Famous people and celebrities who died on January 12

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on January 12. 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.

• 1519 Maximilian I

  Maximilian I was a Holy Roman Emperor who played a key role in European politics during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

• 1921 Gervase Elwes

  Gervase Elwes is an English actor known for his roles in television shows such as Downton Abbey and Sherlock.

• 1943 Jan Campert

  Jan Campert was a prominent Dutch resistance fighter, poet, and journalist during World War II, known for his courageous opposition to Nazi occupation and his significant literary contributions.

• 1956 Norman Kerry

  Actor (air eagles phantom of opera), died at 61

• 1965 Lorraine Hansberry

  Groundbreaking African American playwright who wrote 'A Raisin in the Sun', the first Broadway play by a Black woman. Her work was pivotal in representing Black family experiences and challenging racial stereotypes in American theater.

• 1976 Agatha Christie

  Agatha Christie was a British crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright, known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

• 1977 Henri-Georges Clouzot

  Henri-Georges Clouzot was a renowned French film director and screenwriter, known for his distinctive style in psychological thrillers and significant contributions to French cinema during the mid-20th century.

• 1983 Nikolai Podgorny

  Prominent Soviet Ukrainian politician who served as the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1965 to 1977, representing a key leadership role in the USSR during the Cold War era.

• 1988 Piero Taruffi

  Renowned Italian racing driver who competed in Formula One and was known for his exceptional skills and long career in motorsports.

• 1997 Charles Brenton Huggins

  Nobel Prize laureate for his discoveries concerning hormonal treatment of prostatic cancer

• 1997 Jean-Edern Hallier

  Provocative French intellectual and media personality who revolutionized literary and television discourse in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his dramatic and unconventional interview style, he challenged traditional intellectual norms through his writing and television shows.

• 1997 Charles Huggins

  Nobel Prize-winning Canadian-American physiologist and physician who made groundbreaking contributions to medical research.

• 1999 Betty Lou Gerson

  American voice actress (born 1914).

• 2000 Marc Davis

  Legendary Disney animator who significantly contributed to the golden age of animation, playing a crucial role in creating iconic animated classics like Snow White and Cinderella.

• 2001 William Hewlett

  Co-founder of Hewlett-Packard (HP), a pioneering technology company that revolutionized computing and electronics. He was a key figure in the development of Silicon Valley's technology ecosystem.

• 2001 Luiz Bonfá

  Renowned Brazilian guitarist and composer known for his significant contributions to bossa nova and Brazilian popular music, particularly famous for his work in the film 'Black Orpheus'.

• 2002 Cyrus Vance

  Distinguished American diplomat who served as the 57th United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980.

• 2003 Maurice Gibb

  Maurice Gibb was a British-American musician and founding member of the Bee Gees, a highly successful pop group that wrote over 1,000 songs and significantly influenced global music.

• 2005 Amrish Puri

  Legendary Indian actor known for his powerful character roles in Bollywood cinema, particularly memorable as a villain in numerous iconic films.

• 2007 Alice Coltrane

  Alice Coltrane was a pioneering jazz musician who significantly influenced spiritual and avant-garde jazz through her innovative harp and keyboard work, and her deep connection to her late husband John Coltrane's musical legacy.

• 2009 Claude Berri

  Influential French film director and producer known for acclaimed films like 'Jean de Florette' and 'Manon of the Springs'. He was a significant figure in the French film industry until his death in 2009.

• 2015 Elena Obraztsova

  Renowned Russian soprano and actress, celebrated for her exceptional operatic performances and significant contributions to classical music during the 20th century.

• 2017 William Peter Blatty

  Acclaimed American author and screenwriter best known for 'The Exorcist', a groundbreaking novel and film that won an Oscar for Best Screenplay Adaptation.

• 2017 Graham Taylor

  Prominent English football manager who led Watford FC to significant success in the 1980s and later managed the England national team.

• 2020 Sir Roger Scruton

  Prominent conservative British philosopher, writer, and political thinker who made significant contributions to aesthetics, political theory, and cultural criticism. He was a leading intellectual of conservative thought in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

• 2022 Ronnie Spector

  Iconic lead singer of The Ronettes, known for her distinctive voice and pioneering role in 1960s pop and rock music. She was a key figure in the Wall of Sound era and influenced many future musicians.

• 2023 Lisa Marie Presley

  Lisa Marie Presley was an American singer-songwriter and the only child of Elvis Presley, known for her music career and her high-profile marriages to Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage.

• 2023 Sharad Yadav

  Prominent Indian socialist politician who played a significant role in national politics, serving multiple terms as a Member of Parliament and leading various political parties.