Famous people and celebrities who died in January 1996

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in January 1996. 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. 1 Arleigh Burke

  Admiral Arleigh Burke was a distinguished US Navy officer who played a crucial role in World War II naval operations and later served as...

• Jan. 1 Arthur Rudolph

  German rocket scientist who played a significant role in the development of the V-2 rocket during World War II and later worked for NASA in...

• Jan. 5 Lincoln Kirstein

  Influential American arts patron and co-founder of the New York City Ballet.

• Jan. 6 Duane Hanson

  Renowned American sculptor famous for hyperrealistic life-sized sculptures depicting ordinary people in everyday situations.

• Jan. 7 Károly Grósz

  Hungarian politician who served as the 51st Prime Minister of Hungary during a critical period of political transition in the late 1980s.

• Jan. 8 François Mitterrand

  Prominent French socialist politician who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, marking a significant shift in French political...

• Jan. 8 Howard Taubman

  Prominent American theater and music critic who significantly contributed to arts journalism in the mid-20th century.

• Jan. 9 Walter Miller

  Acclaimed American science fiction writer best known for his Hugo Award-winning novelette 'Darfstellar' and his influential novel 'A...

• Jan. 11 Roger Crozier

  Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach who made significant contributions to the sport during his career.

• Jan. 15 Minnesota Fats

  Legendary American professional billiards player known for his exceptional pool skills and colorful personality.

• Jan. 15 Les Baxter

  Influential American composer and orchestra leader who was a pioneer in exotica and easy listening music during the mid-20th century.

• Jan. 16 Kaye Webb

  Kaye Webb was a prominent English journalist and publisher who made significant contributions to the literary world, particularly in...

• Jan. 16 Marcia Davenport

  Marcia Davenport was a distinguished American author, music critic, and biographer known for her insightful works on classical music and...

• Jan. 17 Barbara Jordan

  Barbara Jordan was a pioneering African American politician who made significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

• Jan. 18 N. T. Rama Rao

  Legendary Telugu actor and politician who became the 10th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, known for his significant contributions to...

• Jan. 19 Don Simpson

  Prominent Hollywood film producer known for collaborating with Jerry Bruckheimer on iconic 1980s blockbusters like 'Flashdance' and 'Top...

• Jan. 20 Gerry Mulligan

  Gerry Mulligan was a legendary jazz baritone saxophonist and composer who significantly influenced the cool jazz movement of the 1950s.

• Jan. 22 Israel Eldad

  Polish-israeli philosopher and author (b. 1910).

• Jan. 23 Norman MacCaig

  Renowned Scottish poet and philosopher whose works often drew inspiration from Edinburgh and the West Highlands.

• Jan. 25 Jonathan Larson

  Revolutionary musical theater composer who created 'Rent', a groundbreaking rock musical that transformed Broadway and posthumously won...

• Jan. 26 Henry Lewis

  Pioneering African American conductor who broke racial barriers in classical music, leading major orchestras during a challenging period of...

• Jan. 26 Frank Howard

  Legendary Washington Senators baseball player who set a remarkable home run record in 1969, later becoming a respected coach and team...

• Jan. 26 David Schultz

  Olympic gold medal wrestler tragically killed by millionaire John du Pont, a story famously depicted in the film 'Foxcatcher'.

• Jan. 27 Ralph Yarborough

  American politician and lawyer from Texas who served in the United States Senate, known for his progressive political stance.

• Jan. 28 Joseph Brodsky

  Joseph Brodsky was a renowned Russian-American poet, essayist, and translator who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987.

• Jan. 28 Jerry Siegel

  Co-creator of Superman, one of the most influential comic book writers in American history who revolutionized the superhero genre with his...

• Jan. 28 Burne Hogarth

  Burne Hogarth was an influential American cartoonist best known for his groundbreaking work on the Tarzan comic strip.