List of Famous people who died at 54

David Ernest Peckinpah was a television writer, producer and director. David was the nephew of film director Sam Peckinpah and son of Denver "Denny" Peckinpah, a Fresno County Superior Court Judge. He was the writer and producer of several series including the cable TV shows DEA, Silk Stalkings, Sliders and Beauty and the Beast. He also had a number of series in development at the time of his death.

Georgios Gennimatas was a Greek politician and founding member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. He occupied several cabinet posts in the PASOK governments under Andreas Papandreou, serving as Minister of Interior (1981–1984), Welfare and Social Insurance (1984–1987), Labour (1987–1989) and National Economy. He is most notable for his official recognition of the left-wing fighters of the Greek Resistance during World War II and his healthcare and welfare reforms which established the National Health System of Greece. His daughter Fofi Gennimata is also a PASOK politician.

Giuseppe Sinopoli was an Italian conductor and composer.

Danilo Kiš was a Serbian and a Yugoslav novelist, short story writer, essayist and translator. His best known works include Hourglass, A Tomb for Boris Davidovich and The Encyclopedia of the Dead.

Leonard "Lenny" Hart was an American drummer who owned and operated Hart Music, selling drums and musical instruments in San Carlos, California. He was the father of Mickey Hart, one of the percussionists for the Grateful Dead. Lenny Hart was also the Grateful Dead's original money manager. In March, 1970, he disappeared along with approximately US$155,000 of the group's profits.

Josef Odložil was a Czech middle-distance runner. During the 1960s he was a national champion on numerous occasions but had mixed success at international level. He won a silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.