Died On This Date

July 2

Stewart, James 'Jimmy'
b. May 20, 1908 d. July 2, 1997
Actor, American Icon. James Stewart was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he had an ideal childhood with encouraging and supporting parents. When he won the Best Actor Oscar in 1940 for his role in "The Philadelphia Story," he sent it to his father saying, "It belongs to us both." His dad, who owned a hardware store, kept it on a shelf for 25 years where it could be viewed by the customers. Cause of death: Pulmonic blood clot.

Grable, Betty (Ruth Elizabeth)
b. December 18, 1916 d. July 2, 1973
Actress. She was born Ruth Elizabeth Grable in St. Louis, Missouri the youngest of three children to a truck driver father and a mother who was the ultimate in stage door moms. She began training Ruth literally from the time the child could walk and talk, teaching her to dance, play the saxophone and sing. A family vacation to California when Ruth was twelve, resulted in a longer stay with mom enrolling her in various Hollywood schools for formal training. Cause of death: Cancer.

Hemingway, Ernest Miller
b. July 21, 1899 d. July 2, 1961
Author. He was born at Oak Park, Illinois, grew up in the Chicago suburbs while spending summers at the families water front home on Bear Lake. Ernest Hemingway was one of six children the son of a strict doctor who gave him a passion for fishing and hunting and a music teacher mother who cultivated a cultural knowledge of music and literature. He spoke often of his ideal, happy childhood. Cause of death: Suicide by gunshot.

Gwynne, Fred (Frederick Hubbard)
b. July 10, 1926 d. July 2, 1993
Actor. He is best remembered for his role of Herman on the television comedy series, "The Munsters" (1964-1966) and for his role of Officer Francis Muldoon in the television comedy series, "Car 54, Where are You?" (1961-1963). He was also a noted author and illustrator of ten children's books, including "The King Who Rained" (1970), "A Chocolate Moose for Dinner" (1976), and "A Little Pigeon Toad" (1988). Born Frederick Hubbard Gwynne in New York City to Frederick Walker Gwynne, a stockbroker. Cause of death: Pancreatic cancer

Sills, Beverly
b. May 25, 1929 d. July 2, 2007
Opera Singer. Considered to be one of the best known opera singers of the 1960s and 1970s, she was renowned for her coloratura roles in operas around the world. Born Belle Miriam Silverman in Brooklyn, she became general manager of the New York City Opera in 1980 after retiring from her singing career. Subsequently, in 1994, became Chairman of Lincoln Center and in 2002, of the Metropolitan Opera. Cause of death: Lung cancer.

Puzo, Mario
b. October 15, 1920 d. July 2, 1999
Novelist and screenwriter. After serving in World War II, he began his writing career for men's magazines. He published his first novel, "The Dark Arena", in 1955. His third novel was "The Godfather" which sold more than 21 million copies worldwide. Besides his movie career, he also published several other novels including the best-seller "The Sicillian" in 1984. Just before his death he finished another novel, "Omerta". Cause of death: Heart attack.