Famous people and celebrities who died in October 1988

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

Oct. 1 Sacheverell Sitwell
English author, poet, and critic (b. 1897)
Oct. 2 Hamengkubuwono IX
Prominent Indonesian political leader who served as the second vice president of Indonesia and the Sultan of Yogyakarta. He played a crucial role in Indonesia's political landscape during the mid-20th century.
Oct. 2 Alec Issigonis
Alec Issigonis was a renowned British automotive engineer who revolutionized car design with the iconic Mini, a compact and innovative vehicle that became a cultural symbol of the 1960s.
Oct. 3 Franz Josef Strauss
Prominent German politician who served as Minister of Defense for the Federal Republic of Germany from 1956 to 1962, and later became Minister-President of Bavaria. He was a key figure in post-war West German politics and a leading member of the Christian Social Union (CSU).
Oct. 3 Generoso Pope Jr
National enquirer owner dies at 61
Oct. 8 Ernst Hermann Meyer
Composer dies at 82
Oct. 9 Felix Wankel
Felix Wankel was a pioneering German engineer who invented the revolutionary Wankel rotary engine, which became famous for its unique design and application in automotive engineering. His innovative engine design was notably used in Mazda sports cars and significantly impacted mechanical engineering in the 20th century.
Oct. 9 Edward Chodorov
Playwright/director (louis pasteur), dies at age 84.
Oct. 11 Morgan Farley
Actor (open secret), passes away at 90 from natural causes
Oct. 12 Ruth Manning-Sanders
Welsh poet and children’s book author (born in 1886).
Oct. 12 Ken Murray
Actor (bill & coo crooner, half marriageage), dies at age 85
Oct. 13 Mike Venezia
Jockey dies in belmont race track's 5th race fall, new york.
Oct. 14 Mary Morris
Actress (agitator double door)
Oct. 15 Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji
English composer, music critic, pianist and writer (b. 1892)
Oct. 18 Dimitri Frenkel Frank
At 60, the death of hadimassa, writer/director
Oct. 19 Son House
Legendary Delta blues musician who profoundly influenced later blues and rock artists like Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, known for his intense, emotional guitar style.
Oct. 20 Sheila Scott
Sheila Scott was a pioneering British aviator who made significant solo flights, including a 29,000-mile global circumnavigation in 1966 and a remarkable flight from the equator to the North Pole in 1971.
Oct. 22 Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong was a legendary boxer who dominated multiple weight classes during the 1930s and 1940s, considered one of the greatest fighters in boxing history.
Oct. 23 Asashio Taro III
The 46th yokozuna, a japanese sumo wrestler (born 1929).
Oct. 25 Bill Cody
Actor (blazing judgment, ghost city), passes away at 75
Oct. 27 Charles Hawtrey
At 73, an english actor (carry on) dies in london
Oct. 27 S B Fuller
Founder (fuller products) dies at 83
Oct. 29 Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
A prominent Indian social reformer, freedom fighter, and feminist who played a significant role in India's independence movement and women's rights advocacy.
Oct. 30 Florence Nagle
English trainer and breeder of racehorses (b. 1894)
Oct. 30 T. Hee
American animator and screenwriter (b. 1911)
Oct. 30 Sugar Geise
Actress (rhythm parade) dies at 71 after a brief illness
Oct. 31 John Houseman
Renowned Romanian-American actor, producer, and director known for his distinguished career in theater, film, and television. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 'The Paper Chase' and was a significant figure in Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre.
Oct. 31 Alfred Pellan
Renowned Canadian painter and educator who significantly contributed to modern art in Quebec.