The following is a list of deaths that should be noted in January 2021. For deaths that should be noted before the month that the world is in, please see "Months". Names under each date are noted in the order of the alphabet by last name or pseudonym. Deaths of non-humans are noted here also if it is worth noting.
Each listing of a death must have a source. If no reference is included, the death notice will be removed. The following are the requirements of adding a name to the list in its order: name, age, where they came from, what the person is known for, cause of death (if known) and a source.
January
1
Muhammad Arif, 44, Indonesian politician, MP (since 2004), heart attack. Barry Austin, 52, British record holder, widely reported as the "fattest man of the United Kingdom". Ben Chafin, 60, American lawyer and politician, member of the Virginia Senate (since 2014) and House of Delegates (2014), problems caused by COVID-19. Traude Dierdorf, 73, Austrian politician, Mayor of Wiener Neustadt (1997–2005). Clint Boulton, 72, English footballer (Port Vale, Torquay United). Carlos do Carmo, 81, Portuguese fado singer ("Uma flor de verde pinho"), Eurovision contestant (1976), problems caused by an aneurysm. Ron Dominguez, 85, American businessman, Vice-President of Walt Disney Attractions. Mark Eden, 92, English actor (Coronation Street, The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs, An Adventure in Space and Time), problems caused by Alzheimer's disease. Carlos Escudé, 72, Argentine political scientist and writer, COVID-19. José Cleonâncio da Fonseca, 84, Brazilian businessman and politician, Sergipe MLA (1967–1972, 1975–1987), Mayor of Boquim (1973–1974) and Deputy (1987–2007). Seizō Fukumoto, 77, Japanese actor (Nihon no Fixer, New Battles Without Honor and Humanity, The Last Samurai), lung cancer. Elmira Minita Gordon, 90, Belizean politician, Governor-General (1981–1993). Bernard Guignedoux, 73, French footballer (Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco) and manager (Valenciennes). Pablo Hernández, 80, Colombian Olympic cyclist (1964). Ishak Pamumbu Lambe, 74, Indonesian pastor (Toraja Church) and politician, Senator (2004–2009). Floyd Little, 78, American Hall of Fame football player (Syracuse Orange, Denver Broncos), cancer. Harald Maartmann, 94, Norwegian Olympic cross-country skier (1952). Georg Maier, 79, German actor (Familie Meier, Irgendwie und Sowieso) and theatre director. Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, 85, Iranian Islamic cleric and philosopher, member of the Assembly of Experts (1991–2016). Jean Panisse, 92, French actor (An Angel on Wheels, The Young Wolves, Perched on a Tree), COVID-19. Paatje Phefferkorn, 98, Indonesian-born Dutch martial artist. Liam Reilly, 65, Irish pop rock singer-songwriter ("Somewhere in Europe", "Could It Be That I'm in Love") and keyboardist (Bagatelle), Eurovision contestant (1990). Paige Rense, 91, American editor (Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, GEO) and novelist, problems caused by heart disease. Sun Qiaolu, 25, Chinese actress and businesswoman, heart attack. Thomas Symons, 91, Canadian academic and author, President of Trent University (1961–1972). Sheung-Wai Tam, 86, Hong Kong academic administrator, President of the Open University of Hong Kong (1997–2003). George Whitmore, 89, American mountain climber and conservationist, member of first team to summit El Capitan, problems caused by COVID-19.