Famous people and celebrities who died on February 26

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on February 26. 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.

• 1931 Otto Wallach

  CHE - German chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1847)

• 1947 Ben Webster

  Legendary American jazz tenor saxophonist known as 'the brute' and 'frog', who significantly influenced jazz music in the mid-20th century.

• 1952 Theodoros Pangalos

  Greek politician who served as deputy prime minister of Greece, known for his significant role in modern Greek political landscape.

• 1966 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

  Indian independence activist and politician who played a key role in the freedom struggle.

• 1969 Levi Eshkol

  From 1963 to 1969, he was the third prime minister of israel. he died in 1969 from a heart attack. he was the first israeli prime minister to die in office.

• 1971 Fernandel

  Fernandel was a renowned French actor and comedian famous for his distinctive horse-like facial expressions and memorable performances in the Don Camillo film series. He was one of France's most popular comedic actors during the mid-20th century, entertaining audiences for over four decades.

• 1972 Tom Manders

  Tom Manders was a popular Dutch cabaret singer known by his stage name Dorus, who was active in the mid-20th century entertainment scene. He was widely recognized in the Netherlands for his comedic and musical performances.

• 1982 Gabor Szabo

  Influential Hungarian jazz guitarist who revolutionized jazz fusion by blending traditional jazz with pop and Hungarian folk music styles.

• 1985 Tjalling Koopmans

  ECO - Dutch-american economist and mathematician, nobel prize laureate (b. 1910)

• 1989 Roy Eldridge

  Legendary jazz trumpeter known for his innovative and influential playing style, who significantly contributed to the development of bebop and swing jazz.

• 1994 Bill Hicks

  Legendary American stand-up comedian known for his dark, satirical comedy and social criticism before his early death in 1994.

• 1994 Avery Fisher

  Renowned American engineer and audiophile who founded Fisher Electronics, revolutionizing high-fidelity sound systems.

• 1998 Theodore Schultz

  ECO - American economist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1902)

• 1998 James Algar

  Disney animator, director, and producer who played a crucial role in creating classic animated films during the golden age of Disney animation.

• 2000 George L. Street III

  American naval captain and Medal of Honor recipient during World War II, recognized for extraordinary heroism in combat.

• 2001 Arturo Uslar Pietri

  Prominent Venezuelan lawyer, journalist, writer, and politician who was nominated multiple times for the Nobel Prize in Literature and received the Prince of Asturias Award in 1990.

• 2002 Lawrence Tierney

  Iconic American actor famous for playing tough guys and gangsters in over 80 films during his 50-year career. He was particularly notable for his role in the film 'Dillinger'.

• 2004 Boris Trajkovski

  Macedonian politician who served as the second President of the Republic of Macedonia, tragically dying in a plane crash in 2004.

• 2004 Shankarrao Chavan

  Indian lawyer and politician who served as a finance minister, playing a significant role in India's political landscape during the late 20th century.

• 2005 Jef Raskin

  Pioneering computer scientist who played a crucial role in the development of the Apple Macintosh, fundamentally transforming personal computing.

• 2009 Wendy Richard

  Popular English actress best known for her roles in 'EastEnders' and 'Are You Being Served?', a beloved television personality.

• 2010 Nujabes

  Influential Japanese hip hop producer and composer who significantly impacted lo-fi and instrumental hip hop music before his untimely death in 2010.

• 2011 Arnošt Lustig

  Renowned Czech Holocaust survivor and writer who wrote extensively about Jewish experiences during World War II, known for powerful and moving literary works.

• 2012 Richard Carpenter

  Richard Carpenter was a renowned American musician and half of the iconic Carpenters duo with his sister Karen. They were one of the most successful pop music acts of the 1970s, known for their distinctive soft rock and pop sound. Their hits like 'Close to You' and 'We've Only Just Begun' became timeless classics.

• 2013 Stéphane Hessel

  German-French diplomat, resistance fighter, and human rights activist who became famous for his influential pamphlet 'Time for Outrage'. He was a Holocaust survivor and played a significant role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• 2015 Theodore Hesburgh

  Renowned Catholic priest and president of the University of Notre Dame for 35 years, who was a significant civil rights advocate and influential academic leader.

• 2016 Andy Bathgate

  Legendary Canadian ice hockey center who played 17 seasons in the NHL, primarily with the New York Rangers. He was a key player in the league during the 1950s and 1960s, known for his exceptional skills and contributions to professional hockey.