- May 2 Ernesto de la Guardia, President of Panama (1956-60), dies at 78
- May 2 Marius Duintjer, Dutch architect (Kolenkit), dies at 74
- May 2 Norm Van Brocklin, American Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (NFL MVP 1960; First-team All-Pro 1960; 9 × Pro Bowl; LA Rams, Philadelphia Eagles) and coach (Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons), dies from a heart attack at 57
- May 3 Armando José Fernandes, Portuguese neoclassical composer, dies at 76
- May 4 Nino Sanzogno, Italian conductor (La Fenice) and composer, dies at 72
- May 5 Horst Schumann, German Nazi physician who oversaw concentration camp x-ray sterilization and gas chamber murder of Jews, as well as euthanasia centers to kill feeble and ill people, dies at 77
- May 5 John Williams, British actor (Family Affair, Dial M for Murder), dies at 80
- May 5 Olin Dutra, American golfer (PGA C'ship 1932, US Open 1934), dies at 82
- May 6 Kai Winding, Danish-American Jazz musician and trombonist ("Georgia On My Mind"), dies of a brain tumor at 60
- May 7 Peter Edel, writer, dies
- May 8 John Fante, Italian-American author and screenwriter (Wait Until Spring, Bandini, Ask the Dust, Full of Life), dies at 74
- May 10 John P Strijbos, writer (Called that Bird), dies at 92
- May 11 Zenna Henderson, American sci-fi author (Anything Box), dies at 65
- May 14 Miguel Alemán Valdés, Mexican attorney and President of Mexico (1946-52), dies at 80
- May 14 Roger J. Traynor, American judge (b. 1900)
- May 15 James Van Der Zee, African-American photographer, dies at 96
- May 16 Carel Brons, Dutch composer, dies at 52
- May 19 Jean Rey, Belgian politician (President of the European Commission 1967-70), dies at 80
- May 20 Clair Bee, American College Basketball and Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Long Island University undefeated 1936, 39; National Invitation Tournament 1939, 41), dies at 87
- May 21 Finn Einar Mortensen, Norwegian composer, music critic, and educator, dies at 61
- May 21 Kenneth Clark, English art historian (Civilisation), dies at 79
- May 23 Albert Claude, Belgian biologist and physician (Nobel 1974), dies at 84
- May 25 Black Jack Stewart, Canadian NHL hockey player (b. 1917)
- May 25 Jean Rougeau, French Canadian professional wrestler (b. 1925)
- May 25 Sydney Box, British film producer and screenwriter (The Seventh Veil), dies at 76
- May 27 (Arnoldus) Arnold van Wyk, South African concert pianist and composer (Nagmusiek - Night Music), dies at 67
- May 28 Erastus Corning 2nd, American politician, 72nd Mayor of Albany, New York (b. 1909)
- May 29 Arvīds Pelše, Soviet Latvian leader (First Secretary of the Latvian SSR, CPSU Politburo member), dies at 84
- May 30 Alfred Gruenther, American general (NATO commander 1953-56), dies at 84
Jack Dempsey (1895-1983)
May 31 American boxer (world heavyweight champion 1919-26), dies of heart failure at 86
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning