Joan Crawford
May 10 Joan Crawford [Lucille Le Sueur], American actress (Mildred Pierce), dies of a heart attack between 69 and 74 [year of birth disputed]
- May 12 Luc van Brabant, Flemish writer and erotic poet, dies at 67
- May 15 Modibo Keïta, 1st President of Mali (1960-68), dies at 61
- May 16 Edouard Van Remoortel, Belgian conductor (St Louis Symphony, 1958-62), dies at 50
- May 22 Gijs van Hall, Dutch politician and Mayor of Amsterdam (1957-67), dies at 73
- May 22 Marius Monnikendam, Dutch choir composer, dies at 80
- May 25 Yevgenia Ginzburg, Russian writer, dies at 72
- May 26 Jim Boles, American actor (The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, One Man's Family), dies of cardiac arrest at 63
- May 26 William Powell, American R&B singer (O'Jays - "Love Train"; "Backstabbers"), dies of cancer at 35
- May 28 Jiří Reinberger, Czech organist and composer, dies at 63
- May 29 Goddard Lieberson, English composer and President of Columbia Records, dies at 66
- May 29 Ba Maw, Burmese politician (b. 1893)
- May 30 Claire Goll, German-French writer, dies at 86
- May 30 Paul Desmond, American jazz alto saxophonist (Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five), dies of lung cancer at 52
- May 30 Marinus Adam, Dutch conductor and composer, dies at 76
- May 31 William Castle, American film director (b. 1914)