Famous People who Died of Dementia

1 - 11 of 11 Historically important and notable famous people who died of dementia ranked by their popularity on On This Day.

List of Deaths from Dementia

1969-05-15 Jimmy Wilde, Welsh boxer (Flyweight World Champion, 1916-23), referee, and columnist (News of the World), dies of complications of diabetes and dementia at 76
2009-09-20 John Hart, American actor (The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Captain Africa), dies from complications of dementia at 91
2010-11-04 Sparky Anderson, American Baseball HOF manager (World Series 1975, 76 Cincinnati Reds; WS 1984 & 2 x AL Manager of the Year, Detroit Tigers), dies from dementia at 76
2011-02-19 Ollie Matson, Pro/College Football Hall of Fame halfback (First-team All-Pro 1952, 54–59; Pro Bowl 1952, 54–58; NFL 1950s All Decade Team), dies of dementia at 80
2011-04-25 (Fletcher) Joe Perry, American AAFC/NFL Hall of Fame fullback, 1948-63, 3X Pro Bowl (San Francisco 49ers; Baltimore Colts), and US Navy veteran, dies of complications from dementia at 84
2012-10-13 Helmut Haller, German soccer forward (33 caps West Germany; FC Augsburg, Bologna FC, Juventus), dies from Parkinson's disease and dementia at 73
2013-04-20 Howard Phillips, American politician, dies from dementia and Alzheimer's disease at 72
2013-07-23 Emile Griffith, American boxer, (world welterweight, middleweight & junior middleweight champion), dies of dementia complications at 75
2014-05-06 Jimmy Ellis, American boxer (WBA heavyweight title 1968-70), dies from dementia at 74
2014-10-09 Carolyn Ashley Kizer, American writer, dies from complications of dementia 89
2014-12-16 Ernie Terrell, American boxer (WBA heavyweight champion 1965-7), dies from dementia at 75
2015-01-31 Udo Lattek, German football striker (VfL Osnabrück) and coach (Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona), dies from Parkinson's disease and dementia at 80
2015-03-21 Chuck Bednarik, Pro/College Football HOF center/linebacker (Uni of Pennsylvania; NFL C'ship 1949, 60; 10 × First-team All-Pro; 8 × Pro Bowl; Philadelphia Eagles), dies of Alzheimer's disease and dementia at 89
2015-08-28 Al Arbour, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman, coach and executive (coach NY Islanders Stanley Cup 1980-83), dies of Parkinson's disease and dementia at 82
2017-04-09 Bob Wootton, American country and rockabilly guitarist (Johnny Cash, 1968-97), dies of complications from dementia at 75
2017-08-06 Betty Cuthbert, Australian athlete (Olympic gold 100m, 200m, 4x100m 1956; 400m 1964), dies from dementia at 79
2017-12-06 Cy Young, American athlete and only US male to win gold in javelin throwing (1952 Olympics), dies of complications from dementia at 89
2017-12-13 Bette Howland [Lee Sotonoff], American writer and literary critic (Blue in Chicago, The iron year), dies from multiple sclerosis and dementia at 80
2018-01-16 Jo Jo White, American basketballer (Olympic gold - 1968), dies of complications of dementia at 71
2018-01-20 Graeme Langlands, Australian rugby league fullback, captain and coach (24 Tests; St. George RLFC; ARL "Immortal"), dies from dementia and Alzheimer's disease at 76
2018-03-12 Olly Wilson, American composer and founder of TIMARA, dies of complications of dementia at 80
2018-05-03 Dan Grimm, American football player (Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons), dies of Parkinson's disease and dementia at 77
2018-05-12 Chuck Knox, American football coach (LA Rams, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks; AP NFL Coach of the Year 1973, 80, 84), dies of dementia at 86
2018-08-21 George Andrie, American football defensive end (Super Bowl 1971; First Team All Pro 1969; 5 x Pro Bowl; Dallas Cowboys), dies from dementia at 78
2018-09-11 Jim Houston, American College Football Hall of Fame linebacker (Ohio State; Pro Bowl 1964-65, 69-70; Cleveland Browns), dies of dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 80
2018-10-03 Leon M. Lederman, American experimental physicist (Nobel Prize in Physics, 1988 - for research on quarks and leptons) and author (The God Particle), dies from complications of dementia at 96
2019-03-09 Harry Howell, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman (NY Rangers 1952-69), dies of dementia at 86
2019-04-22 Billy McNeill, Scottish soccer defender (29 caps; Celtic) and manager (Celtic, Manchester City, Aston Villa), dies from dementia at 79
2019-05-27 Bill Buckner, American MLB 1st baseman (1986 World Series infamous fielding error; NL batting champ 1980), dies of dementia at 69
2019-08-22 Bobby Dillon, American NFL defensive back (second to record 50 interceptions), dies of dementia at 89
2019-12-13 Carl Scheer, American basketball executive (general manager Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Charlotte Hornets; inventor NBA Slam Dunk Contest), dies from complications of dementia at 82
2020-01-21 Terry Jones, Welsh comedian (Monty Python), dies from complications of dementia at 77
2020-02-03 Willie Wood, American Pro Football HOF safety (Pro Bowl 1962, 64–70; Super Bowl I, II; GB Packers), dies of dementia at 83
2020-03-29 Jim Lambright, American college football coach (University of Washington 1993-98; 44–25–1 record), dies from complications of dementia at 77
2020-06-17 Jerry Sturm, American football tackle (AFL All-Star 1964, 66; Denver Broncos, NO Saints), dies from dementia at 83
2020-07-10 Jack Charlton, English soccer defender (35 caps; World Cup 1966; Leeds United) and manager (Middlesborough, Sheffield Wed, Newcastle, Rep of Ireland), dies from lymphoma and dementia at 85
2020-09-23 Gale Sayers, American College and Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback, 4X Pro Bowl, 2X NFL rushing leader (Chicago Bears), and source for the TV movie "Brian's Song", dies from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease at 77
2020-10-08 Whitey Ford, American Baseball HOF pitcher (10 x MLB All Star; World Series 1950, 53, 56, 58, 61 [MVP], 62; AL Cy Young Award 1961; NY Yankees), dies from dementia at 91
2020-10-21 Gordon Astall, English soccer forward (2 caps; Birmingham City 235 games, 59 goals), dies from dementia at 93
2020-10-22 Matt Blair, American football linebacker (6 × Pro Bowl 1977–82; First-team All-Pro 1980; Minnesota Vikings), dies from dementia complications at 70
2020-10-30 Nobby Stiles, English soccer midfielder (28 caps; World Cup 1966; Manchester United 311 games) and manager (Preston NE, WBA), dies from dementia at 78
2020-11-03 Don Talbot, Australian swimming coach and sport administrator (coach national swim teams - Canada, United States, Australia), dies from dementia complications at 87
2020-11-13 Paul Hornung, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Heisman Trophy 1956, Notre Dame; Pro Bowl 1959, 60; Green Bay Packers), dies from dementia complications at 84
2020-12-26 Jim McLean, Scottish soccer forward (Hamilton Academical, Clyde, Dundee) and manager (Dundee United 1971-93), dies from dementia at 83
2021-03-10 Stephen Scott, American composer (Bowed Piano Ensemble; Vikings of Sunrise), and educator (Colorado College), dies from complications of dementia at 76
2021-06-07 Tim Pickup, Australian rugby league five eighth (11 Tests; North Sydney, Canterbury), RL executive (Adelaide Rams) and boxing manager (Jeff Harding), dies from dementia at 72
2021-08-19 Bill Freehan, American baseball catcher (11 x All Star; World Series 1968; 5 x Gold Glove; Detroit Tigers), dies from dementia at 79
2021-10-22 Jay Black [David Blatt], American pop singer (Jay and the Americans - “Come A Little Bit Closer”; “This Magic Moment”), dies of pneumonia and complications from dementia at 82
2021-11-13 Sam Huff, American College / Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker (5 x Pro Bowl; First-team All-Pro 1958, 59; NY Giants, Washington Redskins), dies from dementia complications at 87
2021-11-13 Ed Bullins, American playwright (The Taking of Miss Janie), and civil rights activists (Black Panthers), dies of complications of dementia at 86
2021-11-14 Bertie Auld, Scottish soccer midfielder (3 caps; Celtic, Birmingham City) and manager (Partick Thistle, Hibernian, Hamilton Academical), dies from dementia complications at 83
2022-01-01 Dan Reeves, American football coach (AP NFL Coach of the Year 1993 NY Giants, 1998 Atlanta Falcons; Denver Broncos), dies from complications of dementia at 77
2022-01-25 Wim Jansen, Dutch soccer utility (65 caps; Feyenoord 415 games) and manager (SC Lokeren, Feyenoord, Celtic), dies from dementia at 75
2022-02-02 Monica Vitti [Maria Ceciarelli], Italian actress (L'Avventura; Tigers in Lipstick; Duck in Orange Sauce), dies of Dementia with Lewy bodies disease at 90
2022-02-09 Johnny Raper, Australian rugby league lock (33 Tests, 6 World Cup games; Newtown RLFC, St. George RLFC; Inaugural RL "Immortal") and coach (St. George, RLFC, Cronulla RLFC), dies from dementia at 82
2022-04-19 Mike Gregory, English darts player (BDO World C'ship 1992 runner-up), dies from dementia at 65
2022-10-20 Jimmy Millar, Scottish soccer centre forward (2 caps; Rangers 197 games) and manager (Raith Rovers), dies from dementia at 87
2023-03-20 John Sattler, Australian rugby league prop (4 Tests; NSWRL Premiership 1967, 68, 70, 71 South Sydney), dies from dementia at 80
2023-04-01 Ken Buchanan, Scottish boxer (undisputed world lightweight champion 1971), dies from dementia at 77
2023-04-03 Rena Koumioti, Greek laiko and entechno singer, dies due to complications of dementia at 81
2023-06-15 Gordon McQueen, Scottish soccer defender (30 caps; St. Mirren FC, Leeds United, Manchester United) and manager (Airdrieonians FC), dies from dementia at 70
2023-10-21 Bobby Charlton, English soccer midfielder (106 caps; World Cup 1966; Manchester United) and manager (Preston NE), dies from complications of dementia at 86
2023-12-01 Sandra Day O'Connor, American lawyer and judge, 1st woman Supreme Court Justice (1981- 2006), dies of complications of dementia at 93
2024-01-23 Charles Osgood [Wood], American broadcast news anchor (The Osgood File; CBS News Sunday Morning, 1994-2016), writer, and poet, dies of dementia at 91
2024-04-15 Derek Underwood, England cricket spin bowler (86 Tests, 297 wickets @ 25.83, BB 8/51; Kent CCC), dies from dementia at 78
2024-06-13 Tommy Banks, English soccer left-back (6 caps; Bolton Wanderers 233 games), dies of complications of dementia at 94