Famous people and celebrities who died in January 1978

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 1978. This month marked the loss of influential and beloved figures whose contributions spanned various fields and touched many lives. Explore our detailed list to remember and celebrate their enduring legacies and the remarkable impact they had on the world

• Jan. 4 Willem Bruynzeel

  Dutch lumber/lumber/wood manufacturer dies at the age of 76.

• Jan. 5 Wyatt Cooper

  American screenwriter, author, and father of journalist Anderson Cooper, known for his literary work and contributions to media.

• Jan. 5 Wyatt Emory Cooper

  American author and screenwriter (b. 1927)

• Jan. 6 Burt Munro

  New zealand motorbike racer (born1899)

• Jan. 6 John D MacArthur

  At age 80, a billionaire in us insurance dies.

• Jan. 9 Noble Johnson

  Noble Johnson was a pioneering African-American actor and former professional American football player.

• Jan. 10 Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal

  Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal was a prominent Nicaraguan journalist and publisher who was assassinated in 1978, playing a crucial role in opposing the Somoza dictatorship.

• Jan. 10 Don Gillis

  American composer and conductor (b. 1912)

• Jan. 10 Hannah Gluckstein

  British painter (b. 1895)

• Jan. 10 Zeb Turner

  Country-rock singer (chew tobacco rap) dies at the age of 62.

• Jan. 13 Hubert Humphrey

  Prominent American politician who served as Vice President under Lyndon B. Johnson from 1965-1969. A long-serving Senator from Minnesota, he was a key figure in the Democratic Party and ran for president in 1968.

• Jan. 13 Joe McCarthy

  American baseball player and manager (b. 1887)

• Jan. 14 Kurt Gödel

  Kurt Gödel was a groundbreaking logician and mathematician who revolutionized mathematical logic with his incompleteness theorems. He profoundly influenced 20th-century mathematical and philosophical thought. His work demonstrated fundamental limitations in formal mathematical systems.

• Jan. 14 Blossom Rock

  Blossom Rock was an American actress known for her role as Grandmama on the TV show The Addams Family.

• Jan. 14 Harold Abrahams

  English sprinter, lawyer, and journalist (b. 1899)

• Jan. 14 Robert Heger

  German composer and conductor (born 1886).

• Jan. 16 A. V. Kulasingham

  Sri lankan journalist, lawyer, and politician (b. 1890)

• Jan. 18 Carl Betz

  Actor (alex stone-donna reed show), passes away at 67

• Jan. 18 Walter H Thompson

  English scotland yard detective (born 1890).

• Jan. 21 Freda Utley

  British-American writer and activist known for her anti-communist views.

• Jan. 22 Herbert Sutcliffe

  Legendary English cricketer known for his exceptional batting skills.

• Jan. 22 Oliver Leese

  British world war ii general (born in 1894)

• Jan. 23 Jack Oakie

  Jack Oakie was a prominent American comedian and character actor who appeared in over 100 films, most notably in Charlie Chaplin's satirical masterpiece 'The Great Dictator' where he played a caricature of Benito Mussolini.

• Jan. 23 Terry Kath

  Founding member and guitarist of the rock band Chicago, tragically died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot in 1978.

• Jan. 23 Vic Ames

  American singer (ames brothers), (born 1925).

• Jan. 25 Skender Kulenović

  Bosnian author, poet, and playwright (b. 1910)

• Jan. 27 Bharat Bhushan

  Renowned Indian film actor who was a prominent figure in Hindi cinema during the golden age of Bollywood in the 1940s and 1950s, known for his versatile acting and memorable performances.

• Jan. 29 Tim McCoy

  American actor and military officer (b. 1891)

• Jan. 29 Frank Nicklin

  Australian politician, 28th premier of queensland (b. 1895)