Prince William
Famous Astronauts
Nelson Mandela
Kanye West
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Liberace
Leonardo DiCaprio
Annie Oakley
I Survived
On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
July 20
Events on This Day
-
1881
132 years ago
Sioux Chief Sitting Bull surrenders, five years after General George Custer's infamous defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
-
1944
69 years ago
Franklin D. Roosevelt is nominated by the Democratic convention for an unprecedented fourth term as president of the United States.
-
1969
44 years ago
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin become the first to walk on the moon. The "giant leap for mankind" occurs at 10:56 pm ET.
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1989
24 years ago
Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe's exhibition opens at the Washington Project for the Arts amid controversy over the nature of his work.
July 20
Born on This Day
-
Natalie Wood
- In these groups:
- Name Changers
- Mysterious Deaths
- Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner
Natalie Wood
Film Actress / 1938 - 1981
Actress Natalie Wood starred in the films Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean and in West Side Story as Maria. She drowned during a boating trip in 1981.
Born: July 20, 1938
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Occupation: Film Actress -
Omar Epps
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
- Famous Film Actors
Omar Epps
Film Actor, Television Actor / 1973 -
Actor Omar Epps is best known as Dr. Eric Foreman on the TV show House, but his first role was in the film Juice opposite Tupac Shakur.1973 | 39 years old
Film Actor, Television Actor -
Cormac McCarthy
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Playwrights
- Famous Fiction Authors
Cormac McCarthy
Author, Playwright / 1933 -
Cormac McCarthy is a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist best known for his Border Trilogy, including All the Pretty Horses.
1933 | 79 years old
Author, Playwright -
Edmund Hillary
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Explorers
- Famous Philanthropists
Edmund Hillary
Athlete, Explorer, Philanthropist / 1919 - 2008
20th century explorer and mountaineer Edmund Hillary was the first to reach the peak of Mt. Everest along with fellow climber Tenzing Norgay.
Born: July 20, 1919
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation: Athlete, Explorer, Philanthropist -
Carlos Santana
- In these groups:
- Hispanic Musicians and Singers
- Guitar Heroes
- Woodstock Performers
Carlos Santana
Guitarist / 1947 -
Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana is leader of Santana, a band whose music uniquely blends Latin-infused rock, jazz, blues, salsa, and African rhythms.
1947 | 65 years old
Guitarist -
Sandra Oh
- In these groups:
- Vegans
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actresses
Sandra Oh
Film Actress, Television Actress / 1971 -
Sandra Oh is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Dr. Cristina Yang on the hit television series Grey's Anatomy.
1971 | 41 years old
Film Actress, Television Actress
July 20
Died on This Day
-
Bruce Lee
- In these groups:
- Mysterious Deaths
- Sober Celebs
- Famous Action Movie Stars
Bruce Lee
Film Actor, Television Actor, Martial Arts Expert / 1940 - 1973
Bruce Lee was an actor, film producer and director, and the martial arts expert who founded the Jeet Kune Doe martial arts system.
Died: July 20, 1973
Age: 32 years old
Place: Hong Kong , China
Occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor, ... -
James Doohan
- In these groups:
- Star Trek Stars
- Famous Pisceans
- Famous Actors
James Doohan
Film Actor, Television Actor / 1920 - 2005
Actor James Doohan will forever be remembered as the Scottish chief engineer Scotty in the popular science fiction television and film series Star Trek.
2005 | 85 years old
Film Actor, Television Actor -
Tammy Faye Messner
- In these groups:
- Famous People Involved in Sex Scandals
- Famous Pisceans
- Reality TV Stars
Tammy Faye Messner
Evangelist, Reality Television Star / 1942 - 2007
Tammy Faye Messner was the wife of disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker, with whom she hosted The 700 Club and the Praise the Lord Club. The couple split in 1992, after Jim Bakker's affair with a church secretary surfaced.
2007 | 65 years old
Evangelist, Reality Television Star
Email Updates
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Play Nowprofile name: Natalie Wood profile occupation: Film Actress
profile id: 7284
profile name: Omar Epps profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor
profile id: 9390745
profile name: Cormac McCarthy profile occupation: Author, Playwright
profile id: 9339111
profile name: Edmund Hillary profile occupation: Athlete, Explorer, Philanthropist
profile id: 9542276
profile name: Carlos Santana profile occupation: Guitarist
profile id: 23212
profile name: Sandra Oh profile occupation: Film Actress, Television Actress
profile id: 9542095
profile name: Bruce Lee profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor, ...
profile id: 273647
profile name: James Doohan profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor
profile id: 9542346
profile name: Tammy Faye Messner profile occupation: Evangelist, Reality Television Star
profile id: 9485326
profile name: Sitting Bull profile occupation: Warrior
profile id: 9264128
profile name: George Custer profile occupation: General
profile id: 9463381
profile name: Franklin D. Roosevelt profile occupation: U.S. President
profile id: 9188943
profile name: Neil Armstrong profile occupation: Astronaut
profile id: 9398165
profile name: Robert Mapplethorpe profile occupation: Sculptor
profile id: 9277676
profile name: Tommy Dorsey profile occupation: Trumpet Player
profile id: 9542052
profile name: Robert Downey Jr. profile occupation: Actor
profile id: 9232768
profile name: George W. Bush profile occupation: U.S. Governor
profile id: 507291
profile name: Yao Ming profile occupation: Basketball Player
profile id: 23018
profile name: Jon Lovitz profile occupation: Television Actor
profile id: 5446
profile name: Albert Brooks profile occupation: Television Actor
profile id: 177232
profile name: Philip Seymour Hoffman profile occupation: Television Actor
profile id: 37123
profile name: Cootie Williams profile occupation: Trumpet Player
Your Connections
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Upcoming Birthdays
-
Jon Lovitz
- In these groups:
- Cast of Saturday Night Live
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
Jon Lovitz
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Comedian / 1957 -
Comedian and actor John Lovitz was part of the Saturday Night Live cast for five years, during which time he created memorable characters like Hanukkah Harry.
July 21, 1957
Television Actor -
Albert Brooks
- In these groups:
- Actors Turned Directors
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
Albert Brooks
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director / 1947 -
For 40 years, Actor and comedian Albert Brooks has worked steadily in Hollywood, appearing both in other people's movies and in his own self-directed projects.
July 22, 1947
Television Actor -
Philip Seymour Hoffman
- In these groups:
- Actors Turned Directors
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
- Oscar-Winning Portrayals
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Director / 1967 -
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has gained recognition for his work in a series of successful films including Capote and Doubt.
July 23, 1967
Television Actor -
Cootie Williams
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous Trumpet Players
- Famous People Named Williams
Cootie Williams
Trumpet Player / 1908 - 1985
Cootie Williams was a jazz trumpeter best known for his longtime work and recorded legacy with composer and bandleader Duke Ellington.
July 24, 1908
Trumpet Player
Famous Cancerians
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Albert Brooks
- In these groups:
- Actors Turned Directors
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
Albert Brooks
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director / 1947 -
For 40 years, Actor and comedian Albert Brooks has worked steadily in Hollywood, appearing both in other people's movies and in his own self-directed projects.
July 22, 1947
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director -
Omar Epps
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
- Famous Film Actors
Omar Epps
Film Actor, Television Actor / 1973 -
Actor Omar Epps is best known as Dr. Eric Foreman on the TV show House, but his first role was in the film Juice opposite Tupac Shakur.July 20, 1973
Film Actor, Television Actor
