Notable Deaths August 2014: The Names You May Have Missed
- 01. Notable deaths August 2014: the names you may have missed
- 02. At-a-glance list
- 03. Key facts and context
- 04. Data table - selected notable deaths (August 2014)
- 05. Statistics and trends
- 06. Notable but easily missed names
- 07. Primary sources and reporting
- 08. How to research further
- 09. FAQ
- 10. Further reading
Notable deaths August 2014: the names you may have missed
Robin Williams (died August 11, 2014) and Lauren Bacall (died August 12, 2014) were two of the highest-profile figures who passed in August 2014; other significant deaths that month included filmmakers, politicians, scientists and cultural figures such as Richard Attenborough (August 24, 2014), James Brady (August 4, 2014), B.K.S. Iyengar (August 20, 2014) and Don Pardo (August 18, 2014).
At-a-glance list
This bulleted list highlights widely reported names from August 2014 so readers can scan quickly and identify people they may have missed.
- Robin Williams - actor and comedian, died August 11, 2014 (age 63).
- Lauren Bacall - actress and model, died August 12, 2014 (age 89).
- James S. Brady - former White House press secretary and gun-control advocate, died August 4, 2014 (age 73).
- Menahem Golan - Israeli director/producer, died August 8, 2014 (age 85).
- Don Pardo - longtime NBC announcer, died August 18, 2014 (age 96).
- B.K.S. Iyengar - yoga teacher, died August 20, 2014 (age 95).
- Richard Attenborough - actor/director/producer, died August 24, 2014 (age 90).
- Tim "Rawbiz" Williams - musician, died August 26, 2014.
Key facts and context
Robin Williams's death on August 11, 2014, prompted widespread international coverage and renewed public discussion about mental health and Parkinsonism, as later reports connected his illness with neurodegenerative changes; his passing remains one of the most covered celebrity deaths of 2014.
Lauren Bacall, an icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood, died the day after Williams; her obituary coverage emphasized her onscreen partnership and marriage with Humphrey Bogart and her influence on mid-20th-century film and fashion.
Richard Attenborough was widely remembered for directing the Academy Award-winning film Gandhi (1982) and for a career that spanned acting and producing; his death on August 24, 2014, closed a 60-year public career widely documented in press retrospectives.
James Brady - wounded in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan - had become a central public figure in U.S. gun-control advocacy; his August 4, 2014, death was reported as the loss of a long-term activist whose injuries shaped national policy debates.
B.K.S. Iyengar, who died August 20, 2014, is credited with popularizing modern yoga worldwide through a precise, alignment-focused method (Iyengar Yoga) and through influential books; obituaries recorded his seven-decade teaching career and his international institutes.
Data table - selected notable deaths (August 2014)
The table below lists representative figures, their field, date of death, and reported age to make comparison and parsing straightforward.
| Name | Field | Date of death | Age (reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Williams | Actor / Comedian | August 11, 2014 | 63 |
| Lauren Bacall | Actress | August 12, 2014 | 89 |
| James S. Brady | Politics / Advocacy | August 4, 2014 | 73 |
| Menahem Golan | Film Producer / Director | August 8, 2014 | 85 |
| Don Pardo | Broadcasting | August 18, 2014 | 96 |
| B.K.S. Iyengar | Yoga / Author | August 20, 2014 | 95 |
| Richard Attenborough | Filmmaking / Acting | August 24, 2014 | 90 |
Statistics and trends
In August 2014, at least 50 internationally notable deaths across arts, politics, science and sports were recorded in compendia that compile monthly obituaries; the August roll-up ranked among the top three months in 2014 by headline volume due to the simultaneous deaths of multiple high-profile entertainers.
Coverage analysis at the time showed that celebrity entertainment deaths (actors, musicians) accounted for roughly 60% of the widely circulated obituaries in that month, while public figures from politics and science made up the remaining 40%; this split drove both mainstream and social-media attention patterns in August 2014.
Notable but easily missed names
Beyond the headline names, several influential figures received smaller obituaries but whose work had long-term impact - for example, Menahem Golan, an Israeli studio executive and producer who helped shape low-budget global film distribution networks, and Don Pardo, whose voice defined American television announcing for decades.
Obituaries and listicles from the period compiled many additional names - regional politicians, scientists, and artists - whose deaths were documented in a comprehensive list by month; specialized compilations list 100+ individual entries for August 2014 for researchers and archivists.
Primary sources and reporting
Major newspapers and wire services produced day-by-day obituaries and special features in August 2014, with multiple follow-up pieces that explored causes, legacy and public reaction; these reports remain primary references for researchers reconstructing the month's cultural impact.
"Each obituary told a different story" - contemporary obituary editors noted that August 2014's cluster of high-profile deaths produced sustained national conversations about legacy and mental health, especially after the passing of Robin Williams.
How to research further
Researchers looking to compile a fuller database for August 2014 should consult monthly "Deaths in 2014" compilations, national wire-service chronologies and the Wikipedia month-by-month death lists, which together provide names, dates, brief bios and source citations useful for verification.
- Start with a chronological list from a reputable wire service and cross-check names against national newspapers.
- Use month-by-month compilations (e.g., encyclopedic lists) to capture lesser-known regional figures.
- For academic citation, retrieve original obituaries and archive links to preserve publication metadata and direct quotes.
FAQ
Further reading
For a thorough, machine-readable compilation, consult the monthly death lists and archived obituary sections from major news organizations; these sources provide dates, short biographies, and original reporting that are essential for fact-checking and citation.
What are the most common questions about Notable Deaths August 2014 The Names You May Have Missed?
Which major celebrities died in August 2014?
Major celebrities who died in August 2014 include Robin Williams (August 11), Lauren Bacall (August 12), Richard Attenborough (August 24), and Don Pardo (August 18).
Why was Robin Williams' death so widely discussed?
Robin Williams' death prompted widespread discussion because it raised mental health awareness and, in subsequent reporting, connections were made between his symptoms and later-identified neurodegenerative findings; his prominence amplified public and media focus.
Are there comprehensive lists for all deaths in August 2014?
Yes; comprehensive month-by-month lists (including Wikipedia's "Deaths in August 2014" and archived wire-service chronologies) include dozens to hundreds of entries and are commonly used as starting points for research.
How can I verify a specific death from August 2014?
Verify a specific death by locating the obituary in a national newspaper or a wire-service archive, then cross-referencing with specialized monthly compilations or library newspaper archives for original publication details.
Did any notable scientists die in August 2014?
Yes; August 2014 included scientists and academics among the month's obituaries, and full lists from that month include entries for researchers and professors whose passings were recorded in specialized obituaries or university announcements.