Famous People Who Died at 96

The list of famous people who died at 96 includes Katharine Hepburn, Simo Häyhä, Joan Fontaine, Vyacheslav Molotov, P. L. Travers. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, artists, actors and physicists and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 96 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Italy & Germany and many more countries.

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Birthdate: April 21, 1926

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Mayfair, London, England

Died: September 8, 2022

The Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning British monarch in history. The first child of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother , she ascended to the throne in 1952. Despite the media criticism of the royal family, she continued to be a popular figure in the UK.

Birthdate: May 12, 1907

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Died: June 29, 2003

Katharine Hepburn served as the leading American actress for over six decades. She is regarded as aninfluential cultural figure and was included in the popular book Women Who Changed The World. Katharine Hepburn is also named in lists like 300 Women Who Changed the World, 100 Icons of the Century, and 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons of All Time.

Birthdate: October 16, 1925

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: London, England

Died: October 11, 2022

Angela Lansbury played a key role in shaping the Golden Age of Hollywood. Recognized as one of the few stars still alive from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, Angela Lansbury has received accolades, such as an Honorary Oscar. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II appointed her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Birthdate: December 17, 1905

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Rautjärvi, Finland

Died: April 1, 2002

Simo Häyhä was a Finnish sniper who served in the Winter War against the Soviet Union, in 1939–1940. He had killed 500 men in the war and received many awards for his exploits. His face was disfigured by a Red Army bullet, and he later retired to a farm.

Cicely Tyson

(Actress and Model Best Known for Her Films: 'Sounder' and ‘The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman’)

Birthdate: December 18, 1924

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Died: January 28, 2021

Cicely Tyson is best known for her Academy Award-nominated role of Rebecca Morgan in Sounder and her Emmy-winning performance in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. She is also a Tony- and Drama Desk-winning theater actor. Fans also loved her as Ophelia Harkness in How to Get Away with Murder.

Joan Fontaine

(One of the Leading Actresses of the Hollywood During the 'Golden Age')

Birthdate: October 22, 1917

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

Died: December 15, 2013

Joan Fontaine was a prominent Hollywood actress during the Golden Age. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, she won an Academy Award, becoming the only actor to win the award for a Hitchcock film - Suspicion. Apart from working as an actress, Joan Fontaine was also a licensed pilot, Cordon Bleu-level chef, and well-known interior decorator.

Harry Morgan

(Prolific Character Actor Who Starred in More Than 100 Films)

Birthdate: April 10, 1915

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Died: December 7, 2011

Harry Morgan was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films in a career that spanned six decades. Apart from contributing to the success of several films, Morgan also appeared in many TV series; for his performance in the series M*A*S*H, Morgan received an Emmy. In 2006, he was made an inductee of the Hall of Great Western Performers.

Birthdate: August 18, 1927

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Plains, Georgia

Died: November 19, 2023

Rosalynn Carter, served as the U.S. First Lady from 1977 to 1981, as the wife of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. She promoted human rights, peace, and mental health awareness. She was also an envoy to Latin America and launched Every Child By Two, a childhood immunization awareness program.

Jimmy Doolittle

(American Military General and Aviation Pioneer Who Made Daring Raid on Japan During World War II)

Birthdate: December 14, 1896

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Alameda, California, United States

Died: September 27, 1993

Jimmy Doolittle was an American aviation pioneer and military general. Apart from winning many flying races, Doolittle also helped develop instrument flying. He was the brains behind the Doolittle Raid, the air raid that served as retribution for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. His work during the raid earned him the prestigious Medal of Honor.

Birthdate: December 31, 1908

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Buchach, Ukraine

Died: September 20, 2005

Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal survived four Nazi concentration camps, including the notorious Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp. He later devoted his life to finding out information about Nazi war criminals to bring them to trial. He wrote several books on his experiences, such as The Sunflower and I Chased Eichmann.

Birthdate: February 12, 1884

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: New York City

Died: February 20, 1980

Author and socialite Alice Roosevelt Longworth was the eldest child of American president Theodore Roosevelt, and his only child with his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee. Though Alice was married to Republican leader Nicholas Longworth III, she had a child through an affair with Senator William Edgar Borah.

John Gielgud

(Former Actor best known for his Shakespearean roles in the theater, he first played Hamlet at the age of 26)

Birthdate: April 14, 1904

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: South Kensington, London, United Kingdom

Died: May 21, 2000

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Michael I of Romania

(The Last King of Romania (1927 - 1930))

Birthdate: October 25, 1921

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Peleș Castle, Sinaia, Romania

Died: December 5, 2017

Michael I, the last King of Romania, ruled the country twice, of which the first-tenure was as a minor. During his second tenure, he removed Ion Antonescu’s government that aligned Romania with Nazi Germany. He declared alliance with Allies but was eventually forced to abdicate by Petru Groza’s government on December 30, 1947, as Romania officially became a People's Republic.

Birthdate: September 26, 1914

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Died: January 23, 2011

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

P. L. Travers

(Best Known as the Author of 'Mary Poppins' Series of Books)

Birthdate: August 9, 1899

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Maryborough, Australia

Died: April 23, 1996

Australian-British author and Shakespearean actor Pamela Lyndon Travers, known by her pseudonym, P. L. Travers, soared to fame with her Mary Poppins series of children's books. Disney later bought the rights to her Mary Poppins series and released a film version. It was later made into a Broadway play, too.

Fay Wray

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Ann Darrow’ in the Film ‘King Kong’)

Birthdate: September 15, 1907

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Cardston, Canada

Died: August 8, 2004

One of the original “scream queens” of Hollywood, Fay Wray is best remembered as Ann Darrow, the woman picked up by King Kong like a doll while he went on a rampage, in the 1933 film about the fabled monster. She declined a cameo in a King Kong remake later.

Monty Hall

(Canadian Television Host Best Known as the Game Show Host and Producer of 'Let’s Make a Deal')

Birthdate: August 25, 1921

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Winnipeg, Canada

Died: September 30, 2017

Although best remembered as the cheerful and friendly host of Let's Make a Deal, Molly Hall was also the co-creator and producer of this popular show. Born in Canada, he eventually moved to the USA, where he began producing and hosting number of television and radio shows, eventually being associated with a synonymous brain teaser called the Monty Hall Problem.

Birthdate: February 27, 1897

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Philadelphia

Died: April 8, 1993

Jane Wyatt

(She starred in a number of Hollywood films, such as Frank Capra's Lost Horizon)

Birthdate: August 12, 1910

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Campgaw, New Jersey, United States

Died: October 20, 2006

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Martha Graham

(Modern Dancer and Choreographer Known for Her 'Graham Technique' Style)

Birthdate: May 11, 1894

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: April 1, 1991

Martha Graham was a modern dancer and choreographer who revolutionized American dance. She developed what later became known as the Graham technique, a modern dance movement style and pedagogy. She had an extensive career spanning over 70 years. The Martha Graham School, founded in 1926, is the oldest school of dance in USA.

Birthdate: November 19, 1919

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: North Shields, England

Died: May 19, 2016

While his asthma attacks in childhood made him addicted to radio, it also made Alan Young host his own radio show by 17. He soared to fame with his Emmy-winning radio/TV comedy show The Alan Young Show. The Disney star later became popular as the voice of Scrooge McDuck.

Birthdate: August 17, 1926

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Yangzhou, Jiangsu

Died: November 30, 2022

Chinese politician, Jiang Zemin, served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 1989 to 2002. Qualified as an engineer, he joined the Chinese Communist Party when he was in college. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Minister of Electronic Industries.

Birthdate: February 3, 1910

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Tate County, Mississippi, United States

Died: September 7, 2006

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Momofuku Ando

(Inventor of Instant Noodles and the Creator of the Brands 'Top Ramen' and 'Cup Noodles')

Birthdate: March 5, 1910

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Puzi City, Taiwan

Died: January 5, 2007

Momofuku Ando was a Taiwanese-Japanese businessman and inventor. He is credited with founding the popular Japanese food company, Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd. Credited with creating brands like Cup Noodles and Top Ramen, Momofuku Ando is widely regarded as the inventor of instant noodles. During his lifetime, Ando was honored with medals, such as the Order of the Rising Sun.

Kevin McCarthy

(Actor)

Birthdate: February 15, 1914

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Died: September 11, 2010

Birthdate: December 23, 1918

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany

Died: November 10, 2015

Helmut Schmidt, who had once been the chancellor of Germany, was also an avid art connoisseur and a talented pianist. The SPD member had also been associated with the DIE ZEIT magazine and is remembered for his efficient management of the Hamburg storm flood as the police senator of Hamburg.

Kitty Carlisle

(actor,singer, musician, opera singer)

Birthdate: September 3, 1910

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: New Orleans

Died: April 17, 2007

Frank Cady

(Actor)

Birthdate: September 8, 1915

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Susanville, California, U.S.

Died: June 8, 2012

Irene Papas

(Greek Actress and Singer Best Known for Her Films: 'The Trojan Women' and 'Antigone')

Birthdate: September 3, 1926

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Chiliomodi, Greece

Died: September 14, 2022

Irene Papas is a popular Greek actress and singer who has played powerful women in films and stage plays in an illustrious career spanning over five decades. Widely regarded as the quintessential Greek beauty, Papas has won many awards, including the Golden Arrow Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival.

Donald Malarkey

(Sergeant)

Birthdate: July 31, 1921

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Astoria, Oregon, USA

Died: September 30, 2017

Birthdate: February 12, 1923

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Florence, Italy

Died: June 15, 2019

Franco Zeffirelli went from being a budding architect to a director after watching Laurence Olivier’s Henry V. Starting as a costume/set designer, he gradually deviated to making Shakespearean adaptations, earning an Academy Award nomination with Romeo and Juliet. The openly gay filmmaker was later accused of sexual assaulting two actors.

