Famous people and celebrities who died in 1956

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1956. 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. 12 Norman Kerry

  Norman Kerry was an American actor best known for his leading roles during the silent film era, particularly in classics like 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1925) and 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1923). He achieved popularity as a romantic leading man, often starring alongside notable actresses of the time. [bio]

• Jan. 29 Henry Mencken

  American editor, writer and satirist.

• Jan. 30 Jane Seymour

  Jane Seymour is an English actress best known for her roles in the James Bond film 'Live and Let Die' and the long-running American television series 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'. She has enjoyed a versatile career in film, television, and theatre, winning numerous awards for her performances. [bio]

• Feb. 8 Connie Mack

  Legendary American baseball player and manager who was a key figure in early 20th-century baseball history.

• Feb. 28 Emile Buisson

  French criminal and gang leader who was sentenced to death in France during the mid-20th century.

• March 17 Fred Allen

  Renowned American comedian, radio personality, and writer who was a prominent figure in entertainment during the golden age of radio, known...

• March 17 Irène Joliot-Curie

  French physicist and chemist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1897).

• March 25 Robert Newton

  Renowned British actor famous for his iconic pirate roles, particularly in films like 'Henry V' and 'Around the World in 80 Days'.

• April 26 Edward Arnold

  Edward Arnold was a prominent American actor known for his roles in both stage productions and Hollywood films during the first half of the 20th century. He possessed a commanding presence and became famous for his portrayals of authority figures, often playing businessmen, politicians, and patriarchs. [bio]

• April 30 Alben Barkley

  Alben Barkley was the 35th Vice President of the United States, serving under President Harry S. Truman.

• May 12 Louis Calhern

  Louis Calhern was an American stage and film actor best known for his distinguished career in Hollywood during the Golden Age of cinema. He was frequently cast in supporting and character roles, especially in films of the 1940s and 1950s. [bio]

• May 24 Guy Kibbee

  Guy Kibbee was an American actor known for his work in theater and film during the early to mid-20th century. Renowned for playing jovial or befuddled characters, he became a fixture in Hollywood's Golden Age, particularly in Warner Bros. productions of the 1930s. [bio]

• May 26 Al Simmons

  Al Simmons was a prominent American baseball player and coach who played in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century, known for...

• June 2 Jean Hersholt

  Jean Hersholt was a Danish-American actor best known for his roles in both silent and sound films, as well as his significant contributions to radio broadcasting. His humanitarian work led to the establishment of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. [bio]

• June 19 Thomas Watson

  Pioneering computer scientist and IBM executive who played a key role in the development of the personal computer.

• June 26 Clifford Brown

  Legendary jazz trumpeter who revolutionized bebop and hard bop styles, known for his extraordinary musical talent and tragically short...

• Aug. 11 Jackson Pollock

  Jackson Pollock was a pioneering American abstract expressionist painter known for his revolutionary 'drip painting' technique.

• Sept. 6 Lee Jung-seob

  Lee Jung-seob was a prominent North Korean painter known for his distinctive style depicting traditional Korean life and landscapes.

• Sept. 6 Witold Hurewicz

  Prominent Polish mathematician known for significant contributions to topology and algebraic topology, particularly in the field of fixed...

• Sept. 22 Frederick Soddy

  English chemist and economist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1877).

• Sept. 27 Babe Didrikson Zaharias

  Babe Didrikson Zaharias was an extraordinary multi-sport athlete who revolutionized women's athletics in the mid-20th century.

• Sept. 29 Anastasio Somoza García

  Nicaraguan businessman and politician who served as the President of Nicaragua from 1937 to 1947 and from 1950 to 1956.

• Oct. 1 Stan Ockers Belgian bicyclist (Tour de France 1955

  Stan Ockers was a prominent Belgian professional cyclist who achieved significant success in road racing, notably winning the Tour de France...

• Oct. 7 Clarence Birdseye

  Clarence Birdseye was an American inventor and businessman who developed a process for deep-freezing food, which led to the creation of the...

• Oct. 9 Marie Doro

  Marie Doro was an American stage and silent film actress renowned for her beauty and performances both on Broadway and in early cinema. She was one of the most popular actresses of the Edwardian era, transitioning successfully from stage to silent films between 1915 and 1924. [bio]

• Oct. 13 Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı

  Renowned Turkish poet and author known for his significant contributions to modern Turkish poetry during the mid-20th century.

• Oct. 29 Louis Rosier

  Renowned French racing driver who competed in Formula One and won prestigious races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans with his son Jean-Louis.

• Nov. 5 Art Tatum

  Art Tatum was a legendary jazz pianist renowned for his extraordinary technical skill and innovative improvisational style.

• Nov. 24 Guido Cantelli

  Renowned Italian orchestral conductor whose promising career at La Scala Milan was tragically cut short by a fatal airplane crash in Paris...

• Nov. 26 Tommy Dorsey

  Tommy Dorsey was a renowned American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known for his smooth trombone playing and led one of the most popular swing bands in the 1930s and 1940s. [bio]

What happened in 1956?

Discover what the world looked like in 1956: