Famous people and celebrities who died in January 1990

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 1990. 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

• Jan. 4 Harold Eugene Edgerton

  Pioneering MIT engineer and photographer who invented high-speed stroboscopic photography, revolutionizing our ability to capture...

• Jan. 5 Arthur Kennedy

  Arthur Kennedy was an acclaimed American stage and film actor known for his versatile performances in both supporting and leading roles from the late 1930s through the 1970s. He was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. [bio]

• Jan. 6 Ian Charleson

  Ian Charleson was a Scottish actor renowned for his powerful performance in the Oscar-winning film 'Chariots of Fire', which significantly...

• Jan. 6 Pavel Cherenkov

  Russian physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1904).

• Jan. 6 Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov

  Prize laureate for the discovery and the interpretation of the Cherenkov effect.

• Jan. 7 Horace Stoneham

  Prominent baseball executive who owned the San Francisco Giants from 1954 to 1976, playing a significant role in the team's history and...

• Jan. 7 Bronko Nagurski
• Jan. 8 Terry-Thomas

  Iconic British comedy actor known for his distinctive gap-toothed smile and upper-class buffoon characters in mid-20th century films.

• Jan. 8 Bernard Krigstein

  Renowned American illustrator known for his significant contributions to graphic art and comic book design during the mid-20th century.

• Jan. 9 Cemal Süreya

  Turkish poet and journalist (b. 1931).

• Jan. 10 Juliet Berto

  French actress and screenwriter known for her work in French New Wave cinema, who tragically died at a young age.

• Jan. 11 Carolyn Haywood

  American illustrator and author (d. 1990).

• Jan. 12 Laurence J. Peter

  Canadian-American educator famous for developing the Peter Principle, which describes the tendency of people to be promoted to their level...

• Jan. 15 Gordon Jackson

  Gordon Jackson was a distinguished Scottish actor best known for his roles in the television series 'Upstairs, Downstairs' and 'The Professionals'. Throughout his career, he earned acclaim for his versatility and strong screen presence in both dramatic and action-oriented roles. [bio]

• Jan. 15 Peggy van Praagh

  English ballerina, choreographer, and director (b. 1910).

• Jan. 16 Lady Eve Balfour

  British farmer, educator, and founding figure in the organic movement (b. 1898).

• Jan. 17 Charles Hernu

  French Defense Minister from 1981-1985 who was involved in the controversial Rainbow Warrior bombing, where a Greenpeace activist was killed...

• Jan. 18 Melanie Appleby

  Rocker mel and kim dies from liver cancer at the age of 23.

• Jan. 19 Herbert Wehner

  Prominent German politician who served as a key figure in the Social Democratic Party and played a significant role in post-war German...

• Jan. 19 Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

  Indian guru and mystic (b. 1931).

• Jan. 20 Barbara Stanwyck

  Barbara Stanwyck was an acclaimed American actress known for her strong, memorable roles in film and television across several decades, particularly from the 1930s through the 1950s. Renowned for her versatility and screen presence, she starred in numerous film classics and later made a successful transition to television. [bio]

• Jan. 22 Giorgio Caproni
• Jan. 23 Allen Collins

  Renowned rock guitarist and songwriter known for his significant contributions to Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Rossington-Collins Band, and his own...

• Jan. 24 Madge Bellamy

  Madge Bellamy was an American film actress who rose to fame during the silent era, most notably for her roles in 'Lorna Doone' and 'White Zombie.' She was regarded for her beauty and expressive performances, which made her a popular leading lady of the 1920s. [bio]

• Jan. 25 Ava Gardner

  Ava Gardner was an American actress and singer who gained fame as one of Hollywood's leading stars during the 1940s and 1950s. Renowned for her beauty, talent, and charisma, she is best known for roles in films such as 'The Killers', 'Mogambo', and 'The Night of the Iguana'. She was also noted for her tumultuous personal life, including high-profile marriages … [bio]

• Jan. 26 Lewis Mumford

  American sociologist and historian (b. 1895).