Marjory Stoneman Douglas was a journalist and environmentalist who helped defend the Florida Everglades.

• Journalist, Environmental Activist, Environmentalist
  (1890–1998)

Stokely Carmichael was a Trinidadian-American political activist best known for leading the civil rights group SNCC in the 1960s.

• Civil Rights Activist
  (1941–1998)

Canadian-American actor Phil Hartman is best known for his performances on Saturday Night Live.

• Film Actor, Screenwriter, Comedian, Television Actor
  (1948–1998)

George C. Wallace was a four-time governor of Alabama and three-time presidential hopeful. He is best remembered for his 1960s segregationist politics.

• U.S. Governor
  (1919–1998)

Frank Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century, forging a career as an award-winning singer and film actor.

• Singer, Film Actor
  (1915–1998)

Barry Goldwater was an American politician best known as a senator from Arizona and the Republican candidate for president in 1964.

• U.S. Representative
  (1909–1998)

Tammy Wynette was a Grammy Award-winning country music singer who recorded the hit "Stand By Your Man." She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.

• Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter
  (1942–1998)

James Byrd Jr. was an African-American man whose racially motivated murder in 1998 made national headlines and sparked legislative changes.

• (1949–1998)

Matthew Shepard died from severe injuries he sustained in a gay-related hate crime attack. His death set off a nationwide debate about hate crimes and homophobia that ultimately led to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009).

• (1976–1998)

James Earl Ray is infamous for assassinating civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

• Murderer
  (1928–1998)

Reggae and ska musician Judge Dread produced a string of hits in the 1970s, such as Big Six and several others that were banned by the BBC for their sexual innuendo.

• Musician
  (1945–1998)

Alan Shepard became one of the original seven Mercury program astronauts in 1959. He later commanded the Apollo 14 flight.

• Astronaut
  (1923–1998)

Roy Rogers was an American actor and singer best known as the “King of the Cowboys” for his heroic roles in musical Westerns. His sidekick palomino, Trigger, and dog, Bullet, often appeared with him.

• Television Actor, Film Actor, Guitarist, Television Personality, Singer
  (1911–1998)

Musician and politician Sonny Bono was once wed to singer Cher and in 1994 was elected to U.S. Congress as a representative from California.

• U.S. Representative, Singer
  (1935–1998)

Olympic gold medalist Florence Joyner brought style to track and field with form-fitting bodysuits, six-inch fingernails and amazing speed. She still holds the world records in the 100- and 200-meter events.

• Track and Field Athlete
  (1959–1998)

Guitarist Carl Perkins wrote and had a 1956 hit with the song "Blue Suede Shoes." He also helped pioneer the rockabilly music genre.

• Songwriter, Guitarist
  (1932–1998)

Singer and guitarist and Carl Wilson is best known for being one of the founding members of the iconic Southern Californian rock 'n' roll group the Beach Boys.

• Guitarist, Singer
  (1946–1998)

Martha Gellhorn was a distinguished war correspondent who covered every war that occurred across the globe over a period extending nearly 60 years.

• Journalist
  (1908–1998)

Shari Lewis was the host of Lamb Chop's Play-Along, which aired on PBS from 1992 to 1997, and received several Emmy Awards.

• Television Personality
  (1933–1998)

Thanks to the model 356, created in 1948 by Ferdinand Anton Ernst "Ferry" Porsche, the Porsche car company became known worldwide as a producer of successful sports and racing cars. Several years earlier, in 1934, Porsche worked with father Ferdinand Porsche on the first designs of the Volkswagen car.

• Engineer, Business Leader
  (1909–1998)

A leading 20th century philosopher, Jean-Francois Lyotard was noted for his analysis of postmodernity and its impact on humankind.

• Philosopher
  (1924–1998)

Helen Carter is best known as the oldest sister in The Carter Family band, a popular country music group in the 1940s and '50s.

• Singer, Guitarist, Pianist
  (1927–1998)

Maureen O'Sullivan was an actress best known for playing Jane in the Tarzan film series opposite Johnny Weismuller.

• Film Actress
  (1911–c. 1998)