Famous people and celebrities who died in August 1981

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in August 1981. This month marked the loss of influential and beloved figures whose contributions spanned various fields and touched many lives. Explore our detailed list to remember and celebrate their enduring legacies and the remarkable impact they had on the world

• Aug. 1 Paddy Chayefsky

  Renowned American screenwriter and playwright who won multiple Emmy Awards and an Oscar, best known for his critically acclaimed film...

• Aug. 2 Kieran Doherty

  Irish republican prisoner who became a prominent political figure during the 1981 Irish hunger strike at the Maze Prison, ultimately dying...

• Aug. 2 Stefanie Clausen

  Danish diver (b. 1900).

• Aug. 4 Melvyn Douglas

  Melvyn Douglas was an acclaimed American actor known for his versatile performances on stage, film, and television. Winning two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and a Tony Award, Douglas's career spanned more than five decades, making him one of Hollywood's respected character actors. [bio]

• Aug. 7 Silvano Arieti
• Aug. 8 Thomas McElwee

  Irish republican, pira volunteer and hunger striker (b. 1957).

• Aug. 10 Dušan Popov
• Aug. 12 Angelo Moratti
• Aug. 14 Karl Böhm

  Austrian director and conductor (d. 1981).

• Aug. 15 Jørgen Løvset

  Norwegian gynaecologist and academic (b. 1896).

• Aug. 15 Carol Ryrie Brink

  American author (b. 1895).

• Aug. 15 Alfred Hamilton Barr Jr.
• Aug. 16 Robert Krasker
• Aug. 18 Anita Loos

  Pioneering American screenwriter and author best known for her work on 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

• Aug. 19 Jessie Matthews

  Jessie Matthews was a renowned English actress, dancer, and singer, celebrated for her performances in musical films and stage productions during the 1920s and 1930s. She became one of Britain's most beloved entertainers, famed for her charisma, dancing talent, and melodic voice. [bio]

• Aug. 20 Michael Devine

  Irish republican hunger striker.

• Aug. 21 Kaka Kalelkar

  Indian hindi writer(b. 1885).

• Aug. 22 Vicente Manansala

  Filipino painter (b. 1910).

• Aug. 22 Glauber Rocha
• Aug. 25 Nassos Kedrakas

  Greek actor and cinematographer (b. 1915).

• Aug. 26 Roger Nash Baldwin

  American trade union leader, co-founded the american civil liberties union (b. 1884).

• Aug. 27 Valeri Kharlamov

  Legendary Soviet ice hockey player considered one of the greatest in the history of the sport during the 1970s.

• Aug. 28 Béla Guttmann

  Hungarian footballer, coach, and manager (b. 1899).

• Aug. 29 Lowell Thomas

  American author and broadcaster known for his travels and writings on the Middle East.

• Aug. 30 Mohammad-Ali Rajai

  Iranian politician who served as the second president of Iran, assassinated in 1981 during the early years of the Iranian Revolution.