Famous people born on June 20th
June 20 has produced an unusually wide-ranging set of notable figures, spanning classic Hollywood, modern television, European and global politics, literature, music, sport, and visual art. The date connects influential storytellers with leaders who shaped public life, alongside innovators whose work still echoes in culture and craft. From war heroism to stagecraft to pop anthems, the variety makes June 20 a rich cross-section of modern history.
Notable highlights
- Lillian Hellman (1905) - A major American dramatist and screenwriter, she wrote searing plays like "The Little Foxes" that dissect power and morality.
- Errol Flynn (1909) - The quintessential swashbuckling star, he helped define the golden-age adventure film with his charismatic screen persona.
- Paul Castellano (1915) - A pivotal figure in American organized crime, his rise and fall became a defining chapter in late-20th-century Mafia history.
- Jacques Delors (1925) - As a key European economic statesman, he is closely associated with driving deeper European integration through the European Commission.
- Olympia Dukakis (1931) - An acclaimed actor whose warm, incisive performances brought depth to both stage and screen, including an Oscar-winning turn in "Moonstruck".
- Audie Murphy (1924) - One of the most decorated U.S. soldiers of World War II, he later became a film star and public symbol of wartime valor.
- Chet Atkins (1924) - A guitar virtuoso and producer, he helped shape the "Nashville sound" and influenced generations of players with clean, melodic technique.
- Lionel Richie (1949) - A pop and R&B hitmaker, he became a defining voice of the 1980s with chart-topping ballads and enduring radio staples.
- Sandra Oh (1971) - A trailblazing TV and film actor, she brought sharp intelligence and emotional range to roles that broadened representation on screen.
- Frank Lampard (1978) - One of the Premier League era's standout midfielders, he was renowned for rare goal-scoring consistency from central midfield.
On this day
- 1782 - The Great Seal of the United States is officially adopted, including the enduring motto "E Pluribus Unum".
- 1819 - The steamship SS Savannah begins the first steam-assisted transatlantic crossing, signaling a new age in ocean travel.
- 1837 - Queen Victoria ascends to the British throne, inaugurating the Victorian era.
- 1944 - The U.S. launches the Battle of the Philippine Sea, a major World War II naval and air engagement in the Pacific.
- 1972 - A burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex sets off the Watergate scandal.