- Jan 2 Sebastian Haffner, German journalist and author (b. 1907)
- Jan 10 Sir Edward Williams, Australian judge (b. 1921)
- Jan 11 Naomi Mitchison, Scottish novelist and poet (The Corn King and the Spring Queen ), dies at 101
- Jan 11 Brian Moore, Irish novelist (Catholics, Doctor's Wife), dies at 77
- Jan 14 Jerzy Grotowski, Polish theatre director (b. 1933)
- Jan 16 Jim McClelland, Australian solicitor, politician, Minister, Royal Commissioner, judge (b. 1915)
- Jan 17 Robert Eads, American transsexual (b. 1945)
- Jan 22 Graham Staines, Australian missionary (b. 1941)
- Jan 23 Jay Pritzker, American businessman (b. 1922)
- Jan 25 SSarah Louise "Sadie" Delany, American author and teacher, dies at 109
- Jan 28 Markey Robinson, Irish painter (b. 1918)
- Jan 28 Torgny T:son Segerstedt, Swedish sociologist and philosopher (b. 1908)