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Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte died on August 15, 1967 at age 68. His work challenges observers’ preconditioned perceptions of reality. Probably his most famous picture has to be this one: Ceci n’est pas une pipe

In 1936 Gale Sondergaard was the first actress who received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (for her role in “Anthony Adverse”). She was 86 years old when she passed away on the 14th of August 1985.

Florence Nightingale, British social reformer and founder of modern nursing, died on August 13, 1910 at age 90.

Also on the 12th of August but exactly 30 years later, Japanese singer Kyu Sakamoto died in a plane crash. This crash is the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history because of 520 deaths. Kyu Sakamoto came to fame because of his song “Sukiyaki”, which became a worldwide hit and millionseller. It topped the Billboard charts in 1963 for 3 weeks.

On the 12th of August 1955, German novelist, writer, social critic, intellectual, philanthropist and Nobel laureate (1929) Thomas Mann died aged 80. He is one of the most important German storytellers in the 20th Century. His older brother was the radical writer Heinrich Mann and three of his six children (Erika, Klaus and Golo) also became important writers.

While driving under the influence of alcohol, abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock died in a car crash on August 11, 1956 and also killed one of his passengers. I can’t stand his painting style.

Hmmm, where to post? Dead Belgians, Dead Metal and Hard Rock stars or Dead Drummers??? Belgian Phil Baheux, drummer of Metal act Channel Zero, is dead: http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=94474

Calvin Culver, a gay porn actor of the 70s (Boys in the sand, 1971), died on August 10 1987 of an AIDS-related pulmonary infection at age 43.

Dio mio, that was quick: Karen Black. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-actress-karen-black-dead-at-74--20130808,0,1998067.story

On August 9, 1969, American actress Sharon Tate (26), two weeks before giving birth to her first child, and 4 other persons were murdered by the Manson Family. A very disgusting crime.

The death of Sean Sasser, American HIV-activist, was announced yesterday. He died at age 44. Maybe he is better known for being the boyfriend of Pedro Zamora, who was one of the first openly gay men with AIDS to be portrayed in popular media. Together with Sean Sasser he brought international attention to HIV/AIDS and LGBT issues and prejudices through his appearance on MTV’s reality television series The Real World: San Francisco. I remember I was crying the whole time when MTV broadcasted a Tribute to Pedro Zamora, a special memorial program, in his honor. He was 22 years old, when he lost his battle to AIDS on November 11, 1994. http://www.queerty.com/breaking-sean-sasser-aids-activist-dead-at-44-20130807/

Barbara Bel Geddes, famous for her role as Miss Ellie in Dallas, died on the 8th of August 2005 because of lung cancer. She was 82 years old.

American singer Esther Phillips died on the 6th of August 1984 from liver and kidney failure because of heavy drug abuse. She was 48 years old. Her best known release must be the disco influenced cover version of an old Dinah Washington-hit named “What a diff’rence a day makes”, which reached No.10 in the UK in 1975.

German countertenor Klaus Nomi was one of the first celebrities to die of complications from AIDS, as he died on August 6, 1983.

Singer, songwriter and record producer Lee Hazlewood lost his battle to renal cancer on August 4 2007 (aged 78). He wrote most of the songs that Nancy Sinatra had recorded and brought to fame: These boots are made for walkin’, Summer Wine, Friday’s Child, Jackson, Some Velvet Morning…

You must be right: Father and daughter, one face I say

Austrian filmmaker Fritz Lang, best known for his groundbreaking silent movie “Metropolis”, died on August 2, 1976 in Beverly Hills. He was 85 years old. Since 2001 “Metropolis” is a part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.

It’s been 10 years ago since French actress Marie Trintignant died of a cerebral edema on August 1 2003 aged 41. Her death was a result of being repeatedly punched by her boyfriend Bertrand Cantrant, singer of rock group Noir Désir. Such a sad story.

A member of the 27 Club then. Yes. For me she is a member of hearts! I really adore Alexandra!

German chanson singer Alexandra died in a tragic traffic collision on the last day of July in 1969. She was 27 years old.

Instead of choking on a piece of sandwich, Mama Cass Elliot died of a heart attack on July 29, 1974 aged 32. She was born Ellen Naomi Cohen and rose to fame with The Mamas & the Papas, an excellent folk rock vocal group of the mid to late 60s. After the breakup of The Mamas & the Papas, Cass Elliot embarked on a solo singing career. Her most successful song was “Dream a little dream of me”, which reached No. 12 on the US (Billboard Hot 100) and No. 11 in the UK in 1968.

263 years ago German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach died at the age of 65.

German actress and comedienne Elisabeth Volkmann was found dead in her apartment; she died between July 25th and 27th 2006 of natural causes aged 70. She was mostly known for her part in “Klimbim”, a very popular comedy series in the 70s, and later on as the German voice of Marge Simpson of The Simpsons.

The co-owner of the legendary Studio 54, Steve Rubell, died of AIDS today in 1989.

How boring. I would have preferred Kevin or sumthin'...