Welcome! Check out today's deaths, recent deaths, or our deaths stats.
Feeling experimental? Head on over to our newest (and darkest) feature: Next-2-Die™ predictions
December 17th
249 Notable deaths
Janet Margolin
American actress (1943-1993).
Born July 25th, 1943 in New York City.
Died December 17th, 1993 at 50 years old in Los Angeles (ovarian cancer).
Sammy Baugh
American football player, coach (1914-2008).
Born March 17th, 1914 in Temple.
Died December 17th, 2008 at 94 years old in Rotan. [ref]
Eric Montross
American basketball player (1971-2023).
Born September 23rd, 1971 in Indianapolis.
Died December 17th, 2023 at 52 years old in Chapel Hill (cancer). [ref]
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin
British physicist and engineer (1824–1907).
Born June 26th, 1824 in Belfast.
Died December 17th, 1907 at 83 years old in Largs.
Eve Babitz
American author.
Born May 13th, 1943 in Hollywood.
Died December 17th, 2021 at 78 years old in Westwood. [ref]
Jānis Timma
Latvian basketball player (1992–2024).
Born July 2nd, 1992 in Krāslava.
Died December 17th, 2024 at 32 years old in Moscow. [ref]
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
English physician and feminist (1836-1917).
Born June 9th, 1836 in Whitechapel.
Died December 17th, 1917 at 81 years old in Alde House.
Alphonse Daudet
French novelist, playwright, and poet (1840–1897).
Died December 17th, 1897 at 57 years old in Paris (syphilis).
Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
British army officer and diplomat, 1st secretary general of nato (1887-1965).
Born June 21st, 1887 in Nainital.
Died December 17th, 1965 at 78 years old in Wormington Grange.
Sun Yaoting
Chinese eunuch (1902 - 1996).
Born September 29th, 1902 in Tianjin.
Died December 17th, 1996 at 94 years old in Beijing.
Ferdinand II of Portugal
King of portugal (1816–1885).
Born October 29th, 1818 in Vienna.
Died December 17th, 1885 at 67 years old in Lisbon.
Peter Arnett
American journalist (1934–2025).
Born November 13th, 1934 in Riverton / Aparima.
Died December 17th, 2025 at 91 years old in Newport Beach (prostate cancer). [ref]
Marguerite Yourcenar
French novelist and essayist (1903-1987).
Born June 7th, 1903 in Brussels.
Died December 17th, 1987 at 84 years old in Bar Harbor.
Rex Allen
American film actor, singer and songwriter (1920–1999).
Born December 31st, 1920 in Willcox.
Died December 17th, 1999 at 78 years old in Tucson (myocardial infarction).
William Labov
American linguist (1927–2024).
Born December 4th, 1927 in Rutherford.
Died December 17th, 2024 at 97 years old in Philadelphia. [ref]
Kodendera Subayya Thimayya
Indian chief of army staff (1906-1965).
Born March 30th, 1906 in Madikeri.
Died December 17th, 1965 at 59 years old in Cyprus (myocardial infarction).
Peter Warlock
British composer and music critic (1894-1930).
Born October 30th, 1894 in Savoy Hotel.
Died December 17th, 1930 at 36 years old in London (coal gas poisoning).
Lewis H. Morgan
American anthropologist (1818–1881).
Born November 21st, 1818 in Aurora. [ref]
Died December 17th, 1881 at 63 years old in Rochester. [ref]
Jack Anderson
American newspaper columnist (1922–2005).
Born October 19th, 1922 in Long Beach.
Died December 17th, 2005 at 83 years old in Bethesda (Parkinson's disease). [ref]
Galt MacDermot
Canadian-american composer, pianist and writer of musical theatre.
Born December 18th, 1928 in Montreal.
Died December 17th, 2018 at 89 years old in Staten Island. [ref]
Linda Wong
American pornographic actress (1951-1987).
Born September 13th, 1951 in San Francisco. [ref]
Died December 17th, 1987 at 36 years old in Petaluma (drug overdose).
Shriram Lagoo
Indian actor.
Born November 16th, 1927 in Satara district.
Died December 17th, 2019 at 92 years old in Pune (cardiac arrest). [ref]
Marisa Paredes
Spanish actress (1946–2024).
Born April 3rd, 1946 in Madrid. [ref]
Died December 17th, 2024 at 78 years old in Madrid (cardiac arrest). [ref]
Don Ellis
American jazz musician (1934-1978).
Born July 25th, 1934 in Los Angeles.
Died December 17th, 1978 at 44 years old in Hollywood (myocardial infarction).
Mike Hodges
British film director and screenwriter (1932–2022).
Born July 29th, 1932 in Bristol.
Died December 17th, 2022 at 90 years old in Dorset. [ref]
Deaths 26 to 50 of 249
It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life. Terry Pratchett