- Jan 1 Arthur Prysock, American jazz and R&B singer ("I Didn't Sleep a Wink Last Night"; "In The Rain"), born in Spartanburg, South Carolina (d. 1997) (some sources state year as 1929)
- Jan 1 Charlie Munger, American investor (vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 2023)
- Jan 1 Roberts Blossom, American actor and poet (Home Alone, Deranged, The Great Gatsby), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 2011)
- Jan 3 Andre Franquin, Belgian cartoonist (Gaston), born in Etterbeek, Belgium (d. 1997)
- Jan 3 Doug Ellis, British entrepreneur (Chairman of Aston Villa), born in Hooton, England (d. 2018)
- Jan 3 Henry Fazzie, South African politician and activist (ANC), born in Stutterheim, Cape Province (d. 2011)
- Jan 3 Nell Rankin, American operatic mezzo-soprano (Carmen; Metropolitan Opera, 1951-76), born in Montgomery, Alabama (d. 2005)
- Jan 4 Sebastian Kappen, Indian theologian (d. 1993)
- Jan 5 Dr Gilbert Bogle, New Zealand-Australian scientist who died in the Bogle-Chandler case, born in Wanganui, New Zealand (d. 1963)
- Jan 6 Earl Scruggs, American bluegrass banjo player (Flatt & Scruggs - "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"; "Ballad of Jed Clampett"), born in Flint Hill, North Carolina (d. 2012)
- Jan 7 Geoffrey Bayldon, British stage and screen actor (Catweazle; Worzel Gummidge - "Crowman"), born in Leeds, England (d. 2017)
- Jan 7 Pablo Birger, Argentine racing driver (d. 1966)
- Jan 7 Roloff Beny, Canadian painter and photographer (A Time of Gods), born in Medicine Hat, Alberta (d. 1984)
- Jan 8 Benjamin Lees [Lysniansky], American composer (Kalmar Nyckel; Memorial Candles), born in Harbin, Manchuria, China (d. 2010)
Kim Dae-jung (1924-2009)
Jan 8 8th President of South Korea (1998-2003) and 2000 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, born in Hauido, South Korea
- Jan 8 Robert Starer, Austrian-born American composer, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2001)
- Jan 8 Ron Moody [Moodnick], British composer, singer and actor (The 12 Chairs; Oliver!), born in London, England (d. 2015)
- Jan 9 Sergei Parajanov, Armenian film director, born in Tbilisi, Georgia (d. 1990)
- Jan 10 Ludmilla Chiraeff, Latvian-born Canadian ballet dancer, born in Riga, Latvia (d. 1996)
- Jan 10 Max Roach, American jazz drummer, born in Newland, North Carolina (d. 2007)
- Jan 11 Kai Laursen, Danish concert violinist, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1996)
- Jan 11 Roger Guillemin, French-American neuroscientist (1977 Nobel Prize for Medicine for work on neurohormones), born in Dijon, France (d. 2024) [1]
- Jan 11 Sam B. Hall, American politician and judge (Rep (D) Texas 1976-85), born in Marshall, Texas (d. 1994)
- Jan 11 Slim Harpo [James Moore], American blues musician ("I'm a King Bee, Baby"; "Scratch My Back"), born in Lobdell, Louisiana (d. 1970)
- Jan 12 Jan Willem Radecker, Dutch sculptor and son of John Raedecker, born in Schoorl, Netherlands (d. 2009)
- Jan 12 Olivier Gendebien, Belgian auto racer (24 hours of Le Mans 1958, 60-62), born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1998)
- Jan 13 Paul Feyerabend, Austrian-born philosopher, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1994)
- Jan 13 Philip Rawson, English curator, artist and teacher (Gulbenkian Museum of Oriental Art and Archaeology) (d. 1995)
- Jan 14 (Mildred) "Carole" Cook, American stage and screen actress (The Lucy Show; The Incredible Mr. Limpet; Sixteen Candles), born in Abilene, Texas (d. 2023)
- Jan 14 Guy Williams [Armando Joseph Catalano], American actor (Zorro; Lost in Space), born in New York City (d. 1989)
- Jan 16 Katy Jurado, Mexican actress, 1st Latin actress to win a Golden Globe (High Noon, Broken Lance), born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (d. 2002)
- Jan 17 Jewel Plummer Cobb, American biologist and cancer researcher (melanoma), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2017)
- Jan 18 Donald Baverstock, British TV producer, born in Cardiff, United Kingdom (d. 1995)
- Jan 19 Henry Herbert, 7th earl of Carnarvon, English peer and racing manager to the Queen, born in London, England (d. 2001)
- Jan 19 Jean Francois Revel, French philosopher and author (Ni Marx ni Jesus), born in Marseille, France (d. 2006)
- Jan 19 Nicholas Colasanto, American actor (Cheers - "Coach"; Family Plot; The Counterfeit Killer), born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 1985)
- Jan 20 Yvonne Loriod, French pianist, composer (Mélopées africaines), and teacher, born in Houilles, France (d. 2010)
- Jan 21 Benny Hill [Alfred Hawthorn Hill], British comedian (The Benny Hill Show), born in Southampton, Hampshire, England (d. 1992)
- Jan 22 J. J. Johnson, American composer and jazz trombonist, born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2001)
- Jan 23 Frank Lautenberg, American politician (Sen-D-NJ, 1982-2001, 2003-2013), born in Paterson, New Jersey (d. 2013)
- Jan 24 David Craighead, American organist and educator, born in Strasburg, Pennsylvania (d. 2012)
- Jan 24 John Spencer, Earl of Spencer, English peer and father of Diana, Princess of Wales, born in London, England (d. 1992)
- Jan 24 Marvin Kaplan, American character and voice actor (Top Cat- "Choo Choo"; Alice - "Henry"), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2016)
- Jan 24 Robert Kastenmeier, American politician (Rep-D-WI, 1959-91), born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (d. 2015)
- Jan 25 (Wesley) "Speedy" West, American, Country Music Hall of Fame steel guitar player, and record producer, born in Springfield, Missouri (d. 2003)
- Jan 25 Lou Groza, American football placekicker & offensive tackle (9 × Pro Bowl; 4 × First-team All-Pro; Cleveland Browns), born in Martins Ferry, Ohio (d. 2000)
- Jan 26 Alice Babs [Nilson], Swedish jazz singer (The Swe-Danes; Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts), and actress (Swing It, Teacher!), born in Västervik, Sweden (d. 2014)
- Jan 26 Annette Strauss, American philanthropist and politician, born in Houston, Texas (d. 1998)
- Jan 26 James W. McCord Jr., American CIA officer who led the Watergate break-in, born in Waurika, Oklahoma (d. 2017)
- Jan 26 Warren Frank Benson, American composer (The Leaves Are Falling), and educator (Eastman School, 1967-1993), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2005)
- Jan 27 Alexander Chugayev, Soviet Russian composer, born in Yeysk, USSR (d. 1990)
- Jan 27 Brian Rix [Lord Rix], British actor and activist (Mencap), born in Cottingham, Yorkshire (d. 2016)
- Jan 27 Rauf Denktaş, Turkish-Cypriot politician, founding President of North Cyprus (1983-2005), born in Paphos, British Cyprus (d. 2012)
- Jan 27 Sabu [Dastagir], Indian actor (The Thief of Bagdad, Elephant Boy, Drum), born in Mysore, British India (d. 1963)
- Jan 29 Brian Trubshaw, British test pilot, first to fly Concorde, born in Liverpool (d. 2001)
- Jan 29 Lord John Gregson, British Labour politician and Baron, born in Manchester, England (d. 2009)
- Jan 29 Luigi Nono, Italian avant-garde composer (Canonic Variations), born in Venice, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1990)
- Jan 29 Marcelle Ferron, Quebec painter and stained glass artist (d. 2001)
- Jan 29 Peter Voulkos, American artist (d. 2002)
- Jan 30 Lloyd Alexander, American writer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2007)
- Jan 30 Margaret Yorke [Margaret Beda Nicholson], English author (Patrick Grant novels, No Medals for the Major), born in Compton, Surrey, England (d. 2012)
- Jan 31 Tengiz Abuladze, Soviet Georgian filmmaker (Repentance), born in Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, USSR (d. 1994)
About January 1924
How Old? 100 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: Yes
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90