- Apr 1 Jolie Gabor [Janka Tilleman], Hungarian-American jeweler and mother of Magda, Zsa Zsa, & Eva, dies at 100 (birth date disputed)
- Apr 1 Nancy Woodhull, news editor (USA Today), dies of cancer at 52
- Apr 1 Norman Carr, British conservationist working in Central and Southern Africa, dies at 84
- Apr 2 Anthony Bushell, British actor (Journey's End, A Night to Remember), dies at 92
- Apr 2 Tomoyuki Tanaka, Japanese film producer (Godzilla), dies of a stroke at 86
- Apr 2 Zsolt Durko, Hungarian composer, dies at 62
- Apr 3 Henriette Wyeth, American artist known for her portraits, dies at 89
- Apr 3 Robert Wentorf Jr. American physicist and inventor, 1st to synthesize diamonds as part of Project Superpressure, dies at 70 [1]
- Apr 3 Sergei Filatov, Soviet equestrian dressage (Olympic gold 1960), dies at 70
- Apr 4 Vladimir Solouchin, Russian writer, dies at 72
Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997)
Apr 5 American beat poet (Howl, The Fall of America) and 1960s counterculture icon, dies of liver cancer via complications of hepatitis at 70
- Apr 5 Alparslan Turkes, Turkish politician (MHP), dies
- Apr 6 Jack Kent Cooke, Canadian entrepreneur, NFL team owner (Washington Redskins), dies at 84
- Apr 6 Stephan Hermlin, German writer, dies at 81
- Apr 7 Egil Harder, Danish concert pianist and composer (The Blue Anemone), dies on his 80th birthday
- Apr 7 Georgy Shonin, Soviet cosmonaut (Soyuz 6), dies of a heart attack at 61
- Apr 7 Luis Aloma, Cuban baseball player, dies at 73
- Apr 7 Sam Parks Jr., American golfer (US Open 1935), dies at 87
- Apr 8 Charles Hayes, American politician (Rep-D-IL, 1983-93), dies at 79
- Apr 8 Laura Nyro, American singer-songwriter ("Wedding Bell Blues"; "Stoned Soul Picnic"; "And When I Die"), dies of ovarian cancer at 49
- Apr 9 Helene Hanff, author (84 Charing Cross Road), dies at 80
- Apr 9 Mae Boren Axton, American songwriter, known as the"Queen Mother of Nashville" ("Heartbreak Hotel"), drowns in her hot tub during a heart attack at 82
- Apr 10 Francis Walder [Francois Waldburger], Belgian author, dies at 90
- Apr 10 Martin Schwarzschild, German-American astronomer (book Structure and Evolution of the Stars), dies at 84
- Apr 10 Toshiro Mayuzumi, Japanese composer (Sphenogramme), dies at 68
- Apr 11 Michael Dorris, writer, commits suicide at 52
George Wald (1906-1997)
Apr 12 American physiologist and biologist (Nobel Prize 1967, vitamin A in retina), dies at 90
- Apr 13 Dorothy Frooks, American author and military figure, dies at 101
- Apr 13 Foffie Williams, West Indian cricket all-rounder (4 Tests; 9 wickets, 1 x 50; Barbados), dies at 83
- Apr 13 Gail Reese [Virginia Vieser], American big band and radio singer (Bunny Berigan, Glenn Miller), dies at 79
- Apr 13 Voldemar Väli, Estonian wrestler, dies at age 94
- Apr 15 Sam Moskowitz, American writer and historian of science fiction, dies at 76
- Apr 15 Zdenek Mlynar, Czech politician (secretary of the Czechoslovak communist party, 1968–70), dies at 66
- Apr 16 Doris Angleton, American socialite, murdered at 46
- Apr 16 Emilio Azcarraga Milmo, American Mexican media tycoon (Televisa), dies at 66
- Apr 16 Michael Stroka, American soap actor (Aristede-Dark Shadows), dies of cancer at 58
- Apr 16 Ray Green, American composer and publisher, dies at 88
- Apr 16 Roland Topor, French surrealist illustrator, novelist (The Tenant), playwright, and filmmaker, dies of a cerebral hemorrhage at 59
- Apr 17 (Averil) Mary Thomas, Welsh lyric soprano of both early and contemporary concert music, dies at 64
- Apr 17 Allan Francovich, American documentarian
- Apr 17 Chaim Herzog, 6th President of Israel (1983-93), dies at 78
- Apr 18 David Branson, British piano prodigy, composer, musicologist, and visual artist, dies at 88
- Apr 18 Edward Barker, English cartoonist, dies at 46
- Apr 19 El Duce [Eldon Wayne Hoke], American singer and drummer (The Mentors), dies from a "misadventure" on a train-track at 39
- Apr 21 Andres Rodriguez, Paraguayan president (1989-93), dies
- Apr 21 Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines (1961-65), dies at 86
- Apr 23 Dennis Compton, England cricket batsman and footballer (5,807 Test runs, Arsenal 1950 FA Cup), dies at 78
Eugene Stoner (1922-1997)
Apr 24 American firearms designer and inventor of the M16, dies of cancer at 74
- Apr 24 Pat Paulsen, American comedian (The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour), actor, and frequent presidential candidate, dies of kidney failure while being treated for cancer at 69
- Apr 24 Robert Erickson, American composer, dies at 80
- Apr 26 Gene Ames, American singer (Ames Brothers), dies of cancer at 73
- Apr 26 Joey Faye, American comedian (Joey Faye's Follies), dies at 86
- Apr 26 John Beal [James Andrew Bliedung], American actor (10 Who Dare, I Am the Law, Les Misérables), dies at 87
- Apr 26 Peng Zhen, mayor of Beijing China (1951-66), dies at 94
- Apr 27 Paul Lambert, American character actor (Executive Suite, Spartacus), dies at 74
- Apr 28 Ann Lane Petry, American journalist and author (Street), dies at 88
- Apr 28 Susan Seddon Boulet, American artist, dies of cancer at 45
- Apr 29 Keith Ferguson, American blues-rock bassist (Fabulous Thunderbirds), dies of liver failure due to heroin use at 50
- Apr 29 Mike Royko, American journalist (Chicago Daily News) and author (Boss), dies of stroke at 64
- Apr 29 Peter Tali Coleman, Governor of American Samoa (1956-61, 1978-85, 1989-93), dies at 77
- Apr 30 Henry Picard, American golfer (Masters 1938, PGA 1939), dies at 90
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide