Famous people and celebrities who died in May 1997

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 1997. 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

• May 2 Paulo Freire

  Renowned Brazilian educator and philosopher who developed critical pedagogy, significantly influencing global educational theory and social justice movements.

• May 2 Sir John Carew Eccles

  Nobel Prize laureate for their discoveries concerning the ionic mechanisms involved in excitation and inhibition in the peripheral and central portions of the nerve cell membrane

• May 2 John Eccles

  MED - Australian-swiss neurophysiologist and academic, nobel prize laureate (d. 1997)

• May 3 Narciso Yepes

  Renowned Spanish classical guitarist and composer who significantly contributed to the international recognition of the classical guitar. He was known for his exceptional technique and interpretations of Spanish and classical repertoire.

• May 3 Sebastien Enjolras

  French racing driver (born 1976).

• May 4 Vijayananda Dahanayake

  Died as the prime minister of sri lanka (1959-60).

• May 8 Kai-Uwe Von Hassel

  German president of bundestag (cdu69-72), dies.

• May 9 Rawya Ateya

  Pioneering Egyptian politician who became the first female Arab parliamentarian, breaking significant gender barriers in Middle Eastern political representation.

• May 9 Marco Ferreri

  Marco Ferreri was an influential Italian film director known for his provocative and surreal cinema, creating groundbreaking films that challenged traditional narrative structures and social conventions.

• May 10 Joan Weston

  American roller derby (born 1935).

• May 11 Brenda Carlin

  George carlin's wife, tv producer, has died at the age of 57.

• May 13 Laurie Lee

  British poet and novelist best known for his autobiographical work 'Cider with Rosie', which vividly depicts rural life in the Cotswolds during the early 20th century.

• May 14 Harry Blackstone Jr.

  Renowned American magician and author known for his significant contributions to stage magic and illusion performance during the mid-20th century. He was a prominent figure in the magic entertainment world, carrying on his family's magical legacy.

• May 16 Elbridge Durbrow

  American diplomat (born 1903)

• May 20 Virgilio Boat

  President of colombia (1986-1990), dies.

• May 22 Alfred Hershey

  Renowned American geneticist who, along with Martha Chase, conducted the groundbreaking Hershey-Chase experiment that conclusively demonstrated DNA as the carrier of genetic information. His work was pivotal in understanding molecular genetics and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1969.

• May 22 Renzo Montagnani

  Italian actor (born 1930)

• May 24 Edward Mulhare

  Irish actor best known for his role as Captain Daniel Gregg in the popular TV series 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir'. He had a successful career in television and theater spanning several decades.

• May 25 Muhammad Fadhel

  Died as the prime minister of iraq (1953-1954).

• May 26 Ralph Horween

  American football coach and player (d. 1997).

• May 26 Manfred Von Ardenne

  German scientist pioneer dies at the age of 90.

• May 27 Matt Gunther

  American pornographic actor (born 1963).

• May 29 Jeff Buckley

  Legendary musician known for his extraordinary vocal range and iconic cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. His tragic death by drowning in 1997 cut short a promising musical career, leaving a lasting legacy in alternative music.

• May 29 John Sengstacke

  Publisher (defender) dies at 84

• May 31 Rosie Will Monroe

  World war ii icon, rosie the riveter, dies at age of 76.