Famous people and celebrities who died on December 18

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on December 18. 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.

• 1971 Diana Lynn

  Diana Lynn was an American actress known for her roles in films like 'Annapolis Story' and 'Easy Come, Easy Go' during the mid-20th century Hollywood era.

• 1971 Bobby Jones

  Professional basketball player who competed in the 1972 Olympics and played for the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers, winning an NBA championship in 1983.

• 1975 Theodosius Dobzhansky

  Renowned geneticist who made fundamental contributions to evolutionary biology, helping to integrate Darwinian theory with modern genetics and population studies.

• 1986 Mamo Clark

  Actor (1 million bc robinson crusoe from clipper island).

• 1987 Conny Plank

  Influential German music producer and electronic music pioneer known for his groundbreaking work with bands like Cluster and Kraftwerk, significantly shaping the development of experimental and electronic music in the 1970s and 1980s.

• 1990 Anne Revere

  Actress (national velvet), passes away from pneumonia at 87

• 1990 Paul Tortelier

  Renowned French cellist and composer, Paul Tortelier was a significant figure in 20th-century classical music. He was particularly known for his exceptional cello performances and compositions, including the notable 'Israeli Symphony' from 1955.

• 1992 Mark Goodson

  Mark Goodson was a renowned American television producer who created iconic game shows like Family Feud and The Price is Right, significantly influencing American television entertainment.

• 1993 Sam Wanamaker

  Sam Wanamaker was a visionary American actor and director who dedicated significant efforts to reconstructing Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, meticulously recreating the original Elizabethan architectural design and construction methods.

• 1994 Lilia Skala

  Actress from austria/usa (ship of fools and caprice) dies at the age of 98.

• 1995 Konrad Zuse

  Konrad Zuse was a pioneering German computer scientist who created the first programmable computer, fundamentally transforming the field of computing. His Z1 computer, developed in 1938, was the first binary digital computer and laid the groundwork for modern computing technology. Zuse's innovations were critical in establishing the foundations of computer science.

• 1996 Yulii Borisovich Khariton

  Yulii Borisovich Khariton was a prominent Russian physicist who played a crucial role in the Soviet nuclear weapons program during the Cold War.

• 1997 Chris Farley

  Legendary comedian known for his work on Saturday Night Live and comedy films like 'Tommy Boy', who tragically died from a drug overdose at the height of his career.

• 1998 Lev Dyomin

  Prominent Russian cosmonaut and colonel who was part of the Soviet space program, completing a significant space mission before his death in 1998.

• 1999 Robert Bresson

  Robert Bresson was a renowned French film director known for his austere and minimalist cinematographic style. He created 14 influential films over 40 years, primarily during and after World War II, and is considered a key figure in the French New Wave cinema movement. His work was deeply influenced by Jansenist philosophy, exploring profound human experiences through a stark and …

• 2000 Randolph Apperson Hearst

  American businessman and heir to the Hearst Corporation, a major media and publishing empire founded by his father William Randolph Hearst.

• 2001 Gilbert Bécaud

  Renowned French singer-songwriter who was a major figure in French popular music, famous for international hits like 'What Now My Love?' and 'Let It Be Me'.

• 2002 Wayne Owens

  An American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from Utah, representing the 2nd congressional district in two separate terms.

• 2006 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.

• 2006 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.

• 2008 W Mark Felt

  Key Watergate whistleblower who revealed Nixon administration corruption as 'Deep Throat', serving as Associate Director of the FBI during a critical period in American political history.

• 2010 Jacqueline de Romilly

  Renowned French classicist and historian who specialized in ancient Greek literature, becoming a pioneering female academic in France. She was the second woman elected to Académie Française and the first female professor at Collège de France.

• 2011 Václav Havel

  Prominent Czech playwright, dissident, and political leader who played a crucial role in the Velvet Revolution and became the first president of post-communist Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. He was a leading intellectual who fought against communist oppression and championed human rights.

• 2014 Virna Lisi

  Renowned Italian actress who achieved international acclaim for her roles in notable films like 'The Black Tulip' and 'Casanova'. She won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994 for her performance in 'Queen Margot'.

• 2014 Mandy Rice-Davies

  Famous English model and actress known for her role in the Profumo affair, a major political scandal in 1960s Britain that exposed sexual and social improprieties.

• 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor

  Zsa Zsa Gabor was a famous Hungarian-American actress, socialite, and celebrity known for her glamorous lifestyle, multiple marriages, and witty personality. She was a prominent Hollywood personality who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career.

• 2017 Kim Jong-hyun

  Kim Jong-hyun was a talented South Korean singer and SHINee member who tragically passed away in 2017, leaving a significant impact on the K-pop music industry.