List of Famous people who died at 61

Ella Tambussi Grasso was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 83rd Governor of Connecticut from January 8, 1975, to December 31, 1980, after rejecting past offers of candidacies for Senate and Governor. She was the first woman elected to this office and the first woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state without having been the spouse or widow of a former governor. She resigned as governor due to her battle with ovarian cancer.

Liz Holzman was an American film producer and director. She has won the Emmy Award three times, once for her work on the Warner Bros. animated television show Pinky and the Brain and twice for Animaniacs. Holzman also received an Emmy nomination as a writer for Animaniacs and an Annie Award nomination for her direction of Animaniacs. Among her other production credits are the animated series Baby Blues and The Zeta Project.

Joan Eloi Vila de Paz, was a Spanish guitarist.

Günther Förg was a German painter, graphic designer, sculptor and photographer. His abstract style was influenced by American abstract painting.