Discover the most famous people who died on January 2. The list includes people like Lillian Moller Gilbreth, Pontormo, Nancy Kelly, Alexander Bain, Elmo Zumwalt. Famous personalities featured on this list, include psychologists, political leaders, philosophers and diplomats and from other domains of life. This list includes people from United States, Germany, Italy & United Kingdom and many more countries.
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Birthdate: March 26, 1881
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Florence
Died: 1953
Son of an Italian leather-goods maker, Guccio Gucci was initially reluctant to join his family business and worked in hotels instead. Changing his mind later, he opened the first Gucci shop in Florence in 1921. The year of his death, 1953, saw the opening of the first Gucci store abroad.
Birthdate: January 21, 1918
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New Holland, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: 2011
Richard Winters is best remembered for his act of parachuting into Normandy on D-Day. He was recalled to the army from the inactive list during the Korean War. Following his retirement, he started selling Hershey Company by-products to animal-feed manufacturers and also taught at the U.S. Military Academy.
3
Alan Hale Jr.(Actor)
Birthdate: March 8, 1921
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: 1990
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
4
Pete Postlethwaite(English Actor)
Birthdate: February 7, 1946
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Warrington, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Died: 2011
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
5
Anne Francis(Best Known for Roles in the Film ‘Forbidden Planet, and TV Series ‘Honey West’)
Birthdate: September 16, 1930
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ossining, New York, United States
Died: 2011
Anne Francis is best remembered as her Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated titular role in the series Honey West, which was the first series with a woman detective’s name as its title. A Broadway performer since the age of 11, Francis also gained fame with the sci-fi film Forbidden Planet.
Birthdate: November 14, 1904
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mountain View, Arkansas, United States
Died: 1963
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
7
Bob Einstein(Actor)
Birthdate: November 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: 2019
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
8
Gene Okerlund(Professional Wrestling Interviewer)
Birthdate: December 29, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Brookings, South Dakota, United States
Died: 2019
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
9
Tex Ritter(Singer)
Birthdate: January 12, 1905
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Murvaul, Texas, USA
Died: 1974
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
10
Daryl Dragon(Musician, Songwriter)
Birthdate: August 27, 1942
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: 2019
11
Ken Block(Rally Driver)
Birthdate: November 21, 1967
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
Died: 2023
Hoonigan Racing driver Ken Block has had many accomplishments throughout his career, including 16 Rally American wins. He also has 5 X Games medals in his kitty. His globally hit YouTube videos of the Gymkhana series drew over 500 million views. His interests also include sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding.
Birthdate: January 8, 1821
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Edgefield, South Carolina, United States
Died: 1904
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
13
Jack Carson(Actor)
Birthdate: October 27, 1910
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Carman, Manitoba, Canada
Died: 1963
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Birthdate: April 2, 1925
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tooting, London, England
Died: 2008
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Birthdate: October 6, 1919
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bardhere, Italian Somalia
Died: 1995
Somali military general Siad Barre became the country’s president after overthrowing the existing republic in 1969. His dictatorial rule witnessed the imposition of “Scientific Socialism” and a new Roman alphabet. He was forced into exile in Nigeria after a rebellion ousted him from power and launched a civil war.
16
Paul Westphal(Basketball player & Coach)
Birthdate: November 30, 1950
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Torrance, California, United States
Died: 2021
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
17
Elmo Zumwalt(Naval Officer)
Birthdate: November 29, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: 2000
18
Patrick O'Brian(Novelist)
Birthdate: December 12, 1914
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, England
Died: 2000
19
Richard Leakey(Kenyan Paleoanthropologist and Chairman of the ‘Kenya Wildlife Service’)
Birthdate: December 19, 1944
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya
Died: 2022
Born to anthropologist parents, Richard Leakey initially worked as a safari guide. On an expedition to Ethiopia, he and his men stumbled upon Koobi Fora, a site where they unearthed numerous tools and fossils. The Kenyan paleoanthropologist later lost his legs in a plane crash and now uses artificial limbs.
20
Jimmy Dickens(Singer)
Birthdate: December 19, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bolt, West Virginia, United States
Died: 2015
Height: 4'11" (150 cm)
21
Sam Wyche(American football player)
Birthdate: January 5, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Died: 2020
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
22
Marguerite Alibert(French Socialite Who Became a Royal Courtesan)
Birthdate: December 9, 1890
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: 1971
Born to working-class parents, Marguerite Alibert initially sang at local bars and worked as a prostitute. She later became Prince Edward’s (later King Edward VIII of the UK) courtesan. She shot her second husband, Ali Fahmy, to death at Savoy Hotel but got away by showcasing herself as a victim of brutality.
23
Emil Jannings(German Actor Who was the First Recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor)
Birthdate: July 23, 1884
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rorschach, Switzerland
Died: 1950
Emil Jannings was a German actor who became the first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor. He was born in Switzerland but moved to Germany as a young child. He began his career as a theater actor and enjoyed tremendous success. He later ventured into films and became a popular figure in Hollywood in the 1920s.
Birthdate: May 24, 1878
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Died: 1972
25
Bill Veeck(Businessman)
Birthdate: February 9, 1914
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Illinois, United States
Died: 1986
Birthdate: March 25, 1921
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
Died: 1995
Birthdate: November 5, 1926
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England
Died: 2017
28
Nat Adderley(Jazz Trumpeter)
Birthdate: November 25, 1931
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Died: 2000
29
Erroll Garner(pianist, composer, jazz musician)
Birthdate: June 15, 1921
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pittsburgh
Died: 1977
30
John Baldessari(American Conceptual Artist Known for Found Photography and Appropriated Images)
Birthdate: June 7, 1931
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: National City, California, United States
Died: 2020
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)
31
Pontormo(Italian Mannerist Painter and Portraitist)
Birthdate: May 24, 1494
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Empoli, Italy
Died: 1557
Pontormo was an Italian Mannerist painter and portraitist from the Florentine School. His style was remarkably different from what characterized the art of the Florentine Renaissance. Orphaned young, he struggled for several years before he was able to establish his painting career. He painted many altarpiece canvases and frescoes, of which only a few survive today.
Birthdate: October 1, 1811
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Watten
Died: 1877
Scottish philosopher Alexander Bain had quit school at 11 to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a weaver. He had initially been a civil servant and had also taught English literature and logic. He later deviated too psychology and launched the first journal on the subject, Mind.
33
Montgomery C. Meigs(United States Army Officer and Civil Engineer)
Birthdate: May 3, 1816
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Augusta, Georgia, United States
Died: 1892
Montgomery C. Meigs was an American civil engineer and US Army officer who played an important role during and after the Civil War, serving as Quartermaster General of the US Army. His work as Quartermaster General is widely regarded as an important factor in the Union victory in the Civil War. Meigs is also credited with masterminding Arlington National Cemetery.
34
George Biddell Airy(British Mathematician and Astronomer)
Birthdate: July 27, 1801
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Alnwick, Northumberland, England
Died: 1892
English astronomer George Biddell Airy is best known for locating Greenwich as the prime meridian. He was ripped apart by critics for allegedly failing to help British astronomer John Couch Adams to discover Neptune. The Astronomer Royal was also the first to cure astigmatism by using cylindrical lenses.
35
Thomas S. Monson(16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Birthdate: August 21, 1927
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Died: 2018
Thomas S. Monson was an American author and religious leader who served as the president of the Mormon Church from 2008 to 2018. Many adherents of the religion considered him to be a prophet, especially during his presidency. During his career, Monson received several honors, including the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
36
Bertram Home Ramsay(Navy officer)
Birthdate: January 20, 1883
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hampton Court or London, England
Died: 1945
37
Galyani Vadhana(Princess)
Birthdate: May 6, 1923
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England
Died: 2008
38
Jay Traynor(Singer)
Birthdate: March 30, 1943
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: 2014
39
Frank Muir(British Comedy Writer, Radio and Television Personality, and Raconteur)
Birthdate: February 5, 1920
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ramsgate, England
Died: 1998
Veteran comedy writer and broadcast personality Frank Muir is best remembered for co-writing Take It from Here for BBC Radio and for appearing on the radio quiz My Word! with Denis Norden. His memoir, A Kentish Lad, mentioned that he had one of testicles removed for a medical condition.
40
Efua Sutherland(Playwright)
Birthdate: June 27, 1924
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cape Coast, Ghana
Died: 1996
41
Travis Hirschi(Sociologist)
Birthdate: April 15, 1935
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rockville, Utah, United States
Died: 2017
42
Joao Manuel, Prince of Portugal(King)
Birthdate: June 3, 1537
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Royal Palace of Évora, Evora, Portugal
Died: 1554
43
Gerda Lerner(Historian)
Birthdate: April 30, 1920
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: 2013
44
Teddy Kollek(Politician)
Birthdate: May 27, 1911
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Nagyvázsony, Hungary
Died: 2007
45
Cyril Fletcher(Comedian)
Birthdate: June 25, 1913
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Watford, Hertfordshire, England
Died: 2005
46
Zhang Xianzhong(Chinese Emperor Who Ruled the Xi Dynasty From 1644 to 1646)
Birthdate: September 18, 1606
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Dingbian, China
Died: 1647
Zhang Xianzhong reigned as the Emperor of the Xi dynasty from 1644 to 1646. He is best remembered for his role in the massacres that depopulated Sichuan during the 1640s. Zhang Xianzhong was killed in 1647 by the invading Qing army.
47
John Of Kronshtadt(Saint)
Birthdate: October 31, 1829
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Pinezhsky District, Russia
Died: 1909
48
Jimmy Zambo(Singer)
Birthdate: January 20, 1958
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: 2001
Imre Zámbó, better known as Jimmy Zámbó, was one of the best-selling pop artists of Hungary. Nicknamed The King, began his career with the State Radio Children's Choir and then performed in various US clubs, eventually running his own show. He died when he accidentally shot himself in the head.
49
Jean Vuarnet(French Alpine Ski Racer)
Birthdate: January 18, 1933
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Le Bardo, Tunisia
Died: 2017
Birthdate: October 15, 1795
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: 1861
Frederick William IV of Prussia was the King of Prussia from 1840 until his death in 1861. He was the eldest son of Frederick William III of Prussia and his wife, Queen Louise. He was a staunch Romanticist and was a patron of several great German artists. He ascended to the throne upon the death of his father in 1840.
