Deaths in April 2015 Facts for Kids

This article shares information about notable people who passed away in April 2015. These individuals were known for their contributions in various fields like sports, arts, politics, and more.

People Who Passed Away in April 2015

April 1

Misao Okawa, 117, from Japan, was the world's oldest living person. She passed away due to heart failure.
Nicolae Rainea, 81, a football referee from Romania, who officiated in several FIFA World Cup tournaments. He died from cardiac arrest.
John Paul Hammerschmidt, 92, an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for Arkansas. His death was due to heart and respiratory failure.
Cynthia Lennon, 75, a British artist and the former wife of John Lennon. She passed away from cancer.

April 2

Manoel de Oliveira, 106, a famous Portuguese movie director and screenwriter. He died from heart failure.
Robert H. Schuller, 88, an American televangelist known for his TV show Hour of Power. He passed away from esophageal cancer.
Doug Sax, 79, an American audio mastering engineer, known for his work in music. He died from cancer.

April 3

Bob Burns, 64, an American drummer for the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He died in a traffic collision.
Mathias Gnädinger, 74, a Swiss actor known for movies like The Boat Is Full. He passed away from cancer.
Sarah Brady, 73, an American campaigner for gun control. She died from pneumonia.
Kayahan, 66, a popular Turkish musician. He passed away from cancer.

April 4

Elmer Lach, 97, a Canadian ice hockey legend who played for the Montreal Canadiens. He died after a stroke.
Jamaluddin Jarjis, 63, a Malaysian politician. He passed away in a helicopter crash.
Klaus Rifbjerg, 83, a Danish writer and winner of the Nordic Council's Literature Prize.

April 5

Richard Dysart, 86, an American character actor known for L.A. Law and The Thing.
Julie Wilson, 90, an American actress and singer. She died from complications after a stroke.
Lon Simmons, 91, an American sports broadcaster.

April 6

Gertrude Weaver, 116, an American supercentenarian who was briefly the world's oldest person. She died from pneumonia.
James Best, 88, an American actor famous for his role in The Dukes of Hazzard. He passed away from complications of pneumonia.

April 7

Richard Henyekane, 31, a South African footballer. He died in a traffic collision.
Stan Freberg, 88, an American actor and author known for his voice work in cartoons like Looney Tunes. He died from pneumonia.
Geoffrey Lewis, 79, an American actor who appeared in many films.

April 9

Nina Companeez, 77, a French movie director and screenwriter.

April 10

Judith Malina, 88, an American actress and director known for her work in theater and films like Dog Day Afternoon. She died from lung disease.
Richie Benaud, 84, an Australian cricket captain and television commentator. He passed away from skin cancer.
Paul Almond, 83, a Canadian movie director. He died from heart disease.

April 13

Eduardo Galeano, 74, a famous Uruguayan journalist, writer, and novelist. He passed away from lung cancer.
Herb Trimpe, 75, an American comic book artist, known for his work on The Incredible Hulk and co-creating Wolverine.
Günter Grass, 87, a renowned German novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature. He died from a lung infection.

April 14

Percy Sledge, 74, an American R&B singer famous for his song "When a Man Loves a Woman". He passed away from liver cancer.
Norman H. Bangerter, 82, an American politician who served as Governor of Utah. He died after a stroke.

April 15

Surya Bahadur Thapa, 88, a Nepalese politician who served as Prime Minister multiple times. He passed away from respiratory failure.
Jonathan Crombie, 48, a Canadian actor known for his role in Anne of Green Gables. He died from a brain hemorrhage.

April 16

Stanislav Gross, 45, a Czech politician who served as Prime Minister. He died from complications of ALS.
Johnny Kemp, 55, a singer from The Bahamas known for his song "Just Got Paid". He died from a fall.

April 17

Francis George, 78, an American Roman Catholic cardinal and Archbishop of Chicago. He passed away from bladder cancer.
Mariano Gago, 66, a Portuguese engineer and politician. He died from sudden cardiac arrest.

April 19

Theodosia Okoh, 92, a Ghanaian who designed the national flag and was a sports administrator.

April 21

Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, 88, an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Odisha. He died from a heart attack.
Steve Byrnes, 56, an American sports announcer for NASCAR on Fox. He passed away from head and neck cancer.
M. H. Abrams, 102, an American literary critic.

April 22

Dick Balharry, 77, a Scottish conservationist. He passed away from cancer.
Dorothy Custer, 103, an American comedian who appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

April 23

Richard Corliss, 71, an American movie critic for Time magazine. He died after a stroke.
Pierre Claude Nolin, 64, a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Senate. He passed away from cancer.

April 24

Władysław Bartoszewski, 93, a Polish politician and resistance fighter who was a prisoner in Auschwitz concentration camp. He died from a heart attack.

April 25

Several notable deaths occurred due to the 2015 Nepal earthquake:
- Dan Fredinburg, 33, an American executive at Google.
- Matthias Kuhle, 67, a German geographer.
Jim Fanning, 87, an American baseball player and manager.
Sabeen Mahmud, a Pakistani human rights activist, who was shot.
Don Mankiewicz, 93, an American screenwriter. He died from congestive heart failure.

April 26

Jayne Meadows, 95, a Chinese-born American actress known for her TV appearances.
Marcel Pronovost, 84, a Canadian Hall of Fame ice hockey player.

April 27

Andrew Lesnie, 59, an Australian cinematographer who won an Academy Award for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. He died from a heart attack.
Verne Gagne, 89, an American professional wrestler and trainer. He passed away from complications of dementia.
Suzanne Crough, 52, an American actress known for her role in The Partridge Family.
Jack Ely, 71, an American singer known for the song "Louie Louie".
Gene Fullmer, 83, an American professional boxer and two-time middleweight world champion.

April 28

Keith Harris, 67, a British ventriloquist. He passed away from cancer.

April 29

Calvin Peete, 71, an American golfer. He died from lung cancer.
Jean Nidetch, 91, an American businesswoman who founded Weight Watchers.
François Michelin, 88, a French businessman who was the CEO of Michelin.

April 30

Gregory Mertens, 24, a Belgian footballer. He died from heart failure.
Ben E. King, 76, an American soul and R&B singer famous for his song "Stand by Me". He passed away from coronary heart disease.
Nigel Terry, 69, a British actor known for movies like Excalibur.