Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 2006. This list includes people like Gerald Ford, Saddam Hussein, Steve Irwin, James Brown, Syd Barrett and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, presidents, journalists and soldiers who died in 2006. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Italy and many more countries.

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 1 

Steve Irwin

(Television Celebrity & Wildlife Conservationist Who Died After Getting Stung by a Stingray Barb)

Birthdate: February 22, 1962

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Victoria, Australia

Died: September 4

Australian Steve Irwin was a world famous, high-spirited, lively host of The Crocodile Hunter television series. A conservationist, he was also part of other shows and documentaries on wildlife and environment. He was known for close encounters with some of the most dangerous and endangered animals in various jungles. He died after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Birthdate: February 7, 1919

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Lynchburg

Died: March 23

Desmond Doss was a US Army corporal. Doss served as a combat medic in World War II. For his actions during the Battle of Okinawa, Desmond Doss became the only conscientious objector to be honored with the prestigious Medal of Honor as he saved 75 men. His life and work inspired several books and the biographical war film Hacksaw Ridge.

 3 

James Brown

(Central Progenitor of Funk Music and Referred to as 'Godfather of Soul')

Birthdate: May 3, 1933

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Barnwell, South Carolina, United States

Died: December 25

Referred to by honorific nicknames, such as Godfather of Soul, James Brown was a prominent figure of 20th century music. A progenitor of funk music, Brown influenced the development of many music genres. An inductee of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame, Brown is ranked seventh in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list.

 4 

Don Knotts

(Actor and Comedian Known for His Role in TV Series: 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Three's Company')

Birthdate: July 21, 1924

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: February 24

Widely regarded as one of the most beloved American actors of all time, Don Knotts achieved popularity after portraying Barney Fife in the popular TV series The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts is often considered a major influence on other actors and entertainers. In 1979, he was ranked 27th on TV Guide's list of 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. 

 5 

Gerald Ford

(38th President of the United States (1974 - 1977))

Birthdate: July 14, 1913

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Died: December 26

Gerald Ford Jr served as the 38th president of US from August 1974 to January 1977. His 895 day-long stint as the American president is the shortest in US history for any president who did not die in office. In a controversial act, he granted a presidential pardon to his predecessor Richard Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal.

Birthdate: January 6, 1946

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Cambridge

Died: July 7

Pink Floyd co-founder and frontman Syd Barrett was known for his contribution to psychedelic rock and experiments with studio effects such as echo and distortion. He was removed from the band due to his drug addiction, following which he began a solo career. His final years were spent in privacy.

Birthdate: April 27, 1927

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Heiberger, Alabama, United States

Died: January 30

The American civil rights activist was an ideal foil for her famous husband Martin Luther King Jr. in promoting racial equality. The author and singer led the Women's Movement and fought for the rights of the LGBT community. She was also known for mobilising African-Americans during the 1960 US presidential election. She founded the King Centre, a not-for-profit organization.

 8 

Glenn Ford

(One of the Most Prominent Actors During Hollywood's Golden Age)

Birthdate: May 1, 1916

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Quebec, Canada

Died: August 30

Glenn Ford was a Canadian-American actor. One of the most bankable stars of classical Hollywood cinema, Ford remained a crowd-puller throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Five of his movies have been chosen by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry. Off-stage, Glenn Ford was a notorious womanizer and had relationships with several actresses, including Marilyn Monroe.

 9 

Peter Boyle

(Best Known for His Role as ‘Frank Barone’ in the TV Series ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’)

Birthdate: October 18, 1935

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: December 12

Peter Boyle was an American actor, best known for playing Frank Barone in the popular TV series Everybody Loves Raymond. Boyle's death, which was caused by multiple myeloma and heart disease, had a great impact on many of his colleagues. His widow, Loraine, founded the Peter Boyle Memorial Fund, which is the most successful fundraiser for the International Myeloma Foundation.

 10 

Jack Palance

(American Actor Who Was Known for Playing Tough Guys and Villains)

Birthdate: February 18, 1919

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: November 10

Jack Palance was an American actor known for playing villains and tough guys in the '50s and '60s. In 1992, he was made an inductee of the Western Performers Hall of Fame. It is widely believed that comic book artist Jack Kirby modeled Darkseid on Jack Palance. Jack Palance was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 11 

Shelley Winters

(American Actress Best Known for Her Films: 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and 'A Patch of Blue')

Birthdate: August 18, 1920

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Died: January 14

Shelley Winters was an American actress who contributed immensely to all the three major acting mediums in a career spanning almost sixty years. The winner of two Academy Awards, Shelley Winters remained popular throughout her life. She was also known for her much-publicized personal life, which included her four marriages and the romance with actor Farley Granger.

 12 

Dennis Weaver

(Actor and Former President of the Screen Actors Guild)

Birthdate: June 4, 1924

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Joplin, Missouri, United States

Died: February 24

Dennis Weaver is best known as Chester Goode/Proudfoot from Gunsmoke and as Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud from McCloud. He initially ran track and field, but his failure to qualify for the U.S. Olympic decathlon team made him join films. He had also been the president of the Screen Actors Guild.

Birthdate: September 2, 1946

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States

Died: June 6

Billy Preston was an American musician and top session keyboardist who worked with popular artists like Ray Charles, Reverend James Cleveland, Sam Cooke, and the Beatles. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Preston struggled throughout his life with his sexual orientation. He chose not to come out as gay until before his death, due to his religious beliefs.

Birthdate: May 7, 1922

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Spokane, Washington, United States

Died: February 25

Darren McGavin was an American actor whose journey from being a squatter in Tacoma to becoming a popular stage, film, TV actor was quite remarkable. He started his career as a set painter for Columbia Pictures before trying his hand at acting and eventually receiving a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his work in the sitcom TV series, Murphy Brown.

 15 

Chris Penn

(Actor)

Birthdate: October 10, 1965

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: January 24

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

 16 

Milton Friedman

(American Economist & Nobel Prize Winner in Economic Sciences Who Extolled the Virtues of a Free Market Economic System)

Birthdate: July 31, 1912

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Died: November 16

Milton Friedman was an American economist. Widely regarded as one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, Friedman was honored with the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1976. One of the most influential personalities of the Chicago school of economics, Friedman mentored people like Gary Becker and Thomas Sowell who went on to become leading economists.

 17 

Ferenc Puskás

(One of the Greatest Football Players of All Time)

Birthdate: April 1, 1927

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary

Died: November 17

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

 18 

Dana Reeve

(Actress, Wife of Superman actor Christopher Reeve who became an outspoken supporter of disability causes)

Birthdate: March 17, 1961

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Teaneck, New Jersey, United States

Died: March 6

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Birthdate: December 10, 1933

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Died: July 21

Japanese-American actor Makoto Iwamatsu, or Mako, is remembered for his Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated role of Po-Han in The Sand Pebbles. He also appeared in Conan the Barbarian, Conan the Destroyer, and Seven Years in Tibet. He delivered a Tony-nominated performance in Pacific Overtures and co-founded East West Players.

Birthdate: January 6, 1926

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary

Died: September 14

Former Mr.Universe, Mickey Hargitay made his way into showbiz with Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Husband of actress Jayne Mansfield, he was also a proficient football player. He earned the Joe Weider Lifetime Achievement Award; he was the first one to recieve that honor. During World War II, he was an underground fighter.

 21 

Buck Owens

(Musician)

Birthdate: August 12, 1929

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Sherman, Texas, United States

Died: March 25

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 22 

Bruno Kirby

(Actor)

Birthdate: April 28, 1949

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA

Died: August 14

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

 23 

June Allyson

(Actress)

Birthdate: October 7, 1917

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, USA

Died: July 8

Height: 5'0" (152 cm)

 24 

Al Lewis

(Actor)

Birthdate: April 30, 1923

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States

Died: February 3

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 25 

Lamar Hunt

(American Sports Executive and BusinessmanBusinessman)

Birthdate: August 2, 1932

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States

Died: December 13

Businessman Lamar Hunt was a major promoter of American football, soccer, tennis, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States. He was the principal founder of the Major League Soccer (MLS) and American Football League (AFL). He was also the co-founder of World Championship Tennis. In 1982, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. 

 26 

Jack Wild

(Television actor, Film actor, Actor)

Listed In:

Birthdate: September 30, 1952

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Royton

Died: March 1

 27 

Jack Warden

(Actor)

Birthdate: September 18, 1920

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States

Died: July 19

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

 28 

Robert Altman

(Filmmaker of the 'New Hollywood Era' Known for His Films: 'M*A*S*H’,’ McCabe & Mrs. Miller’ & ‘The Long Goodbye’)

Birthdate: February 20, 1925

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Died: November 20

Five-time Academy Award-nominated director Robert Altman is remembered for his non-conformist filmmaking style and for his use of satire and humor. He relied on ensemble casts. Some of his most notable films were M*A*S*H, Nashville, and Gosford Park. He was part of the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

Birthdate: April 22, 1923

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States

Died: June 23

 30 

Paul Gleason

(Best Known for His Role as ‘Dr. David Thornton’ in TV Series ‘All My Children’)

Birthdate: May 4, 1939

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States

Died: May 27

Paul Gleason is best remembered for his performance as David Thornton in the soap All My Children. He was also appreciated for his roles in the films The Breakfast Club and Die Hard. He had played briefly with the MLB team Cleveland Indians and also attended golf events.

 31 

Lou Rawls

(R&B Singer Famous for His Luxurious Baritone Singing Voice and Four-Octave Vocal Range)

Birthdate: December 1, 1933

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Died: January 6

Lou Rawls was an American singer, composer, record producer, and actor. Rawls sold over 40 million records during his illustrious career. He was also renowned for his charity work; in 2004, he was honored by the popular philanthropic organization United Negro College Fund for his work with the organization for more than 25 years.

Birthdate: February 17, 1940

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Died: April 5

 33 

Floyd Patterson

(American Professional Boxer Who Competed From 1952 to 1972)

Birthdate: January 4, 1935

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Waco, North Carolina, United States

Died: May 11

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 34 

Joseph Joe Barbera

(Director, Co-Founder of the Animation Studio and Production Company ‘Hanna-Barbera’)

Birthdate: March 24, 1911

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Delancey Street, New York, United States

Died: December 18

Joseph Barbera was an American animator, cartoon artist, storyboard artist, director, and producer. He is credited with co-producing Tom and Jerry along with William Hanna while working at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Barbera is also credited with co-founding the popular animation studio Hanna-Barbera which produced world-renowned programs like Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, and The Smurfs. Hanna-Barbera's shows have been translated into over 28 languages.

Birthdate: June 22, 1947

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States

Died: February 24

One of the finest African-American sci-fi authors, Octavia Butler was raised single-handedly by her widowed mother. Best known for the Patternist series and the short story Bloodchild, she often mingled mythology and spirituality in her work. She was the first sci-fi author to receive a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.

 36 

Jane Wyatt

(She starred in a number of Hollywood films, such as Frank Capra's Lost Horizon)

Birthdate: August 12, 1910

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Campgaw, New Jersey, United States

Died: October 20

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

 37 

Kirby Puckett

(Baseball Players)

Birthdate: March 14, 1960

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died: March 6

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Birthdate: February 20, 1951

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: September 22

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

 39 

Wilson Pickett

(American Singer and Songwriter)

Birthdate: March 18, 1941

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Prattville, Alabama, United States

Died: January 19

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

 40 

Ann Richards

(Politician)

Birthdate: September 1, 1933

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Lacy Lakeview, Texas, United States

Died: September 13

 41 

Gerald Levert

(Singer)

Birthdate: July 13, 1966

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Died: November 10

 42 

Red Buttons

(Actor)

Birthdate: February 5, 1919

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA

Died: July 13

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

 43 

Carl Brashear

(Sailor)

Birthdate: January 19, 1931

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Tonieville, Kentucky, United States

Died: July 25

Birthdate: September 20, 1917

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: October 28

 45 

Freddy Fender

(Texas-based Tejano country singer who sang the 1970s singles "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.")

Birthdate: June 4, 1937

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: San Benito, Texas, United States

Died: October 14

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

 46 

Maureen Stapleton

(American Actress Known for Her for Films: ‘Lonelyhearts’, ‘Airport’ and ‘Interiors’)

Birthdate: June 21, 1925

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Troy, New York, United States

Died: March 13

Birthdate: April 28, 1937

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Al Awja, Iraq

Died: December 30

Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq as its president from 1979 to 2003. Described as one of the last of the great dictators of the 20th century, his regime caused the deaths of at least 250,000 Iraqis. Saddam was deposed in 2003 when a U.S led coalition invaded Iraq. Accused of crimes against humanity, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death in 2006.

 48 

Adrienne Shelly

(Actress)

Birthdate: June 24, 1966

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Died: November 1

Height: 5'2" (157 cm)

 49 

Jane Jacobs

(Journalist and Author Best Known for Her Book ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’)

Birthdate: May 4, 1916

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: April 25

American-Canadian journalist Jane Jacobs is best known for her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities. A specialist in urban culture and its issues, she was one of the few women who excelled in a male-dominated field. The Vincent Scully Prize winner was initially scorned at as a housewife.

Birthdate: November 30, 1912

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Fort Scott, Kansas, United States

Died: March 7

Gordon Parks was a writer, photographer, musician, and film director. He was the first Black American to direct and produce major motion pictures pertaining to the experience of slaves and African-Americans. He is credited with co-creating a new film genre called blaxploitation and his works have influenced filmmakers like Spike Lee. He is also credited with co-founding Essence magazine.