Famous people and celebrities who died in 1975

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1975. 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. 5 Don Wilson
Houston Astros pitcher who tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning at the young age of 29, cutting short a promising baseball career.
Jan. 8 John Gregson
British actor known for his roles in various films during the mid-20th century. He appeared in several notable movies and was active in the entertainment industry.
Jan. 18 Gertrude Olmstead
American actress (born 1897).
Jan. 24 Larry Fine
Larry Fine was a famous American comedian and actor, best known as a member of the iconic comedy trio The Three Stooges. He was renowned for his wild, frizzy hair and slapstick comedy performances.
Feb. 1 Richard Wattis
Actor (dick & duchess of liberace), dies aged 62
March 13 Ivo Andric
Nobel Prize-winning Yugoslav novelist known for works like 'The Bridge on the Drina'.
March 14 Susan Hayward
Acclaimed Hollywood actress who won an Oscar for her powerful performances, particularly in biographical dramas. She transitioned from modeling to become a prominent film star of the mid-20th century.
March 22 Paul Verhoeven
Renowned Dutch film director known for iconic sci-fi and action films like RoboCop and Total Recall, with a distinctive provocative and satirical style.
April 3 Mary Ure
Scottish actress known for her stage and screen performances, nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1960, with a notable career spanning from 1955.
April 5 Inez Courtney
Dies at 67
April 10 Marjorie Main
Actress (ma & pa kettle), is killed at 85
April 12 Josephine Baker
Iconic African-American performer who became a French citizen and resistance fighter during World War II. She was a groundbreaking entertainer, civil rights activist, and international star who challenged racial boundaries in the early 20th century.
April 14 Fredric March
American actor, who was a strong leading man and well-known in hollywood and broadway for his thoughtful and sensitive performances. after a few roles in the 1920s, he gained a solid reputation through films like "a star is born" (1937). march won two oscars for "dr. jekyl and mr. hyde" (1932) and "the best years of our lives" (1946).
April 15 Richard Conte
Richard Conte was a prominent American film actor known for his roles in film noir and crime dramas during the 1940s and 1950s. He appeared in notable films like '13 Rue Madeleine' and worked alongside many famous actors of his era.
April 23 William Hartnell
William Hartnell was a prominent British actor best known for being the first actor to portray Doctor Who in the iconic BBC science fiction series from 1963 to 1966.
May 4 Moe Howard
American actor, singer, and screenwriter (b. 1897)
May 20 Barbara Hepworth
A pioneering British sculptor who significantly influenced modern art, known for her abstract and organic sculptural forms in stone, wood, and bronze.
May 22 Lefty Grove
Legendary Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
May 23 Moms Mabley
American comedian and actor (b. 1894)
June 3 Ozzie Nelson
American actor and television pioneer best known for starring in the popular family sitcom 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet' alongside his wife Harriet Nelson.
June 4 Evelyn Brent
Actress (nitwits. last command. spy train), is killed at 75
June 28 Rod Serling
Legendary television writer and host of 'The Twilight Zone', Rod Serling was a pioneering screenwriter who transformed television storytelling. A World War II veteran who made over 60 parachute jumps, he won six Emmy Awards and significantly influenced science fiction and anthology television formats.
Aug. 8 Cannonball Adderley
Influential jazz saxophonist who pioneered soul-jazz and became a significant figure in the jazz scene of the 1950s and 1960s. He formed multiple jazz combos and was known for his innovative musical style and performances.
Aug. 9 Dmitri Shostakovich
Renowned 20th-century Russian composer who created groundbreaking symphonies and string quartets while navigating the complex political landscape of Soviet Russia. His music often subtly critiqued the Soviet regime through complex musical expressions. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century.
Aug. 27 Haile Selassie
Haile selassie was the emperor of ethiopia and a prominent figure in the pan-african movement, known for his efforts to modernize ethiopia and his role in resisting italian invasion during world war ii.
Oct. 31 Joseph Calleia
Italian-american singer and actor. his parents sent him to london to study engineering. he preferred the stage. with modest success, he began voice training and began singing in new york and italy. he composed and sang his own songs and did impressions of harry lauder, among other talents.
Oct. 31 S. D. Burman
Legendary Indian music director who revolutionized Bollywood film music during the mid-20th century, creating iconic compositions that remain influential in Indian cinema.
Nov. 1 Pier Paolo Pasolini
Renowned Italian intellectual, poet, filmmaker, and writer known for his provocative and revolutionary works challenging societal norms. He was a prominent cultural figure of the 20th century, making significant contributions to literature, cinema, and social critique. Tragically murdered in 1975 under mysterious circumstances.
Dec. 4 Hannah Arendt
Renowned German-American philosopher and political theorist who made groundbreaking contributions to understanding totalitarianism and political thought in the 20th century.
Dec. 14 Arthur Treacher
British-american actor and comedian of stage, film, and television. after immigrating to america in 1926, he was featured in numerous revues and broadway plays. he then switched to film. he quickly became known as hollywood's perfect butler. this role was a part he played with great character.