February 20th
235 Notable deaths
Frederick Douglass
African-american social reformer, writer, and abolitionist (c. 1818–1895).
Born February 14th, 1818 in Talbot County.
Died February 20th, 1895 at 77 years old in Washington, D.C. (myocardial infarction).
Hunter S. Thompson
American journalist and author (1937–2005).
Born July 18th, 1937 in Louisville.
Died February 20th, 2005 at 67 years old in Woody Creek.
Deng Xiaoping
Chinese politician and paramount leader from 1978 to 1989.
Born August 22nd, 1909 in Guang'an.
Died February 20th, 1997 at 87 years old in Beijing (Parkinson's disease).
Sandra Dee
American actress and model (1942–2005).
Born April 23rd, 1942 in Bayonne.
Died February 20th, 2005 at 62 years old in Thousand Oaks (pneumonia).
Dick York
American radio, stage, film, and television actor (1928-1992).
Born September 4th, 1928 in Fort Wayne.
Died February 20th, 1992 at 63 years old in East Grand Rapids (pulmonary emphysema).
Chester W. Nimitz
United states navy fleet admiral (1885–1966).
Born February 24th, 1885 in Fredericksburg.
Died February 20th, 1966 at 80 years old in Yerba Buena Island (stroke).
Ferruccio Lamborghini
Italian industrialist, founder of automobili lamborghini (1916–1993).
Born April 28th, 1916 in Cento.
Died February 20th, 1993 at 76 years old in Perugia (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Alice Lee Roosevelt
American writer and socialite (1884–1980).
Born February 12th, 1884 in Manhattan.
Died February 20th, 1980 at 96 years old in Washington, D.C..
Gene Siskel
American film critic (1946–1999).
Born January 26th, 1946 in Chicago.
Died February 20th, 1999 at 53 years old in Evanston (brain cancer).
Alexander Haig
Former u.s. secretary of state and u.s. army general (1924-2010).
Born December 2nd, 1924 in Philadelphia. [ref]
Died February 20th, 2010 at 85 years old in Baltimore (infectious disease). [ref]
Max Schreck
German actor (1879-1936).
Born September 6th, 1879 in Berlin.
Died February 20th, 1936 at 56 years old in Munich (myocardial infarction).
Kathryn Kuhlman
American faith healer (1907–1976).
Born May 9th, 1907 in Concordia.
Died February 20th, 1976 at 68 years old in Tulsa.
P. G. T. Beauregard
Confederate general (1818–1893).
Born May 28th, 1818 in St. Bernard Parish.
Died February 20th, 1893 at 74 years old in New Orleans (cardiovascular disease).
Walter Winchell
American gossip journalist (1897-1972).
Born April 7th, 1897 in New York City.
Died February 20th, 1972 at 74 years old in Los Angeles (prostate cancer).
Rattanbai Jinnah
Wife of muhammad ali jinnah (1900–1929).
Born February 20th, 1902 in Mumbai.
Died February 20th, 1929 at 27 years old in Mumbai.
Dave Van Ronk
American musician (1936–2002).
Born June 30th, 1936 in Brooklyn.
Died February 20th, 2002 at 65 years old in Manhattan (colorectal cancer). [ref]
Robert Peary
Explorer from the united states (1856–1920).
Born May 6th, 1856 in Cresson.
Died February 20th, 1920 at 63 years old in Washington, D.C..
Jerry Butler
American soul singer and songwriter (1939–2025).
Born December 8th, 1939 in Sunflower.
Died February 20th, 2025 at 85 years old in Chicago (Parkinson's disease). [ref]
Jimmy Young
American boxer (1948–2005).
Born November 16th, 1948 in Philadelphia. [ref]
Died February 20th, 2005 at 56 years old in Philadelphia (myocardial infarction).
Andreas Brehme
German association football player (1960–2024).
Born November 9th, 1960 in Hamburg.
Died February 20th, 2024 at 63 years old in Munich (cardiac arrest). [ref]
Audrey Munson
American artist's model and film actress (1891-1996).
Born June 8th, 1891 in Rochester.
Died February 20th, 1996 at 104 years old in Ogdensburg.
Percy Grainger
Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist (1882–1961).
Born July 8th, 1882 in Melbourne.
Died February 20th, 1961 at 78 years old in White Plains.
Sarah Kane
English playwright (1971-1999).
Born February 3rd, 1971 in Brentwood.
Died February 20th, 1999 at 28 years old in King's College Hospital (hanging to death).
Kevin Ayers
English singer-songwriter, record producer (1944–2013).
Born August 16th, 1944 in Herne Bay.
Died February 20th, 2013 at 68 years old in Montolieu. [ref]
Clarence Nash
American voice actor (1904–1985).
Born December 7th, 1904 in Watonga.
Died February 20th, 1985 at 80 years old in Los Angeles (leukemia).
Deaths 1 to 25 of 235
It’s better to burn out than to fade away. Neil Young