Did you know
Brown was one of the first ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 23, 1986.
Notable Deaths on December 25
2006 — James Brown
American singer-songwriter (born 1933)
December 25 has 133 recorded notable deaths across history, from 304 to 2024. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Notable Deaths
133 source records
304 – 2024
Today in history
Major events on December 25
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 1951 A bomb explodes at the home of Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. S. Moore, early leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, killing Harry instantly and fatally wounding Harriette. Source
- 1968 Apollo program: Apollo 8 performs the first successful Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver, sending the crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from Lunar orbit. Source
- 1915 The National Protection War breaks out against the Empire of China, as military leaders Cai E and Tang Jiyao proclaim the independence of Yunnan and begin a campaign to restore the Republic. Source
- 1989 Romanian Revolution: Deposed President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are condemned to death and executed after a summary trial. Source
Did you know
Perhaps his most memorable film role was that of Texas Ranger Frank Hamer in the movie Bonnie and Clyde (1967), as the lawman who relentlessly chased down and finally killed the notorious duo in an ambush.
Did you know
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) second baseman and manager, who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the manager of the New York Yankees.
Did you know
W. C. Fields became a star in the Broadway musical comedy Poppy (1923), in which he played a colorful small-time con man.
Did you know
K. C. Jones is best known for his association with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), with whom he won 11 of his 12 NBA championships.
More major people who died on December 25
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1997
Denver Pyle
American actor (born 1920)
Denver Dell Pyle was an American film and television actor and director.
1989
Billy Martin
American baseball player and manager (born 1928)
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) second baseman and manager, who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the manager of the New York Yankees.
1946
W. C. Fields
American actor, comedian, juggler, and screenwriter (born 1880)
William Claude Dukenfield, better known as W. C. Fields, was an American actor, comedian, juggler and writer. His career in show business began in vaudeville, where he attained international success as a silent juggler.
2020
K. C. Jones
American basketball player and coach (born 1932)
K.C. Jones Jr. was an American professional basketball player and coach.
2021
Wayne Thiebaud
American artist (born 1920)
Wayne Thiebaud was an American painter known for his colorful works depicting commonplace objects—pies, cakes, lipsticks, paint cans, ice cream cones, pastries, and hot dogs—as well as for his landscapes and figure…
1953
Patsy Donovan
Irish-American baseball player and manager (born 1865)
Patrick Joseph Donovan was an Irish born right fielder and manager in Major League Baseball who played for several teams from 1890 to 1907, most notably the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1944
George Steer
South African-English journalist and author (born 1909)
George Lowther Steer was a South African-born British journalist, author and war correspondent who reported on wars preceding the Second World War, especially the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the Spanish Civil War.
2013
Mel Mathay
Filipino politician, 8th Mayor of Quezon City (born 1932)
Ismael "Mel" Austria Mathay Jr. was a Filipino lawyer and politician who last served as the Mayor of Quezon City from 1992 to 2001.
1952
Margrethe Mather
American photographer (born 1886)
Margrethe Mather was an American photographer. She was one of the best known female photographers of the early 20th century.
1868
Linus Yale
Jr., American engineer and businessman (born 1821)
Linus Yale Jr. was an American businessman, inventor, mechanical engineer, and metalsmith. He was a co-founder with millionaire Henry R.
1998
John Pulman
English snooker player (born 1923)
Herbert John Pulman was an English professional snooker player who was the World Snooker Champion from 1957 to 1968.
2016
Valery Khalilov
Russian military musician and composer (born 1952)
Valery Mikhailovich Khalilov was an Uzbek-born Russian military band conductor and composer.
2024
Bill Bergey
American football player (born 1945)
William Earl Bergey was an American professional football linebacker who played for 12 seasons, most notably with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).
2004
Gennadi Strekalov
Russian engineer and astronaut (born 1940)
Gennady Mikhailovich Strekalov was an engineer, cosmonaut, and administrator at Russian aerospace firm RSC Energia.
1961
Owen Brewster
American captain, lawyer, and politician, 54th Governor of Maine (born 1888)
Ralph Owen Brewster was an American politician from Maine. Brewster, a Republican, served as the 54th governor of Maine from 1925 to 1929, in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1935 to 1941 and in the U.S.
1956
Robert Walser
Swiss author and playwright (born 1878)
Robert Walser was a German language Swiss writer. He additionally worked as a copyist, an inventor's assistant, a butler, and in various other low-paying trades.
1634
Lettice Knollys
English noblewoman (born 1543)
Lettice Knollys was an English noblewoman and mother to the courtiers Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Penelope, Lady Rich.
1973
Gabriel Voisin
French pilot and engineer (born 1880)
Gabriel Voisin was a French aviation pioneer and the creator of Europe's first manned, engine-powered, heavier-than-air aircraft capable of a sustained (1 km), circular, controlled flight, which was made by Henri Farman…
1938
Karel Čapek
Czech author and playwright (born 1890)
Karel Čapek was a Czech writer, playwright, critic and journalist. He has become best known for his science fiction, including his novel War with the Newts (1936) and play R.U.R., which introduced the word robot.