Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Famous Deaths on January 26

  • 946 Eadgyth, English-born German Queen, wife of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
  • 1109 Albericus of Côteaux, French saint, dies
  • 1567 Nicholas Wotton, English diplomat, arranged marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves, dies at about 70
  • 1630 Henry Briggs, English mathematician (b. 1556)
  • 1636 Jean Hotman, Marquis de Villers-St-Paul, French diplomat (b. 1552)
  • 1697 Georg Mohr, Danish mathematician who proved the Mohr–Mascheroni theorem, dies at 56
  • 1706 Guillaume Poitevin, French serpent (now obscure bass wind instrument) player, maître de chapelle and composer, dies at 59
  • 1744 Ludwig Andreas Graf Khevenhüller, Austrian field marshal, dies at 60
  • 1750 Albert Schultens, Dutch philologist (b. 1686)
  • 1752 Jean-François de Troy, French painter (Rococo style), dies at 72
  • 1795 Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, German composer and 5th son of Johann Sebastian Bach, dies at 62
  • 1798 Christian Gottlob Neefe, German composer, conductor and tutor of Ludwig van Beethoven, dies at 49 [some sources give date as 28th]
  • 1799 Gabriel Christie, British general in North America and the Caribbean who settled in Quebec, dies at 76
  • 1803 Georg von Pasterwiz, Austrian composer, dies at 72

Edward Jenner (1749-1823)

English physician, father of (western) immunology, pioneered smallpox vaccinations, dies of a stroke at 73

Théodore Géricault (1791-1824)

French painter (The Raft of the Medusa), dies at 32

  • 1831 Sangolli Rayanna, Indian military chief warrior, dies at 32
  • 1844 John Wedgwood, British ceramicist and founder of the Royal Horticultural Society, dies at 77
  • 1849 Thomas Lovell Beddoes, English poet (Death's Jest-Book), commits suicide at 45
  • 1850 Francis Jeffrey, Baron Jeffrey, Scottish judge and literary critic, dies (b. 1773)
  • 1855 Gérard de Nerval, French writer (b. 1808)
  • 1869 Duncan Gordon Boyes, English recipient of the Victoria Cross, commits suicide at 22
  • 1870 Cesare Pugni, Italian composer, dies at 67
  • 1870 Victor de Broglie, 3rd Duke of Broglie, 14th Prime Minister of France (1835-36), dies at 84
  • 1878 Ernst Heinrich Weber, German anatomist and physiologist (one of the founders of experimental psychology), dies at 82
  • 1884 John Letcher, American lawyer and politician, U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia, dies at 70
  • 1885 Charles George Gordon, British general (put down Taiping rebellion in China) and administrator (Governor-General of Sudan), killed during the fall of Khartoum at 51
  • 1885 Edward Davy, English-Australian inventor (electromagnetic repeater for relaying telegraphic signals), dies at 78
  • 1886 David Rice Atchison, American politician (not President of the United States for a day on March 4, 1849), dies at 78 [1]
  • 1893 Abner Doubleday, American Union Army General-Major, and inventor (San Francisco cable cars), dies at 73
  • 1895 Arthur Cayley, British mathematician (Cayley–Hamilton theorem), dies at 73
  • 1904 John P. R. Tak, Dutch liberal politician, dies at 64
  • 1904 Whitaker Wright, English mining tycoon (b. 1846)
  • 1911 Charles Dilke, British statesman and Radical politician, dies at 67
  • 1922 Luigi Denza, Italian composer (Funiculì, Funiculà), dies at 77
  • 1926 John Flannagan, Catholic priest, 2nd president of St. Ambrose University, dies at 66
  • 1932 William Wrigley Jr., American industrialist (Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company), and owner of MLB Chicago Cubs, dies at 70
  • 1933 Alva Belmont, American socialite and women's suffrage activist (co-founder and President of the National Woman's Party), dies at 80

Zitkála-Šá (1876-1938)

Native American (Yankton Dakota) writer, violinist, librettist (The Sun Dance Opera), educator, and political activist, dies at 61

