Famous People Who Died in 1955

Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1955. This list includes people like Albert Einstein, Emmett Till, James Dean, Alexander Fleming, Shemp Howard and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include philosophers, artists, mathematicians and composers who died in 1955. This list includes people from United States, France, United Kingdom & Germany and many more countries.

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Albert Einstein

(One of the Greatest Physicists of All Time, Best Known for Developing the Theory of Relativity)

Birthdate: March 14, 1879

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ulm, Germany

Died: April 18

Deemed as the most influential physicist of the 20th century, the German-born physicist Albert Einstein was one of the greatest minds to have ever lived. Even his name is now synonymous with the term genius. The father of Modern Physics is credited with developing the theory of relativity and explaining the photoelectric effect. The latter won him the Nobel Prize.

James Dean

(American Actor Who is Remembered as a Cultural Icon of Teenage Disillusionment and Social Estrangement)

Birthdate: February 8, 1931

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Marion, Indiana, United States

Died: September 30

Best remembered for his role in the film, Rebel Without a Cause, actor James Dean was a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment. Despite having a difficult childhood, he was an exceptional student. He began acting as a young man and was quite successful. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash at the young age of 24.

Alexander Fleming

(Physician and Microbiologist Who Discovered ‘Penicillin’ World’s First Broadly Effective Antibiotic Substance)

Birthdate: August 6, 1881

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Darvel, East Ayrshire, Scotland

Died: March 11

Alexander Fleming was a Scottish microbiologist and physician. He is credited with discovering penicillin, the world's first effective antibiotic substance; a discovery that changed the course of history. He also discovered lysozyme, an antimicrobial enzyme which forms part of the innate immune system. In 1999, Fleming was named in Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th century list.

Charlie Parker

(Jazz Saxophonist & Developer of the 'Bebop' Style of Jazz)

Birthdate: August 29, 1920

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Died: March 12

Charlie Parker was an American composer and jazz saxophonist. A highly influential soloist, Parker played a significant role in the development of a form of jazz called bebop. He is also credited with introducing harmonic ideas into jazz, such as chord substitutions and rapid passing chords. His contribution to jazz and bebop made him an icon of the hipster subculture.

Shemp Howard

(Comedian, Actor and Member of the Comedy Team ‘The Three Stooges’)

Birthdate: March 11, 1895

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States

Died: November 22

Samuel Horwitz, better known as Shemp Howard, gained fame as part of the comedy act Ted Healy and his Stooges, which later turned into the iconic slapstick comedy group The Three Stooges, featured in scores of movies. Samuel had marked phobias regarding many things, such as airplanes and dogs.

Dale Carnegie

(Self-Help Writer, Motivational Guru, Public Speaker)

Birthdate: November 24, 1888

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Maryville, Missouri, United States

Died: November 1

Writer and academic Dale Carnegie is best remembered for his work on courses in areas such as corporate training, self-improvement, and salesmanship. He started his career as a salesperson. He wrote many books, including the international bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People, and was a successful lecturer, too.

Walter White

(American Civil Rights Activist)

Birthdate: July 1, 1893

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Died: March 21

Birthdate: March 29, 1867

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Gilmore, Ohio, United States

Died: November 4

Birthdate: January 12, 1923

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Sacaton, Arizona, United States

Died: January 24

Birthdate: March 17, 1884

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Wilson County, Texas

Died: July 10

Frank Hamer was an American Texas Ranger and law enforcement officer. He is credited with leading the 1934 group that tracked down and executed criminals, Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Well-known for his investigative skill, marksmanship, and toughness, Frank Hamer was recognized as the archetypal Texas Ranger in the Southwest. His life and work inspired the 2019 film, The Highwaymen.

Thomas Mann

(German Novelist Who Won the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature)

Birthdate: June 6, 1875

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Lübeck, Germany

Died: August 12

German author Thomas Mann, known for his epic novels, was part of the Hanseatic Mann family of authors. He depicted his own family in his novel Buddenbrooks. He won the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature. During Hitler’s reign, he fled to Switzerland and then to the U.S.

Carmen Miranda

(Brazilian Actress and Samba Singer Known for Her Signature Tall Hats Made of Real Fruit)

Birthdate: February 9, 1909

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Marco de Canaveses, Portugal

Died: August 5

Carmen Miranda was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba dancer, singer, film star, and Broadway actress. Nicknamed The Brazilian Bombshell, Miranda is credited with popularizing the fruit hat outfit in the USA. Her performances also popularized Brazilian music and helped increase awareness of Latin culture. Her life and career inspired a documentary titled Carmen Miranda: Bananas is My Business.

Mary McLeod Bethune

(American Civil Rights Activist and Founder of the 'National Council of Negro Women')

Birthdate: July 10, 1875

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Mayesville, South Carolina, United States

Died: May 18

Mary McLeod Bethune was an American civil rights activist, educator, womanist, humanitarian, and philanthropist. She is credited with founding the National Council of Negro Women. Bethune also played a key role in the creation of the Black Cabinet while serving as an adviser to Franklin Roosevelt. In 1973, Bethune was made an indutee of the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Honus Wagner

(Baseballer)

Birthdate: February 24, 1874

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Chartiers, Pennsylvania, USA

Died: December 6

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Birthdate: July 25, 1941

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Died: August 28

In the 1950s, a teenage African-American boy, Emmett Till was kidnapped, tortured and brutally killed for allegedly misbehaving with a white woman. Those responsible were never convicted but the brutality of the crime brought focus on racial discrimination and African-American Civil Rights Movement. It eventually played a crucial role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Matthew Henson

(African American Explorer Who Accompanied Robert E. Peary on Most of His Expeditions)

Birthdate: August 8, 1866

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Nanjemoy, Maryland, United States

Died: March 9

Orphaned, Matthew Henson began his journey as a cabin boy at age 12 and was later hired by Robert E. Peary as an attendant for his expeditions. He, along with Peary and 4 Inuit, were the first men to set foot on North Pole. The African-American explorer later won a Congressional Medal.

Birthdate: July 25, 1875

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

Died: April 19

Theda Bara

(Former actress of the silent era and one of cinema's early sex symbols)

Birthdate: July 29, 1885

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Died: April 7

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Paddy Mayne

(One of Britain's Most Highly Decorated Soldiers in Second World War)

Birthdate: January 11, 1915

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Newtownards, County Down, Ireland

Died: December 14

Paddy Mayne was not just a British Army lieutenant colonel but also a legendary rugby player who had represented both Ireland and the British Lions. He was also known for his reckless behavior, including his drunken brawls. He was part of a huge debate after being denied the Victoria Cross.

Birthdate: May 1, 1881

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Orcines, France

Died: April 10

French paleontologist and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin is remembered as someone who deviated from theology to science. He discovered the fossilized remains known as the Peking man in China, but faced a lot of opposition from his religious superiors when it came to publishing his scientific thoughts.

Birthdate: October 2, 1871

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Olympus, Tennessee, United States

Died: July 23

Fernand Léger

(French Painter and Sculptor Best Known for His Painting ‘My Mother's Garden’)

Birthdate: February 4, 1881

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Argentan, France

Died: August 17

Fernand Léger was a French sculptor, painter, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as the forerunner of pop art, Léger was also active as a teacher for several years. He is also credited with establishing his own Académie Fernand Léger, where he taught for many years. Many of his pupils went on to establish themselves as successful artists.

Birthdate: May 11, 1912

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Samrala

Died: January 18

Saadat Hasan Manto was a Pakistani playwright, writer, and author. Best remembered for his 22 collections of short stories, Manto was renowned for writing about the bitter truths of society. Not surprisingly, he was tried for obscenity on six occasions but was never convicted. Considered one of the 20th century's finest Urdu-language writers, Manto is the subject of two movies.

S. Z. Sakall

(Hungarian-American Actor)

Birthdate: February 2, 1883

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary

Died: February 12

Renowned character actor S. Z. Sakall lost all of his 3 sisters in Nazi concentration camps. A talented stage actor in both Austria and Germany, he later gained international fame with his roles in movies such as Casablanca and Ball of Fire. He earned the nickname Cuddles for his affable appearance.

Birthdate: October 2, 1879

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Reading, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: August 2

George Enescu

(Romanian Composer, Violinist and Conductor)

Birthdate: August 19, 1881

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: George Enescu, Romania

Died: May 4

Birthdate: November 9, 1885

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Elmshorn, Germany

Died: December 8

Hermann Klaus Hugo Wey is remembered for his contribution to both physics and math. He was one of the first scientists to think of merging the concepts of electromagnetism and relativity. He moved from the University of Göttingen to Princeton in the wake of the rise of the Nazi reign.

James Agee

(Novelist)

Birthdate: November 27, 1909

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Died: May 16

António Egas Moniz

(Neurologist)

Birthdate: November 29, 1874

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Avanca, Estarreja, Portugal

Died: December 13

Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria

(Prince)

Birthdate: May 18, 1869

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Munich, Germany

Died: August 2

Alberto Ascari

(Italian Racing Driver and a Two-Time Formula One World Champion)

Birthdate: July 13, 1918

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Milan, Italy

Died: May 26

A multitalented racing driver and twice Formula One World Champion, Alberto Ascari began his racing career with motorcycles, eventually shifting to automobiles, making his debut at Mille Miglia. Later, he started participating in other events, winning a total of thirteen races, including 1951 German Grand Prix and 1953 Swiss Grand Prix before passing away at the age of 36 while testing a car.

