Notable deaths

Remembering public figures whose cancer diagnoses were reported publicly — used, with care, to understand the cancers involved.

Every page here follows one idea: what happened, why it matters, and what it does not mean. Educational only — not medical advice.

• Pancreatic cancer · 2021Willie Garson: Understanding Pancreatic cancerWillie Garson, actor, had a publicly reported pancreatic cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at pancreatic cancer — held pending source verification.
• Lung cancer · 1966Walt Disney: Understanding Lung cancerWalt Disney, animator and studio founder, had a publicly reported lung cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at lung cancer — held pending source verification.
• Colorectal cancer · 1970Vince Lombardi: Understanding Colorectal cancerVince Lombardi, football coach, had a publicly reported colorectal cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at colorectal cancer — held pending source verification.
• Head and neck cancer · 1885Ulysses S. Grant: Understanding Head and neck cancerUlysses S. Grant, former u.s. president and general, had a publicly reported head and neck cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at head and neck cancer — held pending source verification.
• Colorectal cancer · 2008Tony Snow: Understanding Colorectal cancerTony Snow, journalist and press secretary, had a publicly reported colorectal cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at colorectal cancer — held pending source verification.
• Brain tumors · 2009Ted Kennedy: Understanding Brain tumorsTed Kennedy, u.s. senator, had a publicly reported brain tumors diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at brain tumors — held pending source verification.
• Head and neck cancer · 1939Sigmund Freud: Understanding Head and neck cancerSigmund Freud, neurologist, had a publicly reported head and neck cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at head and neck cancer — held pending source verification.
• Head and neck cancer · 1990Sammy Davis Jr.: Understanding Head and neck cancerSammy Davis Jr., entertainer, had a publicly reported head and neck cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at head and neck cancer — held pending source verification.
• Head and neck cancer · 2013Roger Ebert: Understanding Head and neck cancerRoger Ebert, film critic, had a publicly reported head and neck cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at head and neck cancer — held pending source verification.
• Colorectal cancer · 2012Robin Gibb: Understanding Colorectal cancerRobin Gibb, musician, had a publicly reported colorectal cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at colorectal cancer — held pending source verification.
• Melanoma · 2015Oliver Sacks: Understanding MelanomaOliver Sacks, neurologist and author, had a publicly reported melanoma diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at melanoma — held pending source verification.
• Brain tumors · 2020Neil Peart: Understanding Brain tumorsNeil Peart, musician, had a publicly reported brain tumors diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at brain tumors — held pending source verification.
• Lung cancer · 1965Nat King Cole: Understanding Lung cancerNat King Cole, singer and pianist, had a publicly reported lung cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at lung cancer — held pending source verification.
• Colorectal cancer · 2022Kirstie Alley: Understanding Colorectal cancerKirstie Alley, actor, had a publicly reported colorectal cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at colorectal cancer — held pending source verification.
• Lymphoma · 1994Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: Understanding LymphomaJacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former first lady and editor, had a publicly reported lymphoma diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at lymphoma — held pending source verification.
• Breast cancer · 1982Ingrid Bergman: Understanding Breast cancerIngrid Bergman, actor, had a publicly reported breast cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at breast cancer — held pending source verification.
• Esophageal cancer · 1957Humphrey Bogart: Understanding Esophageal cancerHumphrey Bogart, actor, had a publicly reported esophageal cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at esophageal cancer — held pending source verification.
• Cervical cancer · 1951Henrietta Lacks: Understanding Cervical cancerHenrietta Lacks, woman whose cells advanced medical research, had a publicly reported cervical cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at cervical cancer — held pending source verification.
• Head and neck cancer · 1908Grover Cleveland: Understanding Head and neck cancerGrover Cleveland, former u.s. president, had a publicly reported head and neck cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at head and neck cancer — held pending source verification.
• Ovarian cancer · 1989Gilda Radner: Understanding Ovarian cancerGilda Radner, comedian and actor, had a publicly reported ovarian cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at ovarian cancer — held pending source verification.
• Brain tumors · 1999Gene Siskel: Understanding Brain tumorsGene Siskel, film critic, had a publicly reported brain tumors diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at brain tumors — held pending source verification.
• Leukemia · 2012Etta James: Understanding LeukemiaEtta James, singer, had a publicly reported leukemia diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at leukemia — held pending source verification.
• Lung cancer · 1965Edward R. Murrow: Understanding Lung cancerEdward R. Murrow, broadcast journalist, had a publicly reported lung cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at lung cancer — held pending source verification.
• Colorectal cancer · 2008Eartha Kitt: Understanding Colorectal cancerEartha Kitt, singer and actor, had a publicly reported colorectal cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at colorectal cancer — held pending source verification.
• Lung cancer · 1974Duke Ellington: Understanding Lung cancerDuke Ellington, composer and bandleader, had a publicly reported lung cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at lung cancer — held pending source verification.
• Colorectal cancer · 2000Charles M. Schulz: Understanding Colorectal cancerCharles M. Schulz, cartoonist, had a publicly reported colorectal cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at colorectal cancer — held pending source verification.
• Breast cancer · 1989Bette Davis: Understanding Breast cancerBette Davis, actor, had a publicly reported breast cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at breast cancer — held pending source verification.
• Head and neck cancer · 1948Babe Ruth: Understanding Head and neck cancerBabe Ruth, baseball player, had a publicly reported head and neck cancer diagnosis. A calm, plain-language look at head and neck cancer — held pending source verification.