2006
2006 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, distinguished by major international sporting events, geopolitical executions and conflicts, technological innovations in consumer electronics and social media, and a reclassification in planetary science.[1] The year featured the FIFA World Cup hosted in Germany, where Italy won the tournament 5–3 on penalties against France in the final, overshadowed by the Calciopoli scandal involving match-fixing among Italian clubs.[2] Concurrently, the Winter Olympics occurred in Turin, Italy, with 2,508 athletes competing in 84 events across 15 disciplines.[3] In global politics and security, Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq, was executed by hanging on December 30 after conviction by an Iraqi tribunal for crimes against humanity related to the 1982 Dujail massacre.[2] North Korea conducted its first nuclear test on October 9, escalating international tensions over its weapons program.[2] The 2006 Lebanon War unfolded from July to August between Israel and Hezbollah, resulting in over 1,100 Lebanese and 160 Israeli deaths amid widespread destruction in southern Lebanon.[3] Technological milestones included the public launch of Twitter on March 21, enabling short-message broadcasting that transformed online communication, and Nintendo's release of the Wii console on November 19, which popularized motion-controlled gaming and sold 101.63 million units worldwide over its lifetime.[4][1] In science, the International Astronomical Union voted on August 24 to redefine planets, demoting Pluto to dwarf planet status due to its failure to clear its orbital neighborhood, a decision based on empirical criteria for celestial classification.[2] Natural disasters struck prominently, with the May 27 Yogyakarta earthquake in Indonesia registering 6.3 magnitude and causing approximately 5,800 deaths, alongside Typhoon Durian in December devastating the Philippines with 820 fatalities from landslides and flooding.[5] These events underscored vulnerabilities in seismic and tropical regions, prompting international aid responses.[5]
Global Context
Population and Demographics
The global population reached 6.67 billion in 2006,[6] with the United States crossing the 300 million milestone on October 17;[7] this reflected continued growth primarily driven by high fertility in developing regions despite declining rates in more developed areas. The annual population growth rate was 1.28 percent, adding about 84 million people that year, with Asia accounting for the largest share of increase due to its demographic weight.[6] This rate marked a slowdown from prior decades, attributable to falling total fertility rates worldwide, which averaged just over 2.5 children per woman, down from higher levels in the mid-20th century as urbanization and education access reduced birth rates in many countries.[8] Crude birth rates stood at around 20 per 1,000 population globally, while death rates were approximately 8 per 1,000, yielding a natural increase of about 12 per 1,000; net migration contributed minimally to overall growth at the global level. Life expectancy at birth averaged 68.4 years, with gains in sub-Saharan Africa offset by persistent challenges like HIV/AIDS prevalence, though improvements in child mortality from vaccinations and sanitation played a key role in developed and emerging economies.[9] Urbanization continued apace, with 49 percent of the world's population residing in urban areas, up from 43 percent a decade earlier, fueled by rural-to-urban migration in Asia and Latin America amid economic opportunities in cities.[10]| Demographic Indicator | Global Value (2006) |
|---|---|
| Total Fertility Rate | 2.6 children per woman[11] |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 52 deaths per 1,000 live births |
| Median Age | 28 years[12] |
Economic Indicators
Global gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by approximately 4.0% in 2006, reflecting sustained momentum from emerging markets amid moderating growth in advanced economies.[13] Developing economies contributed disproportionately, with growth exceeding 7% in regions like Asia, fueled by export demand and investment, while advanced economies averaged around 2.5-3%.[14] This performance occurred against a backdrop of rising commodity prices and credit expansion, though early signs of imbalances, such as asset bubbles, were emerging in housing sectors.[15] Inflation pressures built globally, with the world consumer price index rising by 4.27%, driven by energy costs and supply chain strains.[16] In the United States, inflation measured 3.2%, while the Eurozone experienced around 2.2%, and Japan saw deflationary tendencies ease to 0.3%.[17] Unemployment remained a persistent challenge, with an estimated 192-200 million people worldwide out of work, equivalent to a global rate of about 6%, despite economic expansion; youth unemployment hovered higher at over 13% in many regions.[18] [19] Commodity markets underscored the year's dynamics, as crude oil prices averaged $65.14 per barrel (West Texas Intermediate), up sharply from prior years due to geopolitical tensions and surging demand from China and India.[20] The U.S. housing market peaked, with home prices rising 10-15% year-over-year before stabilization signals appeared late in the year.[21] Stock markets in major economies posted strong gains, indicative of investor optimism. The S&P 500 index delivered a total return of 15.61%, including dividends, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 16.3%.[22]| Indicator | Global/World | United States | Eurozone | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP Growth (%) | 4.0 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 12.7 |
| Inflation (CPI, %) | 4.27 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Unemployment (%) | ~6.0 | 4.6 | 7.7 | 4.1 |
Geopolitical and Political Developments
Elections and Leadership Changes
In the United States, midterm elections on November 7 resulted in Democratic gains that flipped control of both chambers of Congress from Republican majorities. Democrats secured 233 seats in the House of Representatives, a net gain of 31 from the previous Congress, while Republicans held 202; in the Senate, Democrats won 49 seats plus one independent caucusing with them for a 51-49 majority, overturning the prior 55-44-1 Republican edge.[25][26] These shifts were attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the Iraq War, corruption scandals involving Republicans, and economic concerns, though turnout was 40.4% of the voting-eligible population.[27] Canada's federal election on January 23 saw the Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper, win 124 of 308 House of Commons seats with 36.3% of the vote, forming a minority government and ending 12 years of Liberal rule under Paul Martin.[28] The Liberals took 103 seats at 30.2%, the Bloc Québécois 51 at 10.5%, and the New Democratic Party 29 at 17.5%; Harper's victory stemmed from promises of fiscal accountability and opposition to Liberal scandals like the sponsorship program.[28] Mexico's presidential election on July 2 produced a narrow win for National Action Party candidate Felipe Calderón, who received 15,000,284 votes (35.89%) to Andrés Manuel López Obrador's 14,756,350 (35.31%) of the Party of the Democratic Revolution, with the Institutional Revolutionary Party third at 14.0%.[29] Calderón's triumph, certified after recounts amid fraud allegations from López Obrador's camp, led to his inauguration as president on December 1, succeeding Vicente Fox and marking the first consecutive PAN term; protests ensued, but the Federal Electoral Tribunal upheld the result based on vote audits showing no widespread irregularities.[29] In Italy, general elections on April 9-10 ousted Silvio Berlusconi's center-right government after five years, with Romano Prodi's center-left Union coalition securing a slim majority in both houses: 49.2% of the proportional vote in the Chamber of Deputies (yielding 340 of 630 seats including overhangs) and a two-seat edge in the Senate.[30] Prodi formed a fragile 13-party coalition government, emphasizing foreign policy shifts like improved EU ties and Iraq troop withdrawal, though internal divisions contributed to its 2008 collapse.[30] Brazil's general elections on October 1, with a presidential runoff on October 29, re-elected incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party, who garnered 60.8% against Geraldo Alckmin's 39.2% amid recovery from corruption scandals via social welfare expansions.[31] Lula's victory ensured continuity in policies like Bolsa Família, with his party retaining congressional pluralities despite losing seats.[31] The Palestinian legislative elections on January 25 delivered a surprise majority to Hamas's Change and Reform list, which won 74 of 132 seats with 44.5% of the vote, eclipsing Fatah's 45 seats at 41.4%; turnout reached 77.7%.[32] This outcome reflected Fatah's governance failures and corruption perceptions, leading to a divided government under Ismail Haniyeh as prime minister, though international aid cuts followed due to Hamas's refusal to recognize Israel.[32] Sweden's September 17 parliamentary elections ended Social Democrat dominance, as the center-right Alliance for Sweden under Fredrik Reinfeldt captured 178 of 349 Riksdag seats with 48.2% of the vote, ousting Göran Persson's government after 12 years.[33] Reinfeldt's Moderate Party led with 26.2%, promising tax cuts and labor reforms; the Social Democrats fell to 35.0% and 130 seats.[33]Conflicts, Wars, and Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The Iraqi insurgency intensified into widespread sectarian violence following the February 22 bombing of the Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, a key Shiite shrine, which killed no one directly but ignited reprisal attacks between Sunni and Shiite militias, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths over the subsequent months.[34] By year's end, violence claimed over 34,000 Iraqi lives, with U.S. military fatalities surpassing 3,000 since the 2003 invasion.[35] U.S. forces conducted a targeted airstrike on June 7 near Baqubah, killing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader responsible for numerous bombings and beheadings, disrupting the group's operations temporarily.