Famous people and celebrities who died in July 2004

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in July 2004. 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 1 Marlon Brando
Legendary American actor who revolutionized film acting with his intense, naturalistic method. He starred in iconic films like 'The Godfather' and 'A Streetcar Named Desire', profoundly influencing cinema's emotional landscape. His performances challenged traditional acting techniques and set new standards for authenticity.
July 3 Andriyan Nikolayev
Soviet cosmonaut and military pilot who made significant contributions to space exploration. He was part of the early Soviet space program and completed multiple space missions during the Cold War era.
July 4 Jean-Marie Auberson
Renowned Swiss conductor and violinist who made significant contributions to classical music performance and interpretation during the 20th century.
July 5 Rodger Ward
Renowned American race car driver and sportscaster who competed professionally and became a notable figure in motorsports during the mid-20th century.
July 5 Hugh Shearer
Prominent Jamaican politician who served as the 3rd Prime Minister of Jamaica, playing a crucial role in the country's post-independence political development.
July 6 Thomas Klestil
Thomas Klestil was an influential Austrian politician who served as the 10th President of Austria from 1992 to 2004, playing a significant role in the country's political landscape during a critical period of post-Cold War transformation.
July 8 Paula Danziger
Paula Danziger was a renowned American children's book author known for her engaging and relatable young adult novels like 'The Cat Ate My Gymsuit' and 'There's a Bat in Bunk Five'. She was a significant figure in young adult literature during the 1970s and 1980s.
July 9 Isabel Sanford
Renowned African American actress best known for her iconic role as Louise Jefferson in the groundbreaking sitcom 'The Jeffersons' and 'All in the Family'.
July 11 Laurance Rockefeller
Prominent American businessman, philanthropist, and environmental conservationist who was a key figure in conservation efforts and venture capital during the mid-20th century.
July 12 Betty Oliphant
Renowned English-Canadian ballerina who co-founded the National Ballet School of Canada and significantly contributed to the development of professional ballet in the country.
July 14 Alice Coachman
Pioneering African American athlete who broke racial barriers by becoming the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field, specifically in the high jump at the 1948 London Olympics.
July 16 Charles Sweeney
Charles Sweeney was an American military pilot who notably piloted one of the B-29 bombers during the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in World War II. He was a key figure in a pivotal moment of 20th-century military history.
July 18 André Castelot
André Castelot was a prolific Belgian historian and biographer who authored over 100 books, primarily focusing on biographical works about famous historical figures. He came from an artistic family, being the son of Maurice Chabas, a symbolist painter.
July 19 Zenkō Suzuki
Japanese politician who served as the 70th Prime Minister of Japan from 1980 to 1982, playing a significant role in Japanese politics during the early 1980s.
July 21 Jerry Goldsmith
Renowned American film composer who created iconic musical scores for numerous movies and TV shows, including Star Trek and Planet of the Apes. He was a multiple Emmy and Grammy Award winner and significantly influenced film music composition.
July 21 Edward B. Lewis
MED - American biologist, geneticist, and academic, nobel prize laureate (d. 2004)
July 22 Sacha Distel
Renowned French singer, guitarist, and composer who was a prominent figure in French music during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a versatile artist known for his jazz guitar skills and international hit 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head'.
July 22 Illinois Jacquet
Renowned American jazz saxophonist and composer who was a key figure in the development of bebop and rhythm and blues.
July 23 Serge Reggiani
Renowned Italian-French singer and actor who had a significant career in music and cinema during the mid-20th century.
July 23 Piero Piccioni
Renowned Italian film composer and musician who created soundtracks for numerous classic Italian cinema works, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.
July 23 Carlos Paredes
Renowned Portuguese composer and guitarist known for his significant contributions to traditional Portuguese music. He was a key figure in preserving and popularizing Portuguese guitar styles.
July 23 Mehmood Ali
Indian actor, director, and producer (b. 1932)
July 24 Bob Azzam
Egyptian-Monacan singer known for his international musical career spanning multiple cultural backgrounds.
July 28 Francis Crick
Francis Crick was a renowned British molecular biologist who, together with James Watson, discovered the double helix structure of DNA, revolutionizing our understanding of genetics and earning a Nobel Prize in 1962.
July 28 Tiziano Terzani
Renowned Italian journalist and writer known for his profound insights into Asian culture. His book 'A Fortune Teller Told Me' chronicles a unique year-long journey across Asia without flying, inspired by a fortune teller's advice. Terzani was a respected intellectual who deeply explored Eastern philosophies and societal transformations.
July 28 Francis Harry Compton Crick
Nobel Prize laureate for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material
July 29 Rena Vlahopoulou
Prominent Greek singer and actress who was a significant figure in mid-20th century Greek entertainment, known for her contributions to music and cinema.
July 31 Laura Betti
Renowned Italian actress and close friend of Pier Paolo Pasolini, known for her collaborations with major Italian filmmakers like Fellini and Bertolucci. She was also a professional jazz singer before her acting career and created a documentary about Pasolini in 2001.