Famous people and celebrities who died in February 1999

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

• Feb. 1 Paul Mellon

  Prominent American art collector, philanthropist, and heir to the Mellon banking and oil fortune who significantly contributed to art museums and cultural institutions across the United States.

• Feb. 3 Gwen Guthrie

  American R&B and soul singer-songwriter who was prominent in the 1980s, known for hits like 'Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent'.

• Feb. 5 Wassily Wassilyevich Leontief

  Nobel Prize laureate for the development of the input-output method and for its application to important economic problems

• Feb. 5 Wassily Leontief

  ECO - Russian-american economist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1906)

• Feb. 5 Neville Bonner

  Pioneering Indigenous Australian politician who broke racial barriers by becoming the first Aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament.

• Feb. 6 Don Dunstan

  Influential South Australian politician who served as the 35th Premier of South Australia, known for progressive reforms and social justice advocacy.

• Feb. 6 Jimmy Roberts

  American tenor (b. 1924)

• Feb. 7 Jose Silva

  Jose Silva was an influential American self-help author and entrepreneur who developed the Silva Method, a popular mind training and personal development program. He transformed his background as a teacher into a successful global business focused on mental self-improvement techniques. His Silva Mind Control method gained significant popularity in personal development circles during the late 20th century.

• Feb. 8 Iris Murdoch

  Renowned Irish-British novelist and philosopher known for her complex literary works exploring moral and philosophical themes. She was a significant intellectual figure of the 20th century, writing extensively in philosophy and fiction. Her novels often combined philosophical depth with dark humor and intricate character studies.

• Feb. 14 John Ehrlichman

  Key Nixon administration official who served as domestic affairs advisor from 1969 to 1973. He was a central figure in the Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation.

• Feb. 15 Henry Way Kendall

  PHY - American physicist, photographer, and mountaineer, nobel prize laureate (d. 1999)

• Feb. 19 Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr

  Iraqi cleric (b. 1943)

• Feb. 20 Gene Siskel

  Renowned film critic who co-hosted the popular show 'Siskel & Ebert', revolutionizing movie criticism on television.

• Feb. 20 Sarah Kane

  Influential British playwright who revolutionized contemporary theater with her raw, intense dramatic works before her tragic suicide.

• Feb. 21 Gertrude Elion

  Gertrude Elion was a pioneering Nobel Prize-winning biochemist who revolutionized drug development. She developed crucial treatments for leukemia, malaria, and herpes, significantly advancing medical science. Her groundbreaking work earned her the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988.

• Feb. 21 Ilmari Juutilainen

  Renowned Finnish fighter pilot during World War II, credited with the most aerial victories in the Winter War and Continuation War against the Soviet Union.

• Feb. 21 Wilmer Mizell

  American baseball player and politician (b. 1930)

• Feb. 23 Carlos Hathcock

  Legendary United States Marine Corps sniper, known for his exceptional marksmanship during the Vietnam War and his significant influence on military sniping techniques.

• Feb. 23 The Renegade

  American wrestler (b. 1965)

• Feb. 24 Andre Dubus

  Renowned American short story writer known for his profound and introspective literary works exploring human relationships and moral complexity.

• Feb. 24 David Eccles

  David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles, was a prominent English businessman and politician who served as Secretary of State for Education, playing a significant role in British politics.

• Feb. 24 Frank Leslie Walcott

  Barbadian labour leader (born 1916)

• Feb. 25 Glenn T. Seaborg

  CHE - American chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1912)

• Feb. 25 Glenn Theodore Seaborg

  Nobel Prize laureate for their discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements

• Feb. 27 Horace Tapscott

  Influential African American jazz composer and pianist who founded the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra in 1961, a groundbreaking musical collective that championed Black cultural expression.

• Feb. 28 Christine Glanville

  British puppeteer (born 1924)