January 12, 2003

2003Dean Amadon, American ornithologist and author (born 1912)^[†]

Dean Arthur Amadon was an American ornithologist and an authority on birds of prey.

2003Kinji Fukasaku, Japanese actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1930)^[†]

Kinji Fukasaku was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking", Fukasaku worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty yakuza films, typified by the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series (1973–1976). According to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, "his turbulent energy and at times extreme violence express a cynical critique of social conditions and genuine sympathy for those left out of Japan's postwar prosperity." He used a cinema verite-inspired shaky camera technique in many of his films from the early 1970s.

2003Leopoldo Galtieri, Argentine general and politician, 44th President of Argentina (born 1926)^[†]

Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli was an Argentine military officer who served as the de facto President of Argentina from December 1981 to June 1982. Galtieri ruled as a military ruler during the National Reorganization Process as leader of the Third Junta with Jorge Anaya and Basilio Lami Dozo.

2003Maurice Gibb, Manx-Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1949)^[†]

Maurice Ernest Gibb was a British musician and songwriter. He achieved global fame as a member of the Bee Gees pop group. Although his elder brother Barry Gibb and fraternal twin brother Robin Gibb were the group's main lead singers, most of their albums included at least one or two songs featuring Maurice's lead vocals, including "Lay It on Me", "Country Woman" and "On Time". The Bee Gees are one of the most successful pop-rock groups of all time.