References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 28.

1997 January 1 Graham Kersey, cricket wicket keeper, dies in car crash. [1] Joan Rice, actress (Payroll, Steel Key, Curtain Up), dies at age 66. [1] John Burgess, rugby administrator, dies at age 71. [1] Death of Townes Van Zandt, American folk singer, at age 52 (born 1944). [1] [18] January 2 Jim Rodger, sports writer, dies at age 75. [1] Randy California [Wolfe], rock guitarist, dies at age 45. [1] January 3 Burton Lane, composer, dies at age 84. [1] January 4 Death of Harry Helmsley, American real estate mogul (Empire State Building), at age 87 (born 1909). [1] [18] January 5 Andre Franquin, cartoonist, dies at age 72. [1] Prince Bertil dies, in Stockholm, Sweden, at age 84. [7] January 6 Ian Peter Leslie Smith, journalist, dies at age 52. [1] Litz Pisk, movement teacher, dies at age 87. [1] Vince Williams, actor (Hamp - Guiding Light), dies of cancer at age 39. [1] Death of Catherine Scorsese, Italian-American actress (born 1912). [18] January 7 Desmond Flower, publisher, dies at age 89. [1] Sandor Vegh, violinist teacher/conductor, dies at age 84. [1] January 8 Carole Carr, singer/actress (Down Among the Z Men), dies at age 68. [1] Joseph George Handy Hendleman, musician, dies at age 76. [1] Melvin Calvin, scientist, dies at age 85. [1] Phyllis Hartnoll, writer/editor, dies at age 90. [1] Ronald William Eastman, cinematographer, dies at age 60. [1] January 9 Edward Osobka-Morawski, prime minister of Poland (1945-47), dies. [1] Jesse [Marc Weidenfeld] White, actor (Maytag repairman, Bedtime for Bonzo), dies at age 77. [1] Junaidu ibn Buhari, scholar, dies at age 90. [1] January 10 Alvinio Misciano, Italian tenor, killed in a fall from a window. [1] Elspeth Josceline Huxley writer, dies at age 96. [1] George Young, footballer, dies at age 74. [1] Hilary Grover Barratt Brown, conservationist, dies at age 71. [1] Death of Sheldon Leonard, American TV producer actor, director at age 89 (born 1907). [18] (January 11 [1]) Death of Alexander R. Todd, Baron Todd, Scottish chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1907). [18] January 11 Cavan O'Connor, singer, dies at age 97. [1] Duncan Wood, television director/producer, dies at age 71. [1] Helen Foster Snow, writer, dies at age 89. [1] Joshua William Steward, polymath, dies at age 83. [1] January 12 Death of Charles B. Huggins, Canadian-born cancer researcher, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, at age 95 (born 1901). [1] [18] Jean Writer-Edern Hallier dies at age 60. [1] Jill Summers, actress (Agatha - Coronation Street), dies at age 86. [1] January 13 William Mills, painter, dies at age 74. [1] January 14 King Hu, film director, dies at age 64. [1] January 15 Jose Ignacio Domecq, wine maker, dies at age 82. [1] Kenneth Thimann, botanist, dies at age 92. [1] January 16 Charlie Alfred Galbraith, jazz trombonist, dies at age 76. [1] Ennis Cosby, the 29-year-old only son of actor Bill Cosby, is killed by a gunman while changing a flat tire in Los Angeles, California. [1] [18] Jim Kensil, NFL president (New York Jets), dies of heart failure at age 66. [1] Stephen Fitz-Simon, entrepreneur, dies at age 59. [1] January 17 Andrea Fisher, artist, dies at age 21. [1] Asfa Wossen [Amha Selassie], crown emperor of Ethiopia in exile, dies. [1] Death of Clyde William Tombaugh, American astronomer (discovered Pluto), at age 90 (born 1906). [1] [18] January 18 Myfanwy Piper, librettist, dies at age 85. [1] Neville Crump, racehorse trainer, dies at age 86. [1] Paul Tsongas (Senator-Democrat-Massachusetts), dies at age 55. [1] January 19 Adriana Caseloti, voice (Snow White), dies at age 70. [1] George Armin Goyder, businessman/social philosopher, dies at age 88. [1] Death of James Dickey, American poet and novelist, at age 84 (born 1923). [1] [18] January 20 Death of Curt Flood, American baseball player (centerfielder, Saint Louis Cardinals), at age 59 of throat cancer (born 1938). [1] [18] Edith Haisman, the oldest survivor of Titanic, dies at age 100. [1] Vladimir Yamnikov, owner of Kristall vodka, dies of cirrhosis at age 56. [1] January 21 Death of Colonel Tom Parker, Dutch-born celebrity manager (Elvis Presley), at age 87 (born 1909). [1] [18] Dennis Main Wilson, TV/radio producer, dies at age 72. [1] Michael Duane, educationalist, dies at age 81. [1] January 22 Ian Arthur Hoyle Munro, medical journalist, dies at age 73. [1] Irwin Levine, composer ("Tie a Yellow Ribbon"), dies at age 58. [1] Mollie Panter-Downes, writer, dies at age 90. [1] Wally Whyton, musician/broadcaster, dies at age 66. [1] January 23 Charles Craig, opera singer, dies at age 77. [1] David Waller, actor (Lady Jane, Perfect Friday, Hannay), dies at age 76. [1] Jeremy Stephen Maas, writer/art dealer, dies at age 68. [1] Laura "Dinky" Patterson dies during bungee jump at Super Bowl rehearsal at age 43. [1] Randy Greenawalt, convicted killer, executed by injection at age 47. [1] Richard Berry, lyricist ("Louie Louie"), dies at age 61. [1] Roger John Tayler, astrophysicist, dies at age 67. [1] January 24 Callum Alexander MacDonald, historian, dies at age 49. [1] January 25 Herbert Eugene Caen, columnist, dies at age 80. [1] Jeanne Dixon, psychic (Gift of Prophecy), dies of a heart attack at age 79. [1] January 26 Margaret Hesse, princess of Hesse/the Rhine, dies at age 83. [1] Sarah Lucas, theatre administrator, dies at age 53. [1] January 27 Cecil Lewis, airman/writer, dies at age 98. [1] Matthew Coady, journalist, dies at age 73. [1] January 28 James Colin Ross Welch, journalist, dies at age 72. [1] Pietro Cavallero, bandit, dies at age 68. [1] Vivien Signy, nurse, dies at age 80. [1] January 29 Eric Schneider, murderer of two teachers, executed in Missouri at age 35. [1] Louis Pauwels, writer/editor, dies at age 76. [1] Osvaldo Soriano, writer, dies at age 54. [1] January 30 Death of Nicholas Mallett, TV director. [18] January 31 Eve Lister, actress/singer (No Limit, Hyde Park), dies at age 84. [1] Death of Johnny Klein, American drummer (born 1918). [18] February 1 Death of Herb Caen, American newspaper columnist, at age 80 of lung cancer (born 1916). [1] [18] Mitchell Goodman, writer, dies at age 71. [1] Peter Morris, historian of France, dies at age 50. [1] Thelma Moss, psychologist, dies at age 78. [1] February 2 Death of Chico Science, Brazilian musician, at age 40 of an automobile accident (born 1967). [1] [18] Godfrey Baseley, British radio executive, dies at age 92. [1] February 3 Anthony Cuthbert Baines, writer/curator, dies at age 84. [1] Bohumil Hrabal, writer, dies at age 82. [1] William Geoffrey Biddle, bomb disposal expert, dies at age 79. [1] February 4 James Friell, political cartoonist, dies at age 84. [1] February 5 John Richard Patterson, businessman, dies at age 51. [1] Death of Pamela Harriman, U.S. Ambassador to France, at age 76 of a stroke (born 1920). [1] [18] February 7 Danil Shafran, cellist, dies at age 74. [1] February 8 Roy George Elroy Josephs, jazz dance teacher, dies at age 57. [1] February 9 Barry Evans, actor (Dr Upton - Doctor in the House), dies at age 53. [1] February 10 Brian McManus Connolly, musician, dies at age 47. [1] Milton Cato, Prime Minister of San Vincent and Grenadines (1979-84), dies. [1] February 11 Death of Don Porter, American actor (Gidget), at age 84 (born 1912). [1] [18] February 12 Nora Beloff, journalist, dies at age 78. [1] Walter Ritchie, sculptor, dies at age 77. [1] February 17 Death of Zein Isa, Palestinian militant imprisoned in the United States for the honor killing of his daughter. [18] February 18 Emily Hahn, writer, dies at age 91. [1] Enrique Peralta Azurdia, military President of Guatemala in (1963-66), dies. [1] Eric William Fenby, musician, dies at age 90. [1] February 19 The last of the People's Republic of China's major revolutionaries, Deng Xiaoping, dies at age 92 (this is followed by weeks of mourning). [1] [18] Leo Rosten, writer/humorist (Joys of Yiddish), dies at age 88. [1] Stanley Pearson, footballer, dies at age 76. [1] February 21 Kenneth Rowntree, painter, dies at age 81. [1] Michael Hollings, catholic priest/crusader, dies at age 75. [1] February 22 Austin Andrew Wright, sculptor, dies at age 85. [1] Frank Launder, director/scriptwriter, dies at age 91. [1] February 23 Oscar Lewenstein, impressario, dies at age 80. [1] Death of Tony Williams, American jazz musician, at age 51 (born 1945). [1] [18] February 24 Isabelle Harriet Lucas, actress/singer (Outland, Comics), dies at age 69. [1] February 25 Andrei Donatovich Sinyavsky, writer/critic, dies at age 71. [1] Tony Williams, jazz drummer (Miles Davis), dies at age 51. [1] February 26 David Doyle, actor (Charlie's Angels), dies at age 67. [1] Giuseppe 'Nuccio' Bertone, car designer, dies at age 82. [1] March 2 Death of Bloodshed (rapper), American rapper (born 1975). [18] March 3 Stanislav Shatalin, Russian economist (500 Days), dies. [1] March 4 Death of Robert H. Dicke, American experimental physicist (born 1916). [18] Death of Carey Loftin, American actor and stuntman (born 1914). [18] March 6 Anthony Hopkins, clinical neurologist, dies at age 59. [1] Death of Cheddi Jagan, President of Guyana (1953, 1957-64) (born 1918). [1] [18] Michael Manley, Jamaican Prime Minister (PNP, 1972-80, 1989-92), dies. [1] March 7 Death of Martin Kippenberger, German artist (born 1953). [18] Death of Edward Mills Purcell, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1912). [18] March 8 Alexander Salkind, producer (Superman), dies at age 75. [1] March 9 Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. [Biggie Small Chris Walkin] is killed in a drive-by shooting, at age 24 (born 1972). [1] [18] Terry Nation, writer (Doctor Who, Blake 7) dies at age 66. [1] March 10 Death of La Vern Baker, American singer (born 1929). [18] March 14 Death of Fred Zinnemann, Austrian-born American director, at age 69 of a heart attack (born 1907). [1] [18] [37] John Curtis Jr, president/CEO (Luby's Cafe), commits suicide at age 58. [1] March 17 Gail Davis, actress (Annie Oakley), dies at age 71. [1] Death of Jermaine Stewart, American singer (born 1957). [18] March 19 Death of Willem de Kooning, Dutch abstract artist, at age 92 of Alzheimer (born 1904). [1] [18] March 20 Mother of Hugh Hefner (Playboy), dies at age 101. [1] Death of Tony Zale, American boxer (born 1913). [18] Carlo Fassi, figure skating coach (Fleming, Hamill), dies at age 67. [1] March 21 Death of W.V. Awdry, British children's writer (born 1911). [18] March 24 Roberto Sanchez Vilella, the second democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico, dies at age 84. [18] (March 25 [1]) March 29 Eddie Ryder, actor (Slick Jones - General Hospital), dies at age 74. [1] Ellen Clara Pollock, actress (Wicked Lady, Fake), dies at age 94. [1] March 31 Edwin Alberian, TV celebrity (Clarabell), dies at age 76. [1] Laxmishankar Pathak, food retailer, dies at age 62. [1] April 1 Jolie Gabor, mother of Zsa Zsa and Eva, dies at age 97. [1] Nancy Woodhull, news editor (USA Today), dies of cancer at age 52. [1] April 2 Tomoyuki Tanaka, producer (Godzilla), dies of a stroke at age 86. [1] April 3 Judy Flannery, master triathlete, killed by a car at age 56. [1] April 5 Death of Allen Ginsberg, American poet, at age 80 (born 1926). [1] [18] Alparslan Turkes, Turkish politician (MHP), dies. [1] April 6 Jack Kent Cooke, NFL owner (Washington Redskins), dies at age 84. [1] April 7 Death of Witto Aloma, Cuban Major League Baseball player (born 1923). [18] Death of Georgi Shonin, cosmonaut (born 1935). [18] April 8 Laura Nyro, singer, dies of ovarian cancer at age 49. [1] April 9 Helene Hanff, author (84 Charing Cross Road), dies at age 80. [1] April 11 Michael Dorris, writer, commits suicide at age 52. [1] April 12 Death of George Wald, American scientist (recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), at age 90 (born 1903). [1] [18] April 13 Ann Craft, researcher/writer, dies at age 53. [1] George Wald, scientist (Nobel Prize, vitamin A in retina), dies at age 80. [1] April 15 Sam Moskowitz, San Francisco fandom historian, dies at age 76. [1] Zdenek Mlynar, Secretary of Czechoslovakian Communist Central Committee (1968), dies. [1] Death of Mildred Cleghorn, chairwoman of the Fort Sill Apache tribe (born 1910). [18] April 16 Emilio Azcarraga Milmo, media tycoon, dies at age 66. [1] Mae Boren Axton, song writer ("Heartbreak Hotel"), dies at age 82. [1] Michael Stroka, actor (Aristede - Dark Shadows), dies of cancer at age 57. [1] Death of Doris Angleton, American socialite (born 1951). [18] Death of Roland Topor, French illustrator (born 1938). [18] April 17 Chaim Herzog, President of Israel (1983-93), dies at age 78. [1] April 18 Edward Barker, cartoonist, dies at age 46. [1] April 19 Death of El Duce, American singer/drummer (The Mentors) (born 1958). [18] April 20 Death of Henry Mucci, American Colonel of the 98th Ranger Battalion (born 1909). [18] April 21 Andres Rodriguez, Paraguayan President (1989-93), dies. [1] Diosdado Macapagal, Philippine President (1961-65), dies. [1] April 22 Death of Baroness Seear, President of the United Kingdom Liberal Party (born 1913). [18] April 24 Pat Paulsen, comedian (Smothers Brothers Show), dies at age 69. [1] April 26 Joey Faye, comic (Fruit of the Loom grapes), dies at age 86. [1] Peng Zhen, mayor of Beijing, China (1951-66), dies. [1] Yegorov, Russian leader (1994-95), dies. [1] April 27 Paul Lambert, actor (Tom - Executive Suite), dies at age 73. [1] Andrew Cunanan murders Jeffrey Trail, beginning a murder spree that will last until July and end with the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace. [18] April 28 Susan Seddon Boulet, artist, dies of cancer at age 45. [1] April 29 Keith Ferguson, blues (Fabulous Thunderbirds), dies of overdose at age 50. [1] Mike Royko, columnist, dies of stroke at age 64. [1] Peter Tali Coleman, Governor of American Samoa (1956-61, 78-85, 89-93), dies. [1] May 1 Bebe AKA Flipper, dolphin, dies at age 40. [1] May 2 Death of John Carew Eccles, Australian neurophysiologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (born 1903). [18] May 4 Alvy Moore actor/producer (Mr Kimball-Green Acres), dies at age 75. [1] Vijayananda Dahanayake, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1959-60), dies. [1] May 5 Death of Walter Gotell, German actor (born 1924). [18] May 8 Kai-Uwe Von Hassel, German President of Bundestag (CDU 1969-72), dies. [1] May 10 Joanie Weston roller derby queen (Bay Bombers), dies at age 61. [1] May 11 Brenda Carlin, TV producer/wife of comedian George Carlin, dies at age 57. [1] May 14 Death of Harry Blackstone Jr., American magician, at age 62 of cancer (born 1934). [1] [18] Laurie Lee, writer, dies at age 42. [1] Princess Caradja-Kretzulesco, descendant of Dracula, dies at age 76. [1] Thelma Carpenter, singer, dies at age 76. [1] May 19 Millie, dog of President Bush (Millie's Book), dies at age 12. [1] May 20 Virgilio Boat, President of Colombia (1986-90), dies. [1] May 22 Death of Alfred Hershey, American biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (born 1908). [18] May 23 Death of James Lee Byars, American artist (born 1932). [18] May 24 Death of Edward Mulhare, Irish actor (Ghost and Mrs Muir), at age 74 of lung cancer (born 1923). [1] [18] May 25 Muhammad Fadhel, Prime Minister of Iraq (1953-54), dies. [1] May 26 Manfred Von Ardenne, German scientific pioneer, dies at age 90. [1] May 29 George Fenneman, announcer (You Bet Your Life), dies at age 77. [1] Death of Jeff Buckley, American musician, at age 30 by drowning (born 1966). [1] [18] John Sengstacke, publisher (Defender), dies at age 84. [1] May 31 Death of James Bennett Griffin, American archaeologist (born 1905). [18] Rosie Will Monroe, World War II icon (Rosie the riveter), dies at age 76. [1] June 3 Death of Dennis James, American game show host (born 1917). [18] June 12 Death of Bulat Okudzhava, Soviet non-mainstream singer of Georgian descent (born 1924). [18] June 22 Death of Gérard Pelletier, French journalist, politician and diplomat (born 1919). [18] June 23 Death of Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X (born 1936). [18] June 24 Death of Brian Keith, American actor (born 1921). [18] June 25 Death of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, French explorer (born 1910). [18] June 26 Death of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Hawaiian singer (born 1959). [18] June 28 Death of Mrs. Miller, American singer (born 1907). [18]