8 August

Across recorded history, 1,469 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 8 August. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← August 7 August 9 →

Olivia Newton-John

1948–2022

British–Australian singer

Olivia Newton-John was a singer and actor who achieved international success through her music and film performances.

Patricia Neal

1926–2010

American stage and film actress

Patricia Neal was an American actress who performed in stage, film, and television productions.

George Canning

1770–1827

British Prime Minister, statesman, and politician

George Canning was a British Prime Minister who served as a prominent statesman and politician.

Nevill Francis Mott

1905–1996

English physicist, Nobel prize winner

Nevill Francis Mott was an English physicist who received the Nobel Prize.

Jacob Burckhardt

1818–1897

Swiss historian

Jacob Burckhardt was a cultural historian who pioneered the study of art history and the cultural analysis of the Renaissance.

Anton Denikin

1872–1947

Russian military and political leader

Anton Denikin was a Russian military officer who served as a commander during the Russian Civil War.

Karen Black

1939–2013

American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter

Karen Black was an American actress and screenwriter who also worked as a singer and songwriter.

Eugène Louis Boudin

1824–1898

French painter

Eugène Louis Boudin was a French painter known for his maritime landscapes.

James Tissot

1836–1902

French painter and illustrator

James Tissot was a French painter who worked as an illustrator.

Fay Wray

1907–2004

actress

Fay Wray was an actress known for her performance in the film King Kong.

Barbara Bel Geddes

1922–2005

American actress

Barbara Bel Geddes was an American actress who performed in film, television, and stage productions.

Louise Brooks

1906–1985

American actress

Louise Brooks was an American actress known for her work in silent films.

Shirley Jackson

1916–1965

American writer

Shirley Jackson was an American writer known for her novels and short stories.

Glen Campbell

1936–2017

American musician

Glen Campbell was an American musician who worked as a guitarist, singer, composer, television presenter, and actor.

Erwin von Witzleben

1881–1944

German field marshal

Erwin von Witzleben was a German field marshal who participated in the resistance against the Nazi regime.

Stjepan Radić

1871–1928

Croatian politician

Stjepan Radić was a Croatian politician who founded the Croatian People's Peasant Party.

Ivan Kozhedub

1920–1991

Soviet aviator, thrice Hero of the Soviet Union

Ivan Kozhedub was a Soviet fighter pilot who received the title Hero of the Soviet Union three times.

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo

1828–1897

Spanish politician and Bourbon Restoration architect

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo was a Spanish politician who served as the primary architect of the Bourbon Restoration.

Leonid Leonov

1899–1994

Russian writer

Leonid Leonov was a Russian writer known for his novels and plays depicting the social and psychological changes in Soviet society.

Ahmed Deedat

1918–2005

South African writer and orator

Ahmed Deedat was a South African orator who authored numerous books and engaged in public debates regarding comparative religion.

Daniel Jarque

1983–2009

Spanish footballer

Daniel Jarque was a Spanish association football player who played for Espanyol.

Juhani Aho

1861–1921

Finnish author and journalist

Juhani Aho was a Finnish novelist and journalist who contributed significantly to the development of Finnish literature.

László Szabó

1917–1998

Hungarian chess player

László Szabó was a Hungarian chess player who competed in multiple Candidates Tournaments.

Erich Hoepner

1886–1944

German general

Erich Hoepner was a German military officer who participated in the resistance movement against the Nazi regime.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.