1980 deaths

French existentialist philosopher (1905–1980)

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 feature films, many of which are still widely watched and studied today. Known as the "Master of Suspense", Hitchcock became as well known as any of his actors thanks to his many interviews, his cameo appearances in most of his films, and his hosting and producing the television anthology Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–65). Among other accolades, his films garnered 46 Academy Award nominations, including six wins, although he never won the award for Best Director, despite five nominations.

John Winston Ono Lennon was an English musician, songwriter and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history.

Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman (1892−1980)

Soviet singer-songwriter and actor (1938–1980)

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran from 1941 to 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah and ruled the Imperial State of Iran until he was overthrown in the Islamic Revolution led by Ruhollah Khomeini, which abolished the Iranian monarchy to establish the Islamic Republic of Iran. In 1967, he took the title Shahanshah, and held several others, including Aryamehr and Bozorg Arteshtaran. He was the second and last ruling monarch of the Pahlavi dynasty.

American actress, singer, screenwriter, and writer (1893–1980)

German sociologist and psychoanalyst (1900–1980)

Swiss psychologist, biologist, logician, philosopher and academic (1896–1980)

American track and field athlete (1913–1980)

American novelist (1891–1980)

Peter Sellers was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence with his performances on the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show. Sellers was featured on a number of hit comic songs and became internationally acclaimed for his film roles, most notably as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther series.

Canadian educator, philosopher, and scholar (1911–1980)

German admiral and former president of Nazi Germany in 1945 (born 1891-1980)

French philosopher and essayist

American actor (1930-1980)

Cuban-French writer and musicologist (1904–1980)

American physical chemist

American physicist (1899–1980)

French writer and diplomat (1914–1980)

Indian politician and 4th president of India (1894-1980)

Italian writer and journalist (1920–1980)

Soviet politician (1904-1980)

Soviet biochemist (1894-1980)

former Pakistani president (1917–1980)

fourth archbishop of San Salvador (1917–1980)

Austrian dramatic, painter and writer (1886–1980)

American political scientist (1904–1980)

English drummer (1948–1980)

French-American musician (1938–1980)

Polish painter (1894-1980)

British musician (1956–1980)

Indian playback singer (1924–1980)

American biochemist (1911–1980)

First President of Botswana (1921–1980)

American journalist, social activist, and Catholic convert (1897-1980)

Japanese association football player (1904–1980)

Japanese association football player and manager (1906–1980)

American entrepreneur (1890-1980) who founded KFC

American jazz pianist (1929–1980)

Russian-American film director (1895-1980)

Dictador of Nicaragua (1967–72, 1974–79)

Estonian poet (1883-1980)

Australian singer (1946–1980)

British aristocrat and fascist politician (1896–1980)

Austrian pediatrician, medical theorist, and medical professor (1906-1980)

English novelist and physical chemist (1905–1980)

English anthropologist, linguist, semiotician and cyberneticist (1904-1980)

American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist (1890–1980)

Brazilian composer, singer, writer (1913–1980)

Japanese politician (1910-1980)

German chemist (1902–1980)

1st vice president of Indonesia from 1945 to 1956 (1902–1980)

Portuguese politician (1906-1980)

Polish mathematician (1896–1980)

Polish mathematician and cryptologist (1905–1980)

Welsh actor (1912–1980)

Russian writer and educator

Israeli politician, general, acting prime minister of Israel (1918–1980)

President of Liberia 1971–1980 (1913–1980)