Today's 31 March Famous Deaths in History

  • 310 Ōjin, 15th Emperor of Japan according to legend (270-310), dies at 109 [death date disputed]
  • 1340 Ivan I of Moscow, Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of Vladimir (b. 1288)
  • 1388 Everhard t'Serclaes, alderman of Brussels, murdered by order of Sweder of Abcoude due to defeat of a land deal, at about 68 (born c. 1320)

King of France (1515-47), dies complaining about the weight of the crown at 52

Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 1567 Philip, the Generous, count of Hessen, dies at 62
  • 1578 Juan de Escobedo, sec of Spanish land guardian Don Juan, murdered

King of Spain and Portugal (1598-1621), dies at 42

Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 1631 John Donne, Metaphysical poet, dies (birth date unknown)
  • 1671 Anne Hyde, English first wife of James II of England, dies at 34
  • 1703 Johann Christoph Bach, German harpsichordist and composer, dies at 60
  • 1722 Campegius Vitringa, Dutch theologian (wrote work on prophetic theology - Anacrisis Apocalypseos Joannis Apostoli), dies at 62
  • 1723 Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon, British nobleman, supporter of William III, Governor of New York and New Jersey (1701-08), dies at 61
Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 1741 Pieter Burman the Elder, Dutch classical scholar, dies at 72
  • 1797 Betty Washington, younger sister of George Washington, dies at 63
  • 1797 Olaudah Equiano [Gustavus Vassa], Nigerian-British freedman, pioneering abolitionist (Sons of Africa), and writer who helped secure the British Slave Trade Act 1807, dies at 52 (b. 1745)
  • 1806 George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney, British statesman and the first British ambassador to China (1792-96), dies at 68
  • 1837 John Constable, English landscape painter (Hay Wain), dies at 60
Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths

English novelist (Jane Eyre), dies at 38

Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 1869 Allan Kardec, French author and founder of Spiritism, dies at 64
  • 1876 Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, American singer, known as "The Black Swan", who performed at Buckingham Palace for Queen Victoria, dies at about 57 [birthdate uncertain]
  • 1877 Antoine Cournot, French philosopher and mathematician (rule of Cournot), dies at 75
  • 1880 Henryk Wieniawski, Polish violinist and composer (Souv de Moscou), dies at 44
  • 1881 Gaetano Gaspari, composer, dies at 73
  • 1884 Jan Theodoor Beelen, Dutch-Belgian bible scholar, dies at 77
  • 1885 Franz W Abbot, German composer/choir conductor, dies at 65
  • 1885 Philipp Fahrbach the Elder, Austrian composer, dies at 69
  • 1886 Giovanni Rossi, Italian composer, dies at 57
  • 1890 Stephen Cleeg Rowan, American Navy Admiral during the Mexican-American War and Civil War, dies at 81
  • 1892 Adolf Rzepko, Polish composer, dies at 66
  • 1898 Edward Noyes Westcott, US attorney/writer (David Harum), dies
  • 1900 Frank Milligan, cricketer (Mafeking 2 Tests Eng v South Africa 1898-99), dies
  • 1901 John Stainer, English composer (The Crucifixion), dies at 60
  • 1903 Ebenezer Butterick, American inventor (tissue paper dress pattern), dies at 76

American financier and banker (General Electric; US Steel; AT&T), dies in his sleep at 75

Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 1914 Christian Morgenstern, German poet (Ich und die Welt), dies at 42
  • 1915 Wyndham Halswelle, British athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1908), dies in WWI action at 32
  • 1917 Emil Adolf von Behring, German physician, won the first Nobel Prize for Physics (1901) for his serum to cure diphtheria, dies at 63
  • 1928 Gustave Ador, Swiss politician and 36th President of the Swiss Confederation (1919), dies at 82
  • 1928 Medardo Rosso, Italian sculptor (portraits), dies at 69
  • 1929 Burner Matthews, American academic and critic who established study of theatre (NY Times), dies at 77
  • 1931 Hermann Kutter, Swiss Protestant theologian (founder of Christian Socialism in Switzerland), dies at 67
  • 1931 Knute Rockne, American College Football HOF coach, (National C'ships 1924, 29, 30 Notre Dame; record 105–12–5), dies in a plane crash at 43
  • 1934 Franz Ehrle, German Jesuit and Vatican librarian (modernised the Vatican Library), dies at 88
  • 1938 Willem Kloos, Dutch poet and critic (New Guide), dies at 78
  • 1944 Mineichi Koga, admiral of Japanese fleet, dies
Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 1945 Hans Riegel Sr., German confectioner and inventor of the 'gummy bear' (founder of Haribo), dies at 51
  • 1945 Maurice Donnay, French playwright (Lovers), dies at 85
  • 1945 Maurice Rose, American army officer (WWI; WWII), highest-ranking American killed by enemy fire in Europe, dies at 45
  • 1948 Egon Kisch, Austrian-Czech writer and journalist (Raging Reporter), dies at 62
  • 1951 Ralph Forbes [Taylor], British screen and stage actor (Romeo and Juliet; Piccadilly Jim; Daniel Boone), dies at 46
  • 1952 Wallace H. White, Jr., American politician (Senate Majority Leader), dies at 74
  • 1956 Ralph DePalma, Italian-American auto racer (Indianapolis 500 1915; American AAA National Dirt Track C'ship 1908-11), dies of cancer at 73
  • 1957 Gene Lockhart, American actor (Going My Way), dies at 65
  • 1959 Peter Suhrkamp, German publisher (Suhrkamp Verlag), dies at 68
  • 1961 Seerp Anema, Dutch poet and writer (From Holland's Coasts; Modern Art and Degeneration), dies at 85
  • 1967 Don Alvarado [Jose Page], American actor (Captain Thunder, Morning Glory, Big Steal), dies from cancer at 66
  • 1967 Hieronim Feicht, composer, dies at 72
  • 1968 Grover Lowdermilk, American MLB baseball pitcher (St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, and 4 other teams), dies at 83
  • 1970 Semyon Timoshenko, Russian military officer (Marshal of the Soviet Union, held commands during Soviet-Finnish War and on WWII Eastern Front), dies at 75
  • 1971 Alfred Desenclos, French composer, mostly of liturgical works (Messe de Requiem), and teacher, dies at 59
  • 1971 Liselotte Liselot Beekmeyer, Dutch actress (Child Crying), dies at 31
  • 1972 Meena Kumari, Indian film actress (Parineeta), dies at 38
  • 1973 Kurt Thomas, German composer, dies at 68
  • 1974 Andrea Checci, actress (2 Women, Assassin, Black Sunday), dies at 57
  • 1976 Paul Strand, American photographer (Native Land-1942), dies at 85
  • 1978 Astrid Allwyn, actress (Love Affair, Girl for Calgary), dies at 68

American-Canadian medical scientist and co-discoverer of insulin, dies at 79

Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths

American athlete (4 Olympic gold 100/200m, long jump, 4x100m relay 1936), dies of lung cancer at 66

Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 1980 Vladimír Holan, Czech poet, dies at 74
  • 1981 Enid Bagnold, British novelist (Chalk Garden, 1956 Award of Merit), dies at 91
  • 1982 Fritz Eberhard, [Helmut von Rauschenplat], German journalist, anti-fascist war resistor, and co-signer of modern constitution, dies at 85
  • 1983 Christina Stead, Australian writer (Man Who Loved Children), dies at 80
  • 1983 Stephen Murray, English actor (Guilty, Silent Dust, Master Spy), dies at 70
  • 1984 Ronald Clark O'Bryan, American murderer, dies of lethal injection at 39
  • 1986 Jerry Paris, American director (Happy Days) and actor (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Jerry"), dies at 60
  • 1986 O'Kelly Isley, American rock singer (Isley Brothers. 1954-86 - "Shout"; "Twist and Shout"; "It's Your Thing"), dies of a heart attack at 48
  • 1988 Talib Rasul Hakim [Stephen Chambers], American composer (Visions of Ishwara; Az-Zaahir-Al Batin (The Outward-The Inward)), dies at 48
  • 1988 William McMahon, 20th Prime Minister of Australia (Liberal: 1971-72), dies in his sleep at 80
  • 1989 Bill Chappell Jr., American politician (Rep-D-FL, 1969-89), dies at 67
  • 1990 John Hawkes, Australian tennis player (Australasian C'ship singles, doubles, mixed doubles 1926), dies at 90
  • 1990 Lillian "Miss" Miller, audience member (Merv Griffin, Tonight), dies
  • 1991 John Carter, American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and flute player (Roots and Folklore: Episodes in the Development of American Folk Music), dies of complications from a tumor at 61
  • 1993 Brandon Lee, American actor (The Crow) and son of Bruce Lee, dies in an on-set firearms accident at 28
  • 1993 Chichay [Amparo Robles Custodio], Filipino comedienne and actress (Bilangguang puso, Ngitngit ng pitong whistle bomb), dies at 75
  • 1993 Jose Maria Lemus, president of El Salvador (1956-60), dies
  • 1993 Mitchell Parish [Michael Pashelinsky], Lithuanian-American lyricist ("Stardust"; "It's Wonderful"; "Moonlight Serenade"; "Sweet Lorraine"), dies at 92 [1]
  • 1994 Léon Degrelle, Belgian Walloon-Spanish facisct Rexist Party leader, and Nazi collaborator, dies of a heart attack at 87
  • 1995 Carl Story, American bluegrass musician (Rambling Mountaineers), dies at 78
  • 1995 Gustav-Adolf Boltenstern, Swedish equestrian (Olympic gold team dressage 1952, 56; silver 1932, bronze 1948), dies at 90
  • 1995 Selena [Quintanilla-Pérez], Mexican-American singer-songwriter known as the Queen of Tejano music (Grammy-1994), killed by a fan at 23
  • 1996 Dante Giacosa, Italian engineer and automobile designer (Fiat), dies at 91
  • 1996 Dario Bellezza, Italian poet, dies of AIDS at 51
  • 1996 Jeffrey Lee Pierce, American singer and songwriter (The Gun Club), dies at 37
  • 1996 Julius Young, fast food entrepreneur, dies at 73
  • 1997 Arthur Cunningham, American composer, dies at 68
  • 1997 Edwin Alberian, American TV entertainer (Clarabell the clown), dies at 77
  • 1997 Friedrich Hund, German physicist who worked on atoms and molecules (Hund's Law), dies at 101
  • 1997 Laxmishankar Pathak, Indian-born British food retailer (Pataks foods), dies at 62
  • 1998 Bella Abzug "Battling Bella", American politician, feminist and activist (Rep-D-NY, 1970-74), dies at 77
  • 1998 Tim Flock, American auto racer (Winston Cup 1952, 55), dies of liver and throat cancer at 73
  • 1999 Yuri Knorozov, Russian linguist and epigrapher (major role indeciphering Mayan script), dies at 77
  • 2001 Clifford Shull, American physicist, Nobel laureate (b. 1915)
  • 2002 Barry Took, British comedian and writer (Marty, On the Move), dies of cancer at 73
  • 2002 Lucio San Pedro, Filipino composer ("Sa Ugoy ng Duyan"), dies at 89
  • 2003 Anne Gwynne [Marguerite Gwynne Trice], American model and actress (Ride 'em Cowboy, House of Frankenstein), dies following a stroke at 84
  • 2003 Emmanuel Ghent, Canadian-American electronic music composer (Phosphones), dies at 77
  • 2003 George Conner, American College and Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle / linebacker (Pro Bowl 1950–53; First-team All-Pro 1950–53, 55; Chicago Bears), dies at 78
  • 2003 H.S.M. Coxeter, English-born geometer (b. 1907)
  • 2003 Tommy Seebach, Danish rock keyboardist, singer (Sir Henry and His Butlers), and songwriter (Eurovision), dies at 53
  • 2005 Charles Palmer, English cricket batsman (1 Test; Leicestershire CCC, Worcestershire CCC) and administrator (President MCC 1978–79, chairman Test and County Cricket Board 1983-85), dies at 85
  • 2005 Frank Perdue, American poultry farmer (b. 1920)
  • 2005 Justiniano Montano, Filipino politician, dies at 99
  • 2005 Stanley J. Korsmeyer, American oncologist (b. 1951)
  • 2005 Terri Schiavo, American figure at the center of a right to die case, dies at 41
  • 2006 Jackie McLean, American jazz saxophonist (b. 1931 or 1932)
  • 2007 Paul Watzlawick, Communications & Constructivism Theorist (b. 1921)
  • 2008 Bill Keightley, American college basketball equipment manager known as "Mr. Wildcat" (University of Kentucky, 1962-2008), dies at 81
  • 2008 Jules Dassin, American film director (The Naked City; Night And The City; Rififi), who was blacklisted during McCarthy era and moved to France, dies at 96
  • 2008 William L. Dickinson, American politician (Rep-R-AL, 1965-93), dies at 82
  • 2009 Jarl Alfredius, Swedish news anchor (b. 1943)
  • 2009 Raúl Alfonsín, President of Argentina (1983-89), dies of lung cancer at 82
  • 2010 Shirley Mills, American actress (b. 1926)
  • 2011 Mel McDaniel, American country singer ("Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On"), dies of lung cancer at 68
  • 2014 Charles Keating, American district attorney (Los Angeles California), dies at 90
  • 2014 Frankie Knuckles [Francis Nicholls, Jr.], American DJ and record producer who popularized house music in Chicago during the 1980s, dies of diabetes at 59
  • 2015 Ad den Besten, Dutch poet and publisher (Hymn Book for the Churches), dies at 92 [1]
  • 2015 Betty Churcher, Australian painter and director of the National Gallery of Australia, dies at 84
  • 2015 Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Colombian politician and chief judge of Colombia’s Constitutional Court (1996-2001), dies of a lung infection at 77
  • 2015 Philip Potter, Dominica Methodist church leader (Secretary-General World Council of Churches), dies at 93
  • 2016 Douglas Wilmer, British actor (Sherlock Holmes, Octopussy, El Cid), dies of pneumonia at 96
  • 2016 Hans-Dietrich Genscher, German Minister of Foreign Affairs (FDP), worked to re-unify Germany, dies at 89
Photo for the article Today's 31 March Famous Deaths
  • 2016 Ronnie Corbett, British comedian (The Two Ronnies), dies at 85
  • 2016 Zaha Hadid, Iraqi-British acchitect (London Aquatic Centre; Pritzker Prize, 2004), dies at 65
  • 2017 Gilbert Baker, American gay activist, designed the rainbow flag, dies at 65
  • 2017 James Rosenquist, American pop artist, dies at 83
  • 2018 Frank Aendenboom, Flemish actor (Lion of Flanders), dies at 76
  • 2019 Nipsey Hussle [Ermias Asghedom], American rapper and activist, shot and killed at 33
  • 2020 Cristina [Monet Zilkha], American dance-pop singer songwriter (Sleep It Off), dies at 64
  • 2020 Jeff Grosso, American skateboarder (host Youtube’s 'Vans Loveletters to Skateboarding'), dies at 51
  • 2020 Julie Bennett, American stage, radio, and screen character and voice actress (Hey There It's Yogi Bear), dies of Covid-19 at 88
  • 2020 Pape Diouf, Senegalese journalist and football agent (president Olympique de Marseille 2005-09; first black president in Europe's top 6 leagues), dies from COVID-19 at 68
  • 2020 Richard Friedman, American psychoanalyst who proved sexual orientation biological, dies at 79
  • 2020 Tony Adams, radio and television broadcaster (WCAX-TV Sports Director 1954-89; Vermont sports figure), dies at 95
  • 2020 Wallace Roney, American post-bop jazz trumpeter, dies of COVID-19 complications at 59 [1]
  • 2020 Zoltán Peskó, Hungarian opera conductor and composer, dies at 83
  • 2021 Jane Manning, British concert and operatic soprano, educator, and promoter of contemporary classical music, dies at 82
  • 2021 Ken Reitz, American baseball third baseman (MLB All Star 1980; Gold Glove Award 1975; St. Louis Cardinals), dies at 69
  • 2021 Ron Greene, American college basketball coach (Uni of New Orleans, Mississippi State, Murray State, Indiana State), dies at 82
  • 2022 Fred Johnson, American doo-wop bass vocalist (The Marcels - "Blue Moon"), dies at 80
  • 2022 Georgi Atanasov, Bulgarian Communist politician and 39th Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1986-90), dies at 88
  • 2023 John Brockington, American football running back (First-team All-Pro 1971, 73; Pro Bowl 1971, 72, 73; Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs), dies at 74
  • 2024 Barbara Rush, American stage and screen actress (Peyton Place - "Marsha"; It Came From Outer Space; Flamingo Road), dies at 97 [1]
  • 2024 Rob Kaman, Dutch kickboxer who was 4 x WKA world champion, dies at 63
  • 2025 Frank Laidlaw, Scottish rugby union hooker (32 Tests Scotland, 2 British & Irish Lions; South of Scotland District), dies at 84
  • 2025 Sian Barbara Allen, American actress (Scream Pretty Peggy), dies at 78


Post a Comment