Famous People Who Died in 2009
Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 2009. This list includes people like Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Ted Kennedy, Natasha Richardson, Farrah Fawcett and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, presidents, soldiers and novelists who died in 2009. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & India and many more countries.
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1
Michael Jackson(One of the Most Significant Cultural Figures of the 20th Century Popularly Known as the 'King of Pop')
Birthdate: August 29, 1958
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States
Died: June 25
The King of Pop and an international superstar, Michael Jackson was a musical entertainer whose work – both with Jackson 5 and solo – won accolades and hearts worldwide. Equally popular were his unique dance moves that created sensation and shaped future dance styles. Amongst the most successful entertainers of all time, Jackson was later accused of child molestation.
2
Patrick Swayze(Best Known For His Roles in the Films: 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Ghost')
Birthdate: August 18, 1952
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Died: September 14
Patrick Swayze, the American actor, dancer, singer and songwriter, was very popular during the 1980s. His movie the ‘Dirty Dancing’ catapulted him to stardom. Ghost was another of his hit films. Swayze died in September, 2009, at the age of 57 due to pancreatic cancer. His final role was that of a FBI Agent in the television series ‘The Beast’.
3
Farrah Fawcett(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Jill Munroe’ in the TV Series ‘Charlie's Angels’)
Birthdate: February 2, 1947
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
Died: June 25
Farrah Fawcett is best remembered for posing for the iconic red swimsuit poster, which sold over 12 million copies and is regarded as a symbol of the late-1970s and a modern icon. Known for her good looks, Farrah was a popular Playboy model. The actress was also named in Men's Health magazine's 100 Hottest Women of All-Time list in 2011.
Birthdate: November 10, 1977
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Died: December 20
Britanny Murphy was an American singer and actress. She received critical acclaim for playing important roles in films like 8 Mile before leaving for heavenly abode due to pneumonia at age 32. A month after her demise, her mother and widower established a charitable fund called The Brittany Murphy Foundation, which aimed at aiding children's arts education and cancer research.
5
Bea Arthur(Actress and Comedian Known for Her Popular Sitcoms: ‘All in the Family’, ‘Maude’ and ‘The Golden Girls’)
Birthdate: May 13, 1922
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Died: April 25
American actress Bea Arthur worked extensively in television and was hailed for her comic timing. All in the Family, Maude and The Golden Girls are some of her acclaimed series. In her long career, she also worked in films like Lovers and Other Strangers, History of the World 1 and For Better or Worse. She won many accolades, including two Emmy awards.
Birthdate: December 8, 1936
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: June 3
The quintessential American on-screen martial artist, David Carradine specialized in playing martial arts roles in an illustrious acting career that spanned more than 60 years. Regarded as the bad boy of Hollywood, Carradine was arrested several times throughout his life for offenses involving substance abuse. He died in Bangkok, Thailand due to accidental autoerotic asphyxiation at the age of 72.
7
Natasha Richardson(British Actress Known for Her Films: 'Gothic', 'Patty Hearst' and 'The Parent Trap')
Birthdate: May 11, 1963
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Marylebone, London, England
Died: March 18
Natasha Richardson, the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave, came to prominence after her Broadway debut in the 1993 revival of Anna Christie. Some of the films that she acted in are Asylum, The Handmaid's Tale, The Parent Trap, Maid in Manhattan and The White Countess. She also worked in many television projects. She died after a skiing accident in Quebec.
8
Dom DeLuise(Actor)
Birthdate: August 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died: May 4
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
9
Steve McNair(American Football Player)
Birthdate: February 14, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mount Olive, Mississippi, USA
Died: July 4
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
10
Ricardo Montalbán(Mexican Actor Best Known for His Role of 'Mr. Roarke' on the Television Series 'Fantasy Island')
Birthdate: November 25, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Died: January 14
Ricardo Montalbán was a Mexican actor who achieved immense popularity in Hollywood during his illustrious career that spanned 70 years! He was the recipient of several prestigious awards including an Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award. Ricardo Montalbán is credited with establishing the Nosotros Foundation where he served as the first president.
11
Walter Cronkite(Broadcast Journalist and Longtime Anchor of the ‘CBS Evening News’)
Birthdate: November 4, 1916
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Saint Joseph, Missouri, United States
Died: July 17
TV journalist Walter Cronkite, named “The most trusted man in America," is remembered for his 19-year association with CBS Evening News and his catchphrase "And that's the way it is.” His U.S. space program reports made him the only non-NASA person to receive the Ambassador of Exploration award.
Birthdate: January 25, 1933
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Paniqui, Tarlac
Died: August 1
Corazon Aquino, or Cory Aquino, was the first female president of the Philippines. She led the People Power Revolution after her husband Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.’s assassination and ended the 21-year dictatorial reign of President Ferdinand Marcos. In 1986, Corazon was named Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year.
13
Billy Mays(American salesperson)
Birthdate: July 20, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: June 28
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
14
John Hughes(American Filmmaker Known for His Coming-Of-Age Teen Comedy Films with Honest Depictions of Suburban Teenage Life)
Birthdate: February 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, United States
Died: August 6
Largely known for popularizing the teen movie genre in the 1980s, John Hughes had dropped out of university to work as an ad copywriter and then a comedy writer. He soared to fame with his stories in National Lampoon magazine and then directed many films of the National Lampoon franchise.
Birthdate: March 22, 1912
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: July 1
Karl Malden is best remembered for his Academy Award-winning role of Harold Mitchell in A Streetcar Named Desire. He also won a BAFTA for the film Baby Doll and an Emmy for Fatal Vision. Fans also loved him as Mike Stone in The Streets of San Francisco and its spin-off.
16
Patrick McGoohan(Actor Known for His Roles as ‘Dr. Paul Ruth’ in Scanners (1981) & ‘King Edward I’ in Braveheart (1995))
Birthdate: March 19, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Astoria, New York, United States
Died: January 13
Though born in the US, Patrick McGoohan moved to the US with his family as a child and later became one of Britain’s best-known actors. Fans loved him as John Drake in Danger Man and as Number Six in The Prisoner. He is also known for his Emmy-winning performance in the series Columbo.
Birthdate: March 2, 1919
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died: December 17
Jennifer Jones is best remembered for her Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning role in the film The Song of Bernadette. A former model, she also starred in movies such as Love Letters and Duel in the Sun. She survived a suicide attempt once and became a mental health advocate later.
Birthdate: October 1, 1921
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: White Plains, New York, United States
Died: February 6
James Whitmore was an American actor whose career spanned more than 50 years. During his illustrious career, Whitmore won a Grammy, a Tony, and an Emmy Award, narrowly missing an EGOT honor. He also received a Golden Globe Award and two Academy Award nominations. In 1960, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
19
Ed McMahon(actor, officer, radio personality)
Birthdate: March 6, 1923
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit
Died: June 23
20
Les Paul(Jazz Guitarist: One of the Pioneers of the Solid-body Electric Guitar)
Birthdate: June 9, 1915
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
Died: August 12
Jazz and country guitarist Les Paul developed his version of the solid-body electric guitar, which he named the Log. He is also credited with pioneering innovations such as multitrack recording, the eight-track tape recorder, and overdubbing. He won the Special Merit/Technical Grammy Award for his achievements.
21
Roy E. Disney(Producer)
Birthdate: January 10, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died: December 16
22
Mary Travers(Singer-Songwriter and Member of the Folk Music Group ‘Peter, Paul and Mary’)
Birthdate: November 9, 1936
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: September 16
Mary Travers was an American singer and songwriter. She was part of Peter, Paul and Mary, one of the most successful and popular folk music groups of the 1960s. Apart from working with the music group, Travers released five solo albums. In 1999, she was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as part of the group.
Birthdate: January 8, 1926
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Franklinton, North Carolina, United States
Died: October 22
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
24
Edward Woodward(Actor and Singer Known for His Role as ‘David Callan in the TV Series ‘Callan’)
Birthdate: June 1, 1930
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Croydon, Surrey, England
Died: November 16
Edward Woodward was an English singer and actor. After starting his career as a stage actor, Woodward achieved popularity in 1967 when he started playing the title role in the popular television series Callan, for which he won the British Academy Television Award in 1970. In 1986, he won the Golden Globe Award for his performance in the movie The Equalizer.
25
Norman Borlaug(American Agronomist and Winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1970)
Birthdate: March 25, 1914
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cresco, Iowa, United States
Died: September 12
Norman Borlaug was an American agronomist who played a key role in the Green Revolution, a set of research technology transfer initiatives that increased agricultural production, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. Nicknamed the Father of the Green Revolution, Borlaug was also honored with the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work.
Birthdate: September 4, 1918
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tulsa
Died: February 28
Birthdate: July 10, 1921
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 11
Eunice Shriver, sister of American president John F. Kennedy and wife of diplomat Sargent Shriver, was an avid philanthropist. Motivated by her mentally challenged sister Rosemary’s condition, she began working for the disabled and eventually founded the Special Olympics. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her philanthropic work.
28
Jack Kemp(Politician)
Birthdate: July 13, 1935
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: May 2
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Birthdate: September 21, 1935
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: September 14
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
30
The Rev(Musician, Drummer)
Birthdate: February 9, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Huntington Beach, California, United States
Died: December 28
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
Birthdate: March 18, 1932
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: January 27
32
Eddie Fatu(American Professional Wrestler)
Birthdate: March 28, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: American Samoa
Died: December 4
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
33
Wendy Richard(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Miss Shirley Brahms’ on the TV Sitcom ‘Are You Being Served?’)
Birthdate: July 20, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England
Died: February 26
Wendy Richard is best remembered as Shirley Brahms from Are You Being Served? and as Pauline Fowler from EastEnders, and won the British Soap Award for Special Achievement for the latter. She died of breast cancer at 65 but documented the final months of her life in a BBC documentary.
Birthdate: November 11, 1951
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Died: December 19
Kim Peek was a savant who suffered from the rare genetic syndrome, FG syndrome. Often called a “megasavant,” he had an exceptional memory and appeared in many documentaries. He was the inspiration for the character of Raymond Babbitt in the film Rain Man. He was born with macrocephaly and damage to the cerebellum and experienced considerable social difficulties.
Birthdate: October 29, 1925
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Died: August 26
Birthdate: June 9, 1916
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: San Francisco, California
Died: July 6
Robert McNamara was the U.S. secretary of defense from 1961 to 1968. He supported the Gulf of Tonkin resolution to engage the U.S. forces in the Vietnam War. He was also one of the “Whiz Kids” who worked for Ford Motors. He was the president of the World Bank, too.
37
Gene Barry(Actor)
Birthdate: June 14, 1919
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: December 9
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Birthdate: July 12, 1917
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania,, United States
Died: January 16
Andrew Wyeth was a visual artist and one of the best-known American artists of the mid-20th century. Primarily a realist painter, Wyeth worked predominantly in a regionalist style. Andrew Wyeth was the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as the National Medal of Arts and the Congressional Gold Medal.
39
Pat Hingle(Actor)
Birthdate: July 19, 1924
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, USA
Died: January 3
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Birthdate: September 14, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Modesto, California, United States
Died: June 30
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
Birthdate: November 28, 1908
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brussels, Belgium
Died: October 30
French social anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss is remembered for his contribution to structural anthropology. His book Tristes Tropiques was based on his research deep in the Brazilian Amazon. While he left France for the U.S. during World War II, he later returned to Paris and received his doctorate.
Birthdate: June 11, 1919
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Died: December 3
Richard Todd was an Irish actor best remembered for his portrayal of Corporal Lachlan MacLachlan in the movie The Hasty Heart, for which he won aGolden Globe Awardand anAcademy Awardnomination. One of the most bankable actors of his generation, Richard Todd was frequently listed among the most popular British stars throughout the 1950s.
43
Hélio Gracie(Brazilian Martial Artist and Judo Player)
Birthdate: October 1, 1913
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Belém, State of Pará, Brazil
Died: January 29
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
44
Mark Fidrych(Baseball player)
Birthdate: August 14, 1954
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Died: April 13
Birthdate: July 2, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: March 15
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Birthdate: July 19, 1940
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: November 15
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
47
Chris Henry(American football player)
Birthdate: May 17, 1983
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Belle Chasse, Louisiana, United States
Died: December 17
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
48
Dan Seals(Famous for His Hits 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight', 'Nights Are Forever Without You')
Birthdate: February 8, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: McCamey, Texas, United States
Died: March 25
Birthdate: July 21, 1922
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Keighley, Yorkshire, England
Died: July 1
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
50
Jim Rohn(Motivational speaker, Entrepreneur, Writer)
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Birthdate: September 17, 1930
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Yakima
Died: December 5
