Famous people and celebrities who died on April 26

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

• 1915 John Bunny

  Silent film comedian (born 1863)

• 1931 George Mead

  Influential pragmatist philosopher and sociologist.

• 1940 Carl Bosch

  CHE - German chemist and engineer, nobel prize laureate (b. 1874)

• 1951 Arnold Sommerfeld

  German physicist, whose atomic model allowed the explanation of fine structure spectral lines.

• 1956 Edward Arnold

  Actor (mr smith goes to washington), is killed at 66

• 1961 Gail Russell

  American actress known for her roles in Hollywood films during the 1940s and 1950s, with a tragic personal life marked by alcoholism.

• 1973 Irene Ryan

  Beloved actress best known for her iconic role as Granny in the popular TV sitcom 'The Beverly Hillbillies', a comedy series that ran from 1962 to 1971.

• 1976 Sidney James

  Actor (lavander hills mob, carry on), dies at 65

• 1980 Cicely Courtneidge

  Australian-born british actress, comedian and singer (b. 1893)

• 1981 Robert Davi

  Robert Davi is a renowned American actor known for his distinctive roles in action movies and crime dramas, particularly as villains and law enforcement characters.

• 1981 Jim Davis (cartoonist)

  Jim Davis is an iconic American cartoonist who created the globally popular comic strip Garfield, featuring the witty, lasagna-loving cat.

• 1984 May McAvoy

  Actress ben hur dies at 82 following a heart attack

• 1984 Count Basie

  Legendary jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who led the iconic Count Basie Orchestra, revolutionizing big band and swing music in the 20th century.

• 1986 Broderick Crawford

  Broderick Crawford was an acclaimed American actor best known for his Oscar-winning role in 'All the King's Men' and his starring role in the popular TV series 'Highway Patrol'.

• 1986 Bessie Love

  Actress (broadway melody and isadora), is killed at 87

• 1987 Shankar (director)

  Shankar is a renowned Tamil cinema director famous for his visually spectacular and technologically innovative films, significantly influencing Indian cinema.

• 1989 Lucille Ball

  Iconic American actress and comedian who revolutionized television comedy through her groundbreaking sitcom 'I Love Lucy'. She was a pioneering female television producer and one of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century. Her trademark fiery red hair and comedic genius made her a beloved cultural icon.

• 1994 Masutatsu Ōyama

  Legendary Japanese martial artist who founded Kyokushin Karate, a full-contact karate style known worldwide for its intense training and philosophy.

• 1995 Alexander Knox

  Canadian-English actor and screenwriter known for his versatile performances in film and theater during the mid-20th century.

• 1996 Stirling Silliphant

  Renowned American screenwriter and producer known for his significant contributions to film and television, including Academy Award-winning work.

• 1999 Jill Dando

  Beloved British television presenter and journalist tragically murdered in 1999, whose death shocked the nation.

• 2003 Rosemary Brown

  Pioneering Canadian politician and social worker who broke racial barriers by becoming the first Black woman elected to a provincial legislature in Canada, representing British Columbia's New Democratic Party.

• 2004 Hubert Selby

  American author, poet, and screenwriter known for his gritty, raw literary style and influential works exploring urban life and human struggles.

• 2005 Maria Schell

  Maria Schell was a renowned Austrian-Swiss actress and film producer who had a significant career in European cinema during the mid-20th century. She was known for her powerful performances in international films and won numerous awards for her acting. Her career spanned several decades, making her a prominent figure in post-war European cinema.

• 2005 Augusto Roa Bastos

  Renowned Paraguayan novelist and intellectual who significantly contributed to Latin American literature, best known for his novel 'I, the Supreme'.

• 2013 George Jones

  Legendary country music singer-songwriter known as the 'King of Honky Tonk' and one of the most influential artists in country music history.

• 2015 Jayne Meadows

  American actress known for her work in television and film, wife of comedian Steve Allen and notable performer in productions like 'Dark Delusion'.

• 2016 Harry Wu

  Prominent Chinese human rights activist who dedicated his life to exposing human rights abuses in China, particularly in labor camps.

• 2017 Jonathan Demme

  Jonathan Demme was an acclaimed American filmmaker known for directing groundbreaking films like The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, and Rachel Getting Married. He was a critically respected director who won an Academy Award for The Silence of the Lambs.