Famous people and celebrities who died in May 1998

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 1998. 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

• May 1 Eldridge Cleaver

  Eldridge Cleaver was an American writer, political activist, and prominent member of the Black Panther Party. He played a significant role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and is best known for his book 'Soul on Ice,' which became an influential work in African American literature and radical politics. [bio]

• May 2 Gene Raymond

  Gene Raymond was an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, and composer best known for his work in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. He appeared in more than 50 films and is recognized for his roles in romantic comedies and musicals. [bio]

• May 2 Maidie Norman

  Maidie Norman was an American film, television, and stage actress and educator, best known for her pioneering roles as an African-American woman in Hollywood during the mid-20th century. She is recognized for her efforts to fight against stereotypical portrayals of Black women in film and television. [bio]

• May 2 hide

  Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (b. 1964).

• May 2 Hide
• May 7 Allan McLeod Cormack

  South-african-american physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (d. 1998).

• May 8 Charles Rebozo

  American banker and businessman (b. 1912).

• May 9 Alice Faye

  Alice Faye was a celebrated American actress and singer, best known for her starring roles in 1930s and 1940s musical films for 20th Century Fox. Recognized for her warm contralto voice and girl-next-door appeal, she became one of Hollywood’s most popular musical stars during the Golden Age of film. [bio]

• May 9 Talat Mahmood

  Indian singer and actor (b. 1924).

• May 10 Clara Rockmore

  Clara Rockmore was a pioneering virtuoso of the theremin, an early electronic musical instrument, and is considered one of the most...

• May 11 Oreste Kirkop

  Maltese actor and tenor who made notable contributions to performing arts in Malta during the mid-20th century.

• May 14 Frank Sinatra

  Frank Sinatra was an iconic American singer, actor, and producer whose career spanned over five decades. Known as 'Ol' Blue Eyes' and 'The Voice,' Sinatra was one of the best-selling music artists of all time and a defining figure in 20th-century entertainment. He influenced countless musicians, starred in numerous critically acclaimed films, and was an integral member of the Rat … [bio]

• May 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas

  American journalist and environmentalist (b. 1890).

• May 15 Naim Talu

  Turkish economist, banker, politician, 15th prime minister of turkey (b. 1919).

• May 18 Obaidullah Aleem

  Indian-pakistani poet and author (b. 1939).

• May 19 Sōsuke Uno

  Japanese soldier and politician, 75th prime minister of japan (b. 1922).

• May 21 Robert Gist

  American actor and director (b. 1917).

• May 22 John Derek

  John Derek was an American actor, director, and photographer, known for his roles in films during the 1940s and 1950s and later for directing movies starring his wives, particularly Bo Derek. [bio]

• May 23 Telford Taylor

  Telford Taylor was a prominent American lawyer who served as a key military prosecutor during the Nuremberg trials, playing a crucial role...

• May 27 Minoo Masani

  Prominent Indian lawyer, politician, and socialist leader who played a significant role in India's post-independence political landscape.

• May 28 Phil Hartman

  Phil Hartman was a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic designer, best known for his work on 'Saturday Night Live,' 'The Simpsons,' and the NBC sitcom 'NewsRadio.' Renowned for his versatile comedic talent and memorable character impressions, Hartman became a beloved figure in television throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. [bio]

• May 29 Barry Goldwater

  Barry Goldwater was a prominent American conservative politician who served as a U.S.