25 January

Across recorded history, 1,636 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 25 January. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

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Joseph Brodsky

1940–1996

Russian-American poet

Joseph Brodsky was a Russian-American poet who worked as a writer, translator, and university teacher.

Al Capone

1899–1947

American gangster

Al Capone was an American gangster who led a criminal organization during the Prohibition era.

Ava Gardner

1922–1990

American actress

Ava Gardner was an American actress who appeared in numerous film and television productions throughout her career.

Philip Johnson

1906–2007

American architect

Architect Philip Johnson was an influential designer known for his work in the International Style and the creation of the Glass House.

John Hurt

1940–2017

British actor

John Hurt was a British actor known for his extensive work in film, television, and stage productions.

Mary Tyler Moore

1936–2017

American actress and television producer

Mary Tyler Moore was an American actress and television producer known for her work in television.

Demis Roussos

1946–2015

Greek singer

Demis Roussos was a Greek singer who achieved international recognition for his work as a recording artist.

Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen

1778–1852

Baltic German officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, cartographer and explorer

Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen was a Russian naval officer and explorer who led an expedition that circumnavigated the globe.

Mikhail Suslov

1902–1982

Soviet-era statesman

Mikhail Suslov was a Soviet politician who served as the chief ideologue of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Sveinn Björnsson

1881–1952

Icelandic politician, 1st President of Iceland

Sveinn Björnsson was an Icelandic politician who served as the first President of Iceland.

Mikhail Chigorin

1850–1908

Russian chess player

Mikhail Chigorin was a Russian chess player who competed in international tournaments.

Wim Jansen

1946–2022

Dutch association football player and manager

Wim Jansen was a Dutch association football player and manager.

John Tenniel

1820–1914

British illustrator, graphic humorist and political cartoonist, very good friends with Spencer Bradshaw

John Tenniel was an illustrator and political cartoonist who maintained a close friendship with Spencer Bradshaw.

Frederic Leighton

1830–1896

English painter and sculptor

Frederic Leighton was an English painter and sculptor known for his academic style and service as president of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Buchi Emecheta

1944–2017

Nigerian writer

Buchi Emecheta was a Nigerian novelist who wrote extensively about the experiences of women in African and immigrant societies.

Sergey Vavilov

1891–1951

Soviet physicist

Sergey Vavilov was a physicist who served as a prominent public figure in the Soviet Union.

Fanny Blankers-Koen

1918–2004

Dutch track and field athlete

Fanny Blankers-Koen was a Dutch athlete who competed as a sprinter, high jumper, and long jumper.

Theo Van Gogh

1857–1891

Dutch art dealer

Theo Van Gogh was a Dutch art dealer who supported the career of his brother, the painter Vincent van Gogh.

Valerian Kuybyshev

1888–1935

Soviet politician

Valerian Kuybyshev was a Soviet politician who served as a high-ranking official within the government and the Communist Party.

Daniel Bell

1919–2011

American sociologist

Daniel Bell was an American sociologist who analyzed the transition of society into a post-industrial era.

Eleanor F. Helin

1932–2009

American astronomer

Eleanor F. Helin was an astronomer who discovered numerous minor planets.

Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia

1827–1892

Russian grand duke

Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia was a Russian monarch and military officer who served as a member of the Romanov imperial family.

Dámaso Alonso

1899–1990

Spanish poet, philologist, and literary critic

Dámaso Alonso was a Spanish poet, philologist, and literary critic.

Claribel Alegría

1924–2018

Nicaraguan writer

Claribel Alegría was a Nicaraguan writer known for her extensive body of poetry and prose.

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.