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

  • Aleka Stratigou
    Jan. 1 Aleka Stratigou

    Greek actress (born in 1926)

  • Safdar Hashmi
    Jan. 2 Safdar Hashmi

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

  • Sergei Lvovich Sobolev
    Jan. 3 Sergei Lvovich Sobolev

    Russian mathematician (born 1909)

  • Hirohito
    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 …

  • Johnny Jordaan [Jan van Musscher]
    Jan. 8 Johnny Jordaan [Jan van Musscher]

    Dutch folk singer dies at the age of 64

  • Kenneth McMillan
    Jan. 8 Kenneth McMillan

    Actor (our family honor malone) dies at 67

  • Bill Terry
    Jan. 9 Bill Terry

    American baseball manager and player (d. 1989).

  • Colin Winchester
    Jan. 10 Colin Winchester

    Australian assistant police commissioner, killed (born 1933).

  • Joe Spinell
    Jan. 13 Joe Spinell

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

  • Romo Vincent
    Jan. 16 Romo Vincent

    Actor (naked jungle)

  • Trey Wilson
    Jan. 16 Trey Wilson

    Actor (bull durham, twins, raising arizona)

  • Pierre Boileau
    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.

  • Sterling A Brown
    Jan. 17 Sterling A Brown

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

  • Bruce Chatwin
    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.

  • Norma Varden
    Jan. 19 Norma Varden

    Actress (loose in london)

  • Beatrice Lillie
    Jan. 20 Beatrice Lillie

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

  • Billy Tipton
    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.

  • Salvador Dalí
    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.

  • Ted Bundy
    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.

  • Paul Daels
    Jan. 26 Paul Daels

    Flemish chairman (ijzerbedevaart committee), dies.

  • Thomas Sopwith
    Jan. 27 Thomas Sopwith

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

  • Choekyi Gyaltsen
    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.

  • Morton DaCosta
    Jan. 29 Morton DaCosta

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

  • Alfonso
    Jan. 30 Alfonso

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

  • William Stephenson
    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.

  • Yasushi Akutagawa
    Jan. 31 Yasushi Akutagawa

    Composer dies at 63

  • Sir William Samuel Stephenson
    Jan. 31 Sir William Samuel Stephenson

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