Born 1920

Loretta Ford (1920–2025), pioneering nurse practitioner

Loretta Ford was a nurse who co-founded the first nurse practitioner program in the United States.

Margaret Macfarlane (1920–2023), WWII Enigma code breaker

Margaret Macfarlane was a Scottish woman who worked secretly during World War II as one of the Enigma codebreakers alongside Alan Turing at Bletchley Park, as depicted in the film “The Imitation Game."

Raymond Cassagnol (1920–2023), Tuskegee Airman from Haiti 

Raymond Cassagnol was a veteran of the Haitian Air Corps who trained with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. 

Ben Ferencz (1920–2023), convicted Nazis at Nuremburg trials

Ben Ferencz was the last living prosecutor who convicted Nazis in the Nuremburg trials for their war crimes. 

Bill Pitman (1920–2022), legendary Wrecking Crew guitarist  

Bill Pitman was a legendary session guitarist who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, elite studio musicians who played on some of the greatest pop and rock songs.

Roger Angell (1920–2022), renowned baseball writer  

Roger Angell was a renowned baseball writer who was a regular contributor to The New Yorker .

Yuriko Kikuchi (1920–2022), legendary Martha Graham dancer

Yuriko Kikuchi , using the single name Yuriko, was a longtime legendary dancer in the Martha Graham Dance Company.

Gail Halvorsen (1920–2022), “Candy Bomber” in the Berlin airlift

Gail Halvorsen was a United States Air Force pilot known as the “Candy Bomber” for dropping candy over Berlin from his airplane during the Berlin airlift in 1948.

Eddie Robinson (1920–2021), oldest living former MLB player

Eddie Robinson was the oldest living former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and the last surviving member of the 1948 World Series winning Cleveland Indians.

Anna Halprin (1920–2021), pioneering choreographer who used dance to heal

Anna Halprin was a choreographer known for her experimental postmodern dance style, as well as for using dance as a healing tool.

Ray Lambert (1920–2021), WWII hero on D-Day

Ray Lambert was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II who was honored for saving many lives on D-Day.

George P. Shultz (1920–2021), U.S. Secretary of State under Reagan

George P. Shultz was the U.S. Secretary of State under , shaping foreign policy during the Cold War.

Cecilia Chiang (1920–2020), restaurateur who brought authentic Chinese cuisine to the U.S.

Cecilia Chiang was a restaurateur whose San Francisco restaurant, the Mandarin, introduced a more authentic style of Chinese food to U.S. diners.

Clarence Lux (1920–2020), Pearl Harbor survivor

Clarence Lux was a  survivor who was serving aboard the USS Tennessee during the attack.   

Bob Ryland (1920–2020), first Black professional tennis player

Bob Ryland was a professional tennis player who was the first Black player to compete professionally.

Else Blangsted (1920–2020), acclaimed movie music editor

Else Blangsted was an acclaimed movie music editor known as the “Queen of Music Editors.” She fled from Germany to the United States to escape Nazi Germany.  

Maggie Griffin (1920–2020), Kathy Griffin’s mother who costarred on “My Life on the D-List”

Maggie Griffin was the mother of comedian Kathy Griffin and costarred with her daughter on televisions My Life on the D-List.

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (1920–2020), former secretary-general of the United Nations

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar served as secretary-general of the United Nations for two terms, from 1982 to 1991. During that time, he mediated disputes such as the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina as well as conflicts in Central America. The end of his term saw the collapse of the Soviet Union, the independence of Namibia in Africa, and a cease-fire in Western Sahara.

Lauren Bruner (1920–2019), one of the last survivors of Pearl Harbor’s USS Arizona

Lauren Bruner was a U.S. Navy veteran who was aboard the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on December 7, 1941.

Jim Leavelle (1920–2019), police officer was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald when he was shot

James R. “Jim” Leavelle was a Dallas Police Department homicide detective who was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald when he was shot by Jack Ruby. Oswald, who had assassinated President John F. Kennedy two days earlier, died shortly after the shooting. In the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of the moment Ruby shot Oswald, Leavelle is prominent, a tall man wearing a tan suit and Stetson hat, handcuffed to Oswald and reacting with shock. Leavelle later said that he had seen Ruby out of the corner of his eye and had tried to get Oswald behind him, but he was too late. Prior to his service with the Dallas Police Department, Leavelle had served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked in December 7, 1941. Leavelle retired from the police department in 1976 and went on to found a polygraph business.

Gerry Murray (1920–2019), roller derby star

Gerry Murray was a roller derby starin the sports early days who returned as a grandmother in her 50s.

