Famous people and celebrities who died in 1938

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1938. This year saw the loss of many influential and beloved figures who left a lasting impact on the world. From entertainment icons and sports legends to renowned scholars and public figures, our comprehensive list pays tribute to their lives and legacies. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their achievements as we reflect on their remarkable stories.

• Jan. 28 Bernd Rosemeyer

  Famous German racing driver known for his exceptional skills with Auto Union racing cars during the pre-World War II era. He was a prominent figure in motorsport and tragically died during a land speed record attempt.

• Feb. 5 Hans Litten

  Courageous German lawyer who famously cross-examined Adolf Hitler in 1931 and was later persecuted by the Nazi regime, dying in a concentration camp.

• Feb. 7 Harvey Firestone

  American businessman founded firestone tire and rubber company (d. 38).

• Feb. 21 George Ellery Hale

  Hale is known for his contributions to the field of astronomy, including the development of the spectroheliograph and his work on the study of sunspots.

• March 13 Clarence Darrow

  American lawyer, best known for his "scopes trial" in 1925, where he defended william jennings bryan. his cases were a common topic of conversation. he defended a schoolteacher who was accused of illegally teaching darwin theory of evolution in the scopes trial. his autobiography, "the story of my life", was published in 1932. died 3/13/1938.

• March 21 Oscar Apfel

  Actor (inspiration), passes away at 60

• April 14 Gillis Grafström

  Gillis Grafström was a Swedish figure skater who won four Olympic gold medals.

• April 15 Cesar Vallejo

  Peruvian poet known for his innovative style and profound themes.

• April 21 Muhammad Iqbal

  Indian muslim poet, politician and philosopher in british india. he is widely considered to have inspired the pakistan movement. his literary works in urdu and persian are considered to be among the greatest in urdu literature. king george v made him a knight in 1922. he died at the age of 60 in lahore (punjab, british india) on 21 april …

• May 4 Carl von Ossietzky

  PEA - German journalist and activist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1889)

• May 13 Charles Édouard Guillaume

  PHY - Swiss-french physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1861)

• June 1 Ödön von Horváth

  Influential Hungarian-German playwright and novelist known for his critical social commentary and modernist literary style. His works often explored the complexities of social class and human behavior in early 20th century Europe.

• June 2 Nathanael Herreshoff

  American yacht designer and naval architect who designed numerous successful racing and cruising yachts.

• Aug. 4 Pearl White

  Pearl white was an american silent film actress best known for her work in serial films, particularly in 'the perils of pauline'.

• Aug. 6 Warner Oland

  Actor (werewolf in london, jazz singer), is killed at 57

• Aug. 16 Robert Johnson

  Legendary Delta blues musician who profoundly influenced rock and blues music, known for mythical stories about selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads to gain extraordinary guitar skills.

• Aug. 30 Max Factor

  Polish-born American make-up artist and entrepreneur who revolutionized the cosmetics industry by founding the iconic Max Factor Company, which became a pioneering force in professional and Hollywood makeup.

• Sept. 6 John Stuart Hindmarsh

  British racing driver and pilot known for his achievements in motorsports during the 1930s. He was a prominent figure in racing circles and tragically died young in 1938.

• Sept. 15 Thomas Wolfe

  Thomas Wolfe was a prominent American novelist and playwright known for his autobiographical novels like 'Look Homeward, Angel' and 'You Can't Go Home Again'. He was a significant figure in early 20th-century American literature, celebrated for his expansive and poetic writing style. His works often explored themes of personal identity, family, and the American experience.

• Sept. 17 Bruno Jasieński

  Influential Polish poet and author associated with the futurist movement, known for his avant-garde literary works and political activism.

• Sept. 28 Charles Duryea

  Co-founder of the Duryea Motor Wagon Company, one of the first American automobile manufacturers.

• Oct. 5 Faustina Kowalska

  Saint Faustina Kowalska was a Polish Roman Catholic nun known for her mystical experiences and her role in spreading the Divine Mercy devotion worldwide.

• Nov. 10 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

  Founder of the Republic of Turkey and a key figure in modernizing the country.

• Dec. 11 Christian Lous Lange

  PEA - Norwegian historian and educator, nobel prize laureate (b. 1869)

• Dec. 25 Karel Capek

  Czech writer famous for coining the term 'robot'.

• Dec. 27 Calvin Bridges

  American geneticist and academic (d. 1938).

• Dec. 28 Florence Lawrence

  Silent screen actress (confidence) dies at 48

What happened in 1938?

Discover what the world looked like in 1938: