- Dec 1 Max Fiedler, German composer, dies at 79
- Dec 8 Ernest Schelling, American child piano prodigy, conductor, and composer (A Victory Ball), dies of a cerebral embolism at 63
- Dec 10 Wilhelm Grosz, Austrian pianist, conductor, classical composer (Afrika Songs), and popular songwriter ("Red Sails in the Sunset"; "Isle of Capri"), dies at 45 [1]
Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939)
Dec 12 American actor (The Mark of Zorro, 3 Musketeers, Robin Hood), dies from a heart attack at 56
- Dec 15 Tom McKibbin, Australian cricket spin bowler (5 Tests, 17 wickets; NSW CA), dies at 69
- Dec 18 Heywood Broun, American journalist (1st President of American Newspaper Guild), dies of pneumonia at 51
- Dec 19 Eric Fogg, English composer, dies under a train at 36
- Dec 19 Karl Wagenfeld, Low German writer (Lucifer, Death & Devil), dies at 70
- Dec 19 Willem Benoy, Flemish actor and director (The White), dies at 57
- Dec 20 Hans Langsdorff, German Kriegsmarine (navy) captain commits suicide after scuttling his ship, the 'Admiral Graf Spee,' due to damage from the Battle of the River Plat (near Argentina)
- Dec 22 Ma Rainey [Gertrude Pridgett], American singer "Mother of the Blues", dies at 53
Anthony Fokker (1890-1939)
Dec 23 Dutch aviation pioneer and aircraft manufacturer (Eindecker monoplanes, Fokker Triplane), dies of pneumococcal meningitis at 49
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide