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In the year 1940
1,266 Notable birthdays
Dave DeBusschere
American basketball player, coach, executive (1940–2003).
Born October 16th, 1940 in Detroit.
Died May 14th, 2003 at 62 years old in New York City (myocardial infarction).
Jeffrey R. Holland
American educator and religious leader (1940–2025).
Born December 3rd, 1940 in St. George.
Died December 27th, 2025 at 85 years old in Salt Lake City. [ref]
Gloria Leonard
American pornographic film actress; feminist publisher & activist (1940-2014).
Born August 28th, 1940 in The Bronx.
Died February 3rd, 2014 at 73 years old in Waimea (stroke).
Team Hoyt
American triathlete (1940-2021).
Born June 1st, 1940 in Winchester.
Died March 17th, 2021 at 80 years old in Holland.
Pina Bausch
German dancer, choreographer, dance teacher and ballet director.
Born July 27th, 1940 in Solingen. [ref]
Died June 30th, 2009 at 68 years old in Wuppertal (lung cancer). [ref]
Paul Shane
English comedian and actor (1940-2013).
Born June 19th, 1940 in Thrybergh.
Died May 16th, 2013 at 72 years old in Rotherham (disease). [ref]
Maeve Binchy
Irish novelist (1940-2012).
Born May 28th, 1940 in Dalkey. [ref]
Died July 30th, 2012 at 72 years old in Dublin (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Philippe Junot
French venture capitalist (1940–2026).
Born April 19th, 1940 in Paris.
Died January 8th, 2026 at 85 years old in Madrid. [ref]
Mike Hailwood
British motorcycle racer and racing driver (1940–1981).
Born April 2nd, 1940 in Great Milton.
Died March 23rd, 1981 at 40 years old in Warwickshire (traffic collision).
Richard Lynch
American actor (1940-2012).
Born February 12th, 1940 in Brooklyn.
Died June 19th, 2012 at 72 years old in Yucca Valley (pneumonia).
Bill Hunter
Australian actor (1940–2011).
Born February 27th, 1940 in Ballarat.
Died May 21st, 2011 at 71 years old in Kew (liver cancer). [ref]
James Welch
Native american writer (1940–2003).
Born November 18th, 1940 in Browning.
Died August 4th, 2003 at 62 years old in Missoula (lung cancer).
Billy McNeill
Scottish footballer and manager (1940-2019).
Born March 2nd, 1940 in Bellshill.
Died April 22nd, 2019 at 79 years old in Newton Mearns (dementia). [ref]
Paolo Borsellino
Italian magistrate killed by the mafia (1940-1992).
Born January 19th, 1940 in Palermo.
Died July 19th, 1992 at 52 years old in Palermo (car bombing).
Jack Bannon
American actor (1940-2017).
Born June 14th, 1940 in Los Angeles.
Died October 25th, 2017 at 77 years old in Coeur d'Alene. [ref]
Richard Williamson
Catholic traditionalist bishop, formerly member of the sspx, holocaust denier.
Born March 8th, 1940 in London.
Died January 29th, 2025 at 84 years old in Margate. [ref]
Joe South
American singer, songwriter and guitarist (1940–2012).
Born February 28th, 1940 in Atlanta.
Died September 5th, 2012 at 72 years old in Buford (heart failure). [ref]
Lei Feng
Chinese soldier and communist icon (1940–1962).
Born December 18th, 1940 in Wangcheng District.
Died August 15th, 1962 at 21 years old in Anshan (traffic collision).
Ron Santo
American baseball player (1940–2010).
Born February 25th, 1940 in Seattle.
Died December 3rd, 2010 at 70 years old in Scottsdale (type-1 diabetes, bladder cancer). [ref]
Birthdays 226 to 250 of 1266
As you get older, three things happen: The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two. Norman Wisdom