Famous people and celebrities who died in October 1987

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in October 1987. This month marked the loss of influential and beloved figures whose contributions spanned various fields and touched many lives. Explore our detailed list to remember and celebrate their enduring legacies and the remarkable impact they had on the world

• Oct. 2 Madeleine Carroll

  Madeleine Carroll was a renowned English actress best known for her leading roles in several classic films of the 1930s and 1940s, most notably Alfred Hitchcock's 'The 39 Steps.' She was celebrated for her elegance, beauty, and strong screen presence, becoming one of the highest-paid actresses of her era. [bio]

• Oct. 2 Peter Brian Medawar

  Prize laureate for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance.

• Oct. 3 Jean Anouilh

  Prominent French dramatist who significantly influenced post-World War II theater.

• Oct. 8 Konstantinos Tsatsos

  Greek scholar and politician, 2nd president of greece (b. 1899).

• Oct. 9 Clare Boothe Luce

  Clare Boothe Luce was a prominent American diplomat, author, journalist, and politician who served as the first female US Ambassador to...

• Oct. 9 William Parry Murphy

  Prize laureate for their discoveries concerning liver therapy in cases of anaemia.

• Oct. 12 Philleo Nash

  American anthropologist and government official who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1959 to 1961 as a Democrat.

• Oct. 12 Fahri Korutürk

  Turkish commander and politician, 6th president of turkey (b. 1903).

• Oct. 12 Alf Landon

  American lieutenant and politician, 26th governor of kansas (b. 1887).

• Oct. 13 Kishore Kumar

  Kishore Kumar was a legendary Indian playback singer, actor, music director, lyricist, and filmmaker, widely regarded as one of the most versatile and accomplished artists in the history of Indian cinema. Renowned for his unique voice and remarkable musical range, he became an iconic figure in Bollywood, especially as a playback singer in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. [bio]

• Oct. 13 Walter Houser Brattain

  Prize laureate for their researches on semiconductors and their discovery of the transistor effect.

• Oct. 13 Nilgün Marmara

  Turkish poet and author (b. 1958).

• Oct. 15 Thomas Sankara

  Revolutionary leader and president of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987, known as 'Africa's Che Guevara'.

• Oct. 15 Donald Wandrei

  American author and poet (b. 1908).

• Oct. 17 Abdul Malek Ukil

  Bangladeshi lawyer and politician (b. 1925).

• Oct. 18 Adriaan Ditvoorst

  Dutch director and screenwriter (b. 1940).

• Oct. 19 Jacqueline du Pré

  Jacqueline du Pré was a legendary British cellist who revolutionized classical music performance with her extraordinary emotional depth and...

• Oct. 20 Andrey Kolmogorov

  Renowned Russian mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to probability theory, topology, and information theory.

• Oct. 22 Lino Ventura

  Italian-french actor (b. 1919).

• Oct. 28 André Masson

  French illustrator and painter (d. 1987).

• Oct. 29 Woody Herman

  Influential American jazz bandleader and clarinetist who was a pivotal figure in big band and swing music during the mid-20th century.

• Oct. 31 Joseph Campbell

  Joseph Campbell was an American professor, writer, and orator known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His ideas concerning the universality of mythological themes, especially the concept of the 'monomyth' or 'hero's journey,' have had a major influence on literature, psychology, and popular culture. [bio]