The retired college dean, and brother of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, suffered a reported heart attack on Tuesday (27Oct09).
August taught literature and was the dean of creative arts at California's San Francisco State University.
He divorced Cage's mother, dancer/choreographer Joy Vogelsang, in 1976.
Besides the Leaving Las Vegas star, Coppola is survived by sons Christopher and Marc and three grandchildren - as well as an extended showbiz family including Francis Ford Coppola, actress sister Talia Shire and her children, including actors Robert and Jason Schwartzman.