Famous people and celebrities who died in May 1940

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 1940. This month marked the loss of influential and beloved figures whose contributions spanned various fields and touched many lives. Explore our detailed list to remember and celebrate their enduring legacies and the remarkable impact they had on the world

May 2 Ernest Joyce
English explorer (b. 1875)
May 7 George Lansbury
English journalist and politician (b. 1859)
May 10 Euphemia "Phemia" Molkenboer
Dutch artist/poster maker, who dies at the age of 56.
May 11 Chujiro Hayashi
Japanese reiki master (born 1880)
May 14 Emma Goldman
Anarchist, feminist lecturer, and editor from lithuania. she was a strong advocate for personal and political freedoms, which she would have been bold to practice even in more liberal times. "mother earth," her new york magazine, promoted free love, patriotism, and birth control. [bio]
May 14 Menno ter Braak
Prominent Dutch modernist author and intellectual who was a significant literary critic and essayist in the interwar period.
May 14 Eddy [Charles E] du Platform
Writer / poet
May 14 Jacob van Gelderen
Economist/sociologist/sdap-2nd-chamber, dies at age 49.
May 15 Joseph Limburg
Liberal second-member in parliament (1905-19), dies aged 75.
May 15 Willem A Bonger
Dutch criminologist (race & crime), suicide on 63
May 19 Diego Mazquiaran
Spanish matador (born 1895)
May 20 Verner von Heidenstam
LIT - Swedish author and poet, nobel prize laureate (b. 1859)
May 20 Carl Gustaf Verner von Heidenstam
Nobel Prize laureate in recognition of his significance as the leading representative of a new era in our literature
May 20 Joris [Georges] van Severen
Flemish fascist/member, dies.
May 21 Billy Minter
English footballer and manager (b. 1888)
May 23 Paul Nizan
French intellectual, journalist, and novelist known for his critical works and political engagement. Wrote notable works like 'Aden Arabia' and was associated with left-wing intellectual circles in pre-World War II France.
May 23 Andrej N Rimsky-Korssakov
Russian musicologist/son to nikolai, is dead.
May 25 Joe De Grasse
American film director (born in 1873)
May 28 Walter Connolly
Actor (it happened one night, good earth), is killed at 53
May 28 Randle Ayrton
Actor (manx man), died at 70
May 28 Theodor Streicher
Composer dies at 65
May 28 Prince Frederick
Charles of hesse (born 1868).
May 30 Y de Smit-Rog
The oldest dutchman, aged 104, is dead.