Famous people and celebrities who died in May 2003

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 2003. 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

• May 1 Miss Elizabeth

  Iconic professional wrestling manager and valet, known for her work in WWE and her significant role in wrestling storylines during the 1980s and early 1990s.

• May 3 Suzy Parker

  Suzy Parker was an iconic American fashion model and actress who was one of the most recognizable faces in the 1950s and early 1960s. She was known for her striking beauty and appeared in numerous high-profile fashion magazines and films.

• May 5 Walter Sisulu

  Walter Sisulu was a prominent South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, close friend of Nelson Mandela, and key leader in the African National Congress who played a crucial role in ending apartheid.

• May 9 Russell B. Long

  Prominent Democratic Senator from Louisiana who served for over three decades and was a significant figure in U.S. Senate finance committees.

• May 10 Milan Vukcevich

  Yugoslavian chess problem creator and chemist (born 1937).

• May 11 Noel Redding

  Bass guitarist who was a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, playing a crucial role in the band's iconic sound during the late 1960s.

• May 12 Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan

  Influential French-Pakistani diplomat who made significant contributions to international humanitarian efforts.

• May 14 Robert Stack

  Robert Stack was a versatile American actor known for his Emmy-winning role in 'The Untouchables' and Oscar-nominated performance in 'Written on the Wind'. Beyond acting, he was an accomplished sportsman who set world records in skeet shooting and boat racing before becoming a prominent Hollywood actor.

• May 14 Wendy Hiller

  Acclaimed British actress known for her powerful performances in classic films like 'Major Barbara' and 'David Copperfield'. She was a distinguished stage and screen actress with a notable career in British theatre and cinema.

• May 14 Dave DeBusschere

  Legendary NBA player who played for the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks, known for his exceptional skills as a forward and later as a coach.

• May 15 June Carter Cash

  Renowned American country music singer, songwriter, and actress best known for her work with Johnny Cash and her significant contributions to country music.

• May 16 Mark McCormack

  Pioneering sports agent who founded IMG (International Management Group), revolutionizing the sports marketing and representation industry. He is often credited with creating the modern sports management profession.

• May 17 Frank ''Pop'' Ivy

  American and canadian football coach (born 1916).

• May 21 Alejandro de Tomaso

  Alejandro de Tomaso was an influential Argentinian-Italian businessman and race car driver who founded the renowned De Tomaso automobile company. He was a significant figure in the automotive industry, creating innovative sports cars and leaving a lasting legacy in motorsports.

• May 21 Frank D. White

  American captain, banker, and politician, 41st governor of arkansas (b. 1933)

• May 22 Ousmane Zongo

  Burkinabe shooting victim

• May 23 Jean Yanne

  Prominent French actor, director, and screenwriter who made his screen debut in 1963 with Claude Lelouch's 'La Femme Spectacle'. He was a versatile artist known for his contributions to French cinema as both a performer and creative professional.

• May 24 Rachel Kempson

  Renowned English actress known for her stage and screen performances, and mother of famous actors Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave.

• May 25 Sloan Wilson

  American novelist best known for 'The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit', a seminal work critiquing corporate culture and post-war American society.

• May 26 Kathleen Winsor

  Kathleen Winsor was an American novelist who gained international fame for her bestselling historical romance 'Forever Amber', published in 1944. The novel, set in Restoration England, was considered scandalous for its time due to its explicit content and was banned in several locations. Her work significantly influenced historical fiction and challenged social norms of mid-20th century literature.

• May 27 Luciano Berio

  Renowned Italian-American composer and music educator who founded Studio di Fonologia Musicale and significantly influenced contemporary classical music.

• May 28 Martha Scott

  Martha Scott was a prominent American actress known for her stage and film performances, with notable roles in theater and Hollywood productions.

• May 28 Ilya Prigogine

  CHE - Russian-belgian chemist and physicist, nobel prize laureate (d. 2003)

• May 28 Ilya Romanovich Prigogine

  Nobel Prize laureate for his contributions to non-equilibrium thermodynamics, particularly the theory of dissipative structures

• May 28 Oleg Grigoryevich Makarov

  Prominent Russian cosmonaut and engineer who made significant contributions to the Soviet space program.

• May 30 Mickie Most

  Mickie Most was an influential English record producer who played a crucial role in shaping the British music scene during the 1960s and 1970s.