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December 2nd
239 Notable deaths
Ivan Illich
Austrian philosopher and theologian (1926–2002).
Born September 4th, 1926 in Vienna.
Died December 2nd, 2002 at 76 years old in Bremen (brain cancer).
Jenny von Westphalen
German theatre critic and political activist (1814–1881).
Born February 12th, 1814 in Salzwedel.
Died December 2nd, 1881 at 67 years old in London (liver cancer).
Odetta
American singer (1930–2008).
Born December 31st, 1930 in Birmingham.
Died December 2nd, 2008 at 77 years old in New York City. [ref]
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
Italian poet and editor, founder of the futurist movement (1876-1944).
Born December 22nd, 1876 in Alexandria.
Died December 2nd, 1944 at 67 years old in Bellagio (myocardial infarction).
Eric Woolfson
Scottish songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, executive producer, pianist (1945–2009).
Born March 18th, 1945 in Glasgow.
Died December 2nd, 2009 at 64 years old in London (kidney cancer). [ref]
Bobby Keys
American saxophonist (1943-2014).
Born December 18th, 1943 in Slaton.
Died December 2nd, 2014 at 70 years old in Franklin (liver cirrhosis).
Antony Sher
British actor, writer and theatre director (1949–2021).
Born June 14th, 1949 in Cape Town.
Died December 2nd, 2021 at 72 years old in Stratford-upon-Avon (cancer). [ref]
Pamela Tiffin
American actress and model (1942–2020).
Born October 13th, 1942 in Oklahoma City.
Died December 2nd, 2020 at 78 years old in Manhattan. [ref]
Rafer Johnson
American athlete and actor (1934–2020).
Born August 18th, 1935 in Hillsboro. [ref]
Died December 2nd, 2020 at 85 years old in Sherman Oaks (stroke). [ref]
Francis Spellman
American catholic cardinal (1889–1967).
Born May 4th, 1889 in Whitman. [ref]
Died December 2nd, 1967 at 78 years old in New York City. [ref]
Leonid Telyatnikov
Ukrainian firefighter (1951–2004).
Born January 25th, 1951.
Died December 2nd, 2004 at 53 years old in Kyiv (cancer).
Jean Béliveau
Canadian ice hockey player (1931–2014).
Born August 31st, 1931 in Trois-Rivières.
Died December 2nd, 2014 at 83 years old in Longueuil (pneumonia).
Sandy Berger
Us national security advisor (1945–2015).
Born October 28th, 1945 in Millerton. [ref]
Died December 2nd, 2015 at 70 years old in Washington, D.C. (cancer). [ref]
Sergio Corbucci
Italian film director (1927-1990).
Born December 6th, 1927 in Rome.
Died December 2nd, 1990 at 62 years old in Rome.
Elden Campbell
American basketball player (1968–2025).
Born July 23rd, 1968 in Los Angeles. [ref]
Died December 2nd, 2025 at 57 years old in Pompano Beach. [ref]
Edmond Rostand
French poet and dramatist (1868–1918).
Born April 1st, 1868 in Marseille. [ref]
Died December 2nd, 1948 at 80 years old in Paris (1918–1920 flu pandemic). [ref]
Gabriele Ferzetti
Italian actor (1925-2015).
Born March 17th, 1925 in Rome.
Died December 2nd, 2015 at 90 years old in Rome.
Robertson Davies
Canadian novelist (1913-1995).
Born August 28th, 1913 in Thamesville.
Died December 2nd, 1995 at 82 years old in Orangeville (myocardial infarction).
D. C. Fontana
American screenwriter (1939–2019).
Born March 25th, 1939 in Sussex County.
Died December 2nd, 2019 at 80 years old in Los Angeles (cancer). [ref]
Jane Pierce
First lady of the united states from 1853 to 1857.
Born March 12th, 1806 in Hampton. [ref]
Died December 2nd, 1863 at 57 years old in Andover (tuberculosis).
Sabu Dastagir
Actor (1924-1963).
Born January 27th, 1924 in Mysore.
Died December 2nd, 1963 at 39 years old in Chatsworth (myocardial infarction).
Van Tuong Nguyen
Australian convicted of drug trafficking in singapore (1980-2005).
Born August 17th, 1980 in Songkhla.
Died December 2nd, 2005 at 25 years old in Changi Prison (hanging to death). [ref]
Edward James
British poet and arts patron (1907–1984).
Born August 16th, 1907 in West Dean House.
Died December 2nd, 1984 at 77 years old in Sanremo.
Donn F. Eisele
American astronaut (1930–1987).
Born June 23rd, 1930 in Columbus. [ref]
Died December 2nd, 1987 at 57 years old in Tokyo (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Michael Gothard
British actor (1939–1992).
Born June 24th, 1939 in London.
Died December 2nd, 1992 at 53 years old in Hampstead (hanging to death).
Deaths 26 to 50 of 239
It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. Marcus Aurelius