Famous people and celebrities who died in April 1999

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in April 1999. 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 1 Jesse Stone

  Renowned American rhythm and blues pianist, songwriter, and music producer who significantly influenced popular music in the mid-20th century.

• April 3 Lionel Bart

  English composer famous for creating the musical 'Oliver!', a landmark work in musical theater adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel.

• April 3 Geoffrey Walsh

  Canadian general (b. 1909)

• April 4 Faith Domergue

  American film actress known for her roles in science fiction and noir films during the 1950s, including 'This Island Earth' and 'It Came from Beneath the Sea'.

• April 4 Early Wynn

  Legendary Major League Baseball pitcher who played for Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians, inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

• April 4 Lucille Lortel

  American actress, artistic director and producer (b. 1900)

• April 6 Red Norvo

  Red Norvo was a pioneering jazz vibraphonist and xylophonist who significantly influenced the development of swing and cool jazz during the mid-20th century. He was known for his innovative and delicate playing style, collaborating with legendary musicians like Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker. Norvo's career spanned several decades, making him a respected figure in jazz history.

• April 10 Jean Vander Pyl

  Jean Vander Pyl was a renowned American voice actress best known for her role as Wilma Flintstone in the classic animated series 'The Flintstones'. She had a significant career in voice acting during the golden age of animation.

• April 10 Heinz Fraenkel-Conrat

  German-american biochemist and physician (b. 1910)

• April 11 William H. Armstrong

  William H. Armstrong was an American author best known for his children's novel 'Sounder', which won the Newbery Medal in 1970 and was later adapted into a critically acclaimed film.

• April 12 Boxcar Willie

  Boxcar Willie was an American country music singer who created a unique persona as an 'old-time hobo' performer. Born as Lecil Travis Martin, he initially developed the character in a song before fully adopting the stage name and persona.

• April 13 Willi Stoph

  Prominent East German politician who served as Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the Cold War period, playing a significant role in the socialist government of East Germany.

• April 13 Ortvin Sarapu

  Estonian-new zealand chess player and author (b. 1924)

• April 14 Ellen Corby

  Renowned American character actress best known for her Emmy-winning role as Grandma Walton. She was a respected film and television performer with multiple Academy Award nominations in the 1940s.

• April 14 Anthony Newley

  Renowned British-American entertainer who was a Broadway star, known for writing, directing, and starring in the musical 'Stop the World, I Want to Get Off' in 1962. He was a creative genius who made significant contributions to theater and music.

• April 20 Dylan Klebold

  Dylan Klebold was one of the perpetrators of the infamous Columbine High School massacre, a tragic school shooting in Colorado that shocked the United States. Together with Eric Harris, he killed 15 people and wounded many others before committing suicide.

• April 20 Rick Rude

  Rick Rude was a famous American professional wrestler known for his charismatic persona and impressive physique, who was a prominent figure in WWE and WCW during the 1980s and 1990s.

• April 21 Charles 'Buddy' Rogers

  American actor and musician (born in 1904)

• April 25 Roger Troutman

  Influential American funk and R&B singer-songwriter known for pioneering the talk box vocal effect and founding the band Zapp. He significantly impacted 1980s and 1990s funk and hip-hop music.

• April 26 Jill Dando

  Beloved British television presenter and journalist tragically murdered in 1999, whose death shocked the nation.

• April 26 Adrian Borland

  Alternative rock musician and singer-songwriter who led the influential post-punk band The Sound, known for his significant contributions to the indie music scene before his tragic death in 1999.

• April 27 Cyril Washbrook

  Cyril Washbrook was a prominent English cricketer who played for Lancashire and England during the mid-20th century. He was a skilled right-handed batsman known for his consistent performances in Test cricket. Washbrook was an important figure in English cricket between the 1930s and 1950s.

• April 27 Al Hirt

  Legendary jazz trumpeter from New Orleans known for his exceptional trumpet skills and significant contributions to jazz music. Nicknamed 'The Greatest Horn in the World', he was a prominent figure in the New Orleans jazz scene.

• April 28 Rory Calhoun

  Rory Calhoun was a prominent American Western film actor known for his rugged looks and versatile roles in movies and television during the 1940s-1970s. He starred in notable films like 'River of No Return' and was particularly famous for his villainous television characters.

• April 28 Arthur Schawlow

  Arthur Schawlow was a pioneering American physicist who co-invented the laser and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1981 for groundbreaking work in laser spectroscopy.

• April 28 Alf Ramsey

  Legendary English football manager who led England to World Cup victory in 1966, transforming the national team's tactical approach.

• April 28 Arthur Leonard Schawlow

  Nobel Prize laureate for their contribution to the development of laser spectroscopy

• April 28 Rolf Landauer

  Contributed to the field of condensed matter physics.