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January 4th
274 Notable deaths
Bill Lancaster
American screenwriter (1947-1997).
Born November 17th, 1947 in Los Angeles.
Died January 4th, 1997 at 49 years old in Los Angeles.
Ali Reza Pahlavi
Iranian prince (1966–2011).
Born April 28th, 1966 in Tehran. [ref]
Died January 4th, 2011 at 44 years old in Boston (gunshot wound). [ref]
Conrad Hall
American cinematographer (1926-2003).
Born June 21st, 1926 in Papeete.
Died January 4th, 2003 at 76 years old in Santa Monica (bladder cancer). [ref]
Poon Lim
Chinese sailor of the british merchant navy.
Born March 8th, 1918 in Hainan.
Died January 4th, 1991 at 72 years old in Brooklyn.
Robert Stigwood
Australian music and film producer (1934–2016).
Born April 16th, 1934 in Adelaide, Port Pirie.
Died January 4th, 2016 at 81 years old in London. [ref]
Albert Roux
French-british chef and restaurateur (1935–2021).
Born October 8th, 1935 in Semur-en-Brionnais.
Died January 4th, 2021 at 85 years old in London. [ref]
Mary Ellen Pleasant
African-american entrepreneur (1814-1904).
Born August 19th, 1817 in Philadelphia, Virginia, Georgia. [ref]
Died January 4th, 1904 at 86 years old in San Francisco.
Margherita of Savoy
Queen of italy from 1878 to 1900.
Born November 20th, 1851 in Turin.
Died January 4th, 1926 at 74 years old in Bordighera.
Barbara Shelley
British actress (1932-2021).
Born August 15th, 1933 in Marylebone. [ref]
Died January 4th, 2021 at 87 years old in London (COVID-19). [ref]
Brian Horrocks
British army officer (1895-1985).
Born September 7th, 1895 in Ranikhet.
Died January 4th, 1985 at 89 years old in Fishbourne.
Salmaan Taseer
Pakistani politician (1944-2011).
Born May 31st, 1944 in Shimla. [ref]
Died January 4th, 2011 at 66 years old in Kohsar Market (gunshot wound). [ref]
Paul Chambers
American jazz double bassist (1935–1969).
Born April 22nd, 1935 in Pittsburgh.
Died January 4th, 1969 at 33 years old in New York City (tuberculosis).
Maulana Mohammad Ali
Indian muslim activist (1878–1931).
Born December 10th, 1878 in Rampur.
Died January 4th, 1931 at 52 years old in London.
Brian Gibson
English film and television director (1944–2004).
Born September 22nd, 1944 in Southend-on-Sea.
Died January 4th, 2004 at 59 years old in London (bone cancer).
Mick Karn
British bassist (1958–2011).
Born July 24th, 1958 in Nicosia.
Died January 4th, 2011 at 52 years old in London (cancer). [ref]
Alfred von Schlieffen
Prussian field marshal and chief of the general staff (1833-1913).
Born February 28th, 1833 in Berlin. [ref]
Died January 4th, 1913 at 79 years old in Berlin.
Hans Heinrich Lammers
German jurist, nazi politician, and head of the reich chancellery (1879-1962).
Born May 27th, 1879 in Lubliniec. [ref]
Died January 4th, 1962 at 82 years old in Düsseldorf.
Harry Fowler
English actor (1926–2012).
Born December 10th, 1926 in Lambeth.
Died January 4th, 2012 at 85 years old in London. [ref]
Marais Viljoen
South african politician (1915-2007).
Born December 2nd, 1915 in Robertson.
Died January 4th, 2007 at 91 years old in Pretoria (disease). [ref]
Rajagopala Chidambaram
Indian metallurgist.
Born December 11th, 1936 in Chennai.
Died January 4th, 2025 at 88 years old
Fay Weldon
British writer (1931–2023).
Born September 22nd, 1931 in Birmingham.
Died January 4th, 2023 at 91 years old in Northampton. [ref]
Joan Copeland
American actress (1922–2022).
Born June 1st, 1922 in Manhattan.
Died January 4th, 2022 at 99 years old in Manhattan. [ref]
Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu
Japanese prince (1902-1953).
Born June 25th, 1902 in Akasaka Estate. [ref]
Died January 4th, 1953 at 50 years old in Fujisawa (tuberculosis). [ref]
Dick King-Smith
English writer of children's books (1922–2011).
Born March 27th, 1922 in Bitton.
Died January 4th, 2011 at 88 years old in Bath. [ref]
Joan Aiken
English writer (1924–2004).
Born September 4th, 1924 in Rye.
Died January 4th, 2004 at 79 years old in The Hermitage.
Deaths 26 to 50 of 274
That’s what literature is. It’s the people who went before us, tapping out messages from the past, from beyond the grave, trying to tell us about life and death! Listen to them! Connie Willis