Famous people and celebrities who died on October 4

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on October 4. 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.

• 1943 Irena Iłłakowicz

  Polish resistance fighter and lieutenant who died during World War II, likely in combat or as a result of wartime activities.

• 1947 Max Planck

  PHY - German physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1858)

• 1947 Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck

  Nobel Prize laureate in recognition of the services he rendered to the advancement of Physics by his discovery of energy quanta

• 1951 Henrietta Lacks

  Her immortal HeLa cells became a cornerstone of modern medical research, revolutionizing scientific understanding despite the unethical circumstances of their original collection.

• 1970 Janis Joplin

  Iconic rock and blues singer of the 1960s counterculture, known for her powerful, raw vocal style and tragic early death from heroin overdose. She was a key figure in the psychedelic rock scene with bands like Big Brother and the Holding Company. Her music profoundly influenced rock and blues genres.

• 1974 Anne Sexton

  Influential American confessional poet known for her deeply personal and emotionally raw work, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1967 and was a significant voice in 20th-century literature.

• 1975 Joan Whitney Payson

  Prominent American businesswoman and philanthropist, best known as the original owner of the New York Mets baseball team.

• 1982 Ahmad H al-Bakr

  Iraqi field marshal who served as president and premier, playing a significant political role in Iraq during the mid-20th century. He was a key figure in the Ba'ath Party and Iraqi politics.

• 1982 Leroy Grumman

  Grumman aeronautical engineering co. was founded by an american engineer and businessman (d. 1982).

• 1989 Graham Chapman

  A pioneering British comedian and writer, best known as a key member of the legendary Monty Python comedy troupe. He was instrumental in creating groundbreaking comedy sketches and helped revolutionize humor in the 1970s. Chapman struggled with alcoholism but remained a beloved figure in comedy until his untimely death.

• 1990 Jill Bennett

  Actress (skull and hawks), dies at 58 from unknown causes

• 1992 Denny Hulme

  New Zealand Formula One world champion in 1967, a notable figure in international motorsport.

• 1994 Danny Gatton

  Danny Gatton was a legendary American guitar virtuoso known for his exceptional skills across multiple genres including blues, jazz, and rockabilly. Often called the 'Humbler' for his incredible technical prowess, he was a highly respected musician among guitarists. Despite his immense talent, he tragically died by suicide in 1994.

• 1996 Silvio Piola

  Legendary Italian soccer player considered one of the greatest forwards in the history of Italian football, playing primarily for Torino and the national team.

• 1997 Otto Remer

  German Wehrmacht officer who played a crucial role in suppressing the July 20, 1944 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, ultimately preventing the coup attempt and remaining a controversial figure in Nazi military history.

• 1997 Gunpei Yokoi

  Legendary Japanese video game designer at Nintendo who invented the Game Boy, revolutionizing portable gaming. His innovative design philosophy significantly influenced the video game industry.

• 1999 Bernard Buffet

  Bernard Buffet was a prominent French post-expressionist painter known for his distinctive linear style and powerful portraits. He was a significant figure in the mid-20th century art scene, gaining international recognition for his unique artistic approach. Buffet was particularly renowned for his still-lifes, landscapes, and emotionally charged dark portraits.

• 1999 Art Farmer

  Renowned American jazz trumpeter and composer, a key member of The Jazztet and an influential figure in the hard bop and cool jazz movements.

• 2000 Michael Smith

  CHE - English-canadian biochemist and geneticist, nobel prize laureate (d. 2000)

• 2002 André Delvaux

  Pioneering Belgian film director who significantly influenced the development of Belgian cinema, known for his innovative and artistic approach to filmmaking.

• 2002 Alphonse Chapanis

  Known for his work in ergonomics and human factors engineering.

• 2004 Gordon Cooper

  NASA astronaut who was a key figure in Project Mercury and the space race. He completed 22 orbits on May 15, 1963, in a mission lasting 34 hours and 20 minutes. Cooper later flew on the Gemini 5 mission with Charles Conrad, marking significant achievements in early American space exploration.

• 2006 Tom Bell

  Tom Bell was a respected English actor who performed extensively on stage and in film during his career.

• 2009 Mercedes Sosa

  Legendary Argentine folk singer known as 'La Negra', who was a prominent figure in Latin American music and Nueva Canción movement.

• 2009 Günther Rall

  Günther Rall was a distinguished German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II, recognized as one of the most successful fighter pilots in military history. He was a highly decorated officer who survived numerous aerial combat missions and later became a general in the post-war German military.

• 2010 Norman Wisdom

  Iconic British comedy actor known for his slapstick humor and lovable underdog characters in numerous films during the 1950s and 1960s. He was particularly popular in the UK and Albania, where he was considered a national hero.

• 2012 Stan Mudenge

  Prominent Zimbabwean historian, politician, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs who played a significant role in Zimbabwe's political landscape.

• 2013 Võ Nguyên Giáp

  Võ Nguyên Giáp was a legendary Vietnamese general who played a crucial role in Vietnam's independence struggles against French colonialism and in the Vietnam War.

• 2014 Jean-Claude Duvalier

  Haitian dictator known as 'Baby Doc' who succeeded his father François Duvalier and ruled Haiti from 1971 to 1986, continuing the brutal Duvalier family regime.

• 2015 Neal Walk

  Neal Walk was an accomplished American professional basketball player who played in the NBA during the late 1960s and early 1970s, primarily with the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Jazz.