Deaths on April 24
1956 : Albrecht G Alt, German theologist (Small Schriften), dies at 72
1980 : Alentejo Carpentier, Cuban/Fren writer (Guerra del Tiempo), dies at 75
1955 : Alfred Polgar, Austrian writer/theater critic, dies at 79
1936 : Alphons Diepenbrock, composer, dies at 73
1957 : Andries CD de Graeff, gov-gen of Neth Indies (1926-31), dies at 84
1185 : Antoku Taira, emperor of Japan (1180-85), drowns
1945 : Anton de Kom, Suriname resistance fighter, dies at 47
1936 : Bernard van Dieren, composer, dies at 51
1986 : Bessie Wallis Warfield Simpson, (Edward abdicated for her), dies at 89
1986 : Bill Edrich, cricketer (39 Tests for England), dies
1974 : Bud Abbott, comedian (Abbott & Costello), dies at 78
1617 : Carlo Concino, French marquis of Ancre/state advisor, murdered
1776 : Carolus van de Abeele, Flemish Jesuit, dies at 84
1891 : Count Helmuth K B von Moltke, Prussian gen/fieldmarshal, dies
1731 : Daniel Defoe, English novelist (Robinson Crusoe), dies
1996 : Donald Cammell, film director, dies at 62
1995 : Douglas Gunsekera, banker, dies at 77
1988 : E S "Bob" Newson, cricketer (S African fast bowler in 1930's), dies
1996 : Erma Bombeck, columnist (Septic Tank is Always Greener), dies
1928 : Ferdinand B Hummel, composer, dies at 72
1758 : Florian Wrastill, composer, dies at 41
1848 : Fran‡ois van Campenhout, Belgian composer (Braban‡onne), dies at 69
1967 : Frank Overton, actor (12 O'Clock High), dies at 48
1904 : Friedrich Siemens, German industrial, dies at 77
1900 : George J D Campbell, Brit min of Indies (1868-74, 80-85), dies at 76
1924 : George Street, English cricket wicket keeper (1 Test 1923), dies
1943 : Gerardus H de Hare, socialist vicar, dies at 63
1077 : Geza I, King of Hungary (1074-7), dies
1776 : Giuseppi Paolucci, composer, dies at 49
1952 : Hans [Hendrik A] Kramers, physicist (quantum mechanics), dies at 57
1956 : Henry Stephenson, actor (Conquest, Mr Lucky), dies at 85
1824 : Herman Muntinghe, theologist (History of Mankind), dies at 71
1945 : Hubert Bath, composer, dies at 61
1991 : J de Graaf, ethicus/president church & peace, dies
1530 : Jacopo Sannazaro, Italian poet (De partu Virginis), dies
1959 : Jef van Hoof, composer, dies at 72
1979 : John Carroll, actor (Hired Wife, Fiesta, Geraldine), dies at 72
1939 : John Foulds, composer, dies at 58
1960 : John P "John" Musch, actor/founder (JM), dies at 84
1875 : Jose Maria de la Purificacion Ventura, composer, dies at 58
1990 : Joseph Leberman, entertainer, dies
1948 : Joseph Wihtol, composer, dies at 84
1952 : Jules Poncelet, Belgian minister of State, dies at 82
1912 : Justin M'Carthy, politician/novelist (Miss Misanthrope), dies at 81
1961 : Lee Moran, actor (Circus Clown), dies of heart ailment at 72
1850 : Louis Alexandre Piccinni, composer, dies at 70
1965 : Louise Dresser, actress (State Fair, Ship Comes In, Mammy), dies at 86
1948 : Manuel Marua Ponce, Mexican composer (Ferial), dies at 65
1976 : Mark Tobey, US abstract painter, (Broadway Norm), dies at 85
1968 : Norman McKaye, actor (Untamed Fury, Frogman), dies at 62
1993 : Oliver R Tambo, chairman (African National Congress), dies at 75
1917 : Oskar Blumenthal, writer, dies
1997 : Pat Paulsen, comedian (Smothers Brothers Show), dies at 69
1935 : Paul Klengel, composer, dies at 80
1827 : Pierre Joseph Candielle, composer, dies at 82
1996 : Preston Lockwood, actor (House of Windsor, Black Candle), dies at 83
1922 : Richard Batka, composer, dies at 53
1948 : Rosita Marstini, actress (I Cover Waterfront, Big Parade), dies at 54
1985 : Sergei Yutkevich, Russian director, (Otello, Banya), dies at 80
1990 : Tom Rolfing, actor (He Knows You're Alone, Cliff-Another World), dies
1968 : Tommy Noonan, actor (Gentlemen Perfer Blondes), dies at 45
1967 : Vladimir M Komarov, cosmonaut (Voshkod I), dies in Soyuz 1 at 40
1855 : Walenty Karol Kratzer, composer, dies at 75
1975 : William Hartnell, actor (Jackpot, This Sporting Life), dies at 67