Famous People Who Died Today

Michael Crichton was an American filmmaker and author. He wrote several science-fiction books, which have sold more than 200 million copies. Many of his books, such as The Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, Congo, Rising Sun, and Disclosure, have been adapted into highly successful films. He is also credited with creating the popular medical drama TV series, ER.

Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer of the early Romantic period. He was also a skilled organist, pianist, and conductor. He composed symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and organ music. His collection of lyrical piano songs Songs Without Words is among his best-known works. He was the founder of the public university The Leipzig Conservatory. He died aged just 38. 

Wilfred Owen was an English soldier and poet. One of the most important poets during World War I, Owen wrote about the horrors of gas warfare. His life and career inspired a docudrama titled Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale where he was portrayed by Samuel Barnett. In 1989, the Wilfred Owen Association was established to commemorate his life and poetry.

Israeli politician, statesman, and general, Yitzhak Rabin, served two stints as the prime minister of Israel. As a young man, he joined the military and served for nearly three decades. He had an extensive political career as well and played a key role in embracing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He was assassinated in November 1995.

Melissa Mathison was a screenwriter and an activist for the Tibetan independence movement. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, for a while but quit before graduating. She was acquainted with Francis Ford Coppola who encouraged her to pursue a screenwriting career. She was once married to actor, Harrison Ford, and had two children.

Scottish-born British Army officer David Stirling was known for his exploits in World War II, during which he formed and led the British Special Air Service (SAS). Following the war, he focused on combating racism in colonial Africa and even formed a foundation for animal conservation. He was knighted for his achievements.

Gilles Deleuze was a French philosopher who wrote extensively on philosophy, film, fine art, and literature. Widely regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of all time, Deleuze's works have influenced a wide range of disciplines, such as philosophy, literary theory, and art. His work has also influenced movements like postmodernism and post-structuralism.

Ken Hensley was an English multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He is best remembered for his association with the popular rock band Uriah Heep during the 1970s. He wrote many of the band's songs, including hit singles like Easy Livin', Lady in Black, and Look at Yourself. Ken Hensley also released many solo albums, such as Free Spirit and Running Blind.

Carl Ballantine was an American magician, actor, and comedian. He is best remembered for his vaudeville-style comedy routine which involved his famous transparent magic tricks. Carl Ballantine is credited with creating comedy magic and was honored by the Academy of Magical Arts with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Fellowship in 2006. He has influenced magicians and comedians alike.

Byron Lee was a Jamaican record producer, musician, and entrepreneur. He is best remembered for leading the popular ska, calypso, and soca band Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. The band was featured in the 1962 spy film Dr. No. Byron Lee's contribution to music was honored by the Jamaican government with the prestigious Order of Distinction in 1982. 

Tomás Estrada Palma was a Cuban politician who served as the first President of Cuba after Cuba's independence in 1902. During his presidency, Cuba's infrastructure, public health, and communication improved significantly. Tomás Estrada Palma had also played an important role during the Ten Years' War, serving as the Cuban Republican in Arms' president.

South Africa-born novelist and screenwriter Noel Langley began his career in London with his play Queer Cargo. Concurrently with writing plays, he also started publishing novels like Cage Me a Peacock, and There's a Porpoise Close Behind Us, very soon gaining recognition in Hollywood with screenplay Maytime.  His other popular screenplays include The Wizard of Oz, Tom Brown’s Schooldays etc.

Afghan poet and journalist Nadia Anjuman published her first poetry collection, Gol-e Dudi, or Smokey Flower, when she was 25. Soon after the release of her book, she was beaten to death. It is largely believed that she was killed by her husband though the death was officially declared a suicide later.

Carlos Marighella was a Brazilian politician and guerrilla fighter of Marxist–Leninist orientation. As a young man, he enrolled at the Polytechnic School of Bahia to study engineering but quit to join the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB). Also a writer, he authored the Minimanual of the Urban Guerrilla, a book on revolutionary struggle. He was killed by the police in 1969. 

Nigerian author, pharmacist and broadcaster Cyprian Ekwensi MFR is best-remembered for authoring novels like People of the City and Jagua Nana. His oeuvre also includes short-stories, children's books and radio and television scripts. Ekwensi served as Head of Features at Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, as Director of Nigerian Ministry of Information and as chair of Bureau for External Publicity of Biafra.