List of Famous people who died in 2017

Michel Arrivé was a French novelist, short story writer, linguist and academic. He was a Professor of Linguistics and Semiotics at Paris Nanterre University from 1983 to 2006. He authored several novels and short stories.

Antony Morgan "Tony" Madigan was an Australian boxer and rugby player. He competed in boxing at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics and finished in fifth, fifth and third place, respectively. In 1960 Madigan lost his semi-final to Muhammad Ali. He also won medals at three Commonwealth Games in the light-heavyweight division – a silver in 1954 and gold in 1958 and 1962.

Jim McElreath was an American racing driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.

Georges Martin was a French engineer, a graduate of the Special School of Public Works, "mechanical-electrical" section. He designed automobile internal combustion engines including the "Poissy engine" that powered various cars from Simca, Matra, Chrysler, Talbot, Plymouth, and Dodge from 1961 until 1991, and perhaps more famously, the successful V12 Matra Sports engine for Matra's Formule 1 team.

Roberta Peters was an American coloratura soprano.

Eduardo Portella was a Brazilian essayist, author, and Professor Emeritus at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. He authored thirty books and was President of UNESCO's general conference.

James Marcellus Arthur "Sunny" Murray was one of the pioneers of the free jazz style of drumming.

Ebrahim Yazdi was an Iranian politician, pharmacist, and diplomat who served as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs in the interim government of Mehdi Bazargan, until his resignation in November 1979, in protest at the Iran hostage crisis. From 1995 until 2017, he headed the Freedom Movement of Iran. Yazdi was also a trained cancer researcher.

Joan Colom i Altemir was a Spanish photographer renowned for his portraits of Barcelona's underworld and working class, especially in the infamous neighbourhood of Raval.

Vasily Mikhailovich Tarasyuk was a member of the State Duma of Russia. He was a member of the LDPR, and was Deputy Chairman of the State Duma's Committee on Natural Resources and Utilization. He previously served as chairman of a petroleum company. He drowned in the Dead Sea while on vacation in Israel.