Famous people and celebrities who died on January 26

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

• 1878 Ernst Weber

  Pioneer in the field of experimental psychology and known for Weber's Law.

• 1891 Nikolaus Otto

  Nikolaus Otto was a German engineer who invented the four-stroke internal combustion engine, which is the basis for most modern automobile engines.

• 1895 Arthur Cayley

  Considered one of the founders of modern algebra and made significant contributions to matrix theory.

• 1932 William Wrigley

  Prominent American businessman who founded the Wrigley Company, a global chewing gum and confectionery manufacturer. He transformed a small soap company into a massive global brand known for chewing gum.

• 1943 Nikolai Vavilov

  Nikolai Vavilov was a Soviet botanist and geneticist best known for his work on the origins of cultivated plants and the development of the theory of centers of origin.

• 1948 John Lomax

  Noted folklorist and musicologist who collected and preserved American folk songs.

• 1983 Bear Bryant

  Paul 'Bear' Bryant was a legendary American college football coach who led the University of Alabama Crimson Tide to six national championships and transformed college football coaching in the mid-20th century.

• 1985 James Cameron

  James Cameron is a renowned Canadian film director and screenwriter, famous for groundbreaking blockbuster films like Titanic and Avatar that revolutionized visual effects and storytelling in cinema.

• 1985 Kenny Clarke

  Pioneering American jazz drummer who significantly influenced bebop and modern jazz drumming. Clarke was a key figure in the evolution of jazz percussion techniques and played with many legendary musicians.

• 1992 José Ferrer

  Renowned Puerto Rican-American actor and director, best known for his Oscar-winning performance in 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. He was the first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award.

• 1993 Jan Gies

  Dutch resistance hero who helped hide Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi occupation. His courageous actions were crucial in preserving the Frank family's story during the Holocaust.

• 1993 Jeanne Sauvé

  Pioneering Canadian politician who became the first female Governor General of Canada, breaking significant gender barriers in Canadian political history.

• 1996 Henry Lewis

  Pioneering African American conductor who broke racial barriers in classical music, leading major orchestras during a challenging period of racial segregation.

• 1997 Jeane Dixon

  Renowned American psychic and astrologer who gained significant media attention for her predictions, particularly about political events.

• 2000 Donald Budge

  Legendary American tennis player who dominated the sport in the 1930s, winning multiple championships and becoming a Davis Cup team member. His historic 1937 match against Baron von Gramm is considered one of the greatest tennis performances of his era.

• 2000 A. E. van Vogt

  A prominent Canadian-American science fiction writer known for groundbreaking novels like 'Slan' and 'The World of Null-A', who significantly influenced the golden age of science fiction literature.

• 2001 Al McGuire

  Renowned basketball coach and player who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He coached Marquette University to an NCAA championship and was known for his charismatic personality and coaching innovation.

• 2003 Valeriy Brumel

  Legendary Soviet high jumper who set multiple world records and won Olympic gold in 1964. He was known for revolutionizing high jump technique with his innovative 'Fosbury Flop' style.

• 2003 Annemarie Schimmel

  Renowned German scholar of Islamic culture and numerology, Annemarie Schimmel was a distinguished professor at Harvard University who authored numerous influential books on Muslim cultural studies. Her seminal work 'The Mystery of Numbers' and her biography of Prophet Muhammad are significant contributions to academic understanding of Islamic culture.

• 2003 Hugh Trevor-Roper

  Renowned British historian and academic, best known for his historical works and scholarly contributions. He was a prominent intellectual who specialized in 20th-century European history.

• 2008 Christian Brando

  Son of legendary actor Marlon Brando, known for a tragic incident in 1990 where he shot and killed Dag Drollet, resulting in a ten-year prison sentence.

• 2011 Charlie Louvin

  Charlie Louvin was a renowned American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist, famous as part of the influential Louvin Brothers duo.

• 2014 José Emilio Pacheco

  Renowned Mexican poet, novelist, and essayist who was a significant figure in Latin American literature, known for his critical and poetic works exploring social and historical themes.

• 2014 Tom Gola

  Renowned American basketball coach and politician who had a significant impact on sports and public service.

• 2016 Abe Vigoda

  Iconic American character actor best known for his memorable roles in 'The Godfather' as Salvatore Tessio and in the TV sitcom 'Barney Miller'. He became a pop culture figure known for his long-lasting career and humorous public persona.

• 2017 Mike Connors

  Mike Connors was an American actor best known for starring in the popular TV series 'Mannix'. He was renowned for performing his own stunts, often sustaining injuries during filming.

• 2017 Barbara Hale

  Barbara Hale was an acclaimed American actress best known for her iconic role as Della Street in the long-running television series Perry Mason, which aired from 1957 to 1966. She was a talented performer who won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of the loyal legal secretary. Her career spanned several decades, making her a notable figure in classic television.

• 2020 Kobe Bryant

  Kobe Bryant was a legendary NBA basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships and becoming one of the most iconic athletes of his generation. He tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020, alongside his daughter Gianna. Beyond basketball, he was an entrepreneur and Academy Award winner for his animated short film.

• 2020 Gianna Bryant

  Gianna Bryant was the talented and promising basketball-loving daughter of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. She tragically died alongside her father in a helicopter crash in January 2020, shocking the sports world. Her passion for basketball and close relationship with her father made her a symbol of athletic potential cut short.