- Jan 1 László Sáry, Hungarian classical pianist and composer (12 Haiku; Flowers of Heaven), born in Győrasszonyfa, Hungary
- Jan 1 Marlin McKeever, American NFL linebacker (Pro Bowl 1966; LA Rams), born in Cheyenne, Wyoming (d. 2006)
- Jan 1 Richard Henry Orton, composer
- Jan 1 Ruly Carpenter, American baseball executive (principal owner and president Philadelphia Phillies 1972-81), born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 2021)
- Jan 2 S. R. S. Varadhan, Indian-American mathematician
- Jan 3 Bernard Blaut, Polish soccer midfielder (36 caps; KP Legia Warsaw, FC Metz) and manager (UAE), born in Krapkowice, Poland (d. 2007)
- Jan 3 Thelma Schoonmaker, actress/editor (Casino, Cape Fear, Good Fellas)
- Jan 4 Anthony "Skooter" Teague, American screen and stage actor (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; No, No, Nanette), born in Jacksboro, Texas (d. 1989)
- Jan 4 Brian Josephson, Welsh physicist (Nobel Prize, 1973), born in Cardiff, Wales
- Jan 4 Gao Xingjian, Chinese-born French novelist and dramatist, Nobel laureate, years), born in Ganzhou, China
- Jan 4 Helmut Jahn, German-American architect who designed the O'Hare United Airlines Terminal and the Thompson Center in Chicago and One Liberty Place in Philadelphia, born in Nuremberg, Germany (d. 2021) [1] [2]
- Jan 5 Athol Guy, Australian singer (The Seekers), born in Colac, Australia
- Jan 5 Michael O'Donoghue, American writer and performer (Saturday Night Live, Scrooged), born in Sauquoit, New York (d. 1994)
- Jan 5 Michael Rose, British army officer, born in British India
- Jan 5 Yuri Ershov, Russian mathematician, born in Novosibirsk, Russia
- Jan 6 Ed Zschau, American politician (Rep-R-CA, 1983- ), born in Omaha, Nebraska
- Jan 6 Laudir de Oliveira, Brazilian percussionist (Sérgio Mendes; Chicago, 1973-81), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 2017)
- Jan 6 Penny Lernoux, American journalist, born in California (d. 1989)
- Jan 6 Van McCoy, American musician and songwriter ("The Hustle"), born in Englewood, New Jersey (d. 1979)
- Jan 8 Cristy Lane, American country music and gospel singer, born in Peoria, Illinois
- Jan 8 Gianni Di Marzio, Italian soccer manager (Napoli, Catania, Genoa, Lecce, Palermo FC), born in Naples, Italy (d. 2022)
- Jan 9 Al Downing, American rockabilly piano player and singer (Big Al & The Chartbusters), born in Centralia, Oklahoma (d. 2005)
- Jan 9 Barbara Buczek, Polish pianist, composer (Anekumena – Concerto for 89 Instruments; Two Impressions), and teacher, born in Kraków, Poland (d. 1993)
- Jan 9 Jimmy Boyd, American singer ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"), and actor (Bachelor Father - "Howard"), born in Jayess, Mississippi (d. 2009)
- Jan 9 Ruth Dreifuss, Swiss politician (President of Switzerland, 1999; Vice-President of Switzerland, 1998), born in St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Jan 10 Guy Chevrette, Quebec politician, born in Québec, Canada
- Jan 10 Harry Gant, American race car driver, born in Taylorsville, North Carolina
- Jan 10 Ntare VI of Ankole, Omugabe of Nkole
- Jan 11 Mark DeVoto, American composer (Hodayot; Pavane and Zortzico), and musicologist (Schubert), born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Jan 12 Dick Motz, New Zealand cricket all-rounder (32 Tests, 100 wickets, BB 6/63; Canterbury CA), born in Christchurch, New Zealand (d. 2007)
- Jan 12 Ronald Shannon Jackson, American avant-garde jazz and funk drummer, and composer (Cecil Taylor; Last Exit; Decoding Society), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2013)
- Jan 13 Edmund White, American author
- Jan 14 Julian Bond, American civil rights leader & politician (D-Ga), born in Nashville Tennessee (d. 2015)
- Jan 17 Fred Hill, English soccer forward (2 caps; Bolton Wanderers 375 games), born in Sheffield, England (d. 2021)
- Jan 17 Kipchoge "Kip" Keino, Kenyan athlete (Olympic gold 1,500m 1968, 3k steeplechase 1972), born in Kipsamo, Kenya
- Jan 17 Leighton Rees, Welsh darts player (BDO World Champion 1978), born in Ynysybwl, Glamorgan, Wales (d. 2003)
- Jan 17 Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, South African poet (Fireflames)
- Jan 17 Tabaré Vázquez, Uruguayan politician and physician, President of Uruguay (2005-10, 2015-20), born in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 2020) [1]
- Jan 18 Pat Britt, American jazz saxophonist, flute player, and producer, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Jan 18 Pedro Rodriguez, Mexican racing driver (Le Mans, 1968), born in Mexico City, Mexico (d. 1971)
- Jan 19 Barend J du Plessis, South African minister of Finance (1984- )
Mary Mills (83 years old)
Jan 19 American golfer (US Open 1963, PGA 1964, 73), born in Laurel, Mississippi
- Jan 19 Mike Reid, English comedian (d. 2007)
- Jan 19 Paolo Borsellino, Italian magistrate (d. 1992)
- Jan 20 Carol Heiss Jenkins, American figure skater (Olympic gold singles 1960; silver 1956; World C'ship gold 1956–1960), born in NYC, New York
- Jan 20 Jorge Peixinho, Portuguese pianist, composer, and conductor, born in Montijo, Portugal (d. 1995)
- Jan 20 Krishnam Raju, Indian actor & politician, born in Mogalthur, India
- Jan 20 Lars-Åke Lagrell, Swedish sports administrator (President Swedish Football Association 1991-2012) and politician (Governor Kronoberg County), born in Växjö, Sweden (d. 2020)
Jack Nicklaus (83 years old)
Jan 21 American golfer (18 major titles, 73 PGA Tour titles), born in Columbus, Ohio
- Jan 21 Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford, English peer (Woburn Abbey, Country House TV series), born at the Ritz, London (d. 2003)
- Jan 22 Addie "Micki" Harris, American pop singer (Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"; "Soldier Boy"), born in Passaic, New Jersey (d. 1982)
- Jan 22 Eberhard Weber, German acoustic and electric double bassist, cellist and chamber jazz and ambient music composer, born in Stuttgart, Germany
- Jan 22 George Seifert, American football coach
- Jan 22 John Hurt, English actor (Elephant Man, Alien, Midnight Express), born in Chesterfield (d. 2017)
- Jan 22 Tilo Medek, German composer, born in Jena, Germany
- Jan 23 Jimmy Castor, American pop & funk musician ("Troglodyte (Cave Man)", Jimmy Castor Bunch), born in NYC, New York (d. 2012)
- Jan 23 Johnny Russell, American country singer, born in Moorhead, Mississippi (d. 2001)
- Jan 23 Stjepan Lamza, Croatian soccer midfielder (7 caps Yugoslavia; GNK Dinamo Zagreb), born in Sisak, Croatia (d. 2022)
- Jan 25 Jürgen Sundermann, German soccer manager (Servette, VfB Stuttgart, Schalke 04, Strasbourg, Hertha BSC) and midfielder (1 cap West Germany; FC Basel, Servette), born in Mülheim, Germany (d. 2022)
- Jan 26 Harold Lederman, American boxing judge, analyst (HBO), born in NYC, NY (d. 2019)
- Jan 27 Brian T O'Leary, astronaut, born in Boston, Massachusetts
- Jan 27 James Cromwell, American actor (Babe, The Green Mile), born in Los Angeles, California
Carlos Slim (83 years old)
Jan 28 Mexican business magnate (América Móvil) once ranked as the richest person in the world, born in Mexico City, Mexico
- Jan 29 Justino DÍaz, Puerto Rican opera singer, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Jan 29 Katharine Ross, American actress (Graduate, Francesca-Colbys), born in Hollywood, California
- Jan 29 Kunimitsu Takahashi, Japanese motorcycle racer (1st Japanese rider to win GP race 1961) and auto racer (4 x All-Japan Sports Prototype C'ship), born in Tokyo, Japan (d. 2022)
- Jan 30 David Johnson, American composer, born in Batavia, New York
- Jan 31 Stuart Margolin, American Emmy Award-winning actor (The Rockford Files - "Angel"; Love American Style), and director, born in Davenport, Iowa (d. 2022) [1]
About January 1940
How Old? 83 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: Yes