List of Famous people who died in 2008

Odetta Holmes, known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, lyricist, and a civil and human rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals. An important figure in the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, she influenced many of the key figures of the folk-revival of that time, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin. Time magazine included her recording of "Take This Hammer" on its list of the 100 Greatest Popular Songs, stating that "Rosa Parks was her No. 1 fan, and Martin Luther King Jr. called her the queen of American folk music."

Zvonimir Črnko was a Croatian actor. He appeared in more than thirty films from 1963 to 1985.

Ivan Semedi (1921–2008) was bishop of the Eparchy of Mukacheve from 1983 to 2002.

Irving Gertz was an American composer recognized for his compositions for many fantasy and horror B-movies and TV series of the 1950s and 1960s.

Walter Santesso was an Italian film actor and director. His character name "Paparazzo" in Federico Fellini's 1960 film La Dolce Vita has become synonymous with modern celebrity/tabloid photographers, who are collectively referred to as paparazzi.

Alain Levent was a French cinematographer and film director. He worked on 80 films between 1960 and 2007. His 1972 film The Bar at the Crossing was entered into the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival.

Magdalena Cecilia Colledge was a British figure skater. She was the 1936 Olympic silver medalist, the 1937 World Champion, the 1937–1939 European Champion, and a six-time British national champion.