August Coppola
A cerebral and creative force who nurtured artistic genius within his famous family while pioneering innovative arts education.
1934–2009 (age 75)·American academic·Birthday: February 16·The Silent Generation
Biography
August Coppola existed in the creative nucleus of one of America's most storied artistic dynasties, yet carved a distinct path defined by intellect and mentorship. As the older brother of Francis Ford Coppola and father of Nicolas Cage, his influence was familial and profound, often credited with fostering Cage's unconventional approach to acting. His professional life was anchored in academia, where he served as a dean at San Francisco State University and later helped found the pioneering Comparative Literature department at California State University, Long Beach. Beyond the classroom, he championed tactile learning, creating the 'Tactile Dome' at San Francisco's Exploratorium, a pitch-black maze designed to be navigated by touch. His life was a quiet testament to the power of ideas, education, and subtle guidance in shaping louder, more public forms of art.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
August was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When August Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
August's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2009Died at 75
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Served as the Dean of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University for over a decade.
- Co-founded the ground-breaking Comparative Literature department at California State University, Long Beach.
- Conceived and helped design the 'Tactile Dome,' a sensory exhibit at the San Francisco Exploratorium.
Did You Know?
He was the inspiration for the character of the absent-minded professor in his brother Francis's film 'Rumble Fish.'
He legally changed his son's name from Nicolas Coppola to Nicolas Cage, inspired by the comic book character Luke Cage.
He authored a novel titled 'The Intimacy' in 1978.
“The senses are the doors of perception; art is the key that unlocks them.”
