What Happened in December 2023

Historical Events

Kennedy Center Honors

Dec 3 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony held for pop singer Dionne Warwick, singer-songwriter Barry Gibb, comic-actor Billy Crystal, operatic soprano Renée Fleming, and singer-actress Queen Latifah, in Washington D.C.

Singer, Rapper and Actress Queen Latifah

Sports History

Dec 4 Caitlin Clark posts 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for Iowa against Wisconsin, surpassing the Big Ten career triple-double record

Dec 5 Sculptor Jesse Darling wins the Turner Prize for his sculptures made of everyday objects [1]
Dec 6 South Fork Wind, the first large-scale offshore wind farm begins supplying electricity to the US, 35 miles off Montauk [1]

Music History

Dec 6 Taylor Swift is named Time's Person of the Year [1]

Dec 7 The China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL), the world's deepest and largest underground laboratory at 2,400 meters begins operating below Jinping Mountains [1]
Dec 8 Exhibition "The Art of Zen" featuring ink painting "Persimmons" the 'Zen Mona Lisa' by 13th century Chinese monk Muqi opens In San Francisco [1]

Sports History

Dec 8 Kawhi Leonard scores a season-high 41 points in a win over the Utah Jazz

Dec 9 89th Heisman Trophy Award: Jayden Daniels, LSU (QB)
Dec 9 Japanese baseball two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani signs a North American pro-sports record 10-year $700m deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Dec 10 Mosconi Cup nine-ball pool, London, England: German Joshua Filler takes MVP award as Europe complete an 11-3 whitewash of the US
Dec 11 Canadian accused poison seller Kenneth Law who allegedly sent 200 packages to people in more than 40 countries, is charged with 14 counts of murder [1]
Dec 11 Former PM and European Council President, Donald Tusk elected Prime Minister of Poland at head of a coalition government, after eight years of controversial conservative rule [1]
Dec 12 U.N. General Assembly votes overwhelmingly to demand a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, amid reports 18,000 Palestinians have been killed, 70% children and women, with over 80% now homeless [1]
Dec 13 COP28 in Dubai ends with agreement from 190 counties to begin “transitioning away from fossil fuels”, a compromise but still the first to directly address an end to fossil fuels [1]
Dec 13 Researchers pinpoint possible cause of extreme morning sickness in pregnancy - low levels of the hormone GDF15 [1]
Dec 14 European Union agrees to open membership negotiations with Ukraine at a summit on Brussels [1]

Sports History

Dec 14 Lewis Koumas is an unused substitute in a Europa League match against Union SG

Dec 15 American jazz vocal quartet "The Manhattan Transfer" marks their 50th anniversary with a farewell concert at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, California [1]

Event of Interest

Dec 15 Mexico's Maya Train inaugurated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, first part of a $20 billion, 950-mile line tourist train route around the Yucatan peninsular [1]

Politician, President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador

Dec 15 New report reveals homelessness in the US increased by 12%, with more than 650,000 people experiencing homeless one night in January 2023 [1]
Dec 15 State memorial held for Australian entertainer Barry Humphries (behind Dame Edna Everage character) at Sydney Opera House [1]

Event of Interest

Dec 15 US jury orders American attorney Rudy Giuliani to pay $148M to two former Georgia election workers in civil defamation suit for spreading lies about them following 2020 presidential election [1]

Dec 16 61 people drown after a boat carrying migrants capsizes off the coast Zuwara, Libya [1]

Event of Interest

Dec 16 Donald Trump says immigrants coming to the US are “poisoning the blood of our country,” at a campaign rally in New Hampshire, refuted by Joe Biden's campaign as words Hitler would say [1]

45th US President, Businessman and TV Personality Donald Trump

46th US President, Vice President and Senator Joe Biden

Dec 18 6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Jishishan county in Gansu Province killing at least 127 people - China's worst earthquake in 13 years [1]
Dec 18 BP joins other companies in pausing transit of ships through the Red Sea, amid attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on commercial vessels, with serious implications for global shipping [1]
Dec 18 Extreme rainfall and flooding after Cyclone Jasper breaks 100-year old weather records around Cairns and Daintree in northern Queensland, Australia [1]
Dec 18 Icelandic volcano erupts on Reykjanes peninsula, 40km from country's capital Reykjavik [1]

Event of Interest

Dec 18 Pope Francis will allow priests to bless same-sex couples, though not when connected to a civil or same-sex union [1]

Dec 18 Utah YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke pleads guilty to child abuse charges, including convincing her children they are evil and possessed [1]
Dec 19 "Science" names anti-obesity medications that mimic the hormone GLP-1 their breakthrough of the year, that contain semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) [1]
Dec 19 141 Indian opposition MPs are suspended for protesting a security breach, when two intruders sprayed glass inside parliament [1]
Dec 19 Colorado’s Supreme Court rules Donald Trump is ineligible to run for President after participating in an insurrection, under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment [1]
Dec 19 Oakland judge exonerates Glynn Simmons, 70, after he spent 48 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit - longest known wrongful sentence in the US [1]
Dec 20 Gaza Health Authority says the death toll has reached nearly 20,000 from the war with Israel - higher than other Arab conflict with Israel in more than 40 years [1]
Dec 21 Caitlin Clark ties Elena Delle Donne as the fastest Division I women's player to reach 2,000 career points in a game for Iowa against Dartmouth
Dec 22 UN Security Council resolution votes to speed up delivery of desperately needed aid for Gaza 13-0 with Russia and the US abstaining [1]
Dec 24 Beijing breaks its 1951 record for sub-zero December temperatures, recording more than 300 hours as a record cold spell affects the north and northeast of China [1]
Dec 26 The Detroit Pistons suffer a 118-112 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at home to set an NBA single-season record with their 27th straight defeat
Dec 28 L’Oréal heiress and businesswoman Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is the first woman to be worth $100 billion, after a rise in the company's share price [1]

Event of Interest

Dec 31 Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (83) announces her plan to abdicate the throne on her 52nd anniversary of ascension on January 14

Events in 2023

Famous Weddings

Vanessa Hudgens

Dec 2 American "High School Musical" actress Vanessa Hudgens (34) weds American baseball player Cole Tucker (27) at Azulik Resort in Tulum, Mexico

Greta Gerwig

Dec 20 Filmmakers Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach confirm their marriage at New York's City Hall [1]

Famous Deaths

Sandra Day O'Connor (1930-2023)

Dec 1 American lawyer and judge, 1st woman Supreme Court Justice (1981- 2006), dies of complications of dementia at 93 [1]

Dec 2 Michel Le Milinaire, French soccer coach (Laval 1968-92, Rennes 1993-96), dies at 92
Dec 2 Mike Maxfield, British rock guitarist and songwriter (Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas - "The Cruel Sea"), dies at 79
Dec 3 Myles Goodwyn, Canadian rock guitarist, singer and songwriter (April Wine - "You Could Have Been a Lady"), and record producer, dies at 75 [1]
Dec 4 James L. Easton, American businessman, sports executive (President BRG Sports; President World Archery Federation 1989-2005; IOC member 1994-2023), dies at 88
Dec 4 Marius Frattini, French rugby league halfback (6 Tests; Avignon, Cavaillon, Entraigues), dies at 82
Dec 5 Denny Laine [Brian Hines], British rock guitarist (The Moody Blues, 1964-66 - "Go Now"; Wings - "Mull of Kintyre"), dies of lung disease at 79 [1]
Dec 5 Norman Lear, American Peabody and Emmy Award-winning TV writer and producer (All in The Family; One Day at a Time; The Jeffersons; Maude), and film director (Cold Turkey), dies at 101 [1] [2]
Dec 6 Tore Aleksandersen, Norwegian women's volleyball coach (Allianz MTV Stuttgart; Norway, Finland women's national teams), dies from prostate cancer at 55
Dec 6 Vic Davalillo, Venezuelan baseball outfielder (MLB All Star 1965, Gold Glove 1964 Cleveland Indians; World Series 1971, 73 Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 84
Dec 7 Aleksandr Dronov, Russian Chess Grandmaster (3 x World Correspondence Champion), dies at 77
Dec 7 Benjamin Zephaniah, British writer and dub poet, dies of a brain tumour at 65
Dec 8 Clyde Butts, West Indian cricket spin bowler (7 Tests, 10 wickets; Guyana), dies in a motor accident at 66
Dec 8 Joe Solomon, West Indian cricket batsman (27 Tests, 1 x 100, 9 x 50, HS 100no; British Guiana, Berbice), dies at 93
Dec 8 Paul Webb, American college basketball coach (Randolph–Macon College 1956-75, Old Dominion University 1975-85), dies at 94
Dec 8 Ryan O'Neal, American actor (Love Story; Paper Moon; What's Up, Doc?), dies at 82 [1]
Dec 9 Frank Wycheck, American football tight end (Pro Bowl 1998, 99, 2000; Washington Redskins, Houston/Tennessee Oilers-Titans), dies after a fall at 52
Dec 10 David Drake, American lawyer, army veteran, and science fiction author (Hammer's Slammers; Lord of the Isles), dies at 78
Dec 10 Syd Millar, Irish rugby union prop (37 Tests Ireland; 9 British & Irish Lions; Ballymena RFC, Ulster), coach (Ireland, B&I Lions 1974) and executive (IRFU President 1995-96), dies at 89
Dec 11 Andre Braugher, American Emmy Award-winning actor (Homicide: Life on the Street; Brooklyn Nine-Nine), dies of lung cancer at 61 [1]
Dec 11 Essra Mohawk [Sandra Hurvitz], American singer-songwriter, dies of cancer at 75 [1]
Dec 11 Jeffrey Foskett, American session and touring singer and guitarist (The Beach Boys; Brian Wilson; Wondermints), dies of thyroid cancer at 67
Dec 11 Kenny Graham, American football safety (AFL All-Star 1965, 67, 68, 69 San Diego Chargers; Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers), dies at 82
Dec 11 Osamu Kido, Japanese wrestler (NJPW/UWF), dies at 73
Dec 11 Zahara [Bulelwa Mkutukana], South African singer-songwriter and guitarist (Loliwe), dies of an illness at 36 [1]
Dec 12 Kostas Nestoridis, Greek soccer forward (17 caps; Panionios FC, AEK Athens) and manager (Pandramaikos FC, AEK Athens), dies at 93
Dec 13 Antonio Juliano, Italian soccer midfielder (13 caps; Napoli 394 games, Bologna), dies at 80
Dec 13 Bill Burgess, American college football coach (Jacksonville State University 1985-96; NCAA Division II C'ship 1992), dies at 82
Dec 13 Derek Stirling, New Zealand cricket fast bowler (6 Tests, 13 wickets; Central Districts, Wellington), dies of cancer at 62
Dec 13 Des White, New Zealand rugby league fullback (21 Tests, 132 points; Ponsonby RLFC), dies at 96
Dec 13 Paul Litjens, Dutch field hockey striker (177 caps, 268 goals; Champions Trophy 1981; top scorer Olympic Games 1976), dies at 76
Dec 13 Ted Morgan [Sanche de Gramont], French-American Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, and biographer, dies at 91
Dec 14 George McGinnis, American Basketball HOF power forward (ABA MVP 1975; 3 x ABA All-Star Indiana Pacers; 3 x NBA All-Star Philadelphia 76ers), dies of complications following cardiac arrest at 73
Dec 16 Carlos Lyra, Brazilian bossa nova guitarist and singer-songwriter, dies of sepsis at 90 [1]
Dec 16 Rolando Garbey, Cuban boxer (World C'ship gold light middleweight 1974; Olympic silver 1968, bronze 1976), dies of cardiac arrest at 76
Dec 18 Abderrahim Ouakili, Moroccan soccer midfielder (11 caps; Mainz 05, 1860 Munich, Tennis Borussia Berlin, Karlsruher SC), dies at 53
Dec 18 Bo Larsson, Swedish football striker (70 caps; Malmö FF 310 games 119 goals, VfB Stuttgart), dies at 79
Dec 18 Brian Price, Welsh rugby union lock (32 Tests Wales, 4 British & Irish Lions; Newport RFC, Barbarians RFC), dies at 86
Dec 19 Boro Jovanović, Croatian tennis player (Wimbledon doubles 1962 runner-up [Nikola Pilić]), dies at 84
Dec 19 Ed Budde, American football guard (Pro Bowl 1970, 71; Super Bowl IV KC Chiefs; 5 × AFL All-Star; First-team All-AFL 1966, 69), dies at 83
Dec 20 Torben Ulrich, Danish tennis player, musician, writer, filmmaker, and father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, dies at 95

