{ "site": "Dead-People.com", "feed_type": "deaths_on_date", "date": "2026-05-08", "timezone": "+01:00", "generated_at": "2026-06-23T03:44:38+01:00", "canonical_html_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/tag/08-may-2026", "permanent_archive_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/tag/08-may-2026", "items": [ { "name": "Kiara St. James dead at age 52, Transgender and HIV advocacy", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/kiara-st-james", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 52, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "transgender and hiv advocacy", "other" ], "nationality": [ "America" ], "description": "Kiara St. James, an American transgender activist, died on May 8, 2026. She was an African-American transgender activist and the co-founder and executive director of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group. St. James, who was born in 1973 or 1974, grew up in Beaumont, Texas. Her work focused on transgender and HIV advocacy.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Kiara_St._James.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiara_St._James", "cause_of_death": { "label": "Cancer", "status": "reported", "cause_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/Deaths-From-cancer-cause" } }, { "name": "Haerul Saleh Indonesian politician, MP, fire dead at age 44", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/haerul-saleh", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 44, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "politicians" ], "nationality": [ "Indonesia" ], "description": "Haerul Saleh, Indonesian politician and member of parliament, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 44 in a fire in Jakarta. He was a member of the Gerindra Party and served in the House of Representatives from 2014 to 2019 and again from 2020 to 2022. Born on August 12, 1981, in Kolaka Regency, Indonesia, Saleh was also identified as a businessman.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Haerul_Saleh.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haerul_Saleh", "cause_of_death": { "label": "Fire", "status": "reported", "cause_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/Deaths-From-fire" } }, { "name": "Melo Freire Brazilian politician, deputy dead at age 99", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/melo-freire", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 99, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "politicians", "scientists" ], "nationality": [ "Brazil" ], "description": "Melo Freire, a Brazilian politician and deputy from 1975 to 1991, died on May 8, 2026, at age 99. Born Joaquim de Melo Freire on January 11, 1927, in Passos, Brazil, he was an economist who served in the Chamber of Deputies from 1975 to 1991. Freire was a member of the National Renewal Alliance and the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party. He died in Belo Horizonte.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melo_Freire" }, { "name": "Kapila Chandrasena dead, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka and Mobitel", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/kapila-chandrasena", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [ { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Gossiplankanews.com", "url": "https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2026/05/kapila-chandrasenas-suspicious-death.html", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "Kapila Chandrasena's suspicious death investigation transferred to CCD" }, { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Gossiplankanews.com", "url": "https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2026/05/former-srilankan-ceo-kapila-chandrasena.html", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "Former SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena commits suicide" }, { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Gossiplankanews.com", "url": "https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2026/05/kapila-chandrasena-released-on-bail.html", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "Kapila Chandrasena released on bail" }, { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Gossiplankanews.com", "url": "https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2026/05/kapilas-death-cctv-recordings-were.html", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "Kapila's death: CCTV recordings were working.. as the technician stated, evidence about an unknown person at the house late at night." }, { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Gossiplankanews.com", "url": "https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2026/05/on-day-kapil-died-cctv-cameras-in.html", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "On the day Kapil died, the CCTV cameras in Aravinda's neighboring houses were working." }, { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Gossiplankanews.com", "url": "https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2026/05/a-suspicious-laptop-was-found-in.html", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "A suspicious laptop was found in the apartment registered under Kapil's wife's name." } ], "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "other" ], "nationality": [ "Sri Lanka" ], "description": "Kapila Chandrasena, a Sri Lankan businessman and former chief executive of SriLankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka and Mobitel, died on May 8, 2026. He was a Sri Lankan airline and telecommunications executive who also served as chief marketing officer of Sri Lanka Telecom. Chandrasena led SriLankan Airlines until March 2015. Born in December 1964, he studied at Royal College, Colombo, and later earned a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the University of Melbourne.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapila_Chandrasena" }, { "name": "Joe Sedelmaier American television advertising director dead at age 92", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/joe-sedelmaier", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 92, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "other" ], "nationality": [ "America" ], "description": "Joe Sedelmaier, an American television advertising director, died on May 8, 2026. He was 92. Born John Josef Sedelmaier on May 31, 1933, he worked in television advertising and was known for FedEx’s \"Fast Talking Man\" ads and Wendy’s \"Where’s the Beef?\" campaign. Sedelmaier, a former art director at Young & Rubicam and J. Walter Thompson, was recognized in the 1970s for directing television spots with unconventional casting and a less polished style.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Sedelmaier" }, { "name": "Ravi Pandit Indian technology executive, co-founder of KPIT Technologies dead at age 75", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/ravi-pandit", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 75, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "politicians" ], "nationality": [ "India" ], "description": "Ravi Pandit, Indian technology executive and co-founder of KPIT Technologies, died on May 8, 2026. He was 75. Pandit was the co-founder and chairman of KPIT Technologies and served as chairman and group CEO. Born in Pune, Maharashtra, he earned a master’s degree in management from MIT Sloan School of Management. He was a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and an associate member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. Pandit also served as president of the Maratha Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture from 2004 to 2006 and was involved with the Janwani Foundation’s work on the Zero Garbage Project in Pune.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Ravi_Pandit.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Pandit" }, { "name": "Vadim Alexandrov Russian actor, head injury from a fall dead at age 88", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/vadim-alexandrov", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 88, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "actors" ], "nationality": [ "Russia" ], "description": "Vadim Alexandrov died on May 8, 2026, after a head injury from a fall. He was a Russian actor known for Kin-dza-dza!, The Woman who Sings, and We Are from Jazz. His work included roles in several noted films, and his name was associated with those screen credits.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadim_Alexandrov", "cause_of_death": { "label": "head injury from a fall", "status": "reported", "cause_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/Deaths-From-head-injury-from-a-fall" } }, { "name": "Festus Mogae Motswana president and economist dead at age 86", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/festus-mogae", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 86, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "politicians", "scientists" ], "description": "Festus Mogae, the Motswana president from 1998 to 2008 and an economist, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 86. He was Botswana’s third president, succeeding Quett Masire in 1998 and serving until 2008, when he was succeeded by Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama. Born in Serowe in 1939, Mogae studied economics in the United Kingdom at University College, Oxford, and the University of Sussex before returning to Botswana to work as a civil servant. He later served with the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana, including as governor from 1980 to 1981, and was Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1998.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Festus_Mogae.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festus_Mogae" }, { "name": "Karl-Heinz Ripkens dead at age 88, Bayer Leverkusen", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/karl-heinz-ripkens", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 88, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "athletes" ], "nationality": [ "Belgium", "Germany" ], "description": "Karl-Heinz Ripkens, the German footballer who played as a forward, died on May 8, 2026, aged 88. He began his career with 1. FC Köln, where he won two championships, before moving to Belgian club Standard Liège in 1964. After one season in Belgium, he returned to Germany and went on to play for Bayer Leverkusen, Viktoria Köln and Fortuna Köln. Ripkens was born in Cologne on December 9, 1937, and died there.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Heinz_Ripkens" }, { "name": "Günter Jena German choral conductor and musicologist dead at age 92", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/gunter-jena", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 92, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "musicians" ], "nationality": [ "Germany" ], "description": "Günter Jena, a German choral conductor and musicologist, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 92–93. Born in Leipzig in 1933, he attended the Thomasschule there before studying musicology, psychology and philosophy in Berlin, and conducting and organ at the Musikhochschule München with Karl Richter, whom he later assisted. Jena served as director of church music at St. Michaelis in Hamburg from 1973 to 1997, founded the festival Bach-Tage Hamburg, and provided music for ballet performances at the Hamburg State Opera. He also worked as church musician at St. Johannis in Würzburg and founded the festival Würzburger Bachtage in 1969.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/G_nter_Jena.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnter_Jena" }, { "name": "Anna Ritchie dead at age 82, British archaeologist and historian", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/anna-ritchie", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 82, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "politicians", "scientists" ], "nationality": [ "Britain", "Scotland" ], "description": "Anna Ritchie, a British archaeologist and historian, died on May 8, 2026, aged 82. Born on September 28, 1943, she was known for her work at archaeological sites in Orkney and for guidebooks she wrote for the HMSO and Historic Environment Scotland on Scottish history and historical sites. Beginning her career in the late 1960s, she published widely in academic and popular works. She was also the first female president of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, serving from 1990 to 1993.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Anna_Ritchie_archaeologist.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Ritchie_(archaeologist)" }, { "name": "Abdelwahab Doukkali Moroccan composer and performer dead at age 85", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/abdelwahab-doukkali", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 85, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "actors", "musicians" ], "description": "Abdelwahab Doukkali, a Moroccan composer and performer, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 85. Born in Fes on Jan. 2, 1941, he was one of 13 children in a conservative family. At age 18, he went to Rabat in 1959 and briefly worked at RTM, or Radio Television Maroc, before moving to Casablanca, where he first entered the music culture.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdelwahab_Doukkali" }, { "name": "Karin Spaink Dutch journalist and feminist activist dead at age 68", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/karin-spaink", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 68, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "journalists", "writers" ], "nationality": [ "England", "the Netherlands" ], "description": "Karin Spaink, a Dutch journalist, writer and feminist activist, died on May 8, 2026, at age 68. She wrote a regular column for Het Parool from 1992 to 2022 and previously contributed to De Groene Amsterdammer from 1994 to 2003. Spaink was born in Amsterdam on Dec. 20, 1957, trained as a secondary school teacher specializing in English, and later studied sociology at the University of Amsterdam. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986, worked as a computer programmer, served with the Pacifist Socialist Party, and in 2018 became editor-in-chief of Follow the Money.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Karin_Spaink.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karin_Spaink" }, { "name": "Nicola Colombo Italian football executive, chairman of Monza dead at age 57", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/nicola-colombo", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 57, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "other" ], "nationality": [ "Italy" ], "description": "Nicola Colombo, an Italian football executive and businessman who was chairman of Monza from 2015 to 2018, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 57. He was born on May 10, 1968, in Monza, Italy, and was the son of Felice Colombo, the former owner of AC Milan.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_Colombo" }, { "name": "Auroras Encore dead at age 23, Irish Thoroughbred racehorse", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/auroras-encore", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [ { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Dailymail.com", "url": "https://www.dailymail.com/sport/racing/article-15802727/Legendary-Grand-National-horse-dies.html", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "Legendary Grand National horse Auroras Encore, who won world's most famous race at 66-1, dies aged 23" } ], "age": 23, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "other" ], "nationality": [ "Britain", "Ireland" ], "description": "Auroras Encore, the Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2013 Grand National, died on May 8, 2026. Foaled on March 10, 2002, he raced from February 2007 to January 2014 and finished his career with two hurdle wins and six steeplechase victories from 47 starts. Bred in Ireland and trained by Sue Smith, Auroras Encore was best known for his 66-1 victory in the Grand National at Aintree, where he won by nine lengths.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auroras_Encore" }, { "name": "Betty Broderick American convicted murderer dead at age 78", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/betty-broderick", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 78, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "criminals" ], "nationality": [ "America" ], "description": "Betty Broderick, the American convicted murderer born Elizabeth Anne Bisceglia, died on May 8, 2026, at age 78 in San Bernardino County, California. Born in Brooklyn, New York City, on November 7, 1947, and raised in Bronxville, New York, she later became known for the 1989 killings of her ex-husband, Daniel T. Broderick III, and his new wife, Linda. At a second trial that began on December 11, 1991, she was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to 32 years to life in prison.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Betty_Broderick.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Broderick" }, { "name": "Germán Vargas Lleras Colombian politician, vice-president dead at age 64", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/german-vargas-lleras", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 64, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "politicians" ], "nationality": [ "Colombia", "Germany" ], "description": "Germán Vargas Lleras, Colombian politician and vice-president of Colombia from 2014 to 2017, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 64. He served under President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and was a member of the Radical Change political party. Elected to the Senate in 1994, he served four consecutive terms and also held cabinet posts as minister of interior. Born in Bogotá on February 19, 1962, he studied law at the Universidad del Rosario and later government and political science in Madrid.", "image_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/static/people/images/thumbnails/2026/05/Germ_n_Vargas_Lleras.jpg", "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germ%C3%A1n_Vargas_Lleras" }, { "name": "Punch McLean dead at age 93, Ice hockey coach", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/punch-mclean", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [ { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "CBC News", "url": "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ernie-punch-mclean-crash-9.7193985", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "Hockey icon Ernie 'Punch' McLean killed in northern B.C. crash" }, { "source_type": "news_confirmation", "publisher": "Yahoo Entertainment", "url": "https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=1_cc-session_5f0c42f0-fd09-480f-8ea5-ed93dc596377", "relationship": "confirms death", "title": "Ernie \"Punch\" McLean dies tragically in accident." } ], "age": 93, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "ice hockey coach", "athletes", "politicians" ], "nationality": [ "Canada" ], "description": "Punch McLean, the Canadian ice hockey coach best known for leading the New Westminster Bruins, died on May 8, 2026. Born Ernest John Vincent McLean on November 3, 1932, in Estevan, Saskatchewan, he coached the Bruins to four consecutive President's Cup titles and back-to-back Memorial Cup championships in 1977 and 1978. After 16 seasons in the Western Hockey League, he ranked second all time among WHL coaches with 1,067 games coached.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_McLean" }, { "name": "Tore Ryen Norwegian television producer and writer dead at age 79", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/tore-ryen", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 79, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "actors", "writers" ], "nationality": [ "Norway" ], "description": "Tore Ryen, a Norwegian television producer and writer known for Mot i brøstet, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 79. Born on December 30, 1946, he was a revue and television writer who worked behind several sitcoms aired on TV 2. His credits included Mot i brøstet, Karl & Co and Karl III, all starring Nils Vogt as Karl Reverud. Ryen also created Holms and Radio 2 and received a Gullruten award in 2001. He was the father of Adam Ryen.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tore_Ryen" }, { "name": "Koji Suzuki Japanese writer dead at age 68", "person_url": "https://www.dead-people.com/koji-suzuki", "verification_status": "reported", "sources": [], "age": 68, "death_date": "2026-05-08", "reported_date": "2026-05-08", "published_at": "2026-05-08T00:00:00+01:00", "occupation": [ "writers" ], "nationality": [ "Japan" ], "description": "Koji Suzuki, a Japanese writer known for the Ring novels, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 68. Born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan, on May 13, 1957, he lived in Tokyo and wrote works that were adapted into films, manga, television series, and video games. He also wrote several books on fatherhood and had interests that included traveling, motorcycling, and sailing.", "image_url": null, "wikidata_id": null, "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koji_Suzuki" } ], "fallback_items": [], "page": 1, "per_page": 100, "total": 20, "total_pages": 1, "count": 20 }