List of Famous people who died in 2006

Tsurugamine Akio, real name Akio Fukuzono, was a sumo wrestler from Aira, Kagoshima, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He was twice runner-up in a tournament and won 14 special prizes, including a record ten for Technique, and earned ten gold stars for defeating yokozuna. After his retirement he was the head of Izutsu stable and coached two of his sons, Sakahoko and Terao, to the top division.

Jece Valadão, pseudonym of Gecy Valadão was a Brazilian actor, director and producer. He became known by his cafajeste roles in films such as Rio 40 graus, (1955) and Os Cafajestes (1962).

Vinícius Gageiro Marques, better known by his internet alias Yoñlu, was a Brazilian singer-songwriter noted for the posthumous release of his work after his suicide at the age of sixteen.

Luckner Cambronne was a high-ranking political figure in François Duvalier's regime in Haiti.

Shōhei Imamura was a Japanese film director. His main interest as a filmmaker lay in the depiction of the lower strata of Japanese society. A key figure in the Japanese New Wave, who continued working into the 21st century, Imamura is the only director from Japan to win two Palme d'Or awards.

Wang Sheng was a general in the Republic of China Army from 1970, head of the General Political Warfare Department (總政治作戰部), and a close confidant to President Chiang Ching-kuo.

André Schwarz-Bart was a French novelist of Polish-Jewish origins. He was awarded the 1967 Jerusalem Prize.

Jon Andreas Nödtveidt was a Swedish musician. Best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist of the Swedish black metal band Dissection, he co-founded the band in 1989 with bassist Peter Palmdahl.

Hiroaki Hidaka was a Japanese serial killer.

Paul Marcinkus, GCOIH was an American archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church and president of the Vatican Bank from 1971 to 1989.