1 April

Across recorded history, 1,636 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 1 April. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

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Lev Landau

1908–1968

Soviet theoretical physicist

Lev Landau was a theoretical physicist who made fundamental contributions to many areas of theoretical physics.

Val Kilmer

1959–2025

American actor

Val Kilmer is an American actor known for his work in film, television, and theater.

Marvin Gaye

1939–1984

American R&B and soul singer

Marvin Gaye (1939–1984), American R&B and soul singer (1939–1984).

Yevgeny Yevtushenko

1932–2017

Soviet and Russian poet

Yevgeny Yevtushenko was a poet who wrote extensively within the Soviet and Russian literary traditions.

Charles I of Austria

1887–1922

Last monarch of Austria-Hungary (r. 1916–1918)

Charles I of Austria was the final monarch of Austria-Hungary.

Max Ernst

1891–1976

German artist

Max Ernst was a German artist who pioneered the surrealist movement through his innovative work in painting and collage.

Isamu Akasaki

1929–2021

Japanese engineer

Isamu Akasaki was an engineer who developed the first bright blue light-emitting diodes.

Scott Joplin

1868–1917

American composer, musician, pianist (1867/68-1917)

Scott Joplin was an American composer and pianist known for his influential ragtime compositions.

George II of Greece

1890–1947

King of Greece (r. 1922-1924, 1935-1947)

George II of Greece was a monarch who served as the King of Greece.

Simo Häyhä

1905–2002

Finnish military sniper

Simo Häyhä was a Finnish military sniper who served during the Winter War.

Martha Graham

1894–1991

American dancer and choreographer

Martha Graham was a choreographer who developed a modern dance technique that influenced the field of contemporary movement.

Anton Makarenko

1888–1939

Ukrainian and Soviet educator and writer

Anton Makarenko was a Soviet educator and writer who developed pedagogical theories based on collective labor and self-governance in youth colonies.

Robert Doisneau

1912–1994

French photographer

Photographer Robert Doisneau is recognized for his black-and-white images capturing street life in Paris.

Jacques Le Goff

1924–2014

French historian

Jacques Le Goff was a French historian who specialized in the study of the Middle Ages.

Leslie Cheung

1956–2003

Hong Kong singer and actor

Leslie Cheung was a Hong Kong singer and actor who achieved prominence in the entertainment industry.

Joe Flaherty

1941–2024

American actor, writer, and comedian

Joe Flaherty was an American actor and writer known for his work in television comedy.

Ferenc Molnár

1878–1952

Hungarian-born dramatist and novelist

Ferenc Molnár was a Hungarian playwright and novelist known for his contributions to literature and drama.

Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona

1913–1993

Infante of Spain

Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona was a Spanish naval officer and the designated heir to the Spanish throne.

John Forsythe

1918–2010

American film and television actor

John Forsythe was an American actor known for his extensive work in film and television.

Cynthia Lennon

1939–2015

former wife of John Lennon

Cynthia Lennon was a visual artist who was married to musician John Lennon.

Efraín Ríos Montt

1926–2018

former de facto President of Guatemala, army general, genocida and former president of Congress

Efraín Ríos Montt was a Guatemalan military officer and politician who served as the de facto President of Guatemala and president of Congress.

Jakob Steiner

1796–1863

Swiss mathematician

Jakob Steiner was a Swiss mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of synthetic geometry.

Carrie Snodgress

1945–2004

American actress

Carrie Snodgress was an American actor who performed in film, television, and stage productions.

Helena Rubinstein

1872–1965

Polish-American businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist

Helena Rubinstein was a business magnate who established an international cosmetics company and maintained a significant collection of art.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.