Chronology of Notable Deaths

Copyright © 2008-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
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to this site, not to copy these pages to other web sites.
URL: http://kpolsson.com/death/

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1972

January 1
  • Jane Morgan, actress (Mrs Margaret Davis - Our Miss Brooks), dies at age 91. [1] [457]
  • Kenneth Patchen, American poet/writer (Cloth of Tempest), dies at age 60. [1]
  • Death of Maurice A Chevalier at age 83; French singer, actor (Can Can, Gigi), dies at age 83. [1] [5]
January 3
  • Frans Masereel, Flemish WWII resistance fighter (Le Soleil), dies at age 82. [1]
January 7
  • Clarence Passailaigue, cricket player (487 for 6th wicket for Jamaica), dies. [1]
  • John Berryman, American poet (Imaginary Jew), dies. [1]
January 8
  • Kenneth Patchen, American writer (See You in the Morning), dies at age 60. [1]
January 9
  • Ted Shawn, American dancer, dies at age 80. [1]
January 10
  • Death of Al Goodman at age 81; Russian/American orchestra leader (Fred Allen radio show, NBC Comedy Hour TV show, Colgate Comedy Hour TV show). [457]
  • Georg Rendl, Austrian miner/bee-keeper (Satan on Earth), dies at age 68. [1]
January 12
  • Padraic Colum, Irish poet/writer/founder (Irish Review), dies at age 90. [1]
January 14
  • Frederik IX [Christiaan FFMKW], king of Denmark (1947-72), dies at age 72. [1]
January 16
  • Death of David Seville AKA Ross Bagdasarian at age 52 of a heart attack in Beverly Hills, California, USA; voice actor (Alvin and the Chipmunks), songwriter ("The Chipmunk Song", "Come on-a My House", "Witch Doctor" (1958)). [1] [457]
January 17
  • Rochelle Hudson, actress (That's My Boy, Curly Top), dies from pneumonia at age 55. [1]
January 24
  • Death of Jerome Cowan at age 74; character actor (Mr. Dithers - Blondie, The Tab Hunter Show, The Tycoon, Valiant Lady, Not for Publication). [1] [457]
January 27
  • Death of Mahalia Jackson at age 60 of heart failure in Chicago, Illinois, USA; gospel singer ("the queen of gospel music", "He Got the Whole World", Ed Sullivan Show). [1] [457]

