Harold Pinter just passed away last week - brilliant playwright. One of my all-time favorites, and definitely influential on my own work.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn died this summer - "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" is a favorite book of mine, as is "Cancer Ward." I'm always enamored with writers who take such huge personal risks for their work.
Stan Winston did the effects on Edward Scissorhands, which I watch every Christmas and is one of my favorite films.
Paul Newman was great in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, I think when I saw this film, it was the first time I understood that a man could be beautiful. I also remember seeing an interview of him with his wife Joanne Woodward - I think it was a Barbara Walters Special, and being touched by the way they clearly, truly loved one another, and realizing it was possible to love someone in the long term, in a deep and honest way.
Health Ledger was, to me, mind blowing in the Dark Knight and as good as the hype, and I also think he was lovely in Broke Back Mountain.
Estelle Getty - I just always liked her as Sofia. I think she was a brilliant actress.
Charlton Heston - not a fan, but damn if Planet of the Apes didn't blow my mind as a kid.
Anthony Minghella - directed The English Patient, which is one of my all time favorites, as well as The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain, both of which I still greatly enjoy.