2016 Deaths

  January:

1^st: Lennie Bluett, 96, American actor (Gone with the Wind, Mighty Joe Young, A Star is Born).

1^st: Dale Bumpers, 90, American politician, Governor of Arkansas (1971–1975), Senator from Arkansas (1975–1999).

2^nd: Tim Francis, 87, New Zealand diplomat, Ambassador to the United States (1988–1991), Administrator of Tokelau (1984–1988), cancer.

3^rd: Igor Sergun, 58, Russian military officer, Director of the GRU (since 2011).

4^th: Stephen W. Bosworth, 76, American diplomat, Ambassador to South Korea (1997–2001), prostate cancer.

5^th: Jean-Paul L'Allier, 77, Canadian politician, member of the National Assembly of Quebec (1970–1976), Mayor of Quebec City (1989–2005).

5^th: Keith Thiele, 94, New Zealand WW2 pilot.

6^th: Sol Polansky, 89, American diplomat, Ambassador to Bulgaria (1987–1990)

7^th: Paddy Doherty, 89, Northern Irish civil rights activist.

7^th: Ashraf Pahlavi, 96, Persian princess, President of the Women's Organization of Iran (1967–1979).

10^th: Yusuf Zuayyin, 84, Syrian politician, Prime Minister (1965, 1966–1968)

12^th: Ruth Leuwerik, 91, German film actress (The Trapp Family).

14^th: Alan Rickman, 69, English actor (Harry Potter, Die Hard, Love Actually), pancreatic cancer

19^th: William G. Bowdler, 91, American diplomat, Ambassador to South Africa (1975–1978).

21^st: Stephanie Rader, 100, American spy

23^rd: Marie Mahoney, 91, American baseball player (AAGBPL).

28^th: Signe Toly Anderson, 74, American singer (Jefferson Airplane).

28^th: Robert Courtney, 56, New Zealand Paralympic champion sprinter (1984).

28^th: Paul Kantner, 74, American musician (Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship) and songwriter ("Wooden Ships"), multiple organ failure.

30^th: Betty Francis, 84, American baseball player (AAGBPL).

February:

4^th: Galina Leontyeva, 74, Russian volleyball player, Olympic champion (1968, 1972).

4^th: Edgar Whitcomb, 98, American politician, Governor of Indiana (1969–1973).

8^th: John Disley, 87, Welsh steeplechase runner, Olympic bronze medallist (1952) and co-founder of the London Marathon.

9^th: Alethea McGrath, 95, Australian actress (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Prisoner, Knowing.)

11^th: John Keith Wells, 94, American Marine platoon commander (2nd Battalion 28th Marines).

12^th: Robert Frederick Froehlke, 93, American lawyer, Secretary of the Army (1971–1973)

14^th: Mitchell Higginbotham, 94, American World War II veteran, member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

16^th: Fred V. Cherry, 87, American military pilot, POW during the Vietnam War, heart disease.

18^th: John Reinhardt, 95, American diplomat, United States Ambassador to Nigeria (1971–1975).

19^th: Harper Lee, 89, American author (To Kill a Mockingbird).

19^th: Samuel Willenberg, 93, Polish-born Israeli sculptor and painter, last survivor of the Treblinka extermination camp prisoners' revolt.

22^nd: Yolande Fox, 87, American beauty queen (Miss America 1951) and operatic soprano, lung cancer.

28^th: Delmer Berg, 100, American resistance fighter (Spanish Civil War), last known American member of XV International Brigade.

28^th: George Kennedy, 91, American actor (Cool Hand Luke, The Naked Gun, Airport), Oscar winner (1968), heart disease.

29^th: Helias Doundoulakis, 92, American Greek WWII resistance fighter.

March:

1^st: Martha Wright, 92, American actress (South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Goodyear Television Playhouse) and singer

3^rd: Natalya Krachkovskaya, 77, Russian actress (Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future), heart attack.

5^th: James Douglas, 86, American actor (As the World Turns, Peyton Place, G.I. Blues).

6^th: Nancy Reagan, 94, American First Lady (1981–1989) and actress (Hellcats of the Navy, Donovan's Brain, The Next Voice You Hea.), heart failure.

6^th: Elizabeth Strohfus, 96, American military pilot (WASP), recipient of two Congressional Gold Medals, complications from a fall.

7^th: Leonard Berney, 95, British military officer, a liberator of Bergen-Belsen, heart attack.

7^th: Jean-Bernard Raimond, 90, French politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs (1986–1988), ambassador to Morocco, Poland, the Soviet Union and the Vatican.

8^th: Mohamed Allek, 42, Algerian athlete, Paralympic champion (1996, 2000).

8^th: Richard Davalos, 85, American actor (Cool Hand Luke, East of Eden, Kelly's Heroes).

12^th: Annastasia Batikis, 88, American baseball player (Racine Belles).

13^th: Henry Porter, 94, Canadian vice-admiral, Commander Maritime Command (1970–1971)

14^th: June Peppas, 86, American AAGPBL baseball player (Kalamazoo Lassies)

15^th: Prince Mfanasibili of Swaziland, 77, Swazi royal.

15^th: Alice Pollitt, 86, American AAGPBL baseball player (Rockford Peaches).

17^th: Bandar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 90, Saudi royal.

17^th: Claudine K. Brown, 67, American museum director (Smithsonian Institution).

17^th: Marian Kociniak, 80, Polish actor (How I Unleashed World War II).

20^th: Anker Jørgensen, 93, Danish politician, Prime Minister (1972–1973, 1975–1982)

21^st: Joseph Mercieca, 87, Maltese Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop of Malta (1976–2006).

22^nd: André Adam, 79, Belgian diplomat, Ambassador to Algeria (1986–1990), Zaire (1990–1991), United States (1994–1998), Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1998–2001), injuries sustained in Brussels Airport bombings.

22^nd: Santiago J. Erevia, 69, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient.

22^nd: Rob Ford, 46, Canadian politician, Mayor of Toronto (2010–2014), liposarcoma.

24^th: Esther Herlitz, 94, Israeli diplomat and politician, Ambassador to Denmark (1966–1971), country's first female ambassador.

24^th: Marie-Claire Kirkland, 91, Canadian politician and judge, first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.

26^th: Ameli, Duchess of Oldenburg, 93, German royalty.

26^th: Igor Pashkevich, 44, Soviet-born Russian Olympic figure skater (1994, 1998), 1990 World Juniors champion.

27^th: Mother Angelica, 92, American Poor Clare nun, founder of the Eternal Word Television Network.

27^th: Alain Decaux, 90, French historian, member of the Académie française.

27^th: Gilbert Horn Sr., 92, American Assiniboine soldier and code talker (Merrill's Marauders).

29^th: Patty Duke, 69, American actress (The Miracle Worker, The Patty Duke Show, Valley of the Dolls), President of SAG (1985–1988), Oscar winner (1962), sepsis.

31^st: Hans-Dietrich Genscher, 89, German politician, Minister of the Interior (1969–1974) and Foreign Affairs (1974–1982; 1982–1992), Vice Chancellor (1974–1982; 1982–1992), heart failure.

April:

1^st: Marjorie Peters, 97, American baseball player (AAGBPL).      

3^rd: Bas van Erp, 36, Dutch wheelchair tennis player, Paralympic bronze medalist (2004).

3^rd: Don Francks, 84, Canadian jazz vocalist and actor (La Femme Nikita, Inspector Gadget, I'm Not There), lung cancer.

5^th: E. M. Nathanson, 88, American author (The Dirty Dozen).

6^th: Orison Rudolph Aggrey, 89, American diplomat, Ambassador to the Gambia (1973–1977), Senegal (1973–1977) and Romania (1977–1981).

8^th: Erich Rudorffer, 98, German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II.

9^th: Juris Ekmanis, 74, Latvian academic, President of Latvian Academy of Sciences (2004–2012).

11^th: Dame Marion Kettlewell, 102, British naval officer, Director of the Wrens (1966–1970).

12^th: Hector A. Cafferata, Jr., 86, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient.

14^th: Ilija Ivezić, 89, Croatian film actor (Last of the Renegades, The Golden Years, Marshal Tito's Spirit).

18^th: Charles J. Pilliod, Jr., 97, American business executive and diplomat, Ambassador to Mexico (1986–1989)

18^th: Gert Schramm, 87, German Holocaust survivor.

21^st: Prince, 57, American musician, songwriter ("Purple Rain", "Little Red Corvette") and actor, Oscar (1984) and Grammy (1984, 1986, 2004, 2007) winner, accidental overdose of fentanyl.

25^th: Martin Gray, 93, Polish Holocaust survivor and writer.

27^th: James Carroll, 60, American-born Canadian actor (Wind at My Back, Red Dead Redemption, Death to Smoochy).

May:

1^st: Madeleine Lebeau, 92, French actress (Casablanca, 8½).

3^rd: Frank Levingston, 110, American supercentenarian, nation's oldest World War II veteran.

6^th: David Hall, 85, American politician, Governor of Oklahoma (1971–1975), stroke.

6^th: Margot Honecker, 89, East German politician, Minister of People's Education (1963–1989), First Lady (1976–1989).

8^th: William Schallert, 93, American actor (The Patty Duke Show, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, In the Heat of the Night), President of SAG (1979–1981).

12^th: Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, 91, Serbian royal.

12^th: Sidney Brazier, 96, British army bomb disposal officer.

12^th: Susannah Mushatt Jones, 116, American supercentenarian, world's oldest living person.

14^th: Monteagle Stearns, 91, American diplomat, Ambassador to Greece (1981–1985) and Ivory Coast (1976–1979).

19^th: Morley Safer, 84, Canadian-born American journalist (60 Minutes), pneumonia.

19^th: Alan Young, 96, English-born Canadian-American actor (Mister Ed, The Time Machine, DuckTales).

20^th: Audrey Purton, 90, British Women's Royal Army Corps officer.

20^th: Lucille Stone, 90, American baseball player (AAGPBL), complications from hydrocephalus.

21^st: Jane Fawcett, 95, British codebreaker at Bletchley Park during World War II, key figure in the sinking of the Bismarck.

23^rd: Sir Reginald Palmer, 93, Grenadian politician, Governor-General (1992–1996).

24^th: Adelina Dematti de Alaye, 88, Argentinian human rights activist, founder of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.

26^th: Hedy Epstein, 91, German-born American Holocaust survivor and political activist (International Solidarity Movement), cancer.

27^th: Louise Erickson, 86, American baseball player (Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches).

27^th: La Ferne Price, 90, American ballplayer (AAGPBL).

June:

2^nd: Walter Curley, 93, American diplomat, Ambassador to Ireland (1975–1977) and France (1989–1993).

2^nd: Keith Lawrence, 96, New Zealand-born British flight lieutenant during World War II, surviving member of The Few.

3^rd: Muhammad Ali, 74, American boxer, Olympic gold medalist (1960), three-time WBC world heavyweight champion (1964, 1974, 1978), septic shock.

3^rd: Leonard Marchand, 82, Canadian politician, Minister of Environment (1976, 1977–1979), Senator (1984–1998), first Aboriginal federal cabinet minister.

3^rd: Victor Reux, 86, French Saint Pierre and Miquelon politician.

5^th: David Lamb, 76, American war correspondent and journalist (Los Angeles Times).

6^th: John Charles Harding, 2nd Baron Harding of Petherton, 88, British army officer and peer.

8^th: Qahhor Mahkamov, 84, Tajik politician, President (1990–1991).

9^th: Stepan Bondarev, 93, Belarusian Soviet army general.

12^th: George Voinovich, 79, American politician, Senator from Ohio (1999–2011), Governor of Ohio (1991–1998), Mayor of Cleveland (1980–1989).

14^th: Gilles Lamontagne, 97, Canadian politician, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (1984–1990), MP (1977–1984), Mayor of Quebec City (1965–1977).

19^th: Anton Yelchin, 27, Soviet-born American actor (Star Trek, Alpha Dog, Fright Night), blunt traumatic asphyxia.

24^th: Kenneth Charles Brown, 91, Canadian diplomat, Ambassador to Sweden, Haiti and Cuba.

25^th: Percy Beake, 99, British WWII fighter pilot.

26^th: Rostislav Yankovsky, 86, Belarusian film and stage actor, People's Artist of the USSR (1978).

30^th: Malvina Garrone Ronchi Della Rocca, 94, Italian WWII partisan.

July:

2^nd: Roscoe Brown, 94, American World War II veteran, member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

2^nd: Patrick Manning, 69, Trinidadian politician, Prime Minister (1991–1995, 2001–2010), acute myeloid leukemia.

2^nd: Michel Rocard, 85, French politician, Prime Minister (1988–1991).

2^nd: Elie Wiesel, 87, Romanian-born American writer (Night), political activist and Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate (1986).

3^rd: Michael Beaumont, 22nd Seigneur of Sark, 88, British aristocrat, Seigneur of Sark (since 1974).

15^th: Frank Barnett, 82, American politician, Governor of American Samoa (1976–1977).

22^nd: Julius Freeman, 89, American fighter pilot (Tuskegee Airmen), recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, heart attack.

22^nd: Sir David Goodall, 84, British diplomat, High Commissioner to India (1987–1991).

23^rd: Thorbjörn Fälldin, 90, Swedish politician, Prime Minister (1976–1978, 1979–1982).

25^th: Jerzy Bahr, 72, Polish diplomat, Ambassador to Russia (2006–2010) and Ukraine (1997–2001), Director of the National Security Bureau (2005), cancer.

25^th: Daphne Ceeney, 82, Australian paraplegic athlete, Paralympic champion (1960, 1964)

27^th: Piet de Jong, 101, Dutch politician and naval officer, Minister of Defence (1963–1967), Prime Minister (1967–1971).

29^th: Keith L. Brown, 91, American businessman and diplomat, Ambassador to Lesotho (1982–1983) and Denmark (1989–1992).

August:

1^st: Anne of Romania, 92, French-born Romanian royal, queen consort of King Michael.

6^th: Philip Bialowitz, 90, Polish Holocaust survivor and resistance fighter.

8^th: Edward Daly, 82, Northern Irish Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Derry (1974–1993).

14^th: Fyvush Finkel, 93, American actor (Picket Fences, Boston Public, A Serious Man), Emmy winner (1994).

16^th: John McLaughlin, 89, American political commentator and television personality (The McLaughlin Group).

17^th: Nachum Heiman, 82, Latvian-born Israeli composer, recipient of the Israel Prize (2009).

17^th: Shelby Westbrook, 94, American World War II pilot (Tuskegee Airmen).

18^th: John William Vessey Jr., 94, American military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1982–1985).

22^nd: S. R. Nathan, 92, Singaporean politician, President (1999–2011), stroke.

23^rd: Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe, 93, American World War II pilot ace and politician, mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi (1973–1981).

24^th: Walter Scheel, 97, German politician, President of West Germany (1974–1979), Minister for Foreign Affairs (1969–1974) and Vice-Chancellor (1969–1974).

29^th: Gene Wilder, 83, American actor (The Producers, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Young Frankenstein), screenwriter and author, complications of Alzheimer's disease.

September:

2^nd: Islam Karimov, 78, Uzbek politician, President (since 1990), stroke.

2^nd: Eileen Younghusband, 95, British World War II officer and author.

3^rd: Dabney Montgomery, 93, American pilot (Tuskegee Airmen), bodyguard of Martin Luther King, Jr.

5^th: She'ar Yashuv Cohen, 88, Israeli chief rabbi of Haifa.

5^th: Joe Hosteen Kellwood, 95, American World War II veteran, Navajo code talker.

8^th: Dragiša Pešić, 62, Montenegrin politician, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (2001–2003).

8^th: Greta Zimmer Friedman, 92, American dental assistant, subject in V-J Day in Times Square photo.

14^th: Kim McGuire, 60, American actress (Cry-Baby), pneumonia.

15^th: Rose Mofford, 94, American politician, Governor of Arizona (1988–1991).

15^th: Haakon Sørbye, 96, Norwegian engineer and resistance member.

16^th: Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, 95, Italian banker and politician, President (1999–2006) and Prime Minister (1993–1994).

17^th: Charmian Carr, 73, American actress and singer (The Sound of Music), complications from dementia.

17^th: Rose Warfman, 99, French Holocaust survivor and member of the French Resistance.

22^nd: Joseph Harmatz, 91, Lithuanian World War II Jewish partisan fighter and anti-Nazi avenger.

24^th: Bill Nunn, 63, American actor (Do the Right Thing, Spider-Man, Sister Act), leukemia.

28^th: Shimon Peres, 93, Polish-born Israeli statesman, President (2007–2014), Prime Minister (1977, 1984–1986, 1995–1996), Nobel Laureate (1994), stroke.

October:

5^th: Michal Kováč, 86, Slovakian politician, President (1993–1998), complications of Parkinson's disease.

8^th: Gary Dubin, 57, American actor (The Partridge Family, The Aristocats, Jaws 2), bone cancer.

8^th: Mayer Hersh, 90, Polish survivor of Auschwitz.

9^th: Andrzej Wajda, 90, Polish film director (Ashes and Diamonds, Man of Iron, Katyń), pulmonary failure.

13^th: Richard A. Pittman, 71, American Marine, recipient of the Medal of Honor.

16^th: Kigeli V, 80, Rwandan monarch, King (1959–1961).

16^th: Molly Rose, 95, British World War II aviator.

19^th: Patricia Scott, 87, American baseball player (AAGPBL)

23^rd: Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, 84, Qatari monarch, Emir (1972–1995).

24^th: Bobby Vee, 73, American pop singer ("Rubber Ball", "Take Good Care of My Baby", "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes") and actor, Alzheimer's disease.

27^th: Audley Coulthurst, 92, American pilot (Tuskegee Airmen), cardiac arrest.

27^th: Takahito, Prince Mikasa, 100, Japanese royal, cardiac arrest.

November:

7^th: Leonard Cohen, 82, Canadian singer-songwriter ("Hallelujah", "Suzanne", "First We Take Manhattan"), poet and novelist (Let Us Compare Mythologies, Beautiful Losers), complications from a fall.

8^th: Yaffa Eliach, 79, Polish-born American Holocaust historian.

9^th: George James, 92, American Navajo code talker.

9^th: Branse Burbridge, 95, British WWII fighter pilot.

11^th: Robert Vaughn, 83, American actor (The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Magnificent Seven, Hustle), acute leukemia.

16^th: Melvin Laird, 94, American politician and writer, Secretary of Defense (1969–1973), complications of respiratory failure.

17^th: Eddie Applegate, 81, American actor (The Patty Duke Show, Easy A, A Ticklish Affair).

19^th: Patricia Scott, 87, American baseball player (AAGPBL).

23^rd: Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, 84, Qatari monarch, Emir (1972–1995).

24^th: Jorge Batlle, 88, Uruguayan politician, President (2000–2005), cerebral hemorrhage.

24^th: Bobby Vee, 73, American pop singer ("Rubber Ball", "Take Good Care of My Baby", "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes") and actor, Alzheimer's disease.

27^th: Takahito, Prince Mikasa, 100, Japanese royal, cardiac arrest

30^th: Don Marshall, 80, American actor (Land of the Giants, Star Trek).

November:

4^th: Eddie Carnett, 100, American baseball player (Boston Braves, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians).

7^th: Leonard Cohen, 82, Canadian singer-songwriter ("Hallelujah", "Suzanne", "First We Take Manhattan"), poet and novelist (Beautiful Losers), complications from a fall

7^th: Janet Reno, 78, American lawyer and politician, U.S. Attorney General (1993–2001), Parkinson's disease

8^th: Yaffa Eliach, 79, Polish-born American Holocaust historian

9^th: Branse Burbridge, 95, British WWII fighter pilot.

11^th: Robert Vaughn, 83, American actor (The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Magnificent Seven, Hustle), acute leukemia

15^th: Chester E. Norris, 88, American diplomat, Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea (1988–1992).

16^th: Joan Carroll, 85, American child actress (Meet Me in St. Louis)

16^th: Melvin Laird, 94, American politician and writer, Secretary of Defense (1969–1973), U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district (1953–1969), respiratory failure

22^nd: Peter Sumner, 74, Australian actor (Ned Kelly, Star Wars, Heartbreak High).

23^rd: Peggy Kirk Bell, 95, American professional golfer (LPGA).

24^th: Florence Henderson, 82, American actress (The Brady Bunch) and singer, heart failure.

25^th: Fidel Castro, 90, Cuban politician, Prime Minister (1959–1976), President (1976–2008).

25^th: Margaret Rhodes, 91, British writer, cousin of Elizabeth II.

26^th: Fritz Weaver, 90, American actor (Fail Safe, Holocaust, The Thomas Crown Affair), Tony winner (1970).

29^th: Luis Alberto Monge, 90, Costa Rican politician, President (1982–1986), cardiac arrest.

29^th: Lana Spreeman, 61, Canadian alpine skier, Paralympic gold medalist (1980).

30^th: Peng Chang-kuei, 97, Taiwanese chef, inventor of General Tso's Chicken, pneumonia.

December:

2^nd: Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III, 94, Ghanaian royal, King of Denkyira (since 1955).

2^nd: Lyle Bouck, 92, American military officer and war veteran (Battle of the Bulge), pneumonia.

3^rd: Brockway McMillan, 101, American government official and scientist, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (1963–1965).

5^th: Charles H. Belzile, 83, Canadian army general. Commander of the Canadian Army (1992–1996).

9^th: Edwin Benson, 85, American teacher, last speaker of the Mandan language.

13^th: Lawrence Colburn, 67, American Vietnam War veteran, intervened to end the My Lai Massacre.

13^th: Alan Thicke, 69, Canadian actor (Growing Pains, Not Quite Human), talk show host (The Alan Thicke Show), and songwriter, heart attack.

17^th: Henry Heimlich, 96, American physician, inventor of the Heimlich maneuver, complications from a heart attack.

18^th: Zsa Zsa Gabor, 99, Hungarian-born American actress (Moulin Rouge, Touch of Evil, Lili) and socialite, heart attack.

19^th: Andrei Karlov, 62, Russian diplomat, Ambassador to Turkey (since 2013), shot.

25^th: George Michael, 53, British singer (Wham!) and songwriter ("Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Careless Whisper", "Faith"), suspected heart failure.

25^th: Vera Rubin, 88, American astronomer, innovator of dark matter theory, dementia.

25^th: Elizaveta Glinka, 54, humanitarian worker and charity activist.

27^th: Carrie Fisher, 60, American actress (Star Wars, Hannah and Her Sisters), novelist and screenwriter (Postcards from the Edge), complications from a heart attack.