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January 28
  • Adriaan B "Jaap" Wagemaker, Dutch sculptor, dies at age 66. [1]
January 31
  • Bir Bikram Shah Deva Mahendra, king of Nepal (1955-72), dies at age 51. [1]
  • Death of Howard Barlow at age 79; orchestra leader and musical director (CBS radio, The March of Time, Voice of Firestoneradio and TV show). [1] [457]
February 2
  • Jessie Royce Landis, actress (North by Northwest), dies at age 67. [1]
February 3
  • John Litel, actor (Big Boss, Crime Doctor, My Buddy), dies at age 79. [1]
February 5
  • Marianne Moore, US poet (Pulitzer 1951), dies at age 84. [1]
February 6
  • Julian H Steward, US anthropologist (South American), dies at age 70. [1]
February 11
  • Jan Wils, architect (Olympian Stadium, Amsterdam), dies at age 80. [1]
February 14
  • Lambertus "Bertus" van Lyre, composer/conductor (Dike), dies at age 65. [1]
February 15
  • Edgar P Snow, American author/journalist (Battle for Asia), dies at age 66. [1]
  • Jef [Josephus CF], last Dutch poet/Indonesian politician, dies at age 73. [1]
February 20
  • Death of Walter Winchell of prostate cancer at age 74; gossip columnist/broadcaster (Jergens Journal radio show), writer/actor (Dondi, Love and Hisses), narrator (The Untouchables TV show). [1] [457]
February 22
  • Walter Sande, actor (Adventures of Tugboat Annie), dies at age 65. [1]
February 26
  • Tom Manders, Dutch cabaret artist (Dorus), dies at age 50. [1]
March 2
  • Death of Bill Lawrence at age 56; news anchor (ABC), covered the White House through six US Presidents. [1] [457]
March 11
  • Fredric [William] Brown, sci-fi author (Martians Go Home), dies at age 65. [1]
March 16
  • Harold "Pie" Traynor, hall of fame third baseman (Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at age 72. [1]
March 17
  • Manny Martindale, cricket player (10 Tests for West Indies, 34 wickets), dies. [1]
March 20
  • Aad de Haas, Dutch religious painter/graphic artist, dies at age 51. [1]
  • Jan Engelman, Dutch poet/art critic (At the Front), dies at age 71. [1]
  • Marilyn Maxwell, actress (Grace - Bus Stop), dies at age 50. [1]
March 27
  • Maurits C Escher, Dutch lithograph carver (Praedestinatie), dies at age 73. [1] [5]
March 29
  • Death of J Arthur Rank, first Baron Rank, industrialist/film magnate. [1]
March 30
  • Gabriel Heather, US news anchor, dies at age 81. [1]
  • Peter Whitney, actor (Rough Riders), dies at age 55. [1]
April 2
  • Gil Hodges, manager (New York Mets), dies of heart attack at age 57. [1]
April 3
  • Ferde Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé, composer (Grand Canyon Suite), dies at age 80. [1]
April 4
  • Adam Clayton Powell Junior, American politician (Representative-Democrat-New York), dies at age 63. [1]
  • Stefan Wolpe, German composer (Zeus and Elidco), dies at age 69. [1]
April 5
  • Death of Brian Donlevy at age 71 from throat cancer; actor (Steve - Dangerous Assignment). [1] [457]
April 6
  • Death of Heinrich Lübke at age 77; President of the Federal Republic of Germany (1959-1969). [1] [37]
April 7
  • "Crazy" Joe Gallo, mobster, killed at his 43rd birthday party. [1]
  • Abeid Karume, Tanzanian sheik/President, murdered. [1]
  • Victor Wong, actor (Mission to Moscow, King Kong) dies at age 65. [1]
April 12
  • C W Ceram [Kurt Marek], German/US writer (first American), dies at age 57. [1]
April 15
  • Otto Brenner, German trade union leader, dies at age 64. [1]
April 16
  • Yasunari Kawabata, Japanese author (Nobel Prize 1968), dies at age 72. [1]
April 25
  • George Sanders, actor (Mr Freeze - Batman, Ivanhoe), dies at age 65. [1]
April 27
  • Kwame Nkrumah, President of Ghana, dies at age 62. [1]
  • Death of Phil King at age 24, shot in the head while gambling; rocker (Blue Oyster Cult). [1] [457]
April 29
  • Ntare V, deposed King of Burundi, killed in an abortive coup. [1]
April 30
  • Gia Scala, actress (Garment Jungle, I Aim at the Stars), dies at age 38. [1]
May 1
  • Fernand Ansseau, Belgian operator (Orfeo), dies at age 82. [1]
May 2
  • J Edgar Hoover, head of US FBI (1924-72), dies at age 77. [1] [5]
May 3
  • Bruce Cabot, actor (Diamonds are Forever), dies at age 68. [1]
  • Leslie Harvey, lead guitarist of the Glasgow band Stone the Crows, dies after being electrocuted onstage at Swansea's Top Rank Ballroom. [1] [467]
May 13
  • Death of Dan Blocker at age 41 following surgery; actor (Hoss Cartwright - Bonanza TV show). [457]
May 15
  • Nigel Green, actor (Skull, Tobruk, Ipcress File), dies at age 47. [1]
May 20
  • Cornelis J van der Klauw, Dutch biologist/zoologist, dies at age 78. [1]
  • Walter Winchell, columnist/narrator (Untouchables), dies at age 75. [1]
May 22
  • Margaret Rutherford, English actress (Murder Ahoy, VIP's), dies at age 80. [1]
May 24
  • Asta Nielsen, actress (Joyless Street), dies at age 88. [1]
  • Death of Gavin Muir at age 64; actor (Hollister - Betty Hutton Show TV show). [1] [457]
May 25
  • Death of Rudolf Dreikurs in Chicago, U.S.A. (born in Vienna, Austria); psychologist, founded the Alfred Adler Institute in Chicago. [37]
May 28
  • Edward VIII, King of Great Britain/Northern Ireland/emperor (India 1936), dies at age 77. [1]
June 12
  • Saul David Alinsky, radical writer (John L Lewis), dies at age 63. [1]
June 13
  • Death of Clyde McPhatter from complications of heart, liver, and kidney disease at age 38 in New York, USA; singer (The Drifters, Billy Ward and the Dominoes - "Sixty-Minute Man", "Have Mercy Baby", solo - "Treasure of Love" (1956), "A Lover's Question" (1958), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987)). [1] [457]
June 23
  • Death of Elton Britt at age 54; yodeller, Jimmie Rodgers imitator, country singer (Saturday Night Jamboree). [1] [457]
July 6
  • Brandon De Wilde, actor (Jamie), dies at age 30 in a car crash. [1]
July 16
  • Death of Charlie Chamberlain at age 61; singer (Islanders). [457]
July 21
  • Jigme Dori Wangchuck, king of Bhutan, dies. [1]
July 24
  • Death of Bobby Ramirez at age 23 in a bar brawl; drummer (White Trash). [1]
August 2
  • Brian Cole, rocker with The Association, dies of heroin overdose at age 28. [1]
  • Death of Rudolph Ganz in Chicago, Illinois (born in Zürich, Switzerland); German/American composer/conductor. [37]
August 5
  • Frederic Tozere, actor (Mr Phillips - Stanley), dies at age 71. [1]
August 7
  • Death of Joi Lansing AKA Joyce Wassmansdoff at age 43 of breast cancer; actress (Bob Cummings Show, The Beverly Hillbillies). [1] [457]
August 9
  • Bill Berns, commentator (Television Screen Magazine), dies at age 53. [1]
August 13
  • George Wiess, New York Yankees' general manager, dies. [1]
August 14
  • Oscar Levant, actor (American in Paris, Dance of Life), dies at age 65. [1]
September 12
  • Death of William Boyd at age 77 of Parkinson's and heart failure; actor (Hopalong Cassidy in movies, on radio, and on TV). [1] [457]
September 18
  • Death of Robert Faesi in Zollikon, Switzerland; playwright, poet, author, professor of German literature at the University of Zürich. [37]
September 19
  • A letter bomb in London, England, kills Israeli diplomat Ami Shachori. 51 bombs are mailed to Israeli embassy employees worldwide, with most intercepted. [635.74]
September 23
  • Carl Frank, actor (Uncle Gunnar - Mama), dies at age 63. [1]
September 26
  • Charles Correll, actor (Calvin and the Colonel), dies at age 82. [1]
September 27
  • Death of Rory Storm by suicide; lead singer (Rory Storm and Hurricane). [1]
October 4
  • Colin Gordon, actor (John - The Baron), dies at age 61. [1]
October 6
  • Death of Cliff Hall at age 78 of throat cancer; actor (Sharlie - Baron Munchausen radio show). [457]
October 9
  • Death of Miriam Hopkins at age 69 of a heart attack; actress (The Outer Limits, Route 66, Studio One, Lux Video Theatre, The Flying Nun). [457]
October 16
  • Death of Leo G. Carroll at age 85; actor (Topper, The Man From UNCLE). [1] [457]
October 20
  • Harlow Shapley, discoverer of the Sun's position in the galaxy, dies. [1]
October 24
  • Jackie Robinson, major league baseball player (Brooklyn Dodgers 1947, Hall of Fame), dies of heart disease at age 53 at his home in Stamford, Connecticut. [1] [56] [129]
October 27
  • Lew Parker, actor (Lou Marie - That Girl), dies a day before turning 65. [1]
October 30
  • Alan Roth, orchestra leader (Milton Berle Show), dies at age 68. [1]
November 6
  • Tod Andrews, actor (Gray Ghost, Counterthrust), dies at age 52. [1]
November 23
  • Marie Wilson, actress (My Friend Irma), dies at age 56. [1]
December 1
  • Antonio Segni, Italian Prime Minister/President (1955-57, 1959-60, 1962-64), dies at age 81. [1]
December 2
  • Friedrich Christian Christiansen, German Luftwaffe general, dies. [1]
  • José Limón, Mexican/US dancer (moor's pavane), dies at age 64. [1]
December 6
  • Janet Munro, actress (Crawling Eye, Swiss Family Robinson), dies at age 38. [1]
December 7
  • Adrian J Zoetmulder, author (God's Hour), dies at age 91. [1]
December 8
  • George Collins, American politician (Representative-Illinois), dies at age 47, in airplane crash. [1]
December 9
  • Death of Louella Parsons of arteriosclerosis at age 91; gossip columnist (Hollywood Hotel and Hollywood Premiere on radio). [457]
December 10
  • Mark A Van Doren, US literary (Our Lady Peace), dies at age 78. [1]
December 11
  • John Mills, cricket player (7 Tests for New Zealand in early 1930s, 241 runs), dies. [1]
  • Semjon I Kirsanov, Ukrainian poet (Zolushka), dies at age 66. [1]
December 15
  • Edward Earle, actor (Charlie Chan - Meeting at Midnight), dies at age 90. [1]
  • Herbert Eimert, German composer (Glockenspiel), dies at age 75. [1]
December 20
  • Günter Eich, German literary (Botschaften des Regens), dies at age 65 in Salzburg, Austria. [1] [37]
December 21
  • Horace Mann Bond, president of Lincoln University (Pennsylvania), dies at age 70. [1]
December 23
  • Andrej N Tupolev, Russian aircraft builder, dies at age 84. [1]
December 24
  • Charles Atlas [Angelo Siciliano], body builder, dies at age 79. [1]
December 26
  • Harry Truman, 33rd US President, dies in Kansas City, Missouri at age 88. [1] [5]
December 27
  • Death of Lester Bowles Pearson at age 75; Canadian ambassador to Washington, assistant undersecretary, undersecretary, secretary of state fof external affairs, president of General Assembly, Nobel Peace Prize 1957 for diplomacy during Suez Crisis, opposition leader 1958-63, 14th Prime Minister 1963-68 (dies 1972). [1] [835.206]
December 31
  • Pittsburgh Pirates' outfielder Roberto Clemente is killed at age 38 when a cargo plane crashes during a relief effort to bring supplies to the victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake. [1] [56] [817.144] [1302.198]

End of 1972. Next: 1973.

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A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 2008-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/death/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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