Famous people and celebrities who died in June 2005

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in June 2005. 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 George Mikan

  George Mikan was a pioneering professional basketball player who revolutionized the game with his dominant center play. He was a key figure in the early NBA, winning multiple championships and helping establish basketball as a professional sport. Mikan's impact on basketball led to rule changes and is considered one of the first true superstars of the game.

• June 1 Hilda Crosby Standish

  American physician (b. 1902)

• June 2 Samir Kassir

  Lebanese teacher and journalist (born 1950).

• June 2 Gunder Gundersen

  Norwegian official and skier (born 1930).

• June 2 Lucien Cliche

  Canadian lawyer and politician (b. 1916)

• June 5 Adolfo Aguilar Zínser

  Mexican scholar and politician (b. 1949)

• June 6 Anne Bancroft

  Anne Bancroft was an acclaimed American actress who won an Oscar for her iconic role in 'The Miracle Worker' and was nominated for her performances in 'The Graduate' and 'The Pumpkin Eater'. She was a versatile performer who excelled in film, theater, and television, winning multiple awards including a Tony and recognition from the British Film Academy.

• June 6 Dana Elcar

  Renowned American actor and director known for his roles in television series like MacGyver, where he played Pete Thornton. He had a successful career spanning several decades in film and television.

• June 10 Curtis Pitts

  American aircraft designer, designed the pitts special (b. 1915)

• June 11 Anne-Marie Alonzo

  Canadian playwright, poet, novelist, critic and publisher (b. 1951)

• June 13 David Diamond

  David Diamond was a prominent American composer and music educator known for his significant contributions to 20th-century classical music. He composed numerous symphonies, chamber works, and received critical acclaim for his compositional style.

• June 13 Alvaro Cunhal

  Alvaro Cunhal was a prominent Portuguese communist politician who led the Portuguese Communist Party for decades and played a crucial role in Portugal's political transformation during and after the Carnation Revolution.

• June 13 Lane Smith

  Accomplished American actor known for diverse roles in film and television, with a career spanning several decades before his death in 2005.

• June 14 Carlo Maria Giulini

  Renowned Italian conductor and musician who was a significant figure in classical music during the 20th century, known for his interpretations of opera and symphonic works.

• June 15 Suzanne Flon

  Renowned French actress with a distinguished career in cinema, known for her roles in films like 'One Deadly Summer' and 'Moulin Rouge'. A significant figure in French cinema of the 20th century.

• June 17 Karl Mueller

  Karl Mueller was the bass player of the alternative rock band Soul Asylum, known for their hit song 'Runaway Train'. He passed away in 2005 after battling cancer.

• June 18 Mushtaq Ali

  Prominent Indian cricketer who was a key figure in early Indian cricket, known for his batting skills and contributions to the sport's development in India.

• June 18 Manuel Sadosky

  Argentinian mathematician and academic (b. 1914)

• June 20 Jack Kilby

  Jack Kilby was an American electrical engineer and inventor who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2000 for his groundbreaking work in developing the integrated circuit, which revolutionized modern electronics.

• June 20 Larry Collins

  Renowned American-French journalist and author known for his historical non-fiction works and collaborative writing with Dominique Lapierre.

• June 23 Manolis Anagnostakis

  Prominent Greek poet and literary critic who significantly influenced modern Greek poetry in the post-war period.

• June 24 Paul Winchell

  Renowned American ventriloquist, voice actor, and inventor who created the famous puppet characters Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff, and was also a pioneering voice actor for numerous cartoon characters.

• June 27 Domino Harvey

  Domino Harvey was a unique British bounty hunter who became the subject of a biographical film, known for her unconventional life and career in law enforcement.

• June 27 Shelby Foote

  Shelby Foote was a prominent American historian and novelist, best known for his comprehensive three-volume narrative history of the American Civil War. He gained widespread recognition through his extensive interviews in Ken Burns' documentary series 'The Civil War'.

• June 27 Frank Harte

  Prominent traditional Irish folk singer and song collector who was instrumental in preserving Irish musical heritage and folklore.

• June 27 John T. Walton

  American businessman, co-founded the children's scholarship fund (b. 1946)

• June 27 Ray Holmes

  Battle of britain veteran (born in 1914).

• June 28 Michael P. Murphy

  American lieutenant and Medal of Honor recipient who heroically died in combat in Afghanistan in 2005.