Famous people and celebrities who died in 1956

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1956. 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. 12 Norman Kerry

  Actor (air eagles phantom of opera), died at 61

• Jan. 19 Kitti Káldy

  Hungarian soprano known for her performances in operas across Europe.

• Jan. 29 Henry Mencken

  American editor, writer and satirist. he was the author of "american language" in four volumes, 1919-1948. he was a leading writer of essays and social comment, as well as co-editor of a magazine that he founded in 1924. from 1899, he was a reporter. he also worked as an editor, columnist, and reporter until 1948.

• Jan. 30 Jane Seymour

  English-american actress, producer, and jewelry designer

• April 26 Edward Arnold

  Actor (mr smith goes to washington), is killed at 66

• May 12 Louis Calhern

  American actor and singer (d. 1956).

• May 24 Guy Kibbee

  Actor (captain blood and babes in arms), died at 74

• June 2 Jean Hersholt

  Actress (emma grand hotel, greed), is killed at 69

• June 9 Gadge Maharaj

  Gadge Maharaj was an Indian saint and social reformer who dedicated his life to serving the poor and underprivileged.

• June 14 Knightley Turner

  Renowned astronomer known for his work on stellar evolution.

• June 19 Thomas Watson

  Pioneering computer scientist and IBM executive who played a key role in the development of the personal computer.

• June 26 Clifford Brown

  American musician. he was one of the greatest jazz trumpet players. he also had a talent for piano, vibes and bass. in 1945, his father gave him his first trumpet. he studied harmony theory, instrumentation and harmony. he played gigs with some of the best musicians like miles davis and fats navarro starting in 1948. he was a freelance talent …

• Aug. 5 Mirtie Smith

  Influential playwright whose plays continue to be performed worldwide.

• Aug. 11 Jackson Pollock

  American painter, exponent of abstract expressionism, and in particular the form known as "action paintings", pollack is an american artist. pollack developed his signature technique, "drip painting," however. pollack believed art was derived from the unconscious. one of his earliest works, "the moon-woman cuts the circle", 1943, shows the passion with which he pursued the realization of his vision.

• Aug. 11 Javel Pollock

  American abstract expressionist painter known for his unique drip painting technique.

• Sept. 21 Amais Leopold

  Known for his contributions to the study of celestial bodies.

• Sept. 27 Myldred Zaharias

  American golfer who was one of the greatest female athletes of all time.

• Sept. 27 Myldred Didrikson

  Legendary American athlete who excelled in multiple sports including golf, basketball, and track and field.

• Oct. 2 George Bancroft

  American historian and statesman, who was prominent in supporting secondary education at both the state and national levels. he established the united states naval academy in annapolis during his time as u.s. secretary of the navy. he was an american diplomat in europe. his magisterial series history of the united states from the discovery of the american continent is one …

• Oct. 4 Isaly Curie

  Isaly Curie was a French physicist and a pioneer in the study of radioactivity, who, together with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903.

• Oct. 7 Clarence Birdseye

  Clarence Birdseye was an American inventor and businessman who developed a process for deep-freezing food, which led to the creation of the modern frozen food industry.

• Oct. 9 Marie Doro

  American actress (born in 1882)

• Oct. 17 Anne Crawford

  Actress from israel-english (d. 1956).

• Oct. 17 Mearle Sorin

  Renowned American painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

• Oct. 24 Axil Ridley

  Renowned painter known for his landscapes and seascapes.

• Nov. 15 Alben Barkley

  Alben Barkley was an American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during the 1940s and 1950s.

• Nov. 26 Tommy Dorsey

  American trombonist composer and bandleader (the california ramblers), (d. 1956).

• Dec. 21 Josep Puig i Cadafalch

  Renowned Catalan architect known for his modernist buildings.