Famous people and celebrities who died in May 1974

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 1974. 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

May 2 James O. Richardson
American admiral (b. 1878)
May 4 John Wengraf
Actor (pride & passion 12 to the moon), died at 77
May 4 Israel Citkowitz
Composer dies at 65
May 9 Lyubomir Pipkov
Composer dies at 69
May 10 Hal Mohr
American director and cinematographer (b. 1894)
May 13 Arthur J. Burks
American colonel and author (b. 1898)
May 13 Jaime Torres Bodet
Mexican poet and diplomat (b. 1902)
May 17 Ernest Nash
German-italian photographer, scholar (d. 1974).
May 17 Charles Braswell
Actor (only game in town) dies at 49
May 18 Harry Ricardo
English engine designer and researcher (b. 1885)
May 18 Daniel R Topping
At 61, a new york yankees owner dies.
May 23 Kathleen Cannell
Writer
May 24 Duke Ellington
Renowned jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader who also had business ventures in music publishing.
May 25 Donald Crisp
British actor with a long career that began in 1911 with silent leads. crisp was a supporting actor on more than 70 films, including "mutiny on the bounty", "wuthering heights" or "how green was my valley". crisp was also the assistant director of birth of a nation and the director of son of zorro and svengali.
May 26 Silvio Moser
Swiss racing driver (born 1941)
May 26 Kitty Gordon
Entertainer dies at 96
May 31 Adelle Davis
Adelle Davis was a pioneering nutritionist and author who significantly influenced public understanding of diet and health in mid-20th century America. She wrote influential books about nutrition and healthy eating, advocating for dietary approaches to wellness before such concepts became mainstream. Her work helped shape modern nutritional awareness and dietary recommendations.