List of Famous people who died in 2009

Ramaswamy Venkataraman was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist and politician who served as a Union Minister and as the eighth President of India.

Noordin Mohammad Top was a Malaysian Muslim extremist, also referred to as

• Noordin
• Din Moch Top
• Muh Top
• Top M or
• Mat Top

James Allen Whitmore Jr. was an American film, theatre, and television actor. During his career, he won three of the four EGOT honors: a Tony, a Grammy, and an Emmy. Whitmore also won a Golden Globe and was nominated for two Academy Awards.

George Harvey Presnell was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid-1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States.

John Rockford "Rocky" Hill was an American blues guitarist, singer, and bassist from Dallas, Texas, United States. Hill was the older brother of ZZ Top bassist, Dusty Hill.

Chonira Belliappa Muthamma was the first woman to clear the Indian Civil Services examinations. She was also the first woman to join the Indian Foreign Service. She was the first Indian woman diplomat as well. Later, she became the first Indian woman Ambassador also. She is remembered for her successful crusade for gender equality in the Indian Civil Services.

Yan Mayorovich Arlazorov was a Soviet and Russian theater actor, stand up comedian and entertainer, Honored Artist of Russia (1997), winner of the All-Russian Competition of Variety Artists.

Semyon Lyvovich Ferdman PAR, better known by his stage name Semyon Farada was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor.

Altovise Joanne Davis was an American entertainer, best known for being Sammy Davis Jr.'s third wife.

Hélio Gracie was a Brazilian martial artist who together with his brothers Oswaldo, Gastao Jr, George & Carlos Gracie founded and developed the self-defense martial art system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.