Famous people and celebrities who died in May 2009

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in May 2009. 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 2 Jack Kemp

  Jack Kemp was an influential American politician and professional football player who played quarterback in the AFL, later becoming a...

• May 2 Marilyn French

  Influential American feminist author and academic best known for her groundbreaking work on women's studies and gender issues.

• May 3 Ram Balkrushna Shewalkar

  Indian author and critic (b. 1931).

• May 4 Dom DeLuise

  Dom DeLuise was an American actor, comedian, director, and chef, known for his larger-than-life personality, comedic timing, and prolific film and television career, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. [bio]

• May 8 Dom DiMaggio

  American baseball player and soldier who was part of the famous DiMaggio baseball family.

• May 9 Chuck Daly

  Legendary NBA basketball coach who led the Detroit Pistons to two consecutive championships and coached the famous 'Dream Team' to Olympic...

• May 11 Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda

  Indian admiral (b. 1915).

• May 11 Claudio Huepe

  Chilean economist and politician, chilean minister secretary-general of government (b. 1939).

• May 12 Antonio Vega

  Antonio Vega was a prominent Spanish singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known as the lead singer of the influential rock band Nacha Pop.

• May 13 Achille Compagnoni

  Achille Compagnoni was a distinguished Italian alpine ski racer who won gold medals at the 1948 Winter Olympics, representing Italy with...

• May 15 Wayman Tisdale

  Professional basketball player who became a renowned smooth jazz bassist after his sports career, known for his musical talent and...

• May 17 Mario Benedetti

  Mario Benedetti was a prominent Uruguayan poet, novelist, and essayist who significantly influenced Latin American literature.

• May 18 Wayne Allwine

  Wayne Allwine was an iconic American voice actor best known for being the official voice of Mickey Mouse from 1977 to 2009.

• May 19 Robert F. Furchgott

  American biochemist and pharmacologist, nobel prize laureate (d. 2009).

• May 20 Lucy Gordon

  Lucy Gordon was an English actress and model known for her roles in films such as 'The Four Feathers' and 'Spider-Man 3'. Her career showed promise both in modeling and in acting prior to her untimely passing in 2009. [bio]

• May 20 Arthur Erickson

  Prominent Canadian architect known for innovative modernist designs, including Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.

• May 20 Pierre Gamarra

  Prominent French author, poet, and literary critic who made significant contributions to 20th-century French literature.

• May 23 Roh Moo-hyun

  Prominent South Korean politician who served as the 9th President of South Korea from 2003 to 2008.

• May 24 Jay Bennett

  American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (b. 1963).

• May 25 Haakon Lie

  Influential Norwegian politician who served as the Labour Party's secretary from 1945 to 1969, playing a crucial role in post-war Norwegian...

• May 27 Clive Granger

  Welsh-american economist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1934).

• May 27 Abram Hoffer

  Pioneering Canadian psychiatrist who significantly contributed to orthomolecular medicine and alternative mental health treatments.

• May 27 Carol Anne O'Marie

  American nun and author (b. 1933).

• May 29 Karine Ruby

  Pioneering French snowboarder who won Olympic gold in Nagano 1998 and silver in Salt Lake City 2002, significantly contributing to the...

• May 30 Ephraim Katzir

  Fourth president of Israel, renowned biophysicist and prominent political figure who significantly contributed to Israeli science and...

• May 31 George Tiller

  Controversial late-term abortion provider in Wichita, Kansas, who was assassinated by an anti-abortion activist in 2009.

• May 31 Millvina Dean

  Millvina Dean was the youngest passenger aboard the RMS Titanic and the last surviving passenger of the tragic 1912 shipwreck.

• May 31 Danny La Rue

  Irish-british drag queen performer and singer (b. 1927).