Famous People Who Died on May 11

Discover the most famous people who died on May 11. The list includes people like Bob Marley, Douglas Adams, John D. Rockefeller Jr., William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, Alvar Aalto. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, mountaineers, prime ministers and science fiction writers and from other domains of life. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Nigeria and many more countries.

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 1 

Jerry Stiller

(Known for His Role on the Sitcom 'Seinfeld' and the Comedy Series ‘The King of Queens’)

Birthdate: June 8, 1927

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: New York City, United States

Died: 2020

Veteran actor Jerry Stiller had an extensive six-decade-long career in the entertainment industry. He began performing comedy with his wife, Anne Meara, in the 1960s and soon started acting in films and TV shows as well. His son, Ben Stiller, is also an actor, and the two had appeared in many films together.

Birthdate: August 30, 1946

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: 2019

Peggy Lipton achieved fame after playing Julie Barnes in the TV series The Mod Squad; her character Julie became a fashion icon. Peggy is also credited with raising her children Kidada and Rashida Jones—both celebrities—after marrying Quincy Jones. Interestingly, Peggy achieved all these after overcoming nervousness and stuttering as a child after being sexually abused by a relative.

 3 

Douglas Adams

(Author of the BBC Radio Comedy Series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy")

Birthdate: March 11, 1952

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Cambridge, England

Died: 2001

English author, screenwriter, and essayist, Douglas Adams, is most remembered for his comedy science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As a screenwriter, he wrote two stories for the TV series Doctor Who. He advocated for environmentalism and spoke about environmental issues in his non-fiction radio series Last Chance to See.

Birthdate: January 14, 1961

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Christchurch, New Zealand

Died: 1996

Rob Hall was a New Zealand mountaineer and the head guide of a Mount Everest expedition in 1996, during which he died along with two clients and a fellow guide. The ill-fated expedition was dramatized in the film Everest where Rob Hall was played by actor Jason Clarke.

 5 

Floyd Patterson

(American Professional Boxer Who Competed From 1952 to 1972)

Birthdate: January 4, 1935

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Waco, North Carolina, United States

Died: 2006

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 6 

Norman Lloyd

(American Actor, Producer, Director and Centenarian)

Birthdate: November 8, 1914

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States

Died: 2021

Norman Lloyd is known for his long association with Alfred Hitchcock, especially as a producer of the anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He appeared as Mr. Nolan in Dead Poets Societyand as Dr. Daniel Auschlander in St. Elsewhere. He has also appeared in several Cavalcade of America radio plays.

Birthdate: November 14, 1912

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: 1979

 8 

Scott Fischer

(First American to Summit Mt. Lhotse)

Birthdate: December 24, 1955

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Muskegon, Michigan, United States

Died: 1996

American mountaineer Scott Fischer was known for scaling the highest peaks of the world, including Mt. Everest and K2, without using oxygen cans. He later became a mountain guide and co-launched his own adventure travel company Mountain Madness. He died in a blizzard while guiding a group of clients to Mt. Everest.

 9 

John D. Rockefeller Jr.

(American Financier, Philanthropist and the Only Son of 'Standard Oil' Co-Founder John D. Rockefeller)

Birthdate: January 29, 1874

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Died: 1960

Financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. Was the only son of Standard Oil co-founder, John D. Rockefeller. An alumnus of Brown University, he was very principled and careful with money from an early age. He joined his father’s business and went on to become one of the largest real estate holders in Manhattan.

Birthdate: November 16, 1904

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Zungeru, Nigeria

Died: 1996

Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was a Nigerian political leader and statesman. From 1963 to 1966, Azikiwe served as the first president of Nigeria. Often referred to as the Father of Nigerian Nationalism, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe played an important role in Nigeria's struggle for independence. He is also credited with establishing the University of Nigeria (UNN).

 11 

Noel Redding

(English Rock Musician and Singer)

Birthdate: December 25, 1945

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Folkestone, England

Died: 2003

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Birthdate: February 3, 1898

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Kuortane

Died: 1976

Finnish architect Alvar Aalto initially had his studies interrupted by the Finnish Civil War, which saw him fighting for the White Army. His first architectural design was for his parents’ house. He had experimented with furniture and glassware, too. His works showcase a move from classicism to functionalism.

Birthdate: November 15, 1708

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Westminster, London, England

Died: 1778

 14 

Lex Barker

(Actor)

Birthdate: May 8, 1919

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Rye, New York, United States

Died: 1973

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Birthdate: March 23, 1887

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

Died: 1927

Juan Gris was a Spanish painter whose paintings are counted among the Cubism movement's most distinctive works. Gris's works and style influenced the Purist style of Charles Edouard Jeanneret and Amédée Ozenfant. Some of his paintings, such as Still Life with Checked Tablecloth and The musician's Table, have sold for millions of dollars at the auction.

 16 

Lester Flatt

(American Bluegrass Guitarist and Mandolinist)

Birthdate: June 19, 1914

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Overton County, Tennessee, United States

Died: 1979

 17 

Yasuko Namba

(Japanese Mountaineer)

Birthdate: February 2, 1949

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Ōmori, Tokyo, Japan

Died: 1996

 18 

John Herschel

(British Polymath Known for His Invention of 'Blueprint')

Birthdate: March 7, 1792

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Slough, Buckinghamshire, England

Died: 1871

The son of renowned astronomer William Herschel, John Herschel was educated at Eton and Cambridge and grew up to be a polymath. Apart from contributing to the field of photography, he was known for cataloguing and naming stars and satellites. He briefly also served as the Master of the Royal Mint.

 19 

Moses Fleetwood Walker

(Baseball player)

Birthdate: September 7, 1856

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Mount Pleasant, Ohio, United States

Died: 1924

 20 

Karl Schwarzschild

(German Physicist and Astronomer)

Birthdate: October 9, 1873

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany

Died: 1916

Karl Schwarzschild was a German astronomer and physicist. He is remembered for his contributions to the general theory of relativity; Schwarzschild came up with the first exact solution to the Albert Einstein field equations. He also contributed immensely to the theory of black holes.

 21 

Douglas A. Zembiec

(Military officer)

Birthdate: April 14, 1973

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Kealakekua, Hawaii, United States

Died: 2007

 22 

Bill Peet

(Illustrator)

Birthdate: January 29, 1915

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Grandview, Indiana, United States

Died: 2002

 23 

Johnny Hodges

(Saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band)

Birthdate: July 25, 1907

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Died: 1970

 24 

Gottfried, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

(Prince)

Birthdate: March 24, 1897

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Langenburg, Germany

Died: 1960

 25 

Matteo Ricci

(Italian Priest, Missionary and One of the Founding Figures of Jesuit China Missions)

Birthdate: October 6, 1552

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Macerata, Italy

Died: 1610

Matteo Ricci was an Italian priest best remembered as one of the founding members of the Jesuit China missions. Renowned for his missionary work in China, Ricci became the first European to set foot on the Forbidden City of Beijing. He is credited with converting important Chinese officials to Catholicism. The Catholic Church considers him a Servant of God.

 26 

William Dean Howells

(Novelist)

Birthdate: March 1, 1837

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Martins Ferry, Ohio, U.S.

Died: 1920

Birthdate: March 11, 1731

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: 1814

 28 

Mark Landon

(Actor)

Birthdate: October 1, 1948

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA

Died: 2009

 29 

Alaungpaya

(King)

Birthdate: August 24, 1714

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Shwebo, Myanmar (Burma)

Died: 1760

 30 

Rodney Culver

(American Football Player)

Birthdate: December 23, 1969

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Died: 1996

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

 31 

Juliette Récamier

(Socialite)

Birthdate: December 3, 1777

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Lyon, France

Died: 1849

 32 

Ghazan

(Ruler)

Birthdate: November 5, 1271

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Iran

Died: 1304

Mahmud Ghazan, also known as Ghazan Khan, was an influential ruler of Iran’s Mongol dynasty. Raised in a tolerant environment, where he learned the tenets of both Buddhism and Christianity, he interestingly converted to Islam after taking to the throne. He also waged a war against the Egyptian army in Syria.

 33 

Max Reger

(German Composer, Pianist, Organist and Conductor)

Birthdate: March 19, 1873

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Brand, Germany

Died: 1916

Max Reger was a German conductor, composer, organist, pianist, and academic teacher. Reger, who mainly composed Lieder, worked as a musical director at the court of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and at the Leipzig University Church. His works inspired Austrian-born composer Arnold Schoenberg. His life and career served as an inspiration to a couple of documentary films.

 34 

Jean de La Bruyère

(Philosopher)

Birthdate: August 16, 1645

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: 1696

 35 

Florine Stettheimer

(Painter)

Birthdate: August 19, 1871

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Rochester, New York, United States

Died: 1944

 36 

Evelyn Lincoln

(Secretary)

Birthdate: June 25, 1909

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Polk County, Nebraska, United States

Died: 1995

 37 

Spencer Perceval

(Politician, Lawyer)

Birthdate: November 1, 1762

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: London

Died: 1812

Spencer Perceval was an English barrister and statesman who served as the United Kingdom's Prime Minister from 1809 to 1812. The only solicitor-general to have served as UK's prime minister, Perceval was also the only British PM to have been murdered. His assassination inspired poems like Universal sympathy on the martyr'd statesman, which was published in 1812.

 38 

Seán Lemass

(Politician)

Birthdate: July 15, 1899

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Ballybrack, Ireland

Died: 1971

 39 

John Rutsey

(musician)

Birthdate: July 23, 1953

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Ontario

Died: 2008

 40 

Edmond Becquerel

(First observed the photovoltaic effect)

Birthdate: March 24, 1820

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: 1891

 41 

Yevgeny Miller

(Politician, Military officer)

Birthdate: September 25, 1867

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Daugavpils, Latvia

Died: 1939

 42 

Eugène François Vidocq

(French Criminal Turned Criminalist - Regarded as the 'First Private Detective')

Birthdate: July 24, 1775

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Arras, France

Died: 1857

Starting his career with the army, French criminal Eugène François Vidocq fought in the battles of Valmy and Jemappes. Often jailed for petty offenses, he later used his expertise of being among thieves to form his own police force, or the police de sûreté, inspiring authors such as Victor Hugo.

 43 

Daniel De Leon

(Socialist)

Birthdate: December 14, 1852

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Curaçao

Died: 1914

Birthdate: October 13, 1872

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Gorée

Died: 1934

Blaise Diagne was a Senegalese-French political leader who became the first black African elected to the French Chamber of Deputies. He was also the first to hold a position in the French government. He actively advocated for equal rights for all and was a pioneer of black African electoral politics. He was a freemason.

Birthdate: February 17, 1864

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Tajov

Died: 1929

Known as the Radio Priest, Jozef Murgaš was a Slovak Roman Catholic priest who is remembered for his contribution to the development of wireless transmission. Regarded as one of the inventors of the radio, he was also an acclaimed botanist, an architect, and a painter.

 46 

Motiur Rahman Nizami

(Politician)

Birthdate: March 31, 1943

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Santhia Upazila, Bangladesh

Died: 2016

Motiur Rahman Nizami was a Bangladeshi politician, writer, and Islamic scholar. He served as the Minister of Agriculture from 2001 to 2003 before serving as the Minister of Industries from 2003 to 2006. Motiur Rahman Nizami was convicted and sentenced to death for masterminding the Demra massacre, which resulted in the death of more than 800 unarmed Hindu civilians.

 47 

A. Mitchell Palmer

(50th United States Attorney General)

Birthdate: May 4, 1872

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: White Haven, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: 1936

 48 

Otto Nicolai

(German Composer, Conductor and One of the Founders of the Vienna Philharmonic)

Birthdate: June 9, 1810

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Königsberg, Russia

Died: 1849

 49 

Jules Hardouin-Mansart

(Architect)

Birthdate: April 16, 1646

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: 1708

Seventeenth-century French Baroque architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart is best remembered for designing Versailles as the city planner of King Louis XIV. His great-uncle, François Mansart, who was one of the pioneers of classical French architecture. His other works include Place Vendôme and the Château de la Chaize in Odenas.

 50 

Colt Brennan

(American football player)

Birthdate: August 16, 1983

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Laguna Beach, California, United States

Died: 2021

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)