List of Famous people who died in 1979

Jean-Marie Villot was a French prelate and Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Lyon from 1965 to 1967, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy from 1967 to 1969, Vatican Secretary of State from 1969 to 1979, and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church from 1970 to 1979. He was made a cardinal in 1965.

Harry R. Sokal was a Romanian-born German film producer. He produced 22 films between 1926 and 1977. After working in the German film industry, Sokal emigrated following the Nazi rise to power in 1933. He lived and worked in Britain, France and the United States, before returning to Germany in 1949. In 1963 he was a member of the jury at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival.

Gabrielle Dorziat (1880–1979) was a French stage and film actress. Dorziat was a fashion trend setter in Paris and helped popularize the designs of Coco Chanel. The Théâtre Gabrielle-Dorziat in Épernay, France is named for her.

José María Velasco Ibarra was an Ecuadorian politician. He became president of Ecuador five times, in 1934–1935, 1944–1947, 1952–1956, 1960–1961, and 1968–1972, and only in 1952–1956 did he complete a full term. In his four other terms he was removed by military force, and several times he was installed as president through a military coup.