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In the year 1985
582 Notable deaths
Forbes Burnham
Guyanese politician (1923-1985).
Born February 20th, 1923 in Georgetown. [ref]
Died August 6th, 1985 at 62 years old in Georgetown. [ref]
Philly Joe Jones
American jazz drummer.
Born July 15th, 1923 in Philadelphia. [ref]
Died August 30th, 1985 at 62 years old in Philadelphia. [ref]
Kent Smith
American actor (1907–1985).
Born March 19th, 1907 in New York City.
Died April 23rd, 1985 at 78 years old in Woodland Hills (cardiovascular disease).
Kay Kyser
American bandleader, actor (1905-1985).
Born June 18th, 1905 in Rocky Mount. [ref]
Died July 23rd, 1985 at 80 years old in Chapel Hill (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Jo Jones
American jazz drummer (1911–1985).
Born October 11th, 1911 in Chicago.
Died September 3rd, 1985 at 73 years old in New York City (pneumonia).
Ricky Wilson
American guitarist (1953–1985).
Born March 19th, 1953 in Athens.
Died October 12th, 1985 at 32 years old in New York City (death from AIDS-related complications).
James Craig
Actor (1912-1985).
Born February 4th, 1912 in Nashville.
Died June 28th, 1985 at 73 years old in Santa Ana (lung cancer).
Efrem Zimbalist
Russian-american violinist, composer, teacher, conductor (1889–1985).
Born April 21st, 1889 in Rostov-on-Don.
Died February 22nd, 1985 at 95 years old in Reno.
André Kertész
Hungarian photographer (1894–1985).
Born February 7th, 1894 in Budapest. [ref]
Died September 29th, 1985 at 91 years old in New York City. [ref]
Patricia Roberts Harris
American politician and diplomat (1924-1985).
Born May 31st, 1924 in Mattoon.
Died March 23rd, 1985 at 60 years old in Washington, D.C. (cancer, breast cancer).
David Purley
British racing driver.
Born January 26th, 1945 in Bognor Regis.
Died July 2nd, 1985 at 40 years old in Bognor Regis (aviation accident).
George O'Brien
American actor (1899–1985).
Born April 19th, 1899 in San Francisco.
Died September 4th, 1985 at 86 years old in Tulsa (myocardial infarction, stroke).
Axel Springer
German mass media owner.
Born May 2nd, 1912 in Altona. [ref]
Died September 22nd, 1985 at 73 years old in West Berlin.
Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Politician, statesman and philanthropist and the first prime minister of mauritius (1900-1985).
Born September 19th, 1900 in Flacq District.
Died December 15th, 1985 at 85 years old in Port Louis.
John Sparkman
American jurist and politician (1899–1985).
Born December 20th, 1899 in Hartselle.
Died November 16th, 1985 at 85 years old in Huntsville (myocardial infarction).
Tage Erlander
Swedish 20th century prime minister (1901-1985).
Born June 13th, 1901 in Ransäter. [ref]
Died June 21st, 1985 at 84 years old in S:t Görans church parish (pneumonia).
George Chandler
American film and television actor (1898-1985).
Born June 30th, 1898 in Waukegan. [ref]
Died June 10th, 1985 at 86 years old in Panorama City (cancer). [ref]
Eddie Shore
Canadian ice hockey player (1902–1985).
Born November 25th, 1902 in Fort Qu'Appelle.
Died March 16th, 1985 at 82 years old in Springfield.
Maurice Podoloff
American sports executive.
Born August 18th, 1890 in Novoarkhangelsk.
Died November 24th, 1985 at 95 years old in New Haven.
Wellington Koo
Diplomat and former president of the republic of china.
Born January 29th, 1888 in Jiading.
Died November 14th, 1985 at 97 years old in New York City (disease).
Zoot Sims
American jazz saxophonist.
Born October 29th, 1925 in Inglewood.
Died March 23rd, 1985 at 59 years old in New York City (cancer).
Emil Gilels
Soviet pianist (1916-1985).
Born October 19th, 1916 in Odesa.
Died October 14th, 1985 at 68 years old in Moscow.
Donald O. Hebb
Canadian neuroscientist.
Born July 22nd, 1904 in Chester.
Died August 20th, 1985 at 81 years old in Chester.
Barbara Yung
Hong kong actress.
Born May 7th, 1959 in Hong Kong.
Died May 14th, 1985 at 26 years old in Hong Kong.
Kenny Clarke
American jazz drummer (1914–1985).
Born January 9th, 1914 in Pittsburgh.
Died January 26th, 1985 at 71 years old in Montreuil.
Deaths 101 to 125 of 582
Everyone dies. But not everyone really lives. Unknown