Robert Solow (1924-2023)

Dec 21 American economist who developed the Solow–Swan model of economic growth (Nobel Prize, 1987), dies at 99

Dec 22 Laura Lynch, American bluegrass and country musician and songwriter (Dixie Chicks, 1989-95), killed in a car crash at 65 [1]
Dec 23 (Myron) "Mike" Nussbaum, American stage and screen character actor (David Mamet works), and director, dies at 99
Dec 23 Murad Kazhlayev, Soviet and Dagestani composer, and conductor, dies at 92
Dec 24 David Leland, English BAFTA, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning stage and screen director, playwright, and screenwriter (Wish You Were Here; The Borgias; Band of Brothers; Concert for George), dies at 82 [1]
Dec 24 Ron Nelson, American composer, and pedagogue (Brown University, 1973-93), dies at 94
Dec 26 Tommy Smothers, American comedian and folk singer (The Smothers Brothers Show; Serial), dies of lung cancer at 86 [1]
Dec 27 Herb Kohl, American businessman (Kohls department stores; Milwaukee Bucks, 1985-2014), politician (US Senator (D) from Wisconsin, 1989-2013), and philanthropist, dies at 88
Dec 27 Lee Sun-kyun. South Korean actor (Parasite, Pasta; Paju), dies of apparent suicide at 48
Dec 27 Mbongeni Ngema, South African playwright, lyricist, composer, and theatre producer (Sarafina!), dies in a car crash at 68 [1]
Dec 28 Bill McColl, American College Football Hall of Fame end (Stanford University; Chicago Bears 1952-59), dies at 93
Dec 28 François Bracci, French soccer defender (18 caps; Olympique de Marseille, RC Strasbourg, FC Bordeaux), dies at 72
Dec 28 Shaharuddin Abdullah, Malaysian soccer striker (70 caps, 39 goals; Penang FC, Penjara FC), dies at 75
Dec 29 Gil de Ferran, Brazilian auto racer (Indianapolis 500 2003; Champ Car Series 2000, 01), dies from a heart attack at 56
Dec 29 Les McCann, American jazz pianist, soul singer ("Compared to What"), painter, and photographer, dies of pneumonia at 88 [1]
Dec 29 Maurice Hines, American tap-dancer, choreographer, actor, and theater director, dies at 80 [1]
Dec 30 Tom Wilkinson, English stage and screen BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning actor (The Full Monty; John Adams; Michael Clayton), dies at 75 [1]
Dec 31 Ana Ofelia Murguía, Mexican actress (Mamá Coco-Coco; La Reina de la Noche), dies at 90