Famous people and celebrities who died in 1975

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1975. 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. 5 Don Wilson
Don Wilson is an American former kickboxer, actor, and martial arts champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest kickboxers in the sport's history. He is often known as 'The Dragon' and has had a successful career both in the ring and on screen. [bio]
Jan. 8 John Gregson
John Gregson was a well-known English actor, best remembered for his roles in British films of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly in Ealing comedies and as a leading man in popular postwar cinema. [bio]
Jan. 18 Gertrude Olmstead
Gertrude Olmstead was an American silent film actress prominent during the 1920s. Appearing in over 50 films, she was known for her roles in silent dramas and for being one of the winners of a 1920 beauty contest organized by Universal Pictures, which launched her film career. [bio]
Jan. 24 Larry Fine
Larry Fine was an American actor, comedian, violinist, and boxer best known as a member of the iconic comedy team The Three Stooges. He played the character 'Larry' in countless slapstick short films, helping to define the troupe's distinctive comedic style during the mid-20th century. [bio]
March 8 George Stevens
Renowned American film director, producer, and screenwriter who directed classic films like 'Giant', 'Shane', and 'A Place in the Sun'.
March 13 Ivo Andric
Nobel Prize-winning Yugoslav novelist known for works like 'The Bridge on the Drina'.
March 14 Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward was an acclaimed American actress known for her powerful performances in dramatic roles throughout the 1940s and 1950s. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Barbara Graham in 'I Want to Live!' (1958). Hayward was renowned for her fiery presence on screen and her ability to portray strong, complex female characters. [bio]
March 21 Joe Medwick
Joe Medwick was a prominent Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1930s.
March 22 Paul Verhoeven
Paul Verhoeven is a renowned Dutch film director, screenwriter, and producer known for blending graphic violence, satire, and social commentary in his films. He has directed both Dutch and Hollywood films, achieving international recognition for his explicit and provocative storytelling style. [bio]
April 3 Mary Ure
Mary Ure was a Scottish stage and film actress best known for her roles in the stage play and film adaptation of 'Look Back in Anger', as well as for her performance in the movies 'Sons and Lovers' and 'Where Eagles Dare'. [bio]
April 10 Marjorie Main
Marjorie Main was an American character actress, best known for her roles in the "Ma and Pa Kettle" film series and for her distinctive, comedic portrayals of tough, no-nonsense women in Hollywood films of the 1930s through 1950s. [bio]
April 10 Walker Evans
Renowned American documentary photographer famous for his powerful Depression-era images capturing rural poverty and social landscapes,...
April 12 Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was an American-born French entertainer, singer, dancer, and civil rights activist. She became famous in France in the 1920s for her performances, particularly her erotic and comedic dancing. Baker was also known for her work in the French Resistance during World War II and her efforts in the civil rights movement in the United States. [bio]
April 14 Fredric March
Fredric March was an acclaimed American actor known for his versatile performances in both stage and film during Hollywood's Golden Age. He won two Academy Awards for Best Actor and was widely respected for his work in both dramatic and comedic roles. [bio]
April 15 Richard Conte
Richard Conte was an American actor known for his prolific career in film and television, particularly during the 1940s through the 1970s. He gained fame for his performances in film noir classics and crime dramas, including prominent roles in 'The Godfather' and 'Ocean's 11.' [bio]
April 23 William Hartnell
William Hartnell was an English actor, most famously known as the original actor to portray the Doctor in the long-running British science fiction series 'Doctor Who.' His career spanned film, television, and stage from the 1920s until the early 1970s. [bio]
May 4 Moe Howard
Moe Howard was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of the vaudeville and film comedy trio The Three Stooges. His distinctive bowl haircut, slapstick style, and commanding presence made him an iconic figure in comedy. [bio]
May 8 Avery Brundage
Avery Brundage was an American sports administrator who served as the fifth president of the International Olympic Committee from 1952 to...
May 20 Barbara Hepworth
A pioneering British sculptor who significantly influenced modern art, known for her abstract and organic sculptural forms in stone, wood,...
May 23 Moms Mabley
Moms Mabley was an American stand-up comedian and actress, best known as one of the most successful African American comedians of the vaudeville era and for her influential role as a pioneering woman in comedy. With a career spanning over five decades, she broke numerous barriers for women and Black performers in entertainment. [bio]
June 3 Ozzie Nelson
Ozzie Nelson was an American band leader, actor, and television producer, best known for creating and starring in the long-running radio and television series 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.' [bio]
June 28 Rod Serling
Rod Serling was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator best known as the creator and host of the groundbreaking anthology television series 'The Twilight Zone.' Renowned for his incisive writing and memorable on-screen presence, Serling is recognized as a pioneer of television science fiction, blending social commentary with imaginative storytelling. [bio]
Aug. 8 Cannonball Adderley
Cannonball Adderley was a highly influential American jazz alto saxophonist, best known for his work in the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. He gained wide acclaim both as a solo artist and as a member of the Miles Davis Sextet, contributing to the landmark album 'Kind of Blue.' His energetic and soulful playing style made him one … [bio]
Aug. 9 Dmitri Shostakovich
Renowned 20th-century Russian composer who created groundbreaking symphonies and string quartets while navigating the complex political...
Aug. 11 Alfred Loomis
Contributed to the development of radar technology during World War II.
Oct. 31 Joseph Calleia
Joseph Calleia was a Maltese-born American actor known for his work in film, television, and theater. He gained prominence for his character roles, often portraying suave villains or tough men in a career that spanned the 1930s to the 1950s. [bio]
Oct. 31 S. D. Burman
Legendary Indian music director who revolutionized Bollywood film music during the mid-20th century, creating iconic compositions that...
Nov. 1 Pier Paolo Pasolini
Pier Paolo Pasolini was an influential Italian film director, poet, writer, and intellectual, renowned for his provocative works that explored themes of sexuality, politics, culture, and religion. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant Italian artists of the 20th century, known for his bold critiques of social norms and his innovative filmmaking style. [bio]
Dec. 4 Hannah Arendt
Renowned German-American philosopher and political theorist who made groundbreaking contributions to understanding totalitarianism and...
Dec. 14 Arthur Treacher
Arthur Treacher was an English actor best known for his roles as a quintessentially English butler in Hollywood films and for lending his name to the fast-food chain Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips. [bio]