December 31 birthdays and deaths:

Betty White

Betty White is a beloved American actress, comedian, and producer, born in 1922. With a career spanning over 80 years, she is best known for her iconic roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Hot in Cleveland." Her sassy wit and sharp tongue have made her a beloved TV personality.

Deathyear: 2021

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI, a German Roman Catholic cardinal and theologian, served as pope from 2005 to 2013. He previously served as archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982. Born in 1927, he was known for his conservative views and emphasis on traditional Catholic teaching.

Deathyear: 2022

Commodus

Commodus, born Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus, was the eldest son of Marcus Aurelius. He became Roman Emperor at 18, known for his cruel and decadent rule, marked by tyranny, extravagance, and brutality. His reign from 180 to 192 CE was marked by persecution, corruption, and decline of the empire.

Deathyear: 192

Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson was a chart-topping singer-songwriter and actor, known for hits like "Travelin' Man" and "Hello Mary Lou." With his distinctive voice and style, he became a teen idol and a music icon of the 1950s and 1960s.

Deathyear: 1985

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente was a legendary Puerto Rican-American baseball player and Marine. Born in 1934, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972, earning four NL batting titles and 12 Gold Glove Awards.

Deathyear: 1972

Edward Herrmann

Edward Herrmann was a talented American actor of stage and screen, born in 1943. He is best known for his iconic roles as Richard Gilmore in the TV series "Gilmore Girls" and Franklin D. Roosevelt in "Eleanor and Franklin".

Deathyear: 2014

Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole was a renowned American singer-songwriter and actress, known for her powerful, soulful voice and iconic hits like "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" and "Inseparable." She won numerous awards, including nine Grammys, and was a versatile artist, exploring genres from pop to jazz to R&B.

Deathyear: 2015

James Avery

James Avery, born on March 27, 1945, is an American actor best known for his roles in films and television shows. He is notable for his portrayal of voicing the Autobots in the live-action Transformers films as well as his recurring role as Dr. Phil (Phil McCullough) in the crime drama series "Boston Public".

Deathyear: 2013

Wayne Rogers

Wayne Rogers, born in 1933, was a versatile American actor, best known for his role as Trapper John McIntyre on the hit TV series "M*A*S*H". He also had a successful career as an investor and managed a venture capital firm, investing in various startups and companies.

Deathyear: 2015

Kader Khan

Kader Khan was a renowned Indian actor, scriptwriter, and dialogue writer, born in 1937. He appeared in over 300 Bollywood films, often playing the role of a villain or a comedian, and was known for his unique voice and iconic dialogue delivery.

Deathyear: 2018

Brandon Teena

Brandon Teena, born December 1969, was an American murder victim. A gay man, he was brutally killed along with three others, including his girlfriend Michelle Currier, in rural Nebraska in 1993.

Deathyear: 1993

William Christopher

William Christopher was an American actor, best known for playing Father Francis Mulcahy in the popular TV series "M*A*S*H" (1972-1983). He had a long and distinguished career in film and television, accumulating over 100 credits.

Deathyear: 2016

Marshall McLuhan

Marshall McLuhan was a Canadian philosopher and theorist who explored the intersection of technology and society. He authored influential books like "The Mechanical Bride" and "Understanding Media," predicting the impact of media on human behavior and culture.

Deathyear: 1980

John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe (1331-1384) was an English philosopher, theologian, and translator. A professor at Oxford, he critiqued the Roman Catholic Church's excesses and advocated for Latin Vulgate Bible translation into vernacular languages, paving the way for the English Bible and Protestant Reformation.

Deathyear: 1384

Woody Strode

Woody Strode, a trailblazer in multiple fields, was an American football player, wrestler, and actor. Born in 1914, he was the first African American to play in the NFL (with the Los Angeles Rams) and appeared in films like "Spartacus" and "The Ten Commandments".

Deathyear: 1994

Catherine of Braganza

Catherine of Braganza was the Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1662 to 1685. Born in 1638, she was the daughter of King John IV of Portugal. She married King Charles II and was known for her beauty and her generous spirit.

Deathyear: 1705

Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet, a influential French-Swiss painter and sculptor, born in 1819, is known for his expressive and detail-rich artworks that often depicted everyday life, landscapes, and social issues, pioneering the Realist movement in art.

Deathyear: 1877

Robert Boyle

Robert Boyle, a pioneering Anglo-Irish scientist, is credited with significant contributions to the fields of chemistry and physics. A member of the Irish House of Lords, Boyle's work on the properties of gases and the development of the "Boyle's Law" have had a lasting impact on the scientific community.

Deathyear: 1691

Cale Yarborough

Cale Yarborough is a legendary American racing driver, founder of Cale Yarborough Motorsports, and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (1976, 1977, 1978). Born in 1939, he is a NASCAR Hall of Famer known for his impressive racing career and entrepreneurial ventures.

Deathyear: 2023

Eileen Heckart

Eileen Heckart was a renowned American actress, born in 1919. Known for her versatility, she won a Tony Award for "The Bad Seed" (1954) and an Academy Award for "Butterfield 8" (1960).

Deathyear: 2001

Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno, a renowned Spanish philosopher, author, and poet, was born in 1864. He was a prominent figure in the Generation of '98 movement, advocating for national revival and cultural renewal. His writings explored the human condition, faith, and reason, showcasing his mastery of language and philosophical depth.

Deathyear: 1936

Raoul Walsh

Raoul Walsh was a pioneering filmmaker who directed over 150 films, including "The Thief of Bagdad" and "White Heat". As a pioneering filmmaker, he was known for his innovative cinematography and direction, pioneering the action-adventure genre.

Deathyear: 1980

Donald E. Westlake

Donald E. Westlake, renowned American author and screenwriter, crafted novels and screenplays that blurred the lines between crime fiction and black comedy. His works, including "The Hunter" and "Payback," showcased his mastery of dark humor and moral ambiguity.

Deathyear: 2008

Elliot Richardson

Elliot Richardson was a renowned American lawyer and politician who served as the 69th United States Attorney General from 1973 to 1975. Born in 1920, Richardson was a key figure in the Watergate scandal, famously resigning as Attorney General rather than firing special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

Deathyear: 1999

Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington

Deathyear: 2014

Alan Cranston

Alan Cranston was an American journalist and politician who served as a US Senator from California from 1969 to 1993. He was a member of the Democratic Party and was known for his advocacy on issues such as nuclear disarmament and human rights.

Deathyear: 2000

Pope Sylvester I

Pope Sylvester I (314-335 AD) succeeded Pope Miltiades and reigned for nearly 21 years. A contemporary of Constantine the Great, Sylvester played a crucial role in the conversion of the Roman Emperor, earning the gratitude of the emperor and the esteem of the Church.

Deathyear: 335

George Allen (American football coach)

George Allen was a legendary American football player and coach, born in 1918. He played for Alcorn A&M and then coached the Washington Redskins to three NFL championships.

Deathyear: 1990

Zviad Gamsakhurdia

Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a Georgian anthropologist and politician who served as the first President of Georgia from 1991 to 1992. A historian and linguist by training, he played a crucial role in Georgia's struggle for independence from the Soviet Union.

Deathyear: 1993

Catherine Labouré

Catherine Labouré was a Poor Clare nun who experienced numerous visions and apparitions of the Virgin Mary, including the Miracle of the Golden Rose, cementing her sainthood. Her legacy inspires devotion to Mary and devotion to the Eucharist.

Deathyear: 1876

Samuel Ajayi Crowther

Samuel Ajayi Crowther was a Nigerian bishop and linguist born in 1809. He was a survivor of the transatlantic slave trade and became the first African bishop in the Church Missionary Society in 1843. He was a prominent figure in Yoruba language development and was a key figure in the translation of the Bible into Yoruba.

Deathyear: 1891

Floyd Cramer

Floyd Cramer was a renowned American pianist and singer-songwriter, known for his country and pop music. Born in 1933, he achieved stardom with his unique piano playing style, which blended classical and country music elements.

Deathyear: 1997

Richard Montgomery

Richard Montgomery (1738-1775) was an American general who played a key role in the American Revolutionary War. He led the successful siege of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 and later led a expedition to Quebec, where he was killed in the Battle of Quebec.

Deathyear: 1775

Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi

Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi was a renowned Indian Muslim scholar and author, known for his comprehensive knowledge of Islamic thought and his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue. He advocated for a revival of Islamic values and played a significant role in promoting Islamic learning in India.

Deathyear: 1999

Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury

Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, was a prominent English politician and Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom. Born in 1400, he played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses and was a close advisor to King Edward IV.

Deathyear: 1460

Ettore Sottsass

Ettore Sottsass was a renowned Italian architect and designer, born in Innsbruck, Austria in 1917. He was a prominent figure in the Memphis design movement, known for his irreverent and playful approach to design, which combined modernist principles with a sense of humor and a dash of surrealism.

Deathyear: 2007

Dorgon

Dorgon (1612-1650) was a Chinese prince and emperor who ruled from 1626 to 1643. He consolidated power for the southern Ming dynasty and implemented reforms, including standardizing the Chinese script and creating a new currency.

Deathyear: 1650

Malcolm Campbell

Malcolm Campbell was a pioneering English racing driver and journalist, known for setting multiple world speed records on land and water. He won the Blue Riband Trophy for the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing in 1927 and became the first person to break the 200 mph barrier in 1931.

Deathyear: 1948

Billie Dove

Billie Dove (1903-1997) was a renowned American actress, known for her stunning looks and captivating performances on stage and screen. She began her career as a Ziegfeld Follies girl before transitioning to film, starring in over 40 movies between the 1920s and 1950s.

Deathyear: 1997

Wesley Addy

Wesley Addy (1913-1996) was an American actor, often working in TV and film, with notable roles in "The Untouchables," "The Defenders," and "All the President's Men." He had a distinctive voice and strong screen presence, earning him a reputation as a dependable character actor.

Deathyear: 1996

Ion Creangă

Ion Creangă was a Romanian author, educator, and folklorist born in 1837. He is best known for his heartwarming and humorous short stories, which often feature rural life and the whimsical experiences of ordinary people.

Deathyear: 1889

Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter

Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, was a half-brother of King Henry IV of England. Born in 1377, he was the illegitimate son of John of Gaunt and Caesar of Saturiça. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses and was a key supporter of Henry IV's claim to the throne.

Deathyear: 1426

Seymour Martin Lipset

Seymour Martin Lipset was a prominent American sociologist, author, and academic born in 1922. He made significant contributions to the fields of political sociology, social mobility, and civic engagement.

Deathyear: 2006