  • 1942 Felix Hausdorff, German mathematician (Hausdorff space), dies at 73
  • 1942 Gerard Philips, Dutch industrialist and manufacturer (Philips), dies at 83
  • 1943 Harry H. Laughlin, American educator and eugenicist, dies at 62
  • 1943 Nikolai Vavilov, Soviet botanist and geneticist (identified the centers of origin of cultivated plants), dies at 55
  • 1946 Adriaan van Maanen, Dutch-American astronomer (b. 1884)
  • 1947 Grace Moore, American soprano and actress (One Night of Love), dies at 48
  • 1947 Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, Swedish prince second-in-line to the Swedish throne, dies in an airplane crash at 40
  • 1948 Ignaz Friedman, Polish pianist and composer, dies at 65
  • 1950 Betsy van den Arend, Dutch actress (Miss Hobbs), dies at 78
  • 1952 André Cheron [Duval], French-American silent and sound screen character actor (The King of Kings; Anna Karenina; Wife vs. Secretary), dies at 71
  • 1952 Khorloogiin Choibalsan, leader of Mongolia (b. 1895)
  • 1952 Louis van Deyssel, Dutch writer (Diary of Franc Rozelaar), dies at 87
  • 1953 Athanase David, French Canadian politician and businessman, dies at 74
  • 1953 Martinus Nijhoff, Dutch poet and linguistic (spelling), dies at 58
  • 1954 Carl Eldh, Swedish artist and sculptor, dies at 80
  • 1961 Morris Nichols, English cricketer (41 wkts in 14 Tests for Eng 1930-39), dies at 60

Charles "Lucky" Luciano (1896-1962)

Italian-American gangster of the New York mafia, dies of a heart attack at 65

  • 1962 Fran Lhotka, Czech composer, dies at 78
  • 1963 Ole Olsen, American comedian (Olsen & Johnson), dies at 70
  • 1965 Hassan Ali Mansur, Prime Minister of Iran (1964-65), assassinated by a Shia fundamentalist at 41
  • 1967 Albert Rémy, French actor (Grand Prix, The 400 Blows, The Train), dies at 51
  • 1967 Kenneth Thomson, American character actor (Broadway Melody, Little Giant), dies of emphysema at 68
  • 1968 Merrill C. Meigs, American newspaper publisher (b. 1883)
  • 1968 Yvor Winters, American poet (b. 1900)
  • 1973 Edward G. Robinson [Goldenberg], Romanian actor (Double Indemnity, The Stranger, The Ten Commandments), dies at 79
  • 1973 Jay C. Higginbotham, American swing jazz trombonist (Luis Russell'; Red Allen;, Benny Carter), dies at 67
  • 1973 Meijer Sluyser, Dutch journalist, commentator (VARA), dies at about 71
  • 1974 Siegfried von Vegesack, German writer, dies at 85
  • 1974 Wiktor Labunski, Polish-American composer, dies at 78
  • 1975 Lubov Orlova, Russian actress (Moscow Laughs; Man of Music; Tanya), dies at 74
  • 1976 João Branco Núncio, Portuguese Bullfighter (b. 1901)
  • 1977 Margaret Hayes, American actress (Blackboard Jungle, Robert Montgomery Presents), dies from cancer and hepatitis at 60
  • 1978 Leo Genn, British lawyer and actor (Mourning Becomes Electra, Moby-Dick, Affair in Monte Carlo), dies at 72

Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979)

American politician (Vice President: 1974-1977; Governor of New York (R), 1959-73), dies of a heart attack at 70

Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913-1983)

American college football coach (Alabama), dies at 69

  • 1985 James Cameron, British foreign correspondent and journalist, dies at 73
  • 1989 Morton DaCosta, American film and theatre director (Island of Love; The Music Man), dies at 74
  • 1990 Bob Gerard, British racing driver (b. 1914)
  • 1990 Boy Trip, Dutch minister, dies at 68
  • 1990 Lewis Mumford, American cultural historian, city planner and writer, dies at 94
  • 1990 Miloslav Ištvan, Czech composer, dies at 61
  • 1991 (Johan) "Johnny" van Doorn, Dutch writer, poet (as Johnny the Selfkicker), and performer (Oorlog & Pap - War & Porridge), dies at 46
  • 1991 Karen Young, American disco singer ("Hot Shot"), dies at 39
  • 1991 Orestes López, Cuban band leader and composer (co-inventor of 'mambo' with his brother, Cachao), dies at 82
  • 1992 Gilroy Roberts, American sculptor (Chief Engraver of the US Mint, 1948-64), dies at 96

