Famous people and celebrities who died in December 2006

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in December 2006. 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. 1 Claude Jade

  Renowned French actress of the New Wave cinema, famous for her iconic collaborations with François Truffaut in his Antoine Doinel trilogy, including 'Stolen Kisses' and 'Bed and Board'.

• Dec. 2 Mariska Veres

  Dutch singer who was the lead vocalist of the rock band Shocking Blue, famous for the hit song 'Venus'.

• Dec. 4 Ross A. McGinnis

  American soldier, medal of honor recipient (b. 1987)

• Dec. 5 David Bronstein

  Renowned Ukrainian-Belarusian chess player and theoretician who significantly contributed to chess strategy and theory. He was a candidate for the World Chess Championship and known for his innovative playing style.

• Dec. 6 John Feeney

  New zealand documentary film director (born in 1922)

• Dec. 7 Jeane Kirkpatrick

  Prominent American diplomat and political scientist who served as the 16th U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Reagan administration, known for her influential foreign policy perspectives.

• Dec. 8 Martha Tilton

  American singer (b. 1915)

• Dec. 10 Augusto Pinochet

  Augusto Pinochet was a Chilean military dictator who seized power through a US-backed coup in 1973, ruling with extreme brutality and causing thousands of deaths and human rights violations.

• Dec. 12 Peter Boyle

  Renowned American actor best known for his roles in 'Young Frankenstein' and the TV series 'Everybody Loves Raymond'. He was a versatile performer who successfully transitioned between comedy and dramatic roles.

• Dec. 12 Paul Arizin

  Paul Arizin was a legendary NBA basketball player who played for the Philadelphia Warriors, known for his innovative jump shot and being one of the most influential players of the 1950s.

• Dec. 12 Alan Shugart

  Pioneering American engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Seagate Technology, revolutionizing computer hard disk drive manufacturing.

• Dec. 13 Lamar Hunt

  Lamar Hunt was a pioneering American sports entrepreneur who founded the American Football League and Major League Soccer, significantly impacting professional sports in the United States.

• Dec. 14 Ahmet Ertegun

  Ahmet Ertegun was a legendary Turkish-American music producer who co-founded Atlantic Records, a pivotal record label that significantly influenced rock, soul, and R&B music in the 20th century.

• Dec. 15 Clay Regazzoni

  Clay Regazzoni was a prominent Swiss Formula One racing driver who competed from 1970 to 1980, winning four Grand Prix races.

• Dec. 16 Taliep Petersen

  South african singer-songwriter and director (b. 1950)

• Dec. 16 Pnina Salzman

  Israeli pianist and educator (b. 1922)

• Dec. 17 Larry Sherry

  Professional baseball player who made history with the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming the first player to appear in all four World Series winning games in 1960. His remarkable performance helped define an era of baseball excellence.

• Dec. 18 Joseph Barbera

  Joseph Barbera was a legendary American animator, cartoonist, and television producer who co-founded Hanna-Barbera, one of the most influential animation studios in history, creating iconic cartoon characters like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo.

• Dec. 18 Ruth Bernhard

  Renowned photographer known for her elegant and minimalist black and white images, particularly her iconic nude and still life photographs. She was a significant figure in 20th-century art photography and a pioneer in modernist visual aesthetics.

• Dec. 22 Dennis Linde

  Dennis Linde was a renowned American singer-songwriter known for writing numerous country and rock songs, including Elvis Presley's 'Burning Love'.

• Dec. 22 Galina Ustvolskaya

  Russian composer (born 1919).

• Dec. 23 Charlie Drake

  Charlie Drake was a popular British comedian known for his slapstick comedy and comedic television performances during the mid-20th century.

• Dec. 23 Johnny Vincent

  English footballer (born 1947)

• Dec. 24 Braguinha

  Carlos Alberto de Carvalho Braga, known as Braguinha, was a renowned Brazilian musician who significantly influenced Brazilian popular music during the 20th century, composing numerous classic sambas and marchinha songs.

• Dec. 25 James Brown

  Legendary singer and performer known as the 'Godfather of Soul', who revolutionized popular music with his innovative funk and soul style.

• Dec. 26 Gerald Ford

  Gerald Ford was the 38th President of the United States, who assumed office after Richard Nixon's resignation. He was the first president to take office without being elected as president or vice president, serving from 1974 to 1977. Ford played a crucial role in healing the nation after the Watergate scandal.

• Dec. 26 Ivar Formo

  Norwegian skier and engineer (b. 1951)

• Dec. 28 Aroldo Tieri

  Prominent Italian actor who was a significant figure in mid-20th century Italian cinema, known for his versatile performances and contributions to national film culture.

• Dec. 30 Saddam Hussein

  Controversial Iraqi dictator who ruled Iraq from 1979 to 2003, known for his brutal regime, invasion of Kuwait, and conflict with Iran and the United States.

• Dec. 31 George Sisler

  Jr., american baseball executive (born 1917).