The following is a list of notable deaths in December 2019.
Entries for each day are listed alphabetically by surname. A typical entry lists information in the following sequence: Name, age, country of citizenship at birth, subsequent country of citizenship (if applicable), reason for notability, cause of death (if known), and reference.
December 2019
1
Henri Biancheri, 87, French football player (Monaco, Angers) and executive (Monaco). Shyamal Kanti Biswas, 71, Bangladeshi academic, vice-chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (2007–2012). Noksong Boham, 71, Indian politician, MLA (1978–1980, 1984–1999), cancer. Miguelina Cobián, 77, Cuban sprinter, Olympic silver medalist (1968). Anthony Cooke, 92, British rear admiral. Edgardo Gomez, 81, Filipino biologist. Miguel Hesayne, 96, Argentinian Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Viedma (1975–1995). Mariss Jansons, 76, Latvian conductor, heart disease. Robert M. Koerner, 85, American engineer and academic. Michael Lai, 73, Hong Kong Cantopop composer (Police Story, Project A Part II, Miracles) and actor. Lil Bub, 8, American celebrity cat (Lil Bub & Friendz). Liu Gangji, 86, Chinese philosopher, aesthetician, historian, and artist. Shelley Morrison, 83, American actress (Will & Grace, The Flying Nun, General Hospital), heart failure. René Rebuffat, 89, French historian and archeologist. Sacred Falls, 10, New Zealand racehorse and sire, liver disease. Paul Sirba, 59, American Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Duluth (since 2009), heart attack. Pat Sullivan, 69, American Hall of Fame football player (Auburn Tigers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins) and coach, Heisman Trophy winner (1971), cancer. Paula Tilbrook, 89, English actress (Emmerdale, Last of the Summer Wine).
2
George Atkinson III, 27, American football player (Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns). Nicolas Bokov, 74, Russian writer. Jimmy Cavallo, 92, American musician, heart failure. Richard Easton, 86, Canadian actor (The Brothers, Henry V, Revolutionary Road), Tony winner (2001). D. C. Fontana, 80, American television writer (Star Trek, The Streets of San Francisco, The Waltons). William D. Haseman, 71, American computer scientist. Francesco Janich, 82, Italian footballer (Lazio, Bologna, national team). Sir John Kerr, 82, British admiral, Chief of Defence Intelligence (1988–1991), Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command (1991–1993). Robert K. Massie, 90, American Romanov historian, Pulitzer Prize winner (1981). Johann Baptist Metz, 91, German theologian. Jacques Morgantini, 95, French record producer and promoter. Carl Muller, 84, Sri Lankan poet and writer. Alfred Reid, 81, Jamaican Anglican prelate, Bishop of Jamaica (2000–2012). Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 88, Saudi royal, Governor of Makkah Region (1958–1961). Manfred Schneckenburger, 81, German art historian and curator, director of the documenta art exhibition (1977, 1987). Greedy Smith, 63, Australian musician (Mental As Anything), heart attack. Joe Smith, 91, American music industry executive (Capitol Records, Elektra Records, Warner Records). Fred Storey, 87, Canadian curler. Kenneth Allen Taylor, 65, American philosopher and radio host, heart attack. Juan Pablo Vergara, 34, Peruvian footballer (Binacional, UTC), traffic collision. Francette Vernillat, 82, French actress (Thérèse Raquin). Bhagwati Singh Visharad, 98, Indian politician, MLA (1957–1962, 1967–1977, 1980–1989, 1991–1993). Vini Vitharana, 91, Sri Lankan linguist and professor. Zhang Zhenxian, 92, Chinese air force general, Political Commissar of the Jinan and Guangzhou Military Region Air Forces.
3
Rawshan Ara Bachchu, 86, Bangladeshi activist. Arthur Baysting, 72, New Zealand writer, musician, and children's advocate. Giovanni Bertini, 68, Italian footballer (Roma, Fiorentina, Catania), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cha In-ha, 27, South Korean actor. Mary Craig, 91, British journalist and writer. André Daguin, 84, French chef, cancer. Jean Deloche, 90, French historian. Johann Eyfells, 96, Icelandic artist. Fang Zengxian, 88, Chinese painter, Director of the Shanghai Art Museum, founder of the Shanghai Biennale. Firoz Ghanty, 67, Mauritian painter, poet, and activist. Nosrat Karimi, 94, Iranian actor and filmmaker. Shaaban Abdel Rahim, 62, Egyptian shaabi singer, heart failure. R. Ramanathan, 71, Indian politician, MLA (1985–1991), cardiac arrest. Donald Tosh, 84, British screenwriter (Doctor Who). Ragnar Ulstein, 99, Norwegian journalist and resistance fighter. Andrew Weiner, 70, Canadian science fiction author.