Famous people and celebrities who died in December 1985

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in December 1985. 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 Philip Larkin
Influential British poet and novelist, considered one of the most important English poets of the 20th century. His work is characterized by its sardonic wit, psychological insight, and exploration of post-war British society.
Dec. 2 Alex Courtney
Actor (sword of justice).
Dec. 3 Sam Gillman
Actor sam-shane, dies at age 70
Dec. 4 Marcel Boereboom
Belgian musicologist, who died at the age of 83.
Dec. 6 Burr Tillstrom
Pioneering television puppeteer who created the beloved children's show 'Kukla, Fran and Ollie', a groundbreaking program that influenced early television entertainment.
Dec. 6 Burleigh Grimes
American baseball player and manager (b. 1893)
Dec. 7 Potter Stewart
Potter Stewart was a distinguished United States Supreme Court Justice who served from 1958 to 1981, known for his moderate and pragmatic judicial approach. He was a significant figure in American legal history, contributing to landmark decisions during a transformative period of the Supreme Court.
Dec. 7 Robert Graves
English poet, novelist, and scholar, best known for his historical novel I, Claudius and his autobiographical work Goodbye to All That.
Dec. 12 Anne Baxter
Acclaimed Hollywood actress who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 'The Razor's Edge' and was nominated for 'All About Eve'. She was also the daughter of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and starred in over 50 films throughout her career.
Dec. 12 Ian Stewart
Founding member of The Rolling Stones, pianist, and key behind-the-scenes figure who was crucial to the band's early formation and success.
Dec. 14 Roger Maris
Legendary New York Yankees baseball player who set the single-season home run record of 61 home runs in 1961, a record that stood for 37 years until Mark McGwire broke it in 1998.
Dec. 14 Catherine Doherty
Madonna house apostolate was founded by a russian-canadian activist (d. 1985).
Dec. 14 Stanley G[rauman] Weinbaum
American science-fiction author red peri dies at the age of 85
Dec. 15 Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Mauritian physician and politician, 1st prime minister of mauritius (b. 1900)
Dec. 16 Paul Castellano
Notorious mafia boss of the Gambino crime family who was assassinated outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan by John Gotti, marking a significant moment in organized crime history.
Dec. 16 Thomas Bilotti
American organizied crime figure (born 1940)
Dec. 17 Otto Gotsche
Writer
Dec. 18 Xuan Dieu
Vietnamese poet (born 1916)
Dec. 22 D Boon
Influential punk rock guitarist and singer for the legendary alternative band Minutemen, known for their innovative and politically charged music during the 1980s hardcore punk scene.
Dec. 23 James Vance (20) and Raymond Belknap (18) commit suicide
Their families sued judas priest, claiming that they had subliminal messages.
Dec. 24 Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith
Last direct descendant of President Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer and farmer who maintained the Lincoln family legacy until his death in 1985.
Dec. 24 Camille Tourville
Canadian-american wrestler and manager (b. 1927)
Dec. 25 George Rhodes
Orchestra leader (sammy davis jr. show), passes away at the age of 66.
Dec. 26 Dian Fossey
Renowned primatologist who dedicated her life to studying and protecting mountain gorillas in Rwanda, famously chronicled in her book and film 'Gorillas in the Mist'. She was tragically murdered in her research station, likely due to her fierce conservation efforts.
Dec. 31 Ricky Nelson
Iconic American rock and roll singer, actor, and musician who rose to fame through the TV show 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet' and later became a successful rock musician.
Dec. 31 Sam Spiegel
Renowned Austrian-born American film producer who won multiple Academy Awards for iconic films like 'On the Waterfront', 'The Bridge on the River Kwai', and 'Lawrence of Arabia'.