List of Famous people who died at 72

Zhang Shiping was a Chinese entrepreneur. He oversaw the rise of China Hongqiao Group to become the world's biggest aluminum producer and was dubbed China's "Aluminum King". On May 23, 2019, Zhang died of an unspecified illuness according to the official announcement of his hometown Zouping county in Shandong province.

Otto Winzer was an East German diplomat who served as East Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1965 to 1975.

Robert Jacobus Forbes or Robert James Forbes was a Dutch chemist and historian of science and professor in the history of applied science and technology at the University of Amsterdam.

Al Reinert was an American journalist, film director, screenwriter and producer. He co-wrote the screenplays for the Ron Howard film Apollo 13 and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, but is best known for directing and producing For All Mankind, an award-winning documentary about NASA's Apollo program. He died of lung cancer at his home in Wimberley, Texas on December 31, 2018.

John Charles Roberts was an Australian businessman who was the founding chairman and an executive director of construction company Multiplex.

Milton de Oliveira Ismael Silva, known as Ismael Silva, was a Brazilian samba musician. In 1925 he had his first recorded his samba. His best-known compositions were Me faz carinhos, Se você jurar, Antonico, Para me livrar do mal, Novo amor, Ao romper da aurora, Tristezas não pagam dívidas, Me diga o teu nome, among others.

Tarcisio Vincenzo Benedetti was the Italian Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lodi from his appointment by Pope Pius XII on November 11, 1952, until his death on May 24, 1972.