- Jan 1 Alain Mimoun, Algerian/French distance runner (Olympic marathon gold 1956; 3 x silver 1948, 52), born in Telagh, Algeria (d. 2013)
- Jan 1 César Baldaccini, French sculptor, born in Marseille, France (d. 1998)
- Jan 1 Ismail al-Faruqi, Palestinian philosopher, born in Jaffa, British-mandate Palestine (d. 1986)
- Jan 2 Glen Harmon, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (Stanley Cup 1944, 46: NHL All Star 1949, 50; Montreal Canadiens), born in Holland, Manitoba (d. 2007)
- Jan 3 John Russell, American actor (Pale Rider, Rio Bravo), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1991)
- Jan 3 Musa Kaleem [Orlando Wright], American jazz saxophonist, born in Wheeling, West Virginia (d. 1988)
- Jan 5 Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Swiss playwright and novelist (The Physicists, The Visit), born in Konolfingen, Switzerland (d. 1990)
- Jan 5 Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, born in Berg Castle, Luxembourg
Cary Middlecoff (1921-1998)
Jan 6 American golfer (US Open 1949, 56; US Masters 1955), born in Halls, Tennessee
- Jan 6 Lou Harris, American pollster (Lou Harris Poll), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 2016)
- Jan 7 John Lanigan, Australian operatic tenor (Covent Garden), born in Seddon, Victoria (d. 1996)
- Jan 8 Herta Bothe, Nazi concentration camp guard, born in Teterow, Germany
- Jan 9 Lister Sinclair, Canadian broadcaster and playwright, born in Mumbai, India (d. 2006)
- Jan 9 Seymour Barab, American cellist (Philip Glass Ensemble), and composer of fairy tale operas (Little Red Riding Hood), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2014)
- Jan 10 Rodger Ward, American aviator & race car driver, born in Beloit, Kansas (d. 2004)
- Jan 11 Gory Guerrero, professional wrestler (d. 1990)
- Jan 11 Kathleen Byron, British actress (Abdication, Profile, Saving Private Ryan), born in London, England (d. 2009)
- Jan 12 John Davis, American weightlifter (Olympic gold bantamweight 1948, heavyweight 1952), born in Smithtown, New York (d. 1984)
- Jan 12 Leo Smit, American classical pianist, composer (The Alchemy of Love), teacher and photographer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1999)
- Jan 13 Dachine Rainer, British writer (d. 2000)
- Jan 14 Charles Gaupp, German-Dutch painter, born in Germany (d. 1943)
- Jan 14 Ken Sailors, American professional basketball player (popularized and may have invented the jump shot), born in Bushnell, Nebraska (d. 2016)
- Jan 14 Lucy Reed [Dollinger], American jazz vocalist (Woody Herman; Charlie Ventura), born in Marshfield, Wisconsin (d. 1998)
- Jan 14 Mark Lawrence, American pianist (Alice Pearce), born in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 14 Murray Bookchin, American libertarian socialist, born in NYC, New York (d. 2006)
- Jan 15 Frank Thornton, British actor (Are You Being Served?, Last of the Summer Wine), born in Dulwich, London (d. 2013)
- Jan 16 Francesco Scavullo, American celebrity photographer, born in Staten Island, New York (d. 2004)
- Jan 17 Antonio Prohias, Cuban cartoonist (d. 1998)
- Jan 17 Dehl Berti, Chiricahua Apache actor (Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Guns of Paradise), born in Pueblo, Colorado (d. 1991)
- Jan 18 Bruce Woodcock, English boxer (European Heavyweight Champion), born in Doncaster (d. 1997)
- Jan 18 Ray Sims, American jazz trombonist (Benny Goodman; Les Brown; Harry James; Red Norvo; Zoot Sims), born in Wichita, Kansas (d. 2000)
- Jan 18 Robert Glaser, American educational psychologist (National Assessment of Educational Progress), born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 2012)
- Jan 18 Yoichiro Nambu, Japanese-born American Physicist (Nobel Prize 2008), born in Tokyo (d. 2015)
- Jan 19 "Billy Batts" Devino, American gangster (d. 1970)
- Jan 19 Patricia Highsmith [Plangman], American novel writer (Strangers On A Train; The Talented Mr. Ripley; The Price of Salt), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 1995)
- Jan 20 Bernt Engelmann, German writer, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1994)
- Jan 20 Connie Haines [Yvonne Jasme], American pop and big-band singer (Harry James; Abbott and Costello Show; Tommy Dorsey), born in Savannah, Georgia (d. 2008) [1]
- Jan 20 Telmo Zarraonaindía, Spanish footballer, born in Erandio, Spain (d. 2006)
- Jan 21 Barney Clark, 1st to receive a permanent artificial heart
- Jan 21 Howard Unruh, American mass murderer
- Jan 21 John Doucette, American actor (The Lone Ranger, Lock Up, Big Town), born in Brockton, Plymouth County Massachusetts (d. 1994)
- Jan 21 Todor Popov, Bulgarian composer, born in Dryanovo, Bulgaria (d. 2000)
- Jan 22 André Hodeir, French classical and jazz violinist, and composer, born in Paris (d. 2011)
- Jan 22 Andy Ganteaume, cricketer (WI batsman, 112 in his sole Test innings 1948), born in Port of Spain, Trinidad (d. 2016)
- Jan 24 Bernard J. Dwyer, American politician (Rep-D-NJ, 1981- 93), born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey (d. 1998)
- Jan 25 Alfred Reed, American composer, born in NYC, New York (d. 2005)
- Jan 25 Russell Reading Braddon, Australian author, born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1995)
- Jan 26 Akio Morita, Kasugaya Japan, CEO (Sony)
- Jan 26 Eddie Barclay, French producer (Barclay Records) (d. 2005)
- Jan 26 Frantisek Chaun, Czech composer, born in Kaplice, Bohemia, Austrian Empire (now Czechia) (d. 1981)
- Jan 26 Johannes Driessler, German organist and composer, born in Friedrichsthal, Germany (d. 1988)
- Jan 27 Donna Reed, American actress (From Here to Eternity; It's a Wonderful Life; The Donna Reed Show), born in Denison, Iowa (d. 1986)
- Jan 28 Alfred Marks, British actor and comedian (Desert Mice, Scream & Scream Again), born in Holborn, London (d. 1996)
- Jan 29 Anthony George, American actor (Untouchables, Checkmate), born in Endicott, New York (d. 2005)
- Jan 30 Bernie Leighton, American orchestra leader (Chance of a Lifetime), born in West Haven, Connecticut (d. 1994)
- Jan 31 Carol Channing, American actress (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Hello Dolly), singer and comedian, born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2019)
- Jan 31 E. Fay Jones, American architect (d. 2004)
- Jan 31 John Agar, American actor (Sands of Iwo Jima, Fort Apache), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2002)
- Jan 31 Mario Lanza [Alfredo Arnold Cocozza], Italian-American actor and singer (Great Caruso; Toast of New Orleans), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1959)
About January 1921
How Old? 102 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: No