Famous People Who Died In 1982

Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1982. This list includes people like Grace Kelly, John Belushi, Ayn Rand, Ingrid Bergman, Henry Fonda and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, soldiers, poets and novelists who died in 1982. This list includes people from United States, Germany, United Kingdom & Russia and many more countries.
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 1 
Grace Kelly
(Former Actress and Princess Consort of Monaco (1956 - 1982))
Grace Kelly
93
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 12, 1929
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: September 14

Aptly named by her parents, Grace Kelly was one of the most graceful and talented actresses of her era, starring in 11 feature films and over 60 TV productions. A darling of Alfred Hitchcock movies, this Oscar winning actress left her successful Hollywood career after her wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and thus became the Princess of Monaco.

 2 
John Belushi
(Comedian, Actor and One of the Seven Original Cast Members of the Comedy Show 'Saturday Night Live')
John Belushi
36
Birthdate: January 24, 1949
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: March 5

One of the original cast members of the popular TV show Saturday Night Live, John Belushi was known for his great comic skills. Unfortunately, he struggled in his personal life with drug addiction and eventually died of combined drug intoxication at the age of 33. He posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 3 
Henry Fonda
(American Actor Who Cultivated an Everyman Screen Image in Several Films Considered to be Classics)
Henry Fonda
15
Birthdate: May 16, 1905
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Grand Island, Nebraska, United States
Died: August 12
Hollywood legend Henry Fonda, father of Peter and Jane Fonda, is best remembered for his Academy Award-winning role as Norman Thayer Jr. in On Golden Pond. He began his career with Broadway plays and then appeared in classics such as The Grapes of Wrath and 12 Angry Men
 4 
Ingrid Bergman
(One of the Most Influential Screen Figures in Cinematic History)
Ingrid Bergman
64
Birthdate: August 29, 1915
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: August 29

One of the greatest Swedish actresses ever, Ingrid Bergman is the only Triple Crown winner with three Academy Awards under her belt. Such is her impact that her character Ilsa Lund, which she portrayed in Casablanca, inspired the character of Ilsa Faust in the Mission Impossible franchise. An actress with a deep sense of freedom, Bergman voiced her views against racial segregation.

 5 
Vic Morrow
(Actor and Director Best Known for His ABC Drama Series ‘Combat!’)
Vic Morrow
11
Birthdate: February 14, 1929
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States
Died: July 23
Victor Morrow, father of actor Jennifer Jason Leigh, gained fame with the ABC series Combat! He also appeared in movies such as Blackboard Jungle and King Creole. A stunt helicopter crashed on top of Morrow and two child actors, during the filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie, and killed them.
 6 
Paul Lynde
(Comedian and Actor Known for His Role as ‘Uncle Arthur’ in the TV Series ‘Bewitched’)
Paul Lynde
8
Birthdate: June 13, 1926
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mount Vernon, Ohio, United States
Died: January 10

Paul Lynde was an American comedian, actor, game show panelist, and voice artist. Lynde was much-loved and admired by his peers and often featured in lists, such as the most-liked TV stars. Throughout his life, Lynde was rumored to be homosexual and was popular among the homosexual community. In 2020, it was revealed that Lynde's biopic was in the making.

 7 
Randy Rhoads
(Guitarist, Musician, Classical guitarist)
Randy Rhoads
10
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 6, 1956
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Santa Monica
Died: March 19
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 8 
Marty Robbins
(One of the Most Popular and Successful Country and Western Music Performers from the Late 1940s to the Early 1980s)
Marty Robbins
15
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 26, 1925
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Glendale, Arizona, United States
Died: December 8
Singer, actor, and multi-instrumentalist Marty Robbins was also a NASCAR driver. He played the guitar since his U.S. Navy days. Famous for his country and Western tracks such as Singing the Blues and El Paso, he also won two Grammys and appeared in films such as Honkytonk Man.
 9 
Philip K. Dick
(American Science Fiction Writer)
Philip K. Dick
12
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 16, 1928
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: March 2

Philip K. Dick was an American writer who was known for his work that explores varied social and philosophical themes. Dick's novels have inspired films like Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, and The Adjustment Bureau. In 2005, his novel Ubik was included in Time magazine's list of 100 greatest novels published in English since 1923.

 10 
Marty Feldman
(Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter, Poet)
Marty Feldman
2
Birthdate: July 8, 1934
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London
Died: December 2
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 11 
Jack Swigert
(Astronaut)
Jack Swigert
21
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 30, 1931
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
Died: December 27

Jack Swigert was an American astronaut who flew to the moon and spent nearly six days in space. He was an engineer who also held a masters degree in business administration. He was involved in the infamous Apollo 15 postal covers incident. He ventured into politics with mixed fortunes.  He was elected to the US Congress but died before being sworn in.

 12 
Satchel Paige
(American Professional Baseball Pitcher)
Satchel Paige
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 7, 1906
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
Died: June 8

Legendary baseball pitcher Satchel Paige was part of the MLB and the Negro League Baseball. The National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee began his career playing for the Chattanooga Black Lookouts and later played for teams such as the Cleveland Indians. He was the American League’s first black pitcher.

 13 
Thelonious Monk
(Jazz Pianist & Composer)
Thelonious Monk
11
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 10, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, United States
Died: February 17

Thelonious Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer who was noted for his unorthodox approach and idiosyncrasy during his performance. Mentored by Mary Lou Williams, Thelonious Monk contributed to bebop and was associated with Columbia and Riverside labels. His run-in with the police affected his performance after his New York City Cabaret Card was confiscated following the discovery of narcotics in a car.

 14 
Ayn Rand
(Writer and Philosopher Known for Her Best-Selling Novels ‘The Fountainhead’ and ‘Atlas Shrugged’)
Ayn Rand
46
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 2, 1905
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: March 6

Ayn Rand was a Russian-American philosopher and writer. Apart from publishing two best-selling novels, Ayn Rand is credited with developing a philosophical system called Objectivism. Over the years, Ayn Rand has been a major influence among American conservatives and libertarians. Some of the famous personalities influenced by her include Amber Heard, Vince Vaughn, Jimmy Wales, Ayelet Shaked, and Mary Ruwart.

 15 
Hugh Beaumont
4
Birthdate: February 16, 1909
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Eudora, Kansas, United States
Died: May 14
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 16 
Dominique Dunne
8
Birthdate: November 23, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
Died: November 4
Dominique Dunne was best known for her portrayal of Dana Freeling in the 1982 cult horror movie Poltergeist. Dunne’s former boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, strangled her at her home in 1982. She slipped into a coma and died 5 days later. Dunne was filming for the miniseries V back then.
 17 
Warren Oates
6
Birthdate: July 5, 1928
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Depoy, Kentucky, United States
Died: April 3
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 18 
Lee Strasberg
(Actor, Director)
Lee Strasberg
3
Birthdate: November 17, 1901
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Budaniv, Ukraine
Died: February 17
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 19 
Jack Webb
(Actor)
Jack Webb
3
Birthdate: April 2, 1920
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, USA
Died: December 23
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 20 
Douglas Bader
(Royal Air Force Flying Ace During the Second World War)
Douglas Bader
8
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 21, 1910
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: September 5

Sir Douglas Bader was a RAF pilot during World War II. Although he lost both his legs in an aerobatics accident in 1931, he recovered and rejoined the RAF. Following the war, he joined the oil industry. The film and book Reach for the Sky details his life.

 21 
Virginia Hall
(American Secret Agent Who Worked in France During World War II)
Virginia Hall
11
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 6, 1906
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: July 8
Virginia Hall worked as a spy, with the U.K. and the U.S., in France during World War II, under the alias Marie and Diane. Her main objective was to conduct espionage for the Allies, against the Nazi regime and the Axis powers. After the war ended, she joined the CIA.
 22 
Brenda Benet
(Actress)
Brenda Benet
16
Birthdate: August 14, 1945
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Died: April 7

Brenda Benet was an American actress best remembered for playing important roles in soap operas, such as The Young Marrieds and Days of Our Lives. Benet became a much-sought-after TV actress in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Benet faced several personal challenges, especially after her divorce from Bill Bixby. In 1982, she took her own life due to depression.

 23 
Eleanor Powell
(Dancer, Actress)
Eleanor Powell
8
Birthdate: November 21, 1912
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Died: February 11
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 24 
Glenn Gould
(Canadian Classical Pianist)
Glenn Gould
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 25, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died: October 4

Glenn Gould was a Canadian classical pianist, counted among the most celebrated pianists of the 20th century. He was also an interpreter of the keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was known for his remarkable technical proficiency and unorthodox musical interpretations. He was a writer and composer as well. The Glenn Gould Foundation was established in his honor.   

 25 
Sarah Churchill
(English Actress & Dancer and the Daughter of Winston Churchill)
Sarah Churchill
13
Birthdate: October 7, 1914
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England
Died: September 24
Sarah Churchill, daughter of British prime minister Winston Churchill, is best remembered for her performance as Anne Ashmond in the film Royal Wedding. She had also served as an air force interpreter during World War II. She also released many lithographic prints and paintings of her father.
 26 
Victor Buono
(Actor)
Victor Buono
6
Birthdate: February 3, 1938
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: San Diego, California, USA
Died: January 1
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 27 
Gilles Villeneuve
(Canadian Racing Driver)
Gilles Villeneuve
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada
Died: May 8
Canadian race-car driver Gilles Villeneuve is remembered for his 6-year stint with Grand Prix, racing with Ferrari. He won six races but died in a violent collision with Jochen Mass’s car during a qualifying race for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix. His son, Jacques, later became a F1 champion.
 28 
Carl Orff
(German Composer Known for His Cantata 'Carmina Burana')
Carl Orff
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: July 10, 1895
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: March 29

German composer Carl Orff is remembered for his work in operas and his innovative music education system, which relied on group exercises and playing percussion instruments. A man who had started training in music at 5, Orff later co-founded the Günther School to impart lessons in dance, music, and gymnastics.

 29 
Arthur Rubinstein
(One of the Greatest Pianists and Chopin Interpreters of His Time)
Arthur Rubinstein
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 28, 1887
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Łódź, Poland
Died: December 20

Arthur Rubinstein was a Polish-American pianist counted amongst the greatest pianists of all time. He had an extensive career spanning eight decades, during which he earned much international acclaim. He played music performed by several illustrious composers and is especially remembered for his interpretation of Chopin’s music. Renowned pianists François-René Duchâble and Avi Schönfeld were his students. 

 30 
Hans-Ulrich Rudel
7
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 2, 1916
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kondratów, Poland
Died: December 18

Nazi World War II pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel hated academics but loved skiing as a young man. He is believed to have destroyed 519 Soviet tanks and even got a leg amputated. Post-war, he went to Argentina briefly, wrote books, and also became an entrepreneur after returning to Germany.

 31 
John Cheever
(Novelist & Short Story Writer)
John Cheever
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 27, 1912
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Quincy
Died: June 18
 32 
Jean Batten
(Aviator Who Made Record Breaking Trans-world Flights)
Jean Batten
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 15, 1909
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rotorua, New Zealand
Died: November 22

Born to a dentist father in New Zealand, Jean Batten was initially sent to England to study music. However, she earned a pilot’s license instead and made many aviation records, which included completing the first solo flight from England to New Zealand. In her final years, she became a recluse.

 33 
Anna Freud
(British Psychoanalyst and Founder of Psychoanalytic Child Psychology)
Anna Freud
7
Birthdate: December 3, 1895
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: October 9

Anna Freud was a British psychoanalyst. The daughter of Sigmund Freud, Anna followed in the footsteps of her father and made important contributions to the field of psychoanalysis. Alongside Melanie Klein and Hermine Hug-Hellmuth, Anna Freud is counted among the founders of psychoanalytic child psychology. Her work and contributions were featured in a documentary titled The Century of the Self.

 34 
Jimmy Hoffa
(Labor Union Leader)
Jimmy Hoffa
24
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 14, 1913
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brazil, Indiana, United States
Died: July 30

The son of an Indiana coal miner, Jimmy Hoffa was the infamous President of International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. He had long association with organised crime figures and was later sentenced to thirteen years of imprisonment for jury-tampering, bribery and fraud but released early according to a pardon agreement, only to disappear mysteriously and never to be found again.

 35 
Arthur Lowe
(Actor)
Arthur Lowe
1
Birthdate: September 22, 1915
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hayfield, Derbyshire, England, UK
Died: April 15
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 36 
Henry Sturgis Morgan
(American Banker and Co-Founder of 'Morgan Stanley')
Henry Sturgis Morgan
0
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: October 24, 1900
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England
Died: February 8

The grandson of J.P. Morgan founder John Pierpont Morgan, Sr., Henry Sturgis Morgan co-founded the multinational investment company Morgan Stanley. A Harvard alumnus, he also headed the Morgan Library & Museum as its president and chairman. A sailing enthusiast, too, he was part of the New York Yacht Club.

 37 
Jacques Tati
(Actor, Director who wrote and starred in Mr. Hulot's Holiday)
Jacques Tati
3
Birthdate: October 9, 1907
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Le Pecq, France
Died: November 5
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 38 
King Vidor
(Film Director and Producer)
King Vidor
2
Birthdate: February 8, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Died: November 1
 39 
Bess Truman
(Former First Lady of the United States)
Bess Truman
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 13, 1885
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Independence, Missouri, United States
Died: October 18
 40 
Alma Reville
(Screenwriter)
Alma Reville
2
Birthdate: August 14, 1899
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
Died: July 6
 41 
Celia Johnson
(Actress)
Celia Johnson
3
Birthdate: December 18, 1908
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Richmond, Surrey, England
Died: April 26
 42 
Fernando Lamas
(Former Actor and Director)
Fernando Lamas
9
Birthdate: January 9, 1915
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died: October 8
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 43 
Mabel Albertson
(Actress)
Mabel Albertson
0
Birthdate: July 24, 1901
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States
Died: September 28
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 44 
Djuna Barnes
(Artist)
Djuna Barnes
1
Birthdate: June 12, 1892
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Storm King Mountain, New York, United States
Died: June 18
 45 
Curd Jürgens
(Austrian Actor Known for Playing 'Ernst Udet' in the Film 'Des Teufels General' )
Curd Jürgens
4
Birthdate: December 13, 1915
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Solln, Munich, Germany
Died: June 18

Curd Jürgens was a German-Austrian actor active in both theater and films. Born to parents with no links to the cinema, he never aspired to be an actor and worked as a journalist. He later married an actress who encouraged him to act as well. Naturally skilled at acting, he went on to become a respected character actor.  

 46 
Abe Fortas
(U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice)
Abe Fortas
1
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: June 19, 1910
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Memphis
Died: April 5
 47 
Kenneth More
(Actor)
Kenneth More
2
Birthdate: September 20, 1914
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England
Died: July 12
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 48 
Fazlur Rahman Khan
(Structural Engineer and Architect Known for His Innovations in High-Rise Building Construction)
Fazlur Rahman Khan
17
Listed In: Engineers
Birthdate: April 3, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Died: March 27

Fazlur Rahman Khan was a Bangladeshi-American architect and structural engineer. Regarded as the father of tubular designs, Khan is credited with designing several skyscrapers, including the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Center. Thanks to his ingenious use of structural systems, Khan is often referred to as the 20th century's greatest structural engineer and the Einstein of structural engineering.

 49 
Keith Green
(Pianist)
Keith Green
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 21, 1953
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: July 28
 50 
Sobhuza II
(King of Eswatini from 1899 to 1982)
Sobhuza II
3
Birthdate: July 22, 1899
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Zombodze, Swaziland
Died: August 21

Sobhuza II was the king of Swaziland from 1899 to 1982, although his coronation took place in 1921 as he was too young to rule early in his reign. His reign of 82 years and 254 days makes him the longest-reigning monarch in recorded history. Sobhuza II played a key role in events that eventually led to his country's independence.