List of Famous people who died at 61

Modibo Keïta was the first President of Mali (1960–1968) and the Prime Minister of the Mali Federation. He espoused a form of African socialism.

Jean-Marc Forneri was a French businessman, who was the founder and President of Bucéphale Finance.

John Watson Jr., known professionally as “Johnny Guitar” Watson, was an American blues, soul, and funk musician and singer-songwriter. A flamboyant showman and electric guitarist in the style of T-Bone Walker, Watson recorded throughout the 1950s and 1960s with some success. His creative reinvention in the 1970s with funk overtones, saw Watson have hits with "Ain't That a Bitch" and "Superman Lover". His successful recording career spanned forty years, with his highest chart appearance being the 1977 song "A Real Mother for Ya".

Eric Hebborn was an English painter and art forger and later an author.

Anatoly Semyonovich Dneprov (Gross) was a Soviet and Russian singer, musician, composer and lyricist.

Michail Jefimowitsch Alperin was a Soviet-Norwegian jazz pianist, known as a key member of the Moscow Art Trio.

Gianroberto Casaleggio was an Italian entrepreneur and political activist, born in Milan.

Edith Kristan-Tollmann nee Edith Kristan was an Austrian geologist and paleontologist. A prolific scientist with an interest in micropalaeontology and especially the foraminifera of the Triassic and the Jurassic eras, Kristan-Tollmann published widely in her field. She is also known for originating with her husband Alexander Tollmann a thoroughly documented theory of the evolution of human legend and social structures as a result of a massive impact event which struck multiple points on earth. The latter has become known as Tollmann's hypothetical bolide.

Bruno Baum was a German official for the Communist Party of Germany and Socialist Unity Party of Germany. He also served as a resistance fighter during World War II.

Tom Sims was an American athlete, inventor, and entrepreneur. Sims was World Snowboarding Champion (1983), World Champion Skateboarder (1975), and founder of SIMS Snowboards and SIMS Skateboards. He lived in Santa Barbara, California from 1971 until his death.