- Dec 3 Ivan Chermayeff, British-born American graphic designer, dies at 85
- Dec 3 John B. Anderson, American politician and 1980 Republican presidential candidate, dies at 95
- Dec 3 Mike D. Stone, American recording engineer (Frank Zappa, Joe Walsh, Bee Gees, America), dies of lymphoma at 68
- Dec 4 Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemeni politician and 1st President of Yemen (1990-2012), is killed during the Battle of Sana'a at 75
- Dec 4 Christine Keeler, British model and showgirl (Profumo affair), dies from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75
- Dec 4 Mary Louise Hancock, American politician and activist, dies at 97
- Dec 4 Shashi Kapoor [Balbir Raj Kapoor], prominent Indian Bollywood actor (Deewar, The Deceivers, Shalimar, Heat & Dust), dies from a chest infection at 79
- Dec 5 Johnny Hallyday [Jean-Philippe Smet], French singer and actor known as the "Elvis Presley of France," dies from lung cancer at 74
- Dec 5 Michael I, King of Romania (1927-1930 and 1940-1947), dies from cancer at 96
- Dec 5 Surin Pitsuwan, Thai foreign minister and 12th Secretary General of ASEAN (2008-2012), dies from heart failure at 68
- Dec 6 Cy Young, American athlete and only US male to win gold in javelin throwing (1952 Olympics), dies of complications from dementia at 89
- Dec 6 William H. Gass, American novelist and philosopher (Omensetter's Luck), dies at 93
- Dec 7 James "Sunny" Murray, American jazz musician and drummer, dies at 81
- Dec 7 Peter Walwyn, British thoroughbred trainer (champion trainer 1974-75), dies at 84
- Dec 10 Zarley Zalapski, Canadian NHL defenseman, 1987-2000 (Pittsburgh Penguins; Calgary Flames, and 3 other teams), dies of a viral infection at 49
- Dec 11 Aline Griffith, American-born Spanish aristocrat, Countess of Romanones, spy and author, dies at 94
- Dec 11 Keith Chegwin, English television presenter and actor, dies at 60
- Dec 12 Pat DiNizio, American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (The Smithereens - "Only A Memory"; "Blue Period"), dies from ill health at 62
- Dec 13 Bette Howland [Lee Sotonoff], American writer and literary critic (Blue in Chicago, The iron year), dies from multiple sclerosis and dementia at 80
- Dec 13 Tommy Nobis, American College Football HOF linebacker (Uni of Texas; #1 pick NFL Draft 1966 Atlanta Falcons; NFL Rookie of the Year 1966; First-team All-Pro 1967; 5× Pro Bowl), dies at 74
- Dec 13 Warrel Dane, American singer (Nevermore -"Enemies of Reality"), dies of a heart attack at 56
- Dec 14 Lones Wigger, American competitive rifle shooter (Olympic gold/silver-1964, 72), dies at 80
- Dec 14 Yú Guāngzhōng [Yu Kwang-chung], Taiwanese poet, essayist, and translator (Nostalgia), dies from respiratory failure at 89
- Dec 15 Don Hogan Charles, American photographer and first African-American photographer hired by The New York Times, dies at 79
- Dec 15 Heinz Wolff, German-born British scientist and TV/ radio presenter (BBC series "The Great Egg Race"), dies from heart failure at 89
- Dec 16 Keely Smith [Dorothy Keely], American jazz and pop singer (w/ husband Louis Prima -"That Old Black Magic"; "I Wish You Love"), dies from heart failure at 89 [1]
- Dec 17 Kevin Mahogany, American jazz vocalist ("Double Rainbow"; "Pride And Joy"), dies of diabetes complications at 59 [1] [2]
- Dec 17 Robert G Wilmers, American banker (M&T Bank), billionaire and philanthropist, dies at 83
- Dec 18 Jonghyun [Kim Jong-hyun], South Korean singer-songwriter, radio host, and author (SHINee), commits suicide at 27
- Dec 19 Clifford Irving, American novelist and investigative reporter (hoax autobiography of Howard Hughes), dies of pancreatic cancer at 87
- Dec 19 Leo "Bud" Welch, American gospel and Delta blues singer-songwriter and guitarist ("You Can't Hurry God"; "Cadillac Baby"), dies at 85
- Dec 19 Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, American baseball pitcher (1st female pitcher to play in the Negro Leagues), dies from heart complications at 82
- Dec 20 Bernard Francis Law, Disgraced American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church (1982-2002), dies at 86
- Dec 21 Bruce McCandless II, American aviator, electrical engineer and astronaut who made the 1st untethered space walk (STS 41B, STS-31), dies at 80
- Dec 21 Richard "Dick" Enberg, American sportscaster (NBC, CBS, ESPN), dies of a heart attack at 82
- Dec 21 Roswell Rudd, American free-jazz trombonist (Archie Shepp) and avant-garde composer (New York Art Quartet), dies of prostate cancer at 82
- Dec 21 Wolfgang Ludewig, German composer, dies at 91
- Dec 23 Maurice Hayes, Irish politician (European Person of the Year 2003), dies at 90
- Dec 24 Dick Orkin, American radio performer (Chickenman), and screenwriter (The Tim Conway Show), dies of a stroke at 84
- Dec 24 Heather Menzies-Urich, Canadian actress (The Sound of Music; Piranha), dies of cancer at 68
- Dec 25 Vladimir Shainsky, Soviet and Russian composer, dies at 92
- Dec 28 Recy Taylor, American sexual assault victim, dies at 97
- Dec 28 Rose Marie [Mazzetta], American actress, comedienne and singer (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Sally"; The Doris Day Show), dies at 94
- Dec 28 Sue Grafton, American author of detective novels ("A" Is for Alibi), dies at 77
- Dec 29 Alfred Binns, West Indian cricket wicket-keeper (5 Tests, 17 dismissals; Jamaica), dies at 88
- Dec 29 John C. Portman Jr., American architect (Ivan Allen Award-1964), dies at 93
- Dec 29 Peggy Cummins [Augusta Fuller], Welsh-born Irish actress (Gun Crazy, Curse of the Demon), dies at 92
- Dec 31 Maurice Peress, American conductor (Kansas City Philharmonic, 1974-80), dies at 87
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide