Gunther von Hagens
German · 81 years old · Died 16 January 2026
Anatomist, creator of Body Worlds exhibitions
Cause of death
Cerebral haemorrhage complicated by Parkinson's disease
Gunther von Hagens invented the plastination process and created the controversial Body Worlds exhibitions, which displayed preserved human bodies in lifelike poses. The exhibitions attracted over 50 million visitors worldwide and sparked fierce debate about the ethics of displaying real human remains as art. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015 and died at 81 from a cerebral haemorrhage.
Since Gunther von Hagens died
Live count since 16 January 2026
Total deaths worldwide since then
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