Hank Williams (1923-1953)
Jan 1 American country singer-songwriter ("Cold Cold Heart"; "Hey, Good Lookin'"; "Your Cheatin' Heart"), dies of an alcohol and painkiller fueled heart attack at 29
- Jan 1 Ludomir Różycki, Polish composer and conductor (Eros i Psyche; Pan Twardowski), dies at 69
- Jan 2 Guccio Gucci, Italian founder of Gucci fashion house, dies at 71
- Jan 4 Arthur Hoyt, American actor and director (Gold Dust Gertie, Goldie Get Along), dies at 79
- Jan 4 Prince Yasuhito Chichibu, brother of Emperor Showa, dies at 50
- Jan 7 Osa Johnson, American adventurer and filmmaker, dies at 58
- Jan 8 Admiral Sir Hugh Binney, British naval commander and Governor of Tasmania (b. 1883)
- Jan 8 Heinrich Kaspar Schmid, German composer, dies at 78
- Jan 10 Theo Mackeben, German pianist/composer (Golden Cage), dies at 56
- Jan 11 Ernst Herman van Rappard, Dutch Nazi founder (NSNAP), dies at 53
- Jan 11 Hans Aanrud, Norwegian author (Storken), dies at 89
- Jan 11 Marcel Canneel, Flemish painter (Reuzenstoet), dies at 58
- Jan 11 Noe Zhordania, Georgian journalist and politician (Prime Minister, 1918-21; government-in-exile leader, 1921-53), dies at 84
- Jan 12 Simeon Roncal, Bolivian composer, dies at 82
- Jan 13 Paul Niggli, Swiss mineralogist (crystal structures), dies at 64
- Jan 15 Patrick Vretblad, Swedish composer, dies at 76
- Jan 24 Ben Taylor, American Baseball Hall of Fame 1st baseman (Indianapolis ABCs) and manager (Washington Potomacs, Baltimore Black Sox), dies of pneumonia at 64
- Jan 24 Mike Jacobs, American boxing promoter (Twentieth Century Sporting Club - Joe Louis' promoter; 3 x $1m fights), dies at 72
Gerd von Rundstedt (1875-1953)
Jan 24 German field marshal during World War II (Commander-in-Chief in the West), dies of heart failure at 77
- Jan 26 Athanase David, French Canadian politician and businessman, dies at 74
- Jan 26 Martinus Nijhoff, Dutch poet and linguistic (spelling), dies at 58
- Jan 28 Derek Bentley, Englishman controversially convicted for murder of a police officer (pardoned 1998), executed at 19
- Jan 28 James Scullin, Australian Labour Party politician and 9th Prime Minister of Australia, dies at 76
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning