<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 19, 1999

                              THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



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<CAPTION>
    British Columbia, Canada                 0-18429                      98-0121376
-------------------------------      ------------------------    ---------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>                         <C>
(State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer Identification No.)
         incorporation)
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  4126 Norland Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia               V5G 3S8
  ----------------------------------------------               -------
<S>                                                          <C>
    (Address of principal executive offices)                 (zip code)
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code      604-299-9321
                                                  ------------------------------


                                       N/A
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




                                                      Exhibit Index is on page 3
                                                                     Page 1 of 4
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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

Pursuant to Form 8-K, General Instructions F, registrant hereby incorporates by
reference the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

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<S>                    <C>
         Exhibit No.   Description

         Exhibit 99    The Loewen Group Inc. Press Release dated July 19, 1999
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                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: July 19, 1999

                                            THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.



                                            By: /s/ PETER S. HYNDMAN
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            Name:  Peter S. Hyndman
                                            Title: Corporate Secretary



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX





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<CAPTION>
                                                                   Sequential
Number     Exhibit                                                Page Number
------     -------                                                -----------
<S>        <C>                                                    <C>
99         The Loewen Group Inc.                                      4
           Press Release dated July 19, 1999
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