List of Famous people who died in 1981

Lyudmila Todorova Zhivkova was a senior Bulgarian Communist Party functionary and Politburo member. She was the daughter of Bulgarian Communist leader Todor Zhivkov, and primarily known for her interest in preserving and promoting Bulgarian arts and culture on the international stage. Zhivkova was also a controversial figure within the former Soviet Bloc because of her interests in esoteric Eastern religion and spirituality.

Nahum Isaakovich Eitingon, also known as Leonid Aleksandrovich Eitingon, was a Soviet intelligence officer, who has been described by Yevgeny Kiselyov as one of the organisers and managers of the state terrorism system under Joseph Stalin and later a victim thereof. He was the brother of Max Eitingon.

Yitzhak Nissim was a Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel. Nissim was born in Baghdad and immigrated to Israel in 1925. He studied under Rabbi Sadqa Hussein.

Robert Dickinson was a British athlete. He competed in the men's high jump at the 1924 Summer Olympics.

Preben Kaas was a Danish comedian, actor, script writer and film director. He appeared in 55 films between 1943 and 1980. He received the 1970 Bodil for best actor in a supporting role for his role in The Olsen Gang in a Fix.