List of Famous people who died in 2008

Christian Devi Brando was an American actor who was one of the eleven children of actor Marlon Brando, and the only one Brando had with actress Anna Kashfi.

Thomas Dörflein was a German zookeeper at the Berlin Zoological Garden for 26 years. After the baby polar bear Knut was abandoned by his mother shortly after his birth in 2006, Dörflein—who cared for both the zoo's wolves and the bears—was assigned as the cub's caretaker. As a result of the zoo's decision to raise Knut by hand, and the resultant close relationship between keeper and animal, Dörflein became a reluctant celebrity.

Sobhan Babu was an Indian film actor known for his works exclusively in Telugu cinema. He made his film debut in Bhakta Shabari (1959), but Daivabalam (1959), was released earlier at the box office. Sobhan babu has garnered five state Nandi Awards for Best Actor, and four Filmfare Awards for Best Telugu Actor.

Mikhail Isaievich Tanich (Tankhilevich) was a popular Russian song lyrics writer of Jewish descent, a laureate of the Interior Ministry Award (1997), a laureate of the jubilee contest The Song of the Year devoted to the 25th anniversary of that television program, a laureate of nearly all the annual festivals The Song of the Year, and a laureate of the Ovation National Music Award (1997).

Patriarch Alexy II was the 15th Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus', the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Sir Edmund Percival Hillary was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. From 1985 to 1988 he served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and concurrently as Ambassador to Nepal.

Zenzile Miriam Makeba, nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa.

Jerry Reed Hubbard was an American country music singer, guitarist, composer, and songwriter, as well as an actor who appeared in more than a dozen films. His signature songs included "Guitar Man", "U.S. Male", "A Thing Called Love", "Alabama Wild Man", "Amos Moses", "When You're Hot, You're Hot", "Ko-Ko Joe", "Lord, Mr. Ford", "East Bound and Down", "The Bird", and "She Got the Goldmine ".

Nadezhda Vasilyevna Rumyantseva was a popular Soviet and Russian actress. People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1991).

Sarla Thukral was among the first Indian women to fly aircraft.