- Jan 20 Dudley Benjafield, British racing driver, dies at 69
- Jan 24 Daniel Taylor, cricketer (bro of Herbie, 2 Tests for S Af 1914), dies
- Feb 19 Maurice Garin, Italian-born French road bicycle racer (winner of Tour de France in 1903), dies at 85
- Mar 12 Harry Dean, English cricketer (England left-arm bowler in 3 Tests, 1912), dies at 72
- Apr 8 Frank Chester, English cricketer and distinguished 1-armed Test umpire, dies at 62
- May 9 Ezio Pinza, Italian American operatic bass singer (South Pacific, NY Met Opera), dies at 64
- May 12 Alfonso de Portago, Spanish bobsledder and race car driver (b. 1928)
- May 16 Dick Irvin, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (Chicago Black Hawks), dies at 64
- May 21 Edwin St Hill, cricketer (two Tests for West Indies 1930-31), dies
- Jun 29 Johan Hin, Dutch yachtsman (Olympic gold 12' dinghy 1920), dies at 58
- Jul 3 Dolf Luque, Cuban baseball player, dies at 66
- Jul 9 Manfred Julius Susskind, South African cricketer (1924 Test series), dies
- Jul 21 Rockley Wilson, cricketer (bro of Clem, Test for England 1921), dies
- Aug 21 Nels Stewart, professional ice hockey player (b. 1902)
- Oct 28 Anthony J Morabito, co-owner of San Francisco '49ers, dies while watching a game
- Oct 30 Fred Beebe, baseball player (b. 1880)
- Nov 1 Charlie Caldwell, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (Williams, Princeton), dies at 56
- Nov 2 Ted Meredith, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m in world record 1:51.9s 1912), dies at 64
- Nov 9 Peter O'Connor, Irish athlete (1st recognised world long jump record), dies at 85
- Dec 9 Carswell Adams, sportscaster (Your Sports Special), dies
- Dec 10 Maurice McLoughlin, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1912-13), dies at 67
- Dec 29 Tom Richmond, cricketer (Notts leg-spinner took 2-86 in Eng Test), dies at 67