List of Famous people who died in 1981

Alexander Raban Waugh was a British novelist, the elder brother of the better-known Evelyn Waugh and son of Arthur Waugh, author, literary critic, and publisher. His first wife was Barbara Jacobs, his second wife was Joan Chirnside and his third wife was Virginia Sorenson, author of the Newbery Medal–winning Miracles on Maple Hill.

Tatjana Sais was a German film actress. She appeared in 20 films between 1937 and 1967 and was a member of the jury at the 1st Berlin International Film Festival. She was married to Günter Neumann and later to Hugh Greene.

Marcel Bezençon was a Swiss journalist, media executive and the director of the European Broadcasting Union between 1954 and 1970. In 1955, he conceived the idea of the Eurovision Song Contest, based on the famous Sanremo Music Festival.

John Aspinwall Roosevelt was an American businessman and the sixth and last child of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the only Roosevelt son who never sought political office.

Salvatore Antonio "Rino" Gaetano was an Italian musician and singer-songwriter. He is famous for his satirical songs and oblique yet incisive political commentary. He is remembered for his rough voice, for the heavily ironic lyrics of his songs and his social protests. He died in a car accident at age 30. He was a popular and influential figure, widely re-evaluated by 2000s music.

Hudson Whittaker, known as Tampa Red, was an American Chicago blues musician.

Matthias Domaschk was a member of the civil rights movement within the German Democratic Republic and a victim of the Stasi.

Martha Betz Shapley (1890–1981) was an American astronomer known for her research on eclipsing binary stars.

Jim Davis was an American actor, best known for his role as Jock Ewing in the CBS prime-time soap opera, Dallas, a role which continued until he was too ill from a terminal illness to perform.