Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Famous People Who Died in 2021 (Part 5)

Deaths 801 - 949 of 949

  • Nov 8 Cecilia Robinson, English cricket batsman (14 Tests, 2 x 100s; Kent WCT), dies at 97
  • Nov 8 Keith Bradshaw, Australian cricket administrator (Secretary & Chief Executive Marylebone Cricket Club; CEO South Australian Cricket), dies from multiple myeloma at 58
  • Nov 8 Margo Guryan, American jazz and pop pianist, songwriter, and singer (“I’m on My Way to Saturday”; "Take a Picture"), dies at 84
  • Nov 8 Rinus Bennaars, Dutch soccer midfielder (15 caps; Feyenoord Rotterdam), dies at 90
  • Nov 9 Jakucho Setouchi, Japanese writer and Buddhist nun (The Tale of Genji), dies at 99
  • Nov 10 Gerald Sinstadt, English sports broadcaster and columnist (BBC Radio, ITV Grenada, BBC One; The Sentinel), dies at 91

F. W. de Klerk (1932-2021)

Nov 11 South African President (1989-94) and winner of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela, dies of cancer at 85

  • Nov 11 Graeme Edge, British rock drummer, and poet (Moody Blues - "The Dream"; "Morning Glory"), dies at 80
  • Nov 11 Harris Fawell, American lawyer and politician (US Rep-R-IL, 1985-99), dies from complications of Alzheimer's disease at 92
  • Nov 12 Aleksandr Lenyov, Russian soccer midfielder / defender (10 caps Soviet Union; Torpedo Moscow), dies at 77
  • Nov 12 Bob Bondurant, American auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans GT +3.0 1964; Shelby American, Ferrari, Eagle teams), dies at 88
  • Nov 12 Paul Gludovatz, Austrian football manager (Austria U-20; SV Ried, TSV Hartberg, SV Eberau), dies from COVID-19 at 75
  • Nov 12 Ron Flowers, English soccer midfielder (49 caps; Wolverhampton Wanderers 467 games), dies at 87
  • Nov 12 Takeshi Koba, Japanese Baseball HOF infielder (Hiroshima Carp) and manager (Japan Series Champion 1979, 80, 84 Hiroshima Carp), dies at 85
  • Nov 13 Ed Bullins, American playwright (The Taking of Miss Janie), and civil rights activists (Black Panthers), dies of complications of dementia at 86
  • Nov 13 Ernie Michie, Scottish rugby union lock (15 caps; 2 caps British & Irish Lions; Barbarians FC; London Scottish RUFC, Leicester Tigers RUFC), dies at 88
  • Nov 13 Phil Margo, American rock vocalist (Tokens - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"), dies after suffering a stroke at 79
  • Nov 13 Sam Huff, American College / Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker (5 x Pro Bowl; First-team All-Pro 1958, 59; NY Giants, Washington Redskins), dies from dementia complications at 87
  • Nov 13 Wilbur Smith, British-South African novelist (When the Lion Feeds, War Cry, River God), dies at 88
  • Nov 14 Bertie Auld, Scottish soccer midfielder (3 caps; Celtic, Birmingham City) and manager (Partick Thistle, Hibernian, Hamilton Academical), dies from dementia complications at 83
  • Nov 14 Virginio Pizzali, Italian track cyclist (Olympic gold team pursuit 1956), dies at 86
  • Nov 15 Bengt Madsen, Swedish soccer administrator (chairman Malmö FF 1999-2009), dies from cancer at 79
  • Nov 15 Bobby Collins Jr., American college football coach (head coach University of Southern Mississippi; Southern Methodist University), dies at 88
  • Nov 15 Heber Bartolome, Filipino folk-rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bandurria and kubing player (Banyuhay - "Nena"), dies at 73
  • Nov 17 Dave Frishberg, American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist ("I'm Just A Bill"; "Van Lingle Mungo"), dies at 88
  • Nov 17 Keith Alison, American session and touring guitarist (Paul Revere and The Raiders, 1968-75), and songwriter, dies at 79
  • Nov 18 Dzyanis Kowba, Belarusian soccer defensive midfielder (36 caps; PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara 247 games), dies from complications of COVID-19 at 42
  • Nov 18 Kim Suominen, Finnish soccer midfielder (39 caps; TPS, FF Jaro), dies at 52
  • Nov 18 Slide Hampton [Locksley Wellington Hampton], American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger, dies at 89
  • Nov 19 Don Kojis, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1968, 69; Detroit Pistons, SD Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics), dies at 82
  • Nov 19 Hank Von Helvete [Hans-Erik Husby], Norwegian punk rock singer (Turbonegro), dies at 46
  • Nov 20 Billy Hinsche, American pop musician, singer, and songwriter (Dino, Desi & Billy; The Beach Boys), dies of cancer at 70
  • Nov 20 Ray McLoughlin, Irish rugby union prop (40 caps Ireland, 3 British & Irish Lions; Barbarians RFC, London Irish RFC), dies at 82
  • Nov 21 Gordon Crosse, British contemporary classical composer (Grace of Todd; Purgatory; Changes), and educator, dies at 84
  • Nov 22 Doug Jones, American baseball relief pitcher (5 x MLB All Star; Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies), dies from COVID-19 at 64
  • Nov 23 Bill Virdon, American baseball outfielder, manager, coach (NL Rookie of the Year 1955; World Series 1960; Gold Glove 1962), dies at 90
  • Nov 24 Frank Burrows, Scottish soccer defender (Swindon Town 297 games) and manager (Portsmouth, Cardiff, Swansea), dies at 77
  • Nov 24 Guillermo Echevarría, Mexican swimmer (1,500m WR 16:28.1 1968), dies at 73
  • Nov 24 Inez van Dullemen, Dutch author (Vroeger is dood), dies at 96
  • Nov 26 Aleksandr Timoshinin, Russian rower (Olympic gold Soviet Union double sculls 1968, 72), dies at 73
  • Nov 26 Doug Cowie, Scottish soccer defender (20 caps; Dundee FC 341 games), dies at 95

Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)

Nov 26 American Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning theater composer and lyricist (West Side Story; Sunday in the Park With George; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Gypsy), dies at 91 [1]

  • Nov 27 Adolfo [Sardiña], Cuban fashion designer (Nancy Reagan), dies at 98
  • Nov 27 Curley Culp, American Pro Football HOF defensive tackle (6X Pro Bowl; First-team All-Pro 1975; NFL Defensive Player of the Year 1975; KC Chiefs, Houston Oilers), dies from pancreatic cancer at 75
  • Nov 27 Eddie Mekka [Mekjian], American stage and screen singer and actor (Laverne & Shirley - "Carmine - The Big Ragu"), dies at 69
  • Nov 27 Francis Routh, British organist, composer (Sacred Tetralogy), magazine editor (Composer), educator, and music promoter (Redcliffe Festival), dies at 94
  • Nov 28 Carrie Meek, American politician (Rep-D-Florida 1993-2003), dies at 95
  • Nov 28 François Moncla, French rugby union flanker (31 Tests; Racing 92, Section Paloise), dies at 89
  • Nov 28 Frank Williams, British businessman, racing team owner (Principal Williams Formula 1 team 1977-2020; 9 x F1 Constructors' C'ships, 7 x Drivers' C'ships), dies at 79
  • Nov 28 Lee Elder, American golfer (first African-American to play in the US Masters; 4 PGA Tour titles), dies at 87
  • Nov 28 Mustafa Cengiz, Turkish businessman and sports administrator (president Galatasaray S.K. 2018-21), dies from cancer at 71
  • Nov 29 Arlene Dahl, American actress (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Ambush, One Life To Live), TV panelist (What's My Line), and perfumer, dies at 96
  • Nov 29 LaMarr Hoyt, American baseball pitcher (AL Cy Young Award 1983; AL wins leader 1982-83; Chicago White Sox), dies from cancer at 66
  • Nov 30 C. Herbert Oliver, American clergyman and civil rights activist (Inter-Citizens Committee), dies at 96
  • Nov 30 Erwin Wilczek, Polish soccer midfielder, forward (16 caps; Górnik Zabrze), dies at 81
  • Nov 30 John Sillett, English soccer defender (Chelsea, Coventry City, Plymouth Argyle) and manager (FA Cup 1987 Coventry City), dies at 85
  • Nov 30 Pamela Helen Stephen, British Mezzo-soprano, dies at 57
  • Nov 30 Phil Dwyer, Welsh soccer defender (10 caps; Cardiff City 471 games), dies at 68
  • Nov 30 Ray Kennedy, English soccer midfielder, forward (17 caps; Arsenal, Liverpool), dies from Parkinson's disease at 70
  • Nov 30 Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, Indian poet and film and theater lyricist ("Vidhata Thalapuna"), dies of lung cancer at 66
  • Dec 1 Alvin Lucier, American composer of experimental music (I Am Sitting In A Room; Music On A Long Thin Wire), educator, and music director, dies from complications of a fall at 90

Darlene Hard (1936-2021)

Dec 2 American tennis player (US C'ships 1960-61, French C'ships 1960; 18 Grand Slam doubles titles), dies at 85

  • Dec 3 Claude Humphrey, American Pro Football HOF defensive end (6 × Pro Bowl, 5 × First-team All-Pro Atlanta Falcons; Philadelphia Eagles), dies at 77
  • Dec 3 Horst Eckel, German soccer wing half (32 caps West Germany, 1954 FIFA World Cup; 1. FC Kaiserslautern, SV Röchling Völklingen), dies at 89
  • Dec 3 Momčilo Vukotić, Serbian soccer midfielder (14 caps, Yugoslavia; FC Partizan, FC Bordeaux) and manager (Cyprus, PAOK, Partizan), dies from throat cancer at 71
  • Dec 4 Eileen Ash-Whelan, English cricket medium pace bowler (7 WTests, 10 wickets, BB 4/68; Middlesex CC), dies at 110
  • Dec 4 Stonewall Jackson, American country music musician ("Waterloo"; "A Wound Time Can't Erase"), dies from complications of vascular dementia at 89
  • Dec 5 Bill Glass, American College Football HOF defensive end (Baylor University; 4 x Pro Bowl Cleveland Browns; Detroit Lions), dies at 86

Bob Dole (1923-2021)

Dec 5 American politician (Senate Republican leader, 1985-96, Presidential candidate in 1996), dies of lung cancer at 98

  • Dec 5 Buddy Merrill [Leslie Behunin], American guitarist and steel guitar player (Lawrence Welk Show. 1955-74), dies at 85
  • Dec 5 Gary Callander, Scottish rugby union hooker (6 caps; South of Scotland RFC), dies from pancreatic cancer at 62
  • Dec 5 Jacques Tits, Belgian-French mathematician (group theory, incidence geometry), dies at 91
  • Dec 5 John Miles, British vocalist and musician (John Miles Band - "Rebel"; "Zaragon"; Alan Parsons Project), dies at 72
  • Dec 7 Christopher Hogg, British industrialist and CEO (Courtaulds & Reuters), dies at 85
  • Dec 7 Steve Bronski Scottish rock keyboard player (Bronski Beat - "Smalltown Boy"), dies from smoke inhalation in a fire at his Soho flat at 61 [1]
  • Dec 8 Barry Harris, American bebop jazz pianist (Cannonball Adderly; Lee Morgan; "The Bird of Red and Gold"), and educator, dies of COVID-19 complications at 91 [1]
  • Dec 8 Jacques Zimako, French soccer forward (13 caps; Saint-Étienne, Sochaux, Bastia), dies at 69
  • Dec 8 Lars Høgh, Danish soccer goalkeeper (8 caps; OB 603 games) and GK coach (Denmark, Brøndby IF), dies from pancreatic cancer at 62
  • Dec 8 Ralph Tavares, Cape Verdean-American R&B and soul singer (Tavares - "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel"), dies at 79
  • Dec 8 Robbie Shakespeare, Jamaican reggae bassist (Sly & Robbie - "DJ Riot"), dies of kidney failure at 68

Al Unser (1939-2021)

Dec 9 American auto racer (Indianapolis 500 1970-71, 78, 87), dies of cancer at 82

  • Dec 9 Brian Aldridge, New Zealand cricket umpire (26 Tests, 45 ODIs), dies at 81
  • Dec 9 Cara Williams, American actress (Pete & Gladys, Cara Williams Show), dies at 96
  • Dec 9 Demaryius Thomas, American football wide receiver (Super Bowl 2015; 4 × Pro Bowl; Denver Broncos), dies at 33
  • Dec 9 Speedy Duncan, American football cornerback (Pro Bowl 1971; AFL All-Star 1965, 66, 67; SD Chargers, Washington Redskins), dies at 79
  • Dec 10 Michael Nesmith, American rock guitarist (The Monkees), and singer-songwriter ("Different Drum"), dies of heart failure at 78 [1]

Anne Rice (1941-2021)

Dec 11 American Gothic novelist (Interview With A Vampire), dies of complications from a stroke at 80

  • Dec 11 Dennis Ward, Australian rugby league halfback (6 Tests; Canterbury- Bankstown RLFC, Manly RLFC), dies at 74
  • Dec 11 Galina Samsova [Samtsova], Russian ballerina (London Festival Ballet, 1964-73), and artistic director, dies at 84
  • Dec 11 Manuel Santana, Spanish tennis player (French Open 1961, 64; Wimbledon 1966; US Open 1965; French Open doubles 1963), dies at 83
  • Dec 12 Roland Hemond, American baseball executive (GM Chicago White Sox 1970–85; Baltimore Orioles 1988–95), dies at 92
  • Dec 12 Vicente Fernández, Mexican Grammy Award-winning singer, known as "El Rey de la Música Ranchera" (The King of Ranchera Music), actor, and film producer, dies at 81
  • Dec 12 Yury Sharov, Russian fencer (Olympic gold Soviet Union, team foil 1964, silver 1968), dies at 82
  • Dec 13 Joe Simon, American soul and R&B singer ("Power of Love"), dies at 85
  • Dec 14 Jethro [Geoffrey Rowe], British stand-up comedian (This Train Don't Stop Camborne Wednesdays), dies of lymphoma complicated by Covid-19 at 73
  • Dec 14 Karl Heinz Wahren, German pianist and composer (Nocturnal Dances of the Tuscan Virgins in the Florentine Gardens at the Height of the Inquisition), dies at 88
  • Dec 14 Ken Kragen, American television producer (The Smothers Brothers), music artist manager (Lionel Richie; Kenny Rogers), and charity organizer (USA for Africa - "We Are The World"), dies at 85
  • Dec 14 Phil Chen, Chinese-Jamaican rock session and touring bassist (Jeff Beck, 1974-76; Rod Stewart, 1977-80; Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger), dies of cancer at 75
  • Dec 15 Bell Hooks [Gloria Jean Watkins], American author, feminist, educator, and social activist, dies of kidney failure at 69
  • Dec 15 Bridget Hanley, American actress (Here Come the Brides - "Candy Pruitt"), dies of Alzheimer's disease complications at 80
  • Dec 15 Francisco Kroepfl, Argentinian composer, dies at 90
  • Dec 15 Hans Küppers, German soccer midfielder (7 caps, West Germany; TSV 1860 Munich, 1. FC Nürnberg), dies at 82
  • Dec 15 Len Hauss, American football center (5 x Pro Bowl; Washington Redskins), dies at 79
  • Dec 15 Wanda Young, American pop singer (The Marvelettes - "Please Mr. Postman"; “Don’t Mess With Bill"), dies of heart disease at 78
  • Dec 16 Bill Mahoney, Canadian ice hockey coach (NHL: Minnesota North Stars 1983-85), dies at 82
  • Dec 16 Pavle Despalj, Croatian composer and conductor (Zagreb; Miami; Tokyo), dies at 87
  • Dec 16 Taniela Moa, Tongan rugby union halfback (20 caps; Auckland Blues, Section Paloise RUFC), dies at 36
  • Dec 17 Dimitrios Stefanakos, Greek soccer defender (7 caps; Olympiacos FC), dies at 85
  • Dec 17 Eve Babitz, American artist and author (Eve's Hollywood; Slow Days, Fast Company; I Used To Be Charming), dies of Huntington's disease at 78
  • Dec 17 Harry Jacobs, American football linebacker (AFL All Star 1965, 69; AFL C'ship 1964, 65 Buffalo Bills; Boston Patriots, NO Saints), dies at 84
  • Dec 18 Richard Rogers, British architect (European Court of Human Rights building; The Pompidou Centre; Millennium Dome), dies at 88
  • Dec 19 Carlos Marín, Spanish pop-opera baritone (Il Divo), dies of COVID-19 at 53
  • Dec 19 Ed van Thijn, Dutch politician (House of Representatives, 1977-82; Mayor of Amsterdam, 1983-94; Member of Senate, 1999-2007), dies at 87

Sally Ann Howes (1930-2021)

Dec 19 British-American stage and screen actress and singer (Brigadoon; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - "Truly Scrumptious"), dies at 91

  • Dec 20 Kimera Bartee, American MLB outfielder.1996-2001 (Detroit Tigers, and 2 other teams), and coach, 2017-21 (Pittsburgh Pirates, and 2 other teams), dies of an undiagnosed brain tumor at 49
  • Dec 21 (Wilbert) Billy Davis, American tennis player (11 x American Tennis Association Titles), dies of congestive heart failure at 91
  • Dec 21 Nicholas Georgiade, American actor (Untouchables, Run Buddy Run), dies at 88
  • Dec 22 Bob Keselowski, American auto racer (ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series 1989) and team owner (K Automotive Racing), dies from cancer at 70
  • Dec 22 Jürg Wyttenbach, Swiss pianist, composer, and conductor, dies at 86
  • Dec 22 Robin Le Mesurier [Halliley], British session and touring guitarist (The Wombles; Rod Stewart; Johnny Hallyday), dies of cancer at 68
  • Dec 23 Bob McCammon, Canadian ice hockey coach (Philadelphia Fllyers 1978-84, Vancouver Canucks 1987-91), dies at 80
  • Dec 24 J.D. Crowe, American bluegrass banjo player and bandleader (The New South), dies at 84
  • Dec 24 José Villegas, Mexican soccer defender (6 caps; CD Guadalajara), dies at 87
  • Dec 24 Raúl Madero, Argentine soccer defender (5 caps; Estudiantes) and sports physician (Argentina national team), dies at 82
  • Dec 24 Willibert Kremer, German soccer coach (MSV Duisburg, Bayer Leverkusen, 1860 Munich, Fortuna Düsseldorf), dies at 82
  • Dec 25 Janice Long (née Chegwin), British radio host (Crash FM; BBC), dies of pneumonia at 66
  • Dec 25 John Gleeson, Australian rugby league five eighth (10 Tests; Queensland 25 games; Wynnum-Manly, Brothers RLFC), dies at 82
  • Dec 25 Ray Illingworth, English cricket spin bowler and captain (61 Tests, 122 wickets, 1,836 runs @ 23.24; Yorkshire CCC, Leicestershire CCC), dies at 89
  • Dec 25 Thomas Lovejoy, American conservation biologist who coined the term "biodiversity", dies at 80
  • Dec 25 Tifini Hale, American pop singer (Party - "Rodeo"; "That's Why"), dies of cardiac arrest at 46
  • Dec 25 Wayne Thiebaud, American painter (Four Pinball Machines), dies at 101

Desmond Tutu (1931-2021)

Dec 26 Anglican Archbishop of South Africa and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, dies at 90

  • Dec 26 Dorval Rodrigues, Brazilian soccer right winger (13 caps; Santos FC, SE Palmeiras), dies at 86
  • Dec 26 Edward O. Wilson, American sociobiologist (world’s leading authority on ants), dies at 92
  • Dec 26 Karolos Papoulias, President of Greece (2005-15), dies at 92
  • Dec 26 Sarah Weddington, American attorney (represented "Jane Roe" in Roe v. Wade before US States Supreme Court), dies at 76
  • Dec 27 April Ashley, English model and one of the earliest British people known to have had sex reassignment surgery, dies at 86

Harry Reid (1939-2021)

Dec 28 American attorney and politician (U.S. Senator from Nevada, 1987-2017; U.S. House of Representatives, 1983-87), dies of pancreatic cancer at 82 [1]

John Madden (1936-2021)

Dec 28 American Pro Football HOF coach (Oakland Raiders 1969-78; Super Bowl 1976) and sportscaster (16 x Emmy Award winner; CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC; Madden NFL video games), dies at 85 [1]

  • Dec 28 Nikolay Shirshov, Uzbekistani soccer defensive midfielder (64 caps; FC Pakhtakor Tashkent, FC Rostov), dies at 47
  • Dec 29 Antoine Bonifaci, French soccer midfielder (12 caps; OGC Nice, FC Inter Milan, Bologna FC, Torino FC), dies at 90
  • Dec 29 John Hartman, American rock drummer (Doobie Brothers, 1970–79 & 1987–92 - "China Grove"), dies at 71
  • Dec 30 Gottfried Michael Koenig, German-Dutch composer, educator, and electronic music pioneer, dies at 95
  • Dec 30 Karel Loprais, Czech rally driver (Dakar Rally truck category 1988, 94, 95, 98, 99, 2001), dies from COVID-19 at 72
  • Dec 30 Sam Jones, American College/Basketball HOF guard (North Carolina Central Uni; 10 × NBA C'ships; NBA All-Star 1962, 64–66, 68; Boston Celtics), dies at 88

Betty White (1922-2021)

Dec 31 American Emmy Award-winning comic actress with the longest TV career of a female entertainer (The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Sue Ann Nivens"; Golden Girls - "Rose"; The Proposal), dies after suffering a stroke at 99 [1]

  • Dec 31 Billy Turner Jr., American thoroughbred trainer (Triple Crown 1977 Seattle Slew), dies from prostate cancer at 81
  • Dec 31 Juraj Filas, Slovak composer (Oratio Spei (Prayer of Hope)), dies of COVID-19 at 66
  • Dec 31 Liisa Pohjola, Finnish concert pianist and music professor, dies at 85