Famous people and celebrities who died in December 2017

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in December 2017. 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. 4 Shashi Kapoor

  Iconic Bollywood actor from the legendary Kapoor film dynasty, who significantly contributed to Indian cinema across multiple roles...

• Dec. 5 Michael I of Romania

  Fifth and last king of romania (b. 1921).

• Dec. 5 Johnny Hallyday
• Dec. 7 Steve Reevis

  Native american actor (b. 1962).

• Dec. 10 Charles M. Green Jr.

  American internet personality (b. 1950).

• Dec. 10 Bruce Brown

  American filmmaker (b. 1937).

• Dec. 10 Curtis W. Harris

  American minister (b. 1924).

• Dec. 11 Keith Chegwin

  British television personality famous for hosting 'Multi-Colored Swap Shop' and 'Cheggers Plays Pop', who was open about his personal...

• Dec. 12 Ed Lee

  American politician and attorney who served as the 43rd mayor of San Francisco from 2011 until his unexpected death in 2017.

• Dec. 12 Carol Bellamy

  Prominent global leader who served as Executive Director of UNICEF from 1995 to 2005, significantly contributing to international children's...

• Dec. 12 Pat DiNizio

  American singer-songwriter and guitarist, founding member of the rock band The Smithereens, who passed away in December 2017.

• Dec. 14 Yu Kwang-chung

  Chinese writer (b. 1928).

• Dec. 15 Heinz Wolff

  Heinz Wolff was a renowned German-British physiologist, engineer, and academic who made significant contributions to biomedical research and...

• Dec. 15 Calestous Juma

  Academic (b. 1953).

• Dec. 16 Keely Smith

  Keely Smith was an American jazz and popular music singer known for her solo career and as the musical partner of famed bandleader Louis Prima. Renowned for her distinctive voice, deadpan stage presence, and numerous recordings during the 1950s and 1960s, Smith became a significant figure in the American music scene. [bio]

• Dec. 18 Kim Jong-hyun

  Kim Jong-hyun was a talented South Korean singer and SHINee member who tragically passed away in 2017, leaving a significant impact on the...

• Dec. 19 Clifford Irving

  Famous for orchestrating one of the most notorious literary hoaxes in history, Irving falsely claimed to have written an authorized...

• Dec. 20 Randolph Quirk
• Dec. 21 Bruce McCandless II

  Us astronaut who conducted the first untethered spacewalk (b. 1937).

• Dec. 22 Gonzalo Morales Sáurez

  Costa rican painter (b. 1945).

• Dec. 23 Maurice Hayes

  Prominent Irish educator and politician who made significant contributions to public service and education.

• Dec. 24 Heather Menzies

  Canadian-American actress and model known for her roles in television and film, who passed away in December 2017.

• Dec. 25 D. Herbert Lipson

  American magazine publisher (philadelphia, boston) (b. 1929).

• Dec. 26 Irv Weinstein

  American broadcaster and television news anchor (b. 1930).

• Dec. 26 Gualtiero Marchesi
• Dec. 28 Rose Marie

  Rose Marie was an American actress, singer, and comedian best known for her role as Sally Rogers on the classic television sitcom 'The Dick Van Dyke Show.' She began her career as a child performer in vaudeville and radio under the name 'Baby Rose Marie' and became one of the most recognizable characters in American television history. [bio]

• Dec. 28 Sue Grafton

  Sue Grafton was an American author best known for her "alphabet series" of detective novels featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone. Her work has been celebrated for its strong character development and compelling mysteries, making her a leading figure in contemporary crime fiction. [bio]

• Dec. 29 Peggy Cummins

  Peggy Cummins was an Irish-born British actress, best known for her role as Annie Laurie Starr in the 1949 film noir 'Gun Crazy'. Her film and stage career spanned the 1940s and 1950s, during which she worked in both British and Hollywood productions. [bio]

• Dec. 29 John C. Portman Jr.

  American neofuturistic architect and real estate developer (b. 1924).