mander, Flemish painter/art historian, dies at 58
1645 Alice Lisle, Last woman to be executed by a judicial sentence of beheading in England, beheaded for harboring fugitives after the defeat of the Monmouth Rebellion at around 68
1651 Kösem Sultan, Greek-born influential consort of Ottoman Ahmed I and mother to Sultans Murad IV and Ibrahim, murdered on orders on the Chief Eunuch at 61 or 62
1680 Per Brahe, Swedish soldier and statesman (b. 1602)
1688 Robert Viner, Lord Mayor of London (b. 1631)
1690 Philipp Wilhelm, Elector Palatine (b. 1615)
1698 Justus Vingboons, Architect, buried
1715 Constantin Christian Dedekind, German composer and poet, dies at 87
1764 Nathaniel Bliss, English 4th Astronomer Royal (1762-64), dies at 63
1765 Henry Bouquet, Swiss-born British army officer (b. 1719)
1768 Antoine Deparcieux, French mathematician, dies at 64
1779 Onno Zwier van Hairs, Fries poet (Agon), dies at 66
1790 Johann Nicholas von Hontheim, German church historian and theologian (febronianism), dies at 89
1800 Prince Maciej Radziwiłł, Polish-Lithuanian nobleman, composer and librettist, dies at 50
1813 Jean Victor Marie Moreau, French general, mortally wounded in battle at 50
1820 Jiaqing, 5th Emperor of Qing Dynasty, dies at 59
1832 Franz Xaver, Baron Von Zach, Austrian astronomer, dies at 78
1834 Thomas Telford, Scottish civil engineer (designed and constructed Menai Bridge, Wales in 1819-26), dies at 77
1856 Yang Xiuqing [Yang Hsiu-ch'ing], Chinese commander-in-chief of Taiping Rebellion, killed for trying to usurp Hong Xiuquan at 34 or 355
1862 Thornton F Brodhead, US lawyer/politician/brigadier general, dies at 40
1870 Arthur Saint-Leon, French composer and dancer, dies at 48
1871 Arvid August Afzelius, Swedish poet and historian, dies at 85
1872 N. F. S. Grundtvig, Danish writer and philosopher, dies at 88
1877 Constantine Kanaris, Greek admiral, freedom fighter and politician (b. 1793)
1891 Ferdinand Christian Wilhelm Praeger, Dutch-British pianist, composer, composer, and writer (Wagner As I Knew Him), dies at 76
1896 Nat Thomson, Australian cricket all-rounder (2 Tests, 1st batsman dismissed in first Test match 1877), dies at 57
1898 Hubert Howard, British journalist (The Times), dies through friendly fire
1898 Wilford Woodruff, fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (b. 1807)
1899 Ernest Renshaw, British tennis player (Wimbledon, 1888 (singles); 1884-86, 1888-89 (doubles, with twin brother William), dies of effects of carbolic acid at 38
1902 Iosif Ivanovici, Romanian military band leader and composer (Waves of the Danube), dies (b. 1845)
1910 Henri Rousseau, French post-impressionist painter (The Dream, The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope), dies of a blood clot at 66
1915 August Stramm, German poet and playwright dies in battle during WWI at 41
1921 Anthony Francis Lucas, Croatian-American oil exploration pioneer, dies at 65
1921 Henry Austin Dobson, English poet (b. 1840)
1922 Henry Lawson, Australian writer and poet (n the Days When the World Was Wide and Other Verses), dies at 55
1934 (Alcide) "Yellow" Nunez, American New Orleans jazz clarinetist, dies of a heart attack at 50 [1]
1934 (Ruggiero) "Russ" Columbo, American pop baritone singer ("You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love"), songwriter ("Prisoner of Love"), actor (Wake Up And Dream), and violinist, is accidentally shot to death at 26
1934 James Allan, New Zealand rugby union player All Black, dies at 73
1937 Esther de Farmer-of Rich, actress (Kniertje-On hope of blessing), dies
1937 Pierre de Coubertin, French educator and historian (founder International Olympic Committee; President IOC 1896–1925), dies of a heart attack at 74
1942 Tom Williams, Irish republican (b. 1924)
1944 Bella Rosenfeld, Jewish Belarusian writer, subject of Marc Chagall's paintings and his 1st wife, dies at 48
1944 George W. Norris, U.S. Senator noted for his advocacy of political reform and of public ownership of hydroelectric-power plants, dies at 83
1944 Gustav Aschaffenburg, German psychiatrist (pioneer in criminology and forensic pathology), dies at 78
1944 Manfred Freiherr von Killinger, German ambassador to Romania, commits suicide after Romanian coup
1948 Sylvanus Morley, American archaeologist and spy, dies at 65
1953 Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV, American army officer, dies at 70
1955 Rudolf Kattnigg, Austrian composer, dies at 60
1957 William Alexander Craigie, Scottish lexicographer (Skotlands Rimur), dies at 90
1961 Greet Koeman, Dutch opera soprano, dies at 54
1962 William Wilkerson, Founder of the Hollywood Reporter, The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas and nightclubs such as Ciro's (b. 1890)
1964 Alvin York, American World War I soldier who led a famed attack on a German machine gun nest (Medal of Honor), dies at 76
1964 Francisco Craveiro Lopes, 12th President of Portugal (1951-58), dies at 70
1964 Glenn Albert Black, American archaeologist, dies at 64
1964 Morris Ankrum, American actor (Kronos, Earth vs Flying Saucers), dies at 67
1965 Johannes Bobrowski, German poet and writer, dies at 48
1967 Francis Ouimet, American golfer (US Open 1913, US Amateur 1914, 31), dies at 74
1968 Ernest Claes, Belgian author (The White), dies at 82
1969 Harry Williams Millard, producer, dies of cancer at 41

Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969)

Vietnamese communist revolutionary and President of North Vietnam (1946-69), dies of heart failure at 79

1969 Willy Mairesse, Belgian auto racer (13 F1 GP; Nürburgring 1000km 1963; GT Spa GP 1965; Targa Florio 1966), dies from suicide at 40
1970 Cornelis L "Kees" van Baaren, Dutch composer (Hollow Men), dies at 63
1973 Carl Dudley, American film director (b. 1910)

J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973)

British author (The Hobbit; The Lord of the Rings), dies of an ulcer at 81

1976 Stanisław Grochowiak, Polish writer (b. 1934)
1977 Stephen "Steve" Dunne, American actor (Professional Father, Shock), dies at 59
1979 Felix Aylmer, British actor (Anastasia, Hamlet, Iron Duke, Macbeth, St Joan), dies at 90
1979 Otto P. Weyland, American military figure (b. 1903)
1980 William Douglas Denny, American composer, dies at 70
1981 Tadeusz Baird, Polish composer (Four Essays; Psychodrama; Voices From Afar), co-founder of Warsaw Autumn festival, and educator, dies at 53
1982 Jay Novello, actor (Harum Scarum, Rebel Breed), dies of cancer at 78
1982 Tom Baker, American actor, dies of a drug overdose in New York at 42
1984 Manos Katrakis, Greek actor (Antigone; Marinos Kontaras), dies at 79
1985 Abe Lenstra, Dutch soccer striker (47 caps; SC Heerenveen 395 games, SC Enschede, Enschedese Boys), dies at 64
1986 Philip Radcliffe, English composer, dies at 81
1988 Bill Northam, Australian yachtsman (Olympic gold 5.5m class 1964; Sport Australia HOF), dies at 82
1990 John Bowlby, British psychologist, dies at 83
1991 Alfonso Garcia Robles, Mexican foreign minister (Nobel 1982), dies
1991 Concetto Lo Bello, Italian intl soccer judge, dies
1992 Barbara McClintock, American cytogeneticist (1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovery of genetic transposition), dies at 90
1992 Piotr Jaroszewicz, premier of Poland (1970-80), dies
1993 Eric Berry, English/American actor (Pippin, 49th Parallel), dies at 80
1993 John [Eoin] Higgins, Northern Ireland supreme court justice (1984-93), dies at 66
1994 Detlef Macha, German DR cyclist (5x world champ), dies at 35
1994 Harry Vincent Kemp, poet, dies at 82
1994 Mildred Mcafee Horton, US 1st head mistress of WAVES, dies
1994 Richard M Major, US anti-terror specialist (CIA Red Book), dies at 72
1994 Roy Castle, English dancer, actor and tv presenter (Dr Who & the Daleks), dies of lung cancer at 62
1995 Vaclav Neummann, Czech conductor, dies at 74
1996 Cyril Reuben, Welsh classical and session violinist (London Symphony), dies at 69
1996 Emily Kngwarreye, artist, dies at 86
1996 Kenneth M Stewart, euro MP for Merseyside West, dies at 71
1996 Ljuba Welitsch, opera singer, dies at 83
1996 Otto Luening, German American conductor, composer and electronic music pioneer (Sonority Canon), dies at 96
1996 Paddy Clift, cricketer (Rhod & Leicester all-rounder 1970-88), dies
1997 Rudolf Bing, Austrian-born opera impresario (NY Metropolitan Opera manager, 1950-72), dies of complication of Alzheimer's disease and respiratory failure at 95
1997 Viktor Frankl, Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist (Man's Search for Meaning) and founder of logotherapy, dies at 92
1998 Allen Drury, American author (Advise & Consent - 1960 Pulitzer Prize), dies at 80
1998 Jackie Blanchflower, Irish soccer midfielder (12 caps Northern Ireland; Manchester United 105 games; survived Munich air disaster), dies from cancer at 65
1998 Jonathan Mann, American physician and AIDS activist, dies in the 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111 at 51
2000 Curt Siodmak, German-American novelist and screenwriter (Donovan's Brain; I Walked With A Zombie), dies at 98
2000 Elvera Sanchez, Puerto Rican dancer (b. 1905)

