# 1985 in film

The following is an overview of events in 1985 in film, including the highest-grossing films, award ceremonies and festivals, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.

## Highest-grossing films (U.S.)

The top ten 1985 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows:
Highest-grossing films of 1985 :
| Rank | Title | Distributor | Box-office gross |
| 1 | Back to the Future | Universal | $210,609,762 |
| 2 | Rambo: First Blood Part II | TriStar / Carolco | $150,415,432 |
| 3 | Rocky IV | MGM | $127,873,716 |
| 4 | The Color Purple | Warner Bros. | $94,175,854 |
| 5 | Out of Africa | Universal | $87,071,205 |
| 6 | Cocoon | 20th Century Fox | $76,113,124 |
| 7 | The Jewel of the Nile | 20th Century Fox | $75,973,200 |
| 8 | Witness | Paramount | $68,706,993 |
| 9 | The Goonies | Warner Bros. | $61,389,680 |
| 10 | Spies Like Us | Warner Bros. | $60,088,980 |

### Context

The year was considered an unsuccessful one for film. Despite a record number of film releases, many films failed at the box office, and ticket sales were down 17% compared with 1984. Industry executives believed the problem, in part, was a lack of original concepts. Films about fantasy and magic failed, as audiences leaned towards science-fiction. Janet Maslin said the fault for this lay partly with Steven Spielberg, who had created such a successful template with films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind that many fantasy films had imitated them. There was also a saturation of youth-oriented films targeted at those under 18. Executives were not fond of these films, but the financial rewards were too significant to ignore. The few films aimed at older audiences, like Cocoon, were surprise successes. Only Back to the Future and Rambo: First Blood Part II were successful blockbusters, earning more than double the box office of Cocoon. Films offering escapism and pro-America themes like Rambo: First Blood Part II and Rocky IV had also fared well.
The glut of youth-targeted films like Return to Oz and The Black Cauldron, and science-fiction comedies like Weird Science, Real Genius, and My Science Project had resulted in a string of failures. Executives said that the films were all very similar and marketed in the same way, offering no variety for audiences.

## Events

* April – Rupert Murdoch's News Group Publications officially acquires 50% of TCF Holdings, parent company of 20th Century Fox, for $250 million from Marvin Davis and his family.
* June 5 – The Chicago Cubs play the Atlanta Braves in a baseball game at Wrigley Field. Excerpts from the broadcast later pin this date as the day featured in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
* December 3 – Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.

## Awards

| Category/Organization | 43rd Golden Globe Awards January 24, 1986 | 43rd Golden Globe Awards January 24, 1986 | 39th BAFTA Awards March 16, 1986 | 58th Academy Awards March 24, 1986 |
| Category/Organization | Drama | Musical or Comedy | 39th BAFTA Awards March 16, 1986 | 58th Academy Awards March 24, 1986 |
| Best Film | Out of Africa | Prizzi's Honor | The Purple Rose of Cairo | Out of Africa |
| Best Director | John Huston Prizzi's Honor | John Huston Prizzi's Honor | N/A | Sydney Pollack Out of Africa |
| Best Actor | Jon Voight Runaway Train | Jack Nicholson Prizzi's Honor | William Hurt Kiss of the Spider Woman | William Hurt Kiss of the Spider Woman |
| Best Actress | Whoopi Goldberg The Color Purple | Kathleen Turner Prizzi's Honor | Peggy Ashcroft A Passage to India | Geraldine Page The Trip to Bountiful |
| Best Supporting Actor | Klaus Maria Brandauer Out of Africa | Klaus Maria Brandauer Out of Africa | Denholm Elliott Defence of the Realm | Don Ameche Cocoon |
| Best Supporting Actress | Meg Tilly Agnes of God | Meg Tilly Agnes of God | Rosanna Arquette Desperately Seeking Susan | Anjelica Huston Prizzi's Honor |
| Best Screenplay, Adapted | Woody Allen The Purple Rose of Cairo | Woody Allen The Purple Rose of Cairo | Richard Condon and Janet Roach Prizzi's Honor | Kurt Luedtke Out of Africa |
| Best Screenplay, Original | Woody Allen The Purple Rose of Cairo | Woody Allen The Purple Rose of Cairo | Woody Allen The Purple Rose of Cairo | Earl W. Wallace, William Kelley and Pamela Wallace Witness |
| Best Original Score | John Barry Out of Africa | John Barry Out of Africa | Maurice Jarre Witness | John Barry Out of Africa |
| Best Original Song | "Say You, Say Me" White Nights | "Say You, Say Me" White Nights | N/A | "Say You, Say Me" White Nights |
| Best Foreign Language Film | The Official Story | The Official Story | Colonel Redl | The Official Story |
Palme d'Or (Cannes Film Festival):
    When Father Was Away on Business (Otac na službenom putu), directed by Emir Kusturica, Yugoslavia
Golden Lion (Venice Film Festival):
    Vagabond (Sans toit ni loi), directed by Agnès Varda, France / U.K.
Golden Bear (Berlin Film Festival):
    Die Frau und der Fremde (The Woman and the Stranger), directed by Rainer Simon, East Germany
    Wetherby, directed by David Hare, United Kingdom

## 1985 films
### By country/region

* List of American films of 1985
* List of Argentine films of 1985
* List of Australian films of 1985
* List of Bangladeshi films of 1985
* List of British films of 1985
* List of Canadian films of 1985
* List of French films of 1985
* List of Hong Kong films of 1985
* List of Indian films of 1985
** List of Hindi films of 1985
** List of Kannada films of 1985
** List of Malayalam films of 1985
** List of Marathi films of 1985
** List of Tamil films of 1985
** List of Telugu films of 1985
* List of Japanese films of 1985
* List of Mexican films of 1985
* List of Pakistani films of 1985
* List of South Korean films of 1985
* List of Soviet films of 1985
* List of Spanish films of 1985

### By genre/medium

* List of action films of 1985
* List of animated feature films of 1985
* List of avant-garde films of 1985
* List of comedy films of 1985
* List of drama films of 1985
* List of horror films of 1985
* List of science fiction films of 1985
* List of thriller films of 1985
* List of western films of 1985

## Births

* January 1 - Juliana Harkavy, American actress
* January 2 - Carla Juri, Swiss actress
* January 3
** Nicole Beharie, American actress
** Leah Gibson, Canadian actress
* January 5 - Michael Cuccione, Canadian child actor, singer and dancer (died 2001)
* January 6
** Hugh Skinner, English actor
** Adam Pearson (actor), British actor, presenter and campaigner
* January 9 - James Acaster, English comedian and actor
* January 10 - Alex Meraz, American actor and dancer
* January 11 – Aja Naomi King, American actress
* January 12 - Issa Rae, American actress, writer and producer
* January 13 - Ellen Wong, Canadian actress
* January 16 – Sidharth Malhotra, Indian actor
* January 19 - Damien Chazelle, American film director
* January 22 - Tim Dillon, American stand-up comedian and actor
* January 23 - Doutzen Kroes, Dutch actress and model
* January 25
** Claudia Kim, South Korean actress and model
** Hartley Sawyer, American actor
** Michael Trevino, American actor
* January 26 - Edwin Hodge, American actor
* January 28 - Tom Hopper, British actor
* January 29 - Isabel Lucas, Australian actress and model
* February 2 - Romain Cogitore, French film director
* February 5 - Paige Howard, American actress
* February 6 - Crystal Reed, American actress
* February 7
** Tina Majorino, American actress
** Deborah Ann Woll, American actress and model
* February 9
** David Gallagher, American actor and singer
** Rachel Melvin, American actress
* February 14 - Jake Lacy, American actor
* February 15 - Natalie Morales, American actress and director
* February 17 - Anne Curtis, Filipino-Australian actress, model, television host
* February 19
** Haylie Duff, American actress and singer
** Arielle Kebbel, American actress and model
** Tatanka Means, Native American activist, actor
* February 22 - Zach Roerig, American actor
* March 1 - Michael Conner Humphreys, American actor
* March 3 - Nathalie Kelley, Australian actress
* March 5 - Kenichi Matsuyama, Japanese actor
* March 9 - Jolyon Coy, English actor and writer
* March 10 - Cooper Andrews, American actor
* March 13 - Emile Hirsch, American actor
* March 14 - Max Benitz, English writer and former actor
* March 15
** Eva Amurri, American actress
** Kellan Lutz, American actor
* March 18 - Bianca King, Filipino-British former actress and model
* March 21 - Sonequa Martin-Green, American actress and producer
* March 22
** Katie Stuart, Canadian actress and stunt performer
** James Wolk, American actor
* March 23 - Maryana Spivak, Russian actress
* March 24 - Jeremy James Kissner, American actor
* March 26
** Jonathan Groff, American actor and singer
** Keira Knightley, English actress
** Francesca Marie Smith, American actress and writer
* March 27 – Ram Charan, Indian film actor
* March 31 - Jessica Szohr, American actress
* April 1 - Josh Zuckerman, American actor
* April 7 - Ariela Massotti, Brazilian actress
* April 9
** Annie Funke, American actress
** Tomohisa Yamashita, Japanese singer, actor and television host
* April 10
** Barkhad Abdi, Somali-American actor and director
** Christie Laing, Canadian actress
* April 12 - Hitomi Yoshizawa, Japanese former singer and actress
* April 16
** Rhiana Griffith, Australian actress
** Benjamin Rojas, Argentine actor and singer
** Gregor Schmidinger, Austrian screenwriter and director
* April 17
** Rooney Mara, American actress
** Luke Mitchell, Australian actor and model
** Maiken Pius, Estonian actress
* April 20 - Billy Magnussen, American actor
* April 22 - Kristin Fairlie, Canadian actress
* April 23 - Rachel Skarsten, Canadian actress
* April 27 - Sheila Vand, American actress
* April 30 - Gal Gadot, Israeli actress and model
* May 3 - Meagan Tandy, American actress and model
* May 5
** Clark Duke, American actor, comedian and director
** Shoko Nakagawa, Japanese actress, voice actress and singer
* May 6 - Jamie Winstone, English actress, daughter of actor Ray Winstone
* May 9 - Chris Zylka, American actor and model
* May 10 - Odette Annable, American actress
* May 11
** Aimee Horne, Australian actress, singer and voice-over artist
** Jadyn Wong, Canadian actress
* May 14
** Lina Esco, American actress, producer and director
** Sally Martin, New Zealand actress
* May 15 - Tathagata Mukherjee, Indian actor
* May 16
** Stanislav Ianevski, Bulgarian actor
** Andrew Keenan-Bolger, American actor
** Julia Voth, Canadian actress and model
* May 17 - Sophie McShera, English actress
* May 22
** Tao Okamoto, Japanese actress and model
** Chris Salvatore, American actor, singer-songwriter, and model
* May 25
** Luciana Abreu, Portuguese singer, actress and television host
** Lauren Frost, American actress and singer
* May 28 - Carey Mulligan, English actress
* May 29
** Blake Foster, American actor
** Yukihiro Takiguchi, Japanese actor, singer and model (died 2019)
* May 30 - Sam Gifaldi, American actor
* May 31 - Zoraida Gómez, Mexican actress
* June 2 - Miyuki Sawashiro, Japanese voice actress
* June 4 - Bar Refaeli, Israeli model, television host and actress
* June 5 - Marc Pickering, English actor
* June 7 - Adam Nagaitis, British actor
* June 9 – Sonam Kapoor, Indian actress and model
* June 10
** Susannah Fielding, English actress
** Andrew Lees, Australian actor
* June 12
** Dave Franco, American actor
** Liisa Pulk, Estonian actress
* June 16 - Débora Nascimento, Brazilian actress and model
* June 18
** Sorel Carradine, American actress
** Alex Hirsch, American voice actor, animator, writer, storyboard artist and producer
* June 21 - Lana Del Rey, American singer and songwriter
* June 22 - Douglas Smith, Canadian actor
* June 27 - Martin Sensmeier, American actor and model
* June 28 - Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly, American actress
* June 30
** Lasarus Ratuere, Australian actor
** Hugh Sheridan, Australian actor, musician and television presenter
* July 1 - Léa Seydoux, French actress
* July 2
** Nelson Franklin, American actor
** Ashley Tisdale, American actress and singer
* July 5
** François Arnaud, Canadian actor
** Stephanie McIntosh, Australian actress and singer
* July 6 - Ranveer Singh, Indian actor
* July 7 - Seo Woo, South Korean actress
* July 11 - Nitya Vidyasagar, Indian-American actress
* July 14
** Lee Kwang-soo, South Korean actor, entertainer and model
** Phoebe Waller-Bridge, English actress and writer
* July 15
** Tomer Capone, Israeli actor
** Pedro Carvalho, Portuguese actor
** Agniya Kuznetsova, Russian actress
** Crowd Lu, Taiwanese singer-songwriter and actor
** Ecstasia Sanders, American-Canadian actress
* July 16
** Yōko Hikasa, Japanese voice actress and singer
** Hiroyuki Onoue, Japanese actor
** Rosa Salazar, Canadian-American actress
** Cha Ye-ryun, South Korean actress
* July 17 - Caitlin Van Zandt, American actor
* July 18
** Chace Crawford, American actor
** James Norton, English actor
* July 20 - John Francis Daley, American actor, director, producer, screenwriter and musician
* July 21 - Vanessa Lengies, Canadian actress and singer
* July 22 - Blake Harrison, English actor, voice actor and dancer
* July 25
** James Lafferty, American actor, director and producer
** Shantel VanSanten, American model and actress
* July 27
** Aljin Abella, Australian actor of Filipino descent
** Lou Taylor, American actor
* July 28 - Jon Michael Hill, American actor
* July 30 - Aml Ameen, British actor
* August 1 - Henry Lloyd-Hughes, English actor
* August 2 - Georgina Haig, Australian actress
* August 9 - Anna Kendrick, American actress and singer
* August 10 - Jared Nathan, American actor (died 2006)
* August 11 - Jacqueline Fernandez, Sri Lankan actress
* August 12 - África Zavala, Mexican actress
* August 15 - Emily Kinney, American actress, singer and songwriter
* August 16
** Arden Cho, American actress, singer and model
** Cristin Milioti, American actress and singer
* August 17 - Yū Aoi, Japanese actress
* August 18 - Desiree Casado, former actress
* August 21 - Laura Haddock, English actress
* August 23 - Juss Haasma, Estonian actor
* August 27 - Kayla Ewell, American actress
* September 2 - Yani Gellman, Canadian actor
* September 4 - Morgan Garrett, American voice actress
* September 6 - Lauren Lapkus, American actress and comedian
* September 10
** Monica Lopera, Colombian-American actress
** Elyse Levesque, Canadian actress
* September 11 - Hayden Szeto, Canadian actor
* September 16
** Max Minghella, English actor and filmmaker
** Madeline Zima, American actress
* September 21 - Robert Hoffman, American actor
* September 22 - Tatiana Maslany, Canadian actress
* September 23 - Hasan Minhaj, American actor and stand-up comedian
* September 24 - Jessica Lucas, Canadian actress and singer
* September 25 - Eréndira Ibarra, Mexican actress
* September 26 - Talulah Riley, English actress
* September 27 - Grace Helbig, American actress, comedian and YouTuber
* September 30 - Ben Lewis, Canadian actor and writer
* October 1 - Emerald Fennell, English screen actress and director
* October 5 - Carolina Bartczak, Canadian-Polish actress
* October 6 - Ida Engvoll, Swedish actress
* October 8 - Max Crumm, American actor and singer
* October 10 - Aaron Himelstein, American actor
* October 11 - Michelle Trachtenberg, American actress (died 2025)
* October 17 - Max Irons, English-Irish actor and model
* October 24 - Tim Pocock, Australian actor
* October 25 - John Robinson, American actor
* October 26
** Qi Wei, Chinese actress
** Asin Thottumkal, Indian actress
* October 28 - Troian Bellisario, American actress
* October 31 - Kether Donohue, American actress and singer
* November 2 - Josh Grelle, American voice actor
* November 5 - Annet Mahendru, American actress
* November 7 - Lucas Neff, American actor
* November 10 - Giovonnie Samuels, American actress
* November 15 - Thue Ersted Rasmussen, Danish actor
* November 20 - Dan Byrd, American actor
* November 21 - Ronny Chieng, Malaysian comedian and actor
* November 23 - Katie Crown, Canadian-American actress, voice actress, comedian and writer
* November 26 - Arturo Castro, Guatemalan actor
* November 27 - Alison Pill, Canadian actress
* November 30
** Gia Crovatin, American actress and producer
** Kaley Cuoco, American actress
** Daniel Ings, English actor
** Chrissy Teigen, American actress, model and television personality
* December 1 - Janelle Monáe, American singer, rapper and actress
* December 3 - Amanda Seyfried, American actress and singer
* December 5 - Frankie Muniz, American actor
* December 6 - Max Kasch, American actor and musician
* December 10 - Raven-Symoné, American actress and singer
* December 13 - Rachel Hendrix, American actress
* December 25
** Smith Cho, American actress
** Perdita Weeks, Welsh actress
* December 27 - Jessica Harmon, Canadian actress and director

