Famous People Who Died Today

Charles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, director, comedian, and drama teacher. He was best known for his work on the television panel game show Match Game where he was a regular panelist between 1973 and 1991. He was also known for voicing popular animated characters like Humpty Dumpty, Mr. Toad, and Dirty Bubble.

Known as prisoner number 4859 at the Auschwitz concentration camp, Witold Pilecki voluntarily got himself arrested to be sent to the camp, so that he could start an anti-Nazi resistance movement. He set up the underground campaign ZOW and was eventually able to escape. Nevertheless, he was executed by communists.

Robert Capa was a Hungarian-American photojournalist and war photographer. Regarded as the greatest adventure and combat photographer of all time, Robert Capa is best remembered for covering five major wars, namely Second Sino-Japanese War, Spanish Civil War, World War II, First Indochina War, and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. In 1947, he was honored with the prestigious Medal of Freedom.

Nancy Dow was an American actress known for appearing in TV series like The Beverly Hillbillies and The Wild Wild West. She got married to actor John Aniston in 1965 and gave birth to their daughter Jennifer Aniston in 1969. Dow's relationship with Jennifer was estranged for nine years before reconciling with her after the latter's divorce from Brad Pitt.

Leonora Carrington was a Mexican artist, novelist, and surrealist painter. During the 1970s, Carrington played an important role in Mexico's women's liberation movement as she was one of the founding members of the movement. Carrington, who was fascinated by symbolism and myth, studied alchemy, Popol Vuh, post-classic Mayan mystical writings, and the kabbalah.

Yang Jiang was a Chinese author, translator, and playwright. Yang Jiang is credited with writing several successful comedies. A prolific translator, Yang was the first Chinese to come up with a proper Chinese version of Don Quixote. Her translation is considered the definitive translation of the popular novel in China.

Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican musician and singer-songwriter best remembered for his 1968 hit song Israelites, which was one of the earliest reggae songs to achieve international attention. Desmond Dekker often performed alongside his famous backing group The Aces and achieved immense popularity during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Abd Al-Rahman Al Sufi was a Persian astronomer best remembered for his popular work The Book of Fixed Stars which he published in 964. The book was highly influential and is still extant in the form of various translations and manuscripts, the oldest being preserved at the Bodleian Library in the University of Oxford. 

David Dellinger was a pacifist and an activist who campaigned for nonviolent social change. Born into a wealthy family, he studied at Yale University and Oxford University. However, he ditched his privileged life and chose to live with poverty-stricken workers during the Great Depression. He was a conscientious objector during World War II and was imprisoned for his activities. 

Henry Ossawa Tanner was an American artist best remembered as the first African-American painter to achieve international fame. Widely regarded as the best African American painter of all time, Henry's work was influential during his lifetime. The works of other painters like William Edouard Scott and Norman Rockwell were influenced by Henry Ossawa Tanner's technique.

Born Balraj Dutt, Sunil Dutt began his career as a radio host. He later starred in the magnum opus Mother India, playing the son of legendary actor Nargis. He apparently saved Nargis from a ravaging fire on the sets, thus beginning a relationship with her, which eventually culminated in marriage.

Rosa Bonheur was a French artist and sculptor whose paintings have been preserved in popular museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée d'Orsay. An influential personality, Bonheur was widely regarded as the 19th century's most popular female painter. An open lesbian, Rosa Bonheur stood out as a groundbreaking individual both in her personal life and her career.

Pope Gregory VII is remembered for his role in the Investiture Controversy or the Gregorian Reform. He became the first pope to depose a ruler, Emperor Henry IV, leading to a long conflict between the Catholic Church and the monarchy. He is now revered as a Catholic saint.

Part of the legendary Indian music composer duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal, which ruled the Hindi film music industry for decades, Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar had a tough childhood in the slums of Mumbai. He took up music after his father’s death, so that he could support his family, and never looked back.

Indian hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr. is remembered as one of the greatest center-forwards in the world. Born to a freedom fighter father, he was later inspired by India’s 1936 Olympic hockey win and took up the sport. He later made history by winning three Olympic hockey gold medals.

American opera singer Rosa Ponselle, who became known as a Metropolitan Opera star, is best known for her performance in Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma. Starting her career singing in cafes and theaters, she later also performed at London’s Covent Garden. She also served the Baltimore Civic Opera Company as its artistic director.

Initially a kindergarten teacher, Pat Coombs later established herself as a prominent comedian. Known for her work on both TV and radio, she later gained fame with shows such as EastEnders. After being diagnosed with osteoporosis, she began campaigning for the National Osteoporosis Society to spread awareness about the ailment.

Alberto Korda was a Cuban photographer best remembered for contributing to the world the iconic photograph of Che Guevara, Guerrillero Heroico; the photograph went on to become a worldwide symbol of rebellion and revolution. He is also remembered for serving as Fidel Castro's photographer for ten years. In 1959, he was honored with the Cuban Palma de Plata.

Revolutionary leader Louis Charles Delescluze was a significant figure of the Paris Commune. As a student activist, he joined the Amis du Peuple and briefly fled to Brussels after being accused of plotting to kill King Louis-Philippe. He was eventually shot to death at the Commune barricades.