Discover the most famous people who died on August 20. The list includes people like Anne Hutchinson, Paul Ehrlich, William Booth, Tomas Luis De Victoria, Adolf von Baeyer. Famous personalities featured on this list, include political leaders, actors, physicists and mathematicians and from other domains of life. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & Spain and many more countries.
Vote for Your Favourite Died On August 20th
Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
1
Jerry Lewis(Comedian, Actor and One of the Most Significant American Cultural Figures of All Time)
Birthdate: March 16, 1926
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died: 2017
One half of the popular American comedy duo Martin & Lewis, Jerry Lewis was nicknamed The King of Comedy for his comedic skills. Also a filmmaker, Jerry Lewis helped develop video assist and went on to popularize the system, which is widely used today. Also a humanitarian, Lewis worked closely with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, raising awareness about muscular dystrophy.
2
Phyllis Diller(Comedian, Actress)
Birthdate: July 17, 1917
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lima, Ohio, United States
Died: 2012
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
3
Anne Hutchinson(Puritan Religious Reformer, Spiritual Advisor and One of the Most Infamous English Women in Colonial American History)
Birthdate: 1591
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Alford, United Kingdom
Died: 1643
Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan religious reformer, spiritual advisor, and a prominent participant in the Free Grace Controversy, which shook the Massachusetts Bay Colony between 1636 and 1638. Anne Hutchinson is an important figure in the history of women in ministry and the history of religious freedom in the Thirteen British Colonies.
Birthdate: March 14, 1854
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Strzelin, Poland
Died: 1915
German scientist Paul Ehrlich is remembered for his contribution to immunology, which also won him a Nobel Prize. Known as the pioneer of chemotherapy, he also discovered the first-known treatment of syphilis. Born into a business family, he was introduced to the method of studying cells by his pathologist uncle.
5
Joe Dassin(American-French Pop Singer Known for His Ability to Sing in Multiple Languages)
Birthdate: November 5, 1938
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: 1980
The son of American filmmaker Jules Dassin, French pop idol Joe Dassin was educated in Switzerland and the U.S., and earned degrees in anthropology before moving to France. After playing supporting roles in his father’s movies, he soared to fame with songs such as Les Champs-Élysées and L'Été indien.
6
Gene Upshaw(American football player)
Birthdate: August 15, 1945
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Robstown, Texas, United States
Died: 2008
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
7
Bernard of Clairvaux(French Abbot, Theologian and Co-Founder of the 'Knights Templars')
Birthdate: 1090 AD
Birthplace: Fontaine-lès-Dijon, France
Died: 1153
Bernard of Clairvaux, or Saint Bernard, was a 12th-century Burgundian monk, who became the abbot of the abbey of Clairvaux, founded by him. He chose to live a life of physical austerities, which caused him ailments such as anemia. He is revered as the patron saint of beekeepers and candlemakers.
Birthdate: April 10, 1829
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Sneinton, Nottingham, England
Died: 1912
Hailed as the Prophet of the Poor, William Booth was the co-founder and the first the General of the Salvation Army, a Christian church known for its world-wide charitable work. Initially a Methodist preacher, he was moved by the plight of the poor and formed the Salvation Army, aiming to deliver salvation by meeting both their physical and spiritual needs.
9
Ed Freeman(Helicopter pilot, Military personnel)
Birthdate: November 20, 1927
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Neely
Died: 2008
10
Fred Hoyle(English Astronomer Who Formulated the Theory of 'Stellar Nucleosynthesis')
Birthdate: June 24, 1915
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bingley, England
Died: 2001
Fred Hoyle was an English astronomer known for his theory of stellar nucleosynthesis. He spent most of his career at the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge, serving as its director for six years. He was also an author of science fiction novels, short stories, and plays and appeared in a series of radio talks on astronomy for the BBC.
11
Joe Rosenthal(Photographer, Artist, War photographer, Photojournalist, Journalist)
Birthdate: October 9, 1911
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Died: 2006
Birthdate: December 14, 1918
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bellur, Kolar district, Kingdom of Mysore (now Karnataka, India)
Died: 2014
13
Johan de Witt(Mathematician, Politician)
Birthdate: September 24, 1625
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dordrecht
Died: 1672
14
Colin Meads(New Zealand Rugby Union Player)
Birthdate: June 3, 1936
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cambridge, New Zealand
Died: 2017
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
Birthdate: October 31, 1835
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Berlin
Died: 1917
Adolf von Baeyer was a German chemist who is best known for synthesizing indigo. Interested in science from a young age, he studied chemistry at the University of Heidelberg, where his mentor was the prominent organic chemist August Kekulé. He went on to have a successful career and received the 1905 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
16
Brian Murray(South African Actor and Theatre Director)
Birthdate: September 10, 1937
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Died: 2018
Brian Murray was a South African theatre director and actor. Over the course of his career, which spanned more than five decades, Murray received several awards nominations including three nominations for the prestigious Tony Award. In 1998, he was honored with the Lucille Lortel Award for his contribution to the arts. He also won a couple of Drama Desk Awards.
17
Donald O. Hebb(Canadian Psychologist Best Known for Cell-Assembly-Theory)
Birthdate: July 22, 1904
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died: 1985
Though born to physicians, Donald O. Hebb had initially aspired to be a novelist. He later pioneered neuropsychology by merging elements of psychology and neuroscience, and thus establishing psychology as part of bio science. His iconic work The Organization of Behavior spoke about many innovate concepts such as Hebb’s Rule.
18
Alfred Kubin(Austrian Graphic Artist Known for His Drawings and Paintings of Dreamlike, Often Morbid, Subjects)
Birthdate: April 10, 1877
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Litomerice, Czechia
Died: 1959
Austrian printmaker, illustrator, and occasional writer Alfred Kubin is counted among the important representatives of Symbolism and Expressionism. He is noted for his inventive black-and-white drawings that included dreamlike, often morbid, subjects and portrayed supernatural creatures and sexual violence. He illustrated Der Orchideengarten magazine, and has also worked for the likes of E. T. A. Hoffmann and Edgar Allan Poe.
19
Carlos Finlay(Epidemiologist)
Birthdate: December 3, 1833
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Camagüey, Cuba
Died: 1915
20
Dom Mintoff(Politician)
Birthdate: August 6, 1916
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bormla, Malta
Died: 2012
21
Hugo Pratt(Novelist, Writer, Painter, Screenwriter)
Birthdate: June 15, 1927
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Rimini
Died: 1995
22
Pope Pius X(Head of the Catholic Church from 1903 to 1914)
Birthdate: June 2, 1835
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Riese Pio X, Italy
Died: 1914
Pope Pius X was the head of the Catholic Church from 1903 to 1914. He is credited for initiating the preparation of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. He was vehemently opposed to modernism as a pope. He regularly gave homily sermons in the pulpit, a rare practice for popes. He was beatified in 1951 and canonized in 1954.
23
Matiur Rahman(Military pilot)
Birthdate: October 29, 1941
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dhaka
Died: 1971
Despised as traitor in Pakistan and hailed as martyr in Bangladesh, Bangladesh-born Pakistani air force officer Matiur Rahman died while attempting to defect to Bangladesh with a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer during the Bangladesh Liberation War. For thirty-five years, his mortal remains lay buried in fourth-class-employees’ graveyard in Pakistan before it could be reburied with full military honor in Dhaka.
24
Maria Nagaya(Saint)
Birthdate: February 8, 1553
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Russia
Died: 1612
25
Kurt Schumacher(Politician)
Birthdate: October 13, 1895
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chełmno, Poland
Died: 1952
26
Ram Sharan Sharma(Author, Historian, University teacher)
Birthdate: November 26, 1919
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Barauni
Died: 2011
Ram Sharan Sharma was an Indian historian and academic who worked as a teacher at the University of Delhi and Patna University between 1973 and 1985. He also served as the head of the departments of History at both universities. An influential figure, Ram Sharan Sharma had a strong say in matters pertaining to historical research in India.
27
Oleg Prokofiev(Artist)
Birthdate: December 14, 1928
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: 1998
Oleg Prokofiev was a Russian artist, poet, and sculptor. Prokofiev traveled extensively and exhibited his work worldwide, including places like the UK, France, Russia, and the USA. Today, his artworks can be found in places like The State Tretyakov Gallery, The Stiftung Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Leeds City Art Gallery, and the Zimmerli Art Museum.
28
George Taubman Goldie(British Colonial Administrator Who Had a Major Role in Founding Nigeria)
Birthdate: May 20, 1846
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Douglas, Isle of Man
Died: 1925
British colonial administrator George Taubman Goldie who is known for his efforts in founding the country Nigeria. He led the Royal Niger Company and marked clear boundaries of control in his negotiations with the French and the German authorities. He was eventually knighted for his achievements.
