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In the year 1939
1,228 Notable birthdays
Hugh Masekela
South african jazz trumpeter.
Born April 4th, 1939 in Witbank.
Died January 23rd, 2018 at 78 years old in Johannesburg (prostate cancer). [ref]
Samantha Eggar
British actress (1939–2025).
Born March 5th, 1939 in Hampstead. [ref]
Died October 15th, 2025 at 86 years old in Sherman Oaks (leukemia). [ref]
Giovanni Falcone
Italian magistrate murdered by the mafia (1939-1992).
Born May 18th, 1939 in Palermo. [ref]
Died May 23rd, 1992 at 53 years old in Capaci (car bomb). [ref]
Ron Atkinson
English footballer, manager and commentator (born 1939).
Born March 18th, 1939 (age 87 years) in Liverpool.
Giovanni Trapattoni
Italian association football player and manager.
Born March 17th, 1939 (age 87 years) in Cusano Milanino.
Junko Tabei
Japanese mountain climber (1939-2016).
Born September 22nd, 1939 in Miharu.
Died October 20th, 2016 at 77 years old in Kawagoe (stomach cancer). [ref]
R. C. Sproul
American theologian and pastor (1939–2017).
Born February 13th, 1939 in Pittsburgh.
Died December 14th, 2017 at 78 years old in Altamonte Springs (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). [ref]
Bernie Casey
American actor and professional football player (1939–2017).
Died September 19th, 2017 at 78 years old in Los Angeles. [ref]
John H. Sununu
American politician, 75th governor of new hampshire.
Laurent-Désiré Kabila
Former president of the democratic republic of the congo (1939-2001).
Born November 27th, 1939 in Likasi, Moba.
Died January 16th, 2001 at 61 years old in Kinshasa (gunshot wound).
Dick Scobee
American astronaut.
Born May 19th, 1939 in Cle Elum.
Died January 28th, 1986 at 46 years old in Cape Canaveral (Space Shuttle Challenger disaster).
Kathryn Joosten
American actress (1939-2012).
Born December 20th, 1939 in Chicago.
Died June 2nd, 2012 at 72 years old in Westlake Village (lung cancer). [ref]
David Birney
American actor and director (1939–2022).
Born April 23rd, 1939 in Washington, D.C.. [ref]
Died April 27th, 2022 at 83 years old in Santa Monica (Alzheimer's disease). [ref]
John F. MacArthur
American baptist pastor and theologian (1939–2025).
Born June 19th, 1939 in Los Angeles.
Died July 14th, 2025 at 86 years old in Santa Clarita. [ref]
Scott McKenzie
American singer and songwriter (1939–2012).
Born January 10th, 1939 in Jacksonville.
Died August 18th, 2012 at 73 years old in Los Angeles (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Raymond J. Barry
American film, television and stage actor.
Born March 14th, 1939 (age 87 years) in Hempstead.
Gary Paulsen
American writer of young adult literature.
Born May 17th, 1939 in Minneapolis. [ref]
Died October 13th, 2021 at 82 years old in Tularosa. [ref]
Carolina Herrera
Venezuelan-american fashion designer.
Born January 8th, 1939 (age 87 years) in Caracas.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime minister of malaysia from 2003 to 2009.
Born November 26th, 1939 in Bayan Lepas.
Died April 14th, 2025 at 85 years old in National Heart Institute of Malaysia (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome). [ref]
Phil Niekro
American baseball player (1939–2020).
Born April 1st, 1939 in Blaine.
Died December 26th, 2020 at 81 years old in Flowery Branch. [ref]
Melvyn Bragg
British broadcaster and author (born 1939).
Born October 6th, 1939 (age 86 years) in Carlisle.
Roy Buchanan
American blues musician (1939–1988).
Born September 23rd, 1939 in Ozark.
Died August 14th, 1988 at 48 years old in Fairfax (hanging).
Harvey Pekar
American underground comic book writer, music critic, and media personality (1939-2010).
Born October 8th, 1939 in Cleveland.
Died July 12th, 2010 at 70 years old in Cleveland Heights. [ref]
Jacqueline Mars
American billionaire and philanthropist, member of mars family of candy fame.
Born October 10th, 1939 (age 86 years) in United States.
Birthdays 126 to 150 of 1228
Our wrinkles are our medals of the passage of life. They are what we have been through and who we want to be. Lauren Hutton