Famous people and celebrities who died in August 2012

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in August 2012. 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. 4 Johnnie Bassett

  American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1935)

• Aug. 5 Chavela Vargas

  Legendary Costa Rican-Mexican ranchera singer known for her powerful, emotional performances and significant influence in Latin American music. She was a muse to filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar and received a Latin Grammy for her extraordinary musical contributions.

• Aug. 6 Marvin Hamlisch

  Renowned American composer and conductor who won multiple awards, including Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and a Tony, known for his exceptional work in film and Broadway music.

• Aug. 6 Ruggiero Ricci

  Renowned virtuoso violinist from San Francisco, California, famous for his exceptional interpretations of Paganini's works and considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.

• Aug. 6 Bernard Lovell

  Renowned British physicist and radio astronomer who founded the Jodrell Bank Observatory and played a pivotal role in the early development of radio astronomy.

• Aug. 6 Dan Roundfield

  Professional basketball player who played in the NBA during the 1970s and 1980s, primarily for the Atlanta Hawks.

• Aug. 7 Judith Crist

  Influential film critic who shaped movie criticism in the late 20th century through her sharp, witty reviews in major publications.

• Aug. 9 Al Freeman

  Al Freeman Jr. was an accomplished African American actor, director, and educator known for his significant contributions to theater, film, and television. He won an Emmy Award for his role in the TV series 'One Life to Live' and was a respected acting teacher.

• Aug. 10 Carlo Rambaldi

  Renowned Italian special effects artist who created iconic movie creatures for films like E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, revolutionizing visual effects in cinema.

• Aug. 11 Michael Dokes

  Professional boxer who was a world heavyweight champion, known for his significant impact in boxing during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

• Aug. 13 Johnny Pesky

  Renowned American baseball player and manager who spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox, known for his exceptional playing and coaching skills.

• Aug. 13 Helen Gurley Brown

  Influential American editor of Cosmopolitan magazine who revolutionized women's publishing and wrote groundbreaking books about female sexuality and career advancement.

• Aug. 14 Phyllis Thaxter

  Phyllis Thaxter was a notable American actress who appeared in significant Hollywood films during the mid-20th century, including the war film 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' and the superhero movie 'Superman'.

• Aug. 14 Vilasrao Deshmukh

  Prominent Indian politician who served as the 17th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, playing a significant role in state and national politics until his death in 2012.

• Aug. 16 William Windom

  Accomplished American actor known for memorable roles in television series like 'Murder, She Wrote' and 'The Farmer's Daughter', with a career spanning several decades.

• Aug. 16 Abune Paulos

  Ethiopian patriarch (b. 1935)

• Aug. 17 Patrick Ricard

  French business leader who led Pernod Ricard, a major global liquor and wine group, succeeding his father Paul Ricard, the company's founder.

• Aug. 18 Scott McKenzie

  Singer-songwriter best known for his hit song 'San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)', a defining anthem of the 1960s counterculture movement.

• Aug. 18 Jesse Robredo

  Prominent Filipino public servant and politician who served as the 23rd Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. Tragically died in a plane crash on 18 August 2012.

• Aug. 20 Phyllis Diller

  Pioneering American comedian known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, and groundbreaking comedy performances in the 1950s and 1960s. She was a trailblazing female comedian who challenged traditional comedy norms with her unique style and wit.

• Aug. 20 Dom Mintoff

  Prominent Maltese politician who served as the 8th Prime Minister of Malta, known for his significant political reforms and leadership during a transformative period in Maltese history.

• Aug. 21 Georg Leber

  Prominent German politician who served as Federal Minister of Defence, playing a significant role in post-war German politics.

• Aug. 22 Nina Bawden

  Nina Bawden was a renowned British novelist known for her children's and adult fiction, winning multiple literary awards and critical acclaim throughout her career.

• Aug. 23 Jerry Nelson

  Jerry Nelson was a renowned American voice actor and puppeteer, best known for his work with Jim Henson's Muppets, performing characters like Count von Count.

• Aug. 25 Neil Armstrong

  Neil Armstrong was an iconic American astronaut who made history as the first human to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. His famous words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," symbolized humanity's greatest space exploration achievement.

• Aug. 27 Malcolm Browne

  Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist who captured iconic images during the Vietnam War, particularly the self-immolation of Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức, which became a powerful symbol of protest.

• Aug. 27 Art Heyman

  American basketball player who was notable in the 1960s, playing college basketball and later professionally. He was known for his skills and contributions to the sport during his era.

• Aug. 31 Max Bygraves

  British cockney comedian and entertainer who was a prominent figure in mid-20th century British entertainment. He was known for his sing-along comedy and frequent performances at Royal Variety Shows. In 1976, he published his autobiography 'I Wanna Tell You a Story'.

• Aug. 31 Sergey Sokolov

  Prominent Soviet military commander and politician who served as the 6th Minister of Defence of the Soviet Union, with a significant role in military leadership during the Cold War era.

• Aug. 31 Joe Lewis

  American martial artist and actor known for his contributions to martial arts cinema.