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In the year 1985

579 Notable deaths

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, popular during the silent film era and into the talkie era of the 1930s, best known today as the lead actor in f. w. murnau's 1927 film sunrise: a song of two humans.

Born April 19th, 1899 in San Francisco. [ref]

Died September 4th, 1985 at 86 years old in Tulsa (myocardial infarction, stroke). [ref]

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).

Deaths 111 to 120 of 579

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Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can. But life leaps over oblivion lightly, losing only a thing or two of no importance, and gloom is just a passing shadow of a cloud. Yann Martel