May 17th
217 Notable deaths
Donna Summer
American singer (1948–2012).
Born December 31st, 1948 in Boston.
Died May 17th, 2012 at 63 years old in Naples (lung cancer). [ref]
Vangelis
Greek composer (1943-2022).
Born March 29th, 1943 in Agria. [ref]
Died May 17th, 2022 at 79 years old in 15th arrondissement of Paris. [ref]
Tony Randall
American actor (1920-2004).
Born February 26th, 1920 in Tulsa.
Died May 17th, 2004 at 84 years old in New York City (pneumonia).
Lawrence Welk
American musician, bandleader, and impresario (1903–1992).
Born March 11th, 1903 in Strasburg.
Died May 17th, 1992 at 89 years old in Santa Monica (pneumonia).
Shad Gaspard
American professional wrestler, actor and basketball player (1981-2020).
Born January 13th, 1981 in Brooklyn.
Died May 17th, 2020 at 39 years old in Venice (drowning). [ref]
John C. Breckinridge
Vice president of the united states from 1857 to 1861 (1821–1875).
Born January 16th, 1821 in Lexington.
Died May 17th, 1875 at 54 years old in Lexington (liver cirrhosis).
Frank Gorshin
American actor and comedian (1933-2005).
Born April 5th, 1933 in Pittsburgh.
Died May 17th, 2005 at 72 years old in Burbank (lung cancer).
Felix Steiner
German ss commander ; affiant in pohl trial (nmt 4).
Born May 23rd, 1896 in Nesterov.
Died May 17th, 1966 at 69 years old in Munich.
Jorge Rafael Videla
Argentine dictator (1925–2013).
Born August 2nd, 1925 in Mercedes.
Died May 17th, 2013 at 87 years old in Marcos Paz, Buenos Aires (cardiac arrest).
Guy Clark
American folk and country singer-songwriter (1941–2016).
Born November 6th, 1941 in Monahans.
Died May 17th, 2016 at 74 years old in Nashville (lymphoma). [ref]
Donyale Luna
American model and actress (1945-1979).
Born August 31st, 1945 in Detroit.
Died May 17th, 1979 at 33 years old in Rome (drug overdose).
Harmon Killebrew
Professional baseball player (1936-2011).
Born June 29th, 1936 in Payette.
Died May 17th, 2011 at 74 years old in Scottsdale (esophageal cancer). [ref]
Herman Wouk
American writer (1915-2019).
Born May 27th, 1915 in The Bronx.
Died May 17th, 2019 at 103 years old in Palm Springs. [ref]
John Deere
American blacksmith and manufacturer (1804–1886).
Born February 7th, 1804 in Rutland.
Died May 17th, 1886 at 82 years old in Moline.
Superstar Billy Graham
American wrestler (1943–2023).
Born June 7th, 1943 in Phoenix.
Died May 17th, 2023 at 79 years old in Phoenix (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome). [ref]
Henry Jones
American actor of stage, film and television (1912-1999).
Born August 1st, 1912 in New Jersey.
Died May 17th, 1999 at 86 years old in Los Angeles (falling from height).
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
American musician (1935–1996).
Born February 3rd, 1935 in Houston.
Died May 17th, 1996 at 61 years old in Yokohama (myocardial infarction).
Prakash Mehra
Film producer and director (1939–2009).
Born July 13th, 1939 in Bijnor.
Died May 17th, 2009 at 69 years old in Mumbai (pneumonia). [ref]
Gunnar Myrdal
Swedish economist (1898–1987).
Born December 6th, 1898 in Skattunge Parish.
Died May 17th, 1987 at 88 years old in Danderyd.
László Kubala
Hungarian footballer (1927–2002).
Born June 10th, 1927 in Budapest.
Died May 17th, 2002 at 74 years old in Barcelona.
Lloyd Alexander
American children's writer (1924-2007).
Born January 30th, 1924 in Philadelphia.
Died May 17th, 2007 at 83 years old in Drexel Hill (cancer). [ref]
Kondō Isami
Japanese swordsman (1834–1868).
Born November 9th, 1834 in Kamiishiwara.
Died May 17th, 1868 at 33 years old in Itabashi execution grounds (decapitation).
Bud Anderson
American world war ii flying ace (1922–2024).
Born January 13th, 1922 in Oakland.
Died May 17th, 2024 at 102 years old in Auburn. [ref]
Empress Teimei
Japanese empress consort (1884–1951).
Born June 25th, 1884 in Nishikichō.
Died May 17th, 1951 at 66 years old in Akasaka Estate (angina pectoris).
Mario Benedetti
Uruguayan journalist, novelist, and poet (1920-2009).
Born September 14th, 1920 in Paso de los Toros.
Died May 17th, 2009 at 88 years old in Montevideo (asthma).
Deaths 1 to 25 of 217
Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace. Oscar Wilde