List of Famous people who died in 1979

James Gordon Farrell was an English-born novelist of Irish descent who spent much of his childhood in Ireland. He gained prominence for a series of novels known as "the Empire Trilogy", which deal with the political and human consequences of British colonial rule.

Evald Vassilievich Ilyenkov was a Marxist author and Soviet philosopher.

Bernt Sverre Evensen was a Norwegian speed skater and racing cyclist who competed in skating at the 1928 and 1932 Winter Olympics.

Etsusaburo Shiina was a career bureaucrat and politician. As Foreign Minister of Japan from 1964 to 1966 he played a pivotal role in diplomatic relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Thomas Fasti Dinesen was a Danish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the younger brother of the author Karen Blixen.