Linda McCartney died in Japan.
Linda Louise , Lady McCartney ( née Eastman ; formerly See ; September 24 , 1941 -- April 17 , 1998 ) was an American musician , photographer , animal rights activist , entrepreneur and publisher who was married to Paul McCartney of the Beatles . In 1995 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and died from the disease in 1998 at the age of 56 .