11 December

Across recorded history, 1,499 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 11 December. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← December 10 December 12 →

Ravi Shankar

1920–2012

Indian sitar player

Ravi Shankar was a sitarist who popularized Indian classical music across the world.

Anne Rice

1941–2021

American writer

Anne Rice was an American novelist known for her works of gothic fiction.

Kim Ki-duk

1960–2020

South Korean film director

Kim Ki-duk was a South Korean film director known for his work in international cinema.

Sam Cooke

1931–1964

American singer and songwriter

Sam Cooke (1931–1964), American singer and songwriter (1931–1964).

Christian Lous Lange

1869–1938

Norwegian diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize recipient

Christian Lous Lange was a Norwegian diplomat who received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Vincent du Vigneaud

1901–1978

American biochemist

Vincent du Vigneaud was an American biochemist recognized for his research on sulfur compounds and the synthesis of polypeptide hormones.

Ivan Cankar

1876–1918

Slovene writer, playwright, essayist, poet and political activist

Ivan Cankar was a Slovene writer who authored numerous novels, plays, essays, and poems while engaging in political activism.

Alma Mahler

1879–1964

Austrian composer, art collector, author, editor, and socialite

Alma Mahler was an Austrian composer and art collector who was active in the cultural circles of her time.

Maria Leopoldina of Austria

1797–1826

Queen consort of Portugal and Empress consort of Brazil

Maria Leopoldina of Austria was a monarch who served as Queen consort of Portugal and Empress consort of Brazil.

Galina Vishnevskaya

1926–2012

Russian soprano opera singer and recitalist

Galina Vishnevskaya was a Russian soprano opera singer who performed in both opera and recital settings.

Garad Deria Gure

1860–1918

King of the Darawiish and Dhulbahante

Garad Deria Gure was a monarch who served as the leader of the Darawiish and Dhulbahante.

Angelo Badalamenti

1937–2022

American composer

Angelo Badalamenti was an American composer known for his film scores.

Charles Émile Picard

1856–1941

French mathematician

Charles Émile Picard was a French mathematician who served as a university teacher.

Olive Schreiner

1855–1920

South African author and pacifist

Olive Schreiner was a South African author and pacifist who wrote works exploring feminism and social issues.

Bettie Page

1923–2008

American pin-up model

Bettie Page was an American model known for her work in pin-up and erotic photography.

M. S. Subbulakshmi

1916–2004

Indian Carnatic classical vocalist

M. S. Subbulakshmi was an Indian Carnatic classical vocalist known for her contributions to music.

Charles Fabry

1867–1945

French physicist

Charles Fabry was a French physicist who conducted research in the fields of optics and spectroscopy.

Andre Braugher

1962–2023

American actor

Andre Braugher was an American actor known for his work in television, film, and theater.

Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia

1892–1980

daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II

Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia was the daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Manuel Santana

1938–2021

Spanish tennis player

Manuel Santana was a Spanish tennis player who competed internationally.

Robert de Montesquiou

1855–1921

French writer

Robert de Montesquiou was a French writer and poet known for his work as an art collector and literary critic.

José Luis Cuciuffo

1961–2004

Argentine footballer

José Luis Cuciuffo was an Argentine association football player.

Ahmadou Kourouma

1927–2003

Ivorian writer

Ahmadou Kourouma was an Ivorian writer known for his literary works.

Aleksander Stavre Drenova

1872–1947

Albanian poet

Aleksander Stavre Drenova was an Albanian poet who authored the national anthem of Albania.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.