List of Famous people who died at 81

Vince Martin was an American folk singer and songwriter.

Ian Hedworth John Little Gilmour, Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar, was a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom. He was styled Sir Ian Gilmour, 3rd Baronet from 1977, having succeeded to his father's baronetcy, until he became a life peer in 1992. He served as Secretary of State for Defence in 1974, in the government of Edward Heath. He also served in the government of Margaret Thatcher, as Lord Privy Seal from 1979 to 1981.

Graham Leggat was a Scottish international footballer.

Colonel Sir Michael William McCorkell was an Ulster soldier and British public servant, serving as Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry for 25 years.

Erich Mende was a German politician of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He was the leader of FDP from 1960 to 1968 and the third Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1963 to 1966.

Heinz Kahlau was a German writer.

Charles Kerrison Hill Hill-Wood was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Oxford University from 1928 to 1930 and for Derbyshire from 1928 to 1930.

Howard Russell Pawley was a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988. Prior to his premiership, Pawley served in various ministerial positions after his tenure in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.