Famous people and celebrities who died in May 1983

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 1983. 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 Norm Van Brocklin

  Legendary NFL quarterback and coach who played for the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• May 2 Marius F Duintjer

  Architect

• May 4 Nino Sanzogno

  Nino Sanzogno was a prominent Italian classical music composer and conductor who made significant contributions to 20th-century Italian musical culture. He was known for his work in opera and symphonic compositions, conducting major orchestras throughout Italy.

• May 5 John Williams

  English-American actor known for various film and stage performances.

• May 5 Horst Schumann

  Nazi SS physician notorious for conducting unethical medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners during World War II, particularly in Auschwitz, focusing on sterilization and human experimentation.

• May 6 Ezra Jack Keats

  American author and illustrator (b. 1916)

• May 7 Peter Edel

  Writer

• May 8 John Fante

  Influential American novelist and screenwriter known for his semi-autobiographical works exploring working-class Italian-American experiences in Los Angeles, particularly in his novel 'Ask the Dust'.

• May 9 Henry Bachtold

  Australian soldier and railway engineer (d. 1983).

• May 10 John P Strijbos

  Writer (also known as that bird) dies at 92

• May 11 Zenna Henderson

  Pioneering American science fiction writer who broke gender barriers by publishing under her own name. She is renowned for her influential works 'The People' and 'The Pilgrimage', which explored unique themes in speculative fiction.

• May 11 Zenna [Chlarson] Henderson

  Author (anything box), passes away at 65

• May 14 Roger J. Traynor

  American academic and jurist, 23rd chief justice of california (b. 1900)

• May 16 Carel Brons

  Composer dies at 52

• May 19 Jean Rey

  Jean Rey was a prominent Belgian lawyer and politician who served as the second President of the European Commission, playing a significant role in early European integration efforts.

• May 21 Kenneth Clark

  Prominent British art historian, museum director, and influential cultural figure known for his groundbreaking work in art criticism and television documentaries.

• May 21 Finn Einar Mortensen

  Composer dies at 61

• May 22 Albert Claude

  MED - Belgian biologist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1899)

• May 22 Erna Scheffler

  German lawyer and justice of the federal constitutional court (b. 1893)

• May 25 Jack Stewart

  Canadian-american ice hockey player (b. 1917)

• May 25 Jean Rougeau

  French canadian professional wrestler (born in 1925).

• May 25 Idris I

  King of libya (born 1889).

• May 25 Black Jack Stewart

  Canadian nhl hockey player (born 1917).

• May 27 Arnoldus Christian Vlok van Wyk

  Composer dies at 67

• May 28 Erastus Corning 2nd

  Long-serving American politician who was the 72nd mayor of Albany, New York, holding office for over four decades.

• May 29 Arvīds Pelše

  Latvian-russian historian and politician (b. 1899)

• May 31 Jack Dempsey

  Legendary heavyweight boxing champion known for his aggressive style.