- Aug 1 Robert James Waller, American author (Bridges of Madison County), born in Charles City, Iowa (d. 2017)
- Aug 1 Stephen Sykes, Church of England bishop, born in Bristol, England (d. 2014)
- Aug 2 Wes Craven, American film director (Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2015)
- Aug 2 Benjamin Barber, American political theorist (Jihad vs. McWorld), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2017)
- Aug 4 Frankie Ford [Guzzo], American rock vocalist ("Sea Cruise"), born in Gretna, Louisiana, (d. 2015)
- Aug 4 Frank Vincent, American actor (The Sopranos), born in North Adams, Massachusetts (d. 2017)
- Aug 5 Irene, Princess of Netherlands, born at Soestdijk Palace, Baarn, Netherlands
- Aug 6 (William) "Sonny" Sanders, American songwriter, arranger and producer (Jackie Wilson), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2016)
- Aug 7 Verna Bloom, American actress (After Hours, Badge 373), born in Lynn, Massachusetts (d. 2019)
- Aug 7 Anjanette Comer, American actress (Baby, Lepke), born in Dawson, Texas
- Aug 8 Philip E Baisley, American country singer (Statler Brothers - "Class of '57"), born in Augusta, Virginia
- Aug 8 Viorica Viscopoleanu, Romanian athlete (Olympic gold, long jump 1968), born in Storozhynets, Romania
- Aug 8 William Alden Hibbard, composer
- Aug 8 Alexander Watson, American ambassador and diplomat
- Aug 9 Billy Henderson, American singer (The Spinners - "The Rubberband Man"), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2007)
- Aug 9 Claude Osteen, American baseball pitcher (Cincinnati Reds), born in Caney Spring, Tennessee
- Aug 9 Max Neuhaus, American classical musician and experimental percussionist (sound sculptures), born in Beaumont, Texas (d. 2009)
- Aug 9 Tony Budge, English contractor/tank maker/multi-millionaire
- Aug 9 Brito [Hércules de Brito Ruas], Brazilian footballer, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Aug 10 Charles Rose, (Rep-D-North Carolina, 1973- )
- Aug 10 Kate O'Mara, Leicaster England, actress (Caress Morell-Dynasty, AbFab)
- Aug 11 Attila Bozay, composer
- Aug 11 Ronnie Dawson, American rockabilly guitarist (Rockabilly Hall of Fame, 1998), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2003) [1]
- Aug 12 Pam Ryan-Kilborn, Australia, hurdler (Olympic silver 1968)
- Aug 12 Roy Romanow, Canadian politician
- Aug 12 Sushil Koirala, Nepalese politician, Prime Minister of Nepal (2014-2015), born in Biratnagar, Morang (d. 2016)
- Aug 12 George Hamilton, American actor (Love at First Bite), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- Aug 13 Saul Steinberg, American businessman, founder of Leasco and CEO of Reliance Insurance Company, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2012)
- Aug 15 Herman Onno C. R. Ruding, Dutch Financial minister (CDA) and Director of Amrobank
- Aug 15 Herman van Keeken, Dutch singer ("Daddy Don't Run So Fast"), born in Hilversum, Netherlands (d. 1995)
- Aug 15 Norma Waterson, British folk music revivalist, and singer-songwriter, born in Hull, East Yorkshire, England (d. 2022)
- Aug 16 Eric Weissberg, American singer and musician (Duelling Banjos), born in New York (d. 2020)
- Aug 16 Carol Shelley, actress (Gwendolyn Pidgeon-Odd Couple), born in London, England
- Aug 16 Valeri V Ryumin, cosmonaut (Soyuz 25, 32)
- Aug 16 Wim Meijer, Dutch politician (PvdA)
- Aug 16 Sir Trevor Mcdonald, Trinidadian-born British television newsreader
- Aug 16 Billy Joe Shaver, American country singer-songwriter (When I Get My Wings), born in Corsicana, Texas (d. 2020)
- Aug 17 Luther Allison, American rock guitarist ("Bad News Is Coming"), born in Mayflower Arkansas (d. 1997)
- Aug 17 Anthony Valentine, British actor (Colditz), born in Blackburn, Lancashire (d. 2015)
- Aug 18 Joe Azcue, Cuban baseball player, born in Cienfuegos, Cuba
- Aug 18 Johnny Preston, American singer (Running Bear), born in Port Arthur, Texas (d. 2011)
- Aug 18 Molly Bee, American actress (Pinky Lee Show), born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (d. 2009)
- Aug 18 Harald Heide-Steen Jr., Norwegian actor and comedian, born in Oslo, Norway (d. 2008)
- Aug 18 Robert Horton, British businessman and CEO (BP), born in London, England (d. 2011)
- Aug 19 [Peter] "Ginger" Baker, English drummer (Cream - "Sunshine Of Your Love"; "Toad"; Blind Faith - "Do What You Like"), born in London, England (d. 2019)
- Aug 20 Fernando Poe Jr., Filipino actor and politician (2004 presidential candidate), born in Manila, Commonwealth of the Philippines (d. 2004)
- Aug 21 Ernie Maresca, American singer and songwriter ("Runaround Sue"; "The Wanderer"), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2015)
- Aug 21 Clarence Williams III, American actor (Mod Squad; 52 Pick Up; Purple Rain), born in NYC, New York (d. 2021)
- Aug 21 Harold Reid, American country bass vocalist (Statler Brothers - "Bed Of Rose's"), born in Staunton, Virginia (d. 2020)
- Aug 21 James Burton, American guitarist (Ricky Nelson; Elvis Presley; Elvis Costello), born in Dubberly, Louisiana
- Aug 21 Festus Mogae, 3rd President of Botswana (1998-2008), born in Serowe, Bechuanaland, Botswana
- Aug 22 Candido Lima, Portuguese composer, born in Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Carl Yastrzemski
Aug 22 Carl Yastrzemski, American Baseball Hall of Fame left fielder, 1st baseman (18-time MLB All Star), born in Southampton, New York
- Aug 22 Valerie Harper, American actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Rhoda), born in Suffern, New York (d. 2019)
- Aug 23 Charles Wardle, British Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle
- Aug 23 Ronnie A. Casseres, minister of Dutch Antilles, born in Curaçao
- Aug 24 Ray McLoughlin, Irish rugby union prop (40 caps Ireland, 3 British & Irish Lions; London Irish RFC), born in Ballinasloe, Ireland (d. 2021)
- Aug 25 John Badham, English-born American director (Dracula, Short Circuit), born in Luton, England
- Aug 25 Liselot Beekmeyer, Dutch actress (Issue Blum), born in Schiedam, Netherlands
- Aug 26 Fred Milano, American doo-wop singer (Dion & The Belmonts), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2012)
Jorge Paulo Lemann
Aug 26 Jorge Paulo Lemann, Swiss-Brazilian investor, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Aug 27 Edward Patten, American soul singer (Gladys Knight & the Pips), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 2005)
- Aug 28 [Catherine] Cassie Mackin, American newswoman (NBC TV) and 1st woman to regularly anchor an evening network newscast alone, born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 1982)
- Aug 28 Clem Cattini, English rock drummer (The Tornados), born in Stoke Newington, North London
- Aug 29 Joel Schumacher, American film director (Lost Boys, Batman), born in New York City (d. 2020)
- Aug 30 Elizabeth Ashley, American actress (Coma, Evening Shade), born in Ocala, Florida
- Aug 30 John Peel, English DJ and Broadcaster (BBC Radio 1), born in Heswell, Merseyside (d. 2004)
- Aug 31 Jerry Allison, American rock drummer and songwriter (Buddy Holly & Crickets - "That'll Be The Day"), born in Hillsboro, Texas
- Aug 31 Jim McCrary, American photographer and album cover artist (Tapestry: Ticket to Ride), born in Los Angeles (d. 2012)
- Aug 31 Paul Winter, American new age music saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (The Paul Winter Consort), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
About August 1939
How Old? 82 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No