Famous people and celebrities who died in 1958

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1958. 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.

• Feb. 1 Clinton Joseph Davisson

  Prize laureate for their experimental discovery of the diffraction of electrons by crystals.

• Feb. 6 Frank Swift

  Frank Swift was a notable English footballer and journalist who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and the England national team...

• Feb. 6 Eddie Colman

  Eddie Colman was a talented English footballer who tragically died young in the Munich air disaster of 1958, which claimed the lives of...

• March 22 Mike Todd

  Mike Todd was an influential American film producer and entertainment entrepreneur who played a significant role in Broadway and early...

• March 22 Michael Todd

  Famous film producer known for the classic adventure film 'Around the World in 80 Days'.

• March 28 Chuck Klein

  Chuck Klein was a legendary Philadelphia Phillies outfielder who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

• April 16 Rosalind Franklin

  Pioneering British chemist and X-ray crystallographer who played a crucial role in understanding the molecular structures of DNA, RNA,...

• May 3 Frank Foster

  Renowned jazz saxophonist and composer who was a key member of Count Basie's band from 1953-1964.

• May 19 Ronald Colman

  Ronald Colman was an acclaimed English actor known for his work in silent and sound films during Hollywood's Golden Age. Renowned for his smooth, distinctive voice and sophisticated persona, Colman became a major leading man in both British and American cinema. [bio]

• May 29 Juan Ramón Jiménez

  LIT - Spanish poet and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1881).

• June 9 Robert Donat

  Robert Donat was an acclaimed English actor best known for his performances in classic films such as 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' and Alfred Hitchcock's 'The 39 Steps'. Active primarily during the 1930s to 1950s, Donat was celebrated for his versatility and distinctive voice, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' (1939). [bio]

• June 16 Imre Nagy

  Hungarian journalist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

• June 20 Kurt Alder

  German chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1902).

• July 14 King Faisal

  King Faisal II of Iraq was the last reigning monarch of Iraq, tragically assassinated during a military coup in 1958 at the young age of 23.

• Aug. 14 Frédéric Joliot

  Prize laureate in recognition of their synthesis of new radioactive elements.

• Aug. 22 Roger Martin du Gard

  French novelist and paleographer, nobel prize laureate (b. 1881).

• Aug. 24 Paul Henry

  Renowned Irish painter and educator who made significant contributions to Irish art in the early 20th century.

• Aug. 27 Ernest Lawrence

  Ernest Lawrence was a pioneering American physicist who revolutionized particle physics by inventing the cyclotron, a groundbreaking...

• Aug. 27 Ernest Orlando Lawrence

  Prize laureate for the invention and development of the cyclotron and for results obtained with it, especially with regard to artificial...

• Oct. 14 Nikolay Zabolotsky

  Prominent Russian-Soviet poet known for his innovative modernist style and significant contributions to 20th-century Russian literature.

• Nov. 15 Tyrone Power

  Tyrone Power was a prominent American film, stage, and radio actor, best known for his swashbuckling roles in Hollywood films from the 1930s to the 1950s. He starred in romantic, adventure, and historical movies, becoming one of 20th Century Fox's top box office draws. [bio]

• Nov. 21 Mel Ott

  Legendary baseball player who played his entire career with the New York Giants, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and considered one...

• Dec. 8 Tris Speaker

  Tris Speaker was an American professional baseball player and manager who played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder.

• Dec. 15 Wolfgang Pauli

  Wolfgang Pauli was a groundbreaking Austrian-born physicist who made fundamental contributions to quantum mechanics.

What happened in 1958?

Discover what the world looked like in 1958: