Death Anniversary Thread

[Hell 1,328]

American actress Anne Baxter died on this day 38 years ago, aged 62. She won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, and was nominated for an Emmy. She was a granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright. Baxter studied acting with Maria Ouspenskaya and had some stage experience before making her film debut in 20 Mule Team (1940). She became a contract player of 20th Century Fox and was loaned to RKO Pictures for the role of Lucy Morgan in Orson Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), one of her earlier films. In 1947, she won both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sophie MacDonald in The Razor's Edge (1946). In 1951, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the title role in All About Eve (1950). She worked with several of Hollywood's greatest directors, including Billy Wilder in Five Graves to Cairo (1943), Alfred Hitchcock in I Confess (1953), Fritz Lang in The Blue Gardenia (1953), and Cecil B. DeMille in The Ten Commandments (1956), for which she won a Laurel Award for Topliner Female Dramatic Performance.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,114]

Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria died on this day 897 years ago, aged 51.

- Henry was the son of Welf I of Bavaria, and would administer his lands south of the Alps.

- Henry was a major political figure in early twelfth-century Europe- he was one of the leading nobles who got German king Henry V to meet with Pope Callixtus II to sign the Concordat of Worms in 1122 (ending the lay investiture dispute), and was instrumental in the election of Lothair III (the father of his daughter in-law) as Holy Roman Emperor in 1125.

- Family played an important role in Henry's life; he gained an interest in genealogy after his relative Conrad of Constance was made a saint in 1123, and commissioned the Genealogia Welforum to show their relation.

- On the topic, Henry's notable descendants include his grandsons Frederick I Barbarossa and Henry XII of Bavaria, his direct descendants of the Hanover dynasty (i.e. King George III and Queen Victoria)- and possibly you if you're of European descent and look that far back in your family tree.

- Henry's wife Wulfhilde died a mere sixteen days after he did. Posthumously he was given the epithet "The Black".

[diego 1,855]

Ethel Muckelt was born and died in Manchester, she died 70 years ago at the age of 68, she was a British figure skater. She won an Olympic bronze medal in 1924

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American film, stage and television actress Leora Dana died on this day 40 years ago, aged 60.

 

[Hell 1,328]

African-American civil rights and human rights activist Ella Baker died on this day 37 years ago, aged 83. She was a largely behind-the-scenes organizer whose career spanned more than five decades. In New York City and the South, she worked alongside some of the most noted civil rights leaders of the 20th century, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin Luther King Jr. She also mentored many emerging activists, such as Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, and Bob Moses, as leaders in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Baker criticized professionalized, charismatic leadership; she promoted grassroots organizing, radical democracy, and the ability of the oppressed to understand their worlds and advocate for themselves. She realized this vision most fully in the 1960s as the primary advisor and strategist of the SNCC. Biographer Barbara Ransby calls Baker "one of the most important American leaders of the twentieth century and perhaps the most influential woman in the civil rights movement". She is known for her critiques of both racism in American culture and sexism in the civil rights movement.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,114]

Peter O'Toole died on this day 10 years ago, aged 81.

- O'Toole began on stage before becoming a TV actor in 1954, with his first film role being Robin MacGregor in the 1960 film Kidnapped.

- O'Toole exploded in popularity almost immediately once cast as the titular Lawrence of Arabia (arguably his most well-known role), having been cast after the movie's producer saw his acting in The Day They Robbed the Bank of England. He would be nominated for Best Actor for this at the 1963 Academy Awards.

- O'Toole would be nominated for the same award seven more times over the next 42 years- after Lawrence of Arabia, he was nominated for his roles in Becket, The Lion in Winter, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, The Ruling Class, The Stunt Man, My Favorite Year, and Venus. He never won, but was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2002.

- O'Toole would occasionally voice act, starring in a series of animated Sherlock Holmes TV movies in the 1980s, the 1990 film The Nutcracker Prince, and most notably Anton Ego in Pixar's Ratatouille:

- O'Toole was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the 1976, having a large portion of it and his pancreas removed- resulting in him being dependent on insulin for the rest of his life. The stomach cancer returned in 2012, causing him to retire from acting. O'Toole made only one appearance on the DeathList, in 2013- the 11th death (of 13) that year.

[diego 1,855]

Anne of Austria died 680 years ago in Vienna at the age of 25, she was Duchess of Upper Bavaria by her first marriage to Henry XV of Bavaria, and Countess of Gorizia by her second marriage to John Henry IV of Gorizia.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings died on this day 70 years ago, aged 57.

 

[Hell 1,328]

American Founding Father, military officer, and statesman who served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 George Washington died on this day 224 years ago, aged 67. Appointed by the Second Continental Congress as commander of the Continental Army in June 1775, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War and then served as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted and ratified the Constitution of the United States and established the American federal government. Washington has thus been called the "Father of his Country". Washington played an indispensable role in adopting and ratifying the Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation in 1789. He was then twice elected president by the Electoral College unanimously. As the first U.S. president, Washington implemented a strong, well-financed national government while remaining impartial in a fierce rivalry that emerged between cabinet members Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. During the French Revolution, he proclaimed a policy of neutrality while additionally sanctioning the Jay Treaty. He set enduring precedents for the office of president, including republicanism, a peaceful transfer of power, use of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term tradition. His 1796 farewell address became a preeminent statement on republicanism in which he wrote about the importance of national unity and the dangers that regionalism, partisanship, and foreign influence pose to it. Washington's image is an icon of American culture. He has been memorialized by monuments, a federal holiday, various media depictions, geographical locations including the national capital, the State of Washington, stamps, and currency. In 1976, Washington was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies, the highest rank in the U.S. Army.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,114]

Ottoman sultan Selim II died on this day 449 years ago, aged 50.

- Selim was the fourth son of Suleiman the Magnificent- one of his older brothers died of smallpox, and two others were killed on order of their father for rebelling against him. When Selim acceded to the Ottoman throne in 1566, the empire was it its greatest territorial extent.

- Selim was mostly known for participating in state affairs- he ended the Austrian Turkish War in 1568 (Austrian emperor Maximilian II agreed to pay Selim 30,000 ducats and cede control of Wallachia and Moldavia), and attempted to build a canal between the Volga and Don Rivers to prevent Russian expansion.

- Selim was known to prefer staying in his palace, often having poets, musicians, and philosophers directly meet him there. He was also known for his generosity, donating food to the citizens of Constantinople during a famine in 1573.

- Selim reportedly died from blunt force trauma after falling while drunk, after an eight-year reign. His son Murad III then became sultan.

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American jazz pianist, organist, composer and singer Fats Waller died on this day 80 years ago, aged 39.

 

[diego 1,855]

Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne born in Colchester and died 350 years ago in Welbeck 50 years ago, was a 17th century British aristocrat, philosopher, poet, scientist, novelist and playwright. Born Margaret Lucas, she was the younger sister of Sir John Lucas, 1st Baron Shenfield and Sir Charles Lucas, a veteran of the Royal Army. She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Henrietta Maria of France and traveled with her into exile in her native country, living for some time at the court of the young Louis XIV of France. She became in 1645 the second wife of William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, when he was still a marquess.

 

Joan Fontaine was born in Tokyo and died 10 years ago in Carmel Highlands, California, USA at the age of 96, she was a British-American actress, born in Japan. She was the only performer who managed to win an Oscar for acting - best leading actress - for a film by director Alfred Hitchcock, the so-called master of suspense, who directed her in Rebecca (1940) and Suspicion (1941), the latter being the one that won him the award.

[Drewsky1211 4,114]

Pepin of Herstal died on this day 1309 years ago, aged 79.

- Pepin was named after his maternal grandfather (Pepin of Landen), and became the mayor of the palace of Austrasia- effectively king Theuderic III's greatest advisor- in 680. He would earn this title at the rest of Theuderic's palaces in Neustria and Burgundy in 687.

- From there, Pepin had consolidated his power, and began calling himself the "Duke and Prince of the Franks". The established Merovingian dynasty had less power than Pepin had, making him the de facto ruler of the Frankish Empire.

- Pepin would lead Frankish troops against those of the Alemanni, Franconians, and most notably the Frisians (a movie about the Frisian king Redbad was made in 2018 with Pepin as the film's antagonist), subjugating their lands into the Frankish Empire; this was largely done to come into control of water trade routes between the Rhine River and North Sea.

- Pepin's bastard son was Battle of Tours victor Charles Martel- and in turn his great-grandson was Charlemagne.

- A civil war began after Pepin's death due to his legitimate grandson Theudoald fighting against Charles Martel for succession.

[diego 1,855]

Haakon IV of Norway was born in Østfold and died aged 59 in Kirkwall, Orkney 760 years ago, and was king of Norway between 1217 and 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak. His reign lasted 46 years, longer than any Norwegian king up to that time

Kakuei Tanaka, who died 30 years ago, was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1947 to 1990 and Prime Minister of Japan from July 6, 1972, to December 9, 1974.

 

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American actor of stage and screen Moses Gunn died on this day 30 years ago, aged 64.

 

[Hell 1,328]

American businessman Colonel Sanders died on this day 43 years ago, aged 90. He was the founder of fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken. He later acted as the company's brand ambassador and symbol and his name and image are still symbols of the company. Sanders held a number of jobs in his early life, such as steam engine stoker, insurance salesman, and filling station operator. He began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. During that time, Sanders developed his "secret recipe" and his patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer. Sanders recognized the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, and the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. When his original restaurant closed, he devoted himself full-time to franchising his fried chicken throughout the country. The company's rapid expansion across the United States and overseas became overwhelming for Sanders. In 1964, then 73 years old, he sold the company to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey for $2 million ($18.9 million today). However, he retained control of operations in Canada, and he became a salaried brand ambassador for Kentucky Fried Chicken. In his later years, he became highly critical of the food served by KFC restaurants, believing they had cut costs and allowed quality to deteriorate.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,114]

Kim Jong-il died on this day 12 years ago, aged 70.

- Kim was born in far east Russia; his Russian name was "Yuri Kim".

- Kim became the Supreme Leader of North Korea upon his father's (Kim Il-sung) death in 1994. His rule was known for economic ineptitude which exacerbated a famine caused by North Korea being unable to sustain its industry (some claim Kim deliberately prolonged it).

- Like the rest of his family, North Koreans are fed propaganda that made him seem to be a figure of myth. Among these "legends" include that he did not need to pee or poop, his fashion style was popular around the world, and that he was the inventor of the hamburger.

- Kim Jong-il was known to enjoy films such as the James Bond franchise, and had over 20,000 VHSs and DVDs. One film he did not enjoy was 2004's Team America: World Police, where he was the main villain:

He would try convincing the Czech Republic government (of all countries) to ban screening of the film in their country- which they refused.

- Kim reportedly suffered two strokes in 2008 that left him incapacitated for months. Kim died while on his private train; state propaganda claimed a blizzard paused, ice on a frozen lake loudly shattered, and the sky ove Mount Paektu (a holy site for North Koreans) turned red at his moment of death. State media did not officially confirm his death for two days.

- Kim appeared on three consecutive DeathLists until his death (2009-2011), and was the seventh and final death of the 2011 list.

[John "요한" Sulu 372]

On this day 1 year ago, English motion picture director Mike Hodges, who directed "Get Carter", passed away at the age of 90.

 

Photo Credit: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

[diego 1,855]

Begga of Landen died at the age of 78 1330 years ago. She was the daughter of Pepin of Landen, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, and his wife, Ida of Nivelles. Begga married Ansegisel, son of Arnulf of Metz, and was the mother of Pepin of Herstal, founder of the Carolingian dynasty of kings of France.

Mwene Nzinga Mbandi died 360 years ago, was the queen regnant (Angola) of the Kingdom of Dongo between 1624 and 1626 and founder and queen of the Kingdom of Matamba, recognized by Portugal as Ana I and reigning from 1631 until her death in 1663. Nzinga Mbandi She was an important military and political strategist during the Portuguese presence in the regions corresponding to present-day Angola. She fought major battles and treaties of alliance and peace with the Portuguese, which involved the vassalage of the native African kingdoms and their slavery to Europe and Brazil .

Thubten Gyatso died 90 years ago at the age of 57 from pneumonia, born in Samye, died in the Potala Palace, was the thirteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. Thubten Gyatso was an intellectual reformer who proved to be an able politician. He was responsible for combating the British expedition to Tibet, restoring discipline to monastic life, and increasing the number of lay officials to prevent excessive power being placed in the hands of the monks.

Amleto Giovanni Cicognani was born in Brisighella and died 50 years ago at the age of 90, a victim of heart failure in the Vatican. He was an Italian cardinal, Secretary of State of the Vatican and Dean of the College of Cardinals.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American professional football quarterback Otto Graham died on this day 20 years ago, aged 82.

 

[Hell 1,328]

Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire Simón Bolívar died on this day 193 years ago, aged 47. Bolívar began his military career in 1810 as a militia officer in the Venezuelan War of Independence, fighting Royalist forces for the first and second Venezuelan republics and the United Provinces of New Granada. After Spanish forces subdued New Granada in 1815, Bolívar was forced into exile on Jamaica. In Haiti, Bolívar met and befriended Haitian revolutionary leader Alexandre Pétion. After promising to abolish slavery in Spanish America, Bolívar received military support from Pétion and returned to Venezuela. He established a third republic in 1817 and then crossed the Andes to liberate New Granada in 1819. Bolívar and his allies defeated the Spanish in New Granada in 1819, Venezuela and Panama in 1821, Ecuador in 1822, Peru in 1824, and Bolivia in 1825. Venezuela, New Granada, Ecuador, and Panama were merged into the Republic of Colombia (Gran Colombia), with Bolívar as president there and in Peru and Bolivia.

 

[wannamaker 1,090]

The great Terry Hall died on this day one year ago, aged 63.

 

 

 

[Drewsky1211 4,114]

Ronnie Biggs died on this day 10 years ago, aged 84.

- Biggs was an RAF officer who was dishonorably discharged in 1949 for breaking into a chemist's shop. He would begin a life of crime from there, stealing a car and robbing a book depository.

- Working as a carpenter, Biggs was short on money in 1963, Biggs was among the masterminds of the Great Train Robbery (alongside Bruce Reynolds, whom he befriended in prison). Out of the £2.6M looted, Biggs received £147,000 (5.6% of the share). 

- Biggs would be sentenced to 30 years imprisonment- he only served 15 months before managing to escape, fleeing to Belgium. He met up with his family in Paris, and they would go to Australia from there. Biggs then fled to Brazil in 1969 as Interpol was closing in on him.

- Biggs would make money by hosting barbecues. He was not arrested due to Brazil not having an extradition treaty to the UK, and would even manage to collaborate with the Sex Pistols:

 

Due to his long stay in Brazil, he was often jokingly called a British ambassador.

- Biggs would be kidnapped by British mercenaries in 1981 who were seeking his cash bounty, and taken to Barbados. The kidnappers' boat broke down offshore, and the Barbadian Coast Guard would send Biggs back to Brazil- the country also did not have an extradition treaty with the UK.

- Biggs decided to return to the UK in 2001, and was arrested and re-imprisoned upon arrival. His health would decline, and he would be released on compassionate grounds after several strokes in 2009.

- After release, Biggs became known for wearing a signature skull-and-crossbones scarf- which he started wearing after finding out about his presence on the list:

Biggs had debuted on the DeathList in 2000, and made a total of 13 appearances (2001 being the only absence between debut and death), 10 of which within the top 5 (4 at no.1). As seen in the picture above, he bought several pieces of DL merch. He is the only person to have been on the DeathList to publicly acknowledge that fact... so far.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,331]

American actor and director Sam Wanamaker died on this day 30 years ago, aged 74.

 

[Hell 1,328]

Hungarian-American socialite and actress Zsa Zsa Gabor died on this day 7 years ago, aged 99. Her sisters were actresses Eva and Magda Gabor. Gabor competed in the 1933 Miss Hungary pageant, where she placed as second runner-up, and began her stage career in Vienna the following year. She emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1941. Becoming a sought-after actress with "European flair and style", she was considered to have a personality that "exuded charm and grace". Her first film role was a supporting role in Lovely to Look At (1952). She later acted in We're Not Married! (1952) and played one of her few leading roles in the John Huston-directed film Moulin Rouge (1952). Huston would later describe her as a "creditable" actress. Outside her acting career, Gabor was known for her extravagant Hollywood lifestyle, her glamorous personality, and her many marriages. In total, Gabor had nine husbands, including hotel magnate Conrad Hilton and actor George Sanders.