List of Famous people who died in 1981

Boris Sagal was a Ukrainian-American television and film director.

Alexander Chorostkowski, known as Alex Carson,, was a Canadian football player who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1951.

Beulah Bondi was an American actress. She began her acting career as a young child in theater and, after establishing herself as a stage actress, reprised her role in Street Scene for the 1931 film version. She played supporting roles in several films during the 1930s, and was twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She played the mother of James Stewart in four films: Of Human Hearts, Vivacious Lady, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). She continued acting well into her later years, winning an Emmy Award for an appearance on The Waltons in 1976.

Venerable Marthe Robin was a French Roman Catholic mystic and stigmatist and foundress of the fr:Foyers de charité association. She became bedridden when she was 21 years old, and remained so until her death. According to witnesses she ate nothing for many years apart from receiving Holy Eucharist.

Adele Astaire, was an American dancer, stage actress, and singer. After beginning work as a dancer and vaudeville performer at the age of nine, Astaire built a successful performance career with her younger brother, Fred Astaire.

Frederica of Hanover was Queen consort of Greece from 1947 until 1964 as the wife of King Paul, thereafter Queen mother.

Sean Aloyisious Bourke (1934–1982) from Limerick who became internationally famous when he aided in the prison escape of the British spy George Blake in October 1966. Blake had been convicted in 1961 of spying for the Soviet Union. After the escape, Blake eventually made his way to Moscow; Bourke did too, but he eventually returned to Ireland.

Robert Ernest Hite was the co-lead vocalist of the American blues-rock band Canned Heat, from 1965 to his death in 1981. His nickname was "The Bear", and was recognized by his booming gritty voice.

Adrian Hoven was an Austrian actor, producer and film director. He appeared in 100 films between 1947 and 1981. He was born in Wöllersdorf, Austria as Wilhelm Arpad Hofkirchner and died in Tegernsee, Germany.

Du Yuming, was a Kuomintang field commander. He was a graduate of the first class of Whampoa Academy, took part in Chiang's Northern Expedition, and was active in southern China and in the Burma theatre of the Sino-Japanese War. After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, he was an important commander in the Chinese Civil War.