List of Famous people who died at 79

Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".

Séamus Hegarty, D.D. was an Irish Catholic prelate. He served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1982 to 1994, then as Bishop of Derry from 1994 to 2011.

Ana Bertha Lepe Jiménez was a Mexican actress of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In 1953, she was Señorita México and the third runner-up at the Miss Universe contest.

Robert R. Benton was an American set decorator. He was nominated for four Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.

Steve Raines was an American television and film actor. He appeared in many TV Western series.

Alfred "Fred" Sinowatz was an Austrian politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), who served as Chancellor of Austria from 1983 to 1986. Prior to becoming Chancellor, he had served as Minister of Education from 1971 to 1983 and Vice-Chancellor from 1981 to 1983.

Carlos Antonio de Padua Chávez y Ramírez was a Mexican composer, conductor, music theorist, educator, journalist, and founder and director of the Mexican Symphonic Orchestra. He was influenced by native Mexican cultures. Of his six symphonies, the second, or Sinfonía india, which uses native Yaqui percussion instruments, is probably the most popular.

Simone Scatizzi was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pistoia, Italy.