Famous people and celebrities who died on April 26

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on April 26. On this day, we honor the lives and legacies of notable figures from various fields who left an indelible mark on the world. Explore our list to learn about their remarkable contributions and celebrate their enduring impact.

• 1910 Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson

  Prize laureate as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguished by both the freshness of its...

• 1915 John Bunny

  John Bunny was an American actor and one of the earliest stars of silent film comedy. Renowned for his expressive face and gentle humor, he became a hugely popular figure in early cinema, especially for his work with Vitagraph Studios. [bio]

• 1931 George Mead

  Influential pragmatist philosopher and sociologist.

• 1951 Arnold Sommerfeld

  German physicist, whose atomic model allowed the explanation of fine structure spectral lines.

• 1956 Edward Arnold

  Edward Arnold was a prominent American actor known for his roles in both stage productions and Hollywood films during the first half of the 20th century. He possessed a commanding presence and became famous for his portrayals of authority figures, often playing businessmen, politicians, and patriarchs. [bio]

• 1961 Gail Russell

  Gail Russell was an American film and television actress best known for her roles in classic films during the 1940s, including "The Uninvited" and "Angel and the Badman." She was noted for her striking beauty, talent, and the tragic personal struggles that affected her promising career. [bio]

• 1973 Irene Ryan

  Irene Ryan was an American actress best known for her role as Daisy 'Granny' Moses in the long-running television sitcom 'The Beverly Hillbillies.' She was a veteran performer with a career spanning vaudeville, radio, film, television, and Broadway. [bio]

• 1980 Cicely Courtneidge

  Cicely Courtneidge was an English actress, comedienne, and singer, best known for her extensive career in musical theatre, film, and revue throughout the 20th century. She was celebrated for her comedic timing, versatility, and contributions to British entertainment. [bio]

• 1981 Robert Davi

  Robert Davi is an American actor, singer, and director known for his roles as a villain in popular films such as 'Die Hard' and 'Licence to Kill.' With a career spanning film, television, and music, Davi is recognized for his distinctive presence and deep baritone voice. [bio]

• 1981 Jim Davis (cartoonist)

  Jim Davis is an iconic American cartoonist who created the globally popular comic strip Garfield, featuring the witty, lasagna-loving cat.

• 1984 Count Basie

  Legendary jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who led the iconic Count Basie Orchestra, revolutionizing big band and swing music in the...

• 1986 Broderick Crawford

  Broderick Crawford was an American actor best known for his Academy Award-winning performance in 'All the King's Men' (1949) and his starring role in the television series 'Highway Patrol' (1955–1959). [bio]

• 1986 Bessie Love

  Bessie Love was an American actress who became popular during the silent film era and transitioned successfully into sound films. Renowned for her charm and versatility, she appeared in over 100 movies and was nominated for an Academy Award. [bio]

• 1987 Shankar (director)

  Shankar is a renowned Tamil cinema director famous for his visually spectacular and technologically innovative films, significantly...

• 1989 Lucille Ball

  Lucille Ball was an iconic American actress, comedian, and producer best known for her groundbreaking work in television. She achieved massive fame for starring in and producing the seminal sitcom 'I Love Lucy', and is recognized as a trailblazer for women in entertainment, being one of the first female heads of a major television studio. Ball's distinctive comic timing, physical … [bio]

• 1994 Masutatsu Ōyama

  Legendary Japanese martial artist who founded Kyokushin Karate, a full-contact karate style known worldwide for its intense training and...

• 1995 Alexander Knox

  Alexander Knox was a Canadian actor and author best known for his role as President Woodrow Wilson in the film 'Wilson' (1944), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Knox had a prolific career in both Hollywood and British cinema, spanning several decades. [bio]

• 1996 Stirling Silliphant

  Renowned American screenwriter and producer known for his significant contributions to film and television, including Academy Award-winning...

• 1999 Jill Dando

  Beloved British television presenter and journalist tragically murdered in 1999, whose death shocked the nation.

• 2003 Rosemary Brown

  Pioneering Canadian politician and social worker who broke racial barriers by becoming the first Black woman elected to a provincial...

• 2004 Hubert Selby

  American author, poet, and screenwriter known for his gritty, raw literary style and influential works exploring urban life and human...

• 2005 Maria Schell

  Maria Schell was an internationally acclaimed Austrian-Swiss actress known for her emotionally expressive performances in European and American films from the 1940s through the 1970s. [bio]

• 2005 Augusto Roa Bastos

  Renowned Paraguayan novelist and intellectual who significantly contributed to Latin American literature, best known for his novel 'I, the...

• 2013 George Jones

  Legendary country music singer-songwriter known as the 'King of Honky Tonk' and one of the most influential artists in country music...

• 2015 Jayne Meadows

  Jayne Meadows was an American actress, author, and television personality known for her extensive work in film, television, and on the stage. She was particularly recognized for her appearances on television panel shows, her dramatic and comedic roles, and for co-hosting talk shows with her husband, Steve Allen. [bio]

• 2016 Harry Wu

  Prominent Chinese human rights activist who dedicated his life to exposing human rights abuses in China, particularly in labor camps.

• 2017 Jonathan Demme

  Jonathan Demme was an acclaimed American filmmaker known for directing groundbreaking films like The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, and...