Famous people and celebrities who died in December 1987

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in December 1987. 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

• Dec. 1 James Baldwin

  James Baldwin was an influential African-American writer who explored profound themes of race, sexuality, and social justice in his seminal...

• Dec. 1 Punch Imlach

  Legendary Canadian ice hockey coach and general manager who played a significant role in the development of professional hockey in Canada...

• Dec. 2 Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich

  Prominent Soviet physicist and cosmologist who made significant contributions to nuclear physics, astrophysics, and the theory of...

• Dec. 2 Luis F. Leloir

  Prize laureate for his discovery of sugar nucleotides and their role in the biosynthesis of carbohydrates.

• Dec. 2 Luis Federico Leloir

  French-argentinian physician and biochemist, nobel prize laureate (d. 1987).

• Dec. 4 Arnold Lobel

  American author and illustrator (b. 1933).

• Dec. 4 Rouben Mamoulian

  Georgian-american director and screenwriter (b. 1897).

• Dec. 6 James Dobson

  James Dobson is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family, a prominent Christian organization. He is recognized for his influential role in conservative Christian activism, particularly regarding family values and social policy in the United States. [bio]

• Dec. 10 Jascha Heifetz

  Jascha Heifetz was a Lithuanian-American violinist renowned as one of the greatest violinists of all time. Celebrated for his virtuosic technique, expressive playing, and profound influence on classical violin performance, Heifetz's career spanned over six decades, during which he set new standards for violinists worldwide. [bio]

• Dec. 10 Giovanni Arpino
• Dec. 17 Marguerite Yourcenar

  Belgian-born French novelist and essayist, the first woman to be elected to the Académie française.

• Dec. 17 Linda Wong

  American porn actress (b. 1951).

• Dec. 17 Bernardus Johannes Alfrink

  Dutch cardinal (b. 1900).

• Dec. 18 Conny Plank

  Influential German music producer and electronic music pioneer known for his groundbreaking work with bands like Cluster and Kraftwerk,...

• Dec. 18 Warne Marsh
• Dec. 19 August Mälk

  Estonian author, playwright, and politician (b. 1900).

• Dec. 22 Luca Prodan
• Dec. 24 M. G. Ramachandran

  Legendary Indian actor, film producer, and politician who served as the 5th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, widely regarded as a cultural icon...

• Dec. 24 Joop den Uyl

  Joop den Uyl was a prominent Dutch politician who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1973 to 1977, leading the Labour Party...

• Dec. 26 Dorothy Bliss

  Prominent American invertebrate zoologist who served as a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, making significant...

• Dec. 27 Rewi Alley

  New zealand author and pro-chinese communist dies in beijing at the age of 90.

• Dec. 28 Edward Kleban
• Dec. 29 Wilbert E. Moore

  American sociologist (b. 1914).

• Dec. 29 Jun Ishikawa

  Japanese author (b. 1899).

• Dec. 29 Patrick Bissell
• Dec. 31 Jerry Turner

  American television anchorman (born 1929).