- Jan 1 M. J. Frankovich, American football player and film producer (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), dies at 82
- Jan 3 Ken Grieves, Australian cricketer (NSW & Lancashire leg-spin all-rounder), dies at 66
- Jan 10 Roberto Bonomi, Argentine racing driver (b. 1919)
- Jan 13 Josef Neckermann, German equestrian rider (Olympic gold dressage 1964, 68), dies at 79
- Jan 17 Frank Pullen, English businessman and racehorse owner, dies at 76
- Jan 21 (William Thomas) "Champion Jack" Dupree, American boxer, blues and boogie-woogie pianist, singer-songwriter (Walkin' The Blues), and WWII P.O.W., dies of cancer at 81
Mel Hein (1909-1992)
Jan 31 American NFL center (NY Giants), dies of stomach cancer at 82
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