Famous people and celebrities who died in July 2002

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in July 2002. 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

• July 2 Ray Brown

  Legendary jazz bassist and composer who significantly influenced the development of modern jazz music.

• July 4 Benjamin O. Davis

  American general and Tuskegee Airman who was a pioneering African American military officer. He served with distinction during World War II and was a key figure in the desegregation of the U.S. military.

• July 4 Gerald Bales

  Canadian organist and composer (b. 1919)

• July 4 Winnifred Quick

  American titanic survivor (born in 1904)

• July 5 Ted Williams

  Ted Williams was a legendary American baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, renowned for his exceptional batting skills and military service as a Marine pilot during World War II. He was a three-time Most Valuable Player and later became a successful manager with the Washington Senators.

• July 5 Katy Jurado

  Katy Jurado was a pioneering Mexican actress who became the first Latin American actress to win a Golden Globe Award. She gained international recognition for her powerful performances in classic Western films, breaking stereotypes and paving the way for future Hispanic actors in Hollywood.

• July 6 Dhirubhai Ambani

  Legendary Indian entrepreneur who founded Reliance Industries, transforming it into one of India's largest and most successful business conglomerates.

• July 6 John Frankenheimer

  American director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1930)

• July 7 Bison Dele

  Bison Dele was an American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons, tragically murdered during a sailing trip in 2002.

• July 8 Ward Kimball

  Legendary Disney animator who played a crucial role in creating classic animated films during Disney's golden age.

• July 9 Rod Steiger

  Acclaimed American actor known for powerful performances in films like 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'Pawnbroker', winning an Oscar for Best Actor in 1968.

• July 10 Jean-Pierre Côté

  Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Quebec from 1996 to 2002, contributing significantly to the province's political landscape.

• July 10 Laurence Janifer

  American author (b. 1933)

• July 10 Evangelos Florakis

  Greek general (b. 1943)

• July 13 Yousuf Karsh

  Renowned Armenian-Canadian photographer famous for his iconic portraits of world leaders, artists, and celebrities during the 20th century. His dramatic black and white portraits captured the essence of his subjects with remarkable depth and emotion.

• July 14 Joaquin Balaguer

  Dominican politician, 41st to 45th, 49th, and 49th presidents of the dominican republic (born in 1906).

• July 16 John Cocke

  American computer scientist and engineer (b. 1925)

• July 17 Joseph Luns

  Joseph Luns was a prominent Dutch politician who served as the Netherlands' foreign minister for 19 years and later became NATO's Secretary General from 1971 to 1984. A staunch conservative, he was known for his strong pro-Western stance and commitment to transatlantic relations during the Cold War. He played a significant role in strengthening NATO's strategic position against Soviet influence.

• July 18 Metin Toker

  Turkish journalist and author (b. 1924)

• July 19 Alan Lomax

  Alan Lomax was a legendary American ethnomusicologist, best known for his extensive field recordings and preservation of traditional folk music across the United States. His work was crucial in documenting and promoting American folk music heritage.

• July 23 Leo McKern

  Renowned Australian-English actor known for his distinctive voice and powerful performances in film and television, including roles in 'Rumpole of the Bailey' and 'Help!'.

• July 23 Chaim Potok

  American novelist and rabbi (born 1929).

• July 25 Abdel Rahman Badawi

  Egyptian philosopher and poet (b. 1917)

• July 28 Archer John Porter Martin

  Nobel Prize laureate for their invention of partition chromatography

• July 28 Archer Martin

  Eminent British biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work in chromatography. His research significantly advanced analytical chemistry techniques.