List of Famous people who died at 72

John de Courcy Ling CBE was a British diplomat, farmer, politician and writer. His Roman Catholic faith contributed to making him a strong internationalist who believed in overseas aid.

Warren Burton was an American actor. During the late 1970s and throughout the 1990s, he was seen on several daytime soap operas usually in villainous roles.

Kurt Feltz was a highly prolific German poet and song lyricist.

John Marshall Harlan was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1955 to 1971. Harlan is usually called John Marshall Harlan II to distinguish him from his grandfather John Marshall Harlan, who served on the Supreme Court from 1877 to 1911.

Vincent Gardenia was an Italian-American stage, film, and television actor. He was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, first for Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) and again for Moonstruck (1987). He also portrayed Det. Frank Ochoa in Death Wish (1974) and its 1982 sequel, as well as Mr. Mushnik in the musical film adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors (1986).

Gregorio Martínez Sacristán' was a Spanish Roman Catholic bishop.