- May 4 Seamus Elliott, Irish road bicycle racer (first English speaker to win stages in all the Grand Tours), dies at 36
- May 12 Heinie Manush, American Baseball HOF left fielder (MLB All-Star 1934 Washington Sens; AL batting champion 1926 Detroit Tigers), dies from throat cancer at 69
- May 12 Johnny Taylor, Australian cricket batsman (20 Tests; 1 x 100, 8 x 50) and rugby union fly-half (2 caps), dies at 75
- May 12 Tor Johnson [Tore Johansson], Swedish wrestler and actor (Bride of the Monster), dies at 67
- May 15 Goose Goslin, American Baseball HOF left fielder (World Series 1924 Washington Sens, 1935 Detroit Tigers; AL batting champion 1928; MLB All Star 1936), dies at 70
- May 16 Barney Stanley, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame forward (Stanley Cup 1915, Vancouver Millionaires; coach Chicago Black Hawks 1927-28), dies at 77
- May 20 Martín Dihigo, Cuban Baseball HOF two-way player (2 × Negro League All-Star New York Cubans; 4 × Cuban League MVP), dies at 65
- May 27 Jack Doscher, American baseball pitcher (1st son of a major leaguer to play MLB), dies at 90
- May 31 Bert Ironmonger, Australian cricket spin bowler (14 Tests; 74 wickets @ 17.97; Queensland, Victoria), dies at 89
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions