Famous People Who Died on April 1
Discover the most famous people who died on April 1. The list includes people like Marvin Gaye, Max Ernst, Scott Joplin, Charles I of Austria, Martha Graham. Famous personalities featured on this list, include artists, political leaders, emperors & kings and composers and from other domains of life. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & France and many more countries.
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1
Marvin Gaye(Known as the 'Prince of Soul' and Popular for His Song 'Sexual Healing')
Birthdate: April 2, 1939
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: 1984
American singer Marvin Gaye is one of the most successful black artists ever and his albums have sold in millions. His success reached great heights with the 1972 song What's Going On. The 1982 single Sexual Healing was the biggest hit of his career and was a chartbuster. He was tragically shot dead by his father after a family altercation.
Birthdate: December 17, 1905
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rautjärvi, Finland
Died: 2002
Simo Häyhä was a Finnish sniper who served in the Winter War against the Soviet Union, in 1939–1940. He had killed 500 men in the war and received many awards for his exploits. His face was disfigured by a Red Army bullet, and he later retired to a farm.
3
Eleanor of Aquitaine(Queen Consort of France (1137 - 1152) and Queen Consort of England (1154 - 1189))
Birthdate: 1122 AD
Birthplace: France
Died: 1204
Eleanor, the duchess of Aquitaine, became the queen of France after marrying King Louis VII. Their marriage was annulled later. She then married the Duke of Normandy, who became King Henry II of England. Eleanor was imprisoned for supporting a revolt against Henry, and was freed after his death.
Birthdate: September 10, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Blackpool, England
Died: 2015
Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of the Beatles singer John Lennon, met John at a calligraphy class. They divorced on the grounds of adultery, after John started dating Japanese artist Yoko Ono. Cynthia married thrice later, and even released a memoir and a biography, detailing her relationship with John Lennon.
5
Scott Joplin(American Composer and Pianist Known as the ‘King of Ragtime’)
Birthdate: November 24, 1868
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Texarkana, Texas, United States
Died: 1917
Composer and pianist Scott Joplin, or the King of Ragtime, had written more than 100 original ragtime pieces. His most iconic piece was the Maple Leaf Rag. He had also written two operas, including Treemonisha. He was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize. The film The Sting featured his compositions.
Birthdate: January 29, 1918
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New Jersey
Died: 2010
Actor, producer, narrator, and drama teacher, John Forsythe, began his six-decade-long career in the entertainment industry in the 1940s. Initially a small-time actor, he built a strong reputation as a character actor over the years and branched out into teaching and production as well. He also appeared as a panelist on numerous game shows.
7
Max Ernst(Primary Pioneer of the 'Dada Movement' and 'Surrealism' Known for His Work 'A Week of Kindness')
Birthdate: April 2, 1891
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brühl, Germany
Died: 1976
Max Ernst was a German painter, graphic artist, sculptor, and poet. A pioneer of the Dada movement, Ernst played an important role in popularizing surrealism during the early-20th century. He is also credited with inventing a couple of techniques, namely frottage and grattage. In 2005, the Max Ernst Museum was opened in his honor in Brühl, Germany.
8
Martha Graham(Modern Dancer and Choreographer Known for Her 'Graham Technique' Style)
Birthdate: May 11, 1894
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: 1991
Martha Graham was a modern dancer and choreographer who revolutionized American dance. She developed what later became known as the Graham technique, a modern dance movement style and pedagogy. She had an extensive career spanning over 70 years. The Martha Graham School, founded in 1926, is the oldest school of dance in USA.
9
Charles R. Drew(Surgeon and Researcher Who Improved Techniques for Blood Storage)
Birthdate: June 3, 1904
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: 1950
Born into a middle-class African-American family, Charles R. Drew initially excelled in football and track and field, and ended up earning athletic scholarships to fund his studies. He grew up to be a renowned surgeon and revolutionized the storage of blood plasma in blood banks.
Birthdate: August 17, 1887
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Persenbeug-Gottsdorf, Austria
Died: 1922
Charles I of Austria reigned from 1916 to 1918 as the last emperor of Austria. He was the last king of Croatia, Bohemia, Hungary, and the last monarch from the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. Charles is remembered for making unsuccessful attempts to end Austria-Hungary's World War I campaign. He also tried to save the Austro-Hungarian Empire from disintegration but was unsuccessful.
11
Lev Landau(Russian Physicist and One for the Founders of Quantum Mechanical Theory)
Birthdate: January 22, 1908
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Baku, Azerbaijan
Died: 1968
Nobel Prize-winning Russian physicist Lev Landau is remembered for his pathbreaking research in quantum mechanics. A math prodigy, he had learned calculus at 13. He failed to receive his Nobel in person due to a near-fatal car crash which caused him injuries that eventually caused his death 6 years later.
Birthdate: October 27, 1945
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
Died: 2004
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
13
Steven Bochco(Producer)
Birthdate: December 16, 1943
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: 2018
14
Adam Schlesinger(Musician)
Birthdate: October 31, 1967
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: 2020
15
Leslie Cheung(Hong Kong Singer and Actor)
Birthdate: September 12, 1956
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kowloon, Hong Kong
Died: 2003
Cantopop pioneer Leslie Cheung was born to a tailor who worked for celebrities such as Alfred Hitchcock. Educated in the U.K., he later began a singing career in Hong Kong and then moved to Canada. After an illustrious 26-year career, he committed suicide by jumping from the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
16
Alfred Lennon(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: December 14, 1912
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Liverpool
Died: 1976
17
Rube Waddell(Baseball Player)
Birthdate: October 13, 1876
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: 1914
Birthdate: July 19, 1890
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Tatoi Palace, Greece
Died: 1947
George II of Greece was the King of Greece for two terms, from 1922 to 1924 and from 1935 to 1947. He was the eldest son of King Constantine I and his wife, Sophia of Prussia. He reigned during a tumultuous time in Greek history. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his younger brother, Paul.
19
Alan Kulwicki(American Auto Racing Driver and Team Owner)
Birthdate: December 14, 1954
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Greenfield, Wisconsin, United States
Died: 1993
Birthdate: November 8, 1884
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Zurich, Switzerland
Died: 1922
Remembered for inventing the inkblot test to uncover the hidden traits of a subject’s personality, known as the Rorschach test, Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach was born to an art teacher in Zürich and had thus wished to be an artist initially. His Rorschach test was later criticized for its subjectivity.
21
Hayley Okines(Activist)
Birthdate: December 3, 1997
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Arrington
Died: 2015
22
Helena Rubinstein(Business women)
Birthdate: March 27, 1870
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kraków, Austrian Poland
Died: 1965
23
Jolie Gabor(Jeweler and Socialite & Mother of Actresses 'Magda', 'Zsa Zsa' and 'Eva Gabor')
Birthdate: September 30, 1896
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: 1997
Jolie Gabor, also known as Mama Jolie, was a renowned socialite and the mother of the actor sisters Zsa Zsa, Magda, and Eva Gabor. Born into a family of famous Hungarian jewelers, she herself owned multiple jewelry shops in Hungary and later established her business in the US.
24
Juan de Borbón(Spanish royal)
Birthdate: June 20, 1913
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Segovia, Spain
Died: 1993
25
Ken Buchanan(Scottish Professional Boxer Who Became the Undisputed World Lightweight Champion)
Birthdate: June 28, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: 2023
26
Cosima Wagner(Composer)
Birthdate: December 24, 1837
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bellagio, Italy
Died: 1930
27
Erik Bruhn(Danish Artistic Director, Danseur, Choreographer, Actor, and Author)
Birthdate: October 3, 1928
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Died: 1986
28
Ellis Marsalis Jr.(Pianist)
Birthdate: November 14, 1934
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: 2020
29
Sigismund I the Old(King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania)
Birthdate: January 1, 1467
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kozienice, Poland
Died: 1548
30
Philipp Mainlander(Philosopher)
Birthdate: October 5, 1841
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Offenbach, Germany
Died: 1876
Philipp Mainlander was unfortunately born out of marital rape and was later forced by his father to train to be a merchant. However, while working in Italy, he devoted himself to writing. His works include the iconic The Philosophy of Redemption. He eventually committed suicide by hanging.
31
Ferenc Molnár( Hungary’s Most Celebrated and Controversial Novelist and Playwright Known for His Novel 'The Paul Street Boys')
Birthdate: January 12, 1878
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: 1952
Known for his short stories and plays reflecting the life in Budapest, author Ferenc Molnár never identified with any particular literary movement. His best-known works include the short story anthology Muzsika and the novel The Paul Street Boys. Initially an aspiring lawyer, he later worked as a war correspondent.
32
Leila Denmark(Pediatrician, Author)
Birthdate: February 1, 1898
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Portal
Died: 2012
Pediatrician Leila Denmark made headlines when she retired at age 103, after a career spanning over seven decades. She was the oldest practicing pediatrician in the world and the first woman pediatrician from Georgia. She was also the third-oldest living person in the U.S. when she died.
33
Saint Francis of Paola(Saint)
Birthdate: March 27, 1416
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Paola, Italy
Died: 1507
34
Robert Doisneau(Photographer)
Birthdate: April 14, 1912
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Gentilly
Died: 1994
Robert Doisneau was a French photographer best remembered for making photographs on the streets in the 1930s. A pioneer of photojournalism, Doisneau was an ardent advocate of humanist photography. Robert Doisneau was the recipient of prestigious awards, such as the Kodak Prize, Niépce Prize, and Balzac Prize. His 100th birthday was honored with a Google Doodle on 14 April 2012.
35
Robert R. McCormick
Birthdate: July 30, 1880
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chicago
Died: 1955
36
Jesse Albert Stone(Musician)
Birthdate: November 16, 1901
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Atchison, Kansas, United States
Died: 1999
37
Maha Bandula(Burmese Military Leader Who Played an Important Role in the 'First Anglo-Burmese War')
Birthdate: November 6, 1782
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dabayin, Burma
Died: 1825
Maha Bandula was a military leader best remembered for his association with the Royal Burmese Armed Forces, where he served as the commander-in-chief from 1821 until his demise in 1825. He played an important role in the First Anglo-Burmese War. Maha Bandula is widely regarded as a national hero for his resistance against the British.
38
Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan(Former Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1957 - 1960))
Birthdate: August 24, 1895
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Died: 1960
Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan reigned as the first Paramount Ruler of the Federation of Malaya from 31 August 1957 to 1 April 1960. He also served as the second Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and eighth Yamtuan of Seri Menanti. Since 1967, his portrait has been featuring on Malaysian Ringgit banknotes and several places are named after him.
39
Gösta Ekman(Actor)
Birthdate: July 28, 1939
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: 2017
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
40
John Armstrong Jr.(Statesman)
Birthdate: November 25, 1758
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: 1843
41
Patrick Juvet(Model, Singer)
Birthdate: August 21, 1950
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montreux, Switzerland
Died: 2021
Though Patrick Juvet had begun playing the piano at age 7, he also had a successful career as a model in Germany later. The Swiss disco singer is best remembered for his chartbusting track I Love America. Though openly bisexual, he also revealed in his memoir that he preferred men over women.
42
Isamu Akasaki(Japanese Physicist and Engineer Who Won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics)
Birthdate: January 30, 1929
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chiran, Kagoshima, Japan
Died: 2021
Isamu Akasaki was a Japanese physicist and engineer. Isamu, who specializes in semiconductor technology, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014 along with Shuji Nakamura and Hiroshi Amano. Isamu Akasaki also won other prestigious awards like the Kyoto Prize, IEEE Edison Medal, Charles Stark Draper Prize, and Asia Game Changer Award.
43
François-Marie Raoult(French Chemist Who Formulated Raoult’s Law)
Birthdate: May 10, 1830
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Fournes-en-Weppes, France
Died: 1901
Best remembered for his law on solutions, also known as the Raoult’s law, François-Marie Raoult taught at the University of Grenoble till his final days. His contributions to chemistry earned him recognitions such as the Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur and the Davy Medal.
44
Eddie LeBaron(American Football Player)
Birthdate: January 7, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: San Rafael, California, United States
Died: 2015
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
45
Ed Roberts(American computer pioneer and physician)
Birthdate: September 13, 1941
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Miami, Florida,United States
Died: 2010
46
Aaron Bank(Army officer)
Birthdate: November 23, 1902
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: 2004
47
Gerald Irons(American football player)
Birthdate: May 2, 1947
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States
Died: 2021
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
48
Flann O'Brien(Writer)
Birthdate: October 5, 1911
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Strabane, Ireland
Died: 1966
49
Blanche I of Navarre(Queen)
Birthdate: July 6, 1387
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pamplona, Spain
Died: 1441
Birthdate: February 22, 1866
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Nakhchivan City
Died: 1932
Jalil Mammadguluzadeh was an Azerbaijani writer and satirist. He is credited with founding a satirical magazine called Molla Nasraddin, which had a great influence on the genre of satire in the Central Asia and Middle East. Best remembered as one of the earliest women's rights activists in Azerbaijan, Jalil Mammadguluzadeh played a key role in establishing Azerbaijan's first women's magazine.
