Famous people and celebrities who died in 1926

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1926. This year saw the loss of many influential and beloved figures who left a lasting impact on the world. From entertainment icons and sports legends to renowned scholars and public figures, our comprehensive list pays tribute to their lives and legacies. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their achievements as we reflect on their remarkable stories.

• Jan. 10 Eino Leino

  Finnish journalist and poet (d. 1926).

• Jan. 21 Camillo Golgi

  Italian physician and pathologist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1843).

• Jan. 30 Barbara La Marr

  Barbara La Marr was an American actress, screenwriter, and celebrated Hollywood figure during the silent film era. Known as 'The Girl Who Is Too Beautiful,' she gained rapid fame for her acting talent and vibrant on-screen presence, as well as her tumultuous personal life. [bio]

• Feb. 21 Heike Kamerlingh Onnes

  Prize laureate for his investigations on the properties of matter at low temperatures which led, inter alia, to the production of liquid...

• March 5 Clement Ader

  Clement Ader was a French inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the early development of aviation.

• April 11 Luther Burbank

  American horticulturist, who was a plant breeder and developed new varieties.

• April 30 Bessie Coleman

  Bessie coleman was the first african american woman to hold a pilot's license and is known for her pioneering achievements in aviation...

• May 26 Srečko Kosovel

  Influential Slovenian avant-garde poet known for his modernist and expressionist poetry, who died tragically young at 22 years old.

• June 4 Fred Spofforth

  Australian-english merchant and cricketer (d. 1926).

• June 10 Antoni Gaudí

  Spanish architect, designed the park güell (b. 1852).

• July 4 Pier Giorgio Frassati

  Pier Giorgio Frassati was an Italian Catholic activist, known for his deep spirituality, social commitment, and charitable work.

• July 12 Gertrude Bell

  Gertrude Bell was a British writer, traveler, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who played a major role in the...

• July 20 Felix Dzerzhinsky

  Soviet statesman and founder of the Soviet secret police, the Cheka.

• Aug. 23 Rudolph Valentino

  Rudolph Valentino was an Italian-born actor who became one of the most famous and iconic leading men of the silent film era. Known for his captivating screen presence and romantic roles, he became a cultural phenomenon in the 1920s, earning the nickname 'The Latin Lover.' [bio]

• Sept. 11 Matsunosuke Onoe

  Japanese actor and director (b. 1875).

• Sept. 15 Rudolf Christoph Eucken

  German philosopher and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1846).

• Oct. 7 Emil Kraepelin

  German psychiatrist known for his contributions to the classification of mental disorders.

• Oct. 12 Edwin Abbott

  Known for his work 'Flatland', a satirical novella on social hierarchy.

• Oct. 20 Eugene Debs

  Eugene Debs was an American socialist leader and five-time presidential candidate.

• Oct. 31 Harry Houdini

  Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-American illusionist and stunt performer, widely recognized as one of the most famous escape artists in history. He gained international fame for his sensational escape acts, including escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and locked containers. [bio]

• Nov. 3 Annie Oakley

  American markswoman.

• Nov. 22 Darvish Khan

  Iranian musician (born 1872).

• Nov. 26 John Browning

  Legendary American firearms designer and inventor who revolutionized weapon technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Dec. 5 Claude Monet

  French painter, monet was the leader and initiator of the impressionist style.

• Dec. 29 Rainer Maria Rilke

  Rainer Maria Rilke was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist, widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets.

What happened in 1926?

Discover what the world looked like in 1926: