Famous people and celebrities who died in January 1996

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 1996. 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 Arleigh Burke
Admiral Arleigh Burke was a distinguished US Navy officer who played a crucial role in World War II naval operations and later served as Chief of Naval Operations, significantly shaping American maritime strategy.
Jan. 1 Arthur Rudolph
German rocket scientist who played a significant role in the development of the V-2 rocket during World War II and later worked for NASA in the United States. He was a key figure in the Apollo program and the Saturn V rocket development.
Jan. 5 Lincoln Kirstein
Influential American arts patron and co-founder of the New York City Ballet. He played a crucial role in developing American dance and supporting choreographers like George Balanchine.
Jan. 6 Duane Hanson
Renowned American sculptor famous for hyperrealistic life-sized sculptures depicting ordinary people in everyday situations. His groundbreaking work challenged traditional art perceptions by capturing mundane human experiences with extraordinary detail and realism.
Jan. 7 Károly Grósz
Hungarian politician who served as the 51st Prime Minister of Hungary during a critical period of political transition in the late 1980s.
Jan. 8 François Mitterrand
Prominent French socialist politician who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, marking a significant shift in French political landscape by being the first socialist president of the Fifth Republic.
Jan. 8 Howard Taubman
Prominent American theater and music critic who significantly contributed to arts journalism in the mid-20th century.
Jan. 9 Walter Miller
Acclaimed American science fiction writer best known for his Hugo Award-winning novelette 'Darfstellar' and his influential novel 'A Canticle for Leibowitz'. He began writing sci-fi after a 1950 car accident and published 41 stories between 1951-1957.
Jan. 11 Roger Crozier
Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach who made significant contributions to the sport during his career.
Jan. 15 Minnesota Fats
Legendary American professional billiards player known for his exceptional pool skills and colorful personality.
Jan. 15 Les Baxter
Influential American composer and orchestra leader who was a pioneer in exotica and easy listening music during the mid-20th century.
Jan. 16 Kaye Webb
Kaye Webb was a prominent English journalist and publisher who made significant contributions to the literary world, particularly in children's publishing.
Jan. 16 Marcia Davenport
Marcia Davenport was a distinguished American author, music critic, and biographer known for her insightful works on classical music and notable biographical studies. She wrote extensively about composers and cultural figures of her time.
Jan. 17 Barbara Jordan
Barbara Jordan was a pioneering African American politician who made significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. She served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas and was known for her powerful oratory and commitment to social justice.
Jan. 18 N. T. Rama Rao
Legendary Telugu actor and politician who became the 10th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, known for his significant contributions to cinema and politics.
Jan. 19 Don Simpson
Prominent Hollywood film producer known for collaborating with Jerry Bruckheimer on iconic 1980s blockbusters like 'Flashdance' and 'Top Gun'. He was a key figure in transforming the Hollywood action movie genre during the decade.
Jan. 20 Gerry Mulligan
Gerry Mulligan was a legendary jazz baritone saxophonist and composer who significantly influenced the cool jazz movement of the 1950s. He collaborated with many jazz greats like Miles Davis and Chet Baker, and is considered one of the most important baritone saxophonists in jazz history.
Jan. 22 Israel Eldad
Polish-israeli philosopher and author (b. 1910)
Jan. 23 Norman MacCaig
Renowned Scottish poet and philosopher whose works often drew inspiration from Edinburgh and the West Highlands. He published several notable poetry collections including 'Far Cry', 'Riding Lights', and 'A Man in My Position'.
Jan. 25 Jonathan Larson
Revolutionary musical theater composer who created 'Rent', a groundbreaking rock musical that transformed Broadway and posthumously won critical acclaim.
Jan. 26 Henry Lewis
Pioneering African American conductor who broke racial barriers in classical music, leading major orchestras during a challenging period of racial segregation.
Jan. 26 Frank Howard
Legendary Washington Senators baseball player who set a remarkable home run record in 1969, later becoming a respected coach and team manager.
Jan. 26 David Schultz
Olympic gold medal wrestler tragically killed by millionaire John du Pont, a story famously depicted in the film 'Foxcatcher'.
Jan. 27 Ralph Yarborough
American politician and lawyer from Texas who served in the United States Senate, known for his progressive political stance.
Jan. 28 Joseph Brodsky
Joseph Brodsky was a renowned Russian-American poet, essayist, and translator who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987. He was a significant figure in 20th-century poetry, known for his profound philosophical works and his resistance to Soviet oppression. Brodsky was exiled from the Soviet Union in 1972 and later became a professor at several American universities.
Jan. 28 Jerry Siegel
Co-creator of Superman, one of the most influential comic book writers in American history who revolutionized the superhero genre with his iconic character.
Jan. 28 Burne Hogarth
Burne Hogarth was an influential American cartoonist best known for his groundbreaking work on the Tarzan comic strip. He was a pioneering illustrator who significantly contributed to the visual storytelling and artistic techniques in comic art. His dynamic drawing style and anatomical precision made him a legendary figure in the comic book and illustration world.