Famous people and celebrities who died in June 1979

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in June 1979. 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

• June 1 Jack Mulhall

  Actor (buck rogers held for ransom), is killed at 91

• June 1 Werner Forssmann

  Pioneering German physician who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking work in cardiac catheterization, revolutionizing medical diagnostics and treatment.

• June 5 Pauline Offner

  Zen theravadin nun dies at 53

• June 7 Forrest Carter

  Author of the controversial autobiographical novel 'The Education of Little Tree', which explores Native American identity and culture. Later revealed to be Asa Earl Carter, a former Ku Klux Klan member who reinvented himself as a sympathetic writer.

• June 8 Reinhard Gehlen

  A prominent Nazi intelligence officer who later became a key figure in West German intelligence during the Cold War, founding the Gehlen Organization which later evolved into the BND (Federal Intelligence Service).

• June 9 Cyclone Taylor

  Canadian ice hockey player and civil servant (b. 1884)

• June 10 Marjorie Daw

  Marjorie Daw was a prominent American actress who made significant contributions to the silent film industry during the early 20th century, appearing in numerous motion pictures that captured the essence of the era.

• June 11 John Wayne

  Legendary Hollywood actor known for his iconic roles in Western and war films, John Wayne was a quintessential symbol of American masculinity and heroism. He starred in over 190 films during his remarkable career, winning an Academy Award and becoming one of the most recognizable movie stars of the 20th century.

• June 11 Alice Dalgliesh

  Author and publisher trinidadian-american (d. 1979).

• June 11 August Maes

  Flemish actor/director (farmer that dies), dies at age 85

• June 11 John Wayne American film actor starring in over 250 films dies at age 72 after battling cancer for m

  Stagecoach (1939), fort apache (48), she wore a yellow ribbon(49), rio grande (1950), the quiet man, (1952), and the man who shot liberty valence (1962). he directed, starred and produced the alamo (1960), fort apache (1948), she wore a yellow ribbon (1949), rio grande (1950), the quiet man (1952), the green berets (68), and won an oscar for his role …

• June 13 Demetrio Stratos

  Experimental musician and vocalist known for his innovative vocal techniques and research into human voice possibilities.

• June 14 Ahmad Zahir

  Iconic Afghan singer who revolutionized Afghan music in the 1970s, earning the nickname 'Elvis of Afghanistan' for his distinctive musical style and cultural impact.

• June 16 Nicholas Ray

  Nicholas Ray was an influential American film director known for pioneering works in cinema like 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'Johnny Guitar'. He was a key figure in the New Hollywood movement and significantly influenced film aesthetics in the 1950s. His films often explored themes of alienation and emotional complexity.

• June 16 Ignatius Kutu Acheampong

  Ghanaian general and politician, 6th head of state of ghana (b. 1931)

• June 17 Hubert Ashton

  English cricketer and politician (b. 1898)

• June 17 Duffy Lewis

  American baseball player and manager (b. 1888)

• June 19 Paul Popenoe

  American explorer and scholar, founded relationship counseling (b. 1888)

• June 21 Angus MacLise

  Avant-garde American composer, drummer of the Velvet Underground, mystic, and shaman who was a significant figure in the experimental music scene of the 1960s.

• June 22 Louis Chiron

  Monaco race driver, one the most prominent motor racing drivers in the '20s & '30s.

• June 22 Julius Sommer

  In dayton ohio, buried as a result of heart failure

• June 22 Emory Parnell

  Actor (life of riley) dies in saint paul, minnesota at the age of 85.

• June 25 Philippe Halsman

  A pioneering portrait photographer who revolutionized visual art through innovative techniques and memorable collaborations with artists like Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol.

• June 25 Dave Fleischer

  American animator, director, and producer (b. 1894)

• June 26 Akwasi Afrifa

  Ghanaian soldier and politician, 3rd head of state of ghana (b. 1936)

• June 28 Paul Dessau

  German composer / conductor (berlin 1925-33), died at 84

• June 29 Lowell George

  Influential musician and founding member of the rock band Little Feat, known for his exceptional slide guitar skills and work with Frank Zappa's The Mothers of Invention.

• June 30 Alfons Vranckx

  Belgian politician dies at 72