- Oct 1 Jerald Tanner, American religious activist (b. 1938)
- Oct 1 André Viger, French Canadian wheelchair marathoner (3 Paralympics gold medals), dies from cancer at 54
- Oct 2 Helen Chenoweth-Hage, American politician (b. 1938)
- Oct 2 Tamara Dobson, American actress (Amazons; Cleopatra Jones), dies of complications from pneumonia and multiple sclerosis, at 59
- Oct 2 Paul Halmos, Hungarian-born American mathematician (b. 1916)
- Oct 2 Milly Vitale, Italian actress (7 Little Foys, War & Peace, Juggler), dies at 73
- Oct 3 Alberto Ramento, Filipina bishop (b. 1937)
- Oct 3 John Crank, British mathematician (b. 1913)
- Oct 3 Peter Norman, Australian track star (b. 1942)
- Oct 4 Tom Bell, English actor on stage, television and film (b. 1933)
- Oct 4 Oskar Pastior, Romanian-born German writer, dies at 78
Buck O'Neil
Oct 6 Buck O'Neil, American baseball player (Kansas City Monarchs, 1st African-American coach in Major League Baseball), dies at 94
- Oct 6 Wilson Tucker, American writer (b. 1914)
- Oct 6 Alex L. Shigo, American Biologist and Plant Pathologist, dies at 76
- Oct 6 Valentin Muratov, Russian gymnast (4 gold, 1 silver medals 1952, 1956 Olympics), dies at 78
- Oct 6 Alex Shigo, American Biologist and plant pathologist known for his study of tree decay and contributions to modern arboricultural practices, dies at 76
- Oct 7 Anna Politkovskaya, Russian journalist and human rights activist, dies at 48
- Oct 9 Paul Hunter, English snooker player (Masters 2001, 02, 04), dies from neuroendocrine tumours at 27
- Oct 9 Raymond Noorda, American co-founder and long time CEO of Novell (b. 1924)
- Oct 10 Michael John Rogers, English ornithologist (b. 1932)
- Oct 10 Ian Scott, Canadian politician (b. 1934)
- Oct 11 Cory Lidle, American baseball pitcher (b. 1972)
- Oct 11 Howard Kerzner, Chief Executive Officer of Kerzner International (b. 1964)
- Oct 11 Benito Martínez, Haitan born Cuban who claimed to be the oldest living person at 126 (b. 1880)
- Oct 12 Gillo Pontecorvo, Italian film director (b. 1919)
- Oct 13 Wang Guangmei, Chinese first lady (b. 1921)
- Oct 14 Jared Anderson, American bassist (b. 1975)
- Oct 14 Freddy Fender [Baldemar Huerta], American rock, country and Tejano singer ("Wasted Days And Wasted Nights"; "Before The Next Teardrop Falls"; Texas Tornados - "A Man Can Cry"), dies of lung cancer at 69
- Oct 14 Maurice Grosse, British paranormal investigator (b. 1919)
- Oct 14 Nancy Lynn, American aviator (b. 1956)
- Oct 14 Gerry Studds, American politician (Rep-D-MA, 1973-97), first openly gay member of US Congress, dies at 69
- Oct 15 Derek Bond, British actor (Nicholas Nickelby, Armchair Theatre), dies at 86
- Oct 16 Valentín Paniagua Corazao, Ex President of Peru (b. 1936)
- Oct 16 Ross Davidson, British actor (b. 1949)
- Oct 16 Tommy Johnson, American orchestral and session tuba player (theme to "Jaws"), dies from cancer and kidney failure at 71
- Oct 16 Lister Sinclair, Canadian broadcaster and playwright (b. 1921)
- Oct 17 Daniel Emilfork, French actor (b. 1924)
- Oct 17 Christopher Glenn, American newscaster (b. 1938)
- Oct 18 Mario Francesco Cardinal Pompedda (b. 1929)
- Oct 18 Anna Russell, English music satirist and composer, dies at 94
- Oct 19 James Glennon, American cinematographer, dies at 64
- Oct 19 Phyllis Kirk [Kirkegaard], American actress (Thin Man, Red Button's Show), dies at 79
Jane Wyatt
Oct 20 Jane Wyatt, American actress (Father Knows Best), dies at 96
- Oct 20 Frank Vicari, American jazz, session, and touring saxophonist (Maynard Ferguson; Woody Herman; Tom Waits; Saturday Night Live), dies at 75
- Oct 21 Rene Gerber, Swiss composer, dies at 98
- Oct 22 Choi Kyu-hah, President of South Korea, dies at 87
- Oct 22 Arthur Hill, Canadian actor (Owen Marshall, Glitter), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 84
- Oct 22 Richard Mayes, British actor (Doctor Who, Emmerdale), dies of a stroke at 83
- Oct 23 Lebo Mathosa, South African entertainer (b. 1977)
- Oct 24 Enolia McMillan, American civil rights activist (b. 1904)
- Oct 24 William Montgomery Watt, Islamic studies scholar, orientalist and historian (b. 1909)
- Oct 26 Pontus Hultén, Swedish art collector and museum director (b. 1924)
- Oct 26 Tillman Franks, American country music bassist, songwriter and artist manager (Webb Pierce), dies at 86
- Oct 27 Joe Niekro, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1979; NL wins leader 1979; Houston Astros; World Series 1987; NY Yankees), dies from a brain aneurysm at 61
- Oct 27 Brad Will, American anarchist and independent journalist (b. 1970)
- Oct 27 Marlin McKeever, American NFL linebacker (Pro Bowl 1966; LA Rams), dies from injuries suffered in a fall at 66
Red Auerbach
Oct 28 Red Auerbach, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach, general manager (Boston Celtics, 9-time NBA champion), dies of a heart attack at 89
Trevor Berbick
Oct 28 Trevor Berbick, Jamaican boxer (WBC heavyweight champion 1986), dies from blows to the head by his nephew at 52
P. W. Botha
Oct 31 P. W. Botha, South African politician (President of South Africa, 1984-89; Prime Minister, 1977-84), dies at 90
