May 20th
222 Notable deaths
Niki Lauda
Austrian former formula 1 driver (1949–2019).
Born February 22nd, 1949 in Vienna. [ref]
Died May 20th, 2019 at 70 years old in Zurich. [ref]
Randy Savage
American professional wrestler (1952–2011).
Born November 15th, 1952 in Columbus.
Died May 20th, 2011 at 58 years old in Seminole (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Robin Gibb
British singer (1949–2012).
Born December 22nd, 1949 in Douglas.
Died May 20th, 2012 at 62 years old in London (colorectal cancer). [ref]
Gilda Radner
American actress and comedian (1946–1989).
Born June 28th, 1946 in Detroit.
Died May 20th, 1989 at 42 years old in Los Angeles (ovarian cancer).
George Wendt
American actor (1948–2025).
Born October 17th, 1948 in Chicago.
Died May 20th, 2025 at 76 years old in Studio City (coronary artery disease, cardiac arrest, heart failure). [ref]
Jon Pertwee
English actor (1919–1996).
Born July 7th, 1919 in Chelsea.
Died May 20th, 1996 at 76 years old in Connecticut (myocardial infarction).
Ray Manzarek
American keyboardist (1939–2013).
Born February 12th, 1939 in Chicago.
Died May 20th, 2013 at 74 years old in Rosenheim (cholangiocarcinoma).
Richard Proenneke
American naturalist (1916–2003).
Born May 4th, 1916 in Lee County.
Died May 20th, 2003 at 87 years old in Hemet (cerebral hemorrhage).
Stephen Jay Gould
American biologist and historian of science (1941–2002).
Born September 10th, 1941 in Queens.
Died May 20th, 2002 at 60 years old in New York City (lung cancer).
Mary Ellen Trainor
American actress (1952-2015).
Born July 8th, 1952 in San Francisco.
Died May 20th, 2015 at 62 years old in Montecito (cancer).
Clara Schumann
German musician and composer (1819–1896).
Born September 13th, 1819 in Leipzig. [ref]
Died May 20th, 1896 at 76 years old in Frankfurt (stroke). [ref]
Abubakar Shekau
Leader of a nigerian militant group (1973-2021).
Born March 24th, 1973 in Shekau. [ref]
Died May 20th, 2021 at 48 years old in Sambisa Forest (suicide bombing). [ref]
Zach Sobiech
American singer (1995-2013).
Born May 3rd, 1995 in Saint Paul.
Died May 20th, 2013 at 18 years old in Lakeland (bone cancer).
Henry Morrison Flagler
American entrepreneur (1830-1913).
Born January 2nd, 1830 in Ontario County.
Died May 20th, 1913 at 83 years old in West Palm Beach.
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi
Libyan mass murderer (1952-2012).
Born April 1st, 1952 in Tripoli.
Died May 20th, 2012 at 60 years old in Tripoli (prostate cancer). [ref]
Ivan Boesky
American stock trader (1937–2024).
Born March 6th, 1937 in Detroit.
Died May 20th, 2024 at 87 years old in San Diego. [ref]
Barbara Hepworth
English sculptor (1903–1975).
Born January 10th, 1903 in Wakefield. [ref]
Died May 20th, 1975 at 72 years old in St Ives. [ref]
Bipin Chandra Pal
British indian bengali academic and politician (1858–1932).
Born November 7th, 1858 in Habiganj District.
Died May 20th, 1932 at 73 years old in Kolkata.
Lucy Gordon
British actress and model (1980–2009).
Born May 22nd, 1980 in Oxford.
Died May 20th, 2009 at 28 years old in 10ᵗʰ arrondissement of Paris (hanging to death). [ref]
Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
Indian astrophysicist and writer (1938–2025).
Born July 19th, 1938 in Kolhapur.
Died May 20th, 2025 at 86 years old in Pune. [ref]
Malik Sealy
Basketball player (1970-2000).
Born February 1st, 1970 in The Bronx.
Died May 20th, 2000 at 30 years old in St. Louis Park (traffic collision).
Philipp Lenard
German physicist (1862-1947).
Born June 7th, 1862 in Bratislava.
Died May 20th, 1947 at 84 years old in Messelhausen.
Billy Cannon
American football player (1937-2018).
Born August 2nd, 1937 in Philadelphia.
Died May 20th, 2018 at 80 years old in St. Francisville.
Alexander Ulyanov
Russian revolutionary and activist (1866–1887).
Born April 12th, 1866 in Nizhny Novgorod.
Died May 20th, 1887 at 21 years old in Shlisselburg (hanging to death).
Paul Ricœur
French philosopher (1913–2005).
Born February 27th, 1913 in Valence.
Died May 20th, 2005 at 92 years old in Châtenay-Malabry.
Deaths 1 to 25 of 222
Religion is the human response to being alive and having to die. Forrest Church