List of Famous people who died at 81

Mithuben Hormusji Petit was one of the women pioneer Indian independence activists who also participated in Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March.

Cécile Aubry was a French film actress, author, television screenwriter and director.

Rosemary Anne Leach was a British stage, television and film actress. She won the 1982 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a New Play for 84, Charing Cross Road and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her roles in the films That'll Be the Day (1973) and A Room with a View (1986).

Dame Gracie Fields, was an English actress, singer and comedian and star of both cinema and music hall. She spent the later part of her life on the isle of Capri, Italy. Fields was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Services to Entertainment in 1938, and in 1979, seven months before her death, she was invested as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

Edwin Thomas Layton was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. Layton is most noted for his work as an intelligence officer before and during World War II.

Nicholas John Smith was an English comedy actor. He appeared in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, playing original character Mr (Cuthbert) Rumbold, the manager of the fictional Grace Brothers department store.

John Peter Gilmore, known as Peter Gilmore, was an English actor, known for his portrayal of Captain James Onedin in 91 episodes of the BBC television period drama The Onedin Line (1971–1980), created by Cyril Abraham.

Michael Ballhaus, A.S.C. was a German cinematographer who had collaborated with directors such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Martin Scorsese, Mike Nichols and James L. Brooks. He was a member of both the Academy of Arts, Berlin and the American Society of Cinematographers.

Robert Herbin was a French football defender and manager.

Colin Welland, born Colin Edward Williams, was a British actor and screenwriter. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his script for Chariots of Fire (1981). He won a BAFTA Award for his performance as the empathetic teacher Mr Farthing in the 1969 film Kes.