- Aug 3 Moshe Mizrahi, Israeli film director (Madame Rosa), dies of pneumonia at 86
- Aug 5 Charlotte Rae, American character actress (Facts of Life - "Edna"), comedian, singer and dancer, dies at 92
- Aug 6 Joël Robuchon, French chef, world record for Michelin stars (32), dies of cancer at 73
- Aug 6 Margaret Heckler, American politician (15th U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services (1983-85)), dies at 87
- Aug 7 Stan Mikita, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Stanley Cup 1961; Hart Memorial Trophy [MVP] 1967, 68; 6 x NHL First All-Star Team), dies of Lewy body dementia at 78
V. S. Naipaul
Aug 11 V. S. Naipaul, Trinidadian-British writer (Middle Passage), dies at 85
Aretha Franklin
Aug 16 Aretha Franklin, American singer-songwriter known as "The Queen of Soul" (Respect) and first female performer inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987), dies of pancreatic cancer at 76
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Aug 16 Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian politician, 10th Prime Minister of India (1996, 1998-2004), dies of a kidney infection at 93
- Aug 16 Yelena Shushunova, Russian gymnast (1988 Olympic Champion), dies of pneumonia at 49
Kofi Annan
Aug 18 Kofi Annan, Ghanaian diplomat and 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2006), dies at 80
- Aug 18 Peter Tapsell, British Conservative Party politician (Member of Parliament, 1959-64 and 1966-2015), dies at 88
- Aug 20 Eddie Willis, American guitar and sitar player (The Funk Brothers), dies of polio complications at 82
- Aug 21 George Andrie, American football defensive end (Super Bowl 1971; First Team All Pro 1969; 5 x Pro Bowl; Dallas Cowboys), dies from dementia at 78
- Aug 21 Stefán Karl Stefánsson, Icelandic actor (Lazytown), dies of cancer at 43
- Aug 21 Barbara Harris [Sandra Mankwitz], American actress (Plaza Suite, Family Plot), dies at 83
- Aug 22 Ed King, American psychedelic rock musician (Strawberry Alarm Clock; Lynyrd Skynyrd), dies of cancer at 68
- Aug 23 George Theophilus Walker, African-American pianist, composer and teacher (Lilacs; In Praise Of Folly), dies at 96
- Aug 24 Tom Frost, American rock climber (founder gear & apparel company Patagonia), dies of prostate cancer at 82
- Aug 24 Robin Leach, English TV host (Life Styles of Rich & Famous), dies at 76
John McCain
Aug 25 John McCain, American war hero and Republican politician (Rep-Arizona, 1983-2018, Presidential nominee 2008), dies of brain cancer at 81
Neil Simon
Aug 26 Neil Simon, American playwright and author (The Odd Couple), dies at 91
- Aug 26 Rosa Bouglione, French circus performer, dies at 107
- Aug 28 Tatyana Kuznetsova, Soviet cosmonaut (youngest person selected for space training at 20 but never flew), dies at 77
- Aug 29 Paul Taylor, American dancer and choreographer (Paul Taylor Dance Company), dies at 88 [1]
- Aug 29 Peter Mond, 4th Baron Melchett, English jurist and Labour politician who was Minister of State for Northern Ireland (1976-79), dies at 70 [1]