- Jan 7 Alfred Kastler, French physicist (Nobel 1966 - Hertzian resonances within atoms), dies at 81
- Jan 9 Wolfgang Staudte, German director (Ciske de Rat), dies at 77
- Jan 10 Souvanna Phouma, Prince and Prime Minister of Laos (1951–54, 1956–58, 1960 and 1962–75), dies at 82
- Jan 14 Mary Zeldenrust-Noordanus, Dutch sexuologist (NVSH), dies at 55
- Jan 18 Malcolm H. Kerr, 9th President of American University of Beirut, shot dead at 52
- Jan 21 Giannis Skaribas, Greek writer, dramatist, and poet (b. 1893)
- Jan 22 Mikiel Gonzi, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malta (1944-76), dies at 98
- Jan 23 Mu'in Bseiso, Palestinian poet (b. 1926)
- Jan 29 Edzard Schaper, German author (Der Henker 'The Hangman'; The Fourth King) who wrote about Estonia and Christianity and was sentenced to death by both the Soviet Union and Germany, dies at 76
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Civil Rights Activists
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