Famous people and celebrities who died in October 2015

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

Oct. 2 Brian Friel
Acclaimed Irish playwright and director known for his significant contributions to contemporary Irish theatre and literature.
Oct. 2 Coleridge Goode
Jamaican-English jazz bassist and composer who made significant contributions to the British jazz scene in the mid-20th century.
Oct. 3 Denis Healey
Prominent British Labour Party politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and played a significant role in UK politics during the 1960s and 1970s.
Oct. 4 Neal Walk
Neal Walk was an accomplished American professional basketball player who played in the NBA during the late 1960s and early 1970s, primarily with the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Jazz.
Oct. 5 Henning Mankell
Renowned Swedish author and playwright famous for his crime novels, particularly the internationally acclaimed 'Wallander' detective series.
Oct. 6 Árpád Göncz
Prominent Hungarian author, playwright, and politician who served as the first president of Hungary after the fall of communism from 1990 to 2000.
Oct. 7 Harry Gallatin
Professional basketball player and coach who played for the New York Knicks and was a key figure in the NBA during the 1950s.
Oct. 8 Lindy Infante
American football coach who led the Indianapolis Colts from 1996-1997, known for his professional coaching career in the NFL. Despite limited playoff success, he was a significant figure in professional football coaching.
Oct. 8 Paul Prudhomme
Renowned American chef who was a pioneer of Cajun cuisine and helped popularize Louisiana cooking worldwide. He was famous for his innovative recipes and cookbooks that brought regional American cuisine to international attention.
Oct. 8 Jim Diamond
Scottish singer known for hit singles like 'I Won't Let You Down' and 'I Should Have Known Better' in the 1980s. He had multiple chart-topping songs and was a prominent pop musician of his era.
Oct. 9 Ravindra Jain
Renowned Indian music composer and director who significantly contributed to the Indian entertainment industry, known for his versatile musical talents.
Oct. 9 Geoffrey Howe
Influential Welsh lawyer and politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, playing a crucial role in British politics during the 1980s.
Oct. 9 Richard F. Heck
CHE - American chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (d. 2015)
Oct. 10 Sybil Stockdale
Prominent American activist who co-founded the National League of Families of Prisoners of War and played a crucial role in advocating for POWs during the Vietnam War.
Oct. 10 Manorama
Renowned Indian actress and singer who was a prominent figure in South Indian cinema, particularly in Malayalam and Tamil films, with a career spanning several decades.
Oct. 10 Hilla Becher
Renowned German photographer and artist, famous for her collaborative work with Bernd Becher in documenting industrial architecture.
Oct. 11 Dean Chance
Professional baseball pitcher who won the Cy Young Award in 1964 and played for multiple teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins.
Oct. 12 Joan Leslie
Prominent Hollywood actress of the 1940s and 1950s, known for her roles in classic films and her versatility as a performer.
Oct. 14 Mathieu Kérékou
Prominent Beninese politician who served as President of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and again from 1996 to 2006, playing a crucial role in the country's political transformation.
Oct. 15 Kenneth D. Taylor
Kenneth D. Taylor was a prominent Canadian diplomat and businessman who played a significant role during the Iran hostage crisis. He was instrumental in helping six American diplomats escape from Tehran in 1979.
Oct. 17 Danièle Delorme
French actress and film producer, daughter of a noted painter and resistance worker. She was a prominent figure in mid-20th century French cinema, known for her versatile acting and production work.
Oct. 18 Frank Watkins
American heavy metal bassist who played for bands Obituary and Gorgoroth, known for his significant contributions to extreme metal music.
Oct. 22 Joshua Wheeler
U.S. Army Delta Force special operations soldier who was killed in combat during a hostage rescue mission against ISIS in Iraq in 2015. He was the first American service member to die in combat against ISIS.
Oct. 24 Maureen O'Hara
A legendary Irish-American actress known for her vibrant screen presence in classic Hollywood films, particularly in romantic comedies and westerns. She starred in iconic movies like 'The Quiet Man' and 'Miracle on 34th Street', working with directors like John Ford and becoming a symbol of strong, spirited female characters.
Oct. 25 Lisa Jardine
Renowned British historian and academic who specialized in Renaissance studies, wrote extensively on cultural and intellectual history, and was a prominent public intellectual.
Oct. 25 Flip Saunders
Renowned NBA coach who led the Minnesota Timberwolves and significantly influenced professional basketball coaching strategies.
Oct. 26 Leo Kadanoff
Distinguished physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to theoretical condensed matter physics. Recognized for his significant scientific research and academic achievements.
Oct. 27 Betsy Drake
Betsy Drake was a notable English-American actress and writer known for her work in film and literature during the mid-20th century.
Oct. 30 Mel Daniels
NBA Hall of Fame player who was a key figure in the Indiana Pacers' early success, revolutionizing the power forward position in professional basketball.