- May 2 Alfred Weber, German economist and sociologist, dies at 89
- May 3 Frank Foster, cricketer (England all-rounder, 11 Tests 1911-12), dies
- May 5 James Branch Cabell, American novelist and essayist (Restless Heads), dies at 79
- May 7 Nyogen Senzaki, 1st Zen teacher to reside in USA, dies at 81
- May 8 Nasni Matni, Lebanese journalist, murdered
- May 8 Norman Bel Geddes, American theatrical designer (Rivals, Dead End), dies at 65
- May 9 Bill Goodwin, American television announcer (Burns & Allen), dies at 47
- May 15 Michael G the Boer, historian (Harbor of Amsterdam), dies at 91
- May 16 Jeroom Verten [Jozef Frans Vermetten], Flemish playwright, dies at 49
Ronald Colman
May 19 Ronald Colman, British actor (Lost Horizon, The Prisoner of Zenda, Phantom Shot), dies at 67
Ronald Colman
- May 19 Archie Scott-Brown, English race car driver (b. 1927)
- May 19 Bruno Stürmer, German conductor, composer and educator dies at 65
- May 25 Rolland Beaumont, cricketer (5 Tests for South Africa), dies
- May 27 Ainslie Pryor, actor (Adventures of Hiram Holiday), dies at 46
- May 27 Samuel Stritch, US cardinal/archbishop (Chicago), dies
- May 28 Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský, Slovak composer, dies at 77
- May 29 Juan Ramon Jiménez, Spanish poet (Nobel 1956), dies at 76
- May 30 Jozef van Mierlo, Belgian Jesuit and literary (Hadewych), dies at 79