Famous people and celebrities who died in 1996

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1996. 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. 3 Audrey Meadows
Audrey Meadows was a renowned American actress best known for her role as Alice Kramden on the classic television sitcom 'The Honeymooners.' Her portrayal of Alice earned her widespread acclaim and established her as a television icon during the golden age of television. [bio]
Feb. 6 Guy Madison
Guy Madison was an American film, television, and radio actor, best known for his role as Wild Bill Hickok in the television series 'The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok' (1951–1958). [bio]
Feb. 13 Martin Balsam
Martin Balsam was an acclaimed American character actor, known for his extensive work in theater, film, and television. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'A Thousand Clowns' and was widely recognized for his roles in classics such as 'Psycho,' '12 Angry Men,' and 'All the President's Men.' [bio]
March 4 Minnie Pearl
Minnie Pearl was the stage name of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, a beloved American country comedian and singer, best known for her performances at the Grand Ole Opry and on the television show 'Hee Haw.' She became famous for her comedic storytelling, trademark straw hat with a price tag, and her friendly Southern persona. [bio]
March 9 George Burns
George Burns was an American comedian, actor, and writer renowned for his long career in vaudeville, radio, film, and television. He was best known as part of the duo Burns and Allen alongside his wife Gracie Allen, and he later found renewed fame with his Academy Award-winning role in 'The Sunshine Boys.' [bio]
March 22 Don Murray
Don Murray is an American actor best known for his performances in classic films such as 'Bus Stop' and his television work in series like 'Knots Landing.' Nominated for an Academy Award early in his career, Murray has enjoyed a decades-long presence on stage, screen, and TV. [bio]
April 6 Greer Garson
Greer Garson was a British-American actress, renowned for her work in Hollywood during the 1940s, especially for her roles in a series of highly successful MGM films. She gained widespread acclaim for her performances in both drama and romance genres and became one of the most honored actresses of her era. [bio]
April 8 Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson is a retired Canadian sprinter who gained international fame after winning the gold medal in the 100 meters at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, only to be stripped of his medal after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. [bio]
April 22 Erma Bombeck
Erma Bombeck was a beloved American humorist and syndicated columnist, best known for her witty commentary on suburban home life from the 1960s through the 1990s. [bio]
May 20 Jon Pertwee
Jon Pertwee was an English actor, comedian, and cabaret performer, best known for his portrayal of the Third Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and as the title character in the children's series Worzel Gummidge. [bio]
June 10 Jo Van Fleet
Jo Van Fleet was an American actress known for her compelling performances in film, television, and theater. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'East of Eden' (1955). [bio]
June 11 Brigitte Helm
Brigitte Helm was a German actress best known for her iconic dual role as Maria and her robotic double in Fritz Lang's silent film classic 'Metropolis' (1927). She was one of the most prominent actresses of the Weimar Republic era and appeared in more than thirty films before retiring in the mid-1930s. [bio]
June 15 Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald was a legendary American jazz singer, celebrated for her remarkable vocal range, impeccable technique, and influential scat singing. Known as the 'First Lady of Song,' she had a profound impact on jazz and popular music, captivating audiences worldwide with her smooth, expressive voice over a five-decade career. [bio]
June 29 Pamela Mason
Pamela Mason was a British actress, author, and screenwriter best known for her film and television roles in the mid-20th century. She also gained fame as the wife of actor James Mason and as a talk show host in the United States. [bio]
June 30 Margaux Hemingway
Margaux Hemingway was an American fashion model and actress, best known for her work in the fashion industry during the 1970s as well as for her roles in films such as 'Lipstick.' She was the granddaughter of author Ernest Hemingway. [bio]
July 23 Aliki Vougiouklaki
Aliki Vougiouklaki was a renowned Greek actress, widely regarded as one of the most popular and beloved stars in the history of Greek cinema and theater. She is often referred to as 'the National Star of Greece,' celebrated for her extensive career spanning films, stage performances, and as a cultural icon. [bio]
July 30 Claudette Colbert
Claudette Colbert was a French-American actress renowned for her versatility and glamour during Hollywood’s Golden Age. An Academy Award winner, she starred in a range of genres, most famously in romantic comedies, dramas, and historical epics. [bio]
July 30 Magda Schneider
Magda Schneider was a German actress and singer, known for her work in films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as for being the mother of the renowned actress Romy Schneider. [bio]
Aug. 27 Greg Morris
Greg Morris was an American television and film actor best known for his role as Barney Collier on the television series 'Mission: Impossible', which aired from 1966 to 1973. He was recognized for his pioneering role as one of the most prominent Black actors on American television during the 1960s and 1970s. [bio]
Sept. 5 Leonard Katzman
Leonard Katzman was an American television producer, writer, and director, best known for his work as the showrunner of the television series 'Dallas.' He was influential in shaping the direction and success of the prime-time soap opera genre. [bio]
Sept. 10 Joanne Dru
Joanne Dru was an American film and television actress known for her roles in classic Westerns and other notable films during the 1940s and 1950s. [bio]
Sept. 14 Juliet Prowse
Juliet Prowse was a South African-American dancer, singer, and actress, renowned for her energetic dancing style and performances on stage, in films, and on television from the late 1950s through the 1980s. [bio]
Sept. 17 Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States, serving under President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973. Before his vice presidency, Agnew was the Governor of Maryland and the first person of Greek descent to hold the office of Vice President in U.S. history. He resigned from office in 1973 after being charged with tax evasion and … [bio]
Sept. 22 Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour was an American actress and singer best known for her performances in the "Road to..." film series, in which she starred alongside Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. She was one of the most popular actresses of the 1930s and 1940s, often remembered for her iconic sarong-clad roles and her work as a singer during Hollywood's Golden Age. [bio]
Oct. 6 Ted Bessell
Ted Bessell was an American television and stage actor best known for playing Donald Hollinger, the boyfriend and eventual fiancé of Marlo Thomas’s character Ann Marie on the hit sitcom 'That Girl' (1966–1971). He later worked as a television director. [bio]
Nov. 21 Abdus Salam
Abdus Salam was a pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist renowned for his significant role in the development of the electroweak unification theory, which forms part of the Standard Model of particle physics. In 1979, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg, for their contributions to the theory predicting the unification of the weak … [bio]
Dec. 8 Howard Rollins
Howard Rollins was an American stage, film, and television actor best known for his roles in the film 'Ragtime' and the television series 'In the Heat of the Night.' [bio]
Dec. 10 Faron Young
Faron Young was an American country music singer and songwriter, often referred to as the 'Hillbilly Heartthrob' or 'The Young Sheriff'. He rose to fame in the 1950s through the 1970s, becoming a significant figure in the Nashville country music scene and recording a string of hits. [bio]
Dec. 20 Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, planetary scientist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator best known for popularizing science and his research on extraterrestrial life. [bio]
Dec. 30 Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres was an American actor best known for his Oscar-nominated role in 'Johnny Belinda' and for starring as Paul Bäumer in the 1930 film adaptation of 'All Quiet on the Western Front.' His career spanned over five decades in film and television. [bio]