Famous people and celebrities who died in January 2010

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 2010. 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. 3 Mary Daly

  Influential radical feminist philosopher and theologian who challenged patriarchal structures in religious and academic discourse.

• Jan. 4 Sandro

  Iconic Argentine singer and actor known as the 'Argentine Elvis', pioneering rock music in Latin America with 52 official records and millions of records sold.

• Jan. 4 Tsutomu Yamaguchi

  Extraordinary survivor who experienced both atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, becoming a powerful symbol of human resilience and anti-nuclear advocacy.

• Jan. 5 Kenneth Noland

  Influential American abstract expressionist painter, pioneering the color field painting movement in post-World War II art. His geometric and color-focused works significantly impacted modern art.

• Jan. 11 Éric Rohmer

  Influential French film director, critic, and key figure of the French New Wave cinema movement, known for his philosophical and dialogue-driven films exploring human relationships and moral dilemmas.

• Jan. 11 Miep Gies

  Austrian-Dutch humanitarian who courageously helped hide Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi occupation, playing a crucial role in preserving Anne's diary after the war.

• Jan. 12 Daniel Bensaïd

  Prominent French philosopher and influential Trotskyist political activist who made significant contributions to Marxist thought and political theory.

• Jan. 12 Hasib Sabbagh

  Palestinian businessman, philanthropist, and co-founder of consolidated contractors company (born in 1920).

• Jan. 13 Teddy Pendergrass

  Teddy Pendergrass was a legendary R&B soul singer known for his powerful, romantic ballads and significant influence on 1970s and 1980s music, who tragically passed away in 2010.

• Jan. 15 Marshall Nirenberg

  Renowned molecular biologist who made groundbreaking contributions to genetics by deciphering the genetic code, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

• Jan. 16 Glen Bell

  World War II veteran and entrepreneur who founded Taco Bell, revolutionizing fast-food Mexican cuisine in the United States.

• Jan. 17 Jyoti Basu

  Prominent Indian communist politician who served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for over two decades, making him one of the longest-serving chief ministers in Indian history. He was a key figure in Indian left-wing politics.

• Jan. 17 Erich Segal

  Renowned American educator, writer, and classics scholar who was a distinguished professor at Yale University and made significant contributions to academic and literary fields.

• Jan. 18 Robert B. Parker

  Renowned American crime novelist best known for his detective series featuring Spenser and Jesse Stone.

• Jan. 18 Kate McGarrigle

  Canadian folk musician and singer-songwriter known for her work with her sister Anna McGarrigle, creating influential music in the Quebec and Canadian folk scene.

• Jan. 19 Bill McLaren

  Bill McLaren was a legendary Scottish rugby commentator known as the 'Voice of Rugby', renowned for his distinctive commentary style and deep knowledge of the sport. He was a beloved figure in rugby broadcasting from 1953 to 2002.

• Jan. 22 Jean Simmons

  Renowned British actress who rose to international fame in the 1940s and 1950s. She was nominated for Academy Awards for her roles in 'Hamlet' and 'The Happy Ending'. Simmons was a versatile performer who successfully transitioned between British and Hollywood cinema.

• Jan. 22 Louis R. Harlan

  American historian and author (b. 1922)

• Jan. 23 Earl Wild

  Earl Wild was a renowned American classical pianist and composer known for his exceptional interpretations of Romantic era music and his virtuosic performances.

• Jan. 23 Kermit Tyler

  American military pilot who served during World War II, notable for his role in the early warning system during the Pearl Harbor attack.

• Jan. 24 Pernell Roberts

  Pernell Roberts was an acclaimed American actor best known for his iconic role as Adam Cartwright in the long-running western TV series Bonanza, and later as the lead in Trapper John, M.D.

• Jan. 25 Ali Hassan al-Majid

  Iraqi general and politician, iraqi minister of defence (b. 1941)

• Jan. 27 J D Salinger

  J.D. Salinger was an iconic American novelist best known for his groundbreaking novel 'The Catcher in the Rye', which profoundly influenced 20th-century literature and youth culture.

• Jan. 27 Howard Zinn

  Howard Zinn was a prominent American historian, author, and political activist who revolutionized historical narrative by focusing on marginalized perspectives in his groundbreaking book 'A People's History of the United States'.

• Jan. 30 Bernard Arcand

  Renowned Canadian anthropologist and author known for his scholarly work in cultural anthropology and indigenous studies.