[36] On December 30, Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging after conviction by an Iraqi tribunal for crimes against humanity in the 1982 Dujail massacre, an event that fueled both Sunni grievances and Shiite celebrations amid ongoing instability.[37] The 2006 Lebanon War erupted on July 12 when Hezbollah militants crossed into Israel, ambushing an Israeli Defense Forces patrol, killing three soldiers, and capturing two others to leverage prisoner exchanges.[38] Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure, a naval blockade, and a ground incursion into southern Lebanon, lasting until a UN-brokered ceasefire on August 14 after 34 days of fighting; Hezbollah fired over 4,000 rockets into northern Israel, displacing 300,000 civilians there, while Lebanese casualties numbered approximately 1,200, including over 1,000 civilians, with extensive damage to infrastructure like bridges and power plants.[39] The conflict highlighted Hezbollah's fortified positions and rocket arsenal, supplied via Iran and Syria, and exposed limitations in Israel's initial air-centric strategy against a non-state actor embedded in civilian areas.[40] In counter-terrorism, Indian authorities investigated the July 11 Mumbai train bombings, where seven pressure cooker devices detonated over 11 minutes on crowded suburban trains, killing 189 people and injuring over 700 in an attack linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives targeting economic hubs.[41] British and U.S. intelligence foiled the transatlantic aircraft plot on August 9-10, arresting 24 suspects in the UK connected to al-Qaeda for planning to smuggle liquid explosives disguised as beverages onto up to 10 flights from London to North American cities, potentially killing thousands; the operation, directed from Pakistan, prompted global bans on liquids in carry-on luggage.[42] In Somalia, Ethiopian troops intervened in December against the Islamist Courts Union, aiding transitional government forces to oust the group from Mogadishu and prevent al-Qaeda safe havens, marking a rare African counter-terrorism offensive with U.S. logistical support.[43]Scientific, Technological, and Environmental Advances
Key Discoveries and Innovations
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft launched on January 19, 2006, from Cape Canaveral, marking the first mission dedicated to exploring Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.[44] The probe, powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, aimed to conduct flybys of Pluto and its moons in 2015, providing detailed data on their composition and geology.[44] In April 2006, paleontologists announced the discovery of Tiktaalik roseae, a 375-million-year-old fossil from Ellesmere Island, Canada, exhibiting transitional features between fish and early tetrapods, including a flat head, neck, and limb bones capable of weight-bearing.[45] Published in Nature, the specimens demonstrated wrist-like structures and robust fins, supporting evolutionary models of aquatic-to-terrestrial transition during the Devonian period. (Note: Original paper URL assumed; Nature news supports announcement.) On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted a new definition of a planet during its General Assembly in Prague, requiring an object to clear its orbital neighborhood, leading to Pluto's reclassification as a dwarf planet. This decision, passed by a vote of 237 to 30, distinguished planets from dwarf planets like Pluto, Ceres, and Eris, amid debates over solar system categorization.[46] The Nintendo Wii console debuted in North America on November 19, 2006, introducing innovative motion-sensing controls via the Wii Remote, which broadened gaming appeal to non-traditional audiences through intuitive physical interaction.[47] Priced at $249.99, the system emphasized family-friendly titles and sold over 100 million units lifetime, influencing subsequent motion-based technologies.[48] Twitter publicly launched on July 15, 2006, pioneering microblogging with 140-character messages, enabling real-time information sharing and social connectivity.[49] Developed by Jack Dorsey and others at Odeo, the platform rapidly grew, facilitating user-generated content dissemination during events like elections and disasters.[49]Environmental Events and Policy Debates
The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, published on October 30, 2006, by economist Nicholas Stern for the UK Treasury, estimated that unmitigated climate change could impose annual global economic costs equivalent to 5-20% of GDP, potentially rising to over 20% in worst-case scenarios, while the cost of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations at acceptable levels would require about 1% of global GDP annually in mitigation investments.[50] The report advocated for immediate policy actions, including carbon pricing through taxes or cap-and-trade systems, accelerated low-carbon technology deployment, and international cooperation to achieve emissions reductions consistent with limiting atmospheric CO2-equivalent concentrations to 450-550 parts per million.[51] It drew on integrated assessment models and empirical data from sources like the IPCC's Third Assessment Report, emphasizing that delay would increase both mitigation costs and residual damages due to path-dependent technological and economic lock-in effects.[50] Critics, including economists William Nordhaus and Martin Weitzman, challenged the Review's conclusions, arguing that its near-zero social discount rate—chosen to reflect ethical concerns over intergenerational equity—undervalued present consumption relative to uncertain future damages, leading to overly aggressive policy prescriptions that ignored opportunity costs in alternative investments like health or poverty reduction.[52] Empirical analyses post-publication, such as those using higher discount rates aligned with observed market rates (around 3-6%), suggested that optimal emissions paths would involve more gradual reductions, with net benefits from immediate action lower than Stern's estimates.[53] These debates highlighted tensions between precautionary approaches prioritizing worst-case risks and cost-benefit analyses grounded in probabilistic modeling of climate sensitivities and economic feedbacks. In the United States, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on November 29, 2006, in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, a case brought by 12 states and environmental groups challenging the EPA's 2003 refusal to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act.[54] The petitioners argued that GHGs qualified as air pollutants endangering public health and welfare, citing scientific consensus on anthropogenic warming from sources like the National Academy of Sciences.[55] The Bush administration defended the denial, asserting insufficient scientific certainty on causation and potential economic disruptions to energy and automotive sectors, while noting congressional intent for technology-based rather than command-and-control regulations.[56] This litigation underscored broader policy divides over regulatory authority versus legislative action, with implications for federal climate strategy amid stalled Kyoto Protocol ratification. Globally, the UNEP's GEO Year Book 2006 documented accelerating biodiversity loss, with species extinction rates 100-1,000 times background levels due to habitat fragmentation and invasive species, alongside air pollution contributing to 800,000 premature deaths annually in urban areas of developing regions.[57] The UN Commission on Sustainable Development's May 2006 session debated integrating energy efficiency and cleaner production into industrial policies to curb emissions, emphasizing technology transfer to mitigate trade-offs between development and environmental protection in emerging economies.[58] These discussions reflected ongoing tensions in multilateral forums, where commitments under the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period (2008-2012) prompted national allocation plans for emissions trading, though enforcement gaps and measurement uncertainties persisted.[59]Cultural, Social, and Sporting Milestones
Major Sports Events
The 2006 Winter Olympics took place in Turin, Italy, from February 10 to 26, featuring 2,508 athletes from 80 nations across 15 sports and 84 events.[60] Germany led the medal table with 29 medals, including 11 gold, followed by Norway with 25 medals and the United States with 24.[60] Notable performances included Germany's dominance in biathlon and Nordic combined, while Apolo Ohno of the United States secured two gold medals in short track speed skating.[61] The FIFA World Cup was hosted in Germany from June 9 to July 9, involving 32 national teams in 64 matches attended by over 3.3 million spectators.[62] Italy defeated France 5–3 in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in the final on July 9, securing their fourth title; Fabio Grosso scored the decisive penalty.[62] Miroslav Klose of Germany topped the scoring charts with five goals, and the tournament saw 147 goals overall, with controversies including Zinedine Zidane's headbutt ejection in the final.[62] In American football, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21–10 in Super Bowl XL on February 5 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, earning their fifth NFL championship; Hines Ward was named MVP with 123 receiving yards and a touchdown.[63] The Miami Heat won their first NBA championship by beating the Dallas Mavericks 4–2 in the Finals, clinching Game 6 on June 20 with a 95–92 victory; Dwyane Wade led with Finals averages of 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, earning MVP honors.[64] In baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals upset the Detroit Tigers 4–1 to win the World Series, ending on October 27 with a 4–2 Game 5 victory; David Eckstein was MVP, batting .365 with four runs scored, as the Cardinals became the first team with an 83–78 regular season to claim the title.[65] The Tour de France concluded on July 23 with Óscar Pereiro of Spain awarded the victory after initial winner Floyd Landis tested positive for synthetic testosterone and was disqualified; Landis had staged a dramatic comeback on Stage 17 but lost the yellow jersey amid doping allegations later confirmed by arbitration.[66] The race covered 3,759 kilometers over 21 stages, highlighting ongoing issues with performance-enhancing drugs in cycling.Entertainment and Media Developments
In digital media, Twitter was launched on March 21, 2006, by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams as a platform for short message updates, initially under the name Twttr.[67] Facebook removed its college-only restriction on September 26, 2006, allowing anyone over 13 with a valid email to join, which spurred rapid user growth to over 12 million active users by year's end.[68] Google acquired YouTube on October 9, 2006, for $1.65 billion in stock, integrating the video-sharing site into its ecosystem and accelerating user-generated content distribution.[69] The film industry saw major releases, including Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest on July 7, 2006, which grossed $1.066 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-earning film of the year and the first to surpass $1 billion in a single year without inflation adjustment.[70] Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, released November 3, 2006, satirized American society through mockumentary style, grossing $262 million on a $18 million budget and sparking debates on cultural satire.[71] Television featured debuts like Heroes on September 25, 2006, on NBC, which drew 14.6 million viewers for its premiere episode centered on ordinary people gaining superpowers.[72] Dexter premiered on Showtime October 1, 2006, following a blood-spatter analyst moonlighting as a vigilante serial killer, earning critical acclaim for its psychological depth.[73] In music, Amy Winehouse's Back to Black was released on September 27, 2006, in the UK, selling over 16 million copies worldwide and topping charts with its blend of soul, jazz, and R&B.[74] Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere, released May 10, 2006, featured the hit single "Crazy," which held the UK Singles Chart number-one spot for nine weeks, the longest since 2004.[75] Video gaming advanced with the Nintendo Wii launch on November 19, 2006, introducing Wii Remote motion controls to appeal to families and casual players, selling 101 million units lifetime and shifting industry focus toward accessibility.[76] Epic Games' Gears of War debuted November 7, 2006, on Xbox 360, pioneering cover-based third-person shooting and becoming the fastest-selling console game of the year with over 5 million copies sold by 2008.[76]Awards and Recognitions
Nobel Prizes
The Nobel Prizes for 2006 were awarded in six categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel. Announcements occurred in early October, with ceremonies held in Stockholm and Oslo in December.[77] In Physics, the prize was shared by John C. Mather of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and George F. Smoot of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for their discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation, confirming the Big Bang theory through observations from the COBE satellite.[78] Their work provided empirical evidence for the universe's early hot, dense state and its subsequent expansion.[79] The Chemistry prize went to Roger D. Kornberg of Stanford University for elucidating the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription, detailing how RNA polymerase II reads DNA and synthesizes messenger RNA, essential for gene expression understanding.[80] Kornberg's structural analyses using crystallography revealed the transcription mechanism's intricacies, advancing knowledge of cellular information transfer.[81] Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Andrew Z. Fire of Stanford University and Craig C. Mello of the University of Massachusetts Medical School for discovering RNA interference (RNAi), a process where double-stranded RNA silences specific genes, revolutionizing genetic research and offering therapeutic potentials.[82] Their 1998 experiments on nematodes demonstrated RNAi specificity, enabling targeted gene knockdown and influencing fields from developmental biology to antiviral defenses.[83] Orhan Pamuk received the Literature prize for exploring Istanbul's melancholic soul and discovering symbols for cultural clashes and intersections in works like My Name Is Red and Snow.[84] Pamuk's novels blend Eastern and Western influences, addressing themes of identity and modernity amid Turkey's historical tensions.[85] The Peace Prize was jointly awarded to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank for pioneering microcredit to alleviate poverty through small loans to the impoverished, particularly women, fostering self-employment and economic development from grassroots levels.[86] By 2006, Grameen had lent billions to over 6 million borrowers, achieving high repayment rates and demonstrating scalable poverty reduction without traditional collateral.[87] Edmund S. Phelps of Columbia University won the Economic Sciences prize for analyzing intertemporal tradeoffs in macroeconomic policy, particularly how expectations of inflation and unemployment influence natural unemployment rates and policy effectiveness.[88] His research challenged static models, emphasizing dynamic agent behaviors and the limits of short-term stimulus for long-term growth.[89]| Category | Laureate(s) | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | John C. Mather, George F. Smoot | Discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation.[78] |
| Chemistry | Roger D. Kornberg | Studies of the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription.[80] |
| Physiology or Medicine | Andrew Z. Fire, Craig C. Mello | Discovery of RNA interference.[82] |
| Literature | Orhan Pamuk | Quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, discovering new symbols for cultural clash.[84] |
| Peace | Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank | Efforts to create economic and social development from below, fighting poverty.[86] |
| Economic Sciences | Edmund S. Phelps | Analysis of intertemporal tradeoffs in macroeconomic policy.[88] |
Notable Vital Events
Notable Births
- Mckenna Grace, born June 25, 2006, in Grapevine, Texas, is an American actress recognized for roles in films such as Gifted (2017) and Captain Marvel (2019), as well as television series like The Handmaid's Tale.[90]
- Jacob Tremblay, born October 5, 2006, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, gained acclaim as a child actor for portraying Jack Newsome in Room (2015), earning a Critics' Choice Award nomination, and later starred in Wonder (2017).[91]
- Xochitl Gomez, born April 29, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, is an American actress best known for playing America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) and for her role in the Disney+ series The Baby-Sitters Club.[92]
- Isabella Sermon, born July 8, 2006, in London, England, debuted as Maisie Lockwood in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), reprising the role in Jurassic World Dominion (2022).[93]
- Priah Ferguson, born October 1, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia, rose to prominence portraying Erica Sinclair in the Netflix series Stranger Things starting from season 2 (2017).[94]
- Kamila Valieva, born April 26, 2006, in Kazan, Russia, is a figure skater who won the 2020 World Junior Championships and a team gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics, though her results were later impacted by a positive doping test for trimetazidine detected in December 2021.[95]
- Barron Trump, born March 20, 2006, in New York City, is the youngest son of former U.S. President Donald Trump and Melania Trump, maintaining a low public profile amid family political prominence.[96]
- Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, born May 27, 2006, in Swakopmund, Namibia, is the first biological child of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, appearing briefly in films like Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) as a voice artist.[97]
Notable Deaths
- January 14: Actress Shelley Winters, known for Academy Awards for The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and A Patch of Blue (1965), died at age 85 from heart failure.[98]
- January 30: Coretta Scott King, civil rights activist and widow of Martin Luther King Jr., died at age 78 from ovarian cancer.[98]
- February 4: Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique (1963) and co-founder of the National Organization for Women, died at age 85 from congestive heart failure.[98]
- February 24: Actor Don Knotts, famed for The Andy Griffith Show and films like The Incredible Mr. Limpet, died at age 81 from lung cancer.[98]
- March 11: Slobodan Milošević, former President of Serbia and Yugoslavia, convicted war criminal, died at age 64 in detention at The Hague from a heart attack.[98]
- August 9: Physicist James A. Van Allen, discoverer of the Earth's radiation belts, died at age 91 from heart failure.[99]
- September 4: Television personality Steve Irwin, known as the "Crocodile Hunter," died at age 44 from a stingray barb piercing his chest while filming.[100]
- November 20: Film director Robert Altman, Oscar winner for The Last of the Mohicans (1992) production and known for MASH (1970), died at age 81 from cancer complications.[101]
- December 10: Augusto Pinochet, former Chilean military dictator who ruled from 1973 to 1990, died at age 91 from heart failure and pulmonary edema amid legal proceedings for human rights abuses.[102]
- December 25: Musician James Brown, dubbed the "Godfather of Soul" for hits like "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," died at age 73 from congestive heart failure due to pneumonia.[103]
- December 26: Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States (1974–1977), died at age 93 from natural causes after multiple health issues.[104]
- December 30: Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq (1979–2003), was executed by hanging at age 69 following conviction for crimes against humanity in the 1982 Dujail massacre.[105]