Famous people and celebrities who died in 1930

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1930. 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. 19 Frank P. Ramsey

  Brilliant British polymath who made significant contributions to economics, mathematics, and philosophy before his early death at age 26.

• Feb. 9 Richard With

  Vesteraalens dampskibsselskab was founded by vesteraalens dampskibsselskab, a norwegian politician and businessman.

• Feb. 23 Horst Wessel

  A Nazi Party member whose death was used for propaganda purposes, Wessel wrote the lyrics to the Nazi Party anthem 'Die Fahne Hoch', which...

• Feb. 23 Mabel Normand

  Mabel Normand was a silent film actress and comedian known for her work with Charlie Chaplin and Mack Sennett.

• March 8 William Taft

  American politician and us.

• March 19 Arthur Balfour

  Scottish politician who was elected prime minister of great britain in february 1902.

• April 14 Vladimir Mayakovsky

  Vladimir Mayakovsky was a Russian and Soviet poet, playwright, artist, and actor, renowned as one of the leading figures of Russian Futurism and an influential force in early 20th-century literature and arts. [bio]

• April 21 Robert Bridges

  From 1913 to 1930, britain's poet laureate.

• May 13 Fridtjof Nansen

  Norwegian scientist, explorer, and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1861).

• June 13 Henry Segrave

  British racing driver, who held the land speed record and the water speed record (born in 1896).

• June 16 Elmer Ambrose Sperry

  Engineer and inventor who co-founded the Sperry Corporation and developed gyroscopic technology.

• June 16 Elmer Sperry

  Inventor known for developing gyrocompass and other maritime technologies.

• July 7 Arthur Conan Doyle

  Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician, celebrated primarily for creating the legendary fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, as well as Dr. Watson. His works had a profound impact on the detective fiction genre, setting standards for literary detective characters and stories. In addition to the Sherlock Holmes series, Conan Doyle wrote historical novels, science fiction, and non-fiction. [bio]

• July 15 Rudolph Schildkraut

  Rudolph Schildkraut was an Austrian film and theatre actor renowned for his significant influence in both European and American stages during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is particularly known for his powerful performances in Yiddish theatre and playing Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice.' [bio]

• July 15 Leopold Auer

  Renowned Hungarian violinist known for his teaching and performances.

• July 23 Glenn Curtiss

  American engineer and cyclist (d. 1930).

• July 28 Allvar Gullstrand

  Swedish ophthalmologist and optician, nobel prize laureate (b. 1862).

• Aug. 8 Launceston Elliot

  Scottish wrestler and weightlifter (d. 1930).

• Aug. 20 Charles Bannerman

  English-australian umpire and cricketer (d. 1930).

• Aug. 25 Frankie Campbell

  American boxer (born in 1904).

• Aug. 26 Lon Chaney

  Lon Chaney was a pioneering American actor best known for his groundbreaking work in silent horror films. Renowned as 'The Man of a Thousand Faces,' he gained fame for his transformative character portrayals and innovative makeup techniques, most notably in films like 'The Phantom of the Opera' and 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.' [bio]

• Sept. 15 Milton Sills

  Milton Sills was an American stage and silent film actor who rose to prominence in the early 20th century. Known for his commanding screen presence, he starred in several successful silent films and early talkies before his untimely death in 1930. [bio]

• Oct. 10 Adolf Engler

  German botanist and taxonomist, known for his work on plant classification.

• Oct. 26 Waldemar Haffkine

  Russian-swiss microbiologist and bacteriologist (d. 1930).

• Nov. 1 Alfred Wegener

  Proposed the theory of continental drift.

• Nov. 5 Christiaan Eijkman

  Dutch pathologist and physician, who was awarded the nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1858.

• Dec. 13 Fritz Pregl

  Slovenian-austrian chemist and physician, nobel prize laureate (b. 1869).

What happened in 1930?

Discover what the world looked like in 1930: