Famous people and celebrities who died in December 1988

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in December 1988. 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 Karl-Heinz Burger

  German ss-oberfuhrer (born 1904)

• Dec. 4 Osman Achmatowicz

  Polish chemist and academic (b. 1899)

• Dec. 6 Roy Orbison

  Roy Orbison was a legendary rock and roll musician known for his powerful tenor voice and iconic dark sunglasses. He created timeless hits like 'Oh, Pretty Woman' and 'Only the Lonely' that defined the rock and roll era. His unique musical style earned him the nickname 'the Caruso of Rock'.

• Dec. 6 Bill Harris

  Us guitarist, clovers - love potion no 9"), has died at the age of 63.

• Dec. 8 Herbert "Tubo" Rhoad

  At 44 years old, us singer persuasions ("good news") dies.

• Dec. 8 Anne Seymour

  Actress (misty chevy mystery show), dead at 79

• Dec. 10 Johnny Lawrence

  English cricketer and coach (b. 1911)

• Dec. 10 Richard S. Castellano

  American actor (b. 1933)

• Dec. 10 Dorothy de Rothschild

  English philanthropist and activist (b. 1895)

• Dec. 10 Dick Clair

  Comedy star (clair & mcmahon facts of life), succumbs to aids

• Dec. 12 Anthony ''Tony Pro'' Provenzano

  American mafia figure (born 1917).

• Dec. 14 Stuart Symington

  Stuart Symington was a prominent American politician and military leader who served as the first United States Secretary of the Air Force. He played a crucial role in shaping the US military's aviation strategy during the early Cold War period.

• Dec. 20 Max Robinson

  Groundbreaking African American television journalist who became the first Black anchor of ABC Evening News. He tragically died from AIDS in 1988, marking a significant moment in media diversity and HIV/AIDS awareness.

• Dec. 21 Nikolaas Tinbergen

  MED - Dutch-english ethologist and ornithologist, nobel prize laureate (d. 1988)

• Dec. 21 Bob Steele [Robert Bradbury]

  After a short illness, 60-year-old woman dies

• Dec. 22 Chico Mendes

  Influential Brazilian environmental activist who fought to protect the Amazon rainforest and advocated for rubber tappers' rights, assassinated for his activism.

• Dec. 25 Edward Pelham-Clinton

  10th duke of newcastle, english entomologist and lepidopterist (b. 1920)

• Dec. 25 Shōhei Ōoka

  Japanese author and critic (b. 1909)

• Dec. 25 Ooka Shohei

  Japanese novelist (born in 1909)

• Dec. 26 John Loder

  Actor (sabotage java head), passes away at 90

• Dec. 26 Glenn McCarthy

  Texas oil entrepreneur and businessman who founded the luxurious Shamrock Hotel in Houston. He was known for his flamboyant lifestyle and significant contributions to Houston's development.

• Dec. 26 Pablo Sorozábal

  German-spanish composer and conductor (b. 1897)

• Dec. 27 Hal Ashby

  Acclaimed American film director known for critically acclaimed movies like 'Harold and Maude' and 'Being There', who was a key figure in the New Hollywood era of cinema.

• Dec. 30 Isamu Noguchi

  Isamu Noguchi was a renowned Japanese-American artist, landscape architect, and industrial designer who significantly influenced modern sculpture and public spaces. He is famous for his innovative sculptures, furniture designs, and architectural works that blended Eastern and Western aesthetic principles. Noguchi's diverse portfolio includes public art installations, stage designs, and iconic furniture pieces like the Noguchi coffee table.