- Aug 2 Frank Faylen, American actor (It's a Wonderful Life, Funny Girl), dies of pneumonia at 79
- Aug 7 Grayson Hall [Shirley Grossman], American actress (The Night of the Iguana, Dark Shadows), dies of cancer at 62
- Aug 8 Louise Brooks, American silent screen actress (Pandora's Box), dies of a heart attack at 78
- Aug 12 Kyu Sakamoto, Japanese singer (Sukiyaki), and actor, dies in JAL 123 crash at 43
- Aug 13 Marion Martin, actress (Dakota Lil, Queen of Burlesque), dies at 67
- Aug 14 (Edith) "Gale" Sondergaard, American Academy Award-winning stage and screen actress (Anthony Adverse; The Letter), dies of cerebral thrombosis at 86
- Aug 25 Samantha Smith, American peace activist and actress (invited to the Soviet Union during Cold War), dies in plane at 13
- Aug 28 Ruth Gordon, American actress (Rosemary's Baby, The Big Bus), dies of a stroke in her sleep at 88
- Aug 29 Evelyn Ankers, American actress (Black Beauty, Jungle Woman), dies at 67
- Aug 29 Patrick Barr, English actor (Black Orchid, On the Run), dies at 77
Actors
Actresses
Comedians
Directors
Models
TV Stars