- Apr 3 Herman W. Filarski, Dutch bridge journalist, dies at 69
- Apr 3 Warren Oates, American actor (Dillinger, East of Eden, Stoney Burke), dies of a heart attack at 53
- Apr 4 Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Bulgarian composer, dies at 50
- Apr 5 Abe Fortas, US Supreme Court Justice, 1965-69, dies at 71
- Apr 6 Paul Wiens, German writer and Stasi informant, dies at 59
- Apr 7 Brenda Benet, actress (Track of Thunder), commits suicide by gun at 36
- Apr 7 Harald Ertl, Austrian racing driver (b. 1948)
- Apr 8 Katherine Rawls, American diver (Olympic silver 3m springboard 1932, 36) and swimmer (Olympic bronze 4×100m freestyle 1936), dies from cancer at 64
- Apr 9 RobertHavemann, German chemist and dissident, dies at 72
- Apr 9 Wilfred Pelletier, Canadian conductor (Voice of Firestone), dies at 85
- Apr 15 Arthur Lowe, British actor (Dad's Army, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Ruling Class), dies following a stroke at 66
- Apr 15 Louis de Guiringaud, French foreign minister (1976-78), commits suicide at 70
- Apr 20 Andy Sandham, English cricket batsman (14 Tests; 1st triple centurion 325 v WI 1930), dies at 91
Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982)
Apr 20 American poet (Conquistador) and playwright (J.B.), dies at 89
- Apr 20 Mimi Boesnach, actress (Wedding of Kloris & Roses), dies at 82
- Apr 21 Joe Sawyer [Sauers], Canadian actor (Adventures of Rin Tin Tin - "Sgt. Biff O'Hara"), dies of liver cancer at 75
- Apr 22 Melville Bell Grosvenor, American photographer & president of National Geographic Society, dies at 80
- Apr 25 Celia Johnson, English actress (Brief Encounter, Happy Breed), dies at 73
- Apr 25 Don Wilson, American radio and TV announcer (Jack Benny Show), dies at 81
- Apr 25 John Cody, US cardinal/archbishop of Chicago (1965-82), dies at 74
- Apr 25 Paul de Vree, Flemish author (Round Table), dies at 72
- Apr 25 W. R. Burnett, American writer (Asphalt Jungle), dies at 82
- Apr 26 Celia Johnson, British actress (Jean Brodie), dies of stroke at 73
- Apr 26 Ville Ritola, Finnish 5/10km runner (Olympic gold 1924, 28), dies at 86
- Apr 27 Tom Tully, American radio, stage, and screen actor (The Caine Mutiny; Shane), dies at 73
- Apr 28 Bert van Dongen [Albert Cohen], Dutch singer, impressionist and actor (Het meisje met den blauwen hoed), dies at 66
- Apr 28 Nobby Clark, English cricketer (32 wickets in 8 Tests 1929-34), dies at 81
- Apr 29 Herbert Collum, German composer, dies at 67
- Apr 29 Jimmy Jones, American jazz pianist, arranger, and accompanist, dies at 62
- Apr 30 Albert TLCA Bird, lecture artist, dies
- Apr 30 Herman Tholen, Dutch cabaret performer (Juveniles), dies
- Apr 30 Lester Bangs, American music journalist (Creem; Rolling Stone), and musician (Birdland), dies of accidental cold medicine overdose at 33
- Apr 30 Taisen Deshimaru, Japanese founder of several Zen centers in France, dies at 67
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide