Famous people and celebrities who died in August 2006

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in August 2006. 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 Jason Rhoades

  Influential American contemporary artist known for complex, provocative installation art that challenged traditional art boundaries.

• Aug. 3 Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

  Renowned German soprano who became an internationally acclaimed opera singer, particularly celebrated for her exceptional interpretations of Mozart and Strauss operas. She was a leading classical music performer of the mid-20th century with a remarkable vocal technique.

• Aug. 3 Arthur Lee

  Arthur Lee was a pioneering American psychedelic rock musician, founder of the influential band Love, known for groundbreaking albums like 'Forever Changes'.

• Aug. 5 Susan Butcher

  Pioneering American dog sled racing champion who won the grueling Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race four times, becoming a legendary figure in long-distance mushing.

• Aug. 9 James Van Allen

  Renowned American physicist who discovered the radiation belts surrounding Earth, now known as the Van Allen belts, which are critical to understanding space physics and planetary magnetospheres.

• Aug. 9 Philip E. High

  English author (b. 1914)

• Aug. 11 Mike Douglas

  Mike Douglas was a renowned American television talk show host who significantly influenced entertainment media during the 1960s and 1970s. His popular daytime talk show featured numerous celebrity guests and became a cultural touchstone.

• Aug. 12 Victoria Gray Adams

  American civil rights activist (b. 1926)

• Aug. 13 Tony Jay

  Renowned English voice actor famous for distinctive deep voice in animation and video games, including roles in 'Gargoyles' and 'Legacy of Kain'.

• Aug. 13 Jon Nödtveidt

  Swedish musician (b. 1975)

• Aug. 14 Bruno Kirby

  Renowned American comedy actor known for roles in films like 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'The Godfather Part II'. He was a frequent collaborator with Billy Crystal and a talented comedian.

• Aug. 15 Coenraad Bron

  Dutch computer scientist and academic (b. 1937)

• Aug. 15 Rick Bourke

  Australian rugby league player (born circa 1955).

• Aug. 16 Alfredo Stroessner

  Paraguayan military dictator who ruled Paraguay from 1954 to 1989, known for his brutal authoritarian regime and human rights violations.

• Aug. 17 Shamsur Rahman

  Prominent Bangladeshi poet and journalist who significantly contributed to Bengali literature during the 20th century, known for his influential works and cultural impact.

• Aug. 18 Ken Kearney

  Australian rugby player (b. 1924)

• Aug. 20 Joe Rosenthal

  Joe Rosenthal was a renowned American photographer famous for capturing the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising photograph during World War II, one of the most recognizable images in military history. His Pulitzer Prize-winning image symbolized American courage and became a powerful representation of the US Marine Corps.

• Aug. 20 Bryan Budd

  Victoria Cross recipient Bryan Budd was a British Army soldier who displayed exceptional bravery during military operations in Afghanistan. He was posthumously awarded the UK's highest military honor for his heroic actions in combat, sacrificing his life while protecting his fellow soldiers.

• Aug. 21 Paul Fentener van Vlissingen

  Dutch businessman and philanthropist (b. 1941)

• Aug. 21 Bismillah Khan

  Indian musician, bharat ratna recipient (b. 1916)

• Aug. 24 Léopold Simoneau

  Celebrated Canadian tenor and music educator known for his exceptional vocal performances and contributions to classical music.

• Aug. 26 Rainer Barzel

  German political leader of the CDU-CSU party who played a significant role in post-war German politics.

• Aug. 26 William Garnett

  American landscape photographer (b. 1916)

• Aug. 27 Hrishikesh Mukherjee

  Renowned Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who significantly influenced Bollywood cinema with his nuanced storytelling and humanistic approach.

• Aug. 28 Melvin Schwartz

  Renowned American physicist who won the Nobel Prize for groundbreaking work in particle physics and neutrino research.

• Aug. 30 Glenn Ford

  Renowned Canadian-American actor who starred in over 200 films, particularly famous for his Western movies and notable works like 'Blackboard Jungle' and 'The Rounders'.

• Aug. 30 Naguib Mahfouz

  LIT - Egyptian author, playwright, and screenwriter, nobel prize laureate (d. 2006)

• Aug. 30 Robin Cooke

  Baron Cooke of Thorndon, a prominent New Zealand lawyer and judge who made significant contributions to the legal system.