Famous people and celebrities who died in 1986

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1986. 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.

  • Una Merkel
    Jan. 2 Una Merkel

    Covington (kentucky) -- actress (42nd street and abraham lincoln).

  • Christopher Isherwood
    Jan. 4 Christopher Isherwood

    British-american essayist, screenwriter, playwright, and novelist. isherwood wrote over 20 books and is best known for his quasi-autobiographical "berlin novels," one of which, entitled "good bye to berlin" was the basis for the play "i am a camera" by john van druten and which later became the stage musical "cabaret." he was awarded a cambridge history scholarship, but was later …

  • Donna Reed
    Jan. 14 Donna Reed

    American actor, most well-known for her tv series, "the donna reed show," as well as several movies, including the christmas movie, "it's a wonderful life".

  • Gordon MacRae
    Jan. 24 Gordon MacRae

    American singer and actor, who was a well-known musical comedy star in the 1950s. he made his film debut in 1948 in "the big punch" and was seen in five films alongside doris day. his most well-known role was that of a singer in "oklahoma," 1956.

  • Lilli Palmer
    Jan. 27 Lilli Palmer

    German actress with many awards and two nominations for the golden globes. rex harrison was her husband. she divorced him in 1956. she was married to carlos thompson, an argentinian actor, in her second marriage.

  • Brian Aherne
    Feb. 10 Brian Aherne

    British-american actor who made his acting debut in 1923. he went on to become a prominent british actor within seven years. malvern college had previously taught him architecture. he made u.s. movies starting in 1929, including "song of songs", "juarez," and "titanic," winning an oscar nomination for "juarez," in 1939. his last broadway play, "dear liar," was in 1963.

  • Adolfo Celi
    Feb. 19 Adolfo Celi

    Italian stage actor and husky character actor. he was well-known on the italian screen since the late '40s, and in international films since mid-'60s. he died in rome, italy on february 19, 1986 from a heart attack.

  • Ray Milland
    March 10 Ray Milland

    Actor (lost weekend - academy award 1945), dies at 81

  • Gloria Blondell
    March 25 Gloria Blondell

    American actress (d. 1986).

  • James Cagney
    March 30 James Cagney

    James cagney was an american actor known for his energetic performances in gangster films, particularly in the 1930s.

  • Simone de Beauvoir
    April 14 Simone de Beauvoir

    Simone de beauvoir was a french philosopher and author known for her influential works in existentialist philosophy and feminist theory.

  • Jean Genet
    April 15 Jean Genet

    French novelist, playwright, and poet. he was abandoned by his mother, a parisian prostitute. his foster parents tolerated him because of the fee they received from the state. he was thrown out at the age of ten for being accused of theft. he spent five years in a rehabilitation facility. after escaping, genet joined the foreign legion. genet was 20 …

  • Broderick Crawford
    April 26 Broderick Crawford

    Broderick Crawford was an American actor known for his role in the TV series 'Highway Patrol'.

  • Robert Alda
    May 3 Robert Alda

    American actor dan lewis - supertrain, born 1914, dies at 72

  • Sterling Hayden
    May 23 Sterling Hayden

    American actor and author. he was a leading actor for most of his life. his specialty was westerns and film noir such as "johnny guitar", "the asphalt jungle," or "the killing". he was later recognized for his character acting roles such as that of gen. jack d. ripper, in dr. strangelove: how i learned to stop worrying about the bomb …

  • Benny Goodman
    June 13 Benny Goodman

    Benny goodman was a renowned american jazz clarinetist and bandleader, known as the 'king of swing' for popularizing the swing music genre.

  • Kate Smith
    June 17 Kate Smith

    American singer ("god bless america") dies in raleigh (north carolina) at the age of 78 (born 1907).

  • Rudy Vallee
    July 3 Rudy Vallee

    Rudy Vallee was a popular American singer and actor known for his distinctive voice and crooning style.

  • Vincente Minnelli
    July 25 Vincente Minnelli

    American film director, died in los angeles at the age of 76 (b. 1903).

  • Hermione Baddeley
    Aug. 19 Hermione Baddeley

    England, united kingdom -- actresses (camp runamuck maude, good life).

  • Ted Knight
    Aug. 26 Ted Knight

    American actor, disc jockey, singer and puppeteer. before reaching hollywood in the mid-50s, he moved to new york to work on tv and radio plays. knight was a star in over 300 tv roles. he won two emmys for best supporting actor in comedy series. "the mary tyler moore" was a sitcom that knight starred in in 1977, and "too …

  • Patricia Phoenix
    Sept. 17 Patricia Phoenix

    County galway, ireland -- actress.

  • Robert Helpmann
    Sept. 28 Robert Helpmann

    Australian ballet dancer, choreographer and actor. he began dancing at the age of five and has been performing since he was 11. he toured australia with musicals, plays and comedies after 1927. in december 1932, he moved to london to join the corp-deballet of sadler's wells co.

  • Keenan Wynn
    Oct. 14 Keenan Wynn

    American actor playing the role of character actor. he has appeared in more than 220 films and numerous tv specials. wynn graduated from st. johns military academy. he is the son and grandson of silent film actor frank keenan, his mother. his range of roles included comedy and drama, as well as radio and stock performances. he was one of …

  • Lino Ventura
    Oct. 23 Lino Ventura

    Actor (french detective slap, jigsaw), dies at 67

  • Cary Grant
    Nov. 29 Cary Grant

    British-american film actor. the quintessential hollywood handsome, sophisticated male movie star of the golden era. grant was a film actor who appeared in 72 comedies, dramas, and tragedies over his 34-year career. his films were characterized by an effortless display of easygoing charm, which became his trademark.

  • Desi Arnaz
    Dec. 2 Desi Arnaz

    Cuban-american actor and musician. at 16 he moved to the u.s. and worked as a laborer. he then got a job in a miami rumba band, before starting his own cuban band. he married lucy in 1940, and they had their screen debut that same year. they had two children. they made a fortune together with desilu productions, and the …

  • Smita Patil
    Dec. 13 Smita Patil

    Renowned Indian actress known for her impactful performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema.

  • Elsa Lanchester
    Dec. 26 Elsa Lanchester

    London, england -- actress (bride of frankenstien), lewisham london

What happened in 1986?

Discover what the world looked like in 1986:

1986 Movies  1986 Songs  1986 Books  1986 Historical Events