Famous people and celebrities who died on December 22

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on December 22. 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.

• 1880 George Eliot

  British writer. named george eliot by her lover george henry lewes, a writer from england, inasmuch a woman writer would have not been given credence. her books included the classics "the mill on the floss", silas marner, and "middlemarch", 1871, which are considered to be her masterpiece.

• 1940 Nathanael West

  Influential American novelist known for his dark, satirical works that critiqued American society, particularly in Hollywood. His novels 'Miss Lonelyhearts' and 'The Day of the Locust' are considered significant contributions to 20th-century literature.

• 1944 Harry Langdon

  American actor, comedian, and vaudevillian (b. 1884)

• 1965 Richard Dimbleby

  Renowned British broadcaster and journalist who was a key figure in BBC news during the mid-20th century.

• 1969 Ilse Steppat

  German actress known for her roles in thriller and crime films, particularly in the 1960s. She had a notable career in German cinema before her untimely death at 52.

• 1971 Godfried Bomans

  Prominent Dutch writer and journalist known for his witty and ironic storytelling, who studied law and philosophy before dedicating himself to writing.

• 1974 Fosco Giachetti

  Prominent Italian actor who was a leading figure in fascist propaganda cinema, starring in numerous significant films during the 1930s and 1940s.

• 1979 Darryl F Zanuck

  Prominent Hollywood film producer and executive who played a significant role in the development of 20th Century Fox studio during the golden age of cinema.

• 1980 Dick Kallman

  American actor from Brooklyn, New York, known for stage and television performances in the 1950s and 1960s.

• 1985 D Boon

  Influential punk rock guitarist and singer for the legendary alternative band Minutemen, known for their innovative and politically charged music during the 1980s hardcore punk scene.

• 1988 Chico Mendes

  Influential Brazilian environmental activist who fought to protect the Amazon rainforest and advocated for rubber tappers' rights, assassinated for his activism.

• 1989 Samuel Beckett

  Renowned Irish playwright and novelist who revolutionized modern theater through his absurdist works. Nobel Prize winner in Literature, famous for 'Waiting for Godot', he explored themes of existential despair with profound humor and minimalist style.

• 1990 Helene Stanley

  Actress (carnival story and roar of the crowd).

• 1991 Ernst Krenek

  Austrian-American composer known for modernist and experimental music, particularly his opera 'Orpheus and Eurydice' which explored contemporary musical styles.

• 1993 Alexander Mackendrick

  Renowned Scottish film director known for classic British comedies like 'The Man in the White Suit' and critically acclaimed films.

• 1995 Butterfly McQueen

  Renowned African American actress famous for her role as Prissy in the classic film 'Gone with the Wind', a landmark movie in cinema history. She was a pioneering Black actress who challenged racial stereotypes in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.

• 1995 James E. Meade

  Nobel Prize laureate for their pathbreaking contribution to the theory of international trade and international capital movements

• 2002 Joe Strummer

  Legendary frontman of punk rock band The Clash, known for his influential music and political activism.

• 2006 Dennis Linde

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

• 2012 Ryan Freel

  American professional baseball player who tragically passed away in 2012, known for his versatile playing style and dedication to the sport.

• 2013 Diomedes Díaz

  Renowned Colombian vallenato singer-songwriter who was highly influential in Latin American music before his tragic death in 2013.

• 2014 Christine Cavanaugh

  Renowned voice actress known for iconic roles in animated series like Dexter's Laboratory and Rugrats, who passed away in 2014.

• 2014 Joe Cocker

  Legendary British rock and blues singer known for his distinctive gravelly voice and passionate performances, famous for his unique cover versions of songs like 'With a Little Help from My Friends'.

• 2015 Freda Meissner-Blau

  Australian political activist and environmentalist who played a significant role in progressive political movements.

• 2018 Paddy Ashdown

  British politician and diplomat who served as leader of the Liberal Democrats and later worked as an international representative in various diplomatic roles.

• 2019 Ram Dass

  Influential spiritual teacher, psychologist, and author who played a crucial role in introducing Eastern spirituality to Western audiences through his groundbreaking books and lectures.

• 2021 Evelyn Boyd Granville

  Evelyn Boyd Granville was a pioneering African-American mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to NASA's space program and was one of the first Black women to earn a PhD in mathematics.