- Jan 2 Bernard George Stevens, composer, dies at 66
- Jan 2 Richard "Dick" Emery, British comedian and actor (Yellow Submarine, Loot, Baby Love), dies from cardio-respiratory failure at 65
- Jan 2 Harriet Parsons, producer (Susan Slept Here), dies at 76 of cancer
- Jan 7 August Cool, Belgian trade union leader, dies at 79
- Jan 8 Gale Page, actress (4 Daughters, Knute Rockney), dies of cancer at 72
- Jan 8 Lois Wilson, actress (Alice-Aldrich Family), dies at 88
- Jan 8 Tom McCall, Governor of Oregon (b. 1913)
- Jan 8 Gerhard Barkhorn, German fighter pilot (b. 1919)
- Jan 8 Ron Frazer, Australian actor (b. 1924)
Roy DeMeo
- Jan 10 Ewan Roberts, Scottish actor (The Day of the Triffids, Five to One), dies at 68
- Jan 11 Nikolaj V Podgorny, president USSR, dies at 79
- Jan 11 Ghanshyam Das Birla, Indian industrialist and educator, dies at 88
- Jan 12 Rebop Kwaku Baah, Nigerian percussionist (b. 1944)
- Jan 13 Arthur Space, actor (Doc Weaver-Lassie), dies of cancer at 74
- Jan 13 D Mack Reynolds, American writer (Amazon Planet, Once Departed), dies
- Jan 13 John McHugh, actor (Unspeakable), dies of a heart attack at 69
Meyer Lansky
Jan 15 Meyer Lansky, reputed mobster, dies in Miami Beach Fla at 80
Meyer Lansky
- Jan 15 Shepperd Strudwick, actor (Psychomania), dies of cancer at 75
- Jan 17 Doodles Weaver [Winstead Sheffield Weaver], American comedian (Spike Jones & City Slickers, The Zodiac Killer), commits suicide by shooting himself at 70
- Jan 20 Garrincha, Brazilian footballer (b. 1933)
- Jan 22 Fred Bakewell, cricketer (dashing England bat of 30s, 6 Tests), dies
- Jan 24 George Cukor, director, dies of stroke & heart attack at 83
- Jan 26 Paul "Bear" Bryant, American college football coach (Alabama), dies at 69
- Jan 27 Louis De Funes, French actor and writer (The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacobs), dies at 68
- Jan 27 Robert Christian, actor (Bustin' Loose), dies of cancer at 42
- Jan 28 Billy Fury [Ronald Wycherley], English singer (That'll Be the Day), dies at 42 of heart failure
- Jan 28 Frank Forde, 15th Prime Minister of Australia (b. 1890)
- Jan 30 Joan Valerie, actress (Pier 13), dies of pneumonia
- Jan 30 [Dallas] Mack/McCord Reynolds, sci-fi author (Earth War), dies at 65