Famous people and celebrities who died in December 1980

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in December 1980. 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. 2 Romain Gary
Renowned French novelist, diplomat, and film director, uniquely distinguished as the only author to win the prestigious Prix Goncourt twice under different names.
Dec. 2 Chaudhry Muhammad Ali
Indian-pakistani lawyer and politician, 4th prime minister of pakistan (b. 1905)
Dec. 3 Oswald Mosley
English lieutenant, fascist, and politician, chancellor of the duchy of lancaster (b. 1896)
Dec. 4 Francisco de Sá Carneiro
Prominent Portuguese lawyer and politician who served as the 111th Prime Minister of Portugal. He was a key figure in Portuguese democratic politics after the Carnation Revolution, known for his charismatic leadership and tragic death in a plane crash.
Dec. 4 Stanisława Walasiewicz
Polish-American Olympic athlete who was a pioneering female runner in the early 20th century. She won a gold medal in the 100 meters at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, representing Poland. Her athletic achievements were remarkable during an era of limited opportunities for women in sports.
Dec. 4 Don Warrington
Canadian football player (b. 1948)
Dec. 7 Darby Crash
Influential punk rock musician and lead singer of The Germs, known for his tragic early death and significant impact on the Los Angeles punk scene.
Dec. 8 John Lennon
Co-founder of the iconic rock band The Beatles, John Lennon was a legendary musician, songwriter, and peace activist who profoundly influenced popular music and culture. He was tragically assassinated in New York City in 1980, leaving an enduring legacy of musical innovation and social activism.
Dec. 12 Jean Lesage
Prominent Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Quebec from 1960 to 1966, leading significant modernization reforms during the Quiet Revolution period.
Dec. 14 Elston Howard
Elston Howard was a groundbreaking African American baseball player who broke racial barriers as the first Black player for the New York Yankees, playing as a catcher and making significant contributions to the team during the 1950s and 1960s.
Dec. 15 Komninos Pyromaglou
Greek politician and educator (born 1899).
Dec. 15 Kostas Biris
Greek architect, city planner, and folklorist (born 1899).
Dec. 16 Hellmuth Walter
German-American engineer and inventor known for his pioneering work in rocket propulsion technology during the mid-20th century. He made significant contributions to aerospace engineering and developed innovative rocket engine designs.
Dec. 16 Colonel Sanders
American businessman, founded kfc (b. 1890)
Dec. 16 Harlan Sanders
American entrepreneur who established the kentucky fried chicken fast food franchise. the story began in rural kentucky, where he opened a small gas station and restaurant in 1929. he also started to sell his fried chicken. he had already built an empire of $2 million by the time he sold the franchise in 1963.
Dec. 18 Alexei Kosygin
Prominent Soviet politician who served as Premier of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1980, playing a significant role in Soviet governance during the Cold War era.
Dec. 21 Marc Connelly
Playwright (one minute please) dies at 90
Dec. 22 Dick Kallman
American actor from Brooklyn, New York, known for stage and television performances in the 1950s and 1960s.
Dec. 24 Karl Dönitz
German admiral and politician, president of germany (b. 1891)
Dec. 25 Louis Neefs
Belgian singer, dies at age 43.
Dec. 26 Tony Smith
Tony Smith was a notable American sculptor and art educator who contributed significantly to mid-20th century sculptural art.
Dec. 28 Jersey calf that lived 222 days with an artificial heart
Dies.
Dec. 29 Tim Hardin
Influential American folk singer-songwriter known for his poignant music, who tragically died from a drug overdose at age 39.
Dec. 29 Irvin F. Westheimer
American businessman and social reformer (b. 1879)
Dec. 29 Nadezhda Mandelstam
Russian author and educator (b. 1899)
Dec. 31 Marshall McLuhan
Renowned Canadian media theorist who coined influential concepts like 'the medium is the message' and profoundly shaped understanding of media and technology's impact on society.
Dec. 31 Raoul Walsh
High sierra director in the usa, dies around 88