Famous people and celebrities who died on December 13

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on December 13. 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.

• 1565 Conrad Gessner

  Swiss botanist and zoologist (d.1565).

• 1784 Samuel Johnson

  English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, and lexicographer.

• 1924 Samuel Gompers

  English-born american labor leader, founded the american federation of labor (b. 1850)

• 1930 Fritz Pregl

  CHE - Slovenian-austrian chemist and physician, nobel prize laureate (b. 1869)

• 1935 Victor Grignard

  CHE - French chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1871)

• 1944 Lupe Velez

  Mexican-American actress known for her fiery personality and prominent roles in Hollywood during the Golden Age of cinema, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s.

• 1945 Irma Grese

  Notorious Nazi SS guard known for her brutal cruelty at concentration camps Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen during World War II. She was one of the most infamous female war criminals, nicknamed the 'Hyena of Auschwitz'. Executed for war crimes in 1945 at the age of 22.

• 1945 Elisabeth Volkenrath

  Nazi concentration camp supervisor at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, known for her brutal treatment of prisoners during the Holocaust. She was tried and executed for war crimes after World War II.

• 1945 Josef Kramer

  Notorious Nazi SS officer and commandant of multiple concentration camps during World War II, including Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. He was known as the 'Beast of Belsen' for his brutal treatment of prisoners and was executed for war crimes after the war.

• 1947 Nicholas Roerich

  Russian aristocrat; artist, philosopher and archaeologist. he is a descendant of the royal roerich line. author and teacher of agni yoga. he is married to helena roerich. they have two sons. they made india their home in 1934 and settled in the kulu valley.

• 1950 Abraham Wald

  Pioneering mathematician who made significant contributions to statistical theory, decision theory, and operations research during World War II.

• 1955 António Caetano de Abreu Freire Egas Moniz

  Nobel Prize laureate for his discovery of the therapeutic value of leucotomy in certain psychoses

• 1979 Jon Hall

  American film actor who was active from the 1930s to 1950s, known for changing his name from Lloyd Crane to Jon Hall in 1936 and appearing in numerous Hollywood productions.

• 1981 Cornelius Cardew

  Influential British composer known for his groundbreaking work in avant-garde and experimental music, significantly contributing to the post-war musical landscape.

• 1983 Nichita Stănescu

  Renowned Romanian poet and literary critic, considered one of the most important Romanian poets of the 20th century, known for his innovative and profound lyrical style.

• 1983 Alexander Schmemann

  Prominent Eastern Orthodox priest, theologian, and professor who significantly influenced Orthodox Christian thought in the 20th century, particularly in North America.

• 1986 Smita Patil

  Iconic Indian actress who significantly contributed to parallel cinema and was known for her powerful, socially conscious performances in both Hindi and Marathi films before her untimely death at 31.

• 1986 Ella Baker

  Pivotal African American civil rights activist who played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement, working with organizations like SCLC and SNCC to empower grassroots activism.

• 1990 Alice Marble

  Legendary American tennis champion who dominated women's tennis in the late 1930s, winning multiple Grand Slam titles and breaking barriers for women in sports. Her remarkable career included Wimbledon and U.S. Singles championships.

• 1996 Cao Yu

  Cao Yu was a renowned Chinese dramatist and playwright who significantly influenced modern Chinese literature during the 20th century.

• 1998 Lew Grade

  Influential British media mogul who played a crucial role in television entertainment, producing numerous popular TV shows and helping shape the British entertainment industry.

• 2002 Zal Yanovsky

  Canadian musician who co-founded the influential 1960s rock band The Lovin' Spoonful, contributing significantly to the folk-rock music scene.

• 2005 Alan Shields

  Alan Shields was an accomplished American painter known for his innovative textile art and unique abstract works. He was also a ferryboat captain, demonstrating a diverse and interesting life trajectory.

• 2006 Lamar Hunt

  Lamar Hunt was a pioneering American sports entrepreneur who founded the American Football League and Major League Soccer, significantly impacting professional sports in the United States.

• 2009 Paul A. Samuelson

  Nobel Prize laureate for the scientific work through which he has developed static and dynamic economic theory and actively contributed to raising the level of analysis in economic science

• 2010 Richard Holbrooke

  Richard Holbrooke was a prominent American diplomat who played a crucial role in negotiating the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the Bosnian War. He served in key diplomatic positions under multiple US administrations, including as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• 2010 Enrique Morente

  Renowned Spanish flamenco singer and composer who significantly influenced modern flamenco music. He was a key figure in blending traditional flamenco with contemporary styles.

• 2015 Benedict Anderson

  Renowned political scientist and historian who made groundbreaking contributions to understanding nationalism, particularly in Southeast Asian contexts. His book 'Imagined Communities' is a seminal work in the field.

• 2016 Alan Thicke

  Canadian-American television personality known for his iconic role as Jason Seaver on the popular family sitcom 'Growing Pains'. He was a versatile entertainer who worked as a TV host, comedian, actor, and writer throughout his career.

• 2016 Thomas C. Schelling

  Nobel Prize laureate for having enhanced our understanding of conflict and cooperation through game-theory analysis