Famous people and celebrities who died in January 1986

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 1986. 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. 2 Una Merkel

  American film actress known for her comedic roles in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s, particularly in movies like '42nd Street' and notable character performances.

• Jan. 2 Bill "Rhymes with Wreck" Veeck

  Innovative and colorful baseball executive known for creative promotions and unconventional management strategies in Major League Baseball.

• Jan. 2 Dick James

  English music publisher northern songs (born 1920).

• Jan. 4 Christopher Isherwood

  Christopher Isherwood was a prominent British-American writer known for his influential Berlin novels, which inspired the famous musical 'Cabaret'. He was a significant figure in 20th-century literature, exploring themes of sexuality, identity, and social change through his semi-autobiographical works.

• Jan. 4 Phil Lynott

  Legendary lead singer and bassist of the rock band Thin Lizzy, a pivotal figure in rock music during the 1970s and early 1980s.

• Jan. 7 Juan Rulfo

  Renowned Mexican writer, photographer, and screenwriter, famous for his influential novels 'Pedro Páramo' and 'El Llano en Llamas', key figures in Latin American literature.

• Jan. 8 Pierre Fournier

  French cellist and educator (b. 1906)

• Jan. 10 Jaroslav Seifert

  LIT - Czech journalist and poet, nobel prize laureate (b. 1901)

• Jan. 11 Sid Chaplin

  English author and screenwriter (b. 1916)

• Jan. 13 Abdul Fattah Ismail

  Yemeni educator and politician, 4th president of south yemen (b. 1939)

• Jan. 14 Donna Reed

  Donna Reed was an iconic American actress of the 1940s and 1950s, best known for her Academy Award-winning role in 'From Here to Eternity' and her beloved family sitcom 'The Donna Reed Show'. She was a quintessential Hollywood star who represented the idealized American housewife of her era.

• Jan. 14 Daniel Balavoine

  Influential French pop and rock singer-songwriter known for his powerful voice and socially conscious music. He tragically died in a helicopter crash during a humanitarian mission in Africa at the young age of 33.

• Jan. 16 Herbert W. Armstrong

  American evangelist, author, and publisher (b. 1892)

• Jan. 23 Joseph Beuys

  Influential German artist who was a key figure in the Fluxus movement, known for radical performance art and social sculpture. His work challenged traditional art concepts and explored themes of creativity, democracy, and social transformation.

• Jan. 24 Gordon MacRae

  American musical comedy star of the 1950s, known for his film roles and memorable performance in the musical 'Oklahoma'. He made his film debut in 1948 and starred in several movies with Doris Day.

• Jan. 24 L. Ron Hubbard

  Controversial American author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology, a significant new religious movement in the 20th century that blends science fiction, psychology, and spiritual beliefs.

• Jan. 25 Ernst Schnabel

  Writer dies at 72

• Jan. 27 Lilli Palmer

  Renowned German-born actress who had a successful international career in film and theater, known for her beauty, talent, and marriages to Rex Harrison and Carlos Thompson.

• Jan. 27 Nikhil Banerjee

  Nikhil Banerjee was a legendary Indian classical sitar player who significantly contributed to Hindustani classical music. He was a disciple of the famous Allauddin Khan and was known for his exceptional mastery of the sitar. Banerjee is considered one of the greatest sitar players of the 20th century.

• Jan. 28 Ellison Onizuka

  NASA astronaut who tragically died in the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster on January 28, 1986, a pivotal moment in space exploration history.

• Jan. 28 Judith Resnik

  Judith Resnik was a pioneering NASA astronaut who tragically died in the Challenger space shuttle disaster. She was an accomplished electrical engineer who made significant contributions to space exploration during her brief but remarkable career.

• Jan. 28 Ronald McNair

  NASA astronaut who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, a pioneering African American physicist and mission specialist.

• Jan. 28 Michael J Smith

  US Navy Commander and astronaut who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.

• Jan. 28 Christa McAuliffe

  Christa McAuliffe was a courageous high school teacher selected as the first civilian astronaut in NASA's Teacher in Space Project. She tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, becoming a symbol of exploration and sacrifice.

• Jan. 28 Gregory Jarvis

  NASA astronaut and engineer who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.

• Jan. 28 Dick Scobee

  American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (b. 1939)

• Jan. 28 Francis R Scobee

  Washington, united states -- usaf / astronaut, dies in challenger disaster

• Jan. 28 Judith Arlene Resnik

  Akron oh, astr, dies in challenger disaster

• Jan. 29 Leif Erickson

  American actor known for roles in films like 'Invaders from Mars' and 'On the Waterfront', who had a notable career in Hollywood during the mid-20th century.