List of Famous people who died at 78

Philippe Barrès was a French journalist and the son of Maurice Barrès.

Bansi Lal Legha was an Indian independence activist, senior Congress leader, former Chief Minister of Haryana, former Defense Minister of India, and considered by many to be the architect of modern Haryana. Bansi Lal was part of the famous Lal trio of Haryana which also included 'Tau' Devi Lal and Bhajan Lal, that form the major Political families of Haryana.

Gaston Egmond Thorn was a Luxembourg politician who served in a number of high-profile positions, both domestically and internationally. Amongst the posts that he held were the 19th Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1974–1979), President of the United Nations General Assembly (1975), and the seventh President of the European Commission (1981–1985).

Olov Sune Jonsson was a Swedish documentary photographer and writer.

Elizabeth Johnston Patterson was an American politician from South Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, she was a three-term member of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993.

Lev Nikolaevich Zaikov was a Soviet politician and statesman. Member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee, and secretary of the CPSU Central Committee.

Elena Fabrizi, popularly known as Sora Lella, was an Italian stage, television and film actress, and a television personality.