Famous people and celebrities who died on February 1

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on February 1. 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.

• 1873 Matthew Maury

  American astronomer and historian, oceanographers, meteorologists, cartographers, authors, geologists, and educators.

• 1903 George Stokes

  Developed the Navier-Stokes equations, which describe the motion of viscous fluid substances.

• 1958 Clinton Davisson

  PHY - American physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1888)

• 1966 Hedda Hopper

  American journalist and hollywood gossip columnist. she was in both radio and syndication. despite a poor education, she was syndicated by national newspapers two years after her column was launched in 1936. she made silent films in numerous formats and tried her hand at fashion.

• 1966 Buster Keaton

  Buster keaton was a pioneering actor and filmmaker known for his deadpan expression and physical comedy in silent films.

• 1970 Alfréd Rényi

  Prominent Hungarian mathematician known for significant contributions to probability theory and academic research.

• 1975 Richard Wattis

  Actor (dick & duchess of liberace), dies aged 62

• 1976 Werner Heisenberg

  Werner Heisenberg was a renowned German physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics, particularly the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

• 1976 George Whipple

  MED - American physician and pathologist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1878)

• 1986 Alva Myrdal

  PEA - Swedish sociologist and politician, nobel prize laureate (d. 1986)

• 1988 Heather O'Rourke

  Famous child actress best known for her role in the Poltergeist film series, who tragically died at a young age of 12 due to medical complications.

• 1989 Elaine de Kooning

  Prominent American abstract expressionist painter renowned for her innovative portraits and dynamic figurative works. She was a significant figure in the mid-20th century art movement.

• 1992 Jean Hamburger

  Pioneering French nephrologist who revolutionized kidney transplantation and served as president of the French Academy of Sciences. He was a key figure in developing modern transplant medicine and medical research.

• 1997 Herb Caen

  Legendary San Francisco Chronicle columnist who chronicled the city's culture, politics, and social life for over five decades, becoming an iconic voice of San Francisco.

• 1999 Paul Mellon

  Prominent American art collector, philanthropist, and heir to the Mellon banking and oil fortune who significantly contributed to art museums and cultural institutions across the United States.

• 2002 Hildegard Knef

  Renowned German actress who appeared in 56 films by 1978, including the notable film 'Fedora'. She was also an accomplished author of two autobiographies published in 1970.

• 2003 Rick Husband

  NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle Columbia commander who tragically died during the spacecraft's catastrophic reentry on February 2, 2003. He was a US Air Force colonel leading a mission that ended in the loss of all seven crew members.

• 2003 Michael P. Anderson

  American colonel, pilot, and NASA astronaut who tragically died during the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003, while returning from a space mission.

• 2003 David M. Brown

  NASA astronaut and US Navy captain who tragically perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003.

• 2003 Kalpana Chawla

  Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and aerospace engineer who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. She was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space, inspiring millions worldwide.

• 2003 Mongo Santamaria

  Renowned Cuban percussionist and band leader who significantly influenced Latin jazz and salsa music during the mid-20th century.

• 2003 William C. McCool

  NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle Columbia pilot who tragically died during the Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003, while returning from a scientific mission.

• 2005 John Vernon

  Canadian actor known for memorable roles in classic films like 'Animal House', 'Dirty Harry', and 'Chained Heat'. A prominent character actor of the 1970s and 1980s.

• 2007 Gian Carlo Menotti

  Renowned Italian-American composer who significantly influenced 20th-century opera, creating innovative works that bridged traditional and contemporary styles. He was a Pulitzer Prize winner known for operas like 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' and 'The Consul'.

• 2012 Don Cornelius

  Iconic African American television host and producer who created 'Soul Train', a groundbreaking music and dance show that significantly influenced black popular culture.

• 2012 Wisława Szymborska

  LIT - Polish poet and translator, nobel prize laureate (b. 1923)

• 2013 Ed Koch

  Prominent American politician who served as the 105th Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989, known for his distinctive personality and leadership during a challenging period in the city's history.

• 2014 Maximilian Schell

  Maximilian Schell was an acclaimed Austrian-Swiss actor, director, and producer who won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1961 for his powerful performance in 'Judgment at Nuremberg'.