Famous people and celebrities who died on July 3

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on July 3. 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.

• 1904 Theodor Herzl

  Austro-Hungarian journalist, playwright, political activist, and the father of modern political Zionism.

• 1908 Joel Chandler Harris

  American journalist and author (b. 1845)

• 1969 Brian Jones

  Founding member of The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones was a pioneering multi-instrumentalist who significantly shaped the band's early sound and experimental musical approach. He was a key figure in the 1960s rock music scene before his tragic early death at age 27.

• 1971 Jim Morrison

  Legendary rock musician and lead singer of The Doors, known for his poetic lyrics, charismatic performances, and significant impact on 1960s counterculture.

• 1981 Ross Martin

  American actor known for his role in the TV series 'The Wild Wild West', where he played Artemus Gordon alongside Robert Conrad.

• 1986 Rudy Vallee

  Rudy Vallee was a prominent American singer and actor of the 1920s and 1930s, known for pioneering the crooning style and becoming one of the first multimedia entertainment stars of the early sound era.

• 1987 Viola Dana

  Actress (willow tree 40 winks silent lover, willow tree) dies at 90

• 1989 Jim Backus

  Versatile American actor known for voice acting Mr. Magoo and acting in classic films and television shows like 'Gilligan's Island'. He was a prominent figure in radio, film, and TV during mid-20th century entertainment.

• 1989 Andrei Gromyko

  Prominent Soviet diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for nearly three decades, playing a crucial role in Cold War diplomacy.

• 1993 Don Drysdale

  Legendary Major League Baseball pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was a dominant pitcher in the 1950s and 1960s, known for his impressive 209-106 record and 2,486 strikeouts.

• 1993 Joe DeRita

  American comedian and actor best known as a member of the Three Stooges comedy troupe, performing from 1958 until the group's dissolution.

• 1994 Lew Hoad

  Legendary Australian tennis player who dominated Grand Slam tournaments in the 1950s, known for his powerful playing style and significant achievements.

• 1995 Pancho Gonzalez

  Pancho Gonzalez was a dominant American tennis player who won a record 14 U.S. National Championships and was ranked world No. 1 for several years.

• 1998 Danielle Bunten Berry

  Pioneering transgender video game designer known for creating innovative multiplayer computer games like 'M.U.L.E.' and 'The Seven Cities of Gold'.

• 1999 Mark Sandman

  Mark Sandman was an influential alternative rock musician, best known as the lead singer and bassist of the indie rock band Morphine, who tragically died of a heart attack on stage in 1999.

• 2000 Kemal Sunal

  Prominent Turkish actor, comedian, and screenwriter who was a beloved figure in Turkish cinema during the 1970s and 1980s, known for his iconic comedic roles.

• 2001 Mordecai Richler

  Renowned Canadian novelist and essayist known for sharp satirical works exploring Jewish life in Montreal and critiquing Canadian society.

• 2004 Andriyan Nikolayev

  Soviet cosmonaut and military pilot who made significant contributions to space exploration. He was part of the early Soviet space program and completed multiple space missions during the Cold War era.

• 2005 Gaylord Nelson

  Gaylord Nelson was an American politician and environmental activist who founded Earth Day in 1970, significantly raising global awareness about environmental conservation.

• 2005 Alberto Lattuada

  Renowned Italian film director and screenwriter who was a key figure in the neo-realist cinema movement, known for his diverse filmography ranging from serious dramas to more controversial works.

• 2006 Joseph Goguen

  Renowned American computer scientist who developed the OBJ programming language and made significant contributions to computer science and academic research.

• 2007 Boots Randolph

  Renowned American saxophonist famous for his rock and roll and jazz performances, best known for his hit song 'Yakety Sax'. He was a prominent session musician who played with numerous notable artists.

• 2012 Andy Griffith

  Beloved American actor and comedian best known for his starring role in 'The Andy Griffith Show', a classic sitcom that captured the charm of small-town Southern life.

• 2013 Radu Vasile

  Romanian historian and politician who served as the 57th Prime Minister of Romania from 1998 to 1999, contributing significantly to the country's post-communist transition.

• 2014 Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

  Zalman Schachter-Shalomi was a prominent Ukrainian-American rabbi, author, and spiritual leader who significantly influenced Jewish renewal and interfaith dialogue.

• 2015 Diana Douglas

  Diana Douglas was an American actress known for her roles in film and television, and was the mother of actor Michael Douglas.

• 2015 Boyd K. Packer

  Prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1994 to 2015, a highly influential religious figure.

• 2020 Saroj Khan

  Legendary Bollywood choreographer who revolutionized dance in Indian cinema, creating iconic dance sequences for numerous films and mentoring generations of dancers.

• 2022 Robert F. Curl Jr.

  Nobel Prize laureate for their discovery of fullerenes