List of Famous people who died in 1981

Rasul Rza, was an Azerbaijani writer, Hero of Socialist Labour (1980), People's Poet of Azerbaijan, Laureate of Soviet State Award and the Chairman of the Writers' Union of Azerbaijan. He was the husband of Azerbaijani writer Nigar Rafibeyli and the father of writer Anar Rzayev.

Mostafa Chamran Save'ei was an Iranian physicist, politician, commander and guerrilla fighter who served as the first defense minister of post-revolutionary Iran and a member of parliament, as well as the commander of paramilitary volunteers in Iran–Iraq War, known as "Irregular Warfare Headquarters". He was killed during the Iran–Iraq War. In Iran, he is known as a martyr and a symbol of an ideological and revolutionary Muslim who left academic careers and prestigious positions as a scientist and professor in the US, University of California, Berkeley and migrated in order to help the Islamic movements in Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt as a chief revolutionary guerilla, as well as in the Islamic revolution of Iran. He helped to found the Amal Movement in southern Lebanon.

Harold Clayton Urey was an American physical chemist whose pioneering work on isotopes earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1934 for the discovery of deuterium. He played a significant role in the development of the atom bomb, as well as contributing to theories on the development of organic life from non-living matter.

Amar Ouzegane was an Algerian politician. Ouzegane became a leader of the Algerian Communist Party, but later broke with the party and became a nationalist. After independence, he served as a Minister.

Leung Sing Poh MBE was an actor, host and former Cantonese opera performer from Hong Kong. Leung is a pioneer actor of TVB. Leung is a former chairman of Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong from 1965 to 1970. Leung was nicknamed "Por Suk" or "Uncle Por". Leung is credited with over 440 films. Leung has a star at Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, was the 9th Ruler of Ajman and ruled the emirate from 1928 until 1981. Throughout his 53 years as Ruler, he worked to build Ajman. He was one of the founding fathers of the United Arab Emirates.

Chen Da (also Chen Ta; Chinese: 陳達; pinyin: Chén Dá; Wade–Giles: Ch'en² Ta²; b. 1905 (1906?) – d. April 11, 1981) was a Taiwanese folk singer. He was part of Taiwan's folk music scene and worked as an analphabetic creator of lyrics. His spontaneous performances of traditional tunes became an object of study for many scholars focused on the music of Taiwan and brought him to the attention of writers engaged in music criticism including the novelist Wang Tuoh. According to the Journal of Music in China, Chen Da was "the only noted singer of Taiwanese folk singing." Chen Da is also referred to as a singer of "Hoklo folk songs," a synonym of "Taiwanese folk songs."