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May 1st
235 Notable deaths
Joseph Goebbels
Nazi politician and propaganda minister (1897–1945).
Born October 29th, 1897 in Rheydt. [ref]
Died May 1st, 1945 at 47 years old in Führerbunker (cyanide poisoning, gunshot wound). [ref]
Ayrton Senna
Brazilian racing driver (1960-1994).
Born March 21st, 1960 in maternity hospital of São Paulo.
Died May 1st, 1994 at 34 years old in Imola Circuit, Ospedale Maggiore di Bologna (traumatic brain injury). [ref]
Gordon Lightfoot
Canadian singer-songwriter (1938–2023).
Born November 17th, 1938 in Orillia. [ref]
Died May 1st, 2023 at 84 years old in Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. [ref]
Elizabeth Ann Hulette
American professional wrestling manager, announcer and ocassional professional wrestler (1960–2003).
Born November 19th, 1960 in Frankfort.
Died May 1st, 2003 at 42 years old in Marietta (acute toxicity).
Olympia Dukakis
American actress (1931-2021).
Born June 20th, 1931 in Lowell.
Died May 1st, 2021 at 89 years old in Manhattan. [ref]
David Livingstone
Scottish missionary and explorer (1813-1873).
Born March 19th, 1813 in Blantyre. [ref]
Died May 1st, 1873 at 60 years old in Ilala Hill (malaria). [ref]
Antonín Dvořák
Czech composer (1841–1904).
Born September 8th, 1841 in Nelahozeves. [ref]
Died May 1st, 1904 at 62 years old in New Town (stroke). [ref]
Magda Goebbels
German politician (1901–1945).
Born November 11th, 1901 in Berlin.
Died May 1st, 1945 at 43 years old in Führerbunker (cyanide poisoning).
Ruth Buzzi
American actress, comedian, and singer.
Born July 24th, 1936 in Westerly.
Died May 1st, 2025 at 88 years old in Stephenville (Alzheimer's disease). [ref]
Evelyn McHale
Subject of iconic suicide photo (1923–1947).
Born September 20th, 1923 in Berkeley.
Died May 1st, 1947 at 23 years old in Manhattan (falling).
Steve Reeves
American bodybuilder and actor (1926–2000).
Born January 21st, 1926 in Glasgow.
Died May 1st, 2000 at 74 years old in Escondido (lymphoma).
Eldridge Cleaver
American activist (1935–1998).
Born August 31st, 1935 in Wabbaseka. [ref]
Died May 1st, 1998 at 62 years old in Los Angeles, Pomona (prostate cancer). [ref]
Grace Lee Whitney
American actress and entertainer (1930-2015).
Born April 1st, 1930 in Ann Arbor.
Died May 1st, 2015 at 85 years old in Coarsegold (disease).
Spike Jones
American musician and band leader (1911-1965).
Born December 14th, 1911 in Long Beach.
Died May 1st, 1965 at 53 years old in Beverly Hills (pulmonary emphysema).
Shoba
Indian actress (1962-1980).
Born September 23rd, 1962.
Died May 1st, 1980 at 17 years old in Chennai (hanging to death).
Aram Khachaturian
Soviet armenian composer (1903–1978).
Born June 6th, 1903 in Tbilisi, Kojori.
Died May 1st, 1978 at 74 years old in Moscow.
Princess Margaret of Connaught
British princess; crown princess of sweden as the first wife of king gustaf vi adolf (1882–1920).
Born January 15th, 1882 in Bagshot Park Mansion.
Died May 1st, 1920 at 38 years old in Stockholm (sepsis). [ref]
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar
Shah of qajar iran from 1848 to 1896.
Born July 16th, 1831 in Tabriz.
Died May 1st, 1896 at 64 years old in Tehran (gunshot wound, assassination).
Richard Tandy
British keyboardist (1948–2024).
Born March 26th, 1948 in Birmingham.
Died May 1st, 2024 at 76 years old in Albany. [ref]
Luana Patten
Actress (1938-1996).
Born July 6th, 1938 in Long Beach.
Died May 1st, 1996 at 57 years old in Long Beach (respiratory failure).
John Morrissey
American boxer and politician (1831-1878).
Born February 12th, 1831 in Templemore.
Died May 1st, 1878 at 47 years old in Troy.
Jill Sobule
American singer-songwriter.
Born January 16th, 1959 in Denver. [ref]
Died May 1st, 2025 at 66 years old in Woodbury (structure fire). [ref]
Lothrop Stoddard
American white-supremacist historian, political scientist, journalist (1883–1950).
Born June 29th, 1883 in Brookline.
Died May 1st, 1950 at 66 years old in Washington, D.C. (cancer).
Deaths 1 to 25 of 235
Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities. George R.R. Martin