December 20th
228 Notable deaths
Alexander Chizhevsky
Interdisciplinary scientist and cosmist (1897-1964).
Born February 7th, 1897 in Ciechanowiec.
Died December 20th, 1964 at 67 years old in Moscow.
Merna Kennedy
Actress (1908-1944).
Born September 7th, 1908 in Kankakee.
Died December 20th, 1944 at 36 years old in Los Angeles (myocardial infarction).
Jane Arden
British film director, actress, screenwriter, playwright, active from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Born October 29th, 1927 in Pontypool.
Died December 20th, 1982 at 55 years old in North Yorkshire.
Caesar von Hofacker
German luftwaffe lieutenant-colonel, member of the 20 july 1944 plot.
Born March 11th, 1896 in Ludwigsburg.
Died December 20th, 1944 at 48 years old in Plötzensee Prison (hanging to death).
Arkady Raikin
Soviet actor (1911-1987).
Born October 24th, 1911 in Riga. [ref]
Died December 20th, 1987 at 76 years old in Moscow (disease). [ref]
Michał Urbaniak
Polish jazz musician.
Born January 22nd, 1943 in Warsaw.
Died December 20th, 2025 at 82 years old [ref]
André Jolivet
French composer.
Born August 8th, 1905 in 18th arrondissement of Paris.
Died December 20th, 1974 at 69 years old in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Irving Rapper
English-american film director (1898–1999).
Born January 16th, 1898 in London.
Died December 20th, 1999 at 101 years old in Woodland Hills (disease). [ref]
Alan Lloyd Hodgkin
Physiologist and biophysicist (1914-1998).
Born February 5th, 1914 in Banbury.
Died December 20th, 1998 at 84 years old in Cambridge.
Jimmy McCracklin
American pianist, vocalist, and songwriter (1921-2012).
Born August 13th, 1921 in St. Louis.
Died December 20th, 2012 at 91 years old in San Pablo.
Gustaf Kossinna
German archaeologist (1858–1931).
Born September 28th, 1858 in Sovetsk.
Died December 20th, 1931 at 73 years old in Berlin.
Tom Waring
English footballer (1906-1980).
Born October 12th, 1906 in England.
Died December 20th, 1980 at 74 years old in Birkenhead.
Mignon McLaughlin
American journalist (1913-1983).
Born June 6th, 1913 in Baltimore.
Died December 20th, 1983 at 70 years old in Coral Gables.
Peter Norbeck
American politician (1870-1936).
Born August 27th, 1870 in Vermillion.
Died December 20th, 1936 at 66 years old in Redfield (cancer).
Henry Wallis
English pre-raphaelite painter, writer and collector (1830–1916).
Born February 21st, 1830 in London.
Died December 20th, 1916 at 86 years old in Surrey.
Edward S. Morse
American zoologist and anthropologist (1838–1925).
Born June 18th, 1838 in Portland.
Died December 20th, 1925 at 87 years old in Salem (cerebral hemorrhage).
Roland Matthes
German swimmer (1950–2019).
Born November 17th, 1950 in Pößneck.
Died December 20th, 2019 at 69 years old in Wertheim (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Ali bin Hamud Al Busaidi
Sultan of zanzibar (1884-1918).
Born June 7th, 1884 in Zanzibar Islands.
Died December 20th, 1918 at 34 years old in Paris.
Amata Kabua
Former president of the marshall islands (1928-1996).
Born November 17th, 1928 in Jaluit Atoll.
Died December 20th, 1996 at 68 years old in Honolulu (disease). [ref]
Paul Topinard
French physician and anthropologist (1830-1911).
Born November 4th, 1830 in Jouy-le-Comte.
Died December 20th, 1911 at 81 years old in rue d'Assas.
Karl Rolvaag
American diplomat (1913-1990).
Born July 18th, 1913 in Northfield.
Died December 20th, 1990 at 77 years old in Northfield.
Riccardo Freda
Italian film director (1909–1999).
Born February 24th, 1909 in Alexandria.
Died December 20th, 1999 at 90 years old in Rome.
Albin Planinc
Slovenian chess grandmaster (1944–2008).
Born April 18th, 1944 in Briše.
Died December 20th, 2008 at 64 years old in Ljubljana. [ref]
Hans Hartwig von Beseler
German military leader (1850-1921).
Born April 27th, 1850 in Greifswald.
Died December 20th, 1921 at 71 years old in Babelsberg.
Hans von Obstfelder
German general (1886–1976).
Born September 6th, 1886 in Steinbach-Hallenberg.
Died December 20th, 1976 at 90 years old in Wiesbaden.
Deaths 76 to 100 of 228
There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. Washington Irving