Christiaan Barnard (1922-2001)

South African cardiac surgeon who performed the 1st heart transplant, dies from a severe asthma attack at 78

2001 Jay Migliori, American saxophonist (Supersax), dies at 70
2001 Troy Donahue, American actor (Hawaiian Eye), dies at 65
2002 Abe Lemons, American basketball coach (Oklahoma City Uni, Pan American Uni; NABC Coach of the Year 1978 Uni of Texas Austin), dies from Parkinson's disease at 79
2002 Dick Reynolds, Australian rules footballer and coach, dies at 87
2003 Bruce Waibel, American touring and session rock bassist (Gregg Allman; Firehouse), takes his own life at 45
2003 Peter West, British sports broadcaster (BBC; editor Playfair Cricket Annual), dies at 83
2004 Eleni Zafeiriou, Greek actress (b. 1916)
2004 Joan Oró, Catalan scientist (b. 1923)

Bob Denver (1935-2005)

American actor (Gilligan's Island, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis), dies of complications from treatment for cancer at 70 [1] [2]

2006 Bob Mathias, American decathlete (Olympic gold 1948, 52) and congressman, dies of cancer at 75
2006 Charlie Williams MBE, English soccer defender (Doncaster Rovers 151 games) and comedian, dies from Parkinson's disease at 78
2006 Willi Ninja {William Leake], American dancer and choreographer (Paris Is Burning), dies of AIDS-related heart failure at 45
2006 [Jean-Josephat] Clermont Pépin, Canadian pianist and composer (Implosion Symphony), dies of liver cancer at 80
2006 [Walter] Dewey Redman, American jazz saxophonist, dies of liver failure at 75
2007 David "Fritz" Fryer, British pop guitarist and songwriter (The Four Pennies -"Juliet"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 62
2007 Franz-Benno Delonge, German game designer (b. 1957)
2007 Marcia Mae Jones, American actress (Frankie Darro, The Cisco), dies at 83
2007 Max McNab, Canadian ice hockey executive (GM Washington Capitals 1975-83; New Jersey Devils 1983-87), dies at 83
2007 Rajae Belmlih, Moroccan singer, dies of breast cancer at 45
2008 Bill Meléndez, American character animator (b. 1916)
2008 Denis Rooke, British engineer and CEO (British Gas), dies at 84
2009 Guy Babylon, American keyboard player (Elton John) and arranger dies at 52
2009 Roger Aubert, Belgian church historian (Le Pontificat de Pie IX), dies at 95
2009 Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India (b. 1949)
2011 Felipe Camiroaga, Chilean character animator, Chile (b. 1966)
2011 Roberto Bruce, Chilean journalist (b. 1979)
2012 Emanuel Nunes, Portuguese composer, dies at 71
2012 Mark Abrahamian, American rock guitarist (Starship, 2000-12), dies of a heart attack after a concert at 46
2013 David Jacobs, British broadcaster (Juke Box Jury), dies at 87
2013 Frederik Pohl, American sci-fi author (3 Hugo, Gateway, Bipohl), dies at 93
2013 Paul Scoon, Grenadian politician (2nd Governor-General of Grenada (1978-92)), dies at 78
2013 Ronald Coase, British economist (Nobel Prize in Economics 1991), dies at 102
2014 Norman Gordon, South African cricket fast bowler (5 Tests, 20 wickets; Transvaal), dies at 103
2015 Alan Kurdi, 3 year old Syrian refugee drowns off the coast of Turkey, his death and photograph prompt international reaction
2015 Donny Conn, American musician (The Playmates), dies at 85
2016 Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan (1991-2016), dies at 78
2017 Dave Hlubek, American rock guitarist (Molly Hatchet), dies at 66
2017 Halim El-Dabh, Egyptian-American pianist, darabukha drummer, and composer (Martha Graham ballet scores), dies at 96
2017 Murray Lerner, American documentary and experimental film director and producer (Secrets of the Reef), dies at 90
2018 Conway Savage, Australian piano and organ player (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), dies from a brain tumor at 58 [1]
2020 David Capel, English cricket all-rounder (15 Tests; 21 wickets; 23 ODIs), dies from a brain tumour at 57
2020 Ian Mitchell, Irish rocker (Bay City Rollers), dies at 62
2020 Khang Khek Leu 'Comrade Dutch', Cambodian Khmer Rouge figure convicted of crimes against humanity, dies at 77
2020 William Yorzyk Jr., American swimmer (Olympic gold 200m butterfly, WR 2:19.3, 1956), dies at 87
2021 David Patten, American football wide receiver (Super Bowl 2001, 04, 05; New England Patriots), dies in a road accident at 47
2021 Mikis Theodorakis, Greek classical and film music composer (Zorba the Greek; Mauthausen Trilogy; Serpico), dies of cardiopulmonary arrest at 96