Arlene Francis died 8 years ago

Arlene Francis was born as Arline Francis Kazanjian on October 20, 1907 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was a regular panelist on the TV game show What’s My Line? Ms. Francis died on May 31, 2001 in San Francisco, California.

Johnnie Taylor died 9 years ago

Johnnie Harrison Taylor was born on May 5, 1937 in Crawfordsville, Arkansas. He sang the song Disco Lady. Mr. Taylor died on May 31, 2000 in Dallas, Texas.

Tito Puente died 9 years ago

Tito Puente was born as Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr. on April 20, 1923 in New York City, New York. He was a jazz and mambo musician. Mr. Puente died on May 31, 2000 in New York City, New York.

Timothy Leary died 13 years ago

Timothy Francis Leary was born on October 22, 1920 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was an experimenter. Mr. Leary died on May 31, 1996 in Los Angeles, California.

Billy Strayhorn died 42 years ago

Billy Strayhorn was born as William Thomas Strayhorn on November 29, 1915 in Dayton, Ohio. He composed the songs Take the “A” Train and Lush Life. Mr. Strayhorn died on May 31, 1967 in New York City, New York.

Joseph Haydn died 200 years ago

Joseph Haydn was born as Franz Joseph Haydn on March 31, 1732 in Rohrau, Austria. He composed many concertos. Mr. Haydn died on May 31, 1809 in Vienna, Austria.

Wilbur Wright died 97 years ago

Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867 in Milville, Indiana. He was an aviation pioneer. Mr. Wilbur Wright died on May 30, 1912 in Dayton, Ohio.

Voltaire died 231 years ago

Voltaire was born as François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694 in Paris, France. He wrote the novella Candide. Voltaire died on May 30, 1778 in Paris, France.

Harvey Korman died 1 year ago

Harvey Herschel Korman was born on February 15, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. He acted on the TV comedy The Carol Burnett Show. Mr. Korman died on May 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Barry Goldwater died 11 years ago

Barry Morris Goldwater was born on January 1, 1909 in Phoenix, Arizona Territory. He was an amateur radio operator. Mr. Goldwater died on May 29, 1998 in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Fanny Brice died 58 years ago

Fanny Brice was born as Fania Borach on October 29, 1891 in New York City, New York. She created and starred in the radio show The Baby Snooks Show. Ms. Brice died on May 29, 1951 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

W.S. Gilbert died 98 years ago

William Schwenck Gilbert was born on November 18, 1836 in London, England. He was the librettist for the opera The Mikado. Mr. Gilbert died on May 29, 1911 in Grim’s Dyke, Harrow, England.

Noah Webster died 166 years ago

Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758 in West Hartford, Connecticut. He was the dictionary man. Mr. Webster died on May 28, 1843 in New Haven, Connecticut.

Robert Ripley died 60 years ago

Robert LeRoy Ripley was born on December 25, 1890 in Santa Rosa, California. He created Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Mr. Ripley died on May 27, 1949 in New York City, New York.

Jedediah Smith died 178 years ago

Jedediah Strong Smith was born on January 6, 1799 in Bainbridge, New York. He was an explorer. Mr. Smith died on May 27, 1831 by Ulysses, Kansas.

Eddie Albert died 4 years ago

Eddie Albert was born as Edward Albert Heimberger on April 22, 1906 in Rock Island, Illinois. He acted in the TV sitcom Green Acres. Mr. Albert died on May 26, 2005 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.

William Powell died 32 years ago

William Powell was born on December 9, 1941 in Canton, Ohio. He was an original member of the singing group The O’Jays. Mr. Powell died on May 26, 1977 in Canton, Ohio.

Charles Horace Mayo died 70 years ago

Charles Horace Mayo was born on July 19, 1865 in Rochester, Minnesota. He co-founded the Mayo Clinic. Mr. Mayo died on May 26, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois.

Jimmie Rodgers died 76 years ago

Jimmie Rodgers was born as James Charles Rodgers on September 8, 1897 in Meridian, Mississippi. He composed and sang the Blue Yodel songs. Mr. Rodgers died on May 26, 1933 in New York City, New York.

Victor Herbert died 85 years ago

Victor August Herbert was born on February 1, 1859 in Dublin, Ireland. He composed the music to the operettas Babes in Toyland and Naughty Marietta (with the song “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life”). Mr. Herbert died on May 26, 1924 in New York City, New York.

Gustav Holst died 75 years ago

Gustav Theodore Holst was born on September 21, 1874 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. He composed the orchestral suite The Planets. Mr. Holst died on May 25, 1934 in London, England.

Ruth Laredo died 4 years ago

Ruth Laredo was born on November 20, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan. She was a pianist. Ms. Laredo died on May 25, 2005 in New York City, New York.

Charles Nelson Reilly died 2 years ago

Charles Nelson Reilly was born on January 13, 1931 in South Bronx, New York. He was a panelist on the TV game show Match Game. Mr. Reilly died on May 25, 2007 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.

Dick Martin died 1 year ago

Dick Martin was born as Thomas Richard Martin on January 30, 1922 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He was a co-host of the TV comedy program Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Mr. Martin died on May 24, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.

Gene Clark died 18 years ago

Gene Clark was born as Harold Eugene Clark on November 17, 1944 in Tipton, Missouri. He was a founding member of the music group The Byrds. Mr. Clark died on May 24, 1991 in Sherman Oaks, California.

Duke Ellington died 35 years ago

Duke Ellington was born as Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. He composed the music for the song Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me. Mr. Ellington died on May 24, 1974 in New York City, New York.

Nicolaus Copernicus died 466 years ago

Nicolaus Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473 in Toruń, Poland. He wrote the book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. Mr. Copernicus died on May 24, 1543 in Frombork, Poland.

Moms Mabley died 34 years ago

Moms Mabley was born as Loretta Mary Aiken on March 19, 1894 in Brevard, North Carolina. She was a comedienne. Ms. Mabley died on May 23, 1975 in White Plains, New York.

Henrik Ibsen died 103 years ago

Henrik Johan Ibsen was born on March 20, 1828 in Skien, Norway. He wrote the play Peer Gynt. Mr. Ibsen died on May 23, 1906 in Kristiania (Oslo), Norway.

Langston Hughes died 42 years ago

Langston Hughes was born as James Mercer Langston Hughes on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He wrote many poems, novels, and plays. Mr. Hughes died on May 22, 1967 in New York City, New York.

Victor Hugo died 124 years ago

Victor Hugo was born as Victor-Marie Hugo on February 26, 1802 in Besançon. He wrote the novel Les Misérables. Mr. Hugo died on May 22, 1885 in Paris, France.

Barbara Cartland died 9 years ago

Barbara Cartland was born as Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland on July 9, 1901 in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. She wrote many, many, many novels. Ms. Cartland died on May 21, 2000 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England.

Kenneth Clark died 26 years ago

Kenneth McKenzie Clark was born on July 13, 1903 in London, England. He wrote and presented the BBC TV series Civilisation. Mr. Clark died on May 21, 1983 in Hythe, Kent, England.

Stephen Jay Gould died 7 years ago

Stephen Jay Gould was born on September 10, 1941 in Queens, New York City, New York. He co-proposed the theory of punctuated equilibrium. He wrote the books The Panda’s Thumb and Wonderful Life. Mr. Gould died on May 20, 2002 in Manhattan, New York City, New York.

Gilda Radner died 20 years ago

Gilda Susan Radner was born on June 28, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan. She acted as Roseanne Roseannadanna on the TV show “Saturday Night Live”. Ms. Radner died on May 20, 1989 in Los Angeles, California.

Christopher Columbus died 503 years ago

Christopher Columbus was born somewhere between August 25, 1451 and October 31, 1451. He travelled a lot. Mr. Columbus died on May 20, 1506 in Valladolid, Spain.

Ogden Nash died 38 years ago

Ogden Nash was born as Frederic Ogden Nash on August 19, 1902 in Rye, New York. He composed poems. Mr. Nash died on May 19, 1971 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Nathaniel Hawthorne died 145 years ago

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born as Nathaniel Hathorne on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He wrote the novels The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. Mr. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864 in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

Elizabeth Montgomery died 14 years ago

Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. She acted as “Samantha Stephens” in the TV sitcom Bewitched. Ms. Montgomery died on May 18, 1995 in Los Angeles, California.

Gustav Mahler died 98 years ago

Gustav Mahler was born on July 7, 1860 in Kaliště, Bohemia. He composed many symphonies. Mr. Mahler died on May 18, 1911 in Vienna, Austria.

Isaac Albéniz died 100 years ago

Isaac Albéniz was born as Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz i Pascual on May 29, 1860 in Camprodon, Spain. He composed the piano suite Iberia. Mr. Albéniz died on May 18, 1909 in Cambo-les-Bains, France.

Tony Randall died 5 years ago

Tony Randall was born on February 26, 1920 as Arthur Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He acted as “Felix Unger” in the TV sitcom The Odd Couple. Mr. Randall died on May 17, 2004 in New York City, New York.

Lawrence Welk died 17 years ago

Lawrence Welk was born on March 11, 1903 in Strasburg, North Dakota. He hosted The Lawrence Welk Show. Mr. Welk died on May 17, 1992 in Santa Monica, California.

Margaret Hamilton died 24 years ago

Margaret Hamilton was born on December 9, 1902 in Cleveland, Ohio. She acted as the wicked witch in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Ms. Hamilton died on May 16, 1985 in Salisbury, Connecticut.

Irwin Shaw died 25 years ago

Irwin Shaw was born as Irwin Gilbert Shamforoff on February 27, 1913 in the Bronx, New York City, New York. He wrote the novel Rich Man, Poor Man. Mr. Shaw died on May 16, 1984 in Davos, Switzerland.

Andy Kaufman died 25 years ago

Andy Kaufman was born as Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman on January 17, 1949 in New York City, New York. He acted in the TV sitcom Taxi. Mr. Kaufman died on May 16, 1984 in Los Angeles, California.

Frank Sinatra (update)

Natasha shared the following:

Hi Roger,

To mark the 11th anniversary of Frank Sinatra's death (May 14), LIFE.com has published never-before-published photos of “Ol' Blue Eyes”. The gallery can be found on the Life.com homepage today or directly at this site.

I just read your post about Sinatra and thought you might be interested in sharing the gallery with your readers- please let me know what you think.

Thanks a lot,
Natasha

Alexander Courage died 1 year ago

Alexander Mair Courage, Jr. was born on December 10, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He composed the theme music for Star Trek: The Original Series. Mr. Courage died on May 15, 2008 in Pacific Palisades, California.

Jerry Falwell died 2 years ago

Jerry Falwell was born as Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. on August 11, 1933 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He died on May 15, 2007 in Lynchburg, Virginia.

June Carter Cash died 6 years ago

June Carter Cash was born as Valerie June Carter on June 23, 1929 in Maces Spring, Virginia. She sang the song Baby, It’s Cold Outside with Homer and Jethro. Mrs. Cash died on May 15, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Johnny Green died 20 years ago

Johnny Green was born on October 10, 1908 in New York City, New York. He co-wrote the song Body and Soul. Mr. Green died on May 15, 1989 in Los Angeles, California.

Emily Dickinson died 123 years ago

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts. She wrote many, many poems. Ms. Dickinson died on May 15, 1886 in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Frank Sinatra died 11 years ago

Frank Sinatra was born as Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He sang the song My Way. Mr. Sinatra died on May 14, 1998 in Los Angeles, California.

Harry Blackstone Jr. died 12 years ago

Harry Blackstone, Jr. was born on June 30, 1934 in Three Rivers, Michigan. He was a so-called magician. Mr. Blackstone died on May 14, 1997 in Loma Linda, California.

Rita Hayworth died 22 years ago

Rita Hayworth was born as Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. She acted in the movie Gilda. Ms. Hayworth died on May 14, 1987 in New York City, New York.

Billie Burke died 39 years ago

Billie Burke was born as Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke on August 7, 1884 in Washington, D.C. She acted as “Glinda the Good Witch of the North” in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Ms. Burke died on May 14, 1970 in Los Angeles, California.

Lysander Spooner died 122 years ago

Lysander Spooner was born on January 19, 1808 in Athol, Massachusetts. He wrote the essay No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority. Mr. Spooner died on May 14, 1887 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dan Blocker died 37 years ago

Dan Blocker was born on December 10, 1928 in DeKalb, Texas. He acted as “Hoss Cartwright” in the TV drama series Bonanza. Mr. Blocker died on May 13, 1972 in Los Angeles, California.

Perry Como died 8 years ago

Perry Como was born as Pierino Como on May 18, 1912 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He sang the song Catch a Falling Star. Mr. Como died on May 12, 2001 in Jupiter Inlet Colony, Florida.

Robert Reed died 17 years ago

Robert Reed was born as John Robert Rietz on October 19, 1932 in Highland Park, Illinois. He acted as the father “Mike Brady” in the TV sitcom The Brady Bunch. Mr. Reed died on May 12, 1992 in Pasadena, California.

Dottie Rambo died 1 year ago

Dottie Rambo was born as Joyce Luttrell on March 2, 1934 in Madisonville, Kentucky. She wrote many, many songs. Ms. Rambo died on May 11, 2008 near Mount Vernon, Missouri.

Joan Crawford died 32 years ago

Joan Crawford was born as Lucille Fay LeSueur on March 23, 1905 in San Antonio, Texas. She acted in the movie Mildred Pierce and many, many other films. Ms. Crawford died on May 10, 1977 in New York City, New York.

Paul Revere died 191 years ago

Paul Revere was probably born in late December 1734 in Boston, Massachusetts. He had a famous Midnight Ride. Mr. Revere died on May 10, 1818 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Marion Lorne died 41 years ago

Marion Lorne was born as Marion Lorne MacDougall on August 12, 1883 in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. She acted as “Aunt Clara” in the TV sitcom Bewitched. Ms. Lorne died on May 9, 1968 in New York City, New York.

Eddy Arnold died 1 year ago

Eddy Arnold was born as Ricvhard Edward Arnold on May 15, 1918 in Henderson, Tennessee. He sang the song Make the World Go Away. Mr. Arnold died on May 8, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Robert A. Heinlein died 21 years ago

Robert Anson Heinlein was born on July 7, 1907 in Butler, Missouri. He wrote the novels Stranger in a Strange Land and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. Mr. Heinlein died on May 8, 1988 in Carmel, California.

LaVerne Sophia Andrews died 42 years ago

LaVerne Sophia Andrews was born on July 6, 1911 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was part of the singing group The Andrews Sisters. Ms. Andrews died on May 8, 1967 in Brentwood, California.

Paul Gauguin died 106 years ago

Paul Gauguin was born as Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin on June 7, 1848 in Paris, France. He painted Les Alyscamps and many more. Mr. Gauguin died on May 8, 1903 in Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia.

Gustave Flaubert died 129 years ago

Gustave Flaubert was born on December 12, 1821 in Rouen, France. He wrote the novel Madame Bovary. Mr. Flaubert died on May 8, 1880 in Rouen, France.

John Stuart Mill died 136 years ago

John Stuart Mill was born on May 20, 1806 in Pentonville, London, England. He wrote the book On Liberty. Mr. Mill died on May 8, 1873 in Avignon, France.

Eddie Rabbitt died 11 years ago

Eddie Rabbitt was born as Edward Thomas Rabbitt on November 27, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He sang the song I Love a Rainy Night. Mr. Rabbitt died on May 7, 1998 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jeffrey Mylett died 23 years ago

Jeffrey Mylett was born on June 8, 1949 in North Canton, Ohio. He acted in the movie Godspell. Mr. Mylett died on May 7, 1986 in Los Angeles, California.

Lillian Asplund died 3 years ago

Lillian Gertrud Asplund was born on October 21, 1906 in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was the last survivor of the Titanic. Ms. Asplund died on May 6, 2006 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

Otis Blackwell died 7 years ago

Otis Blackwell was born on February 16, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He co-wrote the songs Great Balls of Fire and Return to Sender. Mr. Blackwell died on May 6, 2002 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Marlene Dietrich died 17 years ago

Marlene Dietrich was born as Marie Magdalene Dietrich on December 27, 1901 in Berlin-Schöneberg. Ms. Dietrich died on May 6, 1992 in Paris, France.

Maria Montessori died 57 years ago

Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. She originated the Montessori method of education. Ms. Montessori died on May 6, 1952 in Noordwijk, Netherlands.

L. Frank Baum died 90 years ago

Lyman Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856 in Chittenango, New York. He wrote the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Mr. Baum died on May 6, 1919 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Henry David Thoreau died 147 years ago

Henry David Thoreau was born as David Henry Thoreau on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts. He wrote the book Walden and the essay Civil Disobedience. Mr. Thoreau died on May 6, 1862 in Concord, Massachusetts.

Violet Jessop died 38 years ago

Violet Constance Jessop was born on October 2, 1887 in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. She survived the sinkings of the Titanic and the Britannic. Ms. Jessop died on May 5, 1971 in Great Ashfield, Suffolk, England.

Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder died 39 years ago

Allison Krause was born on April 23, 1951. Jeffrey Glenn Miller was born on March 28, 1950. Sandra Lee Scheuer was born on August 11, 1949. William Schroeder was born on July 20, 1950... Ms. Krause, Mr. Miller, Ms. Scheuer, and Mr. Schroeder died on May 4, 1970 at Kent State University, Ohio.

Adolphe Adam died 153 years ago

Adolphe Charles Adam was born on July 24, 1803 in Paris, France. He composed the ballet Giselle. Mr. Adam died on May 3, 1856 in Paris, France.

Leonardo da Vinci died 490 years ago

Leonardo da Vinci was born as Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Florence. He painted the Mona Lisa. Mr. da Vinci died on May 2, 1519 in Amboise, Touraine.

Steve Reeves died 9 years ago

Steve Reeves was born as Stephen L. Reeves on January 21, 1926 in Glasgow, Montana. He acted in the movie Hercules. Mr. Reeves died on May 1, 2000 in Escondido, California.

Aram Khachaturian died 31 years ago

Aram Khachaturian was born on June 6, 1903 in Tbilisi, Georgia. He composed the ballet Sabre Dance. Mr. Khachaturian died on May 1, 1978 in Moscow, Russia.

Antonín Dvořák died 105 years ago

Antonín Leopold Dvořák was born on September 8, 1841 in Nelahozeves. He composed the New World Symphony. Mr. Dvořák died on May 1, 1904 in Prague, Czechia.