Famous people and celebrities who died in May 2015

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 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

• May 1 Grace Lee Whitney

  Grace Lee Whitney was an American actress best known for her role as Yeoman Janice Rand in the original Star Trek television series. She was a significant figure in science fiction television history and appeared in multiple Star Trek films.

• May 1 María Elena Velasco

  Prominent Mexican actress, singer, director, and screenwriter known for her significant contributions to Mexican entertainment industry.

• May 1 Geoff Duke

  Legendary Isle of Man motorcycle racer who dominated international racing in the 1950s, winning multiple world championships.

• May 2 Michael Blake

  Acclaimed American novelist and screenwriter best known for 'Dances with Wolves', which won him an Academy Award and Golden Globe in 1991.

• May 2 Ruth Rendell

  Renowned British crime novelist who wrote over 20 psychological thrillers, winning numerous prestigious awards including the Gold Dagger. She was a master of the crime fiction genre, creating complex characters and intricate narratives that earned her critical acclaim.

• May 2 Maya Plisetskaya

  Legendary Russian ballerina, choreographer, and actress who was a principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet and renowned worldwide for her extraordinary artistic contributions.

• May 3 Danny Jones

  English musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor who was a member of the band McFly and tragically died in 2015.

• May 6 Jim Wright

  Jim Wright was a prominent American politician who served as the 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1989.

• May 8 Zeki Alasya

  Prominent Turkish actor and film director known for his significant contributions to Turkish cinema during the mid-20th century. He was a versatile performer who worked extensively in theater, film, and television.

• May 9 Kenan Evren

  Turkish military officer who served as the seventh President of Turkey from 1982 to 1989, playing a significant role in Turkish political history during a critical period of military intervention.

• May 10 Chris Burden

  Renowned American conceptual artist known for groundbreaking performance art and sculptural installations that challenged traditional art boundaries.

• May 11 Jef Geeraerts

  Flemish writer and former Belgian Congo colonial administrator who transitioned to writing after returning to Belgium following the Congo's independence. He studied Germanic languages at Brussels University and became a notable author.

• May 12 Peter Gay

  Renowned German-American historian and cultural critic who made significant contributions to intellectual and cultural history.

• May 14 B.B. King

  Duplicate record of B.B. King

• May 14 Franz Wright

  Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet known for his deeply personal and introspective poetry exploring themes of spirituality, addiction, and personal transformation.

• May 16 Moshe Levinger

  Israeli rabbi and author (b. 1935)

• May 19 Happy Rockefeller

  Happy Rockefeller was a prominent American socialite and the wife of Nelson Rockefeller, a powerful political figure who served as Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States. She was known for her social prominence and complex personal life, having children from a previous marriage before marrying Nelson.

• May 21 Louis Johnson

  American bass player and producer known for being part of The Brothers Johnson, a funk and R&B band popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

• May 22 Marques Haynes

  Legendary basketball player known for his extraordinary dribbling skills and long career with the Harlem Globetrotters, considered one of the greatest dribblers in basketball history.

• May 23 Anne Meara

  Renowned American comedian, actress, and playwright who was part of the famous comedy duo Stiller and Meara, and mother of actor Ben Stiller. She was a significant figure in comedy and entertainment.

• May 23 John Forbes Nash

  John Forbes Nash was a brilliant American mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to game theory and won the Nobel Prize in Economics. He was also known for his remarkable struggle with schizophrenia, which was famously portrayed in the movie 'A Beautiful Mind'.

• May 23 John F. Nash Jr.

  Nobel Prize laureate for their pioneering analysis of equilibria in the theory of non-cooperative games

• May 24 Tanith Lee

  Acclaimed British fantasy and science fiction author known for her innovative and imaginative works across multiple genres, particularly in dark fantasy and speculative fiction.

• May 26 Vicente Aranda

  Vicente Aranda was a renowned Spanish film director, producer, and screenwriter who made significant contributions to Spanish cinema, known for his distinctive storytelling and artistic vision.

• May 29 Doris Hart

  Doris Hart was a prominent American tennis player who won the Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship in 1951, establishing herself as a significant figure in mid-20th century tennis.

• May 29 Henry Carr

  Olympic gold medalist from Detroit who won gold in the 200m and 4x400m relay at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. A notable track and field athlete who represented the United States with distinction.

• May 30 L. Tom Perry

  Prominent Mormon religious leader who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many years.

• May 30 Joël Champetier

  Canadian screenwriter and science fiction author who made significant contributions to French-Canadian literature before his death in 2015.

• May 30 Beau Biden

  Son of Joe Biden, lawyer, politician, and Delaware Attorney General who passed away in 2015 after battling brain cancer.