Famous people and celebrities who died in January 1986

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 1986. This month marked the loss of influential and beloved figures whose contributions spanned various fields and touched many lives. Explore our detailed list to remember and celebrate their enduring legacies and the remarkable impact they had on the world

• Jan. 2 Una Merkel

  Una Merkel was an American stage, film, radio, and television actress known for her comedic timing and signature Southern accent. She enjoyed a prominent career during the 1930s and 1940s, often appearing in supporting roles across more than 115 films. [bio]

• Jan. 2 Bill "Rhymes with Wreck" Veeck

  Innovative and colorful baseball executive known for creative promotions and unconventional management strategies in Major League Baseball.

• Jan. 4 Christopher Isherwood

  Christopher Isherwood was an Anglo-American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and diarist best known for his semi-autobiographical works chronicling life in Berlin during the early 1930s, which inspired the musical 'Cabaret.' [bio]

• Jan. 4 Phil Lynott

  Legendary lead singer and bassist of the rock band Thin Lizzy, a pivotal figure in rock music during the 1970s and early 1980s.

• Jan. 7 Juan Rulfo

  Renowned Mexican writer, photographer, and screenwriter, famous for his influential novels 'Pedro Páramo' and 'El Llano en Llamas', key...

• Jan. 8 Pierre Fournier

  French cellist and educator (b. 1906).

• Jan. 10 Jaroslav Seifert

  Czech journalist and poet, nobel prize laureate (b. 1901).

• Jan. 11 Sid Chaplin

  English author and screenwriter (b. 1916).

• Jan. 13 Abdul Fattah Ismail

  Yemeni educator and politician, 4th president of south yemen (b. 1939).

• Jan. 14 Donna Reed

  Donna Reed was an American actress known for her roles in classic films of the 1940s and 1950s and as the star of the long-running television series 'The Donna Reed Show.' She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'From Here to Eternity' (1953). [bio]

• Jan. 14 Daniel Balavoine

  Influential French pop and rock singer-songwriter known for his powerful voice and socially conscious music.

• Jan. 16 Herbert W. Armstrong

  American evangelist, author, and publisher (b. 1892).

• Jan. 23 Joseph Beuys

  Influential German artist who was a key figure in the Fluxus movement, known for radical performance art and social sculpture.

• Jan. 24 Gordon MacRae

  Gordon MacRae was an American actor and singer best known for his roles in musical films during the 1940s and 1950s, especially his leading performances in 'Oklahoma!' and 'Carousel.' He had a successful career on screen, stage, and radio, becoming a respected figure in American entertainment. [bio]

• Jan. 24 L. Ron Hubbard

  Controversial American author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology, a significant new religious movement in the 20th...

• Jan. 27 Lilli Palmer

  Lilli Palmer was a renowned German actress and writer, celebrated for her impressive film, stage, and television career spanning Europe and Hollywood from the 1930s through the 1970s. [bio]

• Jan. 27 Nikhil Banerjee

  Nikhil Banerjee was a legendary Indian classical sitar player who significantly contributed to Hindustani classical music.

• Jan. 28 Judith Resnik

  Judith Resnik was a pioneering NASA astronaut who tragically died in the Challenger space shuttle disaster.

• Jan. 28 Ellison Onizuka

  NASA astronaut who tragically died in the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster on January 28, 1986, a pivotal moment in space exploration...

• Jan. 28 Ronald McNair

  NASA astronaut who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, a pioneering African American physicist and mission specialist.

• Jan. 28 Michael J Smith

  US Navy Commander and astronaut who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.

• Jan. 28 Christa McAuliffe

  Christa McAuliffe was a courageous high school teacher selected as the first civilian astronaut in NASA's Teacher in Space Project.

• Jan. 28 Gregory Jarvis

  NASA astronaut and engineer who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.

• Jan. 28 Dick Scobee

  American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (b. 1939).

• Jan. 29 Leif Erickson

  Leif Erickson was an American film and television actor whose career spanned over five decades, best known for his role as Big John Cannon in the television series "The High Chaparral." [bio]

• Jan. 30 Gusztáv Sebes