August Ames Biography, Family, Wiki, Age, Career, Videos, Death

August Ames was a Canadian adult film actress who achieved remarkable fame and success in her short career. She appeared in over 100 films and was nominated for several AVN awards.

Born Mercedes Grabowski, August Ames quickly became a prominent figure in the adult film industry, known for her work in several projects, including non-adult films.

However, her life was marked by personal challenges, including a history of childhood trauma and public struggles with her mental health. Her death by suicide in December 2017 at the age of 23 came as a shock, and it sparked widespread conversation about cyberbullying, mental health support within the adult industry, and the intense pressures of public life.

In this post, you will find more details about August Ames, including her early life, her rapid career rise, the personal struggles she faced, and other details.

Who is August Ames? (Quick Facts)

Early Life

August Ames was born Mercedes Grabowski in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. As the child of parents who served in the military, she moved frequently during her childhood, living in places like Petawawa, Ontario, and later Colorado Springs, Colorado, and described herself as a “military brat.”

Her early life was marked by profound trauma. She publicly disclosed that she was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She alleged that her paternal grandfather abused her, and when she reported it, her father did not believe her. This led to her being placed in a group home at the age of 12.

After graduating from Oromocto High School, Ames studied culinary arts and worked various jobs, including as a nanny and a horseback riding trainer, before entering the adult film industry at age 19.

Adult Film Career and Awards

August Ames joined the adult film industry in 2013 at the age of 19. Her career was both prolific and meteoric. Over the next four years, she appeared in more than 270 scenes for major studios such as Brazzers, Sweetheart Video, Girlfriends Films, Evil Angel, Elegant Angel, New Sensations, and Jules Jordan Video.

Her talent and popularity were quickly recognized by the industry. She received multiple award nominations, including three for the prestigious AVN Female Performer of the Year. She won several fan-voted awards, including AVN’s Cutest Newcomer (2015) and AVN’s Most Spectacular Boobs (2017). Here’s a list of August Ames’ awards:

• Miss FreeOnes Best Newcomer (2014).
• AVN Award for Cutest Newcomer (Fan Award) [2015]
• XRCO Award for Cream Dream (2015).
• Twistys Treat of the Year (2016).
• AVN Award for Most Spectacular Boobs (Fan Award) [2017].
• NightMoves Award for Best Boobs (Editor’s Choice) [2017].

In 2016, she also branched out into mainstream film and nailed a role in the non-pornographic thriller Model for Murder: The Centerfold Killer.

Personal Life

August Ames was married to pornography producer and director for Evil Angel Kevin Moore. She was open about her ongoing struggles with her mental health. Weeks before her death, Ames publicly disclosed that she had been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which she traced to the severe trauma of her childhood years.

She stated that these conditions caused her to experience debilitating flashbacks and depression, sometimes making it impossible to work. Ames also expressed frustration that healthcare professionals often stigmatized her because of her profession, making it difficult for her to find adequate and compassionate care.

In December 2017, August Ames sparked a major controversy on Twitter. She announced she was pulling out of a scheduled scene because her male co-star had previously performed in gay pornography. She cited concerns about sexual health safety, a known point of debate within the industry, stating she had to “do my homework for my body.”

The tweet ignited an immediate and intense backlash on social media, with many users and industry peers accusing her of homophobia. Ames, who identified as bisexual, defended her right to choose her co-stars. The online harassment escalated into severe cyberbullying.

Two days after her initial tweet, on December 5, 2017, August Ames died by suicide in a park in Camarillo, California. She was 23 years old. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a suicide by hanging. Many of her friends and colleagues blamed the relentless online bullying for her tragic death.

In response, several mental health initiatives were launched. Her husband, Kevin Moore, helped conceive The August Project, a support hotline for industry professionals. Another organization, Pineapple Support, was also founded in 2018 to provide accessible therapy and counseling to adult performers.

Her story was later explored in depth in the investigative podcast “The Last Days of August” by journalist Jon Ronson, which examined the complex factors leading to her death.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was August Ames’s real name?

Her real name was Mercedes Grabowski.

How did August Ames die?

She died by suicide on December 5, 2017.

How old was August Ames when she died?

She died at the age of 23.

What started the controversy before her death?

She faced intense online backlash and cyberbullying after she tweeted that she would not perform in a scene with a male actor who had also worked in gay pornography, citing personal health boundaries.

Was August Ames married?

Yes, she was married to adult film producer and director Kevin Moore at the time of her death.

What mental health issues did she discuss?

She was open about her diagnoses of Bipolar Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which she connected to childhood trauma.

What awards did she win?

She won several fan-voted AVN Awards, including “Cutest Newcomer” (2015) and “Most Spectacular Boobs” (2017).