Discover the most famous people who died on December 24. The list includes people like Vasco da Gama, John Muir, M. G. Ramachandran, Harold Pinter, Samuel P. Huntington. Famous personalities featured on this list, include actors, composers, novelists and political leaders and from other domains of life. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & France and many more countries.
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Birthdate: 1469 AD
Birthplace: Sines, Portugal
Died: 1524
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was the first to link Europe and Asia through an ocean route, when he reached Calicut in 1498, thus enriching Portuguese trade with Asia. He made a second voyage later. He was made Count of Vidigueira in 1519 and the viceroy of India in 1524.
Birthdate: April 27, 1922
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: 2012
Jack Klugman was an American actor best known for playing Oscar Madison in the popular TV series The Odd Couple, for which he received a Golden Globe Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Apart from being an actor, Klugman was also a Thoroughbred racing fan and owned a Thoroughbred racehorse named Jaklin Klugman, which competed in the 1980 Kentucky Derby.
Birthdate: April 21, 1838
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dunbar
Died: 1914
John Muir was a Scottish-American naturalist, environmental philosopher, glaciologist, botanist, zoologist, and author. Nicknamed Father of the National Parks and John of the Mountains, Muir was an influential proponent of the preservation of wilderness in the US. He is credited with co-founding the American conservation organization, The Sierra Club. Muir is considered a hero by many environmentalists around the world.
4
Peter Lawford(Actor and a Member of the 'Rat-Pack' Group of Entertainers)
Birthdate: September 7, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London, England
Died: 1984
Peter Lawford, a member of the "Rat Pack,” appeared in quite a few MGM films such as Son of Lassie and Two Sisters from Boston. He also appeared in series such as The Thin Man. His first wife, Patricia Helen Kennedy, was the sister of John F. Kennedy.
5
Laci Peterson
Birthdate: May 4, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Modesto
Died: 2002
6
Karl Dönitz(German Admiral Who Briefly Succeeded Adolf Hitler as Head of State)
Birthdate: September 16, 1891
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Grünau, Berlin, Germany
Died: 1980
Karl Dönitz was the supreme commander of the German Navy and played a crucial role in World War II. Hitler made Dönitz his successor before committing suicide. Dönitz officially surrendered after Germany’s loss in World War II and was convicted as a war criminal at the 1946 Nuremberg Trials.
Birthdate: February 19, 1911
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Died: 1999
8
Toshiro Mifune(One of Japan's Greatest Actors Known Actors Who is Known for His Collaboration With Akira Kurosawa)
Birthdate: April 1, 1920
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Qingdao, China
Died: 1997
Toshiro Mifune was a Japanese actor best known for his collaboration with director Akira Kurosawa. The two worked together for 16 films, most of which are considered cinema classics. In 1986, Mifune was honored with the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon. In 2016, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
9
Charles Durning(Actor)
Birthdate: February 28, 1923
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Highland Falls, New York, United States
Died: 2012
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Birthdate: October 10, 1930
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Metropolitan Borough of Hackney
Died: 2008
Birthdate: July 19, 1904
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Riverside, Illinois, United States
Died: 1985
Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, one of the great-grandsons of Abraham Lincoln, was the last living descendant of Lincoln. A gentleman farmer, he owned his private farm, and was also a sailor. A qualified lawyer, he also represented Illinois Day as part of the New York World's Fair 1964.
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Heather Menzies(Actress)
Birthdate: December 3, 1949
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Died: 2017
Birthdate: May 31, 1898
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bowersville, Ohio, United States
Died: 1993
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was an American author and minister best known for his efforts to popularize the concept of positive thinking. His book The Power of Positive Thinking is a great testimony to his efforts. Peale influenced several US presidents, including President Richard Nixon and Donald Trump. Artist and cartoonist Scott Adams has cited Peale as a major influence.
Birthdate: April 6, 1909
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cumberland County
Died: 1965
Birthdate: May 19, 1795
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Died: 1873
16
Nick Massi(Bass Singer & Bass Guitarist for 'The Four Seasons')
Birthdate: September 19, 1927
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died: 2000
17
Charles Atlas(American Bodybuilder Best Remembered as the Developer of a Bodybuilding Method and Its Associated Exercise Program)
Birthdate: October 30, 1892
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Acri, Cosenza, Italy
Died: 1972
Italian-American bodybuilder Charles Atlas was known for co-creating a popular mail-order bodybuilding course. Beaten up and bullied as a skinny kid, he later used the Dynamic-Tension method to build his muscles. He then participated in vaudeville and later won titles such as the World’s Most Handsome Man.
18
Lee Israel(American Author Known for Committing Literary Forgery)
Birthdate: December 3, 1939
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: 2014
Starting as a freelance writer, Lee Israel later penned bestselling biographies of personalities such as Tallulah Bankhead and Estée Lauder. She made headlines when she admitted to forging works of deceased authors and actors to make money. Her memoir, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, was later turned into a film.
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Robert Leckie(American Writer and US Marine Who Authored Sports Books, Children's Books, Autobiographies, and Fiction Books)
Birthdate: December 18, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia
Died: 2001
Robert Leckie was an American writer and US Marine. He is best remembered for authoring sports books, children's books, autobiographies, fiction books, and books about the history of the United States military. One of Robert Leckie's memoirs, Helmet for My Pillow, became the basis for the popular war drama miniseries The Pacific.
20
Bernard Herrmann(American Composer and Conductor)
Birthdate: June 29, 1911
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: 1975
21
Rick Parfitt(English Musician, Rhythm Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter)
Birthdate: October 12, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Woking, Surrey, England
Died: 2016
22
Rossano Brazzi(Actor)
Birthdate: September 18, 1916
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bologna, Italy
Died: 1994
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
23
Alban Berg(One of the Most Important Composers of the 20th Century)
Birthdate: February 9, 1885
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: 1935
Nineteenth-century Austrian composer Alban Berg hadn’t had any formal training in music when he began composing. Owing to his poor financial condition, Arnold Schoenberg taught him music for free. He is best remembered for his twelve-tone technique. He tragically died of blood poisoning caused by an insect bite.
24
Samuel P. Huntington(American Political Scientist Best Known for His 1993 Theory, the 'Clash of Civilizations')
Birthdate: April 18, 1927
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York City
Died: 2008
25
John Osborne(Actor, Playwright, Screenwriter, Writer)
Birthdate: December 12, 1929
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: London
Died: 1994
26
Peyo(Belgian Comics Writer and Artist)
Birthdate: June 25, 1928
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Schaerbeek, Belgium
Died: 1992
Peyo was a Belgian artist and comic book writer best remembered for creating popular comics series like Johan and Peewit and The Smurfs. He is also credited with creating several other comics series like Jacky and Célestin and Steven Strong. Peyo also founded his own publishing house called Cartoon Creation.
Birthdate: July 18, 1811
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Died: 1863
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Frédéric Bastiat(Member of the National Assembly of France (1848 - 1850))
Birthdate: June 30, 1801
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bayonne, France
Died: 1850
An ardent follower of Adam Smith’s ideas, French economist Frederic Bastiat propagated the concept of free trade. Apart from launching his journal Le Libre-Échange, he also penned the iconic satire Sophismes économiques and his most notable work The Law. He also introduced what later came to be known as opportunity cost.
29
Edwin M. Stanton(Lawyer)
Birthdate: December 19, 1814
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.
Died: 1869
30
Danny Hodge(Wrestler)
Birthdate: May 13, 1932
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Perry, Oklahoma, United States
Died: 2020
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
31
Empress Go-Sakuramachi(117th Monarch of Japan)
Birthdate: September 23, 1740
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Died: 1813
32
Louis Aragon(French Poet and Novelist)
Birthdate: October 3, 1897
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: 1982
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
33
Adrienne de La Fayette(Daughter of Jean de Noailles)
Birthdate: November 2, 1759
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hôtel de Noailles, Paris, Kingdom of France
Died: 1807
34
Tilly Losch(Austrian Actress, Dancer, Choreographer, and Painter)
Birthdate: November 15, 1903
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: 1975
Tilly Losch was an Austrian actress, dancer, choreographer, and painter. She achieved popularity in England before making her Hollywood debut. Losch went on to appear in films like The Garden of Allah, Duel in the Sun, and The Good Earth. However, she later chose to focus more on her career as a dancer and choreographer and acted only on Broadway.
35
Johnny Oates(Baseball player)
Birthdate: January 21, 1946
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sylva, North Carolina, United States
Died: 2004
36
Gardner Fox(Famous for Creating Numerous Comic Book Characters for DC Comics)
Birthdate: May 20, 1911
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: 1986
37
Jean Clemens(Welfare worker)
Birthdate: July 26, 1880
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Elmira, New York, United States
Died: 1909
38
Vladimir Bekhterev(Russian Neurologist and the Father of Objective Psychology Known for Noting the Role of the 'Hippocampus' in Memory)
Birthdate: January 20, 1857
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sorali, Russia
Died: 1927
Neurologist and psychiatrist Vladimir Bekhterev is best remembered for his research on the brain and conditioned reflexes and for his pioneering research on objective psychology. He taught at institutes such as the University of Kazan and was also known for his rivalry with contemporary Ivan Pavlov.
39
John Boswell(Historian, Philologist)
Birthdate: March 20, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: 1994
40
Harvey Martin(American Football Player)
Birthdate: November 16, 1950
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
Died: 2001
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
41
Jake Thackray(English Singer-Songwriter, Poet & Journalist)
Birthdate: February 27, 1938
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Leeds
Died: 2002
Jake Thackray was an English poet, journalist, and singer-songwriter. He achieved immense popularity during the 1960s and 1970s when he started appearing on British television, performing his topical comedy songs. Jake Thackray is credited with influencing performers like Jarvis Cocker, Alex Turner, Ralph McTell, and Mike Harding.
42
Eduardo Cansino(Dancer)
Birthdate: March 2, 1895
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Castilleja de la Cuesta, Andalusia, Spain
Died: 1968
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
43
Kathy Whitworth(American Professional Golfer and Member of the World Golf Hall of Fame)
Birthdate: September 27, 1939
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Monahans, Texas, United States
Died: 2022
Kathy Whitworth is a retired professional golfer who won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments. She began her amateur career at 15 and turned professional when she was 19. In her long career, she won a total of six major championships and was the LPGA Player of the Year seven times. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
44
Clarence King(US Geologist and Mountaineer Who Was the 1st Director of the US Geological Survey)
Birthdate: January 6, 1842
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Died: 1901
US geologist, mining engineer, and mountaineer Clarence King was the 1st director of the US Geological Survey. While preparing his report, Systematic Geology, he found the first US glaciers. Mostly known for his exploration of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, he penned the iconic work Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada.
45
Ferdinand I of León(King)
Birthdate: 1015 AD
Died: 1065
46
Pushmataha(Indian General)
Birthdate: 1764 AD
Birthplace: Noxubee, Mississippi, United States
Died: 1824
47
Ōkawa Shūmei(Writer)
Birthdate: December 6, 1886
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Yamagata, Japan
Died: 1957
48
Infante Antonio, Duke of Galliera(Duke)
Birthdate: February 23, 1866
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Seville, Spain
Died: 1930
49
Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza(Head of the Royal House of Portugal)
Birthdate: September 23, 1907
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Seebenstein, Austria
Died: 1976
50
Buddy DeFranco(Clarinetist)
Birthdate: February 17, 1923
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Camden, New Jersey, United States
Died: 2014
