Famous people and celebrities who died on January 1

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

• 1953 Hank Williams

  Legendary country music pioneer who revolutionized the genre with his raw, emotional songwriting and distinctive vocal style. He wrote approximately 125 songs without formal musical training and profoundly influenced modern country music. His short but impactful career established him as one of the most important musicians of the 20th century.

• 1960 Margaret Sullavan

  Renowned Hollywood actress of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her distinctive voice and compelling stage performances. She was a prominent figure in Broadway and film, with a notable career spanning multiple genres.

• 1965 Gertrude Michael

  Actress (caged cleopatra), who dies at 53

• 1966 Vincent Auriol

  French lawyer, writer and politician. he was also the leader of socialist party. from 1947-1954, he was the first president of fourth republic. he supported degaulle's 1958 return to power, but was later accused of violating the constitution.

• 1972 Maurice Chevalier

  French actor, singer, and dancer. his career spanned nearly three quarters of century. in 1910, he made his first appearance in follies-bergere. he appeared in hollywood films after 1930. he was nominated to the best actor oscars in 1929 for his roles as "the love parade" and "the big pond". he appeared in "love me tonight," a screen musical, in …

• 1981 Hephzibah Menuhin

  Hephzibah Menuhin was a distinguished violinist and the sister of world-famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin, known for her exceptional musical talent and cultural contributions.

• 1985 Kamatari Fujiwara

  Renowned Japanese actor known for his significant contributions to Japanese cinema, particularly in post-war films by directors like Akira Kurosawa.

• 1992 Grace Hopper

  A pioneering computer scientist and US Navy rear admiral who developed the first compiler and popularized the term 'debugging' in computer science. She was instrumental in developing COBOL and played a crucial role in early computer programming.

• 1993 June Clayworth

  Actress (bodyguard and criminal court), succumbs to lymphoma

• 1994 Cesar Romero

  Cuban-American actor famous for playing the Joker in the 1960s Batman TV series and appearing in numerous films like Falcon Crest. He was a prominent Hollywood character actor with a distinctive mustache.

• 1995 Eugene Wigner

  Hungarian-American theoretical physicist and mathematician who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding atomic nucleus and elementary particle symmetry principles.

• 1995 Fred West

  Notorious British serial killer who committed suicide after being charged with multiple murders.

• 1995 Frederick West

  Notorious British serial killer who, along with his wife Rosemary, was charged with multiple horrific murders, primarily targeting young women and girls.

• 1996 Arleigh Burke

  Admiral Arleigh Burke was a distinguished US Navy officer who played a crucial role in World War II naval operations and later served as Chief of Naval Operations, significantly shaping American maritime strategy.

• 1996 Arthur Rudolph

  German rocket scientist who played a significant role in the development of the V-2 rocket during World War II and later worked for NASA in the United States. He was a key figure in the Apollo program and the Saturn V rocket development.

• 1997 Ivan Graziani

  Renowned Italian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who was a significant figure in the Italian music scene during the 1970s and 1980s, known for his poetic lyrics and distinctive musical style.

• 1997 Townes Van Zandt

  Townes Van Zandt was an influential American folk and country singer-songwriter, widely regarded as a seminal figure in alternative country music. His poetic lyrics and distinctive musical style influenced numerous artists, despite limited commercial success during his lifetime.

• 1998 Helen Wills

  Legendary American tennis player and painter who dominated women's tennis in the 1920s and 1930s, winning eight Wimbledon singles titles and numerous other championships.

• 2001 Ray Walston

  Ray Walston was a versatile American actor best known for his role in the TV sitcom 'My Favorite Martian' and his Tony Award-winning stage performances. He won two Emmy Awards for his role as a cranky judge in 'Picket Fences' and was also a notable stage director for productions like 'South Pacific' and 'Damn Yankees'.

• 2003 Joe Foss

  Duplicate of Joe Foss entry

• 2005 Shirley Chisholm

  Pioneering African American congresswoman who broke significant racial and gender barriers in U.S. politics, serving as the first Black woman elected to Congress and running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972.

• 2015 Donna Douglas

  Donna Douglas was an American actress best known for her role as Elly May Clampett in the popular sitcom 'The Beverly Hillbillies'. She was a beloved television star during the 1960s.

• 2015 Mario Cuomo

  Prominent American politician who served as Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, known for his powerful oratory and progressive Democratic leadership.

• 2016 Vilmos Zsigmond

  Acclaimed Hungarian-American cinematographer known for his innovative visual style and significant contributions to cinema, winning an Academy Award for his work on 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.

• 2020 David Stern

  Legendary NBA commissioner who transformed professional basketball into a global sports phenomenon from 1984 to 2014.

• 2021 Floyd Little

  Floyd Little was a legendary NFL running back for the Denver Broncos and a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, known for his exceptional skills and contributions to the sport.

• 2022 Malene Schwartz

  Danish actress known for her significant contributions to television and film, who passed away in 2022.