2001 deaths

The September 11 attacks, colloquially known as 9/11, were a coordinated series of suicide attacks perpetrated by the Islamist terrorist organization al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four airliners, then flew one into each of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, in Arlington County, Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in a rural Pennsylvania field during a passenger revolt. In response to the attacks, the United States launched the global war on terror, seeking to eliminate hostile groups deemed terrorist organizations, and the governments purported to support them. This foreign policy agenda was conducted over the next two decades.

British science fiction writer and humorist (1952–2001)

George Harrison was an English musician who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Known as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison played a significant role in shaping the band's musical direction and established a successful solo career, particularly through his interest in non-Western musical influences.

first president of Senegal, poet, and cultural theorist (1906–2001)

Mexican and American actor (1915–2001)

Finnish children's writer and illustrator (1914–2001)

American actor (1925–2001)

Brazilian writer (1912-2001)

Afghan military leader (1953–2001)

Soviet physicist (1922-2001)

Aaliyah Dana Haughton (; January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001) was an American singer, actress, dancer, and model. Known as the "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop", she is credited with helping to redefine contemporary R&B, pop, and hip hop. Aaliyah's accolades include three American Music Awards and two MTV VMAs, along with five Grammy Award nominations.

American mathematician and information theorist (1916–2001)

American political scientist, economist, sociologist, and psychologist (1916–2001)

British astronomer (1915–2001)

American novelist (1935–2001)

South African cardiac surgeon

6th President of Italy (1908-2001)

former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1939-2001)

American physicist (1915–2001)

president of South Vietnam from 1965–75

American blues musician (1912 or 1917–2001)

American novelist (1927–2001)

Australian cricketer (1908–2001)

Indian writer (1906–2001)

American animator (1910–2001)

Indian bandit, politician (1963-2001)

American science fiction writer (1926–2001)

American chemist (1919–2001)

king of Nepal (1945–2001)

Greek-French composer, architect and engineer (1922–2001)

American singer, actor, television personality (1912-2001)

Japanese association football player (1923–2001)

American film director and producer (1913-2001)

American domestic anti-government terrorist (1968–2001)

American short story writer, novelist and photographer (1909-2001)

Polish politician (1913-2001)

American philosopher, author and educator (1902–2001)

German writer and academic (1944-2001)

French singer-songwriter

Austrian-Czech footballer (1913–2001)

Cuban photographer (1928–2001)

Queen consort of Iran from 1951 to 1958

American publisher, editor and author

British analytic philosopher

American musician (1967–2001)

French singer, composer, pianist and actor (1927–2001)

American guitarist (1924–2001)

American musician (1920–2001)

Egyptian hijacker and one of the ringleaders of the September 11 attacks (1968–2001)

American linguist

Prince turned King of Nepal, Mass Murderer and Assassin

American actress (1919–2001)

American actress (1914-2001)

American punk rock singer (1951–2001)

British actor (1929–2001)

American actress (1916-2001)

Finnish astronomer

italian journalist, essayist and writer (1909-2001)

45th President of Bolivia

American electrical engineer, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard (1913–2001)