José Ferrer (1912-1992)

Puerto Rican actor and director (Cyrano de Bergerac), dies at 80

  • 1992 Okke Jager, Dutch theologist, writer and poet, dies at 63
  • 1993 Axel Von Dem Bussche, German aristocrat, dies
  • 1993 Jan Gies, Dutch resistance fighter (helped Anne Frank), dies at 87
  • 1993 Jeanne Sauvé, 23rd Governor-General of Canada (1984-90), dies at 70
  • 1993 Robert Jacobsen, Danish sculptor (large iron sculptures), dies at 80
  • 1995 Bernardo Leighton, Chilian politician (1964-70), dies
  • 1995 Geoffrey Parsons, Australian piano accompanist, dies at 65
  • 1995 Louis Heren, English foreign correspondent and journalist, dies at 65
  • 1995 Vic Buckingham, English soccer player and trainer (Ajax), dies at 79
  • 1996 Charles Jewtraw, American 500m speed skater (Olympic gold 1924), dies at 95
  • 1996 David Schultz, American freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 74kg 1984; World C'ship gold 1983), dies from gunshot wounds at 36
  • 1996 Georg Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg, head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, dies at 74
  • 1996 Gerrit Cornelis Berkouwer, Dutch theologist (Dogmatic Studies), dies at 92
  • 1996 Harold Brodkey, American writer (My Venice), dies at 65
  • 1996 Henry Jay Lewis, American double-bassist and conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic 1948-65), dies of a heart attack at 63
  • 1996 Neil Lawson, British high court judge, dies at 88
  • 1996 Stevie Plunder, Australian musician (b. 1963)
  • 1997 Margaret, Princess of Hesse and by Rhine (née Geddes), and patron of the arts, dies at 83
  • 1998 S. P. Leary, Texan blues drummer (Muddy Waters), dies at 67
  • 1998 Shinichi Suzuki, Japanese music teacher (Suzuki Method), dies at 99
  • 1998 Walter D. Edmonds, American historical writer (Drums Along the Mohawk), dies at 93
  • 2000 A. E. van Vogt, Canadian sci-fi author (Wizard of Linn), dies at 87
  • 2000 Don Budge, American tennis player (6 Grand Slam singles titles, Grand Slam 1938), dies of cardiac arrest at 84
  • 2000 Kathleen Hale, British children book writer and illustrator (Orlando), dies at 101
  • 2001 Al McGuire, American basketball coach (Marquette), dies at 72
  • 2003 George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie, British politician (b. 1931)
  • 2003 Hugh Trevor-Roper, English historian (The Last Days of Hitler), dies at 89
  • 2003 John Browning, American pianist (Leventritt Award-1956), dies at 69
  • 2003 Valeriy Brumel, Soviet Olympic athlete (b. 1942)
  • 2004 Fred Haas, American golfer (5 PGA Tour titles; Ryder Cup 1953), dies at 88
  • 2006 Carol Lambrino, son of Carol II of Romania and Zizi Lambrino (b. 1920)
  • 2006 Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Pakistani opposition leader and Pashtun nationalist (b. 1917)
  • 2006 Len Carlson, Canadian actor (b. 1937)
  • 2007 Glen Tetley, American ballet and modern dancer (Joffrey Ballet), and choreographer (Pierrot Lunaire; Alice), dies of skin cancer at 80
  • 2007 Gump Worsley, Canadian ice hockey player, dies at 77
  • 2007 Hans J. Wegner, Danish furniture designer (b. 1914)
  • 2007 Witold Silewicz, Polish-Austrian classical double bassist (Tonkünstler Orchestra), arranger, and composer, dies at 85
  • 2008 Christian Brando, American actor and son of Marlon Brando, dies of pneumonia at 49
  • 2008 Viktor Schreckengost, American industrial designer, dies at 101
  • 2010 Louis Auchincloss, American lawyer and novelist (Watchfires), dies at 92
  • 2011 Charlie Louvin [Loudermilk], American country singer-songwriter, and guitarist (Louvin Brothers - "The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me)"), dies of cancer at 83
  • 2011 Gladys Horton, American pop singer (The Marvelettes- "Please Mr. Postman"; "Too Many Fish In The Sea"), dies at 65 [or 66]
  • 2012 Clare Fischer, American musician, composer and arranger, dies at 83
  • 2012 Dimitra Arliss [Arlys], American actress (Rich Man Poor Man II, The Sting), dies at 79
  • 2012 Ian Abercrombie, English actor (Birds of Prey, Desperate Housewives), dies from kidney failure at 77
  • 2012 Roberto Mières, Argentine auto racer (USAC Road Racing C'ship Daytona 1,000 km 1959; 17 x F1 GP), dies at 87
  • 2013 Edwin London, American horn player, conductor (Cleveland Chamber Orchestra; Ineluctable Modality Choir), and composer (Dream Thing on Biblical Episodes), dies at 83
  • 2013 Hiroshi Nakajima, Japanese physician and medical researcher (WHO Director-General, 1988-98), dies at 84
  • 2014 Tom Gola, American basketball player, dies at 81
  • 2015 Tom Uren, Australian politician, Australian heritage and conservation campaigner, dies at 93
  • 2016 Abe Vigoda, American actor (Barney Miller, The Godfather), dies at 94
  • 2016 Colin Vearncombe, British singer-songwriter (Black - "Wonderful Life"), dies from injuries in a car accident at 53
  • 2017 Barbara Hale, American actress (Della Street in Perry Mason), dies at 94
  • 2017 Mike Connors [Krekor Ohanian], American actor (Mannix), dies at 91
  • 2018 Francisco Savín, Mexican conductor and composer (Quasar I), dies at 88
  • 2018 Igor Zhukov, Russian pianist, conductor (Moscow Chamber Orchestra), and sound engineer, dies at 80
  • 2019 Michel Legrand, French composer, film score arranger and jazz musician (Summer of '42; "Windmills of Your Mind"), dies at 86
  • 2019 Wilma Lipp, Austrian soprano (Vienna Opera, 1945-81; Mozart's Die Zauberflöte - "Queen of the Night"), dies at 93
  • 2020 Bob Shane, American folk vocalist (Kingston Trio - "Tom Dooley"), dies at 85

Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

American basketball guard (NBA champion 2000–02, 09-10; NBA MVP 2008; 18 x NBA All Star; LA Lakers; Olympic gold 2008, 12), dies in a helicopter crash at 41

  • 2021 Alan Ashcroft, English rugby union number 8 (16 caps England, 2 caps British & Irish Lions; Waterloo FC), dies at 90
  • 2021 John Mortimore, English soccer defender (Chelsea 249 games) and manager (Portsmouth, Benfica, Real Betis), dies at 86
  • 2021 Jozef Vengloš, Slovak soccer manager (Australia, Czechoslovakia, Malaysia, Fenerbahçe, Aston Villa, Celtic, Slovakia), dies at 84
  • 2021 Margitta Gummel-Helmbold, German track & field athlete (Olympic gold GDR women's shot put 1968), dies at 79
  • 2021 Peter Thorburn, New Zealand rugby union coach (North Harbour, NZ sevens, Bristol RFC, United States), dies at 81
  • 2021 Sekou Smith, American sportswriter (The Clarion-Ledger, The Indianapolis Star, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; NBA TV), dies from COVID-19 at 48
  • 2022 (Clarence) "Bud" Brown, Jr, American politician (US Representative from Ohio, 1965-83), dies at 94
  • 2022 Janet Mead, Australian Catholic nun and pop-rock singer (The Lord's Prayer), dies of cancer at 84
  • 2023 Billy Packer, American college basketball broadcaster (Raycom Sports, NBC, CBS), dies of kidney failure at 82
  • 2023 Gary Peters, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1964, 67; AL Rookie of the Year 1963; AL wins leader 1964; Chicago WS, Boston Red Sox), dies at 85
  • 2023 Irvine Shillingford, West Indian cricket batsman (4 Tests, 1 x 100, HS 120; Combined Islands, Windward Islands), dies at 78
  • 2023 Keith Thomson, New Zealand cricket batsman (2 Tests, 1 x 50; Canterbury) and field hockey centre-half (28 Tests; Canterbury), dies at 81
  • 2024 Jimy Williams, American MLB baseball infielder (St. Louis Cardinals), coach (World Series Champ - Atlanta, 1995 & Philadelphia, 2008), and manager (Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox (AL Manager of the Year -1999), Houston Astros), dies at 80
January 26 Highlights