List of Famous people who died in 1961

Eugénie "Ninon" Vallin was a French soprano who achieved considerable popularity in opera, operetta and classical song recitals during an international career that lasted for more than four decades.

Arthur Drewry was an English football administrator who served as the fifth president of FIFA, the world governing body of association football, from 1955 to 1961. Drewry had held several football administration posts in his native England, serving as chairman of The Football Association and president of The Football League.

Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet, CH was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras. From the early 20th century until his death, Beecham was a major influence on the musical life of Britain and, according to the BBC, was Britain's first international conductor.

Ignace Morgenstern (1900–1961) was a Hungarian-born French film producer. He was owner of Cocinor one of the largest French film distributors of the 1950s.

Robert S. Garrett was an American athlete, as well as investment banker and philanthropist in Baltimore, Maryland and financier of several important archeological excavations. Garrett was the first modern Olympic champion in discus throw as well as shot put.

Hendrik Berend Dorgelo was a Dutch physicist and academic. He was the first rector magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven.

Saturnin Fabre was a French film actor.

Josephine "Joan" Davis was an American comedic actress whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio, and television. Remembered best for the 1950s television comedy I Married Joan, Davis had a successful earlier career as a B-movie actress and a leading star of 1940s radio comedy.

Lee Moran was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He transcended the silent film era of motion pictures to the talkies. Moran appeared in 462 films, directed 109 and wrote for 92 between 1912 and 1935. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and died from a heart ailment in Woodland Hills, California. Moran was often paired with actor Eddie Lyons and the two made several comedic films together.