29
Branko Kostić(Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement (1991-1992))
Birthdate: August 28, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cetinje, Montenegro
Died: 2020
30
Mun Kyong-jin(Violinist)
Birthdate: 1981 AD
Birthplace: North Korea
Died: 2013
31
Robert Stanley Weir(Canadian judge and poet)
Birthdate: November 15, 1856
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hamilton, Canada
Died: 1926
Robert Stanley Weir was a Canadian judge and poet. He is best known for writing the English lyrics to the national anthem of Canada, O Canada. He was trained as a teacher and lawyer. Over the course of his successful legal career, he was appointed a municipal court judge. He published several poems in magazines and book collections.
32
Dionys Mascolo(Left-wing Political Activist, Essayist)
Birthdate: February 11, 1916
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Val-d'Oise, France
Died: 1997
33
Ilona Massey(Actress)
Birthdate: June 16, 1910
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: 1974
Initially known as “the new Dietrich,” actor and opera singer Ilona Massey grew up amid poverty and funded her singing lessons by working as a dressmaker’s apprentice. From performing on radio and in night clubs, she later rose to be the quintessential temptress in films such as Love Happy.
34
John Gilmore(Musician)
Birthdate: September 28, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Summit, Mississippi, United States
Died: 1995
35
Fielding H. Yost(American Football Player)
Birthdate: April 30, 1871
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Fairview, West Virginia, United States
Died: 1946
36
Cristóbal de Villalpando(Mexican Artist Known for His Decorative and Luminous Baroque Style)
Birthdate: 1649 AD
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Died: 1714
Born in Mexico, Baroque painter Cristóbal de Villalpando created masterpieces that still adorn Mexican cathedrals. Much of his work, such as Triumph of the Eucharist, was influenced by Peter Paul Rubens and his techniques of brushwork and color. He also drew from Mannerism and created a distinct local Mexican style.
37
Thad Jones(Trumpeter, Composer)
Birthdate: March 28, 1923
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pontiac, Michigan, United States
Died: 1986
38
Tom Weiskopf(American Professional Golfer)
Birthdate: November 9, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Massillon, Ohio, United States
Died: 2022
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
39
Miguel López de Legazpi(Navigator and Governor Who Established the First Spanish Settlement in the East Indies)
Birthdate: 1502 AD
Birthplace: Zumarraga, Spain
Died: 1572
40
Bunny Austin(British Tennis Player)
Birthdate: August 20, 1906
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: London, England
Died: 2000
Bunny Austin was an English professional tennis player. A former world No. 2, Austin remained the last Briton to play at the final of the Wimbledon men's singles for 74 years, before Andy Murray reached the finals in 2012. Bunny Austin was an important player of the British team that won three consecutive Davis Cups from 1933 to 1935.
41
Meles Zenawi(Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia (1995 - 2012))
Birthdate: May 8, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Adwa, Ethiopia
Died: 2012
Ethiopian revolutionary-turned-politician Meles Zenawi served as the prime minister of Ethiopia. A medical school drop-out, he abandoned his studies to join the Tigrai Peoples Liberation Front. His reforms made Ethiopian economy as well as its education and agricultural sectors stronger. He died of an undisclosed ailment.
42
Pope Pius VII(Pope)
Birthdate: August 14, 1742
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cesena, Italy
Died: 1823
43
Georg von Frundsberg(Military officer)
Birthdate: September 24, 1473
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mindelsheim Castle, Germany
Died: 1528
44
Frank Cullotta(Gangster)
Birthdate: December 14, 1938
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: 2020
Birthdate: July 4, 1919
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Marbletown, New York, United States
Died: 2007
Dubbed as the Queen of Mean, Leona Helmsley was a hotel magnate and a convicted felon. Seen as the symbol of arrogance, she first hogged the limelight for marrying entrepreneur Harry Helmsley. Her fall from grace occured when she was named for tax evasion. In 1989, she was convicted of federal income tax evasion and other crimes.
46
Walter Krueger(Military personnel)
Birthdate: January 26, 1881
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Złotów
Died: 1967
47
Jules Laforgue(Franco-Uruguayan Poet)
Birthdate: August 16, 1860
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: 1887
Jules Laforgue was a Franco-Uruguayan poet whose poetry has been referred to as part-symbolist, part-impressionist. Apart from being a poet, Jules Laforgue also served as a model for a French artist named Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
48
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling(Philosopher)
Birthdate: January 27, 1775
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Leonberg, Germany
Died: 1854
49
Ulla Jacobsson(Swedish Actress )
Birthdate: May 23, 1929
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mölndal, Sweden
Died: 1982
50
Sir Charles Sedley, 5th Baronet(Writer)
Birthdate: March 5, 1639
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: England
Died: 1701
