Famous people and celebrities who died in 1939

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1939. 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. 23 Matthias Sindelar

  Legendary Austrian footballer known as the 'Mozart of Football', who was a key player in the Austrian national team during the 1930s and symbolically resisted Nazi influence through his playing style.

• Jan. 24 Maximilian Bircher-Benner

  Swiss doctor and pioneer in nutrition research. his sanatorium, za 1/4 rich, used a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables to heal patients. this was contrary to what many believed at the end 19th century.

• Jan. 28 William Butler Yeats

  Nobel Prize laureate for his always inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation

• Jan. 28 W. B. Yeats

  LIT - Irish poet and playwright, nobel prize laureate (b. 1865)

• Feb. 22 Antonio Machado

  Spanish poet and leader of the generation of 98 spanish literary movement.

• March 2 Howard Carter

  American former sprinter and Olympic gold medalist.

• May 29 Ursula Ledóchowska

  Polish-austrian saint and nun founded the congregation of the ursulines of the agonizing heart of jesus (d. 1939).

• May 30 Floyd Roberts

  American race care driver (born 1904)

• June 9 Owen Moore

  Actor (she done him wrong) commits suicide at 52

• June 16 Chick Webb

  Legendary jazz drummer and big band leader who significantly influenced swing music during the Harlem Renaissance era, known for his innovative drumming style and leadership of a prominent orchestra.

• June 17 Eugen Weidmann

  Notorious German serial killer who claimed to have murdered 86 people, primarily motivated by robbery and small financial gains. He was the last person publicly executed by guillotine in France.

• June 26 Ford Madox Ford

  British novelist, poet, critic, and editor known for his works in the early 20th century.

• July 7 Deacon White

  Hall of Fame baseball player who played in the 19th century.

• July 14 Alphonse Mucha

  Czech painter and ornamental artist (born in 1860).

• Aug. 11 Jean Bugatti

  Renowned automobile designer from the famous Bugatti family, who made significant contributions to automotive design and engineering before his tragic early death.

• Aug. 20 Agnes Giberne

  Indian-english author and astronomer (d. 1939).

• Sept. 18 Gwen John

  Welsh artist known for her portraits and still life paintings.

• Sept. 23 Sigmund Freud

  Austrian psychiatrist who is known as the father and founder of psychoanalysis. he was a hypnotist who eventually abandoned this practice in favor of listening to patients speak. he developed several psychoanalysis methods, including "free association" (or working with repression), which are still used today. freud demonstrated that the key to unlocking our unconscious was in getting at repressed memories. …

• Sept. 24 Charles Tatham

  American fencer (d. 1939).

• Oct. 7 Harvey Cushing

  Pioneering neurosurgeon known as the father of modern neurosurgery.

• Oct. 23 Zane Grey

  Us writer spirit of the border, a westernist from the united states, dies at 67

• Oct. 28 Alice Brady

  Actress (my man godfrey gay divorcee), died at 46

• Oct. 31 Otto Rank

  Austrian psychoanalyst and writer on the subject of psychology.

• Nov. 11 Bob Marshall

  Bob Marshall was a prominent American conservationist and wilderness preservation activist who co-founded The Wilderness Society in 1935, advocating for the protection of wilderness areas in the United States.

• Nov. 16 Pierce Butler

  American jurist and lawyer (born 1866).

• Nov. 28 James Naismith

  Canadian-american physician and educator, created basketball (b. 1861)

• Dec. 10 John Grieb

  American triathlete and gymnast (d. 1939).

• Dec. 12 Douglas Fairbanks

  American actor, known for his role as a hero film star in the '20s and '40s. they were the stars of hollywood's glamorous society, thanks to his marriage with mary pickford 1920-1935. douglas jr., his only son, was his third marriage.

What happened in 1939?

Discover what the world looked like in 1939: