Famous people and celebrities who died on July 17

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on July 17. 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.

• 1790 Adam Smith

  Scottish economist known as the father of modern economics.

• 1793 Charlotte Corday

  Charlotte Corday was a French Girondin sympathizer who assassinated the Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat during the French Revolution.

• 1903 James Whistler

  American artist, etcher, and lithographer. he is often regarded as the greatest american artist of 1800's. his family accompanied him to russia in 1843-1849. there, his father built railroads. he attended west point 1851-1854 and worked briefly as a map drafting man for the u.s. coast survey. in 1855, he went to paris to study under gleyre and published his …

• 1918 Alexei Nikolaevich

  Tsarevich of Russia, son of the last Russian imperial family, executed in 1918.

• 1918 Alexandra Feodorovna

  Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was the wife of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia.

• 1928 Alvaro Obregon

  Mexican general and president who played a key role in the Mexican Revolution.

• 1943 Hooper Atchley

  American actor known for his work in silent films and early talkies.

• 1959 Billie Holiday

  Legendary jazz and blues singer known as 'Lady Day', whose distinctive voice and emotional depth revolutionized American music and influenced generations of performers.

• 1961 Ty Cobb

  Legendary baseball player known for his aggressive style of play.

• 1967 John Coltrane

  John Coltrane was a legendary jazz saxophonist and composer who revolutionized modern jazz with his innovative improvisational style. He collaborated with other jazz giants like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, creating groundbreaking music that transcended traditional jazz boundaries. His influential work continues to inspire musicians across generations.

• 1974 Dizzy Dean

  Famous Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who later became a beloved sportscaster. He was known for his exceptional pitching skills and colorful personality.

• 1978 Thayer David

  Versatile actor known for memorable roles in film, television, and theater, including appearances in 'The Eiger Sanction' and 'Rocky'.

• 1996 Chas Chandler

  English musician, bass player of the legendary rock band The Animals, who later became a successful music producer.

• 1996 Marcel Dadi

  French-Tunisian Jewish musician and folk guitarist who won the Country Music Award in Nashville in 1996, known for his exceptional guitar skills and international recognition.

• 1996 Paul Touvier

  Notorious French Nazi collaborator who was one of only two Frenchmen convicted of crimes against humanity during World War II, representing a dark chapter in French wartime history.

• 2001 Katharine Graham

  Katharine Graham was a pioneering American publisher who led The Washington Post during the critical Watergate scandal, transforming journalism and becoming a powerful media executive.

• 2002 Joseph Luns

  Joseph Luns was a prominent Dutch politician who served as the Netherlands' foreign minister for 19 years and later became NATO's Secretary General from 1971 to 1984. A staunch conservative, he was known for his strong pro-Western stance and commitment to transatlantic relations during the Cold War. He played a significant role in strengthening NATO's strategic position against Soviet influence.

• 2003 Walter Zapp

  Walter Zapp was a Latvian-Estonian inventor famous for creating the Minox, a pioneering subminiature camera that became iconic in espionage and photography during the 20th century.

• 2005 Edward Heath

  British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974, known for leading the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community. He was a significant figure in post-war British politics and played a crucial role in European integration.

• 2006 Mickey Spillane

  Mickey Spillane was a renowned American crime fiction writer famous for his hard-boiled detective novels featuring Mike Hammer. He was one of the best-selling authors of the mid-20th century, revolutionizing the detective genre with his gritty and direct writing style.

• 2009 Walter Cronkite

  Legendary CBS News anchor who was a trusted voice of journalism during pivotal moments in American history, including the Vietnam War and moon landing. Known as 'the most trusted man in America', he significantly influenced public opinion and media reporting. His career spanned several decades and he was instrumental in shaping television news journalism.

• 2009 Leszek Kołakowski

  Prominent Polish philosopher and historian who was a leading intellectual critic of Marxism and a key figure in 20th-century political thought.

• 2013 Peter Appleyard

  Renowned English-Canadian jazz vibraphonist who made significant contributions to the jazz music scene in Canada and internationally.

• 2014 Elaine Stritch

  Legendary Broadway and television actress known for her distinctive gravelly voice and powerful performances. Her Tony Award-winning one-woman show 'Elaine Stritch at Liberty' chronicled her remarkable life and career, including her struggles with alcoholism and triumphant comeback.

• 2014 Otto Piene

  Otto Piene was a prominent German artist and pioneer of the Zero Group, known for his innovative light art and kinetic sculptures that significantly influenced contemporary art movements.

• 2014 Willem Witteveen

  Dutch scholar and politician who tragically died in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash in Ukraine in 2014.

• 2015 Jules Bianchi

  Jules Bianchi was a talented French Formula One racing driver who tragically died from injuries sustained during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. He was the first Formula One driver to die from race-related injuries since Ayrton Senna in 1994, and his accident led to significant safety improvements in the sport.

• 2019 Andrea Camilleri

  Renowned Italian novelist, screenwriter, and television director best known for creating the popular Inspector Montalbano detective series. His works have been translated into multiple languages and adapted for television.

• 2020 John Lewis

  Prominent American civil rights leader and long-serving congressman who was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.