Famous people and celebrities who died in October 2015

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in October 2015. 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

• Oct. 2 Brian Friel

  Acclaimed Irish playwright and director known for his significant contributions to contemporary Irish theatre and literature.

• Oct. 2 Coleridge Goode

  Jamaican-English jazz bassist and composer who made significant contributions to the British jazz scene in the mid-20th century.

• Oct. 3 Denis Healey

  Prominent British Labour Party politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and played a significant role in UK politics during the...

• Oct. 4 Neal Walk

  Neal Walk was an accomplished American professional basketball player who played in the NBA during the late 1960s and early 1970s, primarily...

• Oct. 5 Henning Mankell

  Renowned Swedish author and playwright famous for his crime novels, particularly the internationally acclaimed 'Wallander' detective series.

• Oct. 6 Árpád Göncz

  Prominent Hungarian author, playwright, and politician who served as the first president of Hungary after the fall of communism from 1990 to...

• Oct. 7 Harry Gallatin

  Professional basketball player and coach who played for the New York Knicks and was a key figure in the NBA during the 1950s.

• Oct. 8 Paul Prudhomme

  Renowned American chef who was a pioneer of Cajun cuisine and helped popularize Louisiana cooking worldwide.

• Oct. 8 Lindy Infante

  American football coach who led the Indianapolis Colts from 1996-1997, known for his professional coaching career in the NFL.

• Oct. 8 Jim Diamond

  Scottish singer known for hit singles like 'I Won't Let You Down' and 'I Should Have Known Better' in the 1980s.

• Oct. 9 Ravindra Jain

  Renowned Indian music composer and director who significantly contributed to the Indian entertainment industry, known for his versatile...

• Oct. 9 Richard F. Heck

  Prize laureate for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis.

• Oct. 9 Geoffrey Howe

  Influential Welsh lawyer and politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, playing a crucial role in British...

• Oct. 10 Sybil Stockdale

  Prominent American activist who co-founded the National League of Families of Prisoners of War and played a crucial role in advocating for...

• Oct. 10 Manorama

  Renowned Indian actress and singer who was a prominent figure in South Indian cinema, particularly in Malayalam and Tamil films, with a...

• Oct. 11 Dean Chance

  Professional baseball pitcher who won the Cy Young Award in 1964 and played for multiple teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers and...

• Oct. 12 Joan Leslie

  Joan Leslie was an American actress and dancer, best known for her performances in classic films of the 1940s such as 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' and 'Sergeant York.' She was noted for her wholesome screen presence and gracefully transitioned from a child actress to leading lady during the Golden Age of Hollywood. [bio]

• Oct. 14 Mathieu Kérékou

  Prominent Beninese politician who served as President of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and again from 1996 to 2006, playing a crucial role in the...

• Oct. 15 Kenneth D. Taylor

  Kenneth D. Taylor was a prominent Canadian diplomat and businessman who played a significant role during the Iran hostage crisis.

• Oct. 17 Danièle Delorme

  Danièle Delorme was a renowned French actress and film producer, acclaimed for her delicate, nuanced performances across French cinema from the 1940s to the 1970s. She gained recognition for roles in classics such as 'Gigi' (1949) and later became a producer dedicated to important, often socially conscious, films. [bio]

• Oct. 18 Frank Watkins

  American heavy metal bassist who played for bands Obituary and Gorgoroth, known for his significant contributions to extreme metal music.

• Oct. 18 Gamal El-Ghitani

  Prominent Egyptian journalist and author who made significant contributions to Arabic literature and cultural discourse.

• Oct. 22 Joshua Wheeler

  U.

• Oct. 24 Maureen O'Hara

  Maureen O'Hara was an Irish-American actress and singer, renowned for her work in Hollywood throughout the 1940s and 1950s, particularly in Technicolor films. She was known for her spirited performances, striking red hair, and roles in adventure films and dramas. [bio]

• Oct. 25 Lisa Jardine

  Renowned British historian and academic who specialized in Renaissance studies, wrote extensively on cultural and intellectual history, and...

• Oct. 25 Flip Saunders

  Renowned NBA coach who led the Minnesota Timberwolves and significantly influenced professional basketball coaching strategies.

• Oct. 26 Leo Kadanoff

  Distinguished physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to theoretical condensed matter physics.

• Oct. 27 Betsy Drake

  Betsy Drake was an American actress and writer, best known for her roles in several films during the late 1940s and 1950s, and for being the third wife of actor Cary Grant. [bio]

• Oct. 30 Mel Daniels

  NBA Hall of Fame player who was a key figure in the Indiana Pacers' early success, revolutionizing the power forward position in...