- Dec 1 Joseph B. Wirthlin, American businessmen, religious leader, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), dies at 91
- Dec 1 Mikel Laboa, Basque singer and songwriter (b. 1934)
- Dec 1 Paul Benedict, American actor (Harry-Jeffersons), dies at 70
- Dec 2 (Edward) "Ted" Rogers, Canadian entrepreneur (Rogers Communications), MLB team owner (Toronto Blue Jays), and philanthropist, dies of congestive heart failure at 75
- Dec 2 Kathleen Baskin-Ball, American United Methodist Pastor
- Dec 2 Odetta [Odetta Holmes], American folk singer (Sanctuary), actress and civil rights activist, dies of heart disease at 77
- Dec 2 Renato de Grandis, Italian composer, dies at 81
- Dec 3 Robert Zajonc, Polish-American social psychologist (b. 1923)
- Dec 4 Forrest J. Ackerman, American literary agent and writer who invented the term "sci-fi (Famous Monsters of Filmland), dies at 92
- Dec 4 Fritz Behrendt, German-Dutch political cartoonist (Het Parool; De Telegraaf; New York Herald Tribune), dies at 83
- Dec 5 Anca Parghel, Romanian jazz singer and composer (b. 1957)
- Dec 5 Basil Kelly, Irish barrister, politician and judge (Lord Chief Justice), dies at 88
- Dec 5 Beverly Garland [Fessenden], American actress (My Three Sons, Scarecrow and Mrs. King), dies at 82
- Dec 5 Constantin Ticu Dumitrescu, Romanian politician and president of the Association of Romanian Former Political Prisoners. (b. 1928)
- Dec 5 Nina Foch, Dutch-American actress (The Ten Commandments, Spartacus, An American in Paris), dies from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome at 84
- Dec 5 Patriarch Alexy II of Russia, head of the Russian Orthodox Church (b. 1929)
- Dec 7 Dennis Yost, American vocalist, dies at 65
- Dec 7 Marky Cielo, Filipino and Igorot dancer and actor (b. 1988)
- Dec 8 Oliver Postgate, English animator, puppeteer and writer, dies at 83
- Dec 8 Robert Prosky, Polish-American actor and comedian (Christine, Thief), dies at 77
- Dec 9 Ibrahim Dossey, Ghanaian football player (b. 1972)
- Dec 9 Yury Glazkov, Soviet Air Force officer and cosmonaut (Soyuz 24), dies at 69
- Dec 10 Didith Reyes [Maria Avenila], Filipino pop singer, dies of a heart attack at 59
- Dec 10 Dorothy Porter, Australian poet (The Monkey's Mask), librettist, (The Eternity Man), and lyricist (The Fiery Maze), dies of breast cancer at 54
- Dec 10 Henning Christiansen, Danish experimental composer, dies at 76
Bettie Page (1923-2008)
Dec 11 American pinup model considered the 'Queen of Pinups' and the 'Dark Angel', dies at 85
- Dec 11 Maddie Blaustein, American voice actress (b. 1960)
- Dec 11 Patricia Hutchinson, British diplomat (Ambassador to Uruguay, 1980-83), dies at 82
- Dec 11 Ron Carey, American labor leader (International Brotherhood of Teamsters), dies of lung cancer at 72
- Dec 12 (Charles) Van Johnson, American actor (in A Guy Named Joe; Brigadoon) always wore red socks, dies at 92
- Dec 12 Avery Dulles, American clergyman, Roman Catholic cardinal, theologian, and educator, dies at 90
- Dec 12 Daniel Carleton Gajdusek, American virologist, (1976 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work on transmissibility of kuru), dies at 85 [1]
- Dec 12 Tassos Papadopoulos, Cypriot lawyer and politician (President, 2003-08), dies at cancer at 74
- Dec 13 Horst Tappert, German director, actor and former SS member (Derrick), dies of diabetes at 85
- Dec 13 John Drake, New Zealand rugby union footballer (b. 1959)
- Dec 13 Kathy Staff [Minnie Higginbottom], British actress (Mary Reilly, Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours), dies from a brain tumour at 80
- Dec 14 Ramon Barce, Spanish composer, dies at 80
- Dec 15 Geraldine McCullough, American painter and sculptor (Phoenix), dies at 91
- Dec 15 León Febres Cordero, Ecuadorian politician (President of Ecuador 1984-88), dies at 77
- Dec 17 Dave Smith, American baseball player (b. 1955)
- Dec 17 Freddy Breck, German schlager singer, composer, record producer and news anchor, dies of cancer at 66
Sammy Baugh (1914-2008)
Dec 17 American College/Pro Football quarterback (TCU; NFL C'ship 1937, 42; 4 × First-team All-Pro; 6 × Pro Bowl; 4 × NFL passing yards leader; Washington Redskins), dies at 94
- Dec 18 Jack Douglas, English actor (Carry On films), dies at 81
- Dec 18 Majel Barrett, American actress and producer (Star Trek), and the widow of Gene Roddenberry, dies at 76
- Dec 18 Mark Felt, the infamous "Deep Throat", American FBI official and whistle blower during the Watergate Scandal dies aged 95
- Dec 19 Carol Chomsky, American linguist and education specialist (b. 1930)
- Dec 19 Dock Ellis, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star, World Series 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates; pitched no-hitter 1971), dies of liver issues at 63
James Bevel (1936-2008)
Dec 19 American civil rights activist (Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Direct Action), dies of cancer at 72
- Dec 19 Kenny Cox, American jazz pianist dies of lung cancer at 68
- Dec 20 Dorothy Sarnoff, American operatic soprano, Broadway actress (Rosalinda), author and pioneer of the self-help movement (Speech Can Change Your Life, Speech Dynamics), dies at 94
- Dec 22 Lansana Conté, Guinean politician, dies at 74
- Dec 23 Eric Charles Twelves Wilson, English British Army officer (awarded Victoria Cross), dies at 96
Harold Pinter (1930-2008)
Dec 24 British playwright and screenwriter (The Birthday Party, The Homecoming), dies at 78
Samuel P. Huntington (1927-2008)
Dec 24 American political scientist (The Clash of Civilizations) and presidential adviser, dies at 81
- Dec 25 Eartha Kitt, American singer (Santa Baby), dancer, comedian, actress and activist (Catwoman-Batman), dies at 81
- Dec 26 Gösta Krantz, Swedish actor (b. 1925)
- Dec 27 Delaney Bramlett, American rocker (Shindogs; Delaney & Bonnie), dies at 69
- Dec 29 Daniel Nagrin, American modern dancer and choreographer, dies at 91
- Dec 29 Freddie Hubbard, American jazz trumpet player (b. 1938)
- Dec 29 Kees [Cornelis Pieter] van Dijk, Dutch minister of the Interior, dies at 77
- Dec 30 Derek Wadsworth, British jazz composer and arranger, dies at 69
- Dec 30 Dick Green, Canadian actor
- Dec 31 Donald E. Westlake, American author (The Hunter), dies at 75
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide