Famous people born on March 20th
March 20 is a remarkably wide-ranging birthday on the calendar, spanning foundational thinkers in psychology and management, world-class storytellers, and cultural figures who reshaped film, music, and sports. The date brings together innovators who changed how people work and learn, alongside performers and creators who influenced popular culture across generations. From Nobel-recognized diplomacy to iconic children's television, the lineup reflects both intellectual rigor and mass appeal.
Notable highlights
- B. F. Skinner (1904) - A leading behaviorist whose work on operant conditioning helped define modern experimental psychology.
- Henrik Ibsen (1828) - A pioneering modern dramatist whose realist plays transformed theater with sharp social critique.
- Nikolai Gogol (1809) - A cornerstone of Russian literature, celebrated for satirical works that blended the absurd with social observation.
- Spike Lee (1957) - A filmmaker known for bold visual style and incisive explorations of race, politics, and urban life in America.
- Fred Rogers (1928) - Beloved host of children's television who modeled empathy and emotional literacy for generations of families.
- Bobby Orr (1948) - A hockey legend who revolutionized the defenseman role with unprecedented scoring and speed.
- Brian Mulroney (1939) - Former Canadian prime minister associated with major trade and constitutional-era debates that shaped modern Canada.
- Frederick W. Taylor (1856) - An early management theorist whose "scientific management" principles influenced industrial efficiency worldwide.
- Chester Bennington (1976) - Linkin Park's dynamic lead vocalist, known for blending melodic hooks with intense, cathartic performances.
- William Hurt (1950) - Acclaimed actor recognized for psychologically nuanced roles across prestige drama and mainstream film.
On this day
- 1852 - Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin is first published, becoming a landmark work in the history of American abolitionism.
- 1913 - The 16th Amendment is declared ratified, giving the U.S. Congress authority to levy a federal income tax.
- 1995 - Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult carry out a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, a major modern act of domestic terrorism in Japan.
- 2003 - The Iraq War begins as U.S.-led forces launch military operations against Iraq.