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Orson Welles (1915–1985) -

Actor, director, screenwriter, and producer Orson Welles died on October 10, 1985. A legendary Hollywood figure, Welles expired from a heart attack.

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Yul Brynner (1920–1985) -

Another Hollywood A-lister, Yul Brynner also died on October 10, 1985. Known for his roles in 'The King and I' (1956) and 'The Magnificent Seven' (1960), Brynner was a victim of cancer.

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River Phoenix (1970–1993) -

River Phoenix's life was cut short on October 31, 1993 after the actor died from combined drug intoxication, having overdosed on cocaine and heroin (a mixture commonly known as a speedball).

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Federico Fellini (1920–1993) -

In Rome on the same day, October 31, 1993, the great Italian film director and screenwriter Federico Fellini, known for such cinema classics as '8½' (1963), died after a heart attack.

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Jim Henson (1936–1990) -

Puppeteer and animator Jim Henson, the man who created the Muppets, was killed by a bacterial infection on May 16, 1990, aged 53.

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Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990) -

May 16, 1990 is the same day Sammy Davis Jr.—"Mister Show Business"—died. The press described the coincidence as "two icons from the Entertainment world gone within hours of each other."

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Freddie Mercury (1946–1991) -

Freddie Mercury's death in London on November 24, 1991 made headline news around the world. The flamboyant Queen front man died from bronchial pneumonia due to AIDS-related complications.

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Eric Carr (1950–1991) -

On the other side of the Atlantic on the same day, November 24, 1991, another musician departed this world —Eric Carr, drummer for the rock band Kiss. Carr died of cancer in New York City.

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John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) -

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas.

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C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) -

On the same day, November 22, 1963, British writer C.S. Lewis passed away in Oxford, England. Lewis is especially remembered for the 'Chronicles of Narnia.' Originally published between 1950 and 1956, the fantasy novels have since been adapted for radio, television, the stage, film, and computer games.

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Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) -

In fact, November 22, 1963 was not a good day for British authors at all. Writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley also died. He's known for the 1954's 'The Doors of Perception' (US rock band the Doors named themselves after this book) and, famously, 'Brave New World' (1932).

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Orville Wright (1871–1948) -

Orville Wright, who together with his brother Wilber made the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft with the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903, died on January 30, 1948.

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Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) -

January 30, 1948 is also the same day Mahatma Gandhi was shot and killed in New Delhi, India. Gandhi inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

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Buddy Holly (1936–1959) -

Buddy Holly achieved huge success as a singer-songwriter in the mid-to-late 1950s. He opened for Elvis Presley in 1955 and later wrote some of rock music's most endearing hits, numbers that include 'That'll Be the Day' and 'Peggy Sue'—songs that would later influence the Beatles. But his life ended on February 3, 1959 in a plane crash.

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Ritchie Valens (1941–1959) -

A passenger in the same aircraft, Ritchie Valens, who wrote 'La Bamba,' was also killed in the accident on February 3, 1959, as was The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson Jr.), best known for his 1958 hit 'Chantilly Lace.' It was indeed, the "day the music died."

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Michelangelo Antonioni (1912–2007) -

Italian auteur Michelangelo Antonioni, whose English language films include 'Blowup' (1966) and 'Zabriskie Point' (1970), died on July 30, 2007.

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Ingmar Bergman (1918–2007) -

Cinema lost another influential movie director on July 30, 2007, with the passing of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman.

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William Shakespeare (1564–1616) -

William Shakespeare, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist, died on April 23, 1616, aged 52.

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Miguel de Cervantes (1547?–1616) -

Considered the greatest writer in the Spanish language, Miguel de Cervantes also died the same day as Shakespeare, but only if you take into consideration that the date of Cervantes' death was according to the Gregorian calendar, while Shakespeare's death conforms to the Julian calendar. This in fact meant they died 10 days apart. But what's a couple of weeks or so between two of history's literary heavyweights?

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John Adams (1735–1826) -

John Adams was the second President of the United States, serving from 1797 to 1801. He died on July 4, 1826—Independence Day!

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Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) -

Bizarrely, America's third president, Thomas Jefferson, also died on Independence Day—July 4, 1826. Jefferson had previously served as the second vice president of the United States under John Adams.

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Josef Stalin (1878–1953) -

Soviet political leader and one of the most feared dictators of the 20th century, Josef Stalin died on March 5, 1953.

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Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953) -

Russian classical music composer Sergei Prokofiev also died on March 5, 1953. His death was totally overshadowed by that of Stalin's, but he remains acknowledged as the creator of numerous musical masterpieces, works that include the ballet 'Romeo and Juliet'—from which the spectacular 'Dance of the Knights" is taken.

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Billy Wilder (1906–2002) -

In California on March 27, 2002, Hollywood said farewell to one of its most celebrated movie directors, Billy Wilder. He was 95 years old.

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Dudley Moore (1935–2002) -

Meanwhile on the other side of the United States in New Jersey, British comic Dudley Moore also died on March 27, 2002, from a degenerative brain disorder.

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Milton Berle (1908–2002) -

And March 27, 2002 is the date actor and comedian Milton Berle, a star of the first Golden Age of Television, also died. He was 93 years old.

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Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959) -

Acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema, film director and producer Cecil B. DeMille passed away from heart failure on January 21, 1959.

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Carl Switzer 1927–1959) -

January 21, 1959 was the same day Carl Switzer was fatally shot by an acquaintance during an altercation over money. Switzer made his name as a child actor in the mid-1930s and became synonymous with the 'Our Gang' series of comedy short films.

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Édith Piaf (1915–1963) -

Celebrated French chanteuse Édith Piaf died on October 10, 1963 after a long battle with alcohol. However, her passing was not announced until the morning of the following day, October 11.

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Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) -

Almost immediately upon hearing about the death of his close friend Édith Piaf, French filmmaker, poet, novelist, and designer Jean Cocteau died of a heart attack. So while technically not dying on the same day, Cocteau's sudden death on October 11, 1963, just a few hours after Piaf's, is reason enough to include him on this list.

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Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) -

Margaret Thatcher, who died on April 8, 2013, was the first woman to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from 1979 to 1990. She was dubbed the "Iron Lady" for her uncompromising politics and leadership style.

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Annette Funicello (1942–2013) -

The name may not be very familiar, but Annette Funicello, who also died on April 8, 2013, was one of the Mouseketeers on the original 'Mickey Mouse Club' TV series in the 1950s. She later appeared in a number of "Beach Party" movies, a popular 1960's film genre.

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Michael Jackson (1958–2009) -

Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," passed away unexpectedly on June 25, 2009 from an overdose of propofol given to him by a doctor.

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Farrah Fawcett (1947–2009) -

On the same day, June 25, 2009, Farrah Fawcett succumbed to cancer. Fawcett rose to international fame with her starring role in the first season of the television series 'Charlie's Angels' (1976–1977).

Sources: (Newsweek) (Smooth Radio) (Time and Date) 

See also: Spectacular gravesites of famous people

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