List of Famous people who died in 2008

Helmut Kentler was a German psychologist, sexual scientist, and professor for social education at the University of Hannover. After his death, sexual-political positions in his writings were seen and criticized as promotion of pedophilia.

Marcial Maciel Degollado was a Mexican Catholic priest who founded the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi movement. He was general director of the legion from 1941 to 2005. Throughout most of his career, he was respected within the Church as "the greatest fundraiser of the modern Roman Catholic church" and as a prolific recruiter of new seminarians. Late in his life, Maciel was revealed to have been a long time drug addict who sexually abused many boys and young men in his care. After his death, it came to light that he had also maintained sexual relationships with at least four women, one of whom was a minor at the time. He fathered as many as six children, two of whom he is alleged to have abused.

Nina Foch was a Dutch-born American actress and director who later became an instructor in both subjects. Her career spanned six decades, consisting of over 50 feature films and over 100 television appearances. She was the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and a National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. Foch established herself as a dramatic actress in the late 1940s, often playing cool, aloof sophisticates.

Sir Arthur Charles Clarke was an English science-fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host.

Fernando Monteiro Torres was a Brazilian actor and voice-over artist, as well as a television, film and theater director and producer. Torres' career in Brazilian film, stage and television spanned over five decades. He was best known to international movie audiences for his supporting role as Americo in the 1985 film, Kiss of the Spider Woman, which won several awards.

Dercy Gonçalves, stage name of Dolores Gonçalves Costa was a Brazilian actress, comedian and singer. She stood 4 feet 11 inches (1.50 m) tall. In her 86-year-long career, Dercy Gonçalves worked in the theater, revues, film, radio and television, becoming famous by her humorous use of vulgar language. In 1991, at the age of 83, she caused controversy by exposing her breasts while parading with a Samba school in Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was an American actress and producer. She was best known for her roles as Nurse Christine Chapel in the original Star Trek series and Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as well as for being the voice of most onboard computer interfaces throughout the series. She became the second wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

Samuel John Bottoms was an American actor and producer.

Michel Modo, born Michel Henri Louis Goi at Carpentras (Vaucluse), was a French actor and humorist. Modo died of cancer on September 25, 2008 in Vaires-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne).

Alfred Pfaff was a German football player and World Cup winner with West Germany in 1954.