List of Famous people who died at 51

Johannes Adrianus Bernardus van Buitenen was a Dutch Indologist at the University of Chicago where he was the George V. Bobrinskoy Professor of Sanskrit in the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations. He was one of the world's leading Sanskrit scholars. His interests ranged widely over literature, philosophy and philology, but toward the end of his career he focused primarily on the Mahābhārata.

Oleg Emirov was a Russian composer, arranger, and keyboardist.

Don Rhymer was an American screenwriter and film producer. He graduated from James Madison University in 1982. He wrote movies like Big Momma's House, The Santa Clause 2, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, The Honeymooners, Deck the Halls, and Surf's Up.

Vivian Stanshall was an English singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for acting as Master of Ceremonies on Mike Oldfield's album Tubular Bells.

Richard Allen Dillin was an American comics artist best known for a 12-year run as the penciler of the DC Comics superhero-team series Justice League of America. He drew 115 issues from 1968 until his death in 1980.