Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1996. This list includes people like Tupac Shakur, Carl Sagan, Spiro Agnew, Ella Fitzgerald, George Burns and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, economists, poets and artists who died in 1996. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & France and many more countries.
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1
Tupac Shakur( 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone)
Birthdate: June 16, 1971
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: September 13
Tupac Amaru Shakur, popularly known as 2Pac or Makaveli, is considered as one of the greatest American rappers of all time. Talent and trouble went hand in hand in Shakur’s journey to fame; the higher Shakur rose in his iconic status, the deeper he became entangled in gang violence and an infamous rivalry, which sadly led to his untimely demise.
2
Carl Sagan(Astronomer and Planetary Scientist Best Known for His Scientific Contribution in Research on Extraterrestrial Life)
Birthdate: November 9, 1934
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: December 20
Pulitzer- and Emmy-winning astrophysicist and author Carl Sagan was best known for co-writing the TV series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. His novel Contact was adapted into a film. He was known for his extensive research on extra-terrestrial life, had taught at major universities, and written countless papers and science books.
3
Ella Fitzgerald(Jazz Singer Who was Noted for Her Purity of Tone and Impeccable Diction)
Birthdate: April 25, 1917
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Died: June 15
Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer. Referred to as the Queen of Jazz, First Lady of Song, and Lady Ella, Fitzgerald was renowned for her impeccable diction, purity of tone, timing, and intonation. The winner of Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts, Fitzgerald's legacy lives on several years after her death.
Birthdate: August 23, 1912
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: February 2
Actor, dancer, singer, and filmmaker, Gene Kelly, was one of the most popular Hollywood figures in the 1940s and 1950s. Among his other achievements, he is credited to have popularized the genre of musical films in Hollywood. As a filmmaker, he often experimented with camera techniques and special effects. He received an Academy Honorary Award in 1952.
5
George Burns(Actor and ComediAn Known for His Trademark Arched Eyebrow and Cigar-Smoke Punctuation)
Birthdate: January 20, 1896
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: March 9
George Burns was an American actor, comedian, singer, and writer. Characterized by his cigar-smoke punctuation and arched eyebrow, which remained relevant for more than 75 years, Burns was one of the few entertainers to have achieved an equal amount of success in film, television, vaudeville, and radio. He has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
6
Christopher Robin Milne(Author)
Birthdate: August 21, 1920
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chelsea, London, United Kingdom
Died: April 20
Birthdate: April 12, 1932
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: November 30
Folk singer and ukulele artist Herbert Butros Khaury, better known as Tiny Tim, is remembered for his hits such as Tiptoe Through the Tulips. His album For All My Little Friends was nominated for a Grammy Award. He earned a star outside the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue.
8
McLean Stevenson(Best Known for His Role as ‘Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake’ in the TV Series ‘M*A*S*H’)
Birthdate: November 14, 1927
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Normal, Illinois, United States
Died: February 15
Comedian McLean Stevenson is best remembered for his Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated role of Henry Blake in the series M*A*S*H. He also appeared on Match Game and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and gained fame as Larry Alder in Hello, Larry. He also appeared in Condo and Dirty Dancing.
9
Bradley Nowell(Lead Singer and Guitarist Of the Ska Punk Band 'Sublime')
Birthdate: February 22, 1968
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
Died: May 25
Bradley Nowell is best remembered as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the punk band Sublime. His dalmatian, Lou Dog, was the band’s mascot and often appeared on stage with the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose, at 28, at a hotel in San Francisco, while touring with Sublime.
Birthdate: January 14, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Christchurch, New Zealand
Died: May 11
Rob Hall was a New Zealand mountaineer and the head guide of a Mount Everest expedition in 1996, during which he died along with two clients and a fellow guide. The ill-fated expedition was dramatized in the film Everest where Rob Hall was played by actor Jason Clarke.
Birthdate: May 6, 1964
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Died: July 15
Dana Hill is best remembered as Audrey Griswold from National Lampoon’s European Vacation. Initially a track athlete, she discontinued sports after being diagnosed with Type I diabetes, a condition that also stunted her growth and contributed to her childlike looks. She had also voiced Max in Goof Troop.
Birthdate: February 16, 1954
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States
Died: July 1
Margaux Hemingway was an American actress and fashion model. During the mid-1970s, Hemingway became known as a supermodel and graced the covers of popular magazines, such as Time, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle. Margaux Hemingway struggled with drug addiction, alcoholism, and depression, which culminated in her suicide by drug overdose at the age of 42.
Birthdate: September 16, 1906
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died: March 8
Better known as Mad Jack or Fighting Jack, British Army officer Jack Churchill was an iconic example of a person fighting wars on his own terms. He popularized carrying swords and bagpipes to battles and killed his enemies with his longbow. He inspired a comic strip and several books, too.
Birthdate: September 29, 1904
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Manor Park, London, United Kingdom
Died: April 6
Greer Garson was an MGM star and remains the fourth-most-nominated lady for the Academy Award for the Best Actress, with her seven nominations and her win with the film Mrs. Miniver. She is also remembered for her Golden Globe-winning role in Sunrise at Campobello. She also received the CBE honor.
15
Martin Balsam(American Actor Who Played Character Roles in Films, in Theatre, and on Television)
Birthdate: November 4, 1919
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: February 13
Martin Balsam established himself as a Tony-winning stage actor. He is best remembered for his Academy Award-winning role of Arnold Burns in A Thousand Clowns. He also played Juror #1 in 12 Angry Men and Milton Arbogast in Psycho, and was part of the series Archie Bunker's Place.
16
Timothy Francis Leary(American Psychologist and Writer Known for His Strong Advocacy of Psychedelic Drugs)
Birthdate: October 22, 1920
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 31
Psychologist and former Harvard professor Timothy Leary was an advocate of psychedelic drugs. His research experiments included the controversial Concord Prison Experiment and Marsh Chapel Experiment. After being fired from Harvard for his actions, he continued promoting his theories through catchphrases such as “turn on, tune in, drop out.”
17
Ben Johnson(Stuntman)
Birthdate: June 13, 1918
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Foraker, Oklahoma, United States
Died: April 8
18
Howard Rollins(Actor)
Birthdate: October 17, 1950
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: December 8
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
19
Audrey Meadows(American Actress Known for Her Role in the Sitcom 'The Honeymooners')
Birthdate: February 8, 1922
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: February 3
Audrey Meadows was an American actress best remembered for her portrayal of Alice Kramden in the popular television sitcom, The Honeymooners. Also a banker, Audrey Meadows was the first woman to serve as the director of the First National Bank of Denver, a position which she held for 11 years.
Birthdate: September 13, 1903
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Saint-Mandé, France
Died: July 30
Claudette Colbert was an American actress best remembered for her performance in the 1934 romantic-comedy film It Happened One Night, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. A versatile actress, Colbert achieved immense popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, during which she was one of the highest-paid stars. Colbert also received a Golden Globe Award during her career.
21
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
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.
Birthdate: September 28, 1924
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fontana Liri, Lazio, Italy
Died: December 19
Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni is regarded as his country's biggest film star of all time. Making his debut as an uncredited extra when he was just 14, he worked hard over the decades to become a major film star in his country. He was a big name in international cinema as well. He was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards.
23
Juliet Prowse(Film, Stage and Television Actress Who Had a Four-Decade Long Career)
Birthdate: September 25, 1936
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Died: September 14
Juliet Prowse was an actress and dancer whose stage, film, and TV career spanned 40 years. She gained prominence during the 1960s by appearing in films like Can-Can and G.I. Blues, which accentuated her dancing skills and her attractive legs. Towards the end of her career, Juliet Prowse hosted PBS' Championship Ballroom Dance Competition.
24
Ray Combs(American Stand-up Comedian, Actor and Game Show Host)
Birthdate: April 3, 1956
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hamilton, Ohio, United States
Died: June 2
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Birthdate: August 6, 1947
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Gardez, Afghanistan
Died: September 27
Mohammad Najibullah was an Afghan politician. From 1987 to 1992, he served as the president of Afghanistan before resigning in 1992. Throughout his tenure as president and leader of Afghanistan, Najibullah preferred nationalism over socialism, abolished the one-party state, and made Islam an official religion. In 1996, he was publicly hanged by the Taliban after they captured Kabul.
26
Minnie Pearl(Comedian)
Birthdate: October 25, 1912
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Centerville, Tennessee, USA
Died: March 4
27
Scott Fischer(First American to Summit Mt. Lhotse)
Birthdate: December 24, 1955
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Muskegon, Michigan, United States
Died: May 11
American mountaineer Scott Fischer was known for scaling the highest peaks of the world, including Mt. Everest and K2, without using oxygen cans. He later became a mountain guide and co-launched his own adventure travel company Mountain Madness. He died in a blizzard while guiding a group of clients to Mt. Everest.
Birthdate: February 21, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Houston
Died: January 17
Birthdate: January 19, 1922
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Pumpkin Center, California, United States
Died: February 6
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Birthdate: April 5, 1909
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States
Died: June 27
Producer Albert R. Broccoli, or Cubby, is best remembered for his work on several James Bond films, such as From Russia with Love and Goldfinger. He was honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for his contribution to films. He was also a horse-racing expert.
31
Eva Cassidy(Singer, Guitarist)
Birthdate: February 2, 1963
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oxon Hill, Maryland, United States
Died: November 2
32
Dorothy Lamour(American Actress Known for Her Role in the 'Road To...' Movies)
Birthdate: December 10, 1914
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: September 22
Dorothy Lamour was an American singer and actress best remembered for her performance in the Road to... films, a series of seven successful comedy films. She is also remembered for her work in radio. Dorothy Lamour's contribution to the motion picture and radio industry earned her a couple of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
33
Greg Morris(Actor)
Birthdate: September 27, 1933
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Died: August 27
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Birthdate: November 5, 1933
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: July 21
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
Birthdate: January 31, 1922
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Logan, West Virginia, United States
Died: September 10
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
36
Morey Amsterdam(Actor)
Birthdate: December 14, 1908
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: October 27
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Birthdate: October 9, 1977
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, USA
Died: November 10
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
38
Jack Nance(Actor)
Birthdate: December 21, 1943
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Died: December 30
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Birthdate: September 13, 1911
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rosine, Kentucky, United States
Died: September 9
Birthdate: March 26, 1913
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Budapest, Austria-Hungary
Died: September 20
Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős spent most of his childhood at home, due to his mother’s overprotectiveness after his sisters died of scarlet fever. Known for his eccentricity, he used his own vocabulary. His contributions include the Ramsey theory, and he skipped many university job offers to continue working independently.
Birthdate: June 24, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Died: April 5
Monika Dannemann was a German painter and figure skater whose professional achievements were overshadowed by her relationship with legendary guitar player Jimi Hendrix; she is often referred to as the last girlfriend of Jimi Hendrix. A year before her death, Monika Dannemann published a book titled The Inner World of Jimi Hendrix.
42
Frank Whittle(British Pilot and Aviator Best Known for Inventing the 'Turbojet Engine')
Birthdate: June 1, 1907
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Coventry, England
Died: August 9
Aviation engineer Frank Whittle entered the Royal Air Force as an apprentice and rose through the ranks to become a pilot. He invented the jet engine, though his idea of a plane that could fly at a phenomenal speed was initially laughed at. He was later knighted for his achievements.
Birthdate: August 6, 1990
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
Died: December 25
JonBenet Ramsey was a child beauty queen known for her participation in child beauty pageants. Ramsey's body was found in the basement of her parents' house when she was six years old. Although her demise was adjudged a homicide, with the case generating nationwide public interest, the crime remains unsolved and the case is open with the Boulder Police Department.
44
Bibi Besch(Best Known for Her Role in the Film ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’)
Birthdate: February 1, 1942
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: September 7
Bibi Besch was an Austrian-American actress best known for her role in the science fiction film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The daughter of an actress, she chose to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Making her debut in the mid-1950s, she remained active in the entertainment industry until her death. Her daughter is also an actress.
Birthdate: October 26, 1916
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Jarnac, France
Died: January 8
François Mitterrand served as the French president from 1981 to 1995, becoming the longest-tenured president in the history of his country. He was the first to name a female prime minister, Édith Cresson. He is known for his investments in several Grands Projets and his opposition of the Fifth Republic.
Birthdate: August 5, 1914
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: November 26
Birthdate: November 16, 1904
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Zungeru, Nigeria
Died: May 11
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was a Nigerian political leader and statesman. From 1963 to 1966, Azikiwe served as the first president of Nigeria. Often referred to as the Father of Nigerian Nationalism, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe played an important role in Nigeria's struggle for independence. He is also credited with establishing the University of Nigeria (UNN).
48
Jon Pertwee(Actor)
Birthdate: July 7, 1919
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chelsea, London, England, UK
Died: May 20
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
49
Haing S. Ngor(Physician and actor)
Birthdate: March 22, 1940
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cambodia
Died: February 25
50
Lew Ayres(Actor)
Birthdate: December 28, 1908
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Died: December 30
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
