Famous people and celebrities who died on June 17

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on June 17. 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.

• 1939 Eugen Weidmann

  Notorious German serial killer who claimed to have murdered 86 people, primarily motivated by robbery and small financial gains.

• 1940 Arthur Harden

  English biochemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1865).

• 1952 Jack Parsons

  Pioneering rocket scientist and occultist who co-founded Jet Propulsion Laboratory, known for his groundbreaking work in rocket propulsion...

• 1955 Carlyle Blackwell

  Carlyle Blackwell was a prominent American silent film actor.

• 1961 Jeff Chandler

  Jeff Chandler was an American actor, film producer, and singer, known for his distinctive gray hair and deep voice. He gained fame in the 1950s, notably for his roles in Westerns and adventure films. [bio]

• 1968 José Nasazzi

  José Nasazzi was a legendary Uruguayan footballer and national team captain, known for his exceptional defensive skills and leadership...

• 1982 Roberto Calvi

  Italian financier known as 'God's Banker', involved in complex financial scandals with the Catholic Church, Mafia money laundering, and the...

• 1984 John Murray

  John Murray was a pioneering Scottish oceanographer and marine biologist, renowned for his influential contributions to marine science, including his work on the Challenger Expedition which laid the foundation of modern oceanography. [bio]

• 1985 John Boulting

  Duplicate of John Boulting record.

• 1986 Kate Smith

  Kate Smith was an American singer best known for her renditions of patriotic songs, most notably 'God Bless America.' Active primarily from the 1930s through the 1950s, she became known as 'The First Lady of Radio' due to her prolific performances and her significant influence on the American music and broadcasting landscape. [bio]

• 1996 Thomas Kuhn

  Renowned philosopher of science who revolutionized understanding of scientific progress through his groundbreaking book 'The Structure of...

• 2000 Ismail Mahomed

  Prominent South African jurist who served as the 17th Chief Justice of South Africa, playing a significant role in the country's...

• 2001 Donald Cram

  Donald Cram was a renowned American chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work in organic chemistry,...

• 2001 René Dumont

  René Dumont was a pioneering French agronomist and environmental activist who significantly influenced sustainable development and...

• 2002 Fritz Walter

  Legendary German footballer who captained the West German national team to victory in the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

• 2002 Willie Davenport

  Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler who competed in five Olympic Games, tragically dying in 2002 while changing planes in Chicago at age 59.

• 2005 Karl Mueller

  Karl Mueller was the bass player of the alternative rock band Soul Asylum, known for their hit song 'Runaway Train'.

• 2007 Gianfranco Ferrè

  Renowned Italian fashion designer known as the 'architect of fashion', celebrated for his innovative and architectural design approach.

• 2008 Cyd Charisse

  Cyd Charisse was an acclaimed American dancer and actress, best known for her roles in numerous MGM musicals during the 1940s and 1950s. Renowned for her grace, beauty, and dancing prowess—especially in ballet and jazz—Charisse became one of Hollywood's most iconic dancers, often paired with legends such as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. [bio]

• 2008 Tsutomu Miyazaki

  Notorious Japanese serial killer who murdered young girls in the late 1980s, known as the 'Otaku Murderer'.

• 2009 Ralf Dahrendorf

  Prominent German-British sociologist, politician, and academic who made significant contributions to social theory and political sociology.

• 2012 Rodney King

  Rodney King was an African-American motorist whose brutal beating by Los Angeles police officers in 1991 sparked nationwide protests against...

• 2015 Süleyman Demirel

  Prominent Turkish engineer and politician who served as the 9th President of Turkey, playing a significant role in the country's political...

• 2015 Clementa C. Pinckney

  Prominent African American minister and state senator tragically killed in the Charleston church shooting in 2015, becoming a symbol of...

• 2015 John David Crow

  Heisman Trophy-winning football player and coach who had a significant impact on American football in the mid-20th century.

• 2019 Gloria Vanderbilt

  Gloria Vanderbilt was an American artist, author, actress, fashion designer, socialite, and heiress, known for her contributions to the fields of art and fashion, as well as for being a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. [bio]