Famous people and celebrities who died in January 1989

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 1989. 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. 1 Aleka Stratigou

  Greek actress (born in 1926)

• Jan. 2 Safdar Hashmi

  Indian actor, director, and playwright (b. 1954)

• Jan. 3 Sergei Lvovich Sobolev

  Russian mathematician (born 1909)

• Jan. 7 Hirohito

  Emperor of Japan from 1926 to 1989, Hirohito was a pivotal figure in 20th-century Japanese history, ruling during World War II and the post-war reconstruction period. He was the first Japanese monarch to have significant international exposure and played a complex role in Japan's imperial and wartime history. His reign marked a transformative period for Japan, transitioning from imperial power …

• Jan. 8 Ken McMillan

  Actor malone, concrete beat, dies at 56 from a heart attack

• Jan. 8 Johnny Jordaan [Jan van Musscher]

  Dutch folk singer dies at the age of 64

• Jan. 9 Bill Terry

  American baseball manager and player (d. 1989).

• Jan. 10 Colin Winchester

  Australian assistant police commissioner, killed (born 1933).

• Jan. 13 Joe Spinell

  Actor (maniac star crash, strike force), who dies at 51

• Jan. 16 Romo Vincent

  Actor (naked jungle)

• Jan. 16 Trey Wilson

  Actor (bull durham, twins, raising arizona)

• Jan. 16 Pierre Boileau

  French mathematician, inventor, and author. he was an inventor of a running water measurement device and a researcher on the use of vulcanized rubber.

• Jan. 17 Sterling A Brown

  At 87, a us poet/critic (southern road) dies.

• Jan. 18 Bruce Chatwin

  Renowned British travel writer and author known for his captivating narratives about nomadic lifestyles and global explorations. His works blended travel writing, history, and personal observations, making him a significant literary figure of the 20th century.

• Jan. 19 Norma Varden

  Actress (loose in london)

• Jan. 20 Beatrice Lillie

  Talented comedic actress and singer known for her wit and charm.

• Jan. 21 Billy Tipton

  Billy Tipton was a pioneering jazz musician who lived as a male performer, challenging gender norms in the mid-20th century music scene. His remarkable story reveals the complex intersections of gender identity, musical talent, and professional recognition in jazz history. Tipton's life was a testament to resilience and artistic passion.

• Jan. 23 Salvador Dalí

  Salvador Dalí was a world-renowned Spanish surrealist artist famous for his bizarre and imaginative paintings, who also explored entrepreneurship through commercial ventures like perfume and design.

• Jan. 24 Ted Bundy

  Ted Bundy was a notorious American serial killer who murdered numerous women across multiple states during the 1970s. Known for his charismatic personality and intelligence, he was able to lure victims by appearing trustworthy and attractive. He was eventually captured, tried, and executed in Florida in 1989.

• Jan. 26 Paul Daels

  Flemish chairman (ijzerbedevaart committee), dies.

• Jan. 27 Thomas Sopwith

  English ice hockey player, sailor, and pilot (d. 1989).

• Jan. 28 Choekyi Gyaltsen

  The 10th Panchen Lama, a significant Tibetan Buddhist leader who played a crucial role in preserving Tibetan culture during challenging political times.

• Jan. 29 Morton DaCosta

  American theatre and film director, film producer, writer and actor (b. 1914)

• Jan. 30 Alfonso

  Duke of anjou and cadiz, spanish pretender to the french throne (born 1936)

• Jan. 31 William Stephenson

  Canadian-born millionaire industrialist. his adventures as british ww ii chief intelligence officer in the western hemisphere were documented in "a man called intrepid," a 1979 bestseller. he was an inventor and financier. winston churchill gave him the code name intrepid, which he used to communicate with roosevelt.

• Jan. 31 Sir William Samuel Stephenson

  Canadian soldier, w.w.ii codename, intrepid. inspiration for james bond. (born 1896)

• Jan. 31 Yasushi Akutagawa

  Composer dies at 63