List of Famous people who died in 1979

Martin Felix Obzina was an Austrian-born American art director active in film from 1939 to 1953. Born in Vienna, he came to the United States in 1913 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1923. He worked as a stage designer and scenic artist during the 1920s and 1930s before embarking on a career in art direction. His output includes more than 50 feature films, for Universal, Monogram, and other studios, and television work during the 1950s and early 1960s. Obzina received two Academy Award nominations in the art direction category. He was nominated for two Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.

Margarete Gröwel was a German teacher who became a politician. Later, in 1953, she became the first woman to serve in the German consular service in Houston.

Louis Diage was an American set decorator. He was nominated for three Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.

Norma Koch was an American costume designer, usually credited as Norma, who won the Oscar for the film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? in the category Best Costume design-Black and White during the 1962 Academy Awards.

James Neilson was an American television director, known for his stage and film direction as well as his work with Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.