List of Famous people who died at 81

Jörg Schönbohm was a German politician (CDU) and a retired Lieutenant General. He was the first commander of the Bundeswehr Eastern Command in 1990, which supervised the absorption of the East German National People's Army into the Federal German armed forces. In 1991 he became the Inspector of the Army, the highest-ranking officer in the German Army; he was retired in 1992 to become Undersecretary for Security Policy in the Federal Ministry of Defence. From 1996 to 1998 Schönbohm was Senator of the Interior for the city of Berlin, and from 1999 to 2009 he held the same office as Interior Minister for the state of Brandenburg.

Maurice Petty was an American NASCAR crew chief and engine builder for Petty Enterprises, of which he was part owner. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2011. He was subsequently enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014. He was the first engine builder to be inducted into that Hall.

Walther Wenck was the youngest General of the branch in the German Army and a staff officer during World War II. At the end of the war, he commanded the German Twelfth Army that took part in the Battle of Berlin.

James Bond Stockdale was a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, during which he was a prisoner of war for over seven years.

Bryan Marshall was a British actor, with a number of major credits in film and television to his name, in both his native country and Australia.

Kirill Yuryevich Lavrov was a Soviet and Russian film and theatre actor and director.

Alexander Ignatyevich Molodchy was a Ukrainian Soviet long-range pilot who flew over 300 missions on the B-25, Il-4, and Yer-2 during World War II. He was the first person twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union during the war while alive.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was a British composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music.

İlhan Cavcav was the chairman of Turkish club Gençlerbirliği in Ankara, Turkey for almost 40 years until his death. He was known for his hard negotiation tactics with the big clubs in Turkey and scouting abilities especially for discovering talent from Africa.

Bernard Landry was a Canadian lawyer, economist, teacher, politician, who as the leader of the Parti Québécois (2001–2005), served as the 28th Premier of Quebec (2001–2003), and leader of the Opposition (2003–2005).