- Oct 1 Earle Wells, New Zealand sailor (Olympic gold Flying Dutchman 1964), dies at 87
- Oct 1 Fred Hill, English soccer forward (2 caps; Bolton Wanderers 375 games), dies at 81
- Oct 3 Budge Patty, American tennis player (French C'ship, Wimbledon men's singles 1950), dies at 97
- Oct 3 Cynthia Harris, American stage and screen actress (Edward & Mrs. Simpson; Mad About You - "Sylvia"), dies at 87
- Oct 4 Alan Kalter, American television announcer (Late Show with David Letterman, 1995-2015), dies at 78
- Oct 4 Eddie Robinson, American baseball first baseman (MLB All Star 1949, 51–53; Washington Sens, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia A's) and executive (GM Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves), dies at 100
- Oct 4 Laurie Davidson, New Zealand yacht designer (Black Magic 1995; Team New Zealand 2000; America's Cup HOF 2007), dies at 94
- Oct 5 Jerry Shipp, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1964; 3× AAU All-American 1962–64 SE Oklahoma State), dies at 86
- Oct 6 Pat Fish [Huntrods], British guitarist (The Jazz Butcher), dies at 63
- Oct 7 (Frederick) "Rick" Jones, Canadian-British children's television presenter (Play School; Fingerbobs), and folk musician (Meal Ticket - "Better Believe It Babe"), dies of esophageal cancer at 84
- Oct 8 Everett Morton, Nevisian-born English drummer and percussionist (English Beat), dies at 71
- Oct 9 Keitaro Hoshino, Japanese boxer (WBA minimumweight title 2000-01, 02), dies at 52
- Oct 10 Luis de Pablo, Spanish composer, and musicologist, dies at 91
- Oct 11 Olav Nilsen, Norwegian soccer striker/midfielder (62 caps; Viking FK), dies at 79
- Oct 11 Tony DeMarco, American boxer (NBA, NYSAC, The Ring welterweight titles 1955), dies at 89
- Oct 11 Trevor Hemmings, British businessman (Owner Preston North End FC; 3 x Grand National winners Hedgehunter [2005], Ballabriggs [2011], Many Clouds [2015]), dies at 86
- Oct 12 Leon Black, American college basketball coach (Texas Longhorns men's team 1967-76), dies at 89
- Oct 12 Paddy Moloney, Irish uilleann pipe and tin whistle player, composer, and producer (The Chieftains), dies at 83
- Oct 12 Raúl Coloma, Chilean soccer goalkeeper (13 caps; Ferrobádminton, Municipal Santiago, Ferroviaros), dies at 93
- Oct 12 Renton Laidlaw, Scottish golf broadcaster and journalist (President Association of Golf Writers 1995-2015; BBC Radio), dies from COVID-19 at 82
- Oct 13 Dale Kildee, American politician (Rep-D-Michigan, 1977-2013), dies at 92
- Oct 13 Gary Paulsen, American author of young adult literature, dies of a heart attack at 82
- Oct 13 Norm Provan, Australian rugby league second rower (14 Tests; St. George RLFC NSWRL Premiers 1956-66; RL "Immortal") and coach (St. George, Parramatta, Cronulla), dies at 89
- Oct 13 Otis Armstrong, American College Football HOF running back (Purdue; All-Pro 1974; Pro Bowl 1974, 76; Denver Broncos), dies at 70
- Oct 13 Ray Fosse, American baseball catcher (MLB All-Star, Gold Glove Award 1970, 71 Cleveland Indians; World Series Oakland A's 1973, 74) and broadcaster (Oakland A's NBC), dies of cancer at 74
- Oct 15 Miguel de Oliveira, Brazilian boxer (WBC light middleweight champion 1975), dies from pancreatic cancer at 74
- Oct 15 Tuineau Alipate, Tongan-born NFL and CFL player (Frankfurt Galaxy, Minnesota Vikings), dies at 54
- Oct 16 Jean Rochon, Quebec politician, dies at 83
- Oct 16 Leo Boivin, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs) and coach (St. Louis Blues), dies at 89
- Oct 16 Pat Studstill, American football wide receiver (Pro Bowl 1965, 66; NFL receiving yards leader, record 99-yard TD reception [tied] 1966; Detroit Lions, LA Rams), dies at 83
- Oct 16 Ron Tutt, American session and touring drummer (Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris; Jerry Garcia; Neil Diamond), dies at 83
- Oct 18 Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lankan cricket batsman (4 Tests; first SL Test captain; 12 ODIs; Bloomfield CC), dies at 68
Colin Powell (1937-2021)
Oct 18 American General and 1st Black US Secretary of State (2001-05), dies from complications of COVID-19, blood cancer, and Parkinson's disease at 84 [1]
- Oct 18 Edita Gruberová, Slovak operatic soprano, dies at 74
- Oct 18 Manuel Neri, American sculptor (life-size figurative sculptures), dies at 91
- Oct 18 Val Bisoglio, American actor (Lt Marsh-Police Woman, Danny-Quincy ME), dies at 95
- Oct 19 Fred Goodall, New Zealand cricket umpire (24 Tests, 15 one-day internationals 1965-88), dies at 83
- Oct 19 Leslie Bricusse, British stage and film composer and lyricist (Doctor Dolittle; Goodbye, Mr. Chips; "Goldfinger"; Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - "The Candy Man"; "Pure Imagination"), dies at 90
- Oct 19 Pierre Kerkhoffs, Dutch soccer striker (5 caps; SC Enschede, PSV, Lausanne Sport), dies at 85
- Oct 20 Dragan Pantelić, Serbian soccer goalkeeper (19 caps Yugoslavia; Radnički Niš, Bordeaux), dies at 69
- Oct 20 Hans Haselböck, Austrian organist and composer, dies at 93
- Oct 20 Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, Hungarian-American psychologist (concept of "flow"), dies at 87
- Oct 21 Bernard Haitink, Dutch conductor (Concertgebouw, 1961-88; London Philharmonic, 1967-79; Royal Opera Covent Garden, 1987-2002), dies at 92 [1]
- Oct 21 Bill Zeliff, American innkeeper, and politician (US Representative (R) from New Hampshire, 1991-97), dies at 85
- Oct 21 Kathy Flores, American rugby union coach (United States women's team 2002-11; Brown University), dies at 66
- Oct 21 Nils Einár Grönberg, Swedish rapper ("Första klass"; "Katten i trakten"), shot to death in suspected gang-related incident at 19
- Oct 21 Wilfred Gibson, British session and pop violinist (Electric Light Orchestra, 1972-73; ELO II, 1991-94; Berkeley Square Society Band), dies at 72
- Oct 22 Jay Black [David Blatt], American pop singer (Jay and the Americans - “Come A Little Bit Closer”; “This Magic Moment”), dies of pneumonia and complications from dementia at 82
- Oct 22 Peter Scolari, American stage and screen Emmy Award-winning actor (Newhart - "Michael"; Girls - "Tad"; Bosom Buddies - "Henry"), dies of cancer at 66 [1]
- Oct 22 Udo Zimmermann, German composer (Weiße Rose - White Rose), conductor, and opera director, dies at 78
- Oct 23 Bob Neumeier, American sportscaster (WBZ-radio, TV Boston; NBC Sports), dies from heart disease at 70
- Oct 24 Sonny Osborne, American bluegrass banjo player (The Osborne Brothers - "Rocky Top"), dies of a stroke at 83
- Oct 25 Aleksandar Shalamanov, Bulgarian soccer defender (42 caps; PFC Slavia Sofia) and alpine skier (Winter Olympics 1960), dies at 80
- Oct 26 Glen Tuckett American college basbeall coach (Brigham Young Uni 1959-76) and administrator (BYU athletic director 1976-94), dies at 93
- Oct 26 Mort Sahl, American stand-up comedian, political satirist, writer, and TV personality (The Big Party), dies at 94 [1]
- Oct 26 Umberto Colombo, Italian soccer midfielder (3 caps; Juventus, Atalanta), dies at 88
- Oct 26 Walter Smith, Scottish football manager (Rangers, Everton; Scotland 2004-07), dies at 73
- Oct 27 Bernd Nickel, German soccer attacking midfielder (1 cap West Germany, 1972 Olympics; Eintracht Frankfurt 426 games, 141 goals), dies at 72
- Oct 27 Bob Ferry, American basketball forward (St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets) and executive (GM Washington Bullets; NBA Exec of the Year 1979, 82), dies at 84
- Oct 27 Sandy Carmichael, Scottish rugby union prop (50 caps; British and Irish Lions 1971, 74; West of Scotland, Glasgow District), dies at 77
- Oct 28 David C. Johnson, American composer, flautist, educator, and electronic music performer (Stockhausen), dies at 81
- Oct 28 Dick Szymanski, American football center (Pro Bowl 1955, 62, 64; Baltimore Colts) and executive (GM Baltimore Colts 1977-82), dies at 89
- Oct 29 Ashley Mallett, Australian cricket spin bowler (38 Tests, 132 wickets, best 8/59; South Australia), dies from cancer at 76
- Oct 29 Mehdi Cerbah, Algerian soccer goalkeeper (57 caps; JS Kabylie), dies at 68
- Oct 30 Alan Davidson, Australian cricket all-rounder (44 Tests, 1,328 runs @ 24.59, 186 wickets, best 7/93, 42 catches; NSW), dies at 92
- Oct 30 Bert Newton, Australian radio, television, and stage personality (Good Morning Australia; Logie Award ceremonies; 20-1), dies at 83
- Oct 30 Jerry Remy, American baseball infielder (MLB All Star 1978; California Angels, Boston Red Sox) and broadcaster (NESN), dies from lung cancer at 68
- Oct 30 Pepi Bader, German bobsledder (World C'ship gold 2-man 1970; Olympic silver 1968, 72), dies at 80
- Oct 31 Dorothy Manley, British 100m sprinter (Olympic silver, 1948), dies at 94
- Oct 31 Joan Carlyle, Welsh operatic soprano (Covent Garden, 1955-76), dies at 90
- Oct 31 Peter Philpott, Australian cricket spin bowler (8 Tests, 26 wickets, best 5/90; NSW CA), dies due to complications from a fall at 86
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide