Famous people and celebrities who died in 1960

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1960. 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. 1 Margaret Sullavan

  Renowned Hollywood actress of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her distinctive voice and compelling stage performances. She was a prominent figure in Broadway and film, with a notable career spanning multiple genres.

• Jan. 2 Fausto Coppi

  Legendary Italian cyclist considered one of the greatest champions in the history of road bicycle racing. Known as 'Il Campionissimo' (Champion of Champions), he dominated cycling in the 1940s and 1950s.

• Jan. 2 Paul Sauvé

  Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 17th Premier of Quebec from 1959 to 1960, playing a significant role in Quebec's political landscape during a transformative period.

• Jan. 4 Albert Camus

  Albert Camus was a renowned French philosopher, author, and journalist who significantly influenced existentialist thought. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957 for his profound works exploring human morality and absurdism. His novels 'The Stranger' and 'The Plague' remain seminal texts in 20th-century literature.

• Jan. 18 Gladys Bentley

  Gladys Bentley was a pioneering African American blues singer and performer known for her groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation during the Harlem Renaissance. She was famous for performing in masculine attire and openly celebrating her lesbian identity at a time of significant social constraints.

• Jan. 20 Matt Moore

  Actor (deluge and coquette), passes away at 72

• Jan. 25 Diana Barrymore

  A member of the famous Barrymore acting dynasty, Diana was a talented actress who struggled with alcoholism and personal challenges. Her autobiography 'Too Much, Too Soon' candidly detailed her tumultuous life and was later adapted into a film.

• Feb. 3 Fred Buscaglione

  Iconic Italian singer and performer who pioneered a unique 'gangster' persona in 1950s Italian entertainment, blending music and comedic character acting.

• Feb. 7 Igor Kurchatov

  Soviet nuclear physicist and scientific leader of the Soviet atomic bomb project. He played a crucial role in developing the USSR's nuclear weapons program during the Cold War. Known as the 'father of the Soviet atomic bomb'.

• Feb. 27 Adriano Olivetti

  Visionary Italian industrialist who transformed Olivetti into a pioneering company known for technological innovation and progressive worker welfare. He was a member of the Italian Parliament and introduced groundbreaking social and economic policies for employees.

• March 22 José Antonio Aguirre

  Spanish lawyer and politician who served as the first president of the Basque Country during a critical period of Spanish history, leading the Basque government during the Spanish Civil War and later in exile.

• April 17 Eddie Cochran

  Influential rock and roll musician of the late 1950s known for hits like 'Summertime Blues' and 'C'mon Everybody'. He tragically died in a car accident at the young age of 21, becoming a rock and roll legend.

• April 24 Max von Laue

  PHY - German physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1879)

• May 2 Caryl Chessman

  Notorious criminal known as the 'Red Light Bandit' who committed a series of rapes, robberies, and kidnappings in California during the late 1940s. He gained significant public attention due to his multiple death row appeals and became a controversial figure in the debate about capital punishment.

• May 30 Boris Pasternak

  LIT - Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator, nobel prize laureate (b. 1890)

• May 30 Boris Leonidovich Pasternak

  Nobel Prize laureate for his important achievement both in contemporary lyrical poetry and in the field of the great Russian epic tradition

• July 15 Lawrence Tibbett

  American baritone operatic singer. he made his debut at the hollywood bowl in 1923, followed by the met. he rose quickly to the top, achieving principal roles in 1924. in addition to an oscar nomination for "the rogue song", he was also nominated for the best actor oscar. tibbett was a met baritone for 28 years. he also sang in …

• July 29 Clyde Kluckhohn

  Renowned American anthropologist and social scientist who made significant contributions to understanding cultural diversity and comparative studies of human behavior.

• Aug. 10 Frank Lloyd

  Scottish-american film director, producer and scriptwriter. he was one of the founding members of the academy of motion picture arts and sciences and served as its president from 1934-1935.

• Sept. 9 Jussi Björling

  Renowned Swedish operatic tenor considered one of the greatest classical singers of the 20th century, famous for his exceptional vocal range and pure tone.

• Oct. 11 Richard Cromwell

  Oliver cromwell was a british politician, and he is the son of a prominent family. he tried to carry on the same public policies after his father's death but was unable to do so due to his father's inabilities. due to charles ii's resonance, he was forced to resign may 1659.

• Oct. 15 Henny Porten

  German actress and one of the first silent film stars in germany. her father, an opera singer franz porten, or kurt stark, her first husband, directed many of her films. in 1914, she started her own production company. she worked in sound films until her career was over, but she rarely worked during the third reich era, as her second …

• Oct. 19 George Wallace

  Controversial Alabama governor known for his segregationist stance during the Civil Rights era. He was a prominent Democratic politician who served multiple terms and ran for president several times. Despite his divisive political career, he later attempted to reconcile with civil rights leaders.

• Nov. 5 Johnny Horton

  Influential American country and rockabilly singer-songwriter known for hits like 'The Battle of New Orleans' and tragically killed in a car accident in 1960.

• Nov. 5 Mack Sennett

  Canadian-american actor, producer (d. 1960).

• Nov. 16 Clark Gable

  Legendary Hollywood actor known as 'the king of Hollywood', Clark Gable was a prominent male star who won an Oscar for 'It Happened One Night' and famously played Rhett Butler in 'Gone with the Wind'. His career spanned from Broadway to iconic film roles in the 1930s and 1940s.

• Nov. 28 Richard Wright

  Richard Wright was a founding member and keyboardist of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, contributing significantly to their unique sound and musical innovation. He was a crucial part of the band's creative process from their early psychedelic days through their most successful albums.

What happened in 1960?

Discover what the world looked like in 1960: