Famous people and celebrities who died in January 2016

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 2016. 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 Vilmos Zsigmond

  Acclaimed Hungarian-American cinematographer known for his innovative visual style and significant contributions to cinema, winning an Academy Award for his work on 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.

• Jan. 1 Dale Bumpers

  Prominent American politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas and later as a United States Senator, known for his distinguished political career.

• Jan. 4 S. H. Kapadia

  Prominent Indian jurist who served as the 38th Chief Justice of India, known for his significant contributions to the Indian legal system.

• Jan. 4 Stephen W. Bosworth

  Distinguished American diplomat and academic who served as United States Ambassador to South Korea, known for his significant contributions to international diplomacy.

• Jan. 5 Pierre Boulez

  Pioneering French composer and conductor who revolutionized 20th-century classical music through innovative serial techniques and electronic experimentation. He was a leading figure in the avant-garde music movement, challenging traditional musical structures. Boulez significantly influenced contemporary classical composition and conducting.

• Jan. 6 Silvana Pampanini

  Renowned Italian film actress and beauty queen who was a major star in 1950s Italian cinema. She won Miss Italy in 1947 and transitioned from concert singing to become a celebrated actress and sex symbol of her era.

• Jan. 6 Pat Harrington

  Pat Harrington Jr. was an American actor and screenwriter best known for his role in the popular sitcom 'One Day at a Time'.

• Jan. 6 Florence King

  Florence King was a renowned American writer known for her sharp, witty essays and memoirs exploring Southern culture, feminism, and social commentary. She was a respected columnist for National Review and authored several acclaimed books including 'Southern Ladies and Gentlemen'.

• Jan. 8 German Moreno

  Prominent Filipino television personality known for his significant contributions to entertainment as a host, actor, comedian, and influential talent manager who shaped the Philippine showbiz industry.

• Jan. 10 David Bowie

  Legendary British rock musician, singer-songwriter, and cultural icon who revolutionized popular music through innovative sound, theatrical performances, and constant reinvention of his artistic persona.

• Jan. 11 David Margulies

  American character actor known for roles in films like 'Ghostbusters' and television series, with a long and distinguished career in entertainment.

• Jan. 11 Monte Irvin

  Legendary baseball player who broke racial barriers, excelling in both the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievements.

• Jan. 14 Alan Rickman

  Alan Rickman was a critically acclaimed British actor famous for iconic roles in Harry Potter as Severus Snape and as Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He was also a respected stage actor and director with a distinguished career in theater and film.

• Jan. 14 René Angélil

  Legendary Canadian music manager who guided the career of Céline Dion, whom he later married. Of Syrian and Lebanese descent, he was instrumental in launching Dion's global music career.

• Jan. 16 Ted Marchibroda

  American football coach who led the Baltimore Ravens from 1996 to 1998, known for his strategic coaching in the NFL and professional football history.

• Jan. 18 Glenn Frey

  Glenn Frey was a founding member of the legendary rock band The Eagles, co-writing numerous hits including the iconic 'Hotel California'.

• Jan. 18 Michel Tournier

  Michel Tournier was a renowned French novelist and writer, known for his philosophical and imaginative works that significantly contributed to contemporary French literature.

• Jan. 19 Ettore Scola

  Renowned Italian film director and screenwriter who made significant contributions to Italian cinema. He worked as a journalist and scriptwriter before becoming a celebrated director, known for his insightful and satirical films about Italian society.

• Jan. 20 Edmonde Charles-Roux

  A prominent French journalist and writer who made significant contributions to literature and fashion journalism. She was a notable figure at Vogue magazine and wrote influential books about fashion icons like Coco Chanel. Her wartime experiences as a nurse and her literary achievements earned her multiple prestigious French honors.

• Jan. 23 Bobby Wanzer

  Bobby Wanzer was a notable American basketball player who served as a Marine Corps officer during World War II and later became a player and coach for the Rochester Royals. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport.

• Jan. 24 Marvin Minsky

  Marvin Minsky was a pioneering computer scientist and cognitive researcher who fundamentally shaped the field of artificial intelligence. He co-founded the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and made groundbreaking contributions to neural networks and machine intelligence.

• Jan. 24 Fredrik Barth

  Renowned German-Norwegian social anthropologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of ethnicity, social organization, and cultural dynamics through his groundbreaking fieldwork and theoretical insights.

• Jan. 26 Abe Vigoda

  Iconic American character actor best known for his memorable roles in 'The Godfather' as Salvatore Tessio and in the TV sitcom 'Barney Miller'. He became a pop culture figure known for his long-lasting career and humorous public persona.

• Jan. 27 Carlos Loyzaga

  Legendary Filipino basketball player known as the 'Big Difference', who significantly influenced Philippine basketball during the 1950s and 1960s. He was a key member of the national team and considered one of the greatest Filipino basketball players of all time.

• Jan. 28 Signe Toly Anderson

  Original lead singer of Jefferson Airplane, a pioneering psychedelic rock band of the 1960s San Francisco music scene.

• Jan. 29 Jacques Rivette

  Influential French New Wave filmmaker known for unconventional, lengthy films that challenged traditional cinematographic norms. His debut film 'Paris Belongs to Us' (1960) established him as a pioneering director in the French cinema movement.

• Jan. 30 Frank Finlay

  British character actor known for roles in films like 'Robbery' and 'Lifeforce', with a distinguished career in theater and cinema.

• Jan. 30 Francisco Flores Pérez

  Former President of El Salvador who served from 1999 to 2004, significant political figure in Central American politics.

• Jan. 31 Terry Wogan

  Terry Wogan was a beloved Irish radio and television broadcaster who became a national icon in the UK and Ireland, known for his witty and charming presenting style.