December 19 birthdays and deaths:

Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë (1818-1848) was a renowned English novelist and poet. She wrote the iconic novel "Wuthering Heights", a classic tale of love and tragedy set in the Yorkshire moors. Her literary work is still widely read and admired today for its dark yet poetic themes.

Deathyear: 1848

Vincent Gigante

Vincent Gigante, also known as "Chin," was a powerful American mobster born in 1927. He was a high-ranking member of the Genovese crime family and was notorious for his eccentric behavior, often dressing in women's clothing and claiming to be mentally unstable to avoid prosecution.

Deathyear: 2005

J. M. W. Turner

Joseph Mallord William Turner was a renowned English painter and draftsman known for his bold, expressive, and often surreal landscapes. His innovative and influential works blended realism with artistic license, capturing the beauty and power of the natural world.

Deathyear: 1851

V. C. Andrews

V.C. Andrews was an American author of romance novels, best known for her Gothic and family saga novels. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1923, Andrews' works often explored themes of family secrets, trauma, and redemption, as seen in her iconic series, the Dollanganger family saga.

Deathyear: 1986

Al-Ghazali

Al-Ghazali (1058-1111) was a renowned Islamic scholar, jurist, and mystic. His works, such as "The Incoherence of the Incoherence," tackled theological and philosophical debates, influencing Islamic thought.

Deathyear: 1111

Marcello Mastroianni

Marcello Mastroianni was a renowned Italian-French actor and singer, born on September 28, 1924. He rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s with iconic roles in films like "La Dolce Vita" and "8 1/2," working closely with directors like Federico Fellini.

Deathyear: 1996

Kim Peek

Kim Peek, a remarkable individual, born in 1951, was an American megasavant with exceptional mental abilities, possessing an extraordinary memory, with approximately 12,000 books memorized and phenomenal recall of vast amounts of information, playing a crucial role in popularizing the concept of savant syndrome.

Deathyear: 2009

Hope Lange

Hope Lange was a renowned American actress born in 1933. She gained fame for her roles in TV shows such as "The Nancy Walker Show" and "The Guiding Light". She also appeared in various films and plays, earning Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations throughout her illustrious career.

Deathyear: 2003

Sally Ann Howes

Sally Ann Howes is a renowned English-American singer and actress, born in 1930. Known for her iconic roles in films like "Tom Sawyer" and "Melinda" alongside Dan Dailey and Richard Widmark, she has had a decorated career spanning multiple decades in Hollywood.

Deathyear: 2021

Desmond Llewelyn

Desmond Llewelyn was a Welsh soldier and actor born on September 17, 1914. He served in the British Army during World War II and later became a renowned actor, playing Q in the James Bond films from 1963 to 2002.

Deathyear: 1999

Robert Bork

Robert Bork (1927-2012) was a renowned American lawyer, judge, and scholar. He served as Solicitor General and Attorney General under President Nixon before being nominated to the Supreme Court, sparking intense debate about his controversial views on individual rights and government power.

Deathyear: 2012

Dock Ellis

Dock Ellis, a pioneering African American baseball player and coach, pitched for six teams from 1969 to 1979. Known for his fiery personality and influential playing career, he managed the West Palm Beach Expos and coached MLB's Chicago Cubs.

Deathyear: 2008

Ram Prasad Bismil

Ram Prasad Bismil, a prolific Indian poet and activist, was born in 1897. He led the Kakori conspiracy and was executed in 1927. His poetry, rooted in the Indian independence movement, advocated for freedom and unity.

Deathyear: 1927

John Lindsay

John Lindsay, a Republican, served as the 103rd Mayor of New York City from 1966 to 1973. Prior to his mayoralty, he was a lawyer and a U.S. Representative from New York's 18th congressional district.

Deathyear: 2000

Ashfaqulla Khan

Ashfaqulla Khan was an Indian revolutionary who fought for independence from British rule. He was born in 1900 and was a close associate of Bhagat Singh and other Indian independence activists. He was involved in several plots to assassinate key British officials and was executed in 1927 for his actions.

Deathyear: 1927

Al Goldstein

Al Goldstein was a pioneering American publisher and pornographer, known for his frank and irreverent approach to sex and society. He founded Screw magazine in 1968 and was a prominent figure in the adult entertainment industry until his death in 2013.

Deathyear: 2013

Alois Alzheimer

Alois Alzheimer was a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist who discovered the degenerative brain disorder that bears his name, Alzheimer's disease. Born in 1864, he identified the distinct histopathological features of the disease in 1906, contributing significantly to the understanding and diagnosis of the condition.

Deathyear: 1915

Johnny Isakson

Johnny Isakson is a retired American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Georgia from 2005 to 2020. He previously represented Georgia's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005.

Deathyear: 2021

Jimmy Hill

Jimmy Hill is an English football legend, playing 336 games as a centre-forward, then managing Coventry City and Crystal Palace. He transitioned to sports broadcasting, presenting Match of the Day and becoming a household name in the process.

Deathyear: 2015

Robert Andrews Millikan

Robert Andrews Millikan, an American physicist, and prominent eugenicist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923 for his experimental determination of the charge of the electron.

Deathyear: 1953

Carol Chomsky

Carol Chomsky is an accomplished American linguist and educator born in 1930. She is the daughter of renowned linguist Noam Chomsky and has made significant contributions to the field of linguistics, particularly in the areas of syntax and language acquisition.

Deathyear: 2008

Michael Clarke (musician)

Michael Clarke is an American drummer, born in 1946. Best known for his work with rock bands such as The Byrds and Firefall, Clarke's unique blend of folk, rock, and country styles has made him a respected figure in the music industry.

Deathyear: 1993

Rosalind Knight

Rosalind Knight is a British actress born in 1933, best known for her appearances in British television and film. She has appeared in numerous programmes, including the popular TV series "Coronation Street" and "EastEnders".

Deathyear: 2020

Masaru Ibuka

Masaru Ibuka, a Japanese entrepreneur, co-founded Sony Corporation in 1946 with Akio Morita. Born in 1908, Ibuka played a crucial role in shaping the company's early success, introducing innovative products like the first electronic calculator and the legendary Walkman.

Deathyear: 1997

Thibaw Min

Thibaw Min was the King of Burma from 1878 to 1885. Born in 1859, he ascended to the throne at 19 and is known for his brutal suppression of the nationalist movement and his eventual exile to India by the British in 1885.

Deathyear: 1916

Mel Fisher

Mel Fisher, a renowned American treasure hunter, was born in 1922. He made headlines by recovering the Nuestra Señora de Atocha treasure in 1985, valued at over $450 million. His tireless efforts and expertise led to the discovery of numerous shipwrecks, making him a legendary figure in the field.

Deathyear: 1998

Vitus Bering

Vitus Bering, a Danish navigator, explored the Bering Strait in 1728-1730, searching for the Northwest Passage. Born in 1681, Bering sailed to Asia twice, mapping the southeastern coast of Siberia and becoming the first European to sight the Alaskan mainland.

Deathyear: 1741

Sara Northrup Hollister

Sara Northrup Hollister was an American occultist and alleged follower of Aleister Crowley. Born in 1924, she was a prominent figure in the OTO (Ordo Templi Orientis) and co-founded Agape Lodge, a spiritual community with her husband Arnold Holmes. She was known for her practices in magic and spirituality.

Deathyear: 1997

James Bevel

James Bevel was a prominent American minister and activist born in 1936. He played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly in the Birmingham church bombing that killed four young girls in 1963.

Deathyear: 2008

Kyösti Kallio

Kyösti Kallio was a Finnish politician who served as the 4th President of Finland from 1931 to 1937. He was born in 1873 and belonged to the Agrarian League. During his presidency, he worked to improve agricultural education and social welfare in Finland.

Deathyear: 1940

Paul Langevin

Paul Langevin was a French physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetism and relativity. He was a pioneer in the development of the theory of magnetism and his work in the 20th century had a lasting impact on modern physics.

Deathyear: 1946

Abbas II of Egypt

Abbas II Hilmi, the 11th Khedive of Egypt, was born in 1874. He succeeded his father Tewfik II in 1899, ruling until 1914. Known for his liberal and modernizing views, Abbas sought reforms and reconciliation with Turkey.

Deathyear: 1944

Norman Thomas

Norman Thomas was a prominent American minister and politician, born in 1884. He was the six-time presidential nominee of the Socialist Party of America and a respected advocate for social justice, labor rights, and peace, influencing American politics and social reform.

Deathyear: 1968

Renata Tebaldi

Renata Tebaldi was a renowned Italian soprano and actress, known for her powerful, warm voice and emotive performances. Born in Pesaro, Italy in 1922, Tebaldi sang leading roles at La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, and others, earning international acclaim for her interpretations of Verdi, Puccini, and other works.

Deathyear: 2004

Ned Vizzini

Ned Vizzini was an American author and screenwriter, best known for his young adult novel "It's Kind of a Funny Story". Born in 1981, Vizzini's writing often explored themes of mental health, identity, and teenage angst, captivating readers of his generation and beyond.

Deathyear: 2013

Jimmy Rogers

Jimmy Rogers, a stalwart of Chicago blues, was a singer-songwriter and guitarist born in 1924. He played with Muddy Waters and sang on classic tracks like 'Blue and Lonesome' and 'Slow But Steady.' His unique vocals and guitar playing earned him a Grammy nomination in 1993.

Deathyear: 1997

Andrei Karlov

Andrei Karlov was a Russian diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Turkey from 2013 to 2016. Born in 1954, Karlov played a crucial role in strengthening Russian-Turkish relations. He was tragically assassinated at an art exhibition in Ankara on December 19, 2016.

Deathyear: 2016

Elizabeth of Luxembourg

Elizabeth of Luxembourg (1409-1442) was the Queen of Portugal through her marriage to King John II. She was a member of the Luxembourg family and brought a significant dowry to the Portuguese court, solidifying the alliance between the two royal houses.

Deathyear: 1442

Pope Anastasius I

Pope Anastasius I (399-401) was the bishop of Rome from 399 to 401. A Syrian by birth, he was a humble and pious man who worked to reform the Roman church, particularly in the area of clergy discipline and the role of the papacy.

Deathyear: 401