The list of famous people who died at 48 includes Whitney Houston, Al Capone, Subhas Chandra Bose, Charles I of England, Joseph McCarthy. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, emperors & kings, poets and actors and from other domains of life. This list of celebrities who died at 48 includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & India and many more countries.
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Birthdate: August 9, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died: February 11, 2012
Amongst the best-selling recording artists of all time and an inspiration to millions of budding artists, Whitney Houston achieved stardom with her eponymous debut album. The success of her later albums consolidated her position and earned her a spot in the Guinness World Records as the most awarded female artist of all time. She struggled with drug abuse and troubled marriage and died of drowning in her hotel's bathtub.
2
Curly Howard(Comedian, Actor and Member of the Comedy Trio ‘The Three Stooges’)
Birthdate: October 22, 1903
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bensonhurst, New York, United States
Died: January 18, 1952
Born Jerome Lester Horwitz and nick named Curly by his brothers, Curly Howard is an American vaudevillian actor who was known for his comic skills, childlike mannerism and exaggerated walk. His performance as a member of The Three Stooges was particularly popular among children in 1930s and early 1940s. He was forced to retire early from his career because of stroke.
Birthdate: October 27, 1967
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States
Died: December 3, 2015
Scott Weiland was an American singer and songwriter. He is credited with co-creating the popular rock band Stone Temple Pilots where he served as the lead singer. He was also part of two supergroups, namely Velvet Revolver and Art of Anarchy. Known for his chaotic and flamboyant onstage persona, Weiland is widely viewed as a versatile vocalist.
4
James Maxwell(Scottish Mathematician and Scientist Who Gave the Classical Theory of Electromagnetic Radiation)
Birthdate: June 13, 1831
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: November 5, 1879
Scottish physicist James Maxwell’s contributions included the formulation of the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation and the production of the first light-fast color photograph. His Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution explored the kinetic theory of gases. He has also written poems and was an Elder of the Church of Scotland.
Birthdate: January 6, 1883
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bsharri, Lebanon
Died: April 10, 1931
Lebanese author and poet Khalil Gibran is best remembered for his bestselling works The Prophet and Broken Wings. One of the leaders of the Mahjar movement of Arabic literature, he specialized in incorporating mythological and mystical symbols in his works and was inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche and William Blake.
6
Ahmad Shah Massoud(Afghan Political Leader and Guerilla Commander Who Served as Minister of Defense of Afghanistan from 1992 to 2001)
Birthdate: September 2, 1953
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bazarak, Afghanistan
Died: September 9, 2001
Ahmad Shah Massoud was an Afghan military commander and politician. From 1979 to 1989, he played an important role in the Soviet-Afghan War, where he served as a powerful guerrilla commander. He was nicknamed Lion of Panjshir for his role in the war. Massoud was assassinated by Al-Qaeda in 2001. His death anniversary is observed as a national holiday in Afghanistan.
Birthdate: January 23, 1897
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cuttack, India
Died: August 18, 1945
An Indian nationalist known for his role in the country’s struggle for freedom from the British, Subhas Chandra Bose was a politician with radical views. He was part of the Indian National Congress in the late 1920s and 1930s. However, his association with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan made him a controversial figure.
8
Harvey Milk(American Politician and First Openly Gay Man to be Elected to a Public Office in California)
Birthdate: May 22, 1930
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Woodmere, New York, United States
Died: November 27, 1978
LGBT rights activist Harvey Milk became California’s first openly gay elected official when he became a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978. Milk and San Francisco mayor George Moscone were later assassinated by politician Dan White. Milk's story later inspired the 2008 biopic Milk.
9
Shirley Jackson(American Writer Known Primarily for Her Works of Horror and Mystery)
Birthdate: December 14, 1916
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: September 8, 1965
Shirley Jackson redefined the genres of horror and mystery through her works, which include over 200 short stories and six novels. Her iconic novel The Haunting of Hill House was made into a popular Netflix series and several movies, including the 1963 and 1999 versions of The Haunting.
10
Marty Feldman(Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter, Poet)
Birthdate: July 8, 1934
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London
Died: December 2, 1982
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
11
Graham Chapman(British Actor, Writer and Member of the Surreal Comedy Group ‘Monty Python’)
Birthdate: January 8, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Leicester, England, United Kingdom
Died: October 4, 1989
Graham Chapman was an English comedian, author, actor, and writer. An important member of the popular comedy group Monty Python, Chapman was also a patron of the Dangerous Sports Club. An openly gay comedian, Chapman supported gay rights throughout his life. In September 2012, a blue plaque was unveiled at The Angel pub in North London to commemorate Graham Chapman.
12
Scott Joplin(American Composer and Pianist Known as the ‘King of Ragtime’)
Birthdate: November 24, 1868
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Texarkana, Texas, United States
Died: April 1, 1917
Composer and pianist Scott Joplin, or the King of Ragtime, had written more than 100 original ragtime pieces. His most iconic piece was the Maple Leaf Rag. He had also written two operas, including Treemonisha. He was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize. The film The Sting featured his compositions.
Birthdate: November 19, 1600
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dunfermline Palace, Dunfermline, Scotland
Died: January 30, 1649
Charles I, the King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1625 to 1649, was said to be authoritarian and was in constant battle with the Parliament over the issue of royal prerogative. The friction led to a civil war from 1642 to 1645 between him and the English and Scottish Parliaments. He was defeated and executed in 1649 for treason.
14
David Janssen(Best Known for His Role as ‘Richard Kimble’ in the TV Series ‘The Fugitive’)
Birthdate: March 27, 1931
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Naponee, Nebraska, United States
Died: February 13, 1980
David Janssen is best known for his portrayal of Richard Kimble in the series The Fugitive. He also played titular roles in Richard Diamond, Private Detective; O'Hara, U.S. Treasury; and Harry O. He made it to TV Guide’s list of the 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
15
Tom Fogerty(Singer, Guitarist)
Birthdate: November 9, 1941
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Berkeley
Died: September 6, 1990
Birthdate: January 11, 0347
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Coca, Segovia, Spain
Died: January 17, 0395
Theodosius I, or Theodosius the Great, ruled as the Roman emperor from 379 to 395. He made Christianity the state religion of his empire and constructed architectural marvels, such as the Column of Theodosius, the Golden Gate, and the Theodosian Walls, in Constantinople. He ended conflicts with the Goths and barred pagan rituals in the Olympics.
Birthdate: November 8, 1900
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Died: August 16, 1949
Birthdate: March 13, 1741
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: February 20, 1790
Joseph II reigned as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1765, and as the sole ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780, until 1790. Son of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, and brother of Marie Antoinette, he laid down policies now known as Josephinism. He died without heirs.
19
Maureen Starkey Tigrett(English Hairdresser)
Birthdate: August 4, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Liverpool, United Kingdom
Died: December 30, 1994
Birthdate: October 13, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Faisalabad
Died: August 16, 1997
Pakistani Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, also known as the "Shahenshah-e-Qawwali," belonged to the Patiala “gharana” of classical music. He revolutionized Qawwali, even collaborating with Western artists and composing for Hollywood movies such as Dead Man Walking and The Last Temptation of Christ, and many Hindi movies, too.
Birthdate: December 6, 1924
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: February 15, 1973
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Birthdate: March 14, 1923
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: July 26, 1971
Birthdate: July 4, 1546
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Manisa, Turkey
Died: December 31, 1595
Murad III, son of Şehzade Selim and Nurbanu Sultan, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 to 1595. He was dominated by his mother and his harem, particularly by his favorite wife, Safiye Sultan. He also fought wars with the Safavid Empire and was an art connoisseur.
Birthdate: June 1, 1831
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Owingsville, Kentucky, United States
Died: August 30, 1879
25
Wendy O. Williams(Singer)
Birthdate: May 28, 1949
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Webster, New York, United States
Died: April 6, 1998
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
26
Alice Pearce(Actress)
Birthdate: October 16, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: March 3, 1966
27
Constantine XI Palaiologos(The Last Byzantine Ruler Who Died Defending Constantinople against the Turks)
Birthdate: February 8, 1405
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Istanbul, Turkey
Died: May 29, 1453
The fourth son of Emperor Manuel II, Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last Byzantine emperor. He died in combat, while defending the city of Constantinople against the Ottoman Turks. In Greek folklore, he is known as the Marble Emperor, referring to a legend that he had turned into marble after his death.
Birthdate: June 13, 0839
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Donaueschingen, Germany
Died: January 13, 0888
Charles the Fat reigned as the emperor of the Carolingian Empire between 881 and 887. During the same time period, he also served as the king of West Francia and Aquitaine, king of Italy, and king of East Francia and Alemannia. Although he was considered lethargic, Charles managed to reunite the entire Carolingian Empire after inheriting all of West Francia.
29
Mikhail Bulgakov(Novelist and Playwright Best Known for His Novel 'The Master and Margarita')
Birthdate: May 15, 1891
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kyiv, Ukraine
Died: March 10, 1940
Mikhail Bulgakov was a Russian writer, playwright, and medical doctor best remembered for his work The Master and Margarita, a novel which has been acclaimed as one of the 20th century's masterpieces. Over the years, his works have inspired several other personalities, including Salman Rushdie and Mick Jagger.
30
Anthony Mason(Basketball Player)
Birthdate: December 14, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, United States
Died: February 28, 2015
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
Birthdate: November 30, 1924
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago
Died: November 20, 1973
Birthdate: May 7, 1930
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Died: August 2, 1978
Height: 4'10" (147 cm)
33
Yvette Wilson(Comedian and Actress Known for Her Role as ‘Andell Wilkerson’ in the UPN Sitcoms ‘Moesha’)
Birthdate: March 6, 1964
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: June 14, 2012
Yvette Wilson is best known as Andell Wilkerson from the sitcom Moesha and as Andell Wilkerson from its spin-off, The Parkers. She has also appeared in films such as House Party 3 and in series such as Def Comedy Jam. She suffered from kidney issues and died of cervical cancer.
34
Cortez Kennedy(American football player)
Birthdate: August 23, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Osceola, Arkansas, United States
Died: May 23, 2017
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
35
Stanley Baker(Welsh Actor, Producer and One of the Top British Film Actors of the Late 1950s)
Birthdate: February 28, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ferndale, Glamorgan, Wales
Died: June 28, 1976
Stanley Baker was a Welsh actor whose rugged appearance and intense screen persona earned him popularity during the late 1950s and early 1960s. His portrayal of Captain Langford in the 1959 war film Yesterday's Enemy earned him a nomination at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He received an honorary title of knighthood in 1976.
36
Theodora(Empress Consort of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 548)
Birthdate: 0500 AD
Birthplace: Paphlagonia
Died: June 28, 0548
Theodora was an Eastern Roman empress who was married to Emperor Justinian. She was one of Justinian's chief advisers; she had a strong influence on Justinian. A saint in the Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, Theodora is commemorated on 28 June. Over the years, she has been the subject of several books, films, and video games.
Birthdate: July 10, 1640
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Canterbury, England
Died: April 16, 1689
38
Peter Steele(Singer and bassist for the goth and metal band Type O Negative)
Birthdate: January 4, 1962
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: April 14, 2010
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
39
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa(German Polymath and Occult Writer Known for His Book 'Three Books of Occult Philosophy')
Birthdate: September 14, 1486
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cologne, Germany
Died: February 18, 1535
Sixteenth-century German scholar Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was known for his expertise in philosophy and the occult. He also taught at the universities of Pavia and Dôle. His De occulta philosophia suggested magic as a way to reach God. He was eventually branded a heretic and imprisoned.
40
Francesco Quinn(Former Actor best known for his breakout role as Rhah in Oliver Stone’s Academy Award-winning Platoon (1986))
Birthdate: March 22, 1963
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: August 5, 2011
41
Wayne Static(Musician)
Birthdate: November 4, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Muskegon, Michigan, USA
Died: November 1, 2014
42
Roy Buchanan(Musician, Guitarist)
Birthdate: September 23, 1939
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ozark
Died: August 14, 1988
43
Ilan Ramon(Fighter pilot)
Birthdate: June 20, 1954
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ramat Gan, Israel
Died: February 1, 2003
44
Jonathan Crombie(Canadian Voice Over Artist and Actor)
Birthdate: October 12, 1966
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died: April 15, 2015
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
45
Blind Willie Johnson(Former gospel blues singer, guitarist and evangelist)
Birthdate: January 25, 1897
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pendleton, Texas, United States
Died: September 18, 1945
Birthdate: July 15, 1892
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: September 26, 1940
Walter Benjamin was a German Jewish essayist, philosopher, and cultural critic. An eclectic thinker, Benjamin made significant contributions to literary criticism, aesthetic theory, and historical materialism. Although Benjamin's work did not earn much recognition during his lifetime, it continues to be revered by academics several years after his death.
47
Saint Margaret of Scotland(Queen Consort of Scotland (1070 - 1093), Famous as 'The Pearl of Scotland')
Birthdate: 1045 AD
Birthplace: Hungary
Died: November 16, 1093
Saint Margaret of Scotland, the Queen consort of Scotland, was a devout Christian reputed for her compassion for the poor of Scotland, for her charitable works and for promoting the interests of the church. She died shortly after receiving news of her husband, King of Scotland Malcolm III’s death in a battle. She was later canonized by Pope Innocent IV.
Birthdate: 1217 AD
Birthplace: Mongolia
Died: February 8, 1265
When Mangu Khan ordered Hulagu Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, to expand the Mongol empire, Hulagu didn’t disappoint him. After capturing north central Iran, he killed Al-Musta'sim, destroyed Baghdad, and conquered Syria, but was subdued by the Egyptians. Surprisingly, it is believed he had converted to Buddhism before death.
49
Anna Politkovskaya(Russian Journalist and Human Rights Activist)
Birthdate: August 30, 1958
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: October 7, 2006
Anna Politkovskaya was a Russian writer, journalist, and human rights activist. She is best remembered for reporting theSecond Chechen War. In spite of various acts of intimidation and violence, Politkovskaya never gave up reporting on the war. Her efforts and work earned her several international awards, such as the IWMF Courage in Journalism Award. Politkovskaya was murdered in 2006.
50
Otto Lilienthal(German Aeronautical Engineer Who Completed Successful Glider Flights for the First Time)
Birthdate: May 23, 1848
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Anklam, Germany
Died: August 10, 1896
German aeronautical engineer Otto Lilienthal became the first known person to use gliders for a successful flight. A mechanical engineer, he owned a shop and flight factory and developed gliders, with which he completed around 2,000 flights. Lilienthal, however, died after breaking his back in a glider crash.
