Famous People Who Died at 70
The list of famous people who died at 70 includes Howard Hughes, Stanley Kubrick, Orson Welles, Marco Polo, Richard Kuklinski. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, philosophers, artists and novelists and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 70 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & Germany and many more countries.
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1
Marco Polo(Italian Explorer, Venetian Merchant and Adventurer Who Traveled from Europe to Asia Between 1271 and 1295)
Birthdate: 1254 AD
Birthplace: Venice, Italy
Died: January 8, 1324
Marco Polo was a Venetian explorer, writer, and merchant. He explored Asia along the Silk Road and is credited with providing the Europeans with descriptions of the culture of the Eastern world, which remained unknown until his exploration. Polo's travel book inspired other travelers like Christopher Columbus. His writings also influenced European cartography, which led to the Fra Mauro map.
2
Niki Lauda(Three-Time Formula One World Drivers' Champion)
Birthdate: February 22, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: May 20, 2019
Austrian Formula One driver and aviation entrepreneur Niki Lauda was a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion. Considered to be one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, he was once involved in a near-fatal accident. He founded and ran three airlines as an aviation entrepreneur and also served as the team manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team.
Birthdate: July 26, 1928
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: March 7, 1999
Regarded as one of the greatest American filmmakers, Stanley Kubrick was the maker of acclaimed movies like Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Barry Lyndon. Stanley Kubrick was known for his exceptional visual style and artistic expression. He began his career as a magazine photographer and subsequently began directing short films. His first big break came with the hit movie Spartacus.
4
Nina Simone(One of the Most Influential Musical Artists of the 20th Century)
Birthdate: February 21, 1933
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tryon, North Carolina, United States
Died: April 21, 2003
Widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Nina Simone was a pioneering recording artist whose career was characterized by improvisational genius and fits of outrage. Nina continues to be an important musician and has influenced several artists like Elton John, Adele, David Bowie, Madonna, and Aretha Franklin. She was also a civil rights activist.
5
Orson Welles(One of the Greatest Filmmakers of All Time and Director of 'Citizen Kane')
Birthdate: May 6, 1915
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
Died: October 10, 1985
American filmmaker, Orson Welles, acted in and directed the 1941 film, Citizen Kane, which is considered to be one the greatest movies ever made. Though hailed as a genius, many of his films didn’t work at the box office. The Stranger, Macbeth, Chimes at Midnight, Touch of Evil and The Trial are some of the other films that he directed.
6
Howard Hughes(Film Producer and an Important Figure in the Aviation Industry Who Became Known for His Ecentric Behavior)
Birthdate: December 24, 1905
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Humble, Texas, United States
Died: April 5, 1976
A multi-talented personality, Howard Hughes was one of the richest person of his time. A business tycoon, he made big investments in films and aviation industry. Passionate about flying, he set numerous flying records, and also risked his own life in process. Howard Hughes who inherited his family business and became millionaire at the age of 18, was later on troubled with mental illness and turned recluse.
Birthdate: December 30, 1865
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mumbai, India
Died: January 18, 1936
English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist Rudyard Kipling is best remembered for his fiction work The Jungle Book. He was born in India and many of his works are inspired by his life in the country. He was one of the most popular English writers in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Birthdate: February 19, 1473
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Toruń, Poland
Died: May 24, 1543
Nicolaus Copernicus was a mathematician and astronomer. He is credited with formulating Heliocentrism, which led to the Copernican Revolution. Although Aristarchus of Samos had formulated Heliocentrism 18 centuries earlier, Copernicus was responsible for popularizing it. Copernicus is also credited with formulating an economic principle, which was later called Gresham's law.
Birthdate: April 2, 1805
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Odense, Denmark
Died: August 4, 1875
Legendary Danish children’s author Hans Christian Andersen is remembered for his fairy tales, such as The Little Mermaid, The Little Match Girl, The Emperor's New Clothes, and Thumbelina, which have been appreciated by the young the old alike. Many of his tales have been adapted into films, ballets, and plays.
10
George V(King of the United Kingdom (1910-36))
Birthdate: June 3, 1865
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: London, England
Died: January 20, 1936
George V became the King of Great Britain and the British Dominions in 1910. During the World War I, he played an active role in supporting the troops. The rise of socialism, communism, fascism and the Indian independence movement was witnessed during his rule. His reign also saw the supremacy of the elected British House of Commons established by the Parliament.
11
Paul Reubens(Actor, Comedian & Writer Known for His Role as ‘Pee-wee Herman’ in Film ‘Pee-wee's Big Adventure’)
Birthdate: August 27, 1952
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Peekskill, New York, United States
Died: July 30, 2023
Comedian Paul Reubens, or Pee-wee, began his career with the troupe The Groundlings. His popular stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show inspired the CBS show Pee-wee’s Playhouse; the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure; and a Netflix film. His 1991 arrest due to indecent exposure changed his image to a great extent.
12
Buster Keaton(Comedian, Actor and Filmmaker Known for His Deadpan Expressions, Which Earned Him the Nickname ‘The Great Stone Face’)
Birthdate: October 4, 1895
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Piqua, Kansas, United States
Died: February 1, 1966
Buster Keaton was an American comedian, filmmaker, actor, and stunt performer. Regarded as one of the greatest actor-directors of all time, Keaton was renowned for his physical comedy. Counted among the greatest stars of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute, Buster Keaton's films remain highly regarded. His 1926 film The General was admired by actors like Orson Welles.
13
Suzanne Pleshette(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Emily Hartley’ in the TV Series ‘The Bob Newhart Show’)
Birthdate: January 31, 1937
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn Heights, New York, United States
Died: January 19, 2008
Suzanne Pleshette is best remembered for her Golden Globe-nominated role in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. She also appeared as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show and was nominated for both the Emmy and the Golden Globe for her portrayal of real-life hotelier Leona Helmsley in her biopic.
14
Markie Post(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Terri Michaels’ in the TV Series ‘The Fall Guy’)
Birthdate: November 4, 1950
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California, United States
Died: August 7, 2021
Markie Post is an American actress known for playing important roles in popular TV series, such as The Fall Guy, Night Court, and Hearts Afire. Before starting her acting career, Markie Post worked on game shows. She worked as an associate producer for Double Dare, which ran from 1976 to 1977. Markie Post has also voiced animated characters like June Darby.
Birthdate: May 23, 1707
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Linnés Råshults Stiftelse, Älmhult Municipality, Sweden
Died: January 10, 1778
Swedish botanist and lecturer Carl Linnaeus, who established the concept of binomial nomenclature, or the system of naming organisms, is also known as the father of modern taxonomy. His system of classification is known as Linnaean taxonomy. He was the first to include humans and apes under the header Anthropomorpha.
16
Joe Cocker(British Singer and Musician Known for His Album ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’)
Birthdate: May 20, 1944
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Crookes, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Died: December 22, 2014
Grammy-winning artist Joe Cocker is best remembered for his tracks You Are So Beautiful and Up Where We Belong. His chartbusting version of the Beatles song With a Little Help from My Friends was the theme song of the series The Wonder Years. He also received an OBE.
Birthdate: October 4, 1822
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Delaware, Ohio, United States
Died: January 17, 1893
Rutherford B. Hayes served as the U.S. president from 1877 to 1881. He won a close election through the Compromise of 1877, thus putting an end to Reconstruction and withdrawing troops from the South. An attorney, he owned several law firms and had also served as the Ohio governor.
18
Buffalo Bill(American Showman, Bison Hunter and One of the Most Famous Figures of the American Old West,)
Birthdate: February 26, 1846
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Scott County, Iowa, United States
Died: January 10, 1917
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a legendary showman and bison hunter who had also been a Union soldier. He began working as a freight carrier at 11 and later performed in Wild West-themed shows. He later formed Buffalo Bill's Wild West and toured across the U.S. and Europe.
Birthdate: January 9, 1935
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New Rochelle, New York
Died: September 2, 2005
Bob Denver was an American actor renowned for playing comedy roles in popular TV series, such as Gilligan's Island and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Bob Denver became a synonym for Gilligan, thanks to his wonderful portrayal of the comedic character. A humanitarian, Denver played Gilligan in 1992 to benefit the non-profit organization, Make-A-Wish Foundation.
20
Gene Tierney(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Ellen Berent Harland’ in the Film ‘Leave Her to Heaven’)
Birthdate: November 19, 1920
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: November 6, 1991
Gene Tierney is best remembered for her Academy Award-nominated role of Ellen Berent Harland in Leave Her to Heaven. She also starred in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Laura, and The Razor's Edge, and performed on Broadway, too. Her personal life is said to have inspired an Agatha Christie novel.
21
Rush Limbaugh(Conservative Political Commentator and Host of 'The Rush Limbaugh Show')
Birthdate: January 12, 1951
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States
Died: February 17, 2021
Mostly known for his controversial comments on the LGBT community, sexual consent, and climate change, Rush Limbaugh has hosted The Rush Limbaugh Show, one of the highest-rated in the U.S. He has also hosted a TV show, written several books, including two bestsellers, and won the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
22
Roddy McDowall(Best Known for Portraying ‘Cornelius’ and ‘Caesar’ in the Original ‘Planet of the Apes’ Film Series)
Birthdate: September 17, 1928
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Herne Hill, London, England
Died: October 3, 1998
Roddy McDowall is best remembered as Cornelius and Caesar from the original Planet of the Apes movie series and as Galen from the 1974 spin-off series. His portrayal of Octavian in Cleopatra earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He was also a talented photographer and was associated with several boards.
Birthdate: March 2, 1793
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States
Died: July 26, 1863
Sam Houston was the governor of Texas from 1859 to 1861. He was also the senator from Texas, the President of the Republic of Texas, and the governor of Tennessee. As part of the Texan Army, he won the Battle of San Jacinto. The city Houston is named after him.
24
Gerald Durrell(Founder of the 'Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust' and the 'Jersey Zoo')
Birthdate: January 7, 1925
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Jamshedpur, India
Died: January 30, 1995
Naturalist, author, TV presenter, and zookeeper Gerald Durrell, the youngest brother of author Lawrence Durrell, was the founder of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Jersey Zoo. His memoirs were made into the series My Family and Other Animals and The Durrells. He was also a skilled Illustrator.
25
Gene Roddenberry(Screenwriter, Producer, and Creator of American TV Series, 'Star Trek: The Original Series')
Birthdate: August 19, 1921
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: El Paso
Died: October 24, 1991
TV writer and producer Gene Roddenberry, who created the original Star Trek series of the 1960s, also produced its spin-offs. He was the first TV writer to have a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His ashes were flown into space.
Birthdate: April 4, 1913
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Issaquena County, Mississippi
Died: April 30, 1983
Grammy-winning blues singer McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, is considered the father of modern Chicago blues. He is remembered for his tracks Hoochie Coochie Man and Rollin' Stone, with the latter inspiring the name of the band The Rolling Stones. He shaped the rock and roll genre.
Birthdate: July 26, 1909
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cherryvale, Kansas
Died: August 17, 1979
Vivian Vance is best remembered for her Emmy-winning role of Ethel Mertz in the sitcom I Love Lucy. Fans also loved her as Vivian Bagley in the sitcom The Lucy Show. A skilled stage actor, too, she also gained fame for playing Nancy Collister in the musical Let's Face It!
Birthdate: July 8, 1908
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
Died: January 26, 1979
Grandson of businessman John D. Rockefeller, Nelson Rockefeller was the U.S. vice president from 1975 to 1977 and the New York governor from 1959 to 1973. An arts connoisseur, he was the president of the Museum of Modern Art. He had also worked with Franklin Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.
Birthdate: October 22, 1942
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Utica, New York, United States
Died: April 8, 2013
Annette Funicello started performing with the Mickey Mouse Club, as a Mouseketeer, at age 12. She later delivered hit singles such as Tall Paul and Pineapple Princess and also became a successful actor, appearing in Beach Party films such as Bikini Beach. She died of multiple sclerosis at age 70.
30
Diego Rivera(Mexican Painter Whose Large Frescoes Helped Establish the Mural Movement in Mexican and International Art )
Birthdate: December 13, 1886
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Guanajuato, Mexico
Died: November 25, 1957
Mexican painter Diego Rivera is best remembered for his association with the mural movement and had created masterpieces such as The History of Mexico and the Detroit Industry Murals. He was inspired by cubism and post-impressionism. He had married, divorced, and remarried Frida Kahlo, the third of his four wives.
31
Martha Washington(Former First Lady of the United States as the Wife of President George Washington)
Birthdate: June 2, 1731
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Chestnut Grove, Virginia, United States
Died: May 22, 1802
Martha Washington became the inaugural First Lady of the United States when her husband George Washington took office as the first President of the United States in 1789. She was the daughter of a wealthy man and was first married to Daniel Parke Custis, with whom she had four children. Following Custis’ death, she married George Washington.
Birthdate: June 18, 1942
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Urbana, Illinois, United States
Died: April 4, 2013
Roger Ebert was an American journalist, author, screenwriter, film historian, and film critic. While working as a film critic for the daily newspaper Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert received the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, becoming the first film critic to be honored with the prestigious award. He was often described as America's most influential and prominent film critic of all time.
33
Eddie Money(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: March 21, 1949
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: September 13, 2019
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
34
Lemmy(Founder of the Rock Band 'Motörhead')
Birthdate: December 24, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Died: December 28, 2015
Lemmy was an English musician who founded the popular rock band Motörhead. The only continuous member of Motörhead, Lemmy served as the band's lead singer, primary songwriter, and bassist. Renowned for his gravelly voice, which was counted among the most recognizable voices in rock, Lemmy is also remembered for his military-influenced fashion sense and his signature friendly mutton chops.
Birthdate: April 14, 1866
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Agawam, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 20, 1936
36
Georgia Engel(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Georgette Franklin Baxter’ in the TV Sitcom ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’)
Birthdate: July 28, 1948
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: April 12, 2019
Georgia Engel is best remembered for her Emmy-nominated performances as Georgette Franklin Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and as Pat MacDougall in Everybody Loves Raymond. She voiced Bobbie in the Open Season franchise. A Christian Science believer, she did not consult any physician and died of unknown causes.
37
Henry Ford II(Business Person)
Birthdate: September 4, 1917
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: September 29, 1987
38
Gottfried W. Leibniz(German Mathematician Who Developed the Present Day Notation for the Differential and Integral Calculus)
Birthdate: July 1, 1646
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Leipzig, Germany
Died: November 14, 1716
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a significant logician, mathematician, and philosopher of the Enlightenment era. He laid down his own concepts of differential and integral calculus. He was behind the invention of the mass-produced mechanical calculator and modified the binary number system. He also laid down a separate library cataloging system.
Birthdate: 0780 AD
Birthplace: Khwarazm, Uzbekistan
Died: 0850 AD
Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was a Persian polymath credited with producing influential works in the fields of geography, astronomy, and mathematics. He is referred to as the founder or father of algebra as he was the first person to recognize algebra as an independent discipline. He also made significant contributions to trigonometry; he produced precise sine and cosine tables.
Birthdate: May 31, 1922
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ealing, London, England
Died: October 6, 1992
Veteran English actor, Denholm Elliott, had more than 125 film and TV credits to his name. He is best remembered for playing Mr. Emerson in the film, A Room with a View. A much-respected character actor, he received three British Academy Film Awards. He was secretly bisexual and had an open marriage to actress Susan Robinson.
41
Allen Ginsberg(Best Known for His Poem ‘Howl’, Which is One of the Most Significant Products of the 'Beat Movement')
Birthdate: June 3, 1926
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died: April 5, 1997
Allen Ginsberg, a Beat Generation poet, is best remembered for his 1956 poem Howl, which criticized U.S. capitalism and described homosexual acts, and was thus banned. He earned the National Book Award for The Fall of America and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Cosmopolitan Greetings: Poems 1986–1992.
42
Henry Mancini(Composer Best Known for His Soudtrack for the 'Peter Gunn' TV Series & 'The Pink Panther' Film Series)
Birthdate: April 16, 1924
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Little Italy, Ohio, United States
Died: June 14, 1994
Birthdate: August 11, 1921
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ithaca, New York, United States
Died: February 10, 1992
Birthdate: August 4, 1821
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: France
Died: February 27, 1892
After losing his parents at 10, Louis Vuitton ran away to Paris, where he gained repute as a box-maker/packer, and was even hired by Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugénie de Montijo. He then founded the iconic French fashion and luxury goods brand Louis Vuitton, which now operates in 50 countries.
45
G. H. Hardy(English Mathematician Known for His Contributions in Number Theory and Mathematical Analysis)
Birthdate: February 7, 1877
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cranleigh, England
Died: December 1, 1947
English mathematician G. H. Hardy is best recognised for his work and achievements in number theory and mathematical analysis, and also as mentor of distinguished Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. He is noted for his essay on mathematics titled A Mathematician's Apology. He also made his mark in biology formulating a basic principle of population genetics called Hardy–Weinberg principle.
46
Epicurus(Ancient Greek Philosopher Who Founded 'Epicureanism;, a Highly Influential School of Philosophy)
Birthdate: 0341
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Samos, Greece
Died: 0270 BC
Greek philosopher Epicurus is remembered for establishing a school of philosophy known as Epicureanism. He believed that people could achieve ataraxia and aponia, freedom from fear and pain, unless they indulged in amoral behavior. He established a school named The Garden in Athens, where students could discuss philosophical ideas.
47
Bobby Womack(Singer, Songwriter, Musician, and Record Producer)
Birthdate: March 4, 1944
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: June 27, 2014
Bobby Womack began his career with his family band The Valentinos, after gaining a record deal with The Soul Stirrers singer Sam Cooke. He later began a solo career and became famous for tracks such as Lookin’ for a Love. He also contributed to the soundtrack of Across 110th Street.
48
John Paul Getty Jr.(Philanthropist)
Birthdate: September 7, 1932
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Italy
Died: April 17, 2003
Birthdate: July 27, 1916
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: October 14, 1986
Keenan Wynn, son of vaudeville performer Ed Wynn, gained prominence as a character actor. He started as a Broadway actor and then appeared in popular movies such as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Great Race, and Son of Flubber. He was also seen in the soap Dallas.
50
Dixie Carter(Film Actress)
Birthdate: May 25, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: McLemoresville, Tennessee, United States
Died: April 10, 2010
