Notable Deaths on August 12
670+ people died on this day throughout history
Jean-Michel Basquiat
1960–1988 (age 28)
Green-Wood Cemetery
Neo-expressionist painter who rose to fame in the 1980s New York art scene.
Richard Penn Smith
1799–1854 (age 55)
Laurel Hill Cemetery
Richard Penn Smith was a Philadelphia-based writer and dramatist active in the early 19th century.
Manuel Lisa
1772–1820 (age 48)
Bellefontaine Cemetery
Manuel Lisa (1772-1820) was a New Orleans-based merchant and fur trader active in early American commerce.
Louis Leloup
1929–2025 (age 96)
Seraing
Louis Leloup was a glassblower from Seraing whose skillful artistry preserved the traditions of his craft.
René Escudié
1941–2025 (age 84)
Cournonsec
René Escudié (24 October 1941 – 12 August 2025) was a French writer.
Richard Lugner
1932–2024 (age 92)
Grinzing Cemetery
Richard Siegfried "Mörtel" Lugner (11 October 1932 – 12 August 2024) was an Austrian businessman in the construction ...
Wilson D. Leggett III
1935–2023 (age 88)
Greenwood Cemetery
Wilson D. Leggett III (1935–2023) was a San Diego resident whose life is commemorated at Greenwood Cemetery.
Wolfgang Petersen
1941–2022 (age 81)
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Wolfgang Petersen (1941–2022) was a German-born film director known for blockbusters like Das Boot and The Perfect Sto...
Jonathan Danilowitz
1945–2022 (age 77)
Har HaMenuchot
Jonathan Danilowitz (Hebrew: יונתן דנילוביץ'; 13 January 1945 – 12 August 2022) was an LGBT activist and ...
Natalia LL
1937–2022 (age 85)
Osobowice Cemetery
Natalia Lach-Lachowicz (18 April 1937 – 12 August 2022) was a Polish artist who worked with paint, photography, drawin...
Peter Ryan
1936–2021 (age 85)
Melbourne General Cemetery
Peter Francis Ryan (13 September 1936 – 12 August 2021) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melb...
Kurt Biedenkopf
1930–2021 (age 91)
Johannisfriedhof, Dresden
Kurt Hans Biedenkopf (German pronunciation: [kʊʁt ˈbiːdn̩ˌkɔp͡f] ; 28 January 1930 – 12 August 2021) was a Ger...
Agnieszka Kossakowska
1931–2020 (age 89)
Powązki Military Cemetery
Agnieszka Kossakowska (1931–2020) was a Polish singer whose artistic contributions enriched Poland's musical and cultu...
John Michael Sherlock
1926–2019 (age 93)
Saint Peter's Cemetery
John Michael Sherlock (January 20, 1926 – August 12, 2019) was a Canadian bishop.
František Koudelka
1934–2018 (age 84)
Brno Central Cemetery
František Koudelka (1934–2018) was a longtime Brno resident whose life spanned nearly a century.
Stefanos Makris
1936–2018 (age 82)
Papagou cemetery
Military personnel Stefanos Makris (1936–2018) served Greece with dedication and honor.
Bryant Giles
1928–2018 (age 90)
Padthaway
Bryant Lionel Giles (20 May 1928 – 12 August 2018) was an Australian politician who represented the South Australian H...
Samir Amin
1931–2018 (age 87)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Samir Amin was an Egyptian-born Marxist economist and theorist associated with the French Communist Party who lived from...
Valdo Jaaniso
1933–2017 (age 84)
Pauluse Cemetery
Valdo Jaaniso (1933-2017) was an Estonian from Tallinn who was interred at Pauluse Cemetery.
Thor A. Bak
1929–2017 (age 88)
Holmen Cemetery
Thor A. Bak was a Danish chemist whose scientific contributions advanced the field of chemistry.
Valentin Bulkin
1937–2016 (age 79)
Smolenskoye Orthodox Cemetery
Valentin Bulkin (1937–2016) was a scientist whose research and intellectual contributions are remembered.
Ines Jaagus
1921–2015 (age 94)
Pauluse Cemetery
Ines Jaagus employed her architectural gifts to craft elegant, human-centered spaces that reflected both heritage and ho...
Yitzhak Rahav
1926–2015 (age 89)
Morasha Cemetery
Yitzhak Rahav was a dedicated military officer whose service contributed to his nation's defense.
Miloš Hlavica
1935–2015 (age 80)
Vyšehrad cemetery
Czech actor Miloš Hlavica (1935–2015) was buried at Vyšehrad cemetery.
Lauren Bacall
1924–2014 (age 90)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Lauren Bacall (1924–2014), the Bronx-born film and stage actress famed for her smoky voice and instant chemistry with ...
Henrikas Vancevičius
1924–2014 (age 90)
Antakalnis Cemetery
Actor Henrikas Vancevičius (1924–2014) graced Lithuanian theatre with heartfelt performances and mentored young artis...
Steen Ankerdal
1948–2014 (age 66)
Grøndalslund cemetery
Steen Ankerdal chronicled lives with sensitivity, crafting biographies that honored their subjects with care.
Marta Boháčová
1936–2014 (age 78)
Olšany Cemetery
Marta Boháčová (1936–2014) was a dedicated pedagogue who shaped Czech education for decades.
William Emmett Ryan III
1927–2013 (age 86)
Fort Bliss National Cemetery
William Emmett Ryan III (1927–2013) was a Midland resident who was buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
Tompall Glaser
1933–2013 (age 80)
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Tompall Glaser (1933–2013) was a country singer and promoter associated with the Outlaw movement, buried at Woodlawn M...
Anita Lagercrantz-Ohlin
1926–2013 (age 87)
Galärvarvs Cemetery
Anita Lagercrantz-Ohlin was a Swedish writer.
Ludwik Ochman
1938–2013 (age 75)
Podgórze New Cemetery
Ludwik Ochman was a boxer who lived from 1938 to 2013.
Olaf Kuuli
1929–2012 (age 83)
Metsakalmistu
Olaf Kuuli enriched Estonian historiography through meticulous research and a lifelong commitment to mentoring emerging ...
Nathalie Piel
1944–2012 (age 68)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Nathalie Piel was a Parisian resident from the 15th arrondissement who lived from 1944 to 2012.
Miroslav Richter
1932–2011 (age 79)
Bubeneč Cemetery
Miroslav Richter (1932–2011) was a respected archaeologist remembered in Bubeneč Cemetery.
Mary Hunting Smith
1922–2010 (age 88)
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mary Hunting Smith (1922–2010) spent her final years in New York City and now rests at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Howard M. Ervin
1915–2009 (age 94)
Memorial Park Cemetery
Howard M. Ervin (1915-2009) was an American Pentecostal theologian who concluded his earthly journey at Memorial Park Ce...
Ruth Ford
1911–2009 (age 98)
Rose Hill Cemetery
Ruth Ford (1911-2009) was an American stage and film actress interred at Rose Hill Cemetery in Brookhaven.
Plácido Muñoz Colás
1934–2009 (age 75)
Torrero Cemetery
Plácido Muñoz Colás was a businessperson from Zaragoza.
James Irvin Lee
1924–2008 (age 84)
Panaca
James Irvin Lee (1924–2008) was laid to rest in Panaca after his life there.
Donald Erb
1927–2008 (age 81)
Lake View Cemetery
Donald Erb (1927–2008) was an American composer celebrated for blending electronic music with traditional orchestral t...
Dottie Wiltse Collins
1923–2008 (age 85)
Greenlawn Memorial Park
Dottie Wiltse Collins (1923–2008) was an Inglewood pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League whos...
Jacques Badois
1912–2008 (age 96)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Engineer Jacques Badois left a legacy of careful work and deep regard for the people he served.
Ellen Craft Dammond
1916–2007 (age 91)
Green Hills Memorial Park
Ellen Craft Dammond (1916–2007) of Indianapolis is interred at Green Hills Memorial Park.
Mary Geraldine Hatt
1911–2007 (age 96)
Riverview Cemetery
Mary Geraldine Hatt (1911–2007) lived in South Bend and was buried at Riverview Cemetery.
Lauri Jäntti
1909–2006 (age 97)
Hietaniemi cemetery
Lauri Jäntti was a Finnish publisher who lived from 1909 to 2006.
Milan Magnusek
1933–2006 (age 73)
Vinohrady Cemetery
Milan Magnusek (1933–2006) was a Czech resident honored at Vinohrady Cemetery.
Jiří Král
1939–2006 (age 67)
Roudnice nad Labem cemetery
Jiří Král (1939–2006) was remembered in Roudnice nad Labem.
Waverly B. Woodson Jr.
1922–2005 (age 83)
Arlington National Cemetery
Waverly B. Woodson Jr. (1922–2005) of Philadelphia lies at Arlington National Cemetery, a testament to his military se...
Olev Liik
1957–2005 (age 48)
Pärnamäe Cemetery
Technologist Olev Liik embraced innovation with curiosity and collaborative care.