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December 20th
228 Notable deaths
Brittany Murphy
American actress and singer (1977–2009).
Born November 10th, 1977 in Atlanta.
Died December 20th, 2009 at 32 years old in Los Angeles (anemia, pneumonia, combined drug intoxication). [ref]
Carl Sagan
American astrophysicist, cosmologist and author (1934–1996).
Born November 9th, 1934 in Brooklyn.
Died December 20th, 1996 at 62 years old in Seattle (pneumonia).
John Steinbeck
American writer (1902–1968).
Born February 27th, 1902 in Salinas.
Died December 20th, 1968 at 66 years old in New York City, Harlem (heart failure, cardiovascular disease).
Bobby Darin
American singer and actor (1936–1973).
Born May 14th, 1936 in East Harlem.
Died December 20th, 1973 at 37 years old in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (sepsis, surgical complications, congestive heart failure).
Rickey Henderson
American hall of fame baseball player (1958–2024).
Born December 25th, 1958 in Chicago.
Died December 20th, 2024 at 65 years old in Oakland. [ref]
Roy O. Disney
American businessman and producer, co-founder of the walt disney company (1893–1971).
Born June 24th, 1893 in Chicago.
Died December 20th, 1971 at 78 years old in Burbank (cerebral hemorrhage).
Erich Ludendorff
German army officer (1865–1937).
Born April 9th, 1865 in Kruszewnia.
Died December 20th, 1937 at 72 years old in Munich (liver cancer).
Franco Harris
American football player (1950–2022).
Born March 7th, 1950 in Fort Dix. [ref]
Died December 20th, 2022 at 72 years old in Sewickley. [ref]
W. Edwards Deming
American professor, author, and consultant (1900-1993).
Born October 14th, 1900 in Sioux City.
Died December 20th, 1993 at 93 years old in Washington, D.C..
Madge Sinclair
Jamaican actress (1938–1995).
Born April 28th, 1938 in Kingston.
Died December 20th, 1995 at 57 years old in Los Angeles (leukemia).
Bernard Francis Law
Catholic cardinal (1931–2017).
Born November 4th, 1931 in Torreón.
Died December 20th, 2017 at 86 years old in Rome (prostate cancer). [ref]
danny maya
Mexican professional wrestler.
Born January 8th, 1958 in Tijuana.
Died December 20th, 2024 at 66 years old in Rosarito. [ref]
Sreenivasan
Indian film actor, screenwriter, director, and producer..
Born May 2nd, 1950 in Pattiam Grama Panchayat.
Died December 20th, 2025 at 75 years old in Kochi. [ref]
Elsa Einstein
Second wife and cousin of albert einstein (1876-1936).
Born January 18th, 1876 in Hechingen.
Died December 20th, 1936 at 60 years old in Princeton (kidney failure).
Stanley Milgram
American social psychologist (1933–1984).
Born August 14th, 1933 in The Bronx. [ref]
Died December 20th, 1984 at 51 years old in Manhattan (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Nalini
Indian actress.
Born March 22nd, 1964 in Chennai.
Died December 20th, 2010 at 46 years old in Mumbai.
Hank Snow
Canadian musician (1914–1999).
Died December 20th, 1999 at 85 years old in Tennessee (heart failure). [ref]
Richard J. Daley
American politician and 48th mayor of chicago.
Born May 15th, 1902 in Chicago.
Died December 20th, 1976 at 74 years old in Chicago (myocardial infarction).
Henry Tandey
British soldier, recipient of victoria cross (1891-1977).
Born August 30th, 1891 in Leamington Spa.
Died December 20th, 1977 at 86 years old in Coventry.
Arthur Rubinstein
Polish-american classical pianist (1887-1982).
Born January 28th, 1887 in Łódź.
Died December 20th, 1982 at 95 years old in Geneva.
Lord Infamous
American rapper (1975-2013).
Born November 17th, 1975 in Memphis.
Died December 20th, 2013 at 38 years old in Memphis (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Albert Göring
German engineer, businessman, and the younger brother of hermann göring (1895-1966).
Born March 9th, 1895 in Friedenau.
Died December 20th, 1966 at 71 years old in Munich (pancreatic cancer).
Om Prakash Chautala
Indian politician.
Born January 1st, 1935 in Sirsa District.
Died December 20th, 2024 at 89 years old in Gurgaon (cardiac arrest). [ref]
Donald Moffat
British actor (1930-2018).
Born December 26th, 1930 in Plymouth.
Died December 20th, 2018 at 87 years old in Sleepy Hollow (stroke). [ref]
Dean Rusk
United states secretary of state (1909-1994).
Born February 9th, 1909 in Cherokee County.
Died December 20th, 1994 at 85 years old in Athens (heart failure).
Deaths 1 to 25 of 228
Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die. Amelia Burr