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May 15th
240 Notable deaths
Theodore H. White
American historian and author (1915–1986).
Born May 6th, 1915 in Dorchester.
Died May 15th, 1986 at 71 years old in New York City.
John Shepherd-Barron
British inventor (1925-2010).
Born June 23rd, 1925 in Shillong.
Died May 15th, 2010 at 84 years old in Inverness. [ref]
Bobby Diamond
American actor (1943-2019).
Born August 23rd, 1943 in Los Angeles.
Died May 15th, 2019 at 75 years old in Thousand Oaks (cancer). [ref]
Alexander Courage
American orchestrator, arranger, and composer of music, primary for television and film (1919-2008).
Born December 10th, 1919 in Philadelphia.
Died May 15th, 2008 at 88 years old in Pacific Palisades. [ref]
Archduke Rudolf of Austria
Austrian imperial and royal (1919–2010).
Born September 5th, 1919 in Prangins.
Died May 15th, 2010 at 90 years old in Brussels.
Robert Maynard Hutchins
American philosopher and university president (1899–1977).
Born January 17th, 1899 in Brooklyn.
Died May 15th, 1977 at 78 years old in Santa Barbara. [ref]
William Empson
English literary critic and poet (1906–1984).
Born September 27th, 1906 in Kingston upon Hull.
Died May 15th, 1984 at 77 years old in London.
David Belasco
American theatrical producer, impresario, director and playwright (1853-1931).
Born July 25th, 1859 in San Francisco.
Died May 15th, 1931 at 71 years old in New York City.
Philip Snowden, 1st Viscount Snowden
British politician (1864–1937).
Born July 18th, 1864 in Cowling.
Died May 15th, 1937 at 72 years old in Tilford.
Ezio Bosso
Italian composer, pianist and conductor (1971–2020).
Born September 13th, 1971 in Turin.
Died May 15th, 2020 at 48 years old in Bologna (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). [ref]
Johnny Green
American conductor, arranger, composer, pianist (1908-1989).
Born October 10th, 1908 in Far Rockaway.
Died May 15th, 1989 at 80 years old in Beverly Hills.
Guy Simonds
Canadian general (1903–1974).
Born April 23rd, 1903 in Ixworth.
Died May 15th, 1974 at 71 years old in Toronto.
Gottfried Semper
German architect (1803–1879).
Born November 29th, 1803 in Hamburg.
Died May 15th, 1879 at 75 years old in Rome.
Jean Craighead George
American novelist and nature writer (1919–2012).
Born July 2nd, 1919 in Washington, D.C..
Died May 15th, 2012 at 92 years old in Valhalla, Westchester Medical Center (stroke). [ref]
Phil May
British singer (1944-2020).
Born November 9th, 1944 in Dartford.
Died May 15th, 2020 at 75 years old in King's Lynn (surgical complications). [ref]
Bobby Murdoch
Scottish football player (1944–2001).
Born August 17th, 1944 in Rutherglen.
Died May 15th, 2001 at 56 years old in Glasgow (stroke).
Leslie Ward
British cartoonist (1851-1922).
Born November 21st, 1851 in London.
Died May 15th, 1922 at 70 years old in London.
Willis Lamb
American physicist (1913–2008).
Born July 12th, 1913 in Los Angeles.
Died May 15th, 2008 at 94 years old in Tucson.
Edmund Phelps
American economist.
Born July 26th, 1933 in Evanston.
Died May 15th, 2026 at 92 years old in New York City. [ref]
Oleg Vidov
Soviet/american actor (1943-2017).
Born June 11th, 1943 in Filimonki.
Died May 15th, 2017 at 73 years old in Westlake Village (multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer). [ref]
Linden Chiles
American actor (1933-2013).
Born March 22nd, 1933 in St. Louis.
Died May 15th, 2013 at 80 years old in Topanga (falling from height). [ref]
Besian Idrizaj
Austrian association football player (1987–2010).
Born October 12th, 1987 in Baden.
Died May 15th, 2010 at 22 years old in Linz (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Cao Kun
Chinese general and warlord (1862–1938).
Born December 12th, 1862 in Tianjin.
Died May 15th, 1938 at 75 years old in Tianjin.
Cadwallader C. Washburn
General mills founder and politician (1818–1882).
Born April 22nd, 1818 in Livermore.
Died May 15th, 1882 at 64 years old in Eureka Springs.
Deaths 51 to 75 of 240
Losing is discovering, which is living. Maxime Lagacé