John Paul Stevens (1920–2019), retired Supreme Court Justice

Stevens was the third-longest-serving justice in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Robert Friend (1920–2019), one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen

One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, Robert Friend directed the U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book investigating UFOs.

John “Jack” Lyle (2019), World War II Tuskegee Airman

John “Jack” Lyle (2019) was one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the country’s first African-American fighter group. The Airmen were among the most skilled pilots during World War II. Lyle, who named his plane “Natalie” in honor of his first wife, was credited with shooting down a German Messerschmitt. After the war, he became a Chicago police officer with the park district and operated a tree trimming company. His favorite hobby was sailing on Lake Michigan.

Alene Duerk (1920 – 2018), Navy’s first female rear admiral

Enlisted in the Navy Nurse Corps during World War II and ascended the ranks over 30 years.

Jerry Maren (1920 – 2018), last surviving “Wizard of Oz” munchkin

Jerry Maren, the last surviving Oz munchkin, died during the last week of May, 2018 at a San Diego nursing care facility, according to multiple news sources. He was 98.

Michael Anderson (1920 – 2018), legendary director

Directed the sci-fi cult classic "Logan's Run" and "Around the World in 80 Days."

Lewis Gilbert (1920 – 2018), acclaimed director of “Alfie”

Directed 3 James Bond films including “The Spy Who Loved Me”…

Nanette Fabray (1920–2018), Award-winning actress and humanitarian

Nanette Fabray, an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and humanitarian.

Anna Mae Hays (1920 – 2018), first female general in the U.S. military

Anna Mae Hays, the first female general in the U.S. military, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, at a retirement home in Washington, according to multiple news sources. She was 97.

Alison Robins (1920 – 2017), secret WWII code listener

She was part of the UK’s wartime intelligence network.

Bob Wolff (1920–2017), legendary New York sports broadcaster

Legendary New York sports broadcaster.

Clifton James (1920 - 2017), actor in James Bond films

Clifton James, a character actor who notably played Sheriff Pepper in two James Bond films, died Saturday, Apr. 15, 2017, in Gladstone, Ore., due to complications from diabetes, according to multiple news sources. He was 96.

Bella Abzug: 5 Things to Know About a Tough American Woman

Once upon a time in the 1970s, Americans looking for an example of a tough-as-nails woman who stood up on behalf of her community had Bella Abzug.

Richard Adams (1920–2016), Watership Down author

Editor's note: Richard Adams' date of death was later clarified to be December 24, 2016.

Marion Pritchard (1920–2016), Dutch Holocaust hero

Dutch woman helped save the lives of many Jews during the Holocaust.

Henry Heimlich (1920 - 2016), Heimlich maneuver inventor

Henry Heimlich, the physician who was known best for inventing the anti-choking Heimlich maneuver, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to multiple news sources. He was 96.

Sammy Lee (1920–2016), Olympic diving champion

Sammy Lee, a two-time Olympic diving champion, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, of pneumonia in Newport Beach, California, according to The Associated Press. He was 96.

Denton Cooley (1920 - 2016), pioneer in open heart surgery

Dr. Denton A. Cooley, the surgeon who performed the world's first artificial heart implant, died Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. He was 96.

Al Caiola (1920–2016), guitarist on Mrs. Robinson, Stand by Me

Versatile session guitarist who played the “Bonanza” theme.

Oscar Brand (1920–2016), Canadian folk singer

Canadian folk singer and radio host.

Max Mannheimer (1920 - 2016), Holocaust survivor, author, and painter

Max Mannheimer, Holocaust survivor, author and painter, died Friday, September 23, 2016 in Munich, Germany, according to multiple news sources. He was 96.

Noel Neill (1920 - 2016), Lois Lane actress

Noel Neill, the actress known best as Lois Lane in “Superman” film serials and on TV, died July 3, 2016. She was 95.

John Schnabel (1920 - 2016), Gold Rush reality TV star

John Schnabel, an Alaskan gold miner and family patriarch on the reality TV show “Gold Rush,” has died, according to multiple news sources. He was 96. Schnabel, who owned a claim to the Big Nugget mine in Porcupine Creek, Alaska, died March 18 in his sleep, according to his family. “Thank you all for the kind words,” wrote John Schabel’s grandson, Peter Schnabel, in a Twitter message. “John lived a great life and was one of a kind. I am glad the world got to see an amazing man.” The show, which airs on the Discovery Channel cable network, is currently in its sixth season. The first season, titled “Gold Rush – Alaska,” aired on the channel in December 2010. It follows the escapades of a group of miners who initially took up the mining pursuit because they had lost their jobs in Sandy, Oregon. During the show’s second season, when the show’s name was shortened to “Gold Rush,