Famous people and celebrities who died in August 2008

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in August 2008. 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. 2 Fujio Akatsuka

  Renowned Japanese manga artist and cartoonist, famous for creating iconic manga series and significantly influencing Japanese popular...

• Aug. 3 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

  Renowned Russian novelist and dissident who exposed the brutal realities of Stalin's Soviet regime through powerful literary works.

• Aug. 4 Craig Jones (musician)

  Craig Jones is a renowned keyboardist for the iconic heavy metal band Slipknot, known for their intense and groundbreaking music.

• Aug. 5 Neil Bartlett

  Renowned British chemist who made groundbreaking discoveries in noble gas chemistry, particularly known for synthesizing the first noble gas...

• Aug. 7 Andrea Pininfarina

  Renowned Italian engineer and businessman from the famous Pininfarina automotive design family, who tragically died in a motorcycle accident...

• Aug. 9 Bernie Mac

  Bernie Mac was an American comedian and actor known for his sharp wit, distinctive delivery, and influential presence in the world of comedy. He rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and was beloved for his work on television and film, particularly as the star of 'The Bernie Mac Show.' [bio]

• Aug. 9 Mahmoud Darwish

  Mahmoud Darwish was a renowned Palestinian poet and intellectual who became a powerful voice for Palestinian identity, resistance, and...

• Aug. 10 Isaac Hayes

  Isaac Hayes was an American singer, songwriter, composer, and producer, celebrated for his influential contributions to soul music and soundtracks, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for his innovative work with Stax Records, as well as for composing the Oscar-winning theme for the film 'Shaft'. [bio]

• Aug. 11 George Furth

  George Furth was an American librettist, playwright, and actor, most renowned for his collaborations with Stephen Sondheim, including writing the book for the acclaimed musical 'Company.' Furth was also a prolific character actor in film and television, with a career spanning several decades. [bio]

• Aug. 13 Henri Cartan

  Renowned French mathematician who made significant contributions to analytic function theory and homological algebra, publishing...

• Aug. 13 Sandy Allen

  Sandy Allen was the world's tallest woman, recognized by Guinness World Records, who stood at 7 feet 7.5 inches tall.

• Aug. 13 Jack Weil

  American businessman (born in 1901).

• Aug. 15 Jerry Wexler

  Legendary music producer who played a pivotal role in the development of rhythm and blues and rock and roll, working with iconic artists...

• Aug. 16 Dorival Caymmi

  Legendary Brazilian musician who pioneered bossa nova and captured the essence of Bahian culture through his music, influencing generations...

• Aug. 16 Masanobu Fukuoka

  Renowned Japanese farmer, philosopher, and author who developed the 'natural farming' method, emphasizing minimal human intervention in...

• Aug. 17 Franco Sensi

  Italian businessman and politician (b. 1926).

• Aug. 19 Levy Mwanawasa

  Third President of Zambia, a respected lawyer and politician who served from 2002 until his death in 2008, known for his anti-corruption...

• Aug. 20 Stephanie Tubbs Jones

  Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a pioneering African American politician who served as a U.S.

• Aug. 20 Gene Upshaw

  Legendary American football player who played for the Oakland Raiders and later became a prominent leader of the NFL Players Association.

• Aug. 20 Hua Guofeng

  Chinese politician, 2nd premier of the people's republic of china (b. 1921).

• Aug. 22 Gladys Powers

  Canadian world war i veteran (born in 1899).

• Aug. 23 Thomas Huckle Weller

  Prize laureate for their discovery of the ability of poliomyelitis viruses to grow in cultures of various types of tissue.

• Aug. 23 John Russell

  Renowned English-American author and literary critic who made significant contributions to literary scholarship and writing.

• Aug. 25 Kevin Duckworth

  Professional NBA basketball player who played as a center, most notably for the Portland Trail Blazers during the late 1980s and early...

• Aug. 28 Phil Hill

  Renowned American race car driver who became the first American-born driver to win the Formula One World Championship.

• Aug. 30 Brian Hambly

  Australian rugby player and coach (b. 1937).

• Aug. 31 Victor Yates

  New zealand rugby player (born 1939).