List of Famous people who died in 1981

Louis Edward "Hap" Kuehn was an American diver who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Rufino Inglés was a Spanish actor.

Jan Langedijk was a Dutch speed skater who competed at the 1936 and 1948 Winter Olympics. In 1936 he finished 24th in the 500 m, 14th in the 1500 m, fourth in the 5000 m and sixth in the 10,000 m event. Twelve years later he placed 29th in the 500 m, 13th in the 1500 m, fifth in the 5000 m and sixth in the 10,000 m events. Domestically he won the Dutch allround titles in 1940 and 1947.

Ricardo Wolf was an Israeli inventor, diplomat, and philanthropist. He was the former Cuban ambassador to Israel. He was the founder of the Wolf Foundation.

Samuel Hood, 6th Viscount Hood, was a Foreign Office official and diplomat.

Admiral of the Fleet Bruce Austin Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape, was a senior Royal Navy officer. He served in the First World War, saw action during the Gallipoli Campaign and took part in the internment of the German High Seas Fleet at the end of the war. He also served in the Second World War initially as Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy and then as second-in-command and afterwards as commander of the Home Fleet, leading the force that destroyed the German battleship Scharnhorst. He went on to be First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in which role he assisted in establishing NATO and agreed to the principle that the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic should be an American admiral, in the face of fierce British opposition.

Allyn Joslyn was an American stage, radio, television and film actor, known for his roles playing aristocratic wealthy snobs.