## Deaths

| Month | Date | Name | Age | Country | Profession | Notable films |
| January | 5 | Robert Surtees | 78 | US | Cinematographer | The GraduateBen-Hur |
| January | 5 | John Paxton | 73 | US | Screenwriter | Murder, My SweetCrossfire |
| January | 11 | Edward Buzzell | 89 | US | Director | Go WestNeptune's Daughter |
| January | 12 | Paul Luty | 52 | UK | Actor | The Water BabiesThe Dresser |
| January | 13 | Carol Wayne | 42 | US | Actress | The PartyHeartbreakers |
| January | 14 | Jetta Goudal | 93 | Netherlands | Actress | Lady of the PavementsParis at Midnight |
| January | 18 | Wilfrid Brambell | 72 | Ireland | Actor | Steptoe and SonA Hard Day's Night |
| January | 18 | Georgie Stoll | 82 | US | Composer, Musical Director | Meet Me in St. LouisAnchors Aweigh |
| January | 25 | Paul J. Smith | 78 | US | Composer | PinocchioCinderella |
| January | 29 | Chic Murray | 65 | UK | Actor | Casino RoyaleGregory's Girl |
| February | 4 | John Wexley | 77 | US | Screenwriter | Angels with Dirty FacesConfessions of a Nazi Spy |
| February | 6 | Neil McCarthy | 52 | UK | Actor | Where Eagles DareClash of the Titans |
| February | 10 | Wanda Tuchock | 86 | US | Screenwriter | Finishing SchoolThe Foxes of Harrow |
| February | 11 | Henry Hathaway | 86 | US | Director | True GritHow the West Was Won |
| February | 11 | Heinz Roemheld | 83 | US | Composer | The Lady from ShanghaiYankee Doodle Dandy |
| February | 12 | Nicholas Colasanto | 61 | US | Actor | Raging BullFat City |
| February | 19 | Dorothy Black | 85 | South Africa | Actress | The Night Has EyesThe Farmer's Wife |
| February | 20 | Clarence Nash | 80 | US | Voice Actor | The Three CaballerosFun and Fancy Free |
| February | 21 | Ina Claire | 91 | US | Actress | The Awful TruthNinotchka |
| February | 21 | Louis Hayward | 75 | South Africa | Actor | House by the RiverAnd Then There Were None |
| February | 22 | Alexander Scourby | 71 | US | Actor | The Big HeatGiant |
| February | 24 | Joseph C. Wright | 92 | US | Art Director | Gentlemen Prefer BlondesGuys and Dolls |
| February | 27 | J. Pat O'Malley | 80 | UK | Actor | One Hundred and One DalmatiansHello, Dolly! |
| February | 27 | David Huffman | 39 | US | Actor | FirefoxF.I.S.T. |
| March | 1 | Alfred Zeisler | 92 | US | Producer, Director | Victor and VictoriaFear |
| March | 3 | Connie Gilchrist | 89 | US | Actress | A Letter to Three WivesSome Came Running |
| March | 3 | Noel Purcell | 84 | Ireland | Actor | Moby DickMutiny on the Bounty |
| March | 5 | Thomas Little | 98 | US | Set Decorator | All About EveThe Day the Earth Stood Still |
| March | 8 | Edward Andrews | 70 | US | Actor | The Harder They FallSixteen Candles |
| March | 19 | Anthony Nelson Keys | 73 | UK | Producer | DraculaThe Curse of Frankenstein |
| March | 21 | Michael Redgrave | 77 | UK | Actor | The Lady VanishesThe Importance of Being Earnest |
| March | 21 | Michael Trubshawe | 79 | UK | Actor | The Pink PantherThe Guns of Navarone |
| April | 16 | Scott Brady | 60 | US | Actor | Johnny GuitarThe China Syndrome |
| April | 21 | John Welsh | 70 | Ireland | Actor | KrullLucky Jim |
| April | 23 | Kent Smith | 78 | US | Actor | Cat PeopleNora Prentiss |
| April | 25 | Richard Haydn | 80 | UK | Actor | The Sound of MusicAlice in Wonderland |
| April | 26 | Albert Maltz | 76 | US | Screenwriter | This Gun for HireBroken Arrow |
| May | 1 | George Pravda | 68 | Czech Republic | Actor | ThunderballFirefox |
| May | 4 | Harry Earles | 83 | US | Actor | FreaksThe Unholy Three |
| May | 7 | Dawn Addams | 54 | UK | Actress | The Two Faces of Dr. JekyllThe Robe |
| May | 8 | Susan Morrow | 53 | US | Actress | The SavageCat-Women of the Moon |
| May | 8 | Dolph Sweet | 64 | US | Actor | Finian's RainbowColossus: The Forbin Project |
| May | 9 | Edmond O'Brien | 69 | US | Actor | The Barefoot ContessaThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance |
| May | 13 | Selma Diamond | 64 | Canada | Actress | My Favorite YearBang the Drum Slowly |
| May | 13 | Leatrice Joy | 91 | US | Actress | VanityTriumph |
| May | 14 | Frank Westmore | 62 | ?? | Makeup Artist | The Ten CommandmentsThe Towering Inferno |
| May | 16 | Margaret Hamilton | 82 | US | Actress | The Wizard of OzBrewster McCloud |
| May | 17 | Hugh Burden | 72 | UK | Actor | The Ruling ClassFuneral in Berlin |
| May | 20 | George Memmoli | 46 | US | Actor | Mean StreetsPhantom of the Paradise |
| May | 22 | Wolfgang Reitherman | 75 | Germany | Animator, Director | The Jungle BookRobin Hood |
| May | 22 | Gerald Case | 80 | UK | Actor | VampyresThe Elephant Man |
| May | 25 | Robert Nathan | 91 | US | Screenwriter | The ClockPagan Love Song |
| May | 26 | Harold Hecht | 77 | US | Producer | MartySweet Smell of Success |
| May | 30 | Talbot Jennings | 90 | US | Screenwriter | Mutiny on the BountyKnights of the Round Table |
| June | 1 | Richard Greene | 66 | UK | Actor | KentuckyThe Hound of the Baskervilles |
| June | 7 | Gordon Rollings | 59 | UK | Actor | The Bed Sitting RoomSuperman II |
| June | 8 | Charles LeMaire | 88 | US | Costume Designer | All About EveLove Is a Many-Splendored Thing |
| June | 9 | Clifford Evans | 73 | UK | Actor | Kiss of the VampireThe Curse of the Werewolf |
| June | 10 | George Chandler | 86 | US | Actor | FuryRoxie Hart |
| June | 12 | Dominique Laffin | 33 | France | Actress | The Crying WomanThis Sweet Sickness |
| June | 17 | John Boulting | 71 | UK | Producer, Director | Lucky JimI'm All Right Jack |
| June | 17 | Georgia Hale | 84 | US | Actress | The Gold RushThe Great Gatsby |
| June | 24 | Valentine Dyall | 77 | UK | Actor | Henry VThe Haunting |
| June | 28 | James Craig | 73 | US | Actor | Kitty FoyleThe Human Comedy |
| July | 3 | Nelson Leigh | 80 | US | Actor | Gunfight at the O.K. CorralWorld Without End |
| July | 7 | Ewen Solon | 67 | New Zealand | Actor | The MessageTarzan the Magnificent |
| July | 8 | Phil Foster | 71 | US | Actor | Bang the Drum SlowlyConquest of Space |
| July | 8 | Victor Rendina | 68 | US | Actor | The GodfatherRacing with the Moon |
| July | 9 | Rafael Campos | 49 | Dominican Republic | Actor | Blackboard JungleWhere the Buffalo Roam |
| July | 10 | Arthur J. Ornitz | 68 | US | Cinematographer | SerpicoThe Boys in the Band |
| July | 16 | Elsie Wagstaff | 86 | UK | Actress | Meet Sexton BlakeThe Interrupted Journey |
| July | 17 | Margo | 68 | Mexico | Actress | The Leopard ManLost Horizon |
| July | 19 | Henry Mollison | 80 | UK | Actor | The Man in the White SuitA Bride for Henry |
| July | 20 | Estelle Evans | 78 | Bahamas | Actress | To Kill a MockingbirdThe Learning Tree |
| July | 21 | Alvah Bessie | 81 | US | Screenwriter | Northern PursuitObjective, Burma! |
| July | 23 | Mickey Shaughnessy | 64 | US | Actor | From Here to EternityJailhouse Rock |
| July | 23 | Tom Waldman | 63 | US | Screenwriter | The PartyHigh Time |
| July | 27 | Michel Audiard | 65 | France | Screenwriter, Director | He Died with His Eyes OpenGarde à Vue |
| July | 28 | Grant Williams | 53 | US | Actor | The Incredible Shrinking ManPT 109 |
| August | 1 | Al Overton | 73 | US | Sound Engineer | Diamonds Are ForeverThe Shootist |
| August | 1 | Joseph Walker | 92 | US | Cinematographer | It Happened One NightMr. Smith Goes to Washington |
| August | 2 | Bob Holt | 56 | US | Actor | GremlinsBedknobs and Broomsticks |
| August | 2 | Frank Faylen | 79 | US | Actor | Gunfight at the O.K. CorralIt's a Wonderful Life |
| August | 7 | Grayson Hall | 62 | US | Actress | House of Dark ShadowsThe Night of the Iguana |
| August | 8 | Louise Brooks | 78 | US | Actress | Pandora's BoxDiary of a Lost Girl |
| August | 8 | Milton H. Greene | 63 | US | Producer | The Prince and the ShowgirlBus Stop |
| August | 10 | Kenny Baker | 72 | US | Singer, Actor | The Harvey GirlsAt the Circus |
| August | 12 | Patrick Hines | 55 | US | Actor | Amadeus1776 |
| August | 13 | Marion Martin | 77 | US | Actress | The Big StreetThe Man in the Iron Mask |
| August | 14 | Gale Sondergaard | 86 | US | Actress | Anthony AdverseAnna and the King of Siam |
| August | 15 | Lester Cole | 81 | US | Screenwriter | Blood on the SunHigh Wall |
| August | 24 | Morrie Ryskind | 89 | US | Screenwriter | A Night at the OperaMy Man Godfrey |
| August | 28 | Ruth Gordon | 88 | US | Actress, Screenwriter | Rosemary's BabyHarold and Maude |
| August | 29 | Evelyn Ankers | 67 | Chile | Actress | The Wolf ManThe Ghost of Frankenstein |
| August | 29 | Patrick Barr | 77 | UK | Actor | The Dam BustersOctopussy |
| August | 30 | Tom Howard | 75 | UK | Special Effects Artist | Blithe SpiritTom Thumb |
| September | 4 | Isabel Jeans | 93 | UK | Actress | GigiSuspicion |
| September | 4 | George O'Brien | 86 | US | Actor | SunriseShe Wore a Yellow Ribbon |
| September | 6 | Johnny Desmond | 65 | US | Actor, Singer | Escape from San QuentinCalypso Heat Wave |
| September | 6 | Jane Frazee | 67 | US | Actress, Singer | San Antonio RoseCalendar Girl |
| September | 10 | Alexa Kenin | 23 | US | Actress | Honkytonk ManPretty in Pink |
| September | 11 | William Alwyn | 79 | UK | Composer | The Crimson PirateA Night to Remember |
| September | 14 | Julian Beck | 60 | US | Actor | The Cotton ClubOedipus Rex |
| September | 23 | Harvey Parry | 85 | US | Stuntman | Escape from New YorkJohnny Dangerously |
| September | 24 | Paul Mann | 71 | Canada | Actor | America, AmericaFiddler on the Roof |
| September | 26 | Frank Bracht | 75 | US | Film Editor | The Odd CoupleWhite Christmas |
| September | 27 | Lloyd Nolan | 83 | US | Actor | Peyton PlaceHannah and Her Sisters |
| September | 28 | L. B. Abbott | 77 | US | Special Effects Artist | PattonButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid |
| September | 29 | Arthur Krams | 73 | US | Set Decorator | The Rose TattooHoliday in Mexico |
| September | 30 | Simone Signoret | 64 | France | Actress | Room at the TopShip of Fools |
| September | 30 | Floyd Crosby | 85 | US | Cinematographer | High NoonThe Pit and the Pendulum |
| October | 2 | Rock Hudson | 59 | US | Actor | GiantPillow Talk |
| October | 6 | Nelson Riddle | 64 | US | Composer | The Great GatsbyLolita |
| October | 8 | Theresa Harris | 78 | US | Actress | JezebelBlossoms in the Dust |
| October | 10 | Yul Brynner | 65 | Russia | Actor | The King and IThe Magnificent Seven |
| October | 10 | Orson Welles | 70 | US | Actor, Director, Screenwriter | Citizen KaneTouch of Evil |
| October | 11 | Elwood Ullman | 82 | US | Screenwriter | Snow White and the Three StoogesTickle Me |
| October | 13 | Francesca Bertini | 93 | Italy | Actress | Odette1900 |
| October | 16 | Franklin Milton | 78 | US | Sound Engineer | Ben-HurGrand Prix |
| October | 21 | Diane Thomas | 39 | US | Screenwriter | Romancing the Stone |
| October | 22 | Stefano Satta Flores | 48 | Italy | Actor | We All Loved Each Other So MuchFour Flies on Grey Velvet |
| October | 24 | Masaichi Nagata | 79 | Japan | Producer | RashomonGamera, the Giant Monster |
| October | 28 | William Bramley | 57 | US | Actor | West Side StoryGetting Straight |
| October | 29 | John Davis Lodge | 82 | US | Actor | The Scarlet EmpressThe Little Colonel |
| October | 30 | Kirby Grant | 73 | US | Actor | Trail of the YukonNorthwest Territory |
| October | 30 | David Oxley | 64 | UK | Actor | The Hound of the BaskervillesHouse of the Living Dead |
| November | 1 | Phil Silvers | 74 | US | Actor | You're in the Army NowIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World |
| November | 6 | Sanjeev Kumar | 47 | India | Actor | SholayAandhi |
| November | 9 | Helen Rose | 81 | US | Costume Designer | The Bad and the BeautifulCat on a Hot Tin Roof |
| November | 19 | Jimmy Ritz | 81 | US | Actor | On the AvenuePack Up Your Troubles |
| November | 19 | Stepin Fetchit | 83 | US | Actor | ZenobiaCharlie Chan in Egypt |
| November | 27 | Harry Harvey Sr. | 84 | US | Actor | The Pride of the YankeesAce in the Hole |
| December | 3 | Sam Gilman | 70 | US | Actor | One-Eyed JacksThe Missouri Breaks |
| December | 5 | Howard Rodman | 73 | US | Screenwriter | Coogan's BluffCharley Varrick |
| December | 8 | Jack H. Skirball | 89 | US | Producer | Shadow of a DoubtPayment on Demand |
| December | 11 | Kathleen Ryan | 63 | Ireland | Actress | Odd Man OutEsther Waters |
| December | 12 | Anne Baxter | 62 | US | Actress | The Razor's EdgeAll About Eve |
| December | 12 | Phil Karlson | 77 | US | Director | The SilencersKid Galahad |
| December | 14 | Bruce Weintraub | 33 | US | Set Decorator | ScarfacePrizzi's Honor |
| December | 17 | Harry M. Leonard | 85 | US | Sound Engineer | LauraCaptain Eddie |
| December | 22 | Lawrence Hauben | 54 | US | Screenwriter | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
| December | 23 | Gina Kaus | 92 | Austria | Screenwriter | The Red DanubeThe Robe |
| December | 26 | Margarete Schön | 90 | Germany | Actress | Die NibelungenThe Street Song |
| December | 28 | Renato Castellani | 72 | Italy | Director, Screenwriter | Romeo and JulietUnder the Sun of Rome |
| December | 31 | Ricky Nelson | 45 | US | Actor, Singer | Rio BravoThe Wackiest Ship in the Army |
| December | 31 | Sam Spiegel | 84 | Poland | Producer | Lawrence of ArabiaOn the Waterfront |

## Film debuts

* Jane Adams – Bombs Away
* Joan Allen – Compromising Positions
* Kelly Asbury (animator) – The Black Cauldron
* Roger Ashton-Griffiths – Dreamchild
* Sean Astin – The Goonies
* John Aylward – Strings
* Fairuza Balk – Return to Oz
* Gary Basaraba – Alamo Bay
* Randall Batinkoff – Streetwalkin'
* Josh Brolin – The Goonies
* Tim Burton (director) – Pee Wee's Big Adventure
* Steve Buscemi – The Way It Is
* Helena Bonham Carter – A Room with a View
* Don Cheadle – Moving Violations
* Jude Ciccolella – Insignificance
* Blake Clark – St. Elmo's Fire
* Gary Cole – To Live and Die in L.A.
* Patrick Dempsey – Heaven Help Us
* Kevin Dillon – Heaven Help Us
* Ellen Albertini Dow – American Drive-In
* Charles S. Dutton – Cat's Eye
* Jeff Fahey – Silverado
* Linda Fiorentino – Vision Quest
* Guillermo Francella – El Telo y la Tele
* Vincent Gallo – The Way It Is
* Rupert Graves – A Room with a View
* LisaGay Hamilton – Krush Groove
* Ian Hart – No Surrender
* Ethan Hawke – Explorers
* Amy Hill – Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart
* Dana Ivey – Explorers
* Ken Jenkins – What Comes Around
* Richard Jenkins – Silverado
* Elias Koteas – One Magic Christmas
* LL Cool J – Krush Groove
* Stephen Lang – Twice in a Lifetime
* Wallace Langham – Weird Science
* Hugh Laurie – Plenty
* John Leguizamo – Mixed Blood
* Melissa Leo – Always
* Tom Lister, Jr. – Runaway Train
* Dolph Lundgren – A View to a Kill
* Lesley Manville – Dance with a Stranger
* Stephen Marcus – My Beautiful Laundrette
* Jack McGee – Turk 182
* Viggo Mortensen – Witness
* Brigitte Nielsen – Red Sonja
* Danny Nucci – Explorers
* Hugh O'Conor – Lamb
* Carl Anthony Payne II – The Last Dragon
* Sarah Polley – One Magic Christmas
* Jeremy Ratchford – Junior
* Miranda Richardson – Dance with a Stranger
* Linus Roache – No Surrender
* Chris Rock – Krush Groove
* Kyra Sedgwick – War and Love
* Christian Slater – The Legend of Billie Jean
* Yeardley Smith – Heaven Help Us
* Mira Sorvino – The Stuff
* Fred Thompson – Marie
* Danny Trejo – Runaway Train
* Stanley Tucci – Prizzi's Honor
* Blair Underwood – Krush Groove
* Thomas F. Wilson – Back to the Future
* Noah Wyle – Lust in the Dust
* Billy Zane – Back to the Future