Famous people and celebrities who died in 2003

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 2003. This year saw the loss of many influential and beloved figures who left a lasting impact on the world. From entertainment icons and sports legends to renowned scholars and public figures, our comprehensive list pays tribute to their lives and legacies. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their achievements as we reflect on their remarkable stories.

• Jan. 12 Maurice Gibb

  British-american musician. one of the three brothers that formed the bee gees. they wrote over 1000 songs during their 20-year careers and opened a recording studio in miami. barry and he had a fallout with robin, who left barry to form robin's reign. however, when robin's career failed, the trio reunited in late 1970. in 1971, they sold two million …

• Jan. 17 Richard Crenna

  American actor. he has been on screen and radio since he was a child. as a child, he was only seen occasionally and he continued to be seen in the later '60s as an actor. he went on to have a long career with both feature and co-starring roles. crenna is best known for his role as walter denton in …

• Feb. 3 Lana Clarkson

  American actress and model (born 1962).

• Feb. 25 Alberto Sordi

  Italian actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 2003)

• March 3 Horst Buchholz

  German actor sometimes seen internationally, such as in 1963's "nine hours to rama". he began his career as a young stage and radio performer. later, he started his film career as a voice-over artist for foreign films. he was first seen onscreen in 1955, when he won the cannes film festival award for "sky without stars". from 1958, buchholz was …

• April 1 Leslie Cheung

  Hong Kong singer and actor who achieved fame in Asia and internationally.

• April 21 Nina Simone

  American jazz singer. it is more accurate to call her a "soul" because her music is full of emotion. or an eclectic because she mixes soul, blues, and gospel with pop. simoneaeur (tm), in 1959, made a top 40 hit with her version of george gershwinaeur (tm), "i loves you porgy". however, her music never reached a large audience.

• May 14 Robert Stack

  American actor nominated for seven emmys. he won one emmy in 1960 for "the untouchables" series. for his role in 1956's film "written on the wind", he was nominated for an oscar. he was an avid sportsman and set two world records in skeet shooting by the age of 19. he also became the fastest boat racer on the west …

• May 15 June Carter Cash

  American singer and musician (born 1929).

• June 12 Gregory Peck

  He was nominated as an american film and stage actor for four oscars. the best actor award went to him for his performance in "to kill a mockingbird" 1962. he was the recipient of the american film institutes life achievement award as well as the kennedy center lifetime achievement in the arts award. he is a handsome, tall man (6'3") …

• June 29 Katharine Hepburn

  American actress, whose first film appearance was in "a bill of divorcement" (1932) with john barrymore. her box-office appeal in the 1930s was poor, but she rose to fame with 11 oscar nominations, and three oscar wins. her oscar-winning films were "morning glory" (1933), "guess who's coming to dinner", 1967, and "the lion in winter" (68).

• July 6 Buddy Ebsen

  Buddy ebsen was an american actor known for his role as jed clampett in the television series the beverly hillbillies.

• July 27 Bob Hope

  An english comedian and entertainer, he is a star who is known for his quick-witted quips on current events and for his tours around the world for servicemen. his radio debut was in 1935. he also made his first film in 1938. he made 61 films between 1938 and 1979, before he moved to tv in 1950. his net worth …

• Aug. 9 Gregory Hines

  Gregory Hines was a talented American dancer and actor, known for his contributions to tap dancing.

• Aug. 29 Michel Constantin

  French film actor (born in 1924)

• Aug. 30 Charles Bronson

  American actor who has appeared in more than 70 films. he was the first child of 15 children and the only one who graduated high school. bronson worked with his father in pennsylvania's coal mines before he made his screen debut in 1951. his films include "miss sadie thompson," the battle of the bulge, "the mechanic", and "death wish." he …

• Sept. 5 Gisele MacKenzie

  Canadian entertainer who was able to play the piano at two. she also took voice and violin lessons. she was a radio host for "your hit parade" and her own variety show on nbc. mackenzie has also appeared in tv comedy, drama, musical comedy, and commercials.

• Sept. 8 Leni Riefenstahl

  Leni riefenstahl, a german film director and producer, screenwriter, editor. photographer, actress, and dancer, was well-known for her nazi propaganda film triumph of the will. riefenstahleur(tm), her prominence in third reich and her personal association to adolf hitler destroyed her film career. she was later arrested, but released without charges.

• Sept. 11 John Ritter

  American actor, and a member of a theatrical family. ritter was awarded the 1983 golden globe award for best comedy series actor, emmys 1983-84 for outstanding lead actor, and the 1988 people's choice award. he was awarded a star on hollywood's walk of fame in 1993, next to his father.

• Sept. 12 Johnny Cash

  American singer, guitarist and country-western singer. he is charismatic and hard-working. he rose from poverty in arkansas to become one the most popular and enduring figures of the mid-'50s folk music scene. his music includes "folsom prison blues" as well as "i walk the line".

• Sept. 27 Donald O'Connor

  American comedian, actor, comedian, singer, and dancer. he is still considered one of the most versatile song and dance men to ever appear on tv and film. he had appeared in 50 films by the time he was 30, in 1955.

• Sept. 28 Elia Kazan

  Turkish-born american stage and film director. he is best known for introducing marlon brando and james dean onto the silver screen in "a streetcar named desire" (each) and "east of eden". before the u.s. house committee on un-american activities, kazan testified twice. he first refused to name names on 14 january 1952 and then changed his mind on 10 april …

• Oct. 20 Jack Elam

  American actor in films such as "the sundowners," kismet, and gunfight at the o.k. corral" as well as guest roles and tv features. he was a former accountant and hotel manager. he became hollywoodaeur(tm),'s biggest heavies in 1950. he was tall and slim and appeared in more than 60 films as the evil, leering, moronic thug who specialized in westerns …

• Oct. 29 Franco Corelli

  Italian tenor, named "favorite tenor" of the century. coreli is known for his vibrato and trademark diminuendos at high notes. coreli's voice is full with passion, core and punch. his roman coin good looks earned him the reputation as the most beautiful tenor. you can hear his charismatic and romantic nature in his voice and see it in his movements. …

• Nov. 9 Art Carney

  American comedian and actor on tv, stage and screen. he started his career as a radio comedian and gained a reputation for being a prominent character actor on broadway. he was injured while serving in the military during ww ii and left with a limp. carney was a stand-in comedian for jackie gleason on the sitcom "the honeymooners", which ran …

• Nov. 12 Jonathan Brandis

  American actor and director. an ex-child performer. blue eyes.

• Dec. 14 Jeanne Crain

  American actress, 16-year old former model. her innocent and wholesome looks earned her miss long beach title in 1941. darryl f. zanuck spotted her and offered her a contract with 20th century fox. in 1943 she made her debut, which led to prominent roles in the 1950s. her career was over by the 1960s. her roles included "state fair" (1949) …

• Dec. 27 Alan Bates

  British actor, stage and screen. he starred in the original london stage production "look back in anger" at 22. he appeared in many movies including "the fixer," zorba the greek," "women in love", and "georgy girl". his brilliant debut on the stage was continued with roles like "butley" or "fortune's fool."

• Dec. 30 Anita Mui

  Hong Kong singer and actress, known as the 'Madonna of Asia.'