List of Famous people who died in 1985

Abe Burrows was an American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage. He won a Tony Award.

Joseph Kushner was an American real estate magnate, patriarch of the Kushner family as father of Murray Kushner and Charles Kushner, grandfather of Jared Kushner, Joshua Kushner, and Marc Kushner. At the end of his career, he owned over 4,000 apartments, houses, and properties, which he willed to his family.

Ivan Mikhailovich Chisov was a Soviet Air Force lieutenant who survived a fall of approximately 7,000 meters. Some references give the spelling of his last name as Chissov.

Phil Silvers was an American entertainer and comedic actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah". His career as a professional entertainer spanned nearly sixty years. Silvers achieved major popularity when he starred in The Phil Silvers Show, a 1950s sitcom set on a U.S. Army post in which he played Master Sergeant Ernest (Ernie) Bilko. He also starred in the films It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966). He is a winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on The Phil Silvers Show and two Tony Awards for his performances in Top Banana and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

William David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech, known as David Ormsby-Gore until June 1961 and as Sir David Ormsby-Gore from then until February 1964, was a British diplomat and Conservative politician.

John Morton Downey was an American singer and entertainer popular in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, enjoying his greatest success in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Downey was nicknamed "The Irish Nightingale".

Meri Hafizovna Avidzba was a Soviet military pilot and navigator and was the first female aviator from Abkhazia. She was awarded two medals for her actions in the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945), where she served as a navigator of the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, known by the Germans as the Night Witches. Later in her life, she was elected a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of Abkhazia.

Wallace "Mad Bear" Anderson was a Tuscarora Native American activist predominantly active in the 1950s who became a spokesman for Native American Sovereignty.

Benno Sterzenbach was a German cinema and theatre actor and director.

Robert Dean Stethem was a United States Navy Seabee diver who was murdered by alleged Hezbollah fighters during the hijacking of the commercial airliner he was aboard, TWA Flight 847. At the time of his death, his Navy rating was Steelworker Second Class (SW2). He was posthumously promoted to Master Chief Constructionman (CUCM).