Famous people and celebrities who died in October 1972

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in October 1972. 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

  • Louis Leakey
    Oct. 1 Louis Leakey

    Renowned paleoanthropologist who made groundbreaking discoveries of early human fossils in East Africa's Olduvai Gorge. His work fundamentally transformed our understanding of human origins and evolution. Leakey's research established that humans originated in Africa and revolutionized prehistoric archaeology.

  • Kurt Hiller
    Oct. 1 Kurt Hiller

    Writer dies at 87

  • Colin Gordon
    Oct. 4 Colin Gordon

    Actor john-baron dies at 61

  • Cléo de Verberena
    Oct. 6 Cléo de Verberena

    Brazilian actress and film director (born c. 1909)

  • Miriam Hopkins
    Oct. 9 Miriam Hopkins

    Prominent Hollywood actress of the Golden Age, known for her versatile roles in pre-Code films and classic movies like 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'. She was a significant figure in 1930s and 1940s cinema, working with notable directors and actors of her time.

  • Giuseppe Capogrossi
    Oct. 9 Giuseppe Capogrossi

    Italian painter dies at 72

  • Robert Le Vigan
    Oct. 12 Robert Le Vigan

    French character actor who was prominent in the French cinema of the 1930s and early 1940s, known for his versatile supporting roles in numerous films.

  • Joseph Kaminski
    Oct. 14 Joseph Kaminski

    Composer dies at 68

  • Hale Boggs
    Oct. 16 Hale Boggs

    Prominent American politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a significant figure in Louisiana's political landscape during the mid-20th century.

  • Leo G. Carroll
    Oct. 16 Leo G. Carroll

    English-american actor (b. 1886)

  • Nick Begich
    Oct. 16 Nick Begich

    American lawyer and politician (b. 1932)

  • George
    Oct. 17 George

    Crown prince of serbia (b. 1887)

  • Billy Williams
    Oct. 17 Billy Williams

    American actor. he is a handsome box-office star and his twin. his first acting gig was on stage at seven years old. he began his career as an extra on cbs tv and soon became a fan of the showbiz. he played a variety of roles on broadway, including "mahogany", but his most well-known stage role was that of dr. …

  • Harlow Shapley
    Oct. 20 Harlow Shapley

    Harlow Shapley was an American astronomer known for his work on the size and shape of the Milky Way galaxy.

  • James K. Baxter
    Oct. 22 James K. Baxter

    New zealand poet, writer, theologian, and social commentator. (b. 1926)

  • Kurt Edzard
    Oct. 22 Kurt Edzard

    German sculptor (nudist / portraits)

  • Clarice Cliff
    Oct. 23 Clarice Cliff

    Famous English ceramic artist known for her unique designs.

  • Jackie Robinson
    Oct. 24 Jackie Robinson

    Jackie Robinson was a groundbreaking baseball player who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, becoming the first African American to play in the modern era. His courage and exceptional athletic skills with the Brooklyn Dodgers transformed American sports and civil rights. Robinson's legacy extends far beyond baseball, symbolizing racial integration and social progress. [bio]

  • Claire Windsor
    Oct. 24 Claire Windsor

    American actress (born 1897).

  • Norman Norell [Levinson]
    Oct. 25 Norman Norell [Levinson]

    Us fashion designer, dies at 72

  • Igor Sikorsky
    Oct. 26 Igor Sikorsky

    Ukrainian-american engineer and academic, founded sikorsky aircraft (b. 1889)

  • Lew Parker
    Oct. 27 Lew Parker

    Actor lou marie-that girl, who died just a few days before turning 65, is the actor

  • Alan Roth
    Oct. 30 Alan Roth

    At 68, the orchestra leader (milton berle show), dies