Famous people and celebrities who died in May 2002

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 2002. 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 Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh

  Indian poet and author (b. 1908).

• May 2 W. T. Tutte

  English-canadian mathematician and academic (b. 1917).

• May 3 Barbara Castle

  Prominent British Labour Party politician who served in the House of Commons from 1945 to 1979, known for her progressive policies and...

• May 3 Yevgeny Svetlanov

  Renowned Russian conductor, pianist, and composer who significantly contributed to classical music interpretation and performance.

• May 5 Hugo Banzer

  Bolivian military dictator and politician who served as president from 1971 to 1978 and again democratically from 1997 to 2001.

• May 5 Paul Wilbur Klipsch

  Renowned American audio engineer and inventor who founded Klipsch Audio Technologies, revolutionizing speaker design and high-fidelity sound...

• May 5 George Sidney

  A prominent American film director and producer known for directing numerous Hollywood musicals and films during the mid-20th century.

• May 6 Otis Blackwell

  Legendary rock and roll songwriter who wrote numerous hit songs for Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other iconic musicians of the 1950s...

• May 6 Pim Fortuyn

  Pim Fortuyn was a controversial Dutch sociologist, academic, and politician who was assassinated in 2002, known for his provocative...

• May 7 Kevyn Aucoin
• May 10 Yves Robert

  Prominent French filmmaker, actor, director, producer, and screenwriter who made significant contributions to French cinema during the...

• May 10 Kaifi Azmi

  Indian poet and songwriter (born 1919).

• May 10 David Riesman
• May 11 Bill Peet

  Bill Peet was a renowned Disney animator and children's book author who worked on classic animated films like Cinderella and 101 Dalmatians.

• May 12 Joseph Bonanno

  Prominent Italian-American mafia boss who was a key figure in the Bonanno crime family and played a significant role in organized crime...

• May 13 Valeriy Lobanovskyi

  Valeriy Lobanovskyi was a legendary Ukrainian footballer and manager who significantly influenced modern football tactics and coaching...

• May 16 Alec Campbell

  The last surviving anzac (born in 1899).

• May 17 Dave Berg

  American cartoonist known for his work in Mad Magazine, creating satirical illustrations that captured mid-20th century American culture.

• May 19 John Gorton

  Australian politician who served as the 19th Prime Minister of Australia from 1968 to 1971.

• May 19 Walter Lord

  Prominent American historian and author best known for his detailed accounts of historical events like the Titanic disaster.

• May 20 Stephen Gould

  Renowned American paleontologist and evolutionary biologist from Harvard University, famous for his groundbreaking work on evolutionary...

• May 21 Niki de Saint Phalle

  Renowned French-American artist known for her large-scale sculptural works, feminist art, and innovative artistic techniques combining...

• May 23 Sam Snead

  Sam Snead was a legendary American professional golfer who dominated the sport in the mid-20th century, winning multiple major championships...

• May 23 Big Bill Neidjie

  Australian activist and last speaker of the gaagudju language (b. ).

• May 25 Pat Coombs

  Pat Coombs was a beloved English comedic actress known for her roles in British comedy films and television series during the mid-20th...

• May 28 Mildred Benson

  American journalist and author best known for writing many of the early Nancy Drew mystery novels under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene.

• May 31 Subhash Gupte

  Renowned Indian cricketer who played during the mid-20th century, known for his significant contributions to cricket.