December 2: What Happened on This Day in History
December 2nd marks the 336th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 337th in case of leap years). There are 29 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on December 2nd in history, famous birthdays on December 2nd, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to December 2.
What happened on December 2?
Here's what happened on December 2nd in history:
- 2008: Odetta Holmes, a pivotal figure in the American folk music scene and civil rights movement, passed away. Known as the 'Voice of the Civil Rights Movement', she was a significant influence on musicians like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.
- 2006: In Rome, approximately two million people, led by opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi, staged a massive demonstration against Romano Prodi's government, highlighting significant political tension in Italy.
- 2000: The Smashing Pumpkins performed their last concert at The Metro in Chicago, marking the end of an era for the alternative rock band. Lead singer Billy Corgan viewed this performance as a significant moment, symbolizing the band's transition, though they would later reunite.
- 1994: The biographical film 'Cobb', starring Tommy Lee Jones, premieres, depicting the life of legendary baseball player Ty Cobb.
- 1990: NASA's 69th manned space mission, STS-35 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, successfully launched into orbit, continuing the United States' space exploration efforts.
- 1987: The Chicago City Council elected Eugene Sawyer as the acting mayor, marking a significant moment in the city's political leadership transition.
- 1985: The musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' unfinished novel 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' premiered at the Imperial Theater in New York City, running for an impressive 608 performances and showcasing the enduring appeal of theatrical adaptations.
- 1983: Bibiana Candelas, a Mexican volleyball player, was active in her professional sports career during this period.
- 1977: On December 2, 1977, a Tupolev Tu-154 passenger aircraft crashed near Benghazi, Libya, resulting in the tragic loss of 59 lives. The aircraft, a Soviet-made medium-range airliner, experienced a catastrophic failure that led to the fatal accident. Investigations likely focused on determining the cause of the crash, which could have been due to mechanical issues, pilot error, or adverse weather conditions.
- 1975: On December 2, 1975, a significant political transformation occurred in Laos when communist forces, specifically the Pathet Lao, seized control of the country. King Sisavang Vatthana was compelled to resign, marking the end of the Laotian monarchy. The Lao People's Democratic Republic was officially proclaimed, establishing a new communist government.
What famous birthdays are on December 2?
On December 2nd there are the following famous birthdays:
![Britney Spears]()
Britney Spears (1981)Iconic pop singer who revolutionized dance-pop music in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
![Lucy Liu]()
Lucy Liu (1968)Renowned American actress known for roles in 'Charlie's Angels', 'Kill Bill', and 'Elementary', with a successful career in film and...
![Julie Harris]()
Julie Harris (1925)Renowned American stage actress who won five Tony Awards and was a prominent figure in theater.
![Nelly Furtado]()
Nelly Furtado (1978)Grammy Award-winning Portuguese-Canadian pop singer known for her versatile musical style and international hits like 'I'm Like a Bird' and...
![Penelope Spheeris]()
Penelope Spheeris (1945)Renowned American film director known for documentaries like 'The Decline of Western Civilization' and comedy films such as 'Wayne's World'.
![Inori Minase]()
Inori Minase (1995)Prominent Japanese voice actress and singer known for her roles in anime and video games, with a significant following in the Japanese...
![Yvonne Catterfeld]()
Yvonne Catterfeld (1979)Popular German singer, actress, and television personality known for her successful music career and acting roles in television series.
![Steven Bauer]()
Steven Bauer (1956)Cuban-American actor best known for his iconic role as Manny Ray in the classic crime film 'Scarface' alongside Al Pacino, and for his...
![Marc Platt]()
Marc Platt (1913)Marc Platt was a renowned American performer who made significant contributions to Broadway and Hollywood as an accomplished actor, singer,...
![Boman Irani]()
Boman Irani (1959)Renowned Indian character actor known for versatile roles in Bollywood films like '3 Idiots' and 'Munna Bhai' series.
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on December 2?
On December 2nd the following celebrities died:
![Harrison Ford]()
Harrison Ford (1957)Legendary Hollywood actor known for iconic roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.
![Desi Arnaz]()
Desi Arnaz (1986)Cuban-American television pioneer, musician, and actor who co-created 'I Love Lucy' and revolutionized television production through Desilu...
![Marty Feldman]()
Marty Feldman (1982)Marty Feldman was a renowned British comedian, actor, and writer famous for his distinctive bulging eyes and memorable roles in comedy films...
![Robert Cummings]()
Robert Cummings (1990)Robert Cummings was a prominent American actor known for his versatile career in film and television.
![Gail Fisher]()
Gail Fisher (2000)American actress known for her roles in television, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Pablo Escobar (1993)
Notorious Colombian drug lord who led the Medellín Cartel, responsible for massive cocaine trafficking and extreme violence during the 1980s...
- Jean Beliveau (2014)
Legendary Canadian ice hockey player who spent his entire 20-year NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens, winning 10 Stanley Cups and...
- Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich (1987)
Prominent Soviet physicist and cosmologist who made significant contributions to nuclear physics, astrophysics, and the theory of...
- Aaron Copland (1990)
Aaron Copland was a pioneering American composer who defined the sound of 20th-century classical music in the United States.
What day of the year is December 2?
December 2nd marks the 336th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 337th in case of leap years).
There are 29 days remaining until the end of the year.
December 2nd is the 2nd day of the month of December.
What day of the week is December 2?
On December 2nd, 2025 the day of the week is Tuesday.
| December | 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
What zodiac sign is associated with the day December 2?
The zodiac sign associated with December 2nd is Sagittarius according to the Western Zodiac.
