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May 12th
238 Notable deaths
Keith Relf
British pop musician, singer for the yardbirds (1943–1976).
Born March 22nd, 1943 in Richmond.
Died May 12th, 1976 at 33 years old in London (electrocution).
Alfonso de Portago
Racecar driver (1928-1957).
Born October 11th, 1928 in London.
Died May 12th, 1957 at 28 years old in Guidizzolo (traffic collision).
Kalpana (Kannada actress)
Indian actress.
Born July 8th, 1943 in South Canara District.
Died May 12th, 1979 at 35 years old in Gotur, Belgaum.
Nelly Sachs
Jewish german poet and playwright (1891-1970).
Born December 10th, 1891 in Schöneberg. [ref]
Died May 12th, 1970 at 78 years old in Högalid Parish (intestinal cancer). [ref]
Harold Lowe
British sailor (1882-1944).
Born November 21st, 1882 in Llanrhos.
Died May 12th, 1944 at 61 years old in Deganwy.
Louis Calhern
American stage and screen actor (1895-1956).
Born February 19th, 1895 in Brooklyn.
Died May 12th, 1956 at 61 years old in Tokyo (myocardial infarction).
Bette Nesmith Graham
Inventor, businesswoman (1924–1980).
Born March 23rd, 1924 in Dallas.
Died May 12th, 1980 at 56 years old in Richardson (stroke). [ref]
John Masefield
English poet and writer (1878–1967).
Born June 1st, 1878 in Ledbury.
Died May 12th, 1967 at 88 years old in Abingdon-on-Thames.
Lillian Roth
American actress, singer (1910-1980).
Born December 13th, 1910 in Boston.
Died May 12th, 1980 at 69 years old in New York City (cerebral hemorrhage).
Joris-Karl Huysmans
French novelist and art critic (1848–1907).
Born February 5th, 1848 in Paris.
Died May 12th, 1907 at 59 years old in Paris (lip and oral cavity carcinoma).
Kenneth Waltz
American political scientist and international relations theoretician (1924-2013).
Born June 8th, 1924 in Ann Arbor.
Died May 12th, 2013 at 88 years old in Washington, D.C. (pneumonia).
Tor Johnson
Swedish professional wrestler and actor (1902-1971).
Born October 19th, 1903 in Brännkyrka parish.
Died May 12th, 1971 at 67 years old in San Fernando (heart failure).
Mark Damon
American film actor and producer (1933-2024).
Born April 22nd, 1933 in Chicago.
Died May 12th, 2024 at 91 years old in Los Angeles. [ref]
Michel Piccoli
French actor (1925–2020).
Born December 27th, 1925 in Paris, 13th arrondissement of Paris.
Died May 12th, 2020 at 94 years old in Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle (stroke). [ref]
Jean Dubuffet
French artist (1901–1985).
Born July 31st, 1901 in Le Havre.
Died May 12th, 1985 at 83 years old in 6th arrondissement of Paris.
Julius La Rosa
Italian-american traditional popular music singer.
Born January 2nd, 1930 in Brooklyn.
Died May 12th, 2016 at 86 years old in Crivitz (disease). [ref]
Martin Lings
English writer and scholar (1909-2005).
Born January 24th, 1909 in Burnage.
Died May 12th, 2005 at 96 years old in Westerham.
Eugène Ysaÿe
Belgian violinist, composer and conductor.
Born July 16th, 1858 in Liège.
Died May 12th, 1931 at 72 years old in Brussels (diabetes).
Władysław Anders
Polish army general (1892–1970).
Born August 11th, 1892 in Błonie.
Died May 12th, 1970 at 77 years old in London.
Mia Martini
Italian singer (1947–1995).
Born September 20th, 1947 in Bagnara Calabra.
Died May 12th, 1995 at 47 years old in Cardano al Campo (heart failure).
Benjamin Sheares
2nd president of singapore (1907–1981).
Born August 12th, 1907 in Singapore.
Died May 12th, 1981 at 73 years old in Singapore (disease).
Didi
Brazilian footballer (1928-2001).
Born October 8th, 1929 in Campos dos Goytacazes. [ref]
Died May 12th, 2001 at 71 years old in Rio de Janeiro (infectious disease).
Saul Steinberg
Romanian-american cartoonist (1914-1999).
Born June 15th, 1914 in Râmnicu Sărat.
Died May 12th, 1999 at 84 years old in Manhattan.
Seán Mac Diarmada
Irish revolutionary (1883-1916).
Born February 28th, 1883 in Kiltyclogher.
Died May 12th, 1916 at 33 years old in Kilmainham Gaol (gunshot wound).
Amy Lowell
Us writer (1874-1925).
Born February 9th, 1874 in Brookline.
Died May 12th, 1925 at 51 years old in Brookline (cerebral hemorrhage).
Deaths 26 to 50 of 238
Do not fear death so much but rather the inadequate life. Bertolt Brecht