April 22 birthdays and deaths:
Famous people who died on April 22:
Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams was a legendary American photographer and environmentalist, renowned for his iconic black-and-white landscape photographs, particularly in the American West. He advocated conservation and challenged government policies that threatened public lands and national parks.
Deathyear: 1984
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. He is known for his foreign policy achievements, including opening diplomatic relations with China and signing the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT).
Deathyear: 1994
Len Goodman
Len Goodman is a renowned English ballroom dancer and television personality, born in 1944. As a judge on the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" and a competitor on "Dance for Life," Goodman has won numerous accolades and gained widespread recognition for his expertise in ballroom and Latin American dance.
Deathyear: 2023
Will Geer
Will Geer, born William Gove, was a distinguished American actor known for his work on stage and screen. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the wisecracking Grandpa Jensen on the 1970s sitcom "The Waltons".
Deathyear: 1978
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes, the renowned Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright, is best known for his masterpiece, "Don Quixote", considered the first modern novel. He lived from 1547 to 1616, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking literary works that continue to inspire and influence writers to this day.
Deathyear: 1616
Guy Lafleur
Guy Lafleur, a Canadian ice hockey player, is a iconic figure in the sport. Born on March 13, 1951, Lafleur played for the Montreal Canadiens and Hartford Whalers, winning numerous accolades including the Hart Memorial Trophy and being a four-time Stanley Cup champion.
Deathyear: 2022
Shirley Knight
Shirley Knight is a renowned American actress born on July 5, 1936. With a career spanning over six decades, she has appeared in numerous stage and screen productions, earning multiple awards, including an Emmy and a Tony Award.
Deathyear: 2020
Mircea Eliade
Mircea Eliade was a renowned Romanian philosopher, historian, and writer born in 1907. He is known for his influential works on comparative religion, symbolism, and mythology, having written extensively on the importance of symbols and their impact on human understanding.
Deathyear: 1986
Richie Havens
Richie Havens was a legendary American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in 1941. He rose to fame in the 1960s with his soulful, folk-infused sound. His iconic rendition of "Freedom" at Woodstock '69 further cemented his status as a folk-icon.
Deathyear: 2013
Albert Salmi
Albert Salmi was an American actor, born on June 18, 1928. He was known for his rugged, tough-guy persona, appearing in numerous films and TV shows, including "Cimarron Strip" and "The Twilight Zone."
Deathyear: 1990
Alida Valli
Alida Valli was a renowned Italian actress born in 1921. She gained international recognition for her captivating performances on screen, particularly in her roles in Michael Powell's "The Leopard Man" (1942) and the classic thriller "Bio-Domme" (1953).
Deathyear: 2006
Käthe Kollwitz
Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) was a renowned German painter and sculptor. Her powerful works, often depicting war's human cost and maternal anguish, are celebrated for their intense emotionality and technical skill.
Deathyear: 1945
Richard Trevithick
Richard Trevithick, an influential English engineer and explorer, was born in 1771. He pioneered steam-powered locomotives and implemented the first steam-powered railway in 1804. His innovative designs revolutionized transportation and cemented his place in history.
Deathyear: 1833
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman was a British Liberal politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908. He was known for his progressive policies, including Old Age Pensions and the creation of the Board of Education.
Deathyear: 1908
Erma Bombeck
Erma Bombeck was a renowned American journalist and author, known for her witty and relatable writing about suburban life. She penned several bestselling books, including "If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, Why Are There Wholes in the Apples?" and "Laughter, the Best Medicine."
Deathyear: 1996
Henry Royce
Henry Royce was a talented English engineer and businessman who co-founded Rolls-Royce Limited with Charles Rolls in 1904. Born in 1863, Royce was a skilled mechanic and inventor, known for his innovative designs and exceptional engineering skills.
Deathyear: 1933
Kūkai
Kūkai, a renowned Japanese Buddhist monk, founded Esoteric Buddhism's Shingon school in 816. Born in 774, Kūkai studied Chinese Buddhism, Tiantai, and Pure Land. He introduced Esoteric Buddhism, also known as Shingon, and developed a unique system of meditation and rituals.
Deathyear: 835
Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
Felice Bryant was a pioneering American songwriter, born in Maysville, Missouri in 1925. She, along with her husband Ben, wrote hits like "Rock Around the Clock" and "Wake Up Little Susie". Their compositions have become classics of the early rock and roll era.
Deathyear: 2003
Philip Morrison
Philip Morrison was a pioneering American physicist and academic, known for his work on particle physics and nuclear physics. He was also a vocal advocate for peace and disarmament, and served as the chairman of the Federation of American Scientists.
Deathyear: 2005
Earl Hines
Earl Hines, a renowned American pianist and bandleader, was a true pioneers of jazz. Born in 1903, Hines was a stride piano master, known for his unique boogie-woogie style and energetic performances with his orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Deathyear: 1983
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve was a French admiral who played a key role in the Napoleonic Wars. Born in 1763, he led French naval forces during the War of the Third Coalition and the Peninsular War, serving under Napoleon Bonaparte until his defection to the British in 1805.
Deathyear: 1806
Eduardo Paolozzi
Eduardo Paolozzi was a Scottish sculptor and artist, born in 1924. Known for his innovative and influential work, he explored themes of technology, science, and mythology in his sculptures, prints, and installations, often incorporating found objects and materials.
Deathyear: 2005
Emilio Segrè
Emilio G. Segrè, an Italian-American physicist and academic, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1959 for his discovery ofanterium, along with Owen Chamberlain.
Deathyear: 1989
Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston (1895-1964) was a pioneering American lawyer and academic who challenged racial segregation through lawsuits. As Thurgood Marshall's mentor, he argued several landmark cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, leading to significant civil rights advancements in the United States.
Deathyear: 1950
James Hargreaves
James Hargreaves (1720-1778) was a British inventor who revolutionized textiles with the Spinning Jenny, a machine that allowed multiple spindles of yarn to be spun simultaneously, increasing manufacturing efficiency and boosting the Industrial Revolution.
Deathyear: 1778
Fritz Strassmann
Fritz Strassmann was a German chemist and physicist who discovered atomic fission in 1938 with Otto Hahn. His research at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Chemistry led to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1944, a groundbreaking achievement that revolutionized nuclear physics and worldwide nuclear energy research.
Deathyear: 1980
Pope Caius
Pope Paul IV, also known as Pope Caius, was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church. He was elected in 1555 and reigned until his death in 1559. He was known for his strict conservative views and his attempts to reassert papal authority over the Church of England.
Deathyear: 296
Jack Cardiff
Jack Cardiff, a British cinematographer, director, and photographer, born in 1914, revolutionized the film industry with his innovative camera techniques and iconic lens choices. His work on "The Red Shoes" and "Black Narcissus" showcases his artistic vision, earning him four Academy Awards for Best Cinematography.
Deathyear: 2009