1959 Facts for Kids

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century – 20th century – 21st century
Decades:	1920s 1930s 1940s – 1950s – 1960s 1970s 1980s
Years:	1956 1957 1958 – 1959 – 1960 1961 1962

The year 1959 was a time of exciting changes and important events around the world. New countries joined the United States, famous toys were created, and some well-known music stars left us too soon. Let's take a look at what happened in 1959!

Major Events of 1959
Famous People Born in 1959
Notable People Who Passed Away in 1959
Popular Movies Released in 1959
New Books from 1959
Hit Songs of 1959
Images for kids
See also

Major Events of 1959

Fidel Castro became the leader of Cuba. This was a big political change for the country.
The United States grew bigger! Alaska became the 49th state, and Hawaii became the 50th state.
On February 3, a sad event happened in music history. Popular American musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" were tragically killed in a plane crash. They were on their way to a concert. This day is often called "The Day the Music Died."
On March 9, the very first Barbie dolls were sold! This iconic doll quickly became a favorite toy for children everywhere.

Famous People Born in 1959

Many people who would become famous were born in 1959. Here are a few you might know:

January 5 – Clancy Brown, an American actor known for many roles, including voice acting.
January 22 – Linda Blair, an actress who became famous as a child.
April 15 – Emma Thompson, a talented British actor and writer.
July 29 – Sanjay Dutt, a popular Indian actor.
October 10 – Maya Lin, an American architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
December 31 – Val Kilmer, an American actor known for many movies.

Notable People Who Passed Away in 1959

The year 1959 also saw the passing of some well-known figures:

March 3 – Lou Costello, a famous comedian and actor. He was half of the popular comedy team Abbott and Costello.
June 16 – George Reeves, an actor famous for playing Superman on television.
October 14 – Errol Flynn, a very popular actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Popular Movies Released in 1959

Many classic movies came out in 1959. Here are some that people still enjoy today:

Ben-Hur – A huge historical drama that won many awards.
North by Northwest – A thrilling spy movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Some Like It Hot – A funny comedy starring Marilyn Monroe.
Sleeping Beauty – A beautiful animated Disney movie.

New Books from 1959

Many important books were published in 1959, becoming popular with readers:

Advise and Consent – By Allen Drury, a political novel.
Goldfinger – By Ian Fleming, another exciting James Bond adventure.
The Haunting of Hill House – By Shirley Jackson, a classic horror story.
Psycho – By Robert Bloch, a suspenseful thriller that later became a famous movie.
Starship Troopers – By Robert A. Heinlein, a well-known science fiction novel.