List of Famous people who died at 72

Nicolas Barone is a former French professional road bicycle racer. He was professional from 1955 to 1961 where he won 7 races. He wore the yellow jersey for one day in the 1957 Tour de France. His victories include two stage wins in the Tour de Luxembourg, one stage win in Paris–Nice, Paris–Camembert in 1958 and 1959.

Sir (Frederick) George Binney (DSO) was a noted arctic explorer and Royal Naval Reserve commander. During World War II, he led or was involved in efforts, including Operation Rubble, to procure supplies of Swedish ball bearings for Britain.

Alfred Eastlack Driscoll was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey Senate (1939–1941) representing Camden County, who served as the 43rd Governor of New Jersey, and as president of Warner-Lambert.

Georges Henri Reeb was a French mathematician. He worked in differential topology, differential geometry, differential equations, topological dynamical systems theory and non-standard analysis.

Philip Wyndham Friend was a British film and television actor.

Giovanni Bramucci was an Italian road cyclist. In 1968 he won bronze medals in the team time trial at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and UCI Road World Championships. Individually he finished eighth at the Olympics and tenth at the world championships. After that he turned professional, but had little success and retired in 1971.

Claude Binyon was a screenwriter and director. His genres were comedy, musicals, and romances.