Famous people and celebrities who died in April 1988

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in April 1988. 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

• April 3 Milton Caniff

  Renowned American comic strip artist famous for creating 'Terry and the Pirates' and 'Steve Canyon', who significantly influenced the adventure comic genre in the mid-20th century.

• April 5 Alf Kjellin

  Swedish actor and director (b. 1920)

• April 9 Brook Benton

  Singer (just a matter of time) dies from meningitis in her 56th year.

• April 9 Dave Prater

  Soul singer of the legendary duo Sam & Dave, who tragically died in a car crash at the age of 50.

• April 9 Hans Berndt

  German footballer (b. 1913)

• April 12 Alan Paton

  Alan Paton was a renowned South African writer, novelist, and anti-apartheid activist best known for his powerful novel 'Cry, the Beloved Country', which highlighted the social injustices of racial segregation in South Africa.

• April 12 Colette Deréal

  French actress and singer known for her contributions to mid-20th century French entertainment. She had a notable career in film and music during her lifetime.

• April 14 Herbert Reynolds Inch

  Composer dies at 83

• April 14 Johan Franco

  Composer dies at 79

• April 15 Kenneth Williams

  Kenneth Williams was a renowned British comedy actor famous for his iconic roles in the 'Carry On' film series. He was known for his distinctive high-pitched voice and camp comedic style, becoming a significant figure in British comedy during the 1950s and 1960s.

• April 15 Hendrikus G "Han" Hoekstra

  Dutch poet zandloper dies at the age of 81.

• April 16 Khalil al-Wazir

  Khalil al-Wazir, also known as Abu Jihad, was a prominent Palestinian political leader and co-founder of Fatah, who played a crucial role in the Palestinian national movement. He was assassinated by Israeli Mossad agents in Tunis in 1988.

• April 16 Youri Egorov

  Renowned Russian pianist and composer who made significant contributions to classical music before his early death in 1988.

• April 17 Eva Novak

  Actress (medicine man), passes away at 90 from pneumonia

• April 17 Louise Nevelson

  American abstract artist and sculptor, ukranian-born. he is a sculptor and an artist who works in many media. his love for geometric shapes together is what makes him unique. charles nevelson, her husband, had one child. she died april 17, 1988, age 90, in new york.

• April 18 Pierre Desproges

  Renowned French comedian and satirist famous for his sharp, intellectual humor and biting social critiques that challenged societal norms and political correctness.

• April 18 Oktay Rıfat Horozcu

  Oktay Rıfat Horozcu was a prominent Turkish poet and playwright who significantly contributed to modern Turkish literature during the mid-20th century.

• April 22 Irene Rich

  American silent screen star, who was 16 at the time. she remained in hollywood for nearly two decades. she was a talkie film star and toured the vaudeville circuits, on stage starting in 1948, and then radio for ten more years. she made "stella maris", 1918, "beau brummell," 1924 and "shanghai rose," 1929, as well as "joan of arc," 1948.

• April 25 Clifford D. Simak

  Clifford D. Simak was a pioneering American science fiction writer who won multiple Hugo Awards and significantly influenced the genre with his humanistic and philosophical storytelling.

• April 25 Valerie Solanas

  Radical feminist writer and activist known for the SCUM Manifesto and for shooting Andy Warhol in 1968. Her controversial work critiqued patriarchal society and male dominance.

• April 25 Carolyn Franklin

  Talented R&B singer and songwriter, sister of the legendary Aretha Franklin, who made significant contributions to soul music before her untimely death.

• April 25 Boris Kremenliev

  Composer dies at 76

• April 25 Clifford D[onald] Simak

  At 83, sci-fi author (hugo station, way station) dies

• April 27 Fred Bear

  American hunter and author (b. 1902)

• April 29 Andrew Cruickshank

  Scottish stage and screen actor best known for his long-running role as Dr. Angus Cameron in 'Dr. Finlay's Casebook'. He had a distinguished career in theater and television spanning several decades.

• April 29 Jan Kapr

  Composer dies at 74

• April 30 James McCracken

  Dramatic tenor with an extraordinary physical presence, known for his 52-inch chest and powerful, precise vocal tone.