- Apr 2 Josei Toda, Japanese second president of the Buddhist association Soka Gakkai (b. 1900)
- Apr 3 Theodor Kramer, Austrian poet and writer, dies at 61
- Apr 4 Hendrik Heyman, Belgian minister of Nijverheid/mayor, dies at 78
- Apr 4 Johnny Stompanato, American organized crime figure and abusive partner of actress Lana Turner, stabbed to death by her teenage daughter in self-defense at 32
- Apr 5 Josef Brems, Flemish apostole (vicar of Denmark), dies at 87
- Apr 7 Judge Jackson, American sacred harp composer, songwriter, and educator (The Colored Sacred Harp), dies at 75
- Apr 7 Klimenty Arkad'yevich Korchmaryov, Ukrainian composer, dies at 58
- Apr 8 Ethel Turner, Australian author (Seven Little Australians), dies at 88
- Apr 8 George Jean Nathan, American editor, author and critic (American Mercury), dies at 76
- Apr 10 Chuck Willis, rocker, dies at 30
- Apr 11 Konstantin Yuon, Russian painter, dies at 82
- Apr 13 Henry Phillips, American businessman (Phillip's screw), dies at 68 [1]
- Apr 15 Estelle Taylor, American actress, dies at 64
Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)
Apr 16 English chemist and co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, dies of ovarian cancer at 37
- Apr 18 Maurice Gamelin, French Army officer (World War I - First Battle of the Marne; World War II - failure to stop German assault on France), dies at 85
- Apr 18 Richard B. Goldschmidt, German-American zoologist (butterflies), dies at 80
- Apr 21 Manuel Infante, Spanish composer and conductor, dies at 74
- Apr 25 Herman Hickman, American College Football Hall of Fame guard, coach and broadcaster (Army, Yale), dies at 46
- Apr 26 Joan Collette, Dutch graphic artist and painter (New Church, Delft), dies at 68
- Apr 26 Joe Small, West Indian cricketer (WI all-rounder in 1928 series), dies at 65
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide