1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar.

Events |

• 
  January 20 – Hostages from the Iran hostage crisis are released at the same time when Ronald Reagan is inaugurated for the first time as President of the United States.


• 
  January 21 – The first DeLorean automotive is released in Northern Ireland.


• 
  January 27 – The Indonesian passenger ship Tamponas 2 catches fire and capsizes in the Java Sea, killing 580.


• 
  January 29 – Adolfo Suárez resigns as Prime Minister of Spain.


• 
  February 4 – Gro Harlem Brundtland becomes Prime Minister of Norway.


• 
  February 8 – Polish Prime Minister Józef Pinkowski resigns and is replaced by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.


• 
  February 25 – Adolfo Suárez leaves his office as Prime Minister of Spain.


• 
  March 30 - Shortly after being inaugurated, John Hinckley, Jr. tries to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. He survives the attack.


• 
  July 29 – Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales.


• 
  November 9 – Céline Dion's first album is released in Canada.

Births |

• 
  January 4 – Alicia Keys, American singer
  


• 
  January 28 – Elijah Wood, American actor
  


• 
  January 31 – Justin Timberlake, American singer and actor


• 
  February 11 – Kelly Rowland, American singer


• 
  February 24 – Lleyton Hewitt, Australian tennis player
  


• 
  March 3 – Justin Gabriel, South African professional wrestler


• 
  April 28 – Jessica Alba, actress


• 
  June 5 – Sebastien Lefebvre, Canadian Musician-Simple Plan


• 
  June 7 – Anna Kournikova, Russian tennis player


• 
  June 9 – Natalie Portman, Israeli actress


• 
  July 30 – Hope Solo, American goal keeper


• 
  August 8 – Roger Federer, Swiss tennis player


• 
  September 4 – Beyoncé Knowles, American singer and actress


• 
  September 8 – Jonathan Taylor Thomas, American actor


• 
  September 26 – Serena Williams, American tennis player


• 
  October 31 – Frank Iero MCR


• 
  December 2 – Britney Spears, American singer and actress


• 
  December 27 – Patrick Sharp, Canadian professional ice hockey player

Deaths |

• 
  May 11 - Bob Marley
  


• 
  June 28 – Terry Fox
  


• 
  November 25 - Jack Albertson
  

Movies released |

• Absence of Malice


• An American Werewolf in London


• Any Which Way You Can


• Arthur


• The Boat Is Full


• Bustin' Loose


• Chariots of Fire


• Escape to Victory


• Excaliber


• For Your Eyes Only


• The Four Seasons


• The Fox and the Hound


• The French Lieutenant's Woman


• Friday the 13th, Part 2


• The Great Muppet Caper


• Halloween II


• Heaven's Gate


• Mommie Dearest


• Omen III: The Final Conflict


• On Golden Pond


• Only When I Laugh


• Pennies From Heaven


• Pixote


• Quest for Fire


• Ragtime


• Raiders of the Lost Ark


• Reds


• Sogni d'oro


• Stevie


• Stripes


• Superman II


• Tarzan, the Ape Man


• They Don't Wear Black Tie

Hit songs |

• "The Tide Is High" – Blondie
  


• "Celebration" – Kool & The Gang (2)


• "9 To 5" – Dolly Parton (2)


• "I Love A Rainy Night" – Eddie Rabbitt (2)


• "Keep On Loving You" REO Speedwagon (1)


• "Rapture" – Blondie (2)


• "Kiss On My List" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (3)


• "Morning Train (9 To 5)" – Sheena Easton


• "Bette Davis Eyes" – Kim Carnes


• "Stars On 45 Medley" – Stars On 45 (1)


• "The One That You Love" – Air Supply (1)


• "Jessie's Girl" – Rick Springfield


• "Endless Love" – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9)


• "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" – Christopher Cross (3)


• "Private Eyes" – Daryl Hall & John Oates


• "Physical" – Olivia Newton-John

New books |

• 
  Ill Seen Ill Said – Samuel Beckett
  


• 
  Arabian Nights and Days – Naguib Mahfouz
  


• 
  La Bicyclette Bleue (The Blue Bicycle) – Régine Deforges
  


• 
  Bliss – Peter Carey
  


• 
  Creation – Gore Vidal
  


• 
  Cujo – Stephen King
  


• 
  Distant Star – Samuel R. Delany
  


• 
  Famous Last Words – Timothy Findley
  


• 
  Flames Across the Border – Pierre Berton
  


• 
  Giants of the Ottawa Valley – Joan Finnegan
  


• 
  The Glitter Dome – Joseph Wambaugh
  


• 
  The Golden Age of Science Fiction – Kingsley Amis
  


• 
  Goodbye, Janette – Harold Robbins
  


• 
  Gorky Park – Martin Cruz Smith
  


• 
  Hotel New Hampshire – John Irving
  


• 
  An Indecent Obsession – Colleen McCullough
  


• 
  Licence Renewed – John Gardner
  


• 
  Masquerade – Kit Williams
  


• 
  Midnight's Children – Salman Rushdie
  


• 
  No Time for Tears – Cynthia Freeman
  


• 
  Noble House – James Clavell
  


• 
  Other People: A Mystery Story – Martin Amis
  


• 
  Red Dragon – Thomas Harris
  


• 
  Strata – Terry Pratchett
  


• 
  Tar Baby – Toni Morrison
  


• 
  The Third Deadly Sin – Lawrence Sanders
  

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