28 January

Across recorded history, 1,763 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 28 January. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← January 27 January 29 →

William Butler Yeats

1865–1939

Irish poet and playwright

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright who contributed significantly to the literary movement of his time.

Astrid Lindgren

1907–2002

Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays

Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish writer who authored numerous works of fiction and screenplays.

Paul J. Crutzen

1933–2021

Dutch climatologist

Paul J. Crutzen was a climatologist who conducted research on the depletion of the ozone layer.

Zora Neale Hurston

1891–1960

African American folklorist, novelist, short story writer, and Civic Rights advocate

Zora Neale Hurston was a folklorist who documented African American cultural traditions and authored several novels.

Vicente Blasco Ibáñez

1867–1928

Spanish author

Vicente Blasco Ibáñez was a Spanish novelist who achieved international recognition for his literary works.

Dino Buzzati

1906–1972

Italian writer

Dino Buzzati was an Italian writer known for his novels, journalism, and work as a painter.

George Kennedy

1925–2016

American actor

George Kennedy was an American actor who appeared in numerous film, television, and stage productions.

Cicely Tyson

1924–2021

American actress

Cicely Tyson was an American actress known for her extensive career in film, television, and theater.

Christa McAuliffe

1948–1986

American educator and astronaut

Christa McAuliffe was an American educator who served as an astronaut.

Benoît Paul Émile Clapeyron

1799–1864

French physicist

Benoît Paul Émile Clapeyron was a physicist who contributed to the development of thermodynamics.

Judith Resnik

1949–1986

American engineer and astronaut

Judith Resnik was an American engineer and astronaut who served as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Antonín Novotný

1904–1975

Czech politician

Antonín Novotný was a Czech politician who served as the leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.

André the Giant

1946–1993

French professional wrestler and actor

André the Giant was a professional wrestler and actor known for his large stature.

F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich

1782–1859

British Prime Minister, politician

F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister.

Maxime Weygand

1867–1965

French general

Maxime Weygand was a French general who served as a senior military commander during the First and Second World Wars.

Klaus Fuchs

1911–1988

German-born British theoretical physicist and atomic spy

Klaus Fuchs was a theoretical physicist who provided classified atomic research information to the Soviet Union.

Gene Sharp

1928–2018

American political scientist

Gene Sharp was a political scientist who developed theories regarding the use of nonviolent action to challenge power structures.

Alfredo Foni

1911–1985

Italian footballer

Alfredo Foni was an Italian footballer who also served as a professional association football coach.

Franz Mehring

1846–1919

German communist historian, philosopher, and politician

Franz Mehring was a German historian who wrote extensively on socialist theory and the history of the labor movement.

Katō Takaaki

1860–1926

Japanese politician

Katō Takaaki was a Japanese politician who served as the head of government and as a diplomat.

James Scullin

1876–1953

Australian politician, ninth Prime Minister of Australia

James Scullin was an Australian politician who served as the ninth Prime Minister of Australia.

Paul Kantner

1941–2016

American singer and guitarist

Paul Kantner was an American musician and guitarist who performed as a member of the rock band Jefferson Airplane.

Teófilo Braga

1843–1924

Portuguese politician

Teófilo Braga was a Portuguese politician who served as the president of the Provisional Government of the Portuguese Republic.

Jimmy Durante

1893–1980

American actor, comedian and singer

Jimmy Durante was an American entertainer known for his work as a comedian, actor, and singer.

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.