Famous people and celebrities who died on April 28

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on April 28. On this day, we honor the lives and legacies of notable figures from various fields who left an indelible mark on the world. Explore our list to learn about their remarkable contributions and celebrate their enduring impact.

• 1813 Mikhail Kutuzov

  Russian Field Marshal who played a key role in the Napoleonic Wars.

• 1903 Josiah Willard Gibbs

  Known for his contributions to thermodynamics and physical chemistry.

• 1945 Hermann Fegelein

  Nazi SS General who was Hitler's brother-in-law and was executed by Hitler in the final days of World War II for alleged desertion in the Berlin bunker.

• 1945 Claretta Petacci

  Mistress of Benito Mussolini who was executed alongside him at the end of World War II, symbolizing the dramatic fall of the Italian Fascist regime.

• 1954 Léon Jouhaux

  PEA - French union leader, nobel prize laureate (b. 1879)

• 1975 Tom Donahue

  Pioneering American FM radio DJ who was instrumental in developing freeform radio format during the 1960s and 1970s.

• 1977 Ricardo Cortez

  Ricardo Cortez was a prominent American actor during the transition from silent films to talkies, known for his versatile roles and suave screen presence in early Hollywood cinema.

• 1978 Mohammed Daoud Khan

  Afghan commander and politician who became the first President of Afghanistan, playing a significant role in the country's modern political history.

• 1992 Francis Bacon

  Francis Bacon was a pioneering English philosopher of the Renaissance who significantly advanced the scientific method and empirical approach to knowledge. His works 'Novum Organum' and advocacy for inductive reasoning profoundly influenced the development of modern scientific thinking.

• 1993 Jim Valvano

  Iconic North Carolina State basketball coach who became famous for his inspirational speech before dying of cancer at age 47. His legacy continues through the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

• 1997 Ann Petry

  Ann Petry was an influential African American novelist and journalist known for her powerful narratives exploring racial and social issues in mid-20th century America. Her most famous novel, 'The Street', won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award and was the first novel by an African American woman to sell over one million copies.

• 1999 Rory Calhoun

  Rory Calhoun was a prominent American Western film actor known for his rugged looks and versatile roles in movies and television during the 1940s-1970s. He starred in notable films like 'River of No Return' and was particularly famous for his villainous television characters.

• 1999 Arthur Schawlow

  Arthur Schawlow was a pioneering American physicist who co-invented the laser and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1981 for groundbreaking work in laser spectroscopy.

• 1999 Alf Ramsey

  Legendary English football manager who led England to World Cup victory in 1966, transforming the national team's tactical approach.

• 1999 Arthur Leonard Schawlow

  Nobel Prize laureate for their contribution to the development of laser spectroscopy

• 2000 Jerzy Einhorn

  Polish-Swedish physician, researcher, politician, and Holocaust survivor who made significant contributions to medicine and public health.

• 2002 Lou Thesz

  Lou Thesz was a legendary professional wrestler widely considered one of the most influential wrestlers in history, who helped transform wrestling from entertainment to a more legitimate athletic competition.

• 2005 Percy Heath

  Renowned American jazz bassist, member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and the Heath Brothers.

• 2007 Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker

  Prominent German physicist and philosopher who made significant contributions to quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, and philosophical studies of science.

• 2007 Tommy Newsom

  Tommy Newsom was an accomplished American saxophonist and bandleader, best known for his work on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

• 2007 Bertha Wilson

  Pioneering Scottish-Canadian lawyer and jurist who served as the 60th puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, breaking significant barriers for women in the legal profession.

• 2011 Erhard Loretan

  Renowned Swiss mountaineer and journalist famous for his extraordinary alpine climbing achievements, particularly in extreme conditions and challenging routes.

• 2012 Patricia Medina

  Prominent English actress known for her roles in numerous films during the mid-20th century, particularly in British cinema and Hollywood productions.

• 2013 Janos Starker

  World-renowned Hungarian-American cellist, considered one of the most significant musicians of the 20th century in classical music.

• 2014 Edgar Laprade

  Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the mid-20th century, known for his contributions to the sport.

• 2014 Jack Ramsay

  Jack Ramsay was a legendary NBA coach who led the Portland Trail Blazers to their first and only NBA championship in 1977, transforming the team's history.

• 2019 John Singleton

  Pioneering African American film director known for groundbreaking movies like 'Boyz n the Hood' that explored Black urban experiences. He was the first African American nominated for a Best Director Oscar and significantly influenced modern cinema.

• 2021 Michael Collins

  Renowned NASA astronaut who piloted the Apollo 11 command module during the historic first moon landing, playing a crucial role in one of humanity's greatest achievements.