23 March

Across recorded history, 1,619 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 23 March. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← March 22 March 24 →

Sarah Bernhardt

1844–1923

French stage actress, painter and sculptor

Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage actress who also worked as a painter and sculptor.

Elizabeth Taylor

1932–2011

British-American actress

Elizabeth Taylor was an actress who gained international recognition for her performances in film and her extensive work as an HIV/AIDS activist.

Stendhal

1783–1842

French writer

Stendhal was a French writer known for his novels and autobiographical works.

Lee Kuan Yew

1923–2015

1st Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore

Lee Kuan Yew was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore.

Friedrich Hayek

1899–1992

Austrian and British economist

Friedrich Hayek was an economist known for his defense of classical liberalism and free-market capitalism.

Madeleine Albright

1937–2022

United States Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001

Madeleine Albright was a diplomat who served as the United States Secretary of State.

Paul I of Russia

1754–1801

The ninth Emperor of Russia from 1796 to 1801

Paul I of Russia was the sovereign who served as the Emperor of Russia.

Nikolai Berdyaev

1874–1948

Russian philosopher

Nikolai Berdyaev was a Russian philosopher who explored themes of human freedom and creativity.

Gilbert N. Lewis

1875–1946

American physical chemist

Gilbert N. Lewis was an American chemist known for his contributions to chemical thermodynamics and the development of the covalent bond theory.

Boris Berezovsky

1946–2013

Russian oligarch, government official, engineer and mathematician

Boris Berezovsky was a Russian oligarch and government official who worked as a mathematician.

Peter Lorre

1904–1964

Hungarian and American actor

Peter Lorre was an actor who appeared in numerous Hungarian and American film and television productions.

Hovhannes Tumanyan

1869–1923

Armenian writer and public activist

Hovhannes Tumanyan was an Armenian writer and public activist.

Giulietta Masina

1921–1994

Italian actress

Giulietta Masina was an Italian actress known for her performances in film, stage, and television productions.

Raoul Dufy

1877–1953

French painter

Raoul Dufy was a French painter known for his work across various artistic media including textiles, ceramics, and graphic illustration.

August von Kotzebue

1761–1819

German dramatist and writer

August von Kotzebue was a German playwright and writer who produced numerous theatrical works throughout his career.

Desmond Doss

1919–2006

American solder, pacifist, and combat medic; recipient of the Purple Heart medal, recipient of the Medal of Honor (1919–2007) Un gran hombre en la vida militar.

Desmond Doss was a combat medic and conscientious objector who received the Medal of Honor for his service during the Second World War.

Lucia Bose

1931–2020

Italian-born Spanish actress

Lucia Bose was an Italian-born Spanish actress who worked in film.

Francisco Largo Caballero

1869–1946

Spanish politician

Francisco Largo Caballero was a Spanish politician and trade unionist who served as the Prime Minister of the Second Spanish Republic.

George Segal

1934–2021

American actor

George Segal was an American actor who appeared in numerous film and television productions throughout his career.

Said Nursî

1877–1960

Turkish Sunni Muslim theologian of Kurdish origin

Said Nursî was a Turkish Sunni Muslim theologian who authored extensive commentaries on the Qur'an.

Cristóbal Balenciaga

1895–1972

Spanish fashion designer

Cristóbal Balenciaga was a Spanish fashion designer known for his influence on the development of modern couture.

Paul Cohen

1934–2007

American mathematician

Paul Cohen was an American mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of mathematical logic.

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed

1934–2012

former president of Puntland and President of Somalia (dead 2012)

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was a politician who served as the president of Puntland and the president of Somalia.

Artur Bernardes

1875–1955

Brazilian politician

Artur Bernardes was a Brazilian politician who served as the President of Brazil.

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.