Famous people and celebrities who died in June 2002

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

• June 1 Hansie Cronje

  Controversial South African cricket captain who was involved in a match-fixing scandal that shocked the cricket world.

• June 2 Hugo van Lawick

  Dutch director and photographer (b. 1937)

• June 3 Lew Wasserman

  Legendary Hollywood talent agent who transformed MCA into a powerful entertainment agency, representing major stars and significantly influencing the film industry's development.

• June 4 Fernando Belaúnde Terry

  Peruvian architect and politician who served twice as president of Peru, known for his democratic principles and commitment to national development.

• June 5 Dee Dee Ramone

  Founding member of the legendary punk rock band The Ramones, known for his influential bass playing and songwriting in the punk music scene.

• June 6 Robbin Crosby

  American rock musician, guitarist and founding member of the heavy metal band Ratt. He was a significant figure in the 1980s glam metal scene before his untimely death in 2002.

• June 7 Basappa Danappa Jatti

  Former vice-president of india, acting president (born in 1912).

• June 10 John Gotti

  Notorious American mafia boss of the Gambino crime family, known as the 'Teflon Don' for his repeated courtroom acquittals. He was a charismatic and flamboyant criminal who dominated New York's organized crime scene in the 1980s.

• June 12 Bill Blass

  Renowned American fashion designer who transformed women's wear and built a $200 million fashion empire during the 1970s. He was a pivotal figure in American fashion design and business.

• June 12 Zena Sutherland

  American reviewer of children's literature (b. 1915)

• June 13 John Hope

  American meteorologist (born 1919)

• June 15 Choi Hong Hi

  South Korean general and martial artist widely recognized as the founder of Taekwondo, who played a crucial role in developing and spreading this martial art globally.

• June 17 Fritz Walter

  Legendary German footballer who captained the West German national team to victory in the 1954 FIFA World Cup. He is considered one of the most significant players in German football history.

• June 17 Willie Davenport

  Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler who competed in five Olympic Games, tragically dying in 2002 while changing planes in Chicago at age 59.

• June 20 Erwin Chargaff

  Erwin Chargaff was a renowned biochemist who made fundamental contributions to understanding DNA structure. His discovery of base-pairing rules was crucial in paving the way for Watson and Crick's double helix model. He is considered a key figure in molecular biology's early development.

• June 21 Timothy Findley

  Prominent Canadian novelist and playwright known for his significant contributions to Canadian literature and exploration of complex human themes.

• June 22 Ann Landers

  Legendary advice columnist who became the most widely syndicated columnist in the Guinness Book of Records, reaching an estimated 90 million readers through over 1,200 newspapers.

• June 23 Pedro Alcázar

  Panamanian boxer (b. 1975)

• June 23 Pedro 'El Rockero' Alcazar

  Panamanian boxer (born 1975).

• June 24 Pierre Werner

  Luxembourgian banker and politician, 21st prime minister of luxembourg (b. 1913)

• June 26 Jay Berwanger

  First-ever Heisman Trophy winner, pioneering American football player who significantly influenced collegiate sports history.

• June 27 John Entwistle

  John Entwistle was the legendary bassist of the iconic rock band The Who, known for his innovative bass playing and significant contribution to the development of rock music in the 1960s and 1970s.

• June 27 Robert L. J. Long

  American admiral (b. 1920)

• June 29 Rosemary Clooney

  Renowned American singer and actress who rose to prominence in the 1950s, known for her warm, enchanting voice and versatile musical performances across various genres including ballads, show tunes, and novelty numbers.

• June 29 Ole-Johan Dahl

  Ole-Johan Dahl was a pioneering Norwegian computer scientist who co-developed Simula, one of the first object-oriented programming languages, which significantly influenced modern software development.

• June 29 François Périer

  Accomplished French stage and film actor with an extensive career spanning over five decades, appearing in more than 110 television and film productions.

• June 30 Francisco Xavier

  Renowned Brazilian spiritist medium and psychographer who wrote over 80 books despite being semi-literate. He was widely respected for his spiritual work and claimed communication with deceased individuals, becoming a legendary figure in Brazilian spiritualism.