Famous people and celebrities who died in October 2006

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in October 2006. 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

Oct. 1 Jerald Tanner
Prolific author of mystery novels that captivated readers worldwide.
Oct. 2 Tamara Dobson
Prominent African American actress known for her iconic role in the 1970s blaxploitation film 'Cleopatra Jones', where she played a tall, powerful undercover agent fighting drug crime.
Oct. 2 Paul Halmos
Paul Halmos was a renowned mathematician who made significant contributions to functional analysis, probability theory, and mathematical logic. He was known for his clear writing style and influential textbooks that helped shape mathematical education in the 20th century.
Oct. 3 John Crank
Renowned English mathematician and physicist known for significant contributions to applied mathematics, particularly in numerical analysis and computational methods.
Oct. 3 Peter Norman
Australian Olympic athlete famous for his symbolic human rights protest during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics medal ceremony, standing in solidarity with Black American athletes.
Oct. 4 Tom Bell
Tom Bell was a respected English actor who performed extensively on stage and in film during his career.
Oct. 6 Buck O'Neil
Buck O'Neil was a pioneering African American baseball player and manager in the Negro Leagues, who later became a key ambassador for baseball history and the first African American coach in Major League Baseball.
Oct. 7 Anna Politkovskaia
Anna Politkovskaya was a renowned Russian investigative journalist who courageously reported on human rights violations in Chechnya, critically examining the Russian government's actions. Her fearless journalism made her a prominent voice against state oppression, ultimately leading to her assassination in 2006.
Oct. 9 Kanshi Ram
Prominent Indian politician and social activist who founded the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), dedicated to empowering lower castes and marginalized communities in India.
Oct. 9 Danièle Huillet
Influential French filmmaker who, together with Jean-Marie Straub, created avant-garde cinema known for its intellectual rigor and minimalist style. Their collaborative work spanned over four decades, primarily focusing on experimental and politically engaged filmmaking.
Oct. 9 Paul Hunter
Paul Hunter was a talented English professional snooker player known for his charismatic style and early success before his tragic early death in 2006.
Oct. 10 Scott Ian
Scott Ian is a renowned guitarist and founding member of the thrash metal band Anthrax, known for his significant contributions to the heavy metal music scene and crossover thrash genre.
Oct. 11 Cory Lidle
Professional baseball pitcher tragically known for his fatal plane crash into a New York apartment building on October 11, 2006, which ended his life and career.
Oct. 12 Gillo Pontecorvo
Renowned Italian film director and screenwriter, best known for his politically charged films like 'The Battle of Algiers'.
Oct. 14 Freddy Fender
Renowned Tejano and country music singer, known for his work with Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven, blending Mexican-American musical styles.
Oct. 16 Valentín Paniagua
Peruvian lawyer and politician who served as the 91st President of Peru, playing a crucial role in the transition of power after the Fujimori era.
Oct. 17 Daniel Emilfork
Chilean-French actor known for his distinctive appearance and roles in surrealist and art-house films, particularly in European cinema during the mid-20th century.
Oct. 18 Anna Russell
Anna Russell was a renowned British comedic performer famous for her satirical musical performances and parodies of opera, particularly her hilarious interpretations of classical music genres.
Oct. 19 Phyllis Kirk
Phyllis Kirk was an American actress known for her roles in film noir and television during the 1950s and 1960s, particularly remembered for her performance in the classic horror film 'House of Wax'.
Oct. 20 Jane Wyatt
Renowned American actress known for her roles in television and film, particularly in the classic sitcom 'Father Knows Best'.
Oct. 21 Sandy West
Sandy West was a pioneering female rock musician, best known as the drummer of the influential all-female rock band The Runaways, which launched the careers of Joan Jett and Lita Ford.
Oct. 25 Emilio Vedova
Emilio Vedova was a prominent Italian abstract expressionist painter who significantly influenced post-war European art through his dynamic, gestural canvases and innovative use of color and movement.
Oct. 25 Danny Rolling
American serial killer known as the 'Gainesville Ripper', who murdered eight people in Florida in the late 1980s and was executed in 2006.
Oct. 26 Pontus Hultén
Pontus Hultén was a pioneering Swedish art historian, museum director, and influential art collector who significantly shaped modern art curation.
Oct. 26 Tillman Franks
American bassist and songwriter (b. 1920)
Oct. 27 Joe Niekro
Joe Niekro was a professional Major League Baseball pitcher who played for multiple teams, known for his knuckleball technique and being part of a famous baseball family.
Oct. 28 Red Auerbach
Legendary NBA coach and executive who transformed the Boston Celtics, leading them to multiple championships and becoming a pivotal figure in basketball history.
Oct. 28 Marijohn Wilkin
American guitarist and songwriter (b. 1920)
Oct. 30 Clifford Geertz
Clifford Geertz was a highly influential American anthropologist who revolutionized cultural anthropology through his interpretive approach to understanding human societies. He is best known for his concept of 'thick description' and his groundbreaking studies of Balinese and Javanese cultures.
Oct. 31 P. W. Botha
South African politician who served as State President of South Africa from 1984 to 1989, known for his complex role during the apartheid era and resistance to political reforms.