Famous people and celebrities who died in October 1989

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

Oct. 3 Joseph Wybran
Belgian physician / jews foreman, murdered
Oct. 4 Graham Chapman
A pioneering British comedian and writer, best known as a key member of the legendary Monty Python comedy troupe. He was instrumental in creating groundbreaking comedy sketches and helped revolutionize humor in the 1970s. Chapman struggled with alcoholism but remained a beloved figure in comedy until his untimely death.
Oct. 4 Secretariat
American race horse (born 1970)
Oct. 6 Bette Davis
Legendary Hollywood actress who was a pivotal figure in American cinema, with 82 films and ten Oscar nominations. She won Best Actress awards for 'Dangerous' (1935) and 'Jezebel' (1938), establishing herself as one of the most influential actresses of her era.
Oct. 6 Bette [Ruth E] Davis
Actress (all about eve white mama) dies at 81
Oct. 9 Yusuf Atılgan
Turkish author and playwright (b. 1921)
Oct. 11 Paul Shenar
Actor (deadly forces, dream lover), who dies at 53
Oct. 11 M. King Hubbert
Renowned American geophysicist who developed the Hubbert peak theory, a groundbreaking model for predicting oil production and resource depletion.
Oct. 12 Jay Ward
Jay Ward was an influential American animator and television producer, best known for creating iconic cartoon series like Rocky and Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, and George of the Jungle.
Oct. 12 Carmen Cavallaro
An American pianist known for his popular performances and recordings during the mid-20th century. Cavallaro was particularly famous for his smooth, romantic piano style and was a prominent figure in the entertainment scene of his era.
Oct. 12 Franco [Francis Luambo / "Makiadi"]
Zaire composer / music, died at 51
Oct. 14 Michael Carmine
Actor (batteries not included), dies in 30
Oct. 15 Danilo Kiš
Danilo Kiš was a prominent Yugoslav novelist and writer known for his profound literary works exploring complex themes of Jewish identity, historical trauma, and collective memory during the 20th century.
Oct. 16 Cornel Wilde
Renowned Hollywood actor and film director known for his versatile performances in multiple genres during the mid-20th century. He starred in numerous films and successfully transitioned between acting and directing throughout his career.
Oct. 16 Scott O'Dell
Author and journalist for the american army (d. 1989).
Oct. 20 Anthony Quayle
Renowned English actor known for significant roles in classic films like 'Anne of the Thousand Days' and 'Lawrence of Arabia', with a distinguished career in cinema and theater.
Oct. 22 Jacob Wetterling
Jacob Wetterling was an American child who was abducted in 1989, becoming a significant case that led to important child protection legislation and raised national awareness about child safety.
Oct. 22 Roland Winters
Actor (jet pilot meet millie), died at 84
Oct. 23 Armida
Mexican-American stage, vaudeville, and film star who had a notable career in entertainment during the mid-20th century.
Oct. 24 Jerzy Kukuczka
Legendary Polish mountaineer who became the second person in history to summit all 14 eight-thousander peaks, tragically dying during a climbing expedition in 1989.
Oct. 25 Mary McCarthy
Mary McCarthy was a prominent American intellectual, novelist, and literary critic known for her sharp wit, complex literary works, and influential essays on politics and culture.
Oct. 25 Gerard Walschap
Flemish writer (men of goods).
Oct. 26 Charles J. Pedersen
CHE - American chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1904)
Oct. 28 Henry Hall
English actor and composer of bandleaders (d. 1989).
Oct. 31 Conrad Beck
Composer dies at 88