Famous people and celebrities who died on August 2

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on August 2. 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.

• 1667 Francesco Borromini

  The san carlo alle quattro fontane was designed by a swiss-italian architect.

• 1788 Thomas Gainsborough

  Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter who was one of the most influential British artists of the 18th century.

• 1963 Oliver La Farge

  Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and anthropologist known for his work on Native American cultures, particularly the Navajo. His novel 'Laughing Boy' won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1930.

• 1973 Jean-Pierre Melville

  Influential French film director renowned for his stylish and minimalist crime noir films. He was a key figure in the French New Wave cinema movement, creating iconic movies that significantly impacted modern filmmaking. His works like 'Le Samouraï' are considered masterpieces of the genre.

• 1979 Thurman Munson

  Legendary New York Yankees catcher who was a key player in the 1970s, known for his intense competitiveness and exceptional skills behind the plate. He was the team captain and won multiple awards before his tragic death in a plane crash in 1979.

• 1981 Kieran Doherty

  Irish republican prisoner who became a prominent political figure during the 1981 Irish hunger strike at the Maze Prison, ultimately dying after 66 days of fasting.

• 1982 Cathleen Nesbitt

  English actress (separate tables) dies at 93

• 1983 James Jamerson

  Legendary Motown bass player who was a key member of the Funk Brothers, the most recorded music group in history, significantly contributing to the Detroit soul sound.

• 1988 Raymond Carver

  Raymond Carver was a seminal American short story writer and poet who revolutionized minimalist fiction in the late 20th century. His works profoundly influenced contemporary literature through collections like 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love'. He is considered a master of the short story form.

• 1990 Norman Maclean

  Renowned American writer best known for his novella 'A River Runs Through It', which was later adapted into a critically acclaimed film by Robert Redford. He was a professor of English at the University of Chicago and wrote primarily about the landscapes and people of Montana.

• 1992 Michel Berger

  Renowned French singer-songwriter who was part of a prominent musical family. He was married to singer France Gall and tragically died of a heart attack in 1992.

• 1996 Michel Debré

  Prominent French politician and statesman who played a crucial role in post-World War II France. He served as the first Prime Minister under President Charles de Gaulle and was instrumental in drafting the Constitution of the Fifth Republic.

• 1997 William Burroughs

  Influential Beat Generation writer known for his experimental novel 'Naked Lunch', which challenged literary conventions and explored themes of addiction, sexuality, and social control. A key figure in postmodern literature who significantly influenced 20th-century counterculture.

• 1997 Fela Kuti

  Fela Kuti was a groundbreaking Nigerian musician, political activist, and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre who challenged political oppression through his music and activism.

• 1999 Willie Morris

  Willie Morris was a notable American writer known for his Southern literature and memoirs, including 'North Toward Home'. He was an influential journalist and editor of Harper's Magazine during the 1960s.

• 2003 Peter Safar

  Pioneering Austrian-American physician known for his critical contributions to emergency medicine and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques.

• 2004 François Craenhals

  Belgian comic book illustrator known for his significant contributions to Franco-Belgian comics during the mid-20th century.

• 2007 Chauncey Bailey

  Courageous investigative journalist murdered in 2007, known for his fearless reporting on social justice issues and community challenges.

• 2008 Fujio Akatsuka

  Renowned Japanese manga artist and cartoonist, famous for creating iconic manga series and significantly influencing Japanese popular culture.

• 2013 Julius L. Chambers

  Renowned civil rights lawyer and activist who played a crucial role in advancing racial equality through landmark legal cases and educational leadership.

• 2014 Billie Letts

  American novelist best known for her critically acclaimed book 'Where the Heart Is', which was later adapted into a successful film starring Natalie Portman.

• 2015 Forrest Bird

  American inventor and pilot who made significant contributions to medical technology, particularly in respiratory devices.

• 2016 Ahmed Zewail

  Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian-American chemist who made groundbreaking contributions to the field of femtochemistry, revolutionizing our understanding of chemical reactions at the molecular level.

• 2017 Judith Jones

  Renowned American literary editor who played a crucial role in publishing influential cookbooks and literary works, including Julia Child's seminal cookbook and works by notable authors.

• 2017 Ara Parseghian

  Legendary American football coach of Armenian descent who led Notre Dame University to significant national championships during the 1960s and early 1970s, transforming the football program's reputation.

• 2022 Vin Scully

  Vin Scully was a legendary sports broadcaster who spent an unprecedented 67 seasons as the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is widely considered the most famous and respected baseball announcer in history.

• 2023 Nitin Chandrakant Desai

  Renowned Indian art director and production designer who significantly contributed to Bollywood film aesthetics, known for his elaborate and creative set designs.