Famous people and celebrities who died in June 2015

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in June 2015. 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 Charles Kennedy

  Prominent British Liberal Democrat politician who served as party leader from 1999 to 2006, known for his principled opposition to the Iraq War and his significant contributions to British political discourse.

• June 1 Jacques Parizeau

  Prominent Canadian politician who was a key figure in Quebec's sovereignty movement during the 1990s. He served as Premier of Quebec and led the Parti Québécois, advocating for Quebec's potential independence from Canada.

• June 2 Irwin Rose

  Renowned American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004 for his groundbreaking work on protein degradation. His research significantly advanced understanding of how cells regulate protein breakdown.

• June 4 Marguerite Patten

  Renowned British food writer and home economist who significantly influenced post-World War II cooking in the United Kingdom. She was famous for her practical cookery advice and helped many British families improve their nutrition during rationing.

• June 5 Roger Vergé

  Legendary French chef who was a pivotal figure in nouvelle cuisine and considered the embodiment of French culinary excellence. Gault Millau praised him as the quintessential French chef for international audiences.

• June 6 Ludvík Vaculík

  Czech dissident writer and journalist who played a crucial role in the Prague Spring movement. His manifesto 'Two Thousand Words' became a significant document of political resistance against communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

• June 7 Christopher Lee

  Legendary British actor renowned for iconic horror roles in Hammer Films, particularly as Dracula. He was a towering figure in cinema with over 130 screen credits and a career spanning multiple genres. Lee was also known for his roles in Lord of the Rings and Star Wars franchises.

• June 11 Ron Moody

  British actor known for his memorable roles in comedy films, particularly as Fagin in the musical 'Oliver!'

• June 11 Ornette Coleman

  Groundbreaking jazz saxophonist and composer who revolutionized free jazz in the 1960s. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Music, Coleman was known for his unique, blues-influenced timbre and innovative musical approach.

• June 11 Dusty Rhodes

  Dusty Rhodes was an iconic professional wrestler known as 'The American Dream', who significantly influenced the wrestling industry through his charismatic persona and wrestling skills.

• June 15 Zhanna Friske

  Prominent Russian pop singer and media personality who was highly popular in the early 2000s and tragically passed away from brain cancer in 2015.

• June 15 Kirk Kerkorian

  Kirk Kerkorian was a legendary American business magnate who transformed Las Vegas through his strategic investments in the casino and hotel industry. Despite lacking a formal high school education, he became a billionaire and influential figure in entertainment and real estate. Forbes recognized him as one of America's wealthiest entrepreneurs.

• June 16 Jean Vautrin

  Prominent French writer and filmmaker known for his contributions to cinema and literature, with a significant career in directing and screenwriting.

• June 16 Charles Correa

  Influential Indian architect known for his modernist and humanistic approach to urban design. Pioneered sustainable and contextual architecture in India, with numerous significant projects worldwide.

• June 17 Süleyman Demirel

  Prominent Turkish engineer and politician who served as the 9th President of Turkey, playing a significant role in the country's political landscape.

• June 17 Clementa C. Pinckney

  Prominent African American minister and state senator tragically killed in the Charleston church shooting in 2015, becoming a symbol of racial injustice.

• June 17 John David Crow

  Heisman Trophy-winning football player and coach who had a significant impact on American football in the mid-20th century.

• June 19 James Salter

  Acclaimed American novelist and short story writer known for his elegant prose and profound exploration of human relationships.

• June 20 Angelo Niculescu

  Romanian footballer and manager (b. 1921)

• June 21 Gunther Schuller

  Influential American composer, conductor, and musicologist who significantly contributed to third stream music, bridging classical and jazz genres.

• June 22 James Horner

  Renowned film composer famous for iconic movie soundtracks like Titanic, Avatar, and Braveheart. He was a multiple Grammy and Academy Award nominee who significantly influenced film music composition. His tragic death in a plane crash in 2015 cut short a remarkable musical career.

• June 23 Dick Van Patten

  Versatile American actor who rose to fame with the popular family television series 'Eight is Enough' from 1977-1981. He began his acting career as a child, making his Broadway debut at just seven years old and continued to work in television and commercials throughout his career.

• June 25 Ralph Roberts

  Founder of Comcast Corporation, a pioneering media and telecommunications company that transformed the cable television and internet industry in the United States.

• June 25 Patrick Macnee

  Iconic British-American actor best known for his sophisticated role as John Steed in the groundbreaking spy series 'The Avengers', which revolutionized television entertainment in the 1960s.

• June 26 Yevgeny Primakov

  Yevgeny Primakov was a prominent Russian-Ukrainian journalist and politician who served as the 32nd Prime Minister of Russia, playing a significant role in the country's political landscape during the late 20th century.

• June 26 Chris Thompson

  American screenwriter and producer with a notable career in the entertainment industry.

• June 28 Wally Stanowski

  Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1919)

• June 30 Leonard Starr

  Renowned American comic strip artist famous for creating and drawing the iconic 'Little Orphan Annie' comic strip from 1970 to 2000.

• June 30 Charles W. Bagnal

  American general (b. 1934)