C. Everett Koop

(13th Surgeon General of the United States (1982 - 1989))

Birthdate: October 14, 1916

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: February 25, 2013

C. Everett Koop was a pediatric surgeon and public health administrator who served as the 13th Surgeon General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan. Previously, he had been a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He was well-known for his support of the rights of children with disabilities and his work with AIDS patients.

Birthdate: June 22, 1909

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States

Died: May 21, 2006

Dancer, choreographer, and social activist Katherine Dunham was also a qualified anthropologist. She experimented with various ritual dances, and her innovations included a ballet performance based on Caribbean dance. She also pioneered the Dunham Technique of dance pedagogy and used the pen-name Kaye Dunn to write several works.

Will Durant

(American Writer Best Known for His Work 'The Story of Civilization')

Birthdate: November 5, 1885

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: North Adams, Massachusetts, United States

Died: November 7, 1981

Will Durant was an American writer, philosopher, and historian. He is credited with writing The Story of Philosophy which helped popularize philosophy in the USA. Will is also remembered for co-writing an 11-volume set of books titled The Story of Civilization along with his wife Ariel. Will and Ariel were awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Birthdate: December 6, 1898

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Tczew, Germany

Died: April 23, 1995

Alfred Eisenstaedt was a German-born American photojournalist and photographer who achieved popularity as a photographer for Life magazine. Remembered for capturing memorable images, Eisenstaedt is credited with capturing the V-J Day in Times Square, which became one of his most popular cover photographs. In 1989, he was honored with the prestigious National Medal of Arts.

Pablo Casals

(Composer, Conductor and One of the Greatest Cellists of All time)

Birthdate: December 29, 1876

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: El Vendrell, Spain

Died: October 22, 1973

Spanish cellist Pablo Casals got his first lessons in instruments such as the violin and the piano from his organist father. Known for his unique technique of using flexible left-hand positions, he later formed a celebrated trio with pianist Alfred Cortot and violinist Jacques Thibaud. He won a posthumous Grammy.

Henry Heimlich

(Physician, University teacher)

Birthdate: February 3, 1920

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Wilmington

Died: December 17, 2016

Denton Cooley

(American Heart and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Who Performed the First Implantation of a Total Artificial Heart)

Birthdate: August 22, 1920

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States

Died: November 18, 2016

Denton Cooley was a heart and cardiothoracic surgeon. He is best known for performing the first implantation of a total artificial heart. He did his surgical training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and later worked at Baylor College of Medicine. He founded The Texas Heart Institute and was a consultant at Texas Children's Hospital.

Studs Terkel

(Journalist, Historian, Radio personality, Writer, Poet lawyer, Music journalist)

Birthdate: May 16, 1912

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: New York City

Died: October 31, 2008

Pulitzer Prize-winning American author Studs Terkel is remembered for his contribution to American history and for his book The Good War. Initially aspiring to be a lawyer, he later became a radio actor. He also interviewed people for his show Studs’s Place and published bestselling oral histories such as Division Street.

Don Pardo

(Actor, Television presenter, Radio personality)

Birthdate: February 22, 1918

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Westfield

Died: August 18, 2014

Nicholas Parsons

(English Actor Known for His Radio Show ‘Just a Minute’ and Game Show ‘Sale of the Century’)

Birthdate: October 10, 1923

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Grantham, Lincolnshire, England

Died: January 28, 2020

Birthdate: July 9, 1911

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Jacksonville

Died: April 13, 2008

American theoretical-physicist John Archibald Wheeler, who worked as professor of physics at Princeton University for most of his career, is best-known for co-developing the concept of Breit–Wheeler process, popularising the term black hole, and helping in designing and building the hydrogen bomb. He also invented several terms like quantum foam and wormhole, and hypothesized the one-electron universe.

Freeman Dyson

(Mathematician)

Birthdate: December 15, 1923

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Crowthorne, England

Died: February 28, 2020

Freeman Dyson was a British-American theoretical and mathematical physicist, mathematician, and statistician. He made major contributions in the fields of quantum field theory, astrophysics, random matrices, quantum mechanics, and nuclear physics. He originated the concept that went on to be known as Dyson's transform. He received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1986.

Habib Bourguiba

(Politician, Lawyer)

Birthdate: August 3, 1903

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Monastir

Died: April 6, 2000

Birthdate: December 18, 1911

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.

Died: March 31, 2008

Tex Winter

(Basketball coach)

Birthdate: February 25, 1922

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Wellington, Texas, United States

Died: October 10, 2018

Erwin Chargaff

( Austro-Hungarian Biochemist Who Emigrated to America During the Nazi Era)

Birthdate: August 11, 1905

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Chernivtsi, Ukraine

Died: June 20, 2002

Erwin Chargaff was a biochemist and writer who worked at the Columbia University medical school as a professor of biochemistry. He is credited with discovering the Chargaff's rules, which played an important role in the discovery of the DNA's double helix structure. Also a prolific writer, Erwin Chargaff authored several books, including an autobiography.

Leah Chase

(Chef)

Birthdate: January 6, 1923

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Died: June 1, 2019