E. B. White (1899-1985)
Oct 1 American writer (New Yorker: Stuart Little; Charlotte's Web), dies at 86
- Oct 2 (Georgios) "George" Savalas, Greek-American actor (Kojak; Kelly's Heroes), dies of leukemia at 58
Rock Hudson (1925-1985)
Oct 2 American actor (Pillow Talk, A Farewell to Arms, Ice Station Zebra), dies of AIDS-related complications at 59
- Oct 2 Sidney Clute, American actor (Lou Grant; Cagney & Lacey), dies at 69
- Oct 3 Charles Collingwood, American news commentator (Chronicles), dies at 68
- Oct 3 Maurice Copeland, American actor (Ralph-Those Young Charmings), dies at 74
- Oct 5 Brian Keenan, American rock drummer (The Chamber Brothers), dies of a heart attack at 42
- Oct 5 Karl Menger, Austrian-American mathematician (dimension theory), dies at 83
- Oct 6 Nelson Riddle, American Grammy Award-winning bandleader, conductor, and orchestrator for Capitol Records (Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Dean Martin), dies of complications from cirrhosis of the liver at 64
- Oct 7 Cemal Reşit Rey, Turkish composer, dies at 81
- Oct 8 Leon Klinghoffer, American murdered by hijackers of the Achille Lauro when they threw him off the boat at 69
- Oct 8 Malcolm Ross, American balloonist and atmospheric physicist, dies at 65
- Oct 8 Ricardo Bacchelli, Italian playwright and poet (Il malino del Po), dies at 94
- Oct 9 Emílio Garrastazu Médici, 28th President of Brazil (1969-74), dies at 79
Orson Welles (1915-1985)
Oct 10 American actor and director (Citizen Kane, War of the Worlds), dies of a heart attack at 70
Yul Brynner (1920-1985)
Oct 10 Russian-Swiss Tony and Academy Award-winning stage and screen actor (The King and I; The Ten Commandments), dies of lung cancer at 65
- Oct 11 Alex La Guma, South African novelist (A Walk in the Night), and anti-apartheid activist (1956 Treason Trial), dies of a heart attack at 61
- Oct 11 Tex Williams, American country-western singer, dies of cancer at 68
- Oct 12 Johnny Olson, American radio personality and television announcer (The Price is Right), dies at 75
- Oct 12 Ricky Wilson, American rock guitarist (B-52's - "Love Shack"), dies of AIDS at 32
- Oct 13 Francesca Bertini, Italian actress (Odette; Assunta Spina), dies at 93
- Oct 13 Jack Wilson, Australian cricket spin bowler (1 Test; 43 wickets on England Tour 1956), dies at 64
- Oct 14 Emil Gilels, Soviet concert pianist (Brussels Competition - 1st prize, 1938), dies at 68
- Oct 15 Meret Oppenheim, German born Swiss surrealist artist and photographer (Object: Le Déjeuner en fourrure), dies at 72
- Oct 15 Ted Steele, American orchestra leader (Cavalcade of Stars), dies at 68
- Oct 16 Claude Stroud, American actor (Breakfast at Tiffany's; Ted Knight Show; Duke), dies at 78
- Oct 17 Joseph Rosenstock, American conductor (NY City Opera), dies at 90
- Oct 18 Benjamin Moloisi, South African poet/Anc'er, hanged at 30
- Oct 19 Alfred Rouleau, French Canadian businessman (b. 1915)
- Oct 22 Viorica Ursuleac, Romanian operatic soprano, dies at 91
- Oct 24 Lásló Jósef Bíró, Hungarian inventor (ballpoint pen), dies at 86
- Oct 24 Maurice Roy, Archbishop of Quebec, (b. 1905)
- Oct 24 Richie Evans, American auto racer (9 x NASCAR Modified Champion 1973, 78-85), dies in practice accident at 44
- Oct 25 (John) Morton Downey, American pop tenor, known as "The Irish Nightengale", songwriter, radio and television host, dies at 83
- Oct 25 Elsa Moranet, writer, dies at 67
- Oct 26 Bob Scheffing, American baseball catcher (Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds), manager (Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers) and executive (GM NY Mets 1970-74), dies at 72
- Oct 26 Karel Kupka, Czech composer and choirmaster, dies at 58
- Oct 29 John Lodge, American actor (Witchmaker) and politician (79th Governor of Connecticut), dies at 82
- Oct 30 Kirby Grant, American actor (Rustlers Round-Up, Yukon Gold, Sky King), dies in an auto accident at 74
- Oct 31 Anton Christoforidis, Greek boxer (NBA light heavyweight title 1941), dies of a heart attack at 68
- Oct 31 Nikos Engonopoulos, Greek surrealist painter and poet (Do Not Distract the Driver), dies of a heart attack at 78
- Oct 31 Poul Reichhardt, Danish actor (Soldaten og Jenny, Det gælder os alle), dies at 72
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide