- Jan 1 Barton Maclane, American actor (The Quarterback, I Dream of Jeannie), dies of cancer at 66
- Jan 1 Bruno Söderström, Swedish athlete (Olympic silver pole vault & bronze javelin 1906; bronze pole vault 1908; popularized bowling in Sweden), dies at 87
- Jan 2 George Renevant [Georges de Cheux], French actor (Moulin Rouge, Scotland Yard, Comrade X), dies at 74
- Jan 3 Buzz Borries, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Navy 1932–34), dies at 57
- Jan 3 Howard McNear, American actor (The Andy Griffith Show, Irma La Douce), dies after long illness at 63
- Jan 3 Jean Focas, Greco-French astronomer (b. 1909)
- Jan 4 Daisy and Violet Hilton, British conjoined twins, die at 60
- Jan 4 Julian Myrick, American tennis promoter (West Side Tennis Club & Forest Hills Stadium), dies at 88
- Jan 4 Montague Fawcett Phillips, British composer, dies at 83
- Jan 4 Paul Chambers, American jazz bassist (Miles Davis Quintet, 1955-63; Wynton Kelly Trio, 1963-68), dies of tuberculosis at 33
- Jan 5 Franz Theodor Csokor, Austrian author (Gottes General), dies at 83
- Jan 5 Tom Aherne, actor (Hustler, April Fools), dies of influenza in NY
- Jan 8 Albert Hill, English athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1500m 1920), dies at 79
- Jan 9 Ladislav Vycpalek, Czech composer, dies at 86
- Jan 10 John Brownlee, Australian operatic baritone (Metropolitan Opera, 1937-57), dies at 69
- Jan 11 Richmal Crompton, British author (b. 1890)
- Jan 13 Fred Price, English cricket wicket-keeper (1 Test, 2 dismissals; Middlesex CCC), dies at 66
- Jan 13 Wilton Graff, American actor (Bloodlust, Just Before Dawn), dies at 65
- Jan 15 Theodor Werner, German painter, dies at 82
- Jan 16 Vernon Duke [Vladimir Alexandrovich Dukelsky], American composer and songwriter ("Taking a Chance on Love"), dies of lung cancer at 65
Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)
Jan 17 Polish violinist and composer, dies of a heart attack at 59
- Jan 18 Hans Freyer, German sociologist and philosopher, dies at 81
- Jan 19 Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, American jazz guitarist and double-bassist, dies at 80
- Jan 19 Charles Winninger, American actor (Cafe Metropole, Coney Island, Charlie Farrell Show), dies at 84
- Jan 19 Jan Palach, Czech student, dies of burns from self-immolation at 20
- Jan 23 A.J.D. van Oosten, Dutch poet and author (His Master's Voice), dies at 70
- Jan 23 Jaroslav Křička, Czech composer, dies at 86
- Jan 24 Pauline Hall, Norwegian composer, dies at 78
- Jan 25 Irene Castle, American vaudeville, stage, and screen dancer, and animal rights activist, dies at 75
- Jan 27 Hanns Jelinek, Austrian composer, dies at 67
Allen Dulles (1893-1969)
Jan 30 American Central Intelligence Agency director (1953-1961), dies of influenza complicated by pneumonia at 75
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning