2016 deaths

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as prime minister from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 2008. Ideologically a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist, he also served as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1965 until 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party communist state; industry and business were nationalized, and socialist reforms were implemented throughout society.

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "the Greatest", he is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970, was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978, and was the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC.

Italian semiotician, essayist, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist (1932–2016)

former King of Thailand (1927–2016)

David Robert Jones, known as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as among the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie received particular acclaim for his work in the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft have had a significant impact on popular music.

Dutch footballer and manager (1947–2016)

Israeli politician (1923–2016) –Former President of Israel (2007–2014) and Prime Minister of Israel (1977, 1984–1986, 1995–1996)

Prince Rogers Nelson, known mononymously as Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, and filmmaker. Often being credited as one of the greatest musicians of his generation, he pioneered the Minneapolis sound and was influential in the evolution of various other genres.

American actress, writer and screenwriter (1956–2016)

Italian actor, playwright, comedian, singer-songwriter, theater director, painter, and political activist (1926-2016)

First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989

American novelist (1926–2016)

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

George Michael was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as a pop culture icon, he is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. Michael was known as a creative force in songwriting, vocal performance, and visual presentation. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. The Radio Academy named him the most played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004.

Hungarian author (1929–2016)

American actor (1933–2016)

1st President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (1938–2016)

Iraqi British architect, designer and painter (1950–2016)

Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was an English actor. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he was renowned for his stage and screen roles and for his deep and distinctive voice. He received various accolades, including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for two Tony Awards and a Laurence Olivier Award.

Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1992 to 1996

Hungarian-American socialite and actress (1917–2016)

American comedian (1949–2016)

American astronaut and politician (1921–2016)

American actress, singer, and dancer (1932–2016)

President of Italy from 1999 to 2006

Polish film director (1926–2016)

Egyptian chemist

Italian actor, lawyer, professional swimmer and water polo player

American actor and filmmaker (1934–2016)

American astronomer and physicist (1928-2016)

Iranian film director, screenwriter, photographer and film producer (1940-2016)

President of West Germany (1974-1979)

American cognitive scientist (1927-2016)

American physicist

American economist (1921-2016)

British chemist (1939-2016)

German politician (FDP), Foreign Minister of Germany (1961-2016)

German politician and member of the Free Democratic Party (1927-2016)

American playwright (1928–2016)

French composer, conductor and writer (1925–2016)

American biochemist (1952-2016)

American writer, futurist and businessman

Japanese mountain climber (1939-2016)

American physicist (1923–2016)

Brazilian businessman and athlete (1916–2016)

American actress (1946–2016)

German economist (1930-2016)

Anton Viktorovich Yelchin was an American actor. Born in the Soviet Union to a Russian Jewish family, he immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of six months. He began his career as a child actor, appearing as the lead of the mystery drama film Hearts in Atlantis (2001) and as a series regular on the Showtime comedy-drama Huff (2004–2006). His fame grew when he guest-starred in a 2004 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm and when he played the title character in Charlie Bartlett (2007).

American actor (1925–2016)

English record producer (1926–2016)

American astronaut (1930-2016)

Brazilian association football player and manager (1944-2016)

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1986 to 2016

American philosopher

Greek politician, former president of the Hellenic Republic

French politician (1930–2016)

American rock musician (1948–2016)

American computer programmer (1941-2016)

Czechoslovak sports official, artistic gymnast and coach (1942–2016)

6th President of Singapore (1924–2016)