Famous people and celebrities who died on February 19

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on February 19. 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.

• 1936 Billy Mitchell

  Billy Mitchell was a pioneering American military officer and air power advocate, widely recognized for his contribution to the development of the United States Air Force and his belief in the strategic importance of air warfare. [bio]

• 1951 André Gide

  French novelist, essayist, and dramatist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1869).

• 1951 André Paul Guillaume Gide

  Prize laureate for his comprehensive and artistically significant writings, in which human problems and conditions have been presented with...

• 1952 Knut Hamsun

  Norwegian novelist, poet, and playwright, nobel prize laureate (b. 1859).

• 1980 Bon Scott

  Legendary AC/DC lead singer who tragically died at 33 from alcohol-related complications.

• 1986 Adolfo Celi

  Adolfo Celi was an Italian actor and director, internationally renowned for his roles in cinema, particularly as the villain Emilio Largo in the James Bond film 'Thunderball' (1965). [bio]

• 1988 André Frédéric Cournand

  Prize laureate for their discoveries concerning heart catheterization and pathological changes in the circulatory system.

• 1988 René Char

  Influential French poet who transitioned from surrealism to resistance activism during World War II, known for his poetic exploration of...

• 1994 Derek Jarman

  Pioneering British filmmaker known for his innovative, experimental, and visually striking cinema.

• 1997 Deng Xiaoping

  A pivotal Chinese leader who transformed China's economic and political landscape through market reforms, moving the country from a strict...

• 2002 Virginia Hamilton

  Virginia Hamilton was a groundbreaking African American children's book author who won numerous awards for her innovative storytelling that...

• 2002 Sylvia Rivera

  Pioneering transgender activist who was instrumental in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, co-founding key organizations like Gay Liberation Front...

• 2003 Johnny Paycheck

  Johnny Paycheck was a prominent American country music singer-songwriter known for his hit song 'Take This Job and Shove It'.

• 2007 Janet Blair

  Janet Blair was an American film and television actress best known for her work during the 1940s and 1950s, including leading roles in musical films such as 'My Sister Eileen' and 'The Fabulous Dorseys.' [bio]

• 2007 Celia Franca

  Renowned British choreographer who founded the National Ballet of Canada, transforming the country's dance landscape.

• 2008 Lydia Shum

  Lydia Shum was a beloved Hong Kong actress, singer, and television host, widely recognized for her comedic talent and bubbly persona. Known as 'Fei-fei' (meaning 'Fatty'), she became an icon in Hong Kong entertainment, starring in numerous variety shows and films over four decades. [bio]

• 2011 Ollie Matson

  Renowned American athlete who excelled in both sprinting and professional football, representing the United States in multiple sports...

• 2013 Armen Alchian

  Armen Alchian was a renowned American economist and professor at UCLA, widely recognized for his significant contributions to microeconomic...

• 2013 Donald Richie

  Renowned American-Japanese cultural critic, author, and expert on Japanese cinema who significantly contributed to Western understanding of...

• 2014 Valeri Kubasov

  Prominent Soviet cosmonaut and engineer who participated in multiple space missions, including the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

• 2014 Dale Gardner

  NASA astronaut who flew on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-8 and STS-51-A, contributing to space exploration during the 1980s.

• 2015 Harold Johnson

  Renowned American astronomer who introduced UBV photometric systems and received the Helen B. Warner Prize from the American Astronomical...

• 2016 Harper Lee

  Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the classic novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird', a groundbreaking work that addressed racial injustice in the...

• 2016 Samuel Willenberg

  Polish-Israeli Holocaust survivor, sculptor, and painter who documented the Treblinka extermination camp through his art.

• 2017 Larry Coryell

  Pioneering jazz fusion guitarist known for his innovative approach to jazz and rock, influencing generations of musicians with his virtuosic...

• 2019 Karl Lagerfeld

  Iconic German-French fashion designer who led Chanel for decades and revolutionized modern haute couture with his distinctive personal style...

• 2020 Pop Smoke

  Pop Smoke was an influential American rapper from Brooklyn who significantly impacted the drill music scene before his tragic murder in...