Famous people and celebrities who died in August 2002

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in August 2002. 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. 3 Niculita Secrieriu

  Romanian painter (born 1938)

• Aug. 5 Franco Lucentini

  Renowned Italian writer famous for collaborative thriller novels with Carlo Fruttero, who tragically ended his life after battling lung cancer.

• Aug. 5 Matt Robinson

  American actor, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1937)

• Aug. 5 Josh Ryan Evans

  American actor (b. 1982)

• Aug. 6 Edsger W. Dijkstra

  Edsger W. Dijkstra was a pioneering Dutch computer scientist who made fundamental contributions to programming languages, algorithms, and distributed computing.

• Aug. 9 Peter Neville

  British anarchist, sociologist, and peace activist (birthyear unknown).

• Aug. 10 Kristen Nygaard

  Kristen Nygaard was a pioneering Norwegian computer scientist who co-developed the influential object-oriented programming language Simula, considered a fundamental precursor to modern programming paradigms.

• Aug. 10 Michael Houser

  Founding member and guitarist of the jam band Widespread Panic, known for his significant contribution to the Southern rock and improvisational music scene. He passed away in 2002 from pancreatic cancer.

• Aug. 11 Galen Rowell

  Renowned nature photographer and mountaineer known for his stunning landscape images and adventurous spirit, capturing breathtaking scenes from around the world before his tragic death in a plane crash.

• Aug. 12 Enos Slaughter

  Enos Slaughter was a legendary Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Known for his exceptional hitting skills and aggressive playing style, he was a key player during the 1940s and 1950s.

• Aug. 14 Larry Rivers

  Influential American painter and sculptor who was a key figure in the Pop Art movement. His innovative work bridged abstract expressionism and pop art, making significant contributions to 20th-century American art.

• Aug. 16 Jeff Corey

  American character actor known for roles in Superman & Mole Men, with a significant career in film and television.

• Aug. 16 Abu Nidal

  Palestinian political leader (born 1937).

• Aug. 18 Dean Riesner

  American actor and screenwriter (b. 1918)

• Aug. 19 Eduardo Chillida

  Internationally renowned Basque sculptor who created monumental abstract works exploring space, form, and material. His sculptures are displayed in major museums and public spaces worldwide.

• Aug. 23 Hoyt Wilhelm

  Hall of Fame baseball pitcher renowned for his exceptional knuckleball technique and remarkably long Major League Baseball career.

• Aug. 25 Giannis Gionakis

  Greek actor (born in 1922)

• Aug. 27 Edwin Louis Cole

  American religious leader and author (b. 1922)

• Aug. 30 J. Lee Thompson

  Prolific English-Canadian film director known for directing numerous notable films across multiple genres during the mid-20th century.

• Aug. 31 Lionel Hampton

  Legendary jazz vibraphonist, bandleader, and musician who significantly influenced jazz music in the 20th century. A key figure in the development of bebop and big band jazz, Hampton was known for his energetic performances and innovative playing style.

• Aug. 31 George Porter

  CHE - English chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1920)