Famous people and celebrities who died on December 17

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on December 17. On this day, we honor the lives and legacies of notable figures from various fields who left an indelible mark on the world. Explore our list to learn about their remarkable contributions and celebrate their enduring impact.

• 1833 Kaspar Hauser

  Mysterious foundling who claimed to have grown up in isolation, sparking much speculation.

• 1907 William Thomson

  Prominent music educator and researcher at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, specializing in cognitive and perceptual aspects of music from 1980-1992.

• 1917 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

  First woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in Britain, and a pioneer in the medical education of women.

• 1962 Thomas Mitchell

  Renowned Hollywood character actor who won an Academy Award and appeared in classic films like 'Gone with the Wind' and 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

• 1964 Victor Francis Hess

  PHY - Austrian-american physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1883)

• 1967 Harold Holt

  Australian Prime Minister who served from 1966 to 1967, known for increasing Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War and introducing decimal currency. He mysteriously disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach in Victoria, which became a famous national incident.

• 1978 Don Ellis

  Innovative jazz musician known for his experimental big band and groundbreaking film scores, particularly for 'The French Connection'. He was a pioneering trumpeter who blended complex rhythms and unconventional musical techniques.

• 1987 Marguerite Yourcenar

  Belgian-born French novelist and essayist, the first woman to be elected to the Académie française. She was a renowned writer known for her intellectual depth and historical novels.

• 1990 Don Draper

  Fictional protagonist of the critically acclaimed TV series 'Mad Men', representing the complex world of 1960s advertising in New York. A charismatic and troubled creative director at Sterling Cooper, he embodies the era's professional and personal tensions.

• 1992 Dana Andrews

  Prominent Hollywood actor known for classic films like 'Laura' and 'The Best Years of Our Lives', who had a significant career in mid-20th century cinema.

• 1993 Janet Margolin

  American actress annie hall, 50, dies from ovarian cancer.

• 1999 C. Vann Woodward

  Pulitzer Prize-winning historian who revolutionized understanding of race relations and the American South through groundbreaking scholarly works like 'The Strange Career of Jim Crow'. He was a prominent Yale University professor who significantly influenced historical scholarship in the 20th century.

• 1999 Grover Washington Jr.

  Legendary jazz saxophonist who significantly influenced smooth jazz and crossover jazz genres, known for hits like 'Mister Magic' and 'Just the Two of Us'.

• 2003 Otto Graham

  Legendary NFL quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns, considered one of the most successful quarterbacks of his era and a Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

• 2004 Tom Wesselmann

  Tom Wesselmann was a prominent American pop artist known for his innovative and provocative artwork, particularly his 'Great American Nude' series. He was a key figure in the 1960s pop art movement, creating vibrant and stylized paintings, collages, and sculptures that challenged traditional artistic representations.

• 2005 Jack Anderson

  Pioneering investigative journalist known for his syndicated column 'Washington Merry-Go-Round' that exposed political corruption and scandals from 1947 onwards. He was a prominent media figure who influenced American political journalism through his fearless reporting and wide-reaching syndication.

• 2005 Marc Favreau

  Marc Favreau was a prominent Canadian actor, comedian, and poet known for his significant contributions to Quebec's cultural scene.

• 2006 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.

• 2008 Sammy Baugh

  Legendary NFL quarterback who played for the Washington Redskins and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Known for revolutionizing the passing game in professional football during the 1930s and 1940s.

• 2009 Jennifer Jones

  Acclaimed American actress who won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1943 for her remarkable portrayal of Bernadette in 'The Song of Bernadette'. She was known for her powerful performances in films like 'Love Letters' and 'Duel in the Sun'.

• 2009 Alaina Reed Hall

  Beloved American actress best known for her iconic role as Olivia Robinson on the children's educational program 'Sesame Street', who passed away in 2009.

• 2010 Captain Beefheart

  Captain Beefheart was an innovative American musician and visual artist known for his avant-garde rock music and groundbreaking experimental sound that influenced multiple generations of musicians.

• 2012 Daniel Inouye

  Prominent American politician and long-serving Democratic Senator from Hawaii, who was a decorated World War II veteran and played significant roles in key congressional committees like Watergate and Iran-Contra.

• 2012 Laurier LaPierre

  Prominent Canadian historian, journalist, and politician who made significant contributions to Canadian media and public discourse.

• 2013 Janet Rowley

  Pioneering American geneticist who made groundbreaking discoveries in cancer research, particularly in understanding the genetic basis of leukemia and other cancers.

• 2014 Dieter Grau

  German-American aerospace engineer who made significant contributions to NASA's early space programs, particularly during the Apollo missions.

• 2016 Benjamin A. Gilman

  American politician who served in Congress, representing New York's 20th congressional district from 1973 to 2003.

• 2016 Henry Heimlich

  Henry Heimlich was a renowned American physician who developed the famous Heimlich maneuver, a life-saving technique for choking victims.

• 2018 Penny Marshall

  Iconic American actress and director best known for her role in 'Laverne & Shirley' and for directing successful films like 'Big' and 'Awakenings'.