List of Famous people who died in 2008

Pierre Van Dormael was a Belgian jazz guitarist and composer.

Essam Baheeg was an Egyptian footballer who played as a winger for Zamalek. He also played for the Egyptian national team, and represented his country and was part of the team that won the 1959 Africa Cup of Nations.

Dora Bria was a Brazilian six-time windsurfing champion.

Mary Katherine Linaker was an American actress and screenwriter who appeared in many B movies during the 1930s and 1940s, most notably Kitty Foyle (1940) starring Ginger Rogers. Linaker used her married name, Kate Phillips, as a screenwriter, notably for the cult movie hit The Blob (1958). She is credited with coining the name "The Blob" for the movie, which was originally titled "The Molten Meteor".

Gerald "Jerry" Wexler was a music journalist turned music producer, and was one of the main record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s. He coined the term "rhythm and blues", and was integral in signing and/or producing many of the biggest acts of the time, including Ray Charles, the Allman Brothers, Chris Connor, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Wilson Pickett, Dire Straits, Dusty Springfield and Bob Dylan. Wexler was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and in 2017 to the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Tseng Cheng, OBE, JP was a Hong Kong businessman, government advisor, public welfare advocate, and philanthropist. He has ancestral roots in Zhuhai, Guangdong. He was best noted for his positions as a board member of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, Director of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Disease Foundation.

Tyronne Fernando PC was a Sri Lankan politician who served as Foreign Minister from 2001 until 2004.

Sofron Dmyterko O.S.B.M. was a Ukrainian Bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Kung Ling-i, born in Taigu County, Shanxi, was the eldest daughter of Kung Hsiang-hsi and Soong Ai-ling.