Famous people and celebrities who died in 1947

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1947. 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. 20 Josh Gibson

  Legendary Negro League baseball player known as the 'Black Babe Ruth', considered one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history who tragically died young.

• Jan. 23 Pierre Bonnard

  French post-impressionist painter, print maker and artist. his works include "the open window," 1921, and "the breakfast room," 30.

• Jan. 25 Al Capone

  Al Capone was a notorious American gangster who became the boss of the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era.

• Feb. 26 Ben Webster

  Legendary American jazz tenor saxophonist known as 'the brute' and 'frog', who significantly influenced jazz music in the mid-20th century.

• April 7 Henry Ford

  American auto entrepreneur, father and instigator of mass production of his automobiles. he was the one who brought america to its feet by selling more than 15,000,000 cars between 1908 and 27.

• April 16 Rudolf Höss

  Nazi SS officer and commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, responsible for overseeing the systematic murder of over one million people during the Holocaust. He was a key architect of the Nazi genocide and was later tried and executed for war crimes.

• April 20 Christian X

  King of denmark (1912-1947), dies aged 76.

• April 29 Irving Fisher

  Prominent economist who made significant contributions to the theory of capital and interest.

• May 16 Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins

  Nobel Prize laureate for his discovery of the growth-stimulating vitamins

• May 20 Philipp Eduard Anton von Lenard

  Nobel Prize laureate for his work on cathode rays

• May 20 Philipp Lenard

  PHY - Slovak-german physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1862)

• May 31 Adrienne Ames

  Actress (black sheep 24 hours), dies in 39

• June 20 Bugsy Siegel

  Notorious American mobster who played a significant role in organized crime during the mid-20th century, particularly in Las Vegas casino development. He was instrumental in establishing the Flamingo Hotel and Casino and was a key figure in the Jewish Mob. Siegel was ultimately murdered in a gangland-style killing.

• July 12 Jimmie Lunceford

  Jimmie Lunceford was a prominent African American jazz bandleader and saxophonist during the Swing Era, known for his innovative big band arrangements and performances in the 1930s and early 1940s.

• July 16 Raoul Wallenberg

  Swedish diplomat who heroically saved tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust by issuing protective passports and sheltering people from Nazi persecution. His courageous actions made him a significant humanitarian figure of World War II.

• July 19 Aung San

  Burmese independence leader who played a pivotal role in Burma's struggle for freedom from British colonial rule. He is considered the father of modern Myanmar and was assassinated before seeing his country's independence.

• Aug. 28 Manolete

  Manolete was a legendary Spanish bullfighter considered one of the most famous and influential matadors of the 20th century. He revolutionized bullfighting with his elegant and precise style, becoming a national icon in Spain. His tragic death during a bullfight in Linares made him a legendary figure in Spanish cultural history.

• Sept. 1 Frederick Burnham

  American scout and world-traveling adventurer.

• Sept. 7 Warren Zevon

  Iconic American rock singer-songwriter known for his unique storytelling and hit song 'Werewolves of London'. A critically acclaimed musician with a cult following.

• Sept. 21 Harry Carey

  American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1878)

• Oct. 4 Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck

  Nobel Prize laureate in recognition of the services he rendered to the advancement of Physics by his discovery of energy quanta

• Oct. 4 Max Planck

  PHY - German physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1858)

• Nov. 20 Wolfgang Borchert

  Influential post-World War II German writer known for his anti-war literature and existentialist themes. His short stories and plays powerfully depicted the trauma of war and its impact on German youth.

• Nov. 28 Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque

  Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque was a prominent French military leader during World War II, renowned for his crucial role in the liberation of Paris and his resistance against Nazi occupation.

• Nov. 28 Jacques-Philippe Leclerc

  Jacques-Philippe Leclerc was a distinguished French military officer who served with valor in Morocco and during World War II, ultimately becoming a Marshal of France.

• Dec. 7 Nicholas Murray Butler

  Nobel Prize laureate for their assiduous effort to revive the ideal of peace and to rekindle the spirit of peace in their own nation and in the whole of mankind

• Dec. 13 Nicholas Roerich

  Russian aristocrat; artist, philosopher and archaeologist. he is a descendant of the royal roerich line. author and teacher of agni yoga. he is married to helena roerich. they have two sons. they made india their home in 1934 and settled in the kulu valley.

What happened in 1947?

Discover what the world looked like in 1947: