Famous people and celebrities who died in February 1959

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in February 1959. 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

• Feb. 1 Madame Sul-Te-Wan

  American actress (b. 1873)

• Feb. 1 Madame Sul-To-Wan [Conley]

  Actress (birthday of a nation), dies in 85

• Feb. 3 Buddy Holly

  Legendary rock and roll pioneer who revolutionized popular music in the late 1950s. His innovative songwriting and distinctive style influenced generations of musicians before his tragic death in a plane crash. Holly was a key figure in the early development of rock music, bridging country and rock genres.

• Feb. 3 Ritchie Valens

  Legendary rock and roll pioneer who tragically died in a plane crash alongside Buddy Holly, immortalized in Don McLean's song 'American Pie'. He was a groundbreaking Chicano rock musician who influenced generations of artists.

• Feb. 3 Big Bopper

  The Big Bopper, rock and roll musician known for his tragic death in the 1959 plane crash.

• Feb. 3 The Day the Music Died

  American singer (born 1936) roger peterson (b. 1937), ritchie valens, american singer (b. 1941), j.p. 'the big bopper' richardson, american singer (b. 1930)

• Feb. 4 Una O'Connor

  Una O'Connor was a talented actress known for her roles in classic films like 'The Invisible Man' and 'The Bride of Frankenstein.'

• Feb. 5 Gwili Andre

  Actress (no other woman roar of the dragon).

• Feb. 5 Curt Sachs

  Curt Sachs was a German-born musicologist and journalist who made significant contributions to the study of musical instruments.

• Feb. 7 Daniel Malan

  Prime Minister of South Africa from 1948 to 1954, known for his role in implementing apartheid policies.

• Feb. 7 Guitar Slim

  Influential American blues guitarist and singer known for his innovative electric guitar style and hit song 'The Things That I Used to Do', which significantly influenced rock and blues music.

• Feb. 7 Nap Lajoie

  American baseball manager and player (d. 1959).

• Feb. 7 Daniel François Malan

  South african minister and politician, 5th prime minister of south africa (b. 1874)

• Feb. 7 Napoleon Lajorie

  At 83, a baseball player dies

• Feb. 7 Slim [Eddie Jones] Guitar

  Rocker dies at 32

• Feb. 8 William J. Donovan

  American head of the office of strategic services (oss) (b. 1883)

• Feb. 8 William J "Wild Bill" Donovan

  Office strategic services, at the age of 76, is dead.

• Feb. 13 William L Axt

  Composer dies at age 70

• Feb. 14 Baby Dodds

  American jazz drummer (born 1898).

• Feb. 15 Owen Willans Richardson

  Nobel Prize laureate for his work on the thermionic phenomenon and especially for the discovery of the law named after him

• Feb. 15 Owen W Richardson English physicist (Nobel Prize 1928)

  At the age of 69, he dies.

• Feb. 18 Jaroslav Kvapil

  Composer dies at 66

• Feb. 18 Eric Zeisl

  Composer dies at 53

• Feb. 18 Alfred Alessandrescu

  Composer dies at 65

• Feb. 19 Willard Miller

  Canadian-american sailor medal of honor recipient (d.59)

• Feb. 22 Helen Parrish

  Actress (hour glass) dies from cancer at 36

• Feb. 28 Maxwell Anderson

  Maxwell Anderson was a renowned American playwright known for works like 'Key Largo' and 'What Price Glory.'