Famous people and celebrities who died in May 2012

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 2012. 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 2 Junior Seau
Junior Seau was a legendary NFL linebacker known for his exceptional skill, passion, and significant impact on the San Diego Chargers, tragically passing away in 2012.
May 2 Akira Tonomura
Renowned Japanese physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to electron microscopy and quantum mechanics, significantly advancing scientific understanding.
May 4 Adam Yauch
Founding member of the Beastie Boys, a groundbreaking hip-hop group that revolutionized the genre. Known as MCA, he was also a filmmaker and activist for Tibetan human rights.
May 4 Angelica Garnett
Prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group, Angelica Garnett was an English writer and artist with a complex family history. She was the daughter of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and was closely connected to Virginia Woolf's intellectual circle.
May 4 Bob Stewart
American television producer, founded stewart tele enterprises (b. 1920)
May 4 Mort Lindsey
American pianist, composer, and conductor (b. 1923)
May 8 Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak was a renowned American children's book author and illustrator, most famous for his groundbreaking work 'Where the Wild Things Are', which revolutionized children's literature with its imaginative storytelling and distinctive artistic style.
May 8 Roman Totenberg
Renowned Polish-American violinist and music educator who made significant contributions to classical music performance and teaching.
May 9 Vidal Sassoon
Iconic hairstylist who transformed modern hairdressing, creating geometric cuts that defined 1960s fashion and became a global hair care entrepreneur.
May 10 Carroll Shelby
Carroll Shelby was a legendary automotive designer and entrepreneur who revolutionized performance car design, most famously creating the AC Cobra and Shelby Mustang, transforming Ford's performance vehicle lineup.
May 12 Eddy Paape
Renowned Belgian comic book illustrator who made significant contributions to the European graphic arts scene throughout his career.
May 15 Carlos Fuentes
Renowned Mexican novelist, essayist, and intellectual who was a key figure in the Latin American literary boom of the 20th century.
May 15 Zakaria Mohieddin
Egyptian soldier and politician who served as the 33rd Prime Minister of Egypt, contributing to the country's political history during a critical period.
May 17 Donna Summer
Donna Summer was a renowned singer known as the 'Queen of Disco.'
May 18 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Renowned German baritone who was a leading classical music interpreter of the 20th century, famous for his exceptional lieder performances and profound musical interpretations.
May 18 Peter Jones
Prominent British entrepreneur famous for his appearances on the popular business reality show Dragons' Den, where he invests in and mentors startup businesses.
May 19 Bob Boozer
Professional American basketball player who competed in the 1960s, representing the United States in international competitions.
May 20 Robin Gibb
Legendary Bee Gees member and influential pop music singer-songwriter who significantly shaped the disco and pop music landscape of the 1970s.
May 20 Eugene Polley
Pioneering inventor who created the first wireless television remote control for Zenith Electronics, fundamentally changing home entertainment technology.
May 20 Ken Lyons
Ken Lyons was an American bass guitarist known for his work with the rock band 38 Special, contributing to their distinctive Southern rock sound during his career.
May 23 Paul Fussell
Renowned American historian, literary critic, and cultural commentator known for his insightful works on war literature and social criticism.
May 24 Jacqueline Harpman
Belgian psychoanalyst and renowned author known for her psychological novels and critical works exploring human complexity and inner landscapes.
May 25 William Hanley
An accomplished American writer who made significant contributions to television, theater, and literature during the mid-20th century. He wrote plays and novels, with his first play 'Conversations in the Dark' produced in 1963 and his debut novel 'Blue Dreams' published in 1971.
May 29 Doc Watson
Legendary blind folk musician who revolutionized American roots music, mastering guitar and influencing generations of musicians across bluegrass, country, and folk genres.
May 29 Kaneto Shindo
Influential Japanese film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his avant-garde and socially critical cinema, particularly in post-war Japanese film.
May 30 Andrew Huxley
MED - English physiologist and biophysicist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1917)
May 30 Andrew Fielding Huxley
Nobel Prize laureate for their discoveries concerning the ionic mechanisms involved in excitation and inhibition in the peripheral and central portions of the nerve cell membrane
May 30 Jack Twyman
Professional basketball player and sportscaster who had a notable career in the NBA. He was known for his skills on the court and later work in sports broadcasting.
May 31 Orlando Woolridge
Professional basketball player who played in the NBA and later became a coach, known for his significant contributions to the sport.