Famous people and celebrities who died in February 1989

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in February 1989. 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

• Feb. 1 Elaine de Kooning

  Prominent American abstract expressionist painter renowned for her innovative portraits and dynamic figurative works. She was a significant figure in the mid-20th century art movement.

• Feb. 2 Ondrej Nepela

  Ondrej Nepela was a renowned Slovak figure skater who won multiple international championships, including Olympic and World titles. He was a significant figure in European figure skating during the 1960s and 1970s before his untimely death in 1989.

• Feb. 2 Arnold Nordmeyer

  New Zealand politician who served as the 30th Minister of Finance, playing a significant role in the country's economic policy during the mid-20th century.

• Feb. 3 John Cassavetes

  Influential American film director, actor, and screenwriter known for pioneering independent cinema and improvisation in film. He was a key figure in the American New Wave movement and directed critically acclaimed films like 'Shadows' and 'A Woman Under the Influence'.

• Feb. 4 Kenneth "Jethro" Burns

  Country singer homer and jethro, dies at the age of 69.

• Feb. 5 Joe Raposo

  American pianist and composer best known for his work on Sesame Street, contributing significantly to children's music and television.

• Feb. 6 Barbara W. Tuchman

  Renowned American historian and author who won the Pulitzer Prize for her seminal work 'The Guns of August' about World War I.

• Feb. 6 Osbourne 'King Tubby' Ruddock

  Performer of jamaican dub music (born 1941).

• Feb. 6 Andre Cayatte

  French filmmaker (born in 1909)

• Feb. 8 Maurits Kok

  Dutch poet / writer (railroad strike), is killed at 81

• Feb. 9 Osamu Tezuka

  Osamu Tezuka was a legendary Japanese manga artist, animator, and producer widely considered the 'God of Manga'. He revolutionized the manga and anime industries, creating iconic works that influenced global pop culture and animation.

• Feb. 10 Dan Kelly

  Nhl sportscaster, who dies at 52. "he shoots, and he scores!"

• Feb. 12 Thomas Bernhard

  Renowned Austrian writer who profoundly influenced post-World War II German literature. His works are characterized by intense, critical narratives that challenged societal norms and explored human psychology. Bernhard is considered one of the most significant literary voices of the 20th century.

• Feb. 12 Mauritius Balfoort

  French/flemish director, dies at age 83.

• Feb. 13 Wayne Hays

  American lieutenant and politician (b. 1911)

• Feb. 14 James Bond

  American ornithologist and zoologist (b. 1900)

• Feb. 17 Lefty Gomez

  Legendary New York Yankees pitcher who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gomez was a key player during the Yankees' golden era, known for his exceptional pitching skills and contributions to the team's success.

• Feb. 19 Merwe

  Journalist / cabaret performer (hadjememaar)

• Feb. 19 Jaap van de Merwe

  Dutch journalist/cabareter (hadjememaar), dies.

• Feb. 22 Joan Woodbury

  Actress (super sleuth, northwest trail)

• Feb. 22 Moises da Costa Amaral

  East timorese leader, udt president at the exterior (born 1938).

• Feb. 26 Roy Eldridge

  Legendary jazz trumpeter known for his innovative and influential playing style, who significantly contributed to the development of bebop and swing jazz.

• Feb. 27 Konrad Lorenz

  Renowned Austrian zoologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking work in animal behavior and ethology.

• Feb. 27 Joe Silver

  Actor (rage rapid, deathtrap and shivers), dies in 66

• Feb. 28 Hermann Burger

  46 years old, writer dies