Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 2002. This list includes people like Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, John Gotti, Richard Harris, Aileen Wuornos, Lisa Lopes and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, philosophers, directors and artists who died in 2002. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, India & Russia and many more countries.
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Birthdate: August 4, 1900
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hitchin, London
Died: March 30
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, better known as The Queen Mother, was King George VI’s wife and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. She ruled England as the Queen from 1936 to 1952, after which her daughter Elizabeth II took over. She was also the last empress of India.
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Lisa Lopes(Rapper, Singer and Member of the R&B Girl Group 'TLC')
Birthdate: May 27, 1971
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 25
Lisa Lopes, popularly known as “Left Eye,” was a member of the Grammy-winning hip-hop/R&B girl band TLC. Apart from rapping and singing, she also co-wrote songs and managed the band’s outfits, album titles, and artworks. Lopes died in a car accident in Honduras, leaving behind her incomplete second solo album.
Birthdate: October 1, 1930
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Limerick, Ireland
Died: October 25
A multitalented personality, Richard Harris was an Irish actor, singer, director and writer. He began as a stage actor and later moved to films. His famous films include This Sporting Life, Camelot, A Man Called Horse, Gladiator and the first two Harry Potter films. He released numerous musical albums, published a poetry book and ventured into film direction with Bloomfield.
Birthdate: December 17, 1905
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rautjärvi, Finland
Died: April 1
Simo Häyhä was a Finnish sniper who served in the Winter War against the Soviet Union, in 1939–1940. He had killed 500 men in the war and received many awards for his exploits. His face was disfigured by a Red Army bullet, and he later retired to a farm.
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Layne Staley(Original Lead Singer of the Rock Band 'Alice in Chains')
Birthdate: August 22, 1967
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kirkland, Washington, United States
Died: April 5
Layne Staley was an American musician best known for his tenor voice and distinct vocal style. The original lead singer of the band Alice in Chains, Layne Staley is credited with the success of the rock band in the early-1990s. His untimely demise at age 34 has inspired several songs, such as Bleeding The Orchid, and a couple of biographies.
Birthdate: August 21, 1930
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Glamis, Scotland
Died: February 9
A rebellion at heart with a colourful personality, Princess Margaret Rose Windsor, Countess of Snowdon could not be more different from her reserved elder sister, Queen Elizabeth II. Known for her lavish lifestyle filled with parties and drinks and glamour, this fiercely independent Royal’s life was rocked with scandals and unfulfilled romances.
Birthdate: May 23, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Maysville, Kentucky, United States
Died: June 29
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Rosemary Clooney, aunt of George Clooney, was known for her roles in movies such as White Christmas and for her hit jazz/pop tracks such as This Ole House. She chaired a foundation for the brain-injured, in memory of her sister, and also authored two autobiographies.
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Waylon Jennings(Country Singer Known for First no.1 Single 'Dreaming My Dreams')
Birthdate: June 15, 1937
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Littlefield, Texas, United States
Died: February 13
Waylon Jennings was one of the pioneers of outlaw country music. He began performing on KVOW radio, at age 12, and then performed with several bands, such as The Texas Longhorns, The Waylors, and The Highwaymen. He also contributed to Wanted! The Outlaws, the first platinum country album.
Birthdate: August 31, 1928
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Laurel, Nebraska, United States
Died: November 18
James Coburn was an American actor who played the quintessential tough guy roles in action and Western films throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was characterized by his lanky physique and toothy grin. A martial arts student, Coburn was a close friend of Bruce Lee; he was one of the pallbearers at Bruce Lee's funeral in 1973.
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Ted Williams(One of the Greatest Hitters in Baseball History)
Birthdate: August 30, 1918
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States
Died: July 5
Ted Williams was an American baseball player who spent his entire 19-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox. A nineteen-time All-Star and two-time Triple Crown winner, Ted Williams is widely considered one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball. In 1991, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Dudley Moore(Actor, Comedian and One of the Four Writer-Performers in the Comedy Revue ‘Beyond the Fringe’)
Birthdate: April 19, 1935
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom
Died: March 27
Dudley Moore was a prominent figure of the 1960s’ British satire boom. He is best known for writing the stage revue Beyond the Fringe and was also part of the sketch comedy Not Only... But Also. He delivered an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning performance in the comedy film Arthur.
Birthdate: December 19, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Toronto, Ohio, United States
Died: April 16
Robert Urich was an American actor whose contribution to the TV industry earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; he was the only person on the walk with a name starting with the alphabet U until Usher was added. Apart from his contribution to the entertainment industry, Robert Urich also worked towards raising money for cancer research.
Birthdate: August 21, 1952
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ankara, Turkey
Died: December 22
Joe Strummer is remembered for his memorable performances with the punk rock band The Clash, with whom he delivered hits such as London Calling and Train in Vain. He was known for his rebellious and politically charged lyrics. He also experimented with acting and hosted on a BBC radio show.
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John Entwistle(Musician & Songwriter who was The Bassist for The Rock Band 'The Who')
Birthdate: October 9, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: June 27
John Entwistle was an English singer-songwriter, bass guitarist, and music producer. He is credited with co-founding the popular rock band, The Who, for which he served as the original bass guitarist and backing vocalist. Nicknamed Thunderfingers, Entwistle was named in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Bass Players list. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Milton Berle(American Actor and Comedian Who Became the First Major American Television Star)
Birthdate: July 12, 1908
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
Died: March 27
Milton Berle was part of the initial Golden Age of Television, and his significant TV roles earned him the nicknames Uncle Miltie and Mr. Television. The multiple Emmy-winning artist began as a child actor on stage and in silent films and later gained fame on Texaco Star Theatre.
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John Thaw(Actor)
Birthdate: January 3, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: West Gorton, Manchester, England, UK
Died: February 21
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
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Rod Steiger(One of Hollywood's Most Charismatic and Dynamic Stars)
Birthdate: April 14, 1925
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Westhampton, New York, United States
Died: July 9
Rod Steiger was an American actor. Regarded as one of Hollywood's most dynamic and charismatic stars, Steiger often played offbeat, volatile, and crazed characters. A well-known method actor, Rod Steiger received the Academy Award for Best Actorfor his portrayal of police chief Bill Gillespie in the 1967 mystery drama film, In the Heat of the Night.
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Daniel Pearl(American Journalist Who Was Kidnapped and Later Decapitated by Terrorists in Pakistan)
Birthdate: October 10, 1963
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Princeton, New Jersey, United States
Died: February 1
Daniel Pearl was an American journalist who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan. He was kidnapped when he visited Pakistan to investigate the alleged links between Al-Qaeda and British citizen Richard Reid. Since his death, several institutions and schools have been named after him. His parents formed the Daniel Pearl Foundationin 2002 to continue his mission.
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Billy Wilder(One of the Most Brilliant and Versatile Filmmakers of 'Classic Hollywood Cinema' With a Career Spanning Five Decades)
Birthdate: June 22, 1906
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sucha Beskidzka, Poland
Died: March 27
Billy Wilder was an Austrian-born American film producer, screenwriter, and director. Widely considered one of the most versatile and brilliant filmmakers of Classical Hollywood cinema, Wilder became the first person to win Oscarsas a screenwriter, director, and producer for his 1960 film The Apartment.
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Johnny Unitas(American Football Player Who Played as a Quarterback)
Birthdate: May 7, 1933
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: September 11
Johnny Unitas was an American football player who played as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). A three-time NFL champion and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, Unitas is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL. In 1979, Johnny Unitas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Linda Lovelace(American Adult Film Star)
Birthdate: January 10, 1949
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York City, New York
Died: April 22
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Laci Peterson
Birthdate: May 4, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Modesto
Died: December 24
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Peggy Lee(Singer)
Birthdate: May 26, 1920
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Jamestown, North Dakota, United States
Died: January 21
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
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Josh Ryan Evans(Known for His Role as ‘Timmy Lenox’ in the Soap Opera ‘Passions’)
Birthdate: January 10, 1982
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hayward, California, United States
Died: August 5
Emmy-nominated actor Josh Ryan Evans is best remembered for his portrayal of Timmy Lenox in the soap Passions. His condition, a form of dwarfism named achondroplasia, caused him to look and sound like a child. He died during a medical procedure associated with a congenital heart disease.
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Dee Dee Ramone(Founding Member and Bassist of the Punk Rock Band the 'Ramones')
Birthdate: September 18, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fort Lee, Virginia, United States
Died: June 5
Douglas Glenn Colvin, or Dee Dee Ramone, was a co-founder, bassist, and singer of the punk rock band The Ramones. He had also written some of the band’s hits such as Wart Hog and Rockaway Beach. He had a lifelong struggle with heroin addiction and died of a drug overdose.
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Glenn Quinn(Actor)
Birthdate: May 28, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Died: December 3
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Birthdate: November 6, 1914
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: November 3
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
Birthdate: July 2, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Died: January 8
Birthdate: March 14, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: November 9
Merlin Santana was an American actor who played important roles on TV series like The Cosby Show and The Steve Harvey Show. He was shot dead at the age of 26 by Damien Andre Gates who was later convicted of first-degree murder. Merlin Santana's untimely death was mourned by several celebrities.
Birthdate: December 28, 1932
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Junagadh
Died: July 6
Dhirubhai Ambani was an Indian business tycoon. He is credited with founding Reliance Industries, which is currently the largest company in the country in terms of revenue. Dhirubhai Ambani's life and career inspired the 2007 drama film Guru, in which his character was portrayed by Abhishek Bachchan.
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Chuck Jones(Animator, Filmmaker, Cartoonist, Author, Artist, & Screenwriter)
Birthdate: September 21, 1912
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Spokane, Washington, United States
Died: February 22
Chuck Jones was an American animator, painter, and voice actor. Jones is best remembered for his work on Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes. He is credited with founding Chuck Jones Enterprises where he produced and directed the film adaptation of The Phantom Tollbooth. During the course of his career, Chuck Jones received three Academy Awards and the Edward MacDowell Medal.
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Spike Milligan(Actor, Comedian and Cast Member of the British Radio Comedy Programme ‘The Goon Show’)
Birthdate: April 16, 1918
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Died: February 27
Spike Milligan was a British-Irish actor, writer, poet, comedian, and playwright. He is credited with co-creating and writing the popular radio comedy program, The Goon Show. His comic novel Puckoon has been adapted into a film and stage play. In August 1999, BBC conducted a poll, according to which Spike was voted the funniest person of the last millennium.
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Jam Master Jay(Musician)
Birthdate: January 21, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: October 30
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Thor Heyerdahl(Norwegian Adventurer and Ethnographer Known for His ‘Kon-Tiki’ and ‘Ra’ Transoceanic Scientific Expeditions)
Birthdate: October 6, 1914
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Larvik, Norway
Died: April 18
Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s early interest in nature was inspired by his museum worker mother’s keen interest in Darwin’s theory of evolution. He often went on treks accompanied by his dog and later lived on Fatu Hiva with his wife. His later expeditions included his Kon-Tiki and Easter Island trips.
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Astrid Lindgren(Swedish Writer Known for Her Children's Books: ‘Pippi Longstocking’ and ‘The Six Bullerby Children’)
Birthdate: November 14, 1907
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Vimmerby, Sweden
Died: January 28
Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish writer remembered for authoring children's book series and children's fantasy novels. In 1967, the Astrid Lindgren Prize was established in her honor. Lindgren was honored with the Right Livelihood Award in 1994 for her work as a children's writer. In 2017, it was revealed that Lindgren is the 18th most translated author in the world.
Birthdate: October 19, 1920
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: September 14
37
Stephen Jay Gould(Paleontologist and Evolutionary Biologist Known for His 'Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium' & Book ‘The Mismeasure of Man’)
Birthdate: September 10, 1941
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bayside, New York, United States
Died: May 20
Stephen Jay Gould was an American evolutionary biologist, paleontologist, and historian of science. One of the most widely read and influential authors of popular science, Gould was named a Living Legend in April 2000 by the US Library of Congress. He is also counted among the most frequently cited scientists, as far as evolutionary theory is concerned.
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Edith Bouvier Beale(Former Model and socialite best known for her participation in the 1975 documentary film Grey Gardens by Albert and David Maysles)
Birthdate: November 7, 1917
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: January 14
39
Byron White(American Football Player and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1962 - 1993))
Birthdate: June 8, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Died: April 15
Byron White was an American lawyer and football player. He served as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court from 1962 to 1993. Before beginning his legal career, White was part of the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National Football League. He also played a crucial role during World War II, serving as an intelligence officer in the US Navy.
Birthdate: February 20, 1926
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: September 28
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
41
Hansie Cronje(South African Cricketer Who was Banned from Cricket for His Role in Match-Fixing Scandal)
Birthdate: September 25, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bloemfontein, South Africa
Died: June 1
Hansie Cronje was a South African international cricketer. He captained the South African national cricket team in the 1990s. In 2000, he was implicated in a cricket match-fixing scandal and banned from the sport for life. He died in a plane crash in 2002. It was rumored that he was murdered on the orders of a cricket betting syndicate.
42
Katy Jurado(Mexican Actress)
Birthdate: January 16, 1924
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Guadalajara, Mexico
Died: July 5
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Birthdate: December 9, 1923
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Blackheath, London
Died: May 22
Ruth Williams Khama served as the First Lady of Botswana between 1966 and 1980. The wife of Seretse Khama, Ruth married Seretse at a time when inter-racial marriage was uncommon. Their wedding attracted huge media attention with some calling it one of the greatest love stories ever. Her marriage inspired films like A Marriage of Inconvenience and A United Kingdom.
Birthdate: January 31, 1921
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: April 7
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Birthdate: August 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Died: June 18
46
Sam Snead(The First Golfer to Win the Grand Slam of Golf)
Birthdate: May 27, 1912
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ashwood, Virginia, United States
Died: May 23
Known to fans as The Slammer, American golfer Sam Snead ruled the PGA scene for decades and won more than 185 tournaments throughout his career. His record of 82 PGA tour victories remains unbroken. Cartoonist and golf lover Charles M. Schulz mentioned Snead often in his Peanuts strip.
Birthdate: February 22, 1952
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
Died: September 7
48
Bob Hayes(The Only Athlete to Win Both an Olympic Gold Medal and a Super Bowl Ring)
Birthdate: December 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Died: September 18
Bob Hayes was an American athlete and a football player. An Olympic gold medalist and a Super Bowl ring winner, Hayes was inducted into both Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. He won gold medal in 100m and 4 x 100m relay in 1964 Tokto Oympics Hayes was once regarded as the world's fastest human.
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Lawrence Tierney(Actor)
Birthdate: March 15, 1919
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: February 26
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
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John Frankenheimer(Director)
Birthdate: February 19, 1930
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Died: July 6
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
