- Feb 1 Bibi Besch, actress (Star Trek 2, Beast Within), born in Vienna, Austria
- Feb 1 Hervé Filion, Canadian harness racing driver (World Driving C'ship 1970; Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year 1969-74, 76, 78, 81, 89), born in Angers, Quebec (d. 2017)
- Feb 2 Alan Caddy, English musician (The Tornados), born in Chelsea, London (d. 2000)
- Feb 2 David Jason, English actor
- Feb 2 Thomas M[ichael] Disch, American sci-fi author (Genocides, 102 H-Bombs)
- Feb 2 Wayne Fontes, American football coach
Fran Tarkenton (83 years old)
Feb 3 NFL quarterback (NY Giants, Minnesota Vikings), born in Richmond, Virginia
- Feb 3 Jim Hartz, American journalist and newscaster (NBC-TV Today, 1974-77; PBS - Innovations), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2022)
George A. Romero (1940-2017)
Feb 4 American-Canadian director, filmmaker and "Father of the Zombie Film" (Night of the Living Dead), born in The Bronx, New York
- Feb 4 John Schuck, American actor (McMillan & Wife, Holmes & Yoyo), born in Boston, Massachusetts
- Feb 4 Theodore "Ted" Stanley, American anesthesiologist and medical entrepreneur (created the fentanyl lollipop), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2017)
- Feb 5 H. R. Giger, Swiss surrealist artist (album cover art for ELP - "Brain Salad Surgery"; Debbie Harry - "'KooKoo"), and Oscar-winning special effects designer (Alien), born in Chur, Switzerland (d. 2014)
- Feb 6 Jimmy Tarbuck, English comedian, born in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Tom Brokaw (83 years old)
Feb 6 American TV news anchor (NBC Nightly News 1982-2004), journalist and author (The Greatest Generation), born in Webster, South Dakota
- Feb 7 Gary Bond, England, actor (Outback, Zulu, Anne of Thousand Days)
- Feb 8 Averil Cameron, British historian, born in Leek, England
- Feb 8 Talib Rasul Hakim [Stephen Chambers], American composer (d. 1988)
- Feb 8 Ted Koppel, German-American Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist (ABC's Nightline; NPR; CBS), born in Lancashire, England
- Feb 9 Brian Bennett, British rock drummer (Shadows), born in Palmers Green, North London, England
- Feb 9 J. M. Coetzee, South African novelist, born in Cape Town, South Africa
- Feb 10 Hamish Imlach, Scottish folk-comic singer-songwriter ("Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice"), born in Calcutta, British India (d. 1996)
- Feb 10 Jimmy Merchant, American rock vocalist (Frankie Lymon & Teenagers - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"), born in NYC, New York
- Feb 10 Kenny Rankin, American singer-songwriter ("Peaceful"), born in Washington Heights, New York City (d. 2009)
- Feb 10 Mary Rand, English field athlete (Olympic long jump gold 6.76m WR 1964), born in Wells, Somerset
- Feb 10 Peter Middleton, CEO (Lloyd's)
- Feb 11 Calvin Fowler, American basketball point guard (Olympic gold 1968 co-captain; Saint Francis University), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2013)
- Feb 12 Hank Brown, American politician (Senator-R-CO 1991-97, Rep-R-CO, 1981-91), born in Denver, Colorado
- Feb 12 Richard Lynch, American actor (Xaviar-Battlestar Galactica), (d. 2012)
- Feb 14 Porpoise, 1st born in captivity in US (Marineland, Fla)
- Feb 14 Willie Hunter, Scottish soccer forward (3 caps; Motherwell) and manager (Queen of the South, Inverness Caledonian), born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 2020)
- Feb 15 Hamzah Haz, Indonesian politician
- Feb 15 John Hadl, American College Football HOF quarterback (Uni of Kansas; 4 x AFL All-Star; Pro Bowl 1972, 73; First Team All Pro 1973; AFL C'ship 1963; SD Chargers; LA Rams), born in Lawrence, Kansas (d. 2022)
- Feb 15 Trygve Madsen, Norwegian pianist and composer (The Dream of the Rhinoceros; Aurora), born in Fredrikstad, Norway
- Feb 17 Dennis Gamsy, South African cricket wicketkeeper (2 Tests, 5 dismissals; Natal), born in Glenwood, South Africa
- Feb 17 Gene Pitney, American vocalist and songwriter ("Town Without Pity"; "Hello Mary Lou"; "He's A Rebel"), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2006)
- Feb 17 Vicente Fernández, Mexican Grammy Award-winning singer, known as "El Rey de la Música Ranchera" (The King of Ranchera Music), actor, and film producer, born in Huentitán El Alto, Jalisco, Mecico (d. 2021)
- Feb 17 Willi Holdorf, German athlete (Olympic gold, United Team of Germany, decathlon 1964), born in Blomesche Wildnis, Germany (d. 2020)
- Feb 18 Fabrizio de André, Italian singer-songwriter (Storia di un impiegato), born in Genoa, Italy (d. 1999)
- Feb 19 Bobby Rogers, American pop and soul tenor vocalist (The Miracles - "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"), and songwriter ("Going To A Go-Go"; "The Way You Do the Things You Do"),, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2013)
- Feb 19 Carlin Glynn, American actress (Continental Divide)
- Feb 19 Saparmurat Niyazov, President of Turkmenistan (d. 2006)
Smokey Robinson (83 years old)
Feb 19 American soul singer-songwriter (The Miracles - "You Really Got A Hold On Me"; "Tears Of A Clown"; "My Girl"), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Feb 20 Barbara Ellis, American pop vocalist (Fleetwoods - "Mr. Blue"; "Come Softly To Me"), born in Olympia, Washington
- Feb 20 Christoph Eschenbach, German pianist and conductor (Houston Symphony, 1988-99; Philadelphia Orchestra, 2003-08: National Symphony 2010-17), born in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland)
- Feb 20 Jimmy Greaves, English soccer striker (57 caps; FIFA World Cup 1966; Chelsea, Tottenham) and journalist/broadcaster (The Sun, World of Sport, On the Ball), born in London, England (d. 2021)
- Feb 20 RA Weiss, director (Institute of Cancer Research)
- Feb 20 V Payne, British headmistress (Malvern Girls' College)
- Feb 21 Bruno Bolchi, Italian soccer midfielder (4 caps; Inter, Verona, Atalanta, Torino) and manager (AC Cesena, Bari, Messina, Genoa), born in Milan, Italy (d. 2022)
John Lewis (1940-2020)
Feb 21 American politician (Rep-D-Georgia) and prominent civil rights leader (Big Six), born in Troy, Alabama
- Feb 21 Peter Gethin, British racing driver
- Feb 21 Peter McEnery, English actor (Game is Over, Moonspinners), born in Walsall, England
- Feb 22 Billy Name [William Linich Jr.], American photographer (Andy Warhol's factory), born in Poughkeepsie, New York (d. 2016)
- Feb 22 Chet Walker, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1964, 66, 67, 70, 71, 73, 74; NBA C'ship 1967, Philadelphia 76ers; Chicago Bulls), born in Bethlehem, Mississippi
- Feb 22 Johnson Mlambo, South African leader (Pan-African Congress), born in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Feb 22 Julian Chagrin, English mime & actor (Golddiggers), born in London, England
- Feb 22 Larry Eisenhauer, American football defensive end (AFL All-Star 1962, 63, 64, 66; Boston Patriots), born in Hicksville, New York (d. 2020)
- Feb 23 Jermyn P Brooks, CEO (Price Waterhouse Europe)
- Feb 23 Peter Fonda, American actor (Easy Rider, Ulee's Gold), born in NYC, New York (d. 2019)
- Feb 24 Denis Law, Scottish footballer (Manchester United, Manchester City), born in Aberdeen, Scotland
- Feb 24 Jimmy Ellis, WBA heavyweight boxing champ (1968-70), born in Louisville, Kentucky, (d. 2014)
- Feb 24 John Lyall, English soccer manager (West Ham United 1974-89; FA Cup 1980), born in Ilford, England (d. 2006)
- Feb 24 Nicolae Martinescu, Romanian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold 100kg 1972), born in Vişani, Romania (d. 2013)
- Feb 24 Pete Duel [Deuel], American stage and screen actor (Gidget; Love on a Rooftop; Alias Smith and Jones), born in Rochester, New York (d. 1971)
- Feb 24 Theo Bosch, Dutch humanist/architect (Nieuwmarkt, Amsterdam)
- Feb 25 Billy Packer, American college basketball broadcaster (Raycom Sports, NBC, CBS), born in Wellsville, New York (d. 2023)
- Feb 25 George Paul, CEO (Norwich Union Insurance Group)
- Feb 25 Hector MacKenzie, trade unionist
- Feb 25 Jud Taylor, American actor (Dr. Kildare (TV series) - "Dr. Gerson"), and director (Tail Gunner Joe), born in New York City (d. 2008)
- Feb 25 Ron Santo, American Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman (9 x MLB All Star; 5 x Gold Glove; Chicago Cubs), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2010)
- Feb 27 Bill Hunter, Australian actor, born in Ballarat, Australia (d. 2011)
- Feb 27 Dame Barbara Kelly, Scottish civic activist & former CEO (Crichton Foundation, Scottish Consumer Council), born in Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom
- Feb 27 Howard Hesseman, American comic actor (WKRP in Cincinnati - "Dr. Johnny Fever"; Head of the Class), born in Salem, Oregon (d. 2022) [1]
- Feb 28 Joe South, American singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Games People Play"; "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 2012)
Mario Andretti (83 years old)
Feb 28 Italian American auto racer (Indianapolis 500 1969; F1 World Champion 1978), born in Montona, Italy
- Feb 29 Billy Turner Jr., American thoroughbred trainer (Triple Crown 1977 Seattle Slew), born in Rochester, New York (d. 2021)
- Feb 29 Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (1991- ), born in Zeytinliköy, Imbros, Turkey
- Feb 29 Gretchen Christopher, American singer (The Fleetwoods), born in Olympia, Washington
About February 1940
How Old? 83 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: Yes