Notable deaths on December 16

South African rugby union player (1996–2025)

American basketball player (1943–2024)

Indian environmentalist (1937 or 1938 – 2024)

Emir of Kuwait from 2020 to 2023

American jazz and popular music singer (1928–2017)

American painter, printmaker, constructionist and sculptor (1926-2015)

Mexican professional wrestler (1950 – 2015)

English author & poet (1927–2015)

British paleontologist (1947–2014)

Pakistani educationist (1951 – 2014)

American mathematician

English commander (born 1913)

American journalist

American singer (1926–2013)

American biologist (1920–2012)

American poet (1972–2012)

British actor (1936–2011)

American actor (1930–2011)

Nigerian musician (1948–2010)

United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1923–2010)

South African politician (1940–2009)

American businessman and media executive (1930–2009)

Soviet-Russian economist and politician (1956–2009)

American singer-songwriter (1951–2007)