Famous people and celebrities who died in 1942

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1942. 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. 4 Jeanette Loff

  Jeanette Loff was a prominent American actress and singer during the silent and early sound film era, appearing in several Hollywood productions throughout the 1920s and early 1930s.

• Jan. 4 Otis Skinner

  American playwright and actor known for his contributions to the theater.

• Jan. 5 Tina Modotti

  Italian model, actress, photographer and revolutionary political activist (born in 1896).

• Jan. 16 Carole Lombard

  Iconic Hollywood screwball comedy actress of the 1930s who was married to Clark Gable and tragically died in a plane crash during a war bond tour in 1942.

• Feb. 2 Daniil Kharms

  A pioneering Soviet absurdist writer and poet known for his experimental and surreal literary works, who suffered persecution during the Stalinist era and died in a psychiatric hospital during the Siege of Leningrad.

• Feb. 12 Grant Wood

  Grant Wood was an American painter known for his iconic work 'American Gothic'.

• March 3 Prince Amedeo

  Duke of Aosta, a member of the Italian royal family with historical significance in Ethiopia during the colonial period.

• March 10 Wilbur Scoville

  Created the Scoville scale for measuring the spiciness of peppers.

• March 12 Sir William Henry Bragg

  Nobel Prize laureate for their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays

• March 28 Miguel Hernández

  Renowned Spanish poet and playwright of the Generation of '27, known for his powerful and passionate poetry during the Spanish Civil War era.

• April 17 Jean Baptiste Perrin

  Nobel Prize laureate for his work on the discontinuous structure of matter, and especially for his discovery of sedimentation equilibrium

• April 18 Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney

  Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney was an American sculptor, art patron, and the founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

• May 9 Józef Cebula

  Polish Catholic priest and martyr who was killed by the Nazis during World War II. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II and is recognized as a saint for his resistance and sacrifice during the Nazi occupation.

• May 25 Emanuel Feuermann

  Emanuel Feuermann was a renowned Austrian-American cellist and educator, known for his exceptional musical talent and significant contributions to classical music.

• June 2 Bunny Berigan

  Legendary jazz trumpeter of the swing era, Bunny Berigan was a pivotal figure in 1930s jazz music. He was renowned for his exceptional trumpet skills, innovative style, and significant influence alongside Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge. His remarkable tone and fearless musical approach made him a memorable jazz icon.

• June 4 Reinhard Heydrich

  A high-ranking Nazi SS officer who was a key architect of the Holocaust and played a crucial role in planning the genocide of Jews during World War II. Known as the 'Butcher of Prague', he was assassinated by Czech resistance fighters in 1942.

• June 7 Alan Blumlein

  Alan Blumlein was a pioneering British electronics engineer who revolutionized sound recording, television, and radio technologies. He was an extraordinary inventor who held 128 patents and made significant contributions to audio and visual technologies during the early 20th century. His work laid crucial foundations for modern electronic communication systems.

• July 15 Wenceslao Vinzons

  Filipino lawyer, politician, and resistance leader who fought against Japanese occupation during World War II. He was tragically killed by Japanese forces in 1942.

• July 26 Roberto Arlt

  Roberto Arlt was a prominent Argentine novelist, playwright, and journalist known for his innovative and gritty literary style. He is considered one of the most important writers in Argentine literature of the 20th century, particularly for his novels like 'The Seven Madmen'. His works often explored urban alienation and social marginalization.

• Aug. 3 Richard Willstätter

  CHE - German-swiss chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1872)

• Aug. 9 Edith Stein

  German jew who became teresa benedicta of the cross, a roman catholic nun. she was canonized as a saint by the catholic church on 10/18/1998. because she was jewish, jewish leaders called the canonization "problematic", "offensive" or "an attempt to take over the holocaust without getting to grips with it." some believe that the act was part of pope john …

• Aug. 25 Prince George

  Prince George, Duke of Kent, was a member of the British Royal Family, fourth son of King George V and brother of King George VI.

• Sept. 30 Hans-Joachim Marseille

  Legendary Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II, known as the 'Star of Africa' for his exceptional aerial combat skills in North Africa. He achieved 158 victories, mostly against British Commonwealth forces, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and becoming one of the most celebrated German fighter pilots of the war.

• Oct. 27 Helmuth Hübener

  Young German resistance hero who courageously opposed Nazi regime during World War II, becoming the youngest person executed for treason in Nazi Germany.

• Nov. 1 Hugo Distler

  Hugo Distler was a prominent German composer and organist of the early 20th century, known for his significant contributions to sacred and choral music during the Nazi era.

• Nov. 9 Edna May Oliver

  American actress (born in 1883)

• Nov. 30 Buck Jones

  Buck Jones was a popular American film actor known for his work in Western films.

What happened in 1942?

Discover what the world looked like in 1942: