Deaths May 1 | History by KabAstro

Pius V (1504-1572)

Italian Pope (1566-72) who excommunicated Elizabeth I of England and arranged the formation of the Holy League (Battle of Lepanto), dies at 68

1679 Esaias Reusner, German lutenist and composer, dies at 43

John Dryden (1631-1700)

English poet ("Absalom and Achitophel"), satirist ("Mac Flecknoe"; "The Medall") and playwright who was the first English Poet Laureate (1668-1700), dies at 68 [1]

1731 Johann Ludwig Bach, German violinist and composer, dies at 54
1733 Nicolas Coustou, French sculptor (Descente de Croix), dies at 75
1738 Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, English statesman (b. c. 1669)
1772 Gottfried Achenwall, German lawyer, pioneering statistician and economist, dies at 52
1813 Jean-Baptiste Bessières, French marshal (killed in combat) (b. 1768)
1831 Antonius van Alphen, Dutch apostle vicar of De Bosch, dies at 82
1854 Jean Coralli, French ballet producer and choreographer (Giselle), dies at 75
1859 John Walker, English inventor and chemist who invented the friction match, dies at 77
1863 Edward D. Tracy, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), dies in battle at 29
1868 Tom Dula, American folk character controversially executed for murder (subject of folk song Tom Dooley), executed at 23
1872 Amalia of Saxen-Weimar-Eisenach, Dutch princess and wife of Prince Henry of the Netherlands, dies at 42

David Livingstone (1813-1873)

Scottish explorer who was famously found by Henry Morton Stanley in Africa, dies allegedly of malaria and internal bleeding caused by dysentery at 60

1874 Vilém Blodek [Plodek], Czech pianist, flautist, and composer, dies at 39
1881 John S. Preston, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), dies at 72
1886 Conrad Busken Huet, Dutch writer (Country of Rubens), dies at 59
1886 Heinrich Franz Daniel Stiehl, composer, dies at 56
1892 Willem A Scholten, Dutch potato-flour manufacturer, dies at 89
1896 Nasr-ed-Din, shah of Persia (184.-96), murdered at 65
1898 Alphonse Wauters, Belgian historian and archivist (Brussels), dies at 81
1899 Ludwig Büchner, German philosopher and physician, dies at 75
1901 Lewis Waterman, American insurance agent and inventor of an improved fountain pen, dies at 63
1902 John Glover, English chemist (sulfuric acid), dies at 85
1903 Arthur Haygarth, English cricket batsman (Middlesex & Surrey, cricket historian), dies at 77
1903 Luigi Arditi, Italian violinist and composer, dies at 80
1904 Antonín Dvořák, Czech composer (Slavonic Dances; New World Symphony; Cello Concerto in b, Op. 104), dies at 62
1906 Carlos Calvo, Argentine historian, diplomat and human rights scholar (Calvo Clause), dies at 82
1913 John Barclay Armstrong, Texas Ranger and U.S. Marshal (b. 1850)
1917 Jose E Rodo, Uruguayan writer (Motivos de proteo), dies
1918 Grove Karl Gilbert, American geologist (investigated Lake Bonneville, Utah), dies at 74
1921 Louis Campbell-Tipton, American composer, dies at 43
1924 August Cuppens, Flemish author (Limburgs Driemanschap), dies at 62
1926 Nicolaus Adriani, Dutch translator (Middle-Celebes Language), dies at 60
1928 Ebenezer Howard, English founder of the garden city movement and author (To-Morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform), dies at 78
1932 Paul Doumer, French politician (Governor-General of French Indochina 1897-1902, President of France 1931-32), assassinated by Russian Paul Gorguloff at 75
1934 Alexander Alexandrovich Davidenko, Soviet composer, dies at 35
1935 Henri Pélissier, French cyclist (Tour de France 1923), dies of a gunshot wound at 46
1937 Snitz Edwards [Edward Neumann], Hungarian-American stage and silent film actor ("Phantom of the Opera"; "College"), dies at 69
1941 John R Locksmith de Brown, vicar/CHU-politician, dies at 71
1943 Johan Oscar Smith, Norwegian Christian leader who founded the evangelical Brunstad Christian Church, dies at 71
1945 Desider Antalffy-Zsiross, Hungarian organist and composer, dies at 59

German Nazi Minister of Propaganda, commits suicide aged 47 with his wife (43) and arranges the death of their 6 children, Heidrun (4), Hedwig (6), Holdine (8), Helmut (9), Hildegard (11), and Helga (12)

1945 René Lalique, French jeweller (“the inventor of modern jewellery”) and glass designer, dies at 85 [1]
1946 Bill Johnston, American tennis player (US Open 1915, 1919; Wimbledon 1923), dies of tuberculosis at 51
1946 Edward Bairstow, English composer, dies at 71
1946 Percy Whitlock, English composer and organist, dies at 42
1947 Sanner, leader of Norger blood bath, executed
1948 Christos Ladas, Greek minister of Justice, murdered
1954 Tom Tyler [Vincent Markowski], American actor (Stagecoach; She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), dies from heart failure at 50
1957 Grant Mitchell, American actor (Great Lie, Laura, Cairo, Conflict), dies at 82
1959 Oscar Torp, Norwegian premier, dies
1963 Lope K. Santos, Filipino writer and Father of the Philippine National Language and Grammar, dies at 83
1965 Leo Spies, Russian-born German composer, dies at 65
1965 Spike Jones [Lindley Armstrong Jones], American bandleader (Der Fueher's Face, Cocktails For Two), dies from emphysema at 53
1968 Harold Nicolson, English diplomat and author (Good Behaviour), dies at 71
1968 Jack Adams, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Vancouver Millionaires, Toronto St. Patricks; Ottawa Senators) and coach / general manager (Detroit Red Wings), dies at 72 [1]
1969 Ella Logan [Ina Allan], Scottish actress (52nd Street, Woman Chases Man, Top of the Town), dies from cancer at 56
1970 Yi Un, last Crown Prince of Korea, dies at 72
1971 Edith Day, American actress (A Romance of the Air), dies at 75
1971 Glenda Farrell, American actress (Golddiggers of 1935: Grand Slam; Exposed), dies of lung cancer at 66
1972 Fernand Ansseau, Belgian opera singer (Orfeo), dies at 82
1976 Alexandros Panagoulis, Greek poet and politician who fought the military junta in Greece, dies in a car accident at 36
1976 Rex O'Malley, British actor (Camille, Zara, Midnight, Thief), dies at 75
1976 T.R.M. Howard, civil rights leader, entrepreneur, surgeon (b. 1908)
1978 Aram Khachaturian, Armenian composer (Masquerade Suite, Gayane), dies at 74
1979 Taisto Mäki, Finnish athlete (WR 2 miles, 5,000m and 10,000m simultaneously 1939-42), dies at 68
1981 Clarence A Bacote, historian/political scientist, dies at 75
1982 Gene Sheldon, American actor (Zorro - "Bernardo"), mime artist, and banjo player, dies of a heart attack at 74
1982 William Primrose, Scottish violist (Method for Violin & Viola), dies at 77
1984 Gordon Jenkins, American arranger and orchestra leader (Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra), dies of Lou Gehrig's disease at 73
1984 Jüri Lossmann, Estonian athlete (Olympic silver marathon 1920), dies at 93
1985 Denise Robins, English romantic novelist (1st Long Kiss), dies at 88
1985 George Pravda, Czech actor, dies at 68
1986 Hugo Peretti, American songwriter and record producer, dies at 69
1986 Hylda Baker, English comedy actress (b. 1905)
1987 Bobo Holloman, American baseball pitcher (no-hitter on MLB debut 1953; St. Louis Browns), dies of a heart attack at 64
1988 Ben Lexcen, Australian yacht designer (Australia II 1983 America's Cup), dies of heart disease at 52
1988 Carroll Righter, American columnist and astrologer to the stars, dies prostate cancer at 88
1988 Paolo Stoppa, actor (Garibaldi, Visit, Freedom Fighters), dies
1989 Antonio Janigro, Italian cellist (Zagreb Soloists), dies at 71
1989 David Webster, South African white anti-apartheids activist, murdered
1989 Douglass Watson, American actor (Satan Murders, Another World), dies at 68
1989 Marion Mack, actress (General), dies
1989 Sally Kirkland, American fashion editor (Vogue magazine) and manager (Lord & Taylor), dies at 76
1990 Sunset Carson [Michael Harrison] American western actor (Cat of Rockies, El Paso Kid, Oregon Trail), dies at 69
1991 Richard Thorpe, American director (Jailhouse Rock, Night Must Fall), dies at 95
1992 Sharon Redd, American house music and urban contemporary singer (b. 1945)
1993 Hans [Henri EA] Tuynman, provo (Full-time Provo), dies at 50
1993 Ranasinghe Premadasa, President of Sri Lanka (1989-93), assassinated by the Tamil Tigers at 68

Ayrton Senna (1960-1994)

Brazilian auto racer (World F1 champion 1988, 90, 91), dies in a crash at San Marino GP at 34

1994 Imre Gyöngyössy, Hungarian filmmaker (The Revolt of Job), dies of a heart attack at 64
1996 Asher Wallfish, journalist, dies at 67
1996 Billy Byers, American jazz trombonist and arranger, dies on his 79th birthday
1996 Ivo Rudolph Jarosy, German-British film scholar and exhibitor, dies at 74
1997 Bebe, AKA Flipper, dolphin, dies at 40
1998 Eldridge Cleaver, American activist, Black Panther leader turned Republican, dies at 62
1999 (Edwin) Eddie Chamblee, American jazz and R&B saxophonist, bandleader, and occasional vocalist, dies at 79
2000 Stephen "Steve" Reeves, American professional bodybuilder, actor, and philanthropist (Hercules, Goliath, Sandokan), dies from a blood clot at 74
2003 Miss Elizabeth [Hulette], pro wrestling valet (Randy Savage), dies of overdose at 42
2003 Wim van Est, Dutch road cyclist (3 x stage winner Tour de France), dies at 80
2006 Big Hawk, American rapper (b.1969)
2006 Bruce Peterson, American aeronautical engineer, and NASA test pilot (M2, HL-10), dies at 72
2006 George Haines, American swimming coach (7 x US Olympic teams), dies of a stroke at 82
2006 Johnny Paris, American saxophonist (Johnny and the Hurricanes) (b. 1940)
2006 Rob Lacey, Christian Author. (b. 1962)
2008 Anthony Mamo, Malta's first President (b. 1909)
2008 Buzzie Bavasi, American MLB executive (Brooklyn & LA Dodgers, San Diego Padres, California Angels), dies at 93
2008 Deborah Jeane Palfrey, American escort owner, commits suicide at 52
2009 Danny Gans, Canadian-born Las Vegas entertainer (b. 1956)
2010 Antonio Mastrogiovanni, Uruguayan composer, dies at 73
2010 Danny Aiello III, American film and television stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor, dies of pancreatic cancer at 53
2010 Helen Wagner, American actress (Mister Peepers; As The World Turns), dies of natural causes at 91
2010 Rob McConnell, Canadian jazz composer, arranger and valve trombonist (The Boss Brass), dies of liver cancer at 75
2011 Henry Cooper, English boxer (British, European, C'wealth heavyweight champion; famous defeats to Muhammad Ali 1963, 66), dies of heart failure at 76
2011 Ted Lowe, English snooker commentator (Pot Black, BBC), dies at 90
2012 Charles "skip" Pitts, American soul and blues guitarist, dies from lung cancer at 65
2014 Assaf Dayan, Israeli actor (He Walked Through the Fields), dies at 68
2014 Juan de Dios Castillo, Mexican soccer coach (Copa Centroamericana 2011 Honduras; El Salvador), dies of skin cancer at 63
2015 (Alexander) "Bobby" Kok, Boer-British classical and session cellist (BBC Symphony; George Harrison - "When We Was Fab"), dies at 89
2015 Dan Farley, American racing journalist (President National Turf Writer's Association), dies at 72
2015 Geoff Duke, English motorcycle racer (world 500cc champion 1951, 1953-55), dies at 92
2015 Grace Lee Whitney, American singer and actress (Yeoman Rand-Star Trek), dies at 85
2015 Pete Brown, American golfer (first African-American to win on PGA Tour, Waco 1964), dies at 80
2017 Janet Pilgrim, American early playmate model for Playboy (July 1955, Dec 1955, Oct 1956), dies at 82
2017 Mike Lowry, American politician (Rep-D-WA, 1979-89, Governor of Washington 1993-97), dies at 78
2017 Sam Mele, American MLB outfielder/manager (Minnesota Twins record 102 wins 1965), dies at 95
2017 Stan Weston, American toy licensing agent, had concept for G.I. Joe, dies at 84
2018 Andrés Reyes [Universo 2000], Mexican pro wrestler (3 x CMLL World Heavyweight Championship), dies from a heart attack at 55
2018 Ashok Mitra, Indian economist and politician, dies at 90
2018 Bob Woffinden, British journalist and author, dies of mesothelioma at 89
2018 Carl W. Duckworth, American politician (Utah House of Representatives, 1955–1958), dies of bone cancer at 53
2018 Chuck Missler, American evangelist and author, dies at 83
2018 Elmar Altvater, German political scientist, dies at 79
2018 Javier Aller, Spanish actor (The Biggest Robbery Never Told), dies at 46 of complications from diabetes
2018 John "Jabo" Starks, American drummer (James Brown, The J.B.'s), dies at 79
2018 Max Berrú, Ecuadorian-Chilean musician, dies at 74
2018 Ninalee Craig, American-born Canadian teacher and photograph subject, dies at 90 of complications from lung cancer
2018 Peter Temple-Morris, Baron Temple-Morris, British politician and life peer (MP for Leominster, 1974–2001), dies at 80
2018 Phil Gowan, American historian (RMS Titanic), dies of cancer at 65
2018 Raymond D. Dzendzel, American politician (Michigan House of Representatives, 1955–1958; Senate, 1959–1970), dies at 96
2018 Reg Gadney, British author, dies at 77
2018 Robert B. Kennedy, American politician (Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1975–1979), dies at 78
2018 Sun Yueh, Chinese-born Taiwanese actor (Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing), dies of sepsis at 87
2018 Wanda Wiłkomirska, Polish violinist and teacher, dies at 89
2020 Chung Hae-Won, South Korean soccer striker (58 caps; Daewoo Royals), dies from liver cancer at 60
2020 Georgios Zaimis, Greek sailor (Olympic gold dragon class 1960), dies at 82
2020 Matt Keough, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1978; AL Comeback Player of the Year 1980; Oakland A's), dies at 64
2021 Al Jamison, American football offensive lineman (AFL All Star 1961, 62; AFL C'ship 1960, 61; Houston Oilers), dies at 83
2021 Olympia Dukakis, Greek-American stage and screen, Obie, Oscar, and Golden Globe award-winning actress (Man Equals Man; Moonstruck; Steel Magnolias), dies at 89 [1]
2022 Charles Siebert, American television actor (One Day at A Time; Trapper John, M.D. - "Stanley"), and director, dies at 84
2022 Ivan Osim, Bosnian soccer midfielder (19 caps Yugoslavia; FK Željezničar, RC Strasbourg, CS Sedan) and manager (Yugoslavia, Sturm Graz, Japan), dies at 80
2022 Régine [Zylberberg], French singer and nightclub owner, dies at 92
2022 Ric Parnell, British rock drummer (Atomic Rooster; Spinal Tap), dies at 70 [1]

Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023)

Canadian folk singer ("Sundown"; "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald"), dies at 84 [1]

2024 Richard Tandy, British rock bassist and keyboard player (ELO), dies at 76 [1]
2024 Terry Medwin, Welsh soccer forward (30 caps; Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur), dies at 91

May 1 Highlights