Famous people and celebrities who died on June 17

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

• 1939 Eugen Weidmann

  Notorious German serial killer who claimed to have murdered 86 people, primarily motivated by robbery and small financial gains. He was the last person publicly executed by guillotine in France.

• 1940 Arthur Harden

  CHE - English biochemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1865)

• 1952 Jack Parsons

  Pioneering rocket scientist and occultist who co-founded Jet Propulsion Laboratory, known for his groundbreaking work in rocket propulsion and his controversial associations with Aleister Crowley and L. Ron Hubbard.

• 1961 Jeff Chandler

  Jeff Chandler was a prominent American actor and singer known for his versatile roles in Hollywood during the 1950s. He appeared in numerous films and was particularly recognized for his performances in Western movies. Tragically, he died at a relatively young age of 42.

• 1968 José Nasazzi

  José Nasazzi was a legendary Uruguayan footballer and national team captain, known for his exceptional defensive skills and leadership during the golden era of Uruguayan football in the 1920s and 1930s.

• 1982 Roberto Calvi

  Italian financier known as 'God's Banker', involved in complex financial scandals with the Catholic Church, Mafia money laundering, and the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano.

• 1984 John Murray

  Canadian-scottish biologist and oceanographer (d. 1914).

• 1985 John Boulting

  Duplicate of John Boulting record

• 1986 Kate Smith

  Iconic American singer known for her patriotic rendition of 'God Bless America' and her significant contributions to entertainment during the mid-20th century. She was a popular radio and television personality who boosted national morale during World War II.

• 1996 Thomas Kuhn

  Renowned philosopher of science who revolutionized understanding of scientific progress through his groundbreaking book 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions'. He introduced the influential concept of paradigm shifts and how scientific knowledge evolves.

• 2000 Ismail Mahomed

  Prominent South African jurist who served as the 17th Chief Justice of South Africa, playing a significant role in the country's post-apartheid judicial transformation.

• 2001 Donald Cram

  Donald Cram was a renowned American chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work in organic chemistry, particularly in designing molecules that mimic the chemical interactions of living systems.

• 2001 René Dumont

  René Dumont was a pioneering French agronomist and environmental activist who significantly influenced sustainable development and ecological thinking. He was an early advocate for environmental protection and social justice in agriculture. Dumont is considered a foundational figure in modern agroecology.

• 2002 Fritz Walter

  Legendary German footballer who captained the West German national team to victory in the 1954 FIFA World Cup. He is considered one of the most significant players in German football history.

• 2002 Willie Davenport

  Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler who competed in five Olympic Games, tragically dying in 2002 while changing planes in Chicago at age 59.

• 2005 Karl Mueller

  Karl Mueller was the bass player of the alternative rock band Soul Asylum, known for their hit song 'Runaway Train'. He passed away in 2005 after battling cancer.

• 2007 Gianfranco Ferrè

  Renowned Italian fashion designer known as the 'architect of fashion', celebrated for his innovative and architectural design approach.

• 2008 Cyd Charisse

  Legendary Hollywood dancer and actress renowned for her exceptional performances in classic musicals, particularly in MGM productions during the 1950s. She was famous for her stunning dance sequences with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

• 2008 Tsutomu Miyazaki

  Notorious Japanese serial killer who murdered young girls in the late 1980s, known as the 'Otaku Murderer'.

• 2009 Ralf Dahrendorf

  Prominent German-British sociologist, politician, and academic who made significant contributions to social theory and political sociology.

• 2012 Rodney King

  Rodney King was an African-American motorist whose brutal beating by Los Angeles police officers in 1991 sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice, leading to the infamous LA riots of 1992.

• 2015 Süleyman Demirel

  Prominent Turkish engineer and politician who served as the 9th President of Turkey, playing a significant role in the country's political landscape.

• 2015 Clementa C. Pinckney

  Prominent African American minister and state senator tragically killed in the Charleston church shooting in 2015, becoming a symbol of racial injustice.

• 2015 John David Crow

  Heisman Trophy-winning football player and coach who had a significant impact on American football in the mid-20th century.

• 2019 Gloria Vanderbilt

  Gloria Vanderbilt was a famous American heiress and fashion designer known for her high-profile custody battle as a child and later her successful fashion brand. She came from the prominent Vanderbilt family and became a notable socialite and designer in her own right.