Famous people and celebrities who died in October 1987

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in October 1987. 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

• Oct. 2 Madeleine Carroll

  Prominent British actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for her roles in classic films like 'The 39 Steps' and 'Prisoner of Zenda'. She was a leading lady during the 1930s and 1940s, transitioning from silent films to talkies.

• Oct. 2 Peter Brian Medawar

  Nobel Prize laureate for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance

• Oct. 3 Jean Anouilh

  Prominent French dramatist who significantly influenced post-World War II theater. His plays explored existential themes of individual isolation and societal rejection. Anouilh was a major literary figure whose works were translated into 27 languages.

• Oct. 8 Konstantinos Tsatsos

  Greek scholar and politician, 2nd president of greece (b. 1899)

• Oct. 9 Clare Boothe Luce

  Clare Boothe Luce was a prominent American diplomat, author, journalist, and politician who served as the first female US Ambassador to Italy. She was a member of Congress, a successful playwright, and a significant figure in mid-20th century American politics.

• Oct. 9 William Parry Murphy

  Nobel Prize laureate for their discoveries concerning liver therapy in cases of anaemia

• Oct. 12 Philleo Nash

  American anthropologist and government official who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1959 to 1961 as a Democrat.

• Oct. 12 Alf Landon

  American lieutenant and politician, 26th governor of kansas (b. 1887)

• Oct. 12 Fahri Korutürk

  Turkish commander and politician, 6th president of turkey (b. 1903)

• Oct. 13 Kishore Kumar

  Legendary Indian playback singer and actor who revolutionized Bollywood music, known for his versatile voice and comedic acting skills in numerous Hindi films.

• Oct. 13 Walter Houser Brattain

  Nobel Prize laureate for their researches on semiconductors and their discovery of the transistor effect

• Oct. 13 Nilgün Marmara

  Turkish poet and author (b. 1958)

• Oct. 15 Thomas Sankara

  Revolutionary leader and president of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987, known as 'Africa's Che Guevara'. He implemented radical social and economic reforms aimed at reducing poverty and promoting gender equality before being assassinated in a coup.

• Oct. 15 Donald Wandrei

  American author and poet (b. 1908)

• Oct. 17 Abdul Malek Ukil

  Bangladeshi lawyer and politician (b. 1925)

• Oct. 18 Adriaan Ditvoorst

  Dutch director and screenwriter (b. 1940)

• Oct. 19 Jacqueline du Pré

  Jacqueline du Pré was a legendary British cellist who revolutionized classical music performance with her extraordinary emotional depth and technical brilliance. She was particularly renowned for her interpretations of Elgar's Cello Concerto and her tragically short career due to multiple sclerosis.

• Oct. 20 Andrey Kolmogorov

  Renowned Russian mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to probability theory, topology, and information theory. He is considered one of the most important mathematicians of the 20th century.

• Oct. 21 Ying-Chin Ho

  Taiwan official dies at the age of 88.

• Oct. 22 Lino Ventura

  Italian-french actor (b. 1919)

• Oct. 24 Constantin Alajalov

  Russian artist dies at the age of 86.

• Oct. 28 André Masson

  French illustrator and painter (d. 1987).

• Oct. 29 Woody Herman

  Influential American jazz bandleader and clarinetist who was a pivotal figure in big band and swing music during the mid-20th century. Herman led multiple iterations of his band, known as the 'Herds', and was renowned for his innovative musical arrangements and adaptability.

• Oct. 31 Joseph Campbell

  American author and leading authority on mythology, the psyche, and symbolism.