Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 2006. This list includes people like Gerald Ford, Saddam Hussein, Steve Irwin, James Brown, Syd Barrett and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, presidents, journalists and soldiers who died in 2006. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Italy and many more countries.
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1
Steve Irwin
(Television Celebrity & Wildlife Conservationist Who Died After Getting Stung by a Stingray Barb)
936
283
Listed In: Media Personalities
Birthdate: February 22, 1962
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Victoria, Australia
Died: September 4
Australian Steve Irwin was a world famous, high-spirited, lively host of The Crocodile Hunter television series. A conservationist, he was also part of other shows and documentaries on wildlife and environment. He was known for close encounters with some of the most dangerous and endangered animals in various jungles.He died after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
2
Desmond Doss
(U. S. Army Corporal)
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Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 7, 1919
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lynchburg
Died: March 23
Desmond Doss was a US Army corporal. Doss served as a combat medic in World War II. For his actions during the Battle of Okinawa, Desmond Doss became the only conscientious objector to be honored with the prestigious Medal of Honor as he saved 75 men. His life and work inspired several books and the biographical war film Hacksaw Ridge.
3
James Brown
(Central Progenitor of Funk Music and Referred to as 'Godfather of Soul')
194
52
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 3, 1933
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Barnwell, South Carolina, United States
Died: December 25
Referred to by honorific nicknames, such as Godfather of Soul, James Brown was a prominent figure of 20th century music. A progenitor of funk music, Brown influenced the development of many music genres. An inductee of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame, Brown is ranked seventh in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list.
4
Gerald Ford
(38th President of the United States (1974 - 1977))
115
65
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 14, 1913
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Died: December 26
Gerald Ford Jr served as the 38th president of US from August 1974 to January 1977. His 895 day-long stint as the American president is the shortest in US history for any president who did not die in office. In a controversial act, he granted a presidential pardon to his predecessor Richard Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal.
5
Don Knotts
(Actor and Comedian Known for His Role in TV Series: 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Three's Company')
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22
Listed In:
Birthdate: July 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: February 24
Widely regarded as one of the most beloved American actors of all time, Don Knotts achieved popularity after portraying Barney Fife in the popular TV series The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts is often considered a major influence on other actors and entertainers. In 1979, he was ranked 27th on TV Guide's list of 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
6
Syd Barrett
(Singer-songwriter)
61
21
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 6, 1946
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cambridge
Died: July 7
Pink Floyd co-founder and frontman Syd Barrett was known for his contribution to psychedelic rock and experiments with studio effects such as echo and distortion. He was removed from the band due to his drug addiction, following which he began a solo career. His final years were spent in privacy.
7
Coretta Scott King
(Civil-Rights Activist and the Wife of Martin Luther King Jr)
144
22
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: April 27, 1927
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Heiberger, Alabama, United States
Died: January 30
The American civil rights activist was an ideal foil for her famous husband Martin Luther King Jr. in promoting racial equality. The author and singer led the Women's Movement and fought for the rights of the LGBT community. She was also known for mobilising African-Americans during the 1960 US presidential election. She founded the King Centre, a not-for-profit organization.
8
Glenn Ford
(One of the Most Prominent Actors During Hollywood's Golden Age)
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17
Listed In:
Birthdate: May 1, 1916
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Quebec, Canada
Died: August 30
Glenn Ford was a Canadian-American actor. One of the most bankable stars of classical Hollywood cinema, Ford remained a crowd-puller throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Five of his movies have been chosen by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry. Off-stage,Glenn Ford was a notorious womanizer and had relationships with several actresses, including Marilyn Monroe.
9
Chris Penn
(Actor)
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Listed In:
Birthdate: October 10, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: January 24
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
10
Peter Boyle
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Frank Barone’ in the TV Series ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’)
60
7
Listed In:
Birthdate: October 18, 1935
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: December 12
Peter Boyle was an American actor, best known for playing Frank Barone in the popular TV series Everybody Loves Raymond. Boyle's death, which was caused by multiple myeloma and heart disease, had a great impact on many of his colleagues. His widow, Loraine, founded the Peter Boyle Memorial Fund, which is the most successful fundraiser for the International Myeloma Foundation.
11
Jack Palance
(American Actor Who Was Known for Playing Tough Guys and Villains)
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11
Listed In:
Birthdate: February 18, 1919
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: November 10
Jack Palance was an American actor known for playing villains and tough guys in the '50s and '60s. In 1992, he was made an inductee of the Western Performers Hall of Fame. It is widely believed that comic book artist Jack Kirby modeled Darkseid on Jack Palance.Jack Palance was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
12
Shelley Winters
(American Actress Best Known for Her Films: 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and 'A Patch of Blue')
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5
Listed In:
Birthdate: August 18, 1920
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died: January 14
Shelley Winters was an American actress who contributed immensely to all the three major acting mediums in a career spanning almost sixty years. The winner of two Academy Awards, Shelley Winters remained popular throughout her life. She was also known for her much-publicized personal life, which includedher four marriages and the romance with actor Farley Granger.
13
Dennis Weaver
(Actor and Former President of the Screen Actors Guild)
78
13
Listed In:
Birthdate: June 4, 1924
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Joplin, Missouri, United States
Died: February 24
Dennis Weaver is best known as Chester Goode/Proudfoot from Gunsmoke and as Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud from McCloud. He initially ran track and field, but his failure to qualify for the U.S. Olympic decathlon team made him join films. He had also been the president of the Screen Actors Guild.
14
Billy Preston
(Musician & Songwriter)
60
12
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 2, 1946
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Died: June 6
Billy Preston was an American musician and top session keyboardist who worked with popular artists like Ray Charles, Reverend James Cleveland, Sam Cooke, and the Beatles. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Preston struggled throughout his life with his sexual orientation. He chose not to come out as gay until before his death, due to his religious beliefs.
15
Darren McGavin
(Actor)
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Listed In:
Birthdate: May 7, 1922
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Spokane, Washington, United States
Died: February 25
Darren McGavin was an American actor whose journey from being a squatter in Tacoma to becoming a popular stage, film, TV actor was quite remarkable. He started his career as a set painter for Columbia Pictures before trying his hand at acting and eventually receiving a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his work in the sitcom TV series, Murphy Brown.
16
Ferenc Puskás
(One of the Greatest Football Players of All Time)
70
21
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 1, 1927
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: November 17
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
17
Milton Friedman
(American Economist & Nobel Prize Winner in Economic Sciences Who Extolled the Virtues of a Free Market Economic System)
40
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Listed In:
Birthdate: July 31, 1912
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: November 16
Milton Friedman was an American economist. Widely regarded as one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, Friedman was honored with the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1976. One of the most influential personalities of the Chicago school of economics, Friedman mentored people like Gary Becker and Thomas Sowell who went on to become leading economists.
18
Mickey Hargitay
(Hungarian-American Actor and the 1955 Mr. Universe)
26
8
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 6, 1926
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: September 14
Former Mr.Universe, Mickey Hargitay made his way into showbiz with Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Husband of actressJayne Mansfield, he was also a proficient football player. He earned the Joe Weider Lifetime Achievement Award; hewas the first one to recieve that honor. During World War II, he was an underground fighter.
19
Mako Iwamatsu
(Actor)
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Listed In:
Birthdate: December 10, 1933
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Died: July 21
Japanese-American actor Makoto Iwamatsu, or Mako, is remembered for his Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated role of Po-Han in The Sand Pebbles. He also appeared in Conan the Barbarian, Conan the Destroyer, and Seven Years in Tibet. He delivered a Tony-nominated performance in Pacific Overtures and co-founded East West Players.
20
Bruno Kirby
(Actor)
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Listed In:
Birthdate: April 28, 1949
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: August 14
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
21
Buck Owens
(Musician)
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3
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 12, 1929
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sherman, Texas, United States
Died: March 25
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
22
Al Lewis
(Actor)
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5
Listed In:
Birthdate: April 30, 1923
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: February 3
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
23
June Allyson
(Actress)
34
5
Listed In:
Birthdate: October 7, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, USA
Died: July 8
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
24
Aaron Spelling
(Film and television producer)
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Listed In:
Birthdate: April 22, 1923
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
Died: June 23
25
Lamar Hunt
(American Sports Executive and BusinessmanBusinessman)
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: August 2, 1932
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States
Died: December 13
Businessman Lamar Hunt was a major promoter of American football, soccer, tennis, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States. He was the principal founder of the Major League Soccer (MLS) and American Football League (AFL). He was also the co-founder of World Championship Tennis. In 1982, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
26
Jack Wild
(Television actor, Film actor, Actor)
28
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Listed In:
Birthdate: September 30, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Royton
Died: March 1
27
Robert Altman
(Filmmaker of the 'New Hollywood Era' Known for His Films: 'M*A*S*H’,’ McCabe & Mrs. Miller’ & ‘The Long Goodbye’)
27
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Listed In:
Birthdate: February 20, 1925
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Died: November 20
Five-time Academy Award-nominated director Robert Altman is remembered for his non-conformist filmmaking style and for his use of satire and humor. He relied on ensemble casts. Some of his most notable films were M*A*S*H, Nashville, and Gosford Park. He was part of the U.S. Air Force during World War II.
28
Jack Warden
(Actor)
30
5
Listed In:
Birthdate: September 18, 1920
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died: July 19
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
29
Paul Gleason
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Dr. David Thornton’ in TV Series ‘All My Children’)
27
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Listed In:
Birthdate: May 4, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Died: May 27
Paul Gleason is best remembered for his performance as David Thornton in the soap All My Children. He was also appreciated for his roles in the films The Breakfast Club and Die Hard. He had played briefly with the MLB team Cleveland Indians and also attended golf events.
30
Gene Pitney
(Singer-songwriter)
55
12
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 17, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Died: April 5
31
Lou Rawls
(R&B Singer Famous for His Luxurious Baritone Singing Voice and Four-Octave Vocal Range)
49
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: January 6
Lou Rawls was an American singer, composer, record producer, and actor. Rawls sold over 40 million records during his illustrious career. He was also renowned for his charity work; in 2004, he was honored by the popular philanthropic organization United Negro College Fund for his work with the organization for more than 25 years.
32
Joseph Joe Barbera
(Director, Co-Founder of the Animation Studio and Production Company ‘Hanna-Barbera’)
34
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Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 24, 1911
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Delancey Street, New York, United States
Died: December 18
Joseph Barbera was an American animator, cartoon artist, storyboard artist, director, and producer. He is credited with co-producing Tom and Jerry along with William Hanna while working at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Barbera is also credited with co-founding the popular animation studio Hanna-Barbera which produced world-renowned programs like Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, and The Smurfs. Hanna-Barbera's shows have been translated into over 28 languages.
33
Floyd Patterson
(American Professional Boxer Who Competed From 1952 to 1972)
40
18
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 4, 1935
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Waco, North Carolina, United States
Died: May 11
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
34
Octavia Butler
(American Author Known for Her Science Fiction Novels)
23
12
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 22, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States
Died: February 24
One of the finest African-American sci-fi authors, Octavia Butler was raised single-handedly by her widowed mother. Best known for the Patternist series and the short story Bloodchild, she often mingled mythology and spirituality in her work. She was the first sci-fi author to receive a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.
35
Wilson Pickett
(American Singer and Songwriter)
42
6
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 18, 1941
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Prattville, Alabama, United States
Died: January 19
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
36
Jane Wyatt
(She starred in a number of Hollywood films, such as Frank Capra's Lost Horizon)
33
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Listed In:
Birthdate: August 12, 1910
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Campgaw, New Jersey, United States
Died: October 20
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
37
Edward Albert
(Actor)
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Listed In:
Birthdate: February 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: September 22
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
38
Ann Richards
(Politician)
33
22
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lacy Lakeview, Texas, United States
Died: September 13
39
Gerald Levert
(Singer)
27
8
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 13, 1966
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: November 10
40
Red Buttons
(Actor)
30
5
Listed In:
Birthdate: February 5, 1919
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: July 13
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
41
Freddy Fender
(Texas-based Tejano country singer who sang the 1970s singles "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.")
27
6
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: June 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: San Benito, Texas, United States
Died: October 14
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
42
Red Auerbach
(Basketball coach)
23
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 20, 1917
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: October 28
43
Carl Brashear
(Sailor)
17
6
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 19, 1931
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tonieville, Kentucky, United States
Died: July 25
44
Saddam Hussein
(5th President of Iraq (1979-2003))
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Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 28, 1937
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Al Awja, Iraq
Died: December 30
Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq as its president from 1979 to 2003. Described as one of the last of the great dictators of the 20th century, his regime caused the deaths of at least 250,000 Iraqis. Saddam was deposed in 2003 when a U.S led coalition invaded Iraq.Accused of crimes against humanity, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death in 2006.
45
Maureen Stapleton
(American Actress Known for Her for Films: ‘Lonelyhearts’, ‘Airport’ and ‘Interiors’)
34
3
Listed In:
Birthdate: June 21, 1925
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Troy, New York, United States
Died: March 13
46
Robert Earl Jones
(Actor)
23
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 3, 1910
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Tate County, Mississippi, United States
Died: September 7
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
47
Gordon Parks
(Photographer)
31
13
Listed In: Photographers
Birthdate: November 30, 1912
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Fort Scott, Kansas, United States
Died: March 7
Gordon Parks was a writer, photographer, musician, and film director. He was the first Black American to direct and produce major motion pictures pertaining to the experience of slaves and African-Americans. He is credited with co-creating a new film genre called blaxploitation and his works have influenced filmmakers like Spike Lee. He is also credited with co-founding Essence magazine.
48
June Pointer
(Singer)
27
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 30, 1953
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Died: April 11
49
Jane Jacobs
(Journalist and Author Best Known for Her Book ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’)
16
8
Listed In: Media Personalities
Birthdate: May 4, 1916
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 25
American-Canadian journalist Jane Jacobs is best known for her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities. A specialist in urban culture and its issues, she was one of the few women who excelled in a male-dominated field. The Vincent Scully Prize winner was initially scorned at as a housewife.
50
Bo Schembechler
(American Football Player and Coach)
23
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 1, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Barberton, Ohio, United States
Died: November 17
Miami University head football coach Bo Schembechler was once part of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, known as the Ten-Year War. He was also dragged into a controversy when it was reported that in spite of several Michigan students claiming they were sexually abused by a university doctor, he downplayed the incidents.
