- January 18
- Malcolm H Kerr, 9th president of American University of Beirut, shot dead. [1]
- January 20
- Death of Peter John [Johnny] Weissmuller at age 79 after a series of strokes in Acapulco, Mexico; Austrian-born swimmer and actor (Tarzan, Jungle Jim). [1] [114] [457]
- January 21
- Death of Jackie Wilson at age 49 (in a coma since 1975 heart attack); soul singer ("Night" (1960), "I Get the Sweetest Feeling", "Lonely Teardrops"), inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987). [1] [114] [457]
- January 22
- Death of Sir Count Michael Gonzi, Archbishop of Malta and past politician (born 1885). [114]
- January 27
- Lou Crosby, TV announcer (Mayor of Hollywood), dies at age 72. [1]
- January 28
- John Macvane, newscaster (United or Not), dies at age 71. [1]
- January 29
- Frances Goodrich, actor (Diary of Anne Frank), dies from lung cancer at age 93. [1]
- February 3
- Ravindara Mhatrem, Indian diplomat, killed in England. [1]
- February 7
- Brooks West, actor (Richard - My Friend Irma), dies at age 67. [1]
- February 8
- Death of Karel Miljon, Dutch boxer (born 1903). [114]
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- February 9
- Yuri Andropov, General Secretary of Soviet Communist Party (1982-84), dies at age 69 (born 1914). [1] [114]
- February 12
- Julio Cortázar, Argentine writer (Final del Juego), dies at age 69. [1] [114]
- Anna Anderson Manahan [claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia] dies in Virginia. [1]
- February 13
- Naomi Uemura, Japanese mountain climber, dies on Mount McKinley. [1]
- February 15
- Avon Long, dancer/actor (Roots: The Next Generation), dies of cancer at age 73. [1]
- Death of Ethel Merman AKA Ethel Zimmerman in her sleep following brain cancer surgery at age 75; American singer, actress (Hollywood Palace TV show, Toast of the Town TV show, Shower of Stars TV show, Batman, Tarzan, and The Love Boat, Tony Award). [1] [114] [457]
- Leamon Hunt, US director-General in Sinai, killed by communists. [1]
- February 16
- Ken Williams, TV announcer (Video Village), dies at age 69. [1]
- February 17
- Lucille Benson, actress (Lilly - Bosom Buddies), dies at age 69. [1]
- February 19
- Ina Ray Hutton, orchestra leader (Ina Ray Hutton Show), dies at age 66. [1]
- February 21
- Death of Michail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov, Russian writer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1905). [1] [114]
- February 22
- David, spent most of his life in a plastic bubble, dies at age 12. [1]
- Death of Jessamyn West, American writer (born 1902). [114]
- Death of Syed Faiz-ul Hassan Shah, a Pakistani religious leader of Allo Mahar Shrif. [114]
- February 28
- Leslie Walcott, cricket player (Test for West Indies versus England 1930), dies. [1]
- February 29
- Death of Roland Culver of a heart attack at age 83; British actor (Thunderball, Duke of Omnium - The Pallisers TV show (1974)). [1] [457]
- March 1
- Jackie Coogan, American actor (Uncle Fester - Addams Family), dies at age 69 (born 1914). [1] [114]
- March 2
- Louis Basile, actor (Louie - The Super), dies at age 48. [1]
- March 5
- Michael Sklar, California, comedian (Laugh-in, Sha Na Na), dies at age 39. [1]
- Tito Gobbi, Italian baritone (Scarpia in Tosca), dies at age 68 (born 1915). [1] [114]
- William Powell, American actor (My Man Godfrey), dies at age 91 (born 1892). [1] [114]
- Harry Salter, orchestra leader (Stop the Music), dies at age 85. [1]
- March 6
- Death of Martin Niemöller in Wiesbaden, Germany; commander of a submarine in World War I, pastor in Berlin, a leader in the resistance against Adolf Hitler, recipient of the Lenin Peace Prize in 1967 and the German "Grand Cross of Merit" in 1971. [1] [37]
- Henry Wilcoxon, actor (Cleopatra, Dragnet, Jericho), dies of congessive heart failure at age 78. [1]
- Ian Cromb, cricket player (5 Tests for New Zealand, 123 runs, 8 wickets), dies. [1]
- March 10
- June Marlowe, actress (Pardon Us), dies at age 81. [1]
- March 11
- Nakagawa Soen, Zen teacher/poet, dies in Rytutakuji monastery at age 76. [1]
- March 13
- Dick Whitington, journalist/cricket player (South Australia and AIF bat), dies. [1]
- March 14
- Aurelio Peccei, Italian businessman/CEO (Club Rome), dies at age 75. [1]
- March 15
- Tommy Cooper, comedian, collapses and dies on stage. [1]
- March 18
- Death of Charlie Lau, American baseball player/coach (Chiacgo Cubs), at age 50 (born 1933). [1] [114]
- March 24
- Sam Jaffe, American actor (Dr Zorba - Ben Casey), dies of cancer at age 93 (born 1891). [1] [114]
- March 28
- Kenneth Whitty, first Secretary at British Embassy in Athens, is shot dead. [1]
- Death of Carmen Dragon at age 69; bandleader (Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra on NBC Radio's Standard Oil Hour, Maxwell House Coffee Time, The Railroad Hour). [457]
- March 30
- Death of Karl Rahner in Innsbruck, Austria (born in Freiburg, Germany); Jesuit priest, writer, professor of theology at the universities of Innsbruck, Munich and Münster. [37]
- Peter Yarrall, strongest Englishman/weighed 826 pounds (374.7kg), dies. [1]
- April 1
- Death of Marvin Gaye shot to death by his father Marvin Gaye Sr in Los Angeles, California at age 44; singer ("Sexual Healing") (born 1939). [1] [114]
- April 4
- John Arnold, cricket player (England bat versus New Zealand 1931, scored 34 only Test), dies. [1]
- April 5
- Theo Koomen, Dutch sportscaster, dies in auto-accident at age 54. [1]
- Arthur Travors "Bomber" Harris, marshal of British Royal Air Force, dies (born 1892). [1] [114]
- April 6
- Jimmy Kenndy, British songwriter ("South of the Border"), dies. [1]
- April 7
- Frank Church, American politician (Senator-Democrat-Ohio, 1957-81), dies at age 59. [1]
- Samuel G Engel, screenwriter/poet, dies of heart failure at age 79. [1]
- April 8
- Death of Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa, Russian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1894). [114]
- April 10
- Death of Nate Nelson at age 52 from a heart attack; singer (The Flamingos - "I'll Be Home", "I Only Have Eyes For You" (1959), The Platters). [1] [457]
- April 12
- Ruth Taylor, actress (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), dies at age 76. [1]
- April 13
- Christopher Wilder, FBI's "most wanted man", accidentally kills self. [1]
- April 15
- British comedian/magician Tommy Cooper suffers a massive heart attack while live on TV, dying at age 61 (born 1921). [1] [114]
- April 17
- WPC Yvonne Fletcher is shot and killed by a secluded gunman during a siege outside the Libyan Embassy in London. [1] [114]
- April 20
- Death of Mabel Mercer at age 84; English/US singer ("Fly Me to the Moon"). [1]
- April 22
- Ansel Adams, American photographer, dies at age 82 (born 1902). [1] [5]
- April 23
- August "Guus" Oster, actor/director (Carrie), dies at age 68. [1]
- April 25
- Richard Benedict, actor (Okinawa), dies of a heart attack at age 64. [1]
- April 26
- Henry Rowland, actor (Rogue's Regiment), dies at age 70. [1]
- May McAvoy, actress (Ben Hur), dies after a heart attack at age 82. [1]
- Death of William Allen Basie AKA Count Basie at age 79 of pancreatic cancer; jazz pianist, bandleader (Count Basie Orchestra - "One O'Clock Jump", "Jumpin' at the Woodside"). [1] [114] [457]
- April 27
- Death of Lorraine McAllister at age 62; singer (Dal Richards Orchestra on radio, Here's Lorraine TV show). [457]
- April 28
- Glen H Taylor, US Senator/vice presidential candidate (1948), dies at age 80. [1]
- April 30
- Muddy Waters, blues singer/guitarist ("Hoochie Coochie Man"), dies at age 68. [1]
- May 1
- Death of Gordon Jenkins of Lou Gehrig's Disease at age 73; orchestra leader (The Mayor of the Town, The Man Called X, Al Jolson, Jack Carson, Dick Haymes, NBC Comedy Hour), musical director (Decca, Capitol Records, Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole). [1] [457]
- May 2
- Piet van Aken, Flemish writer (Failing God, Niggers), dies at age 64. [1]
- Death of Jack Barry at age 66 of cardiac arrest; game show emcee (Twenty One TV show, The Joker's Wild TV show). [1] [114] [457]
- May 4
- Death of Diana Dors at age 52 of stomach cancer; actress (Berserk!, Pantomime Quiz TV show). [1] [457]
- May 10
- Robert Moore, actor (Marshall - Diana), dies at age 56. [1]
- May 12
- Doris May, actress (Peck's Bad Boy), dies of heart failure at age 81. [1]
- May 14
- Larry Stock, songwriter ("Blueberry Hill"), dies. [1]
- May 16
- Death of Andy Kaufman at age 35 of lung cancer; comedian (Latka Gravas - Taxi TV show, 15-time guest on Saturday Night Live TV show). [1] [114] [457]
- Irwin Shaw, American writer (Rich Man, Poor Man), dies at age 71 (born 1913). [1] [114]
- May 17
- Death of Gordon Sinclair at age 83 after a heart attack; journalist (Toronto Star, "Let's Be Personal" on CFRB), panelist (Front Page Challenge). [457]
- May 20
- Peter Bull, British actor (Dr Doolittle), dies of a heart attack at age 72. [1]
- May 21
- Andrea Leeds, actress (Stage Door, Earthbound), dies of cancer at age 70. [1]
- Ann Little, actress (Roaring Road), dies. [1]
- May 22
- John Marley, actor (Cat Ballou), dies following heart surgery at age 77. [1]
- May 24
- Death of Vincent J. McMahon, professional wrestling promoter WWF (born 1914). [114]
- May 29
- Eric Morecambe, British comedian (Morecambe and Wise), suffers a heart attack during a performance in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire and dies in hospital at age 58. [1] [114] 429]
- June 6
- Death of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, most well known sikh leader of the 20th century (born 1947). [114]
- June 7
- George Givot, actor (Versatile Vaudeville), dies at age 81. [1]
- June 15
- Meredith Willson, composer (Meredith Willson Show), dies at age 82. [1]
- June 17
- Death of Chet Allen at age 51; actor (Amahl - Amahl and the Night Visitors (1951), Jerry - Bonino, Slats - Troubleshooter). [1] [457]
- Swale, Kentucky Derby winner, collapses and dies. [1]
- June 20
- Death of Estelle Winwood at age 101 of natural causes; actress (Miracle on 34th Street, Aunt Hilda - Batman TV show). [1] [457]
- June 24
- Death of William Keighley at age 94 of a stroke; actor, film director, host (Lux Radio Theatre). [1] [457]
- July 1
- Death of Moshé Feldenkrais, Ukrainian founder of the Feldenkrais Method (born 1904). [114]
- July 13
- Death of Philippe Wynne of a heart attack while on stage in Oakland, California, USA; singer (The Spinners, "I'll Be Around", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", "Then Came You"). [457]
- July 14
- Death of Kenny Delmar at age 74; actor, announcer (Senator Claghorn - Fred Allen Show radio show), comedian (School House). [1] [457]
- July 16
- Death of Billy Williams at age 73; singer (Your Show of Shows). [1]
- July 18
- In San Ysidro, California, 41-year-old James Oliver Huberty sprays a McDonald's restaurant with gunfire, killing 21 people before being shot and killed by police. [1] [114]
- July 21
- James Fixx, runner and author, dies at age 43 of a heart attack. [1]
- July 25
- Death of Willie Mae Thornton at age 57 of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, USA; blues singer ("Hound Dog" (1953)). [457]
- July 26
- Death of George Gallup, American statistician and opinion pollster (born 1901). [114]
- Death of Ed "Psycho" Gein, American serial killer (born 1906). [1] [114]
- July 27
- Death of James Mason at age 75 of a heart attack at his Swiss home; actor (AD, George Washington, The Search for Alexander the Great, Search for the Nile, Jesus of Nazareth). [1] [5] [457]
- July 29
- Death of Fred Waring at age 84; choirmaster/bandleader (The Pennsylvanians, Fred Waring Show), inventor (Waring blender). [1] [457]
- Woodrow Parfey, actor (Time Express), dies at age 61 of a heart attack. [1]
- July 31
- Death of Bill Raisch of lung cancer at age 79; one armed actor (Fred Johnson - The Fugitive TV show). [1] [457]
- August 5
- Howard Culver, actor (Howie - Gunsmoke), dies at age 66. [1]
- Death of Richard Burton AKA Richard Walter Jenkins Junior at age 58 of a cerebral hemorrhage in Geneva, Switzerland; actor (Cleopatra), narrator (Winston Churchill - The Valiant Years). [1] [5] [114] [457]
- August 8
- Richard Deacon, actor (Mel - Dick Van Dyke Show), dies at age 62. [1]
- August 25
- Truman Capote, author (In Cold Blood), dies (born 1924). [1] [114]
- Reinhard "Teddy" Suhren dies of stomach cancer at age 68. Suhren was a German WWII submarine commander, one of five to receive the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Crossed Swords. [152.16]
- August 27
- Billy Sands, actor (Phil Silvers Show, McHale's Navy), dies at age 73. [1]
- September 3
- Duncan Renaldo, actor (Cisco Kid), dies at age 80. [1]
- September 6
- Death of Ernest Tubb at age 70; singer (Grand Ole Opry). [1]
- E.J. Andre, actor (Eugene Bullock - Dallas), dies at age 74. [1]
- September 8
- Death of Frank Lowson, English Test Cricketer 1951-1955 (born 1925). [114]
- September 14
- Death of Richard Brautigan, American counter-culture author (suicide) (born 1935). [114]
- September 24
- Neil Hamilton, actor (Commissioner Gordon - Batman), dies of asthma at age 85. [1]
- September 25
- Walter Pidgeon of New Brunswick, Canada, actor (MGM-Mrs Miniver, Madame Curie), dies at age 87 after a series of strokes (born 1897). [1] [114]
- September 27
- John Facenda, sportscaster (NFL Action), dies at age 72. [1]
- October 12
- Death of Sir Anthony Berry, British politician (bombing) (born 1925). [114]
- Jon-Erik Hexum, TV actor (Cover-Up), dies of accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound from a blank cartridge. [467]
- October 14
- Death of Martin Ryle, English radio astronomer, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics (born 1918). [114]
- October 16
- Ken Carpenter, TV announcer (Lux Video Theater), dies at age 84. [1]
- October 18
- Death of Jon-Erik Hexum at age 26 from self-inflicted wounds six days earlier from a gun loaded with blanks, which sent a portion of skull into his brain; actor (Cover-Up, Voyagers). [114] [457]
- Florence Rinard, TV panelist (20 Questions), dies at age 82. [1]
- October 20
- Death of Paul Dirac, English physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1902). [114]
- Death of Carl Ferdinand Cori, Austrian-born biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (born 1896). [114]
- October 22
- Napoleon Whiting, actor (Silas - Big Valley), dies at age 75. [1]
- October 24
- Walter Woolf King, actor/TV host (Lights Cameras Action), dies at age 85. [1]
- October 26
- Death of Sue Randall at age 49; actress (Miss Landers - Leave it to Beaver). [1] [457]
- October 30
- Mario Gallo, actor (Delvecchio), dies at age 61. [1]
- October 31
- Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated by her two Sikh security guards. Riots soon break out in New Delhi, and some 2,700 Sikhs are killed. [1] [114]
- November 4
- Death of Merie Earle at age 95 of uremic poisoning; actress (Maude - The Waltons, Green Acres, The Bob Newhart Show). [1] [457]
- November 11
- Reverend Martin Luther King Sr dies in Atlanta, Georgie, USA at age 84. [1]
- November 14
- Zamboanga City mayor Cesar Climaco, a prominent critic of the government of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, is assassinated in his home city (born 1916). [114]
- George Matthews, of Brooklyn, New York, actor (Chick - Glynis), dies at age 73. [1]
- November 15
- Baby Fae, who received a baboon's heart, dies at California medical center. [1]
- November 18
- Death of Mary Hamman, American writer and editor, modern living editor LIFE and editor-in-chief Bride & Home (born 1907). [114]
- November 27
- Percy Norris, deputy high commissioner of India, shot dead. [1]
- December 4
- John Rock, US co-developer of anti-conceptiepil, dies at age 94. [1]
- December 6
- Ruth Cummings, actress (Daybreak, Dream of Love), dies at age 90. [1]
- December 7
- Jeanne Cagney, actress (Quicksand, Kentucky Rifle), dies at age 65. [1]
- December 8
- Death of Luther Adler at 81; actor/director (Dr Bernard Altman - The Psychiatrist, Playhouse 90 TV show, Hawaii 5-0 TV show, 77 Sunset Strip TV show, The Untouchables TV show). [1] [114] [457]
- December 11
- Death of Oskar Seidlin, Silesian-born Jewish-American literary scholar (born 1911). [114]
- December 14
- Vicente Aleixandre, Spanish poet (Historia del corazón), Nobel Prize winner, dies at age 86 (born 1898). [1] [114]
- December 15
- Avon Long, actor (Roots: The Next Generation), dies at age 74. [1]
- December 20
- Death of Gonzalo Márquez, Venezuelan Major League Baseball player (born 1946). [114]
- December 24
- Ian Hendry, actor (Assassin, Get Carter, Repulsion), dies at age 53. [1]
- Death of Peter Lawford at age 61 of liver and kidney disease; actor (The Thin Man, Dear Phoebe). [1] [457]
- December 28
- Death of Sam Peckinpah, American film director (born 1925). [114]
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