List of Famous people who died in 2008

Zélia Gattai Amado de Faria was a Brazilian photographer, memoirist, novelist and author of children's literature, as well as a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. Gattai wrote 14 different literary works, including children's books and her own personal memoirs have been widely published.

Ingolf Gorges (1940–2008) was a German stage, film and television actor. Based in East Germany, he appeared in a number of DEFA films during the 1960s.

Georgi Kitov was a Bulgarian archaeologist and thracologist. He specialized in Thracian archaeology. He participated in the excavations of many sites including the Alexandrovo Tomb, Kosmatka, Svetitzata and Starosel Cult Complex.

James Carl Inkanish, Jr., known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was a drummer and vocalist for The Mothers of Invention.

Alain Robbe-Grillet was a French writer and filmmaker. He was one of the figures most associated with the Nouveau Roman trend of the 1960s, along with Nathalie Sarraute, Michel Butor and Claude Simon. Alain Robbe-Grillet was elected a member of the Académie française on 25 March 2004, succeeding Maurice Rheims at seat No. 32. He was married to Catherine Robbe-Grillet.

José Bispo Clementino dos Santos was a Brazilian samba singer known as Jamelão. He began in music as a tamborim player, but later became known as the official singer at samba school Mangueira's carnaval parades, performing in every Carnaval from 1949 to 2006. He also toured Europe as a solo performer.

Tony Duvert was a French writer and philosopher. In the 1970s he achieved some renown, winning the Prix Medicis in 1973 for his novel Paysage de Fantaisie. Duvert's writings are notable both for their style and core themes: the celebration and defence of pedophilia, and criticism of modern child-rearing. In the 1970s attitudes to sexual liberation and child sexuality allowed Duvert to express himself publicly. However, when attitudes altered markedly in the 1980s, he was left feeling frustrated and oppressed.

Carmen Silva, who was often credited as Carmem Silva, was a Brazilian television, stage and film actress. She was best known in recent years for her role on the Brazilian telenovela, Mulheres Apaixonadas in which she played Flora de Souza Duarte, the wife of Leopoldo Duarte. Mulheres Apaixonadas was created by Manoel Carlos.

Dith Pran was a Cambodian photojournalist. He was a refugee and survivor of the Cambodian genocide and the subject of the film The Killing Fields (1984).

Rimma Fyodorovna Kazakova was a Soviet/Russian poet. She was known for writing many popular songs of the Soviet era.