Famous People Who Died in 2015
Sarah Rodriguez
Updated on January 16, 2026
Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 2015. This list includes people like John Forbes Nash Jr., A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Christopher Lee, Leonard Nimoy, Scott Weiland and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, journalists, composers and novelists who died in 2015. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & Australia and many more countries.
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1
Christopher Lee(Actor and Singer Known for His Role as ‘Count Dracula’ in ‘Hammer Horror’ Films)
Birthdate: May 27, 1922
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Belgravia, London, United Kingdom
Died: June 7
Christopher Lee was one of the most respected actors of his generation. Such was his impact on the British and American film industries that David Cameron described him as a titan of the golden age of cinema following his death in 2015. Famous for his deep, strong voice, Christopher Lee was also a popular singer who worked with several metal bands.
2
Leonard Nimoy(Known for Playing 'Spock' in The 'Star Trek' Franchise)
Birthdate: March 26, 1931
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: February 27
Three-time Emmy nominee Leonard Nimoy is best known for playing the iconic character Spock in the Star Trek franchise, for almost 50 years. Spock became a cult, and even Nimoy’s autobiographies were named after the character. He also appeared in Zombies of the Stratosphere and hosted a documentary series.
Birthdate: September 16, 1925
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Berclair, Mississippi
Died: May 14
Known as “The King of the Blues,” legendary musician B. B. King introduced a signature style of soloing using string bending and vibrato. His song The Thrill is Gone won him a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. He was featured on Rolling Stone’s “100 greatest guitarists of all time” list.
Birthdate: August 17, 1920
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Died: October 24
Maureen O'Hara was an Irish singer and actress. Dubbed The Queen of Technicolor due to her long and successful career throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Maureen O'Hara was popular for playing passionate, but sensible characters. In 2014, she received an Honorary Academy Award. In 2020, she was ranked first on Ireland's greatest film actors list published by The Irish Times.
Birthdate: April 17, 1954
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saskatoon, Canada
Died: July 31
Canadian professional wrestler, amateur boxer, and actor, Roddy Piper, is best remembered for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He headlined multiple PPV events and hosted the popular WWF interview segment Piper's Pit. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He also appeared in a few films and TV shows.
6
Yogi Berra(One of the Greatest Catchers in Baseball History)
Birthdate: May 12, 1925
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died: September 22
Baseball catcher Yogi Berra is remembered for his long-running association with the MLB team New York Yankees. The 18-time All Star had won 10 World Series championships, too. He also won the American League MVP thrice. He was famous for his malapropisms such as “It ain't over 'til it's over.”
Birthdate: February 6, 1950
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Died: December 31
R&B and pop singer Natalie Cole, daughter of jazz pianist and singer Nat King Cole, is known for hits such as Inseparable and her cover of Pink Cadillac. The nine-time Grammy-winning artist soared to fame with the album Unforgettable... with Love, which sold more than 7 million copies.
Birthdate: September 16, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Singapore, Straits Settlements
Died: March 23
Lawyer-turned-politician Lee Kuan Yew, also known as LKY, was the first prime minister of Singapore, from 1959 to 1990. He established the People's Action Party. He later also served as his country’s Senior Minister and Minister Mentor. He was also part of David Rockefeller's International Council and Forbes's Brain Trust.
Birthdate: October 15, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Died: July 27
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th president, had earlier been an aerospace scientist at DRDO and ISRO. Known as the “People’s President” and the “Missile Man of India,” he was instrumental in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests. He died of a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong.
Birthdate: April 10, 1932
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt
Died: July 10
Egyptian actor Omar Sharif shot to fame with the iconic film Lawrence of Arabia, which won him two Golden Globes and an Academy Award nomination. He is also remembered for his role in Doctor Zhivago. He was one of the world’s top 50 contract bridge players and spoke six languages.
Birthdate: May 12, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Died: November 18
Jonah Lomu was a New Zealand rugby player whose dominance on the field had a huge impact on the game. Considered the first global superstar of rugby, Jonah Lomu proved to be a crowd-puller. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.
12
Wes Craven(Film director, Screenwriter)
Birthdate: August 2, 1939
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: August 30
Birthdate: October 27, 1967
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States
Died: December 3
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.
14
Donna Douglas(Best Know for Her Role as 'Elly May Clampett' in the TV Series 'The Beverly Hillbillies')
Birthdate: September 26, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Pride, Louisiana, United States
Died: January 1
Donna Douglas is best known as Elly May Clampett from the sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. After retiring from acting, she juggled with a number of careers, becoming a real-estate agent, a motivational speaker, and a gospel singer. She has also written a Bible-themed children’s book and a cookbook.
Birthdate: April 7, 1933
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: December 31
Wayne Rogers worked his fingers to the bone for years in regional plays and off-Broadway before he seized the role of Captain "Trapper" John McIntyre in M*A*S*H that made him a star. In later years, he found substantial success in the financial field as an investor, businessman, and stock analyst.
Birthdate: June 13, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bluefield, West Virginia, United States
Died: May 23
The inspiration behind the movie A Beautiful Mind, John F. Nash was a legendary mathematician whose work in the area of game theory earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. In his later years, he was riddled with mental illness. He later died in a car crash.
17
Moses Malone(Basketball player)
Birthdate: March 23, 1955
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Petersburg, Virginia, United States
Died: September 13
Height: 6'10" (208 cm)
Birthdate: December 6, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sapporo
Died: July 11
Former Nintendo president and CEO Satoru Iwata had started developing games while in school. He was the first Nintendo president not related to the Yamauchi family and revolutionized the gaming industry by focusing on a blue ocean strategy and introducing products such as the DS dual-screen console and targeting non-gamers.
19
Amanda Peterson(Actress)
Birthdate: July 8, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Greeley, Colorado, USA
Died: July 3
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
20
Fred Thompson(Former United States Senator from Tennessee (1994 - 2003))
Birthdate: August 19, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sheffield, Alabama, United States
Died: November 1
Fred Thompson was an American politician, lobbyist, attorney, columnist, radio personality, and actor. From 1994 to 2003, Thompson served as the United States Senator from Tennessee. As an actor, he played important roles in several films and TV series, such as Law & Order and Barbarians at the Gate.
Birthdate: September 20, 1929
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Died: May 23
Comedian and actor Anne Meara, mother of actor Ben Stiller, was part of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara, along with her husband, Jerry Stiller. She appeared in series such as Archie Bunker's Place and many films, too. She also earned a Writers Guild Award for co-writing The Other Woman.
22
Lesley Gore(Singer-songwriter, Actress)
Birthdate: May 2, 1946
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: February 16
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
Birthdate: September 10, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Blackpool, England
Died: April 1
Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of the Beatles singer John Lennon, met John at a calligraphy class. They divorced on the grounds of adultery, after John started dating Japanese artist Yoko Ono. Cynthia married thrice later, and even released a memoir and a biography, detailing her relationship with John Lennon.
Birthdate: January 3, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Staten Island, New York, United States
Died: December 4
Robert Loggia is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role of Sam Ransom in Jagged Edge and his Saturn Award-winning role in Big. He also appeared in series such as Malcolm in the Middle and The Sopranos. His humanitarian work earned him the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
25
Lemmy(Founder of the Rock Band 'Motörhead')
Birthdate: December 24, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Died: December 28
Lemmy was an English musician who founded the popular rock band Motörhead. The only continuous member of Motörhead, Lemmy served as the band's lead singer, primary songwriter, and bassist. Renowned for his gravelly voice, which was counted among the most recognizable voices in rock, Lemmy is also remembered for his military-influenced fashion sense and his signature friendly mutton chops.
26
Dusty Rhodes(One of the Greatest Wrestlers and Talkers in the History of Professional Wrestling)
Birthdate: October 11, 1945
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States
Died: June 11
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
27
Martin Milner(Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series ‘Route 66’ and ‘Adam-12’)
Birthdate: December 28, 1931
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: September 6
Martin Milner is best remembered for his roles as Tod Stiles in Route 66 and Officer Pete Malloy in Adam-12. Fans also loved him as Karl Robinson in The Swiss Family Robinson. He was a polio survivor and has begun acting at local children’s theater at the age of 9.
28
Jackie Collins(Novelist)
Birthdate: October 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Died: September 19
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Birthdate: May 12, 1995
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brownwood, Texas
Died: April 23
Sawyer Sweeten gained prominence with his performance in Everybody Loves Raymond. He took his own life from a self-inflicted gunshot a fortnight before his 20th birthday. The news of his death left his fans and co-stars shocked.
30
Frank Gifford(American Football Player, Actor and TV Sports Commentator)
Birthdate: August 16, 1930
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
Died: August 9
American football player Frank Gifford is remembered for his 12-year stint with the NFL team New York Giants. The NFL MVP-winning footballer was named to eight Pro Bowls. Following his retirement, he gained fame as a sportscaster on shows such as ABC's Monday Night Football and also won two Emmys.
31
James Horner(Composer, conductor, and orchestrator of film scores)
Birthdate: August 14, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: June 22
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Birthdate: May 27, 1943
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vauxhall, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died: August 1
Priscilla Maria Veronica White, better known as Cilla Black, is best remembered for her chart-topping hits You're My World and Anyone Who Had a Heart. She had her own show, Cilia, and also acted as a comedy actor. She later presented shows such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.
Birthdate: August 3, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Nice, France
Died: July 17
Jules Bianchi, grandson of GT World Champion Mauro Bianchi, was a Formula 3 Euro Series winner and a French Formula Renault 2.0 champion. A collision during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix caused him a diffuse axonal injury. He was in a coma for 8 months before dying at age 25.
Birthdate: December 9, 1928
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kew Gardens, New York, United States
Died: June 23
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
35
Yvonne Craig(Best Known for Her Role as 'Batgirl/Barbara Gordon' in the 1960s Television Series 'Batman')
Birthdate: May 16, 1937
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Taylorville, Illinois, United States
Died: August 17
Yvonne Craig was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Batgirl in the iconic 1960s TV series Batman. Such was her popularity that she was called a pioneer of female superheroesduring the 1960s. Also remembered for her skills as a ballet dancer, Yvonne Craig's training as a ballerina helped her a lot while performing stunts in Batman.
Birthdate: July 19, 1965
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: January 4
Sportscaster Stuart Scott is best remembered as an ESPN anchor. His signature style included catchphrases such as “booyah.” He mostly covered the NBA and NFL games. He received the Jimmy V Award for his long battle with appendix cancer and eventually died of the disease at age 49.
37
Terry Pratchett(Humorist)
Birthdate: April 28, 1948
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Beaconsfield, England
Died: March 12
38
Wayne Dyer(Self-Help Author and Motivational Speaker)
Birthdate: May 10, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Detroit
Died: August 29
Birthdate: April 27, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Northamptonshire, England
Died: September 3
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
40
Ken Stabler(American Professional Football Quarterback)
Birthdate: December 25, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Foley, Alabama, United States
Died: July 8
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
Birthdate: June 3, 1950
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: November 4
Melissa Mathison was a screenwriter and an activist for the Tibetan independence movement. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, for a while but quit before graduating. She was acquainted with Francis Ford Coppola who encouraged her to pursue a screenwriting career. She was once married to actor, Harrison Ford, and had two children.
42
Ben E. King(Singer, Record producer)
Birthdate: September 28, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Henderson, North Carolina, United States
Died: April 30
43
Patrick Macnee(Former Actor in role of secret agent John Steed in the British television series The Avengers)
Birthdate: February 5, 1922
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Paddington, London, United Kingdom
Died: June 25
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
44
Anita Ekberg(Swedish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Sylvia’ in the Film ‘La Dolce Vita’)
Birthdate: September 29, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Malmö Municipality, Sweden
Died: January 11
Swedish actress Anita Ekberg is best known for her role in the comedy-drama film La Dolce Vita. She worked primarily in Italy and later became a citizen of the country. She began modeling as a teenager and eventually entered films as well. Beautiful and voluptuous, she became a popular name within a few years.
Birthdate: July 8, 1992
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Guamuchil, Sinaloa
Died: February 25
Ariel Camacho was a Mexican singer and songwriter best remembered for leading his Regional Mexican band, Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho. He died in a car accident at the age of 22. Following his death, his album El Karma became immensely popular. His band continues to make albums in his honor.
Birthdate: May 19, 1909
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England, United Kingdom
Died: July 1
Nicholas Winton was a British humanitarian and banker best remembered for founding an organization to save children at risk from Czechoslovakia. He is credited with overseeing the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia just before the commencement of the Second World War. This rescue mission came to be known as the Czech Kindertransport.
Birthdate: February 28, 1931
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Emporia, Kansas, United States
Died: February 7
48
Rod Taylor(Australian Actor Known for His Films: ‘The Time Machine’, ‘One Hundred and One Dalmatians’ and ‘Inglourious Basterds’)
Birthdate: January 11, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Lidcombe, Australia
Died: January 7
Australian actor Rod Taylor is best remembered for his roles in films such as Time Machine, The Birds, and Zabriskie Point. He also voiced Pongo in the 1961 film One Hundred and One Dalmatians and appeared on stage, too. His final film role was as Winston Churchill in Inglourious Basterds.
49
Diana Douglas(Actress)
Birthdate: January 22, 1923
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Devonshire, Bermuda
Died: July 3
50
James Best(Actor, Artist, Acting Coach and Singer-Songwriter)
Birthdate: July 26, 1926
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Powderly, Kentucky, United States
Died: April 6
James Best is remembered for his portrayal of Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the series The Dukes of Hazzard and its subsequent TV movie versions. He also served the U.S. army in World War II. He had also been a university professor, an acting coach, and a singer.
