Famous People Who Died Today

A Russian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary, Leon Trotsky developed a political ideology called Trotskyism, which eventually had a considerable impact on Russian politics. He also played a vital role in leading the Red Army to victory in the Russian Civil War.

Remembered for his varied contribution to astrophysics, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar is perhaps best known for his work on the evolution of massive stars. Today known as Chandrasekhar limit, it contributed to final understanding of supernovas, neutron stars, and black holes. A prolific writer, he also did significant work on energy transfer by radiation in stellar atmospheres and convection on solar surface.

Ettore Bugatti was an automobile designer and manufacturer. He is credited with founding the popular car manufacturer Automobiles E. Bugatti, which gained prominence as the maker of some of the fastest and technologically advanced cars of its day. In 2000, Ettore Bugatti was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

Bismillah Khan was a reputed classical musician, credited with popularizing the shehnai, an Indian oboe like woodwind instrument, at home and abroad. Until his time, shehnai was considered a folk instrument played only at traditional ceremonies, an idea he demolished with his concert performance in 1937, eventually taking it to the global audience with his appearance at Edinburgh International Festival.

Robert Moog was an engineering physicist widely regarded as the pioneer of electronic music.  He launched the first commercial synthesizer, the Moog synthesizer, in 1964. A few years later, he launched the Minimoog, which went on to become the most famous and influential synthesizer in history. He taught at the University of North Carolina in his later years. 

James Wilson was an American statesman, legal scholar, politician, and founding father of the United States of America. He served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1789 to 1798.  A leading legal theorist, he played a key role in drafting the United States Constitution. He was also a professor of law. 

Benigno Aquino, Jr., also known as Ninoy Aquino, was the son of Filipino politician Benigno Aquino Sr. and grew up to be a senator and the chief opposition leader during President Ferdinand E. Marcos’s rule. A supporter of democracy, he was assassinated at the Manila airport after returning from exile.

Ken Robinson was a British author and speaker. An influential figure, Robinson served as an international advisor to several non-profits, education and arts bodies, and government. From 1989 to 2001, he served as a professor at the University of Warwick. Born into a working class family from Liverpool, Robinson went on to win many honors including the George Peabody Medal.

Ottilie Assing was a German-American abolitionist, freethinker, and feminist. She is best remembered for her friendship with American social reformer and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass. Apart from attending numerous conventions and meetings alongside Douglass, Ottilie Assing also translated many of his works to German.  

Legendary Bangladeshi actor Abdur Razzak, also known as Nayak Raj Razzak, is best remembered for his hit films such as Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo and Jibon Theke Neya. The 5-time Bangladeshi National Film Award winner was also the first Bangladeshi actor to be named a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador.

Mexican revolutionary leader and liberal reformer Juan Álvarez was a mestizo landowner who later fought in the Mexican War of Independence and led the revolution supporting the Plan de Ayutla. He also became the provisional president of Mexico after the fall of Mexican general Santa Anna.

Yuri Nikulin was a Soviet and Russian clown and actor. He is best remembered for playing important roles in Leonid Gaidai's comedy films like Kidnapping, Caucasian Style and The Diamond Arm. Apart from acting in films, Yuri Nikulin also performed in Moscow Circus. Nikulin was honored with many state awards, including the Order of Lenin.

Tatiana Troyanos was an American mezzo-soprano best remembered for her association with the Metropolitan Opera, where she performed more than 270 times. In an illustrious career that spanned three decades, Tatiana Troyanos came up with memorable operatic recordings, including her most famous performance as Carmen. 

Jacob Pontusson, Count De la Gardie was a statesman of the Swedish Empire. He is best remembered for commanding the Swedish forces against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in Russia. He was also among the five regents who ruled Sweden during the minority reign of Queen Christina.

Rubén Darío Prize-winning Nicaraguan poet and women’s suffrage activist María Teresa Sánchez is remembered for her immense contribution to Nicaraguan culture. She mostly wrote on themes of pain and sadness. She also established the Círculo de Letras association and founded her own publishing house, Nuevos Horizontes.

Harald Sverdrup was a Norwegian oceanographer and meteorologist who served as president of the International Association of Physical Oceanography. He was also director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He was the author of many books, including his magnum opus The Oceans: Their Physics, Chemistry, and General Biology. He was a recipient of the William Bowie Medal. 

Stefán Karl Stefánsson was an Icelandic singer and actor. He is remembered for playing Robbie Rotten in the popular children's television series, LazyTown. In June 2018, he was honored with the Order of the Falcon. In August 2018, Stefán Karl died of cancer. The launch of a performing arts academy in his honor was announced after his death.

Jacob Epstein was an American-British sculptor who produced revolutionary works that challenged the already established ideas that dictated the kind of artworks shown to the public. Epstein helped pioneer modern sculpture. In addition to being a sculptor, Epstein was also a painter and artist; he exhibited many of his paintings and drawings. His works have influenced artists like Barbara Hepworth.

Engineer David B. Steinman is remembered for his extensive study on aerodynamics and wind velocity, which resulted in stable bridges. He was responsible for designing around 400 bridges, which included the Mackinac Bridge. His work also took him to cities such as Lisbon and Istanbul.

Called the Russian Brahms by his classmate Sergei Rachmaninoff, Russian-born Swiss-origin composer Paul Juon started his musical journey playing the violin and the flute at the Moscow Conservatory. Inspired by folk melodies, he penned chamber music, sonatas, and piano quartets, and also translated Anton Arensky’s works into German.

Known as the concubine of Mianning, the Daoguang Emperor, Empress Xiaojingcheng was honored as an empress posthumously. Though it is assumed she was Mongol by origin, her original name doesn’t find any mention in any Chinese text. She became an Empress dowager of the Qing dynasty during the Xianfeng Emperor’s reign.

Dai Vernon was a Canadian magician best remembered for his sleight of hand technique, which involves close-up magic and card tricks. Respected by fellow magicians, Vernon served as a mentor to his contemporaries and aspiring magicians. His life and career inspired a documentary film titled Dai Vernon: The Spirit of Magic, which released in 1999.