Olga Khokhlova

(Russian Ballet Dancer and First Wife of Artist Pablo Picasso)

Birthdate: June 17, 1891

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Nizhyn, Ukraine

Died: February 11

Olga Khokhlova was a Ukrainian ballet dancer. She also served as one of Pablo Picasso's early artistic muses before marrying him in 1918. Olga met Picasso at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris where the latter had designed the set and costumes for a ballet titled Parade, in which Olga performed. She left her ballet group after meeting Pablo Picasso.

Grace Gifford

(Artist)

Birthdate: March 4, 1888

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland

Died: December 13

Immortalized in the Irish ballad Grace, Irish cartoonist Grace Gifford was a regular contributor to many reputed publications such as The Irish Review. She was part of the Republican movement and married her lover Joseph Plunkett just hours before he was killed by firing squad for his invoolvement in the Easter Rising.

Hubert Cecil Booth

(Engineer)

Birthdate: July 4, 1871

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Paris

Died: January 14

Civil engineer Hubert Cecil Booth had designed everything from Ferris wheels to bridges, but the product that he is most remembered for is the vacuum cleaner, which he invented to introduce a hygienic method of dust removal. He had also designed Navy ships. He rejected the knighthood offered to him.

Maurice Utrillo

(Painter)

Birthdate: December 26, 1883

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Montmartre, Paris, France

Died: November 5

Yves Tanguy

(Painter)

Birthdate: January 5, 1900

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: January 15

Michael Chekhov

(Actor, Director and Theatre Practitioner Best Known for His Academy Nominated Role in the Film 'Spellbound')

Birthdate: August 29, 1891

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Died: September 30

Starting his career with the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia, actor Michael Chekhova later moved to the US, making a successful career in Hollywood. His role of Dr. Alex in Spellbound earned him an Academy Award nomination. He also had his own drama studio, where he taught acting by mingling movement and imagination.

José Ortega y Gasset

(Spanish Philosopher and Essayist)

Birthdate: May 9, 1883

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

Died: October 18

Philosopher and humanist José Ortega y Gasset was a major figure of the 20th-century Spanish literary renaissance. Apart from introducing concepts such as ratiovitalism, he also believed in the philosophy "I am I and my circumstance." Invertebrate Spain and The Revolt of the Masses remain his best works.

Alfred Einstein

(Physicist)

Birthdate: March 14, 1879

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Munich, Germany

Died: April 18

James P. Johnson

(American Pianist and Composer)

Birthdate: February 1, 1894

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Died: November 17

Pierre Levegh

(French Formula One Driver)

Birthdate: December 22, 1905

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: June 11

Arthur Honegger

(Swiss Composer)

Birthdate: March 10, 1892

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Le Havre, France

Died: November 27

French-born Swiss composer Arthur Honegger was part of the legendary Les Six and heralded the modern movement in French music. Trained in Zurich and Paris, he later soared to fame with his version of Le Roi David. Antigone and Pacific 231 remain two of his most popular pieces.

Calouste Gulbenkian

(businessperson, entrepreneur)

Birthdate: March 23, 1869

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Üsküdar

Died: July 20

Paul Claudel

(French Poet, Dramatist and Diplomat)

Birthdate: August 6, 1868

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Villeneuve-sur-Fère, France

Died: February 23

Born into a family of farmers, Paul Claudel grew up to join the foreign service of France, thus serving in places such as the US, China, and South America. While he traveled the world as a French ambassador to French ambassador, he also enriched French literature with his poems, essays, and plays.

Emma Jung

(Swiss Jungian Analyst and Author)

Birthdate: March 30, 1882

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Died: November 27

Better known as Carl Jung’s wife, Emma Jung was the daughter of one of the most affluent businessmen in Switzerland. Though she initially wished to study natural sciences, being a woman in her time, she couldn’t. Later a co-owner of a luxury watch company, she helped her husband financially in his career.

Rodolfo Graziani

(Italian Military Officer & a Loyal Supporter of Benito Mussolini)

Birthdate: August 11, 1882

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Filettino, Italy

Died: January 11

Italian military officer Rodolfo Graziani commanded Italy’s Regio Esercito, or Royal Army. He was a fascist figure who held significant political posts under the monarchy of Victor Emmanuel III and then under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Known for his campaigns in Africa during World War II, he escaped imprisonment for his war crimes.

Tommy Burns

(Canadian Professional Boxer)

Birthdate: June 17, 1881

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Hanover, Ontario, Canada

Died: May 10

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Leo Amery

(Politician)

Birthdate: November 1, 1873

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Gorakhpur, India

Died: September 16

Oswald Avery

(Biologist, Physician, Geneticist)

Birthdate: October 21, 1877

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada

Died: February 20

A pioneer of molecular biology, Oswald Avery revolutionized science with his research on the chemical processes involved in immunology. The Canadian-American bacteriologist initially aspired to be a musician. He later proved that DNA was the basis of heredity. Though nominated for the Nobel Prize multiple times, he never won it.

Louis Leon Thurstone

(Psychologist)

Birthdate: May 29, 1887

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Died: September 30