Famous people and celebrities who died in December 1979

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in December 1979. 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

• Dec. 3 Dhyan Chand

  Legendary Indian hockey player widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time, who revolutionized the sport with his extraordinary stick-handling skills and won three Olympic gold medals for India.

• Dec. 4 Robert Karnes

  Actor max-the lawless years, dies at 62

• Dec. 5 Jesse Pearson

  American actor, singer, and screenwriter (b. 1930)

• Dec. 7 Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin

  A pioneering astronomer who revolutionized our understanding of stellar composition, revealing that stars are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. She was the first woman to become a professor at Harvard's astronomy department and made groundbreaking contributions to astrophysics.

• Dec. 7 Mari Andriessen

  At 82 years old, the sculptor (docker), amsterdam dies.

• Dec. 7 Nicolas Born

  At 41, writer dies

• Dec. 9 Fulton J. Sheen

  Fulton J. Sheen was a prominent businessman who made significant contributions to the business world.

• Dec. 10 Ann Dvorak

  Ann Dvorak was a prominent American actress of the 1930s, known for her roles in classic films like 'Scarface', 'G Men', and 'A Life of Her Own'. She was a versatile performer who made significant contributions to Hollywood's golden age.

• Dec. 11 James J. Gibson

  James J. Gibson was a pioneering American psychologist known for his groundbreaking work in ecological psychology and perception. He developed influential theories about visual perception and how humans interact with their environment.

• Dec. 11 Claire Carleton

  Actress (alice-cimarron city), is killed in new york city at the age of 66.

• Dec. 13 Jon Hall

  American film actor who was active from the 1930s to 1950s, known for changing his name from Lloyd Crane to Jon Hall in 1936 and appearing in numerous Hollywood productions.

• Dec. 15 Bern Hoffman

  Actor major dell conway, dies at 66

• Dec. 22 Darryl F Zanuck

  Prominent Hollywood film producer and executive who played a significant role in the development of 20th Century Fox studio during the golden age of cinema.

• Dec. 23 Peggy Guggenheim

  American-italian art collector, philanthropist (d.79)

• Dec. 24 Dirk Uipko Stikker

  Dutch ceo (heineken)/secretary-general nato, dies at age 82.

• Dec. 24 Rudi [Rudolf] Dutschke

  German student leader dies at 39.

• Dec. 25 Joan Blondell

  Prominent American film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her comedic roles and distinctive husky voice. She appeared in numerous Hollywood films and was a notable figure in the Golden Age of cinema.

• Dec. 27 Hafizullah Amin

  Controversial Afghan political leader who served as the second general secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, playing a crucial role in the country's communist revolution before being executed.

• Dec. 29 Richard Tecwyn Williams

  Welsh biochemist (b. 1909)

• Dec. 29 F. Edward Hébert

  American journalist and politician (b. 1901)

• Dec. 30 Richard Rodgers

  Richard Rodgers was a legendary American musical theater composer who revolutionized Broadway with iconic works like Oklahoma!, Carousel, and The Sound of Music. He collaborated with both Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II, creating some of the most memorable musicals in American theater history. His contributions significantly shaped 20th-century musical entertainment.