List of Famous people who died at 53

Xavier Gélin was a French actor and film producer, and son of French film star Daniel Gélin and Danièle Delorme. Through his father, he was a half-brother of Fiona Gélin and Maria Schneider, also actresses. Gélin, a French actor and a mainstay of popular French cinema for more than three decades, died of cancer at the age of 53.

Antônio Carlos Bernardes Gomes, known artistically as Carlinhos Mussum or simply Mussum, was a famous Brazilian actor and musician, notable for being a member of the comedic group Os Trapalhões. He was also member of the musical group Os Originais do Samba.

Colin Fry was an English television personality, entertainer and self-proclaimed medium. Fry consistently professed his beliefs as a psychic and garnered a following across his career, whilst critics said his capabilities came from cold reading.

Karen Christine Friesicke was a German comedian and actress.

Claude Dhotel, better known by his stage name C. Jérôme, was a French singer.

Kevin Malcolm Curran was a Zimbabwean international cricketer.

Leo Joseph Ryan Jr. was an American teacher and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. Representative from California's 11th congressional district from 1973 until his assassination during the Jonestown massacre in 1978.

Cleavon Jake Little was an American stage, film, and television actor. He began his career in the late 1960s on the stage. In 1970, he starred in the Broadway production of Purlie, for which he earned both a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award. His first leading television role was that of the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland on the ABC sitcom Temperatures Rising (1972–1974). While starring in the sitcom, Little appeared in what has become his signature performance, portraying Sheriff Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy film Blazing Saddles.

Melissa Cecelia Ewen Bell was an English singer. From 1993 to 1996, Bell was one of the lead singers of British R&B act Soul II Soul, with whom she released a single titled "Wish". She also created her own band called Soul Explosion, which started in 1999. Bell also worked with Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder.

Margaret Osla Henniker-Major was a Canadian debutante, who worked at Bletchley Park, was Prince Philip's first girlfriend, and later married John Henniker-Major.