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River Phoenix (1970–1993) -

River Phoenix's life ended on October 31, 1993 due to combined drug intoxication. Unfortunately, the actor overdosed on cocaine and heroin, commonly referred to as a speedball.

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Federico Fellini (1920–1993) -

On October 31, 1993, in Rome, the well-known Italian filmmaker and screenwriter Federico Fellini, famous for movies like '8½' (1963), passed away after a heart attack.

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Jim Henson (1936–1990) -

Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, died at the age of 53 on May 16, 1990, due to a bacterial infection.

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Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990) -

On May 16, 1990, Sammy Davis Jr., famously known as "Mister Show Business," passed away. The media highlighted the synchronicity, referring to it as the unfortunate loss of two influential figures within the Entertainment industry, occurring within a few hours of each other.

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Orson Welles (1915–1985) -

Actor, director, screenwriter, and producer Orson Welles died on October 10, 1985. A legendary Hollywood figure, Welles died from a heart attack.

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Yul Brynner (1920–1985) -

Yul Brynner, a well-known actor in Hollywood,  passed away on October 10, 1985. He was recognized for his performances in the films 'The King and I' (1956) and 'The Magnificent Seven' (1960). Brynner succumbed to cancer.

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Freddie Mercury (1946–1991) -

Freddie Mercury's passing in London on November 24, 1991 garnered global media attention. The charismatic lead singer of Queen succumbed to bronchial pneumonia related to his AIDS diagnosis.

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Eric Carr (1950–1991) -

On November 24, 1991, across the Atlantic, another musician, Eric Carr, drummer for the rock band Kiss, passed away in New York City after battling cancer.

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John Kennedy (1917–1963) -

President John F. Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963 while traveling in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas.

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C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) -

British writer C.S. Lewis died in Oxford, England on November 22, 1963. Lewis is well-known for his 'Chronicles of Narnia,' which were first published from 1950 to 1956. These fantasy novels have been transformed into various forms of media, including radio, television, stage productions, films, and computer games.

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Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) -

On November 22, 1963, British authors experienced a sorrowful day. Aldous Huxley, a renowned writer and philosopher, also passed away. Huxley is remembered for his notable works such as 'The Doors of Perception' (which inspired the rock band the Doors) and the famous 'Brave New World' (1932).

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Orville Wright (1871–1948) -

Orville Wright, who, along with his brother Wilber, achieved the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903, passed away on January 30, 1948.

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Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) -

On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi, India. Gandhi was a global inspiration for civil rights and freedom movements.

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Buddy Holly (1936–1959) -

Buddy Holly was a successful singer-songwriter during the 1950s. He performed as the opening act for Elvis Presley in 1955 and went on to create timeless rock hits like 'That'll Be the Day' and 'Peggy Sue', which had a significant impact on the Beatles. Tragically, his life was cut short on February 3, 1959 when he died in a plane crash.

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Ritchie Valens (1941–1959) -

Ritchie Valens, who wrote 'La Bamba,' was also on the plane with Buddy Holly. Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., known as The Big Bopper, was traveling with them too. All three died in the crash and February 3, 1959, became known as "the day the music died."

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Michelangelo Antonioni (1912–2007) -

Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni, known for 'Blowup' (1966) and 'Zabriskie Point' (1970), passed away on July 30, 2007.

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Ingmar Bergman (1918–2007) -

Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, an influential figure in cinema, also passed away on July 30, 2007.

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William Shakespeare (1564–1616) -

William Shakespeare, who is highly esteemed as the foremost writer in English and a renowned playwright, passed away at the age of 52 on April 23, 1616.

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Miguel de Cervantes (1547?–1616) -

Miguel de Cervantes, widely regarded as the foremost writer in Spanish, coincidentally passed away on the same day as Shakespeare. However, it should be noted that Cervantes' death date follows the Gregorian calendar, while Shakespeare's adheres to the Julian calendar. Due to this calendrical distinction, their deaths occurred with a 10-day gap. Nonetheless, in the grand scheme of things, this slight temporal disparity hardly lessens the significance of these two celebrated literary figures.

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John Adams (1735–1826) -

John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States, served from 1797 to 1801 and passed away on July 4, 1826, which is Independence Day.

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Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) -

Thomas Jefferson passed away on July 4, 1826, coincidentally on Independence Day. Prior to that, he had held the position of the second vice president of the United States under John Adams.

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Josef Stalin (1878–1953) -

Josef Stalin, a Soviet political leader and one of the most dreaded dictators of the 20th century, passed away on March 5, 1953.

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Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) -

Sergei Prokofiev, a well-known Russian composer of classical music, passed away on March 5, 1953. Unfortunately, Stalin's death received much more attention than his. Nevertheless, Prokofiev is acclaimed for his creation of multiple musical masterpieces, including the ballet 'Romeo and Juliet' which features the captivating 'Dance of the Knights.'

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Billy Wilder (1906–2002) -

On March 27, 2002, in California, the renowned movie director Billy Wilder bid farewell, leaving a lasting impact on Hollywood at the age of 95.

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Dudley Moore (1935–2002) -

In another part of the United States, specifically in New Jersey, British comedian Dudley Moore passed away on March 27, 2002, due to a degenerative brain disorder.

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Milton Berle (1908–2002) -

On March 27, 2002, actor and comedian Milton Berle passed away at the age of 93. Berle was a prominent figure during the first Golden Age of Television.

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Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959) -

Cecil B. DeMille, a prominent figure in early American cinema, died on January 21, 1959, due to heart failure.

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Carl Switzer (1927–1959) -

On January 21, 1959, Carl Switzer, a well-known child actor from the 'Our Gang' series, was tragically shot and killed by an acquaintance during an argument about money. Switzer's fame was solidified in the mid-1930s through his roles in comedy short films.

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Michael Jackson (1958–2009) -

Michael Jackson, also known as the "King of Pop," tragically and unexpectedly died on June 25, 2009. His passing resulted from an overdose of propofol administered by a physician.

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Farrah Fawcett (1947–2009) -

On June 25, 2009, Farrah Fawcett passed away from cancer. Fawcett gained worldwide recognition for her leading role in the initial season of the TV show 'Charlie's Angels' (1976–1977).

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Édith Piaf (1915-1963) -

Édith Piaf, the renowned French singer, passed away on October 10, 1963 after enduring a prolonged struggle with alcohol. However, her death was officially disclosed on the subsequent day, October 11.

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Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) -

Shortly after learning about the passing of his dear friend Édith Piaf, the multifaceted French artist Jean Cocteau suffered a heart attack, resulting in his untimely death on October 11, 1963. Although not on the same day as Piaf, the proximity of his demise merely hours after hers warrants his inclusion in this list.

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Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) -

Margaret Thatcher, known as the "Iron Lady," passed away on April 8, 2013. She made history as the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, serving from 1979 to 1990 with her resolute politics and leadership.

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Annette Funicello (1942–2013) -

Annette Funicello, who passed away on April 8, 2013, may not be a household name, but she was a Mouseketeer on the original 'Mickey Mouse Club' TV series in the 1950s. She later became known for her appearances in several "Beach Party" movies, a popular film genre in the 1960s.

Sources: (Newsweek) (Smooth Radio) (Time and Date) 

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