List of Famous people who died at 79

Robert Castel was a French sociologist and researcher at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales.

Lee Shin Cheng was a Malaysian business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Lee Shin Cheng heads IOI Corporation Berhad, better known as IOI Group, as its executive chairman. IOI, which is listed on the Malaysian Stock Exchange or Bursa Malaysia, is a conglomerate managing oil palm plantations, producing specialty fats and oleochemicals, and developing property in Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States, and Europe. The IOI refinery in Rotterdam, Netherlands is the largest palm oil refinery in Europe. IOI's oil palm plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia produce palm oil and palm kernel oil. These oils are made into specialty oils, metallic stearates and fats that are used in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and food additives. IOI Group is a leading real estate developer in Malaysia. Projects include townships, shopping malls, condominiums, office towers, and resorts.

Hugh Dudley Auchincloss Jr. was an American stockbroker and lawyer who became the second husband of Nina S. Gore, mother of Gore Vidal, and also the second husband of Janet Lee Bouvier, the mother of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Caroline Lee Bouvier.

Olive May Osmond was the matriarch of the American Osmond singing family.

Mohamud "Adde" Muse Hersi (Somali: Maxamuud Muuse Xirsi Cadde, Arabic: محمد موسى حرسي‎; 1 July 1937 – 8 February 2017) was a Somali politician. He was the President of the Puntland region of Somalia from 8 January 2005 to 8 January 2009.

Shaun Terence Young was an Irish film director and screenwriter best known for directing three James Bond films, including the first two films in the series, Dr. No (1962) and From Russia with Love (1963), as well as Thunderball (1965). His other films include Wait Until Dark (1967) and Inchon (1981).

George Balanchine was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer who was one of the most influential 20th-century choreographers. Styled as the father of American ballet, he co-founded the New York City Ballet and remained its Artistic Director for more than 35 years. His choreography is characterized by plotless ballets with minimal costume and décor, performed to classical and neoclassical music.

Jerry Ito was a Japanese-American film and television actor, born as Gerald Tamekichi Itō, specializing in Japanese films throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He was a cousin of Japanese-American composer Teiji Itō.

Sir Peter Markham Scott, was a British ornithologist, conservationist, painter, naval officer, broadcaster and sportsman. The only child of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott, he took an interest in observing and shooting wildfowl at a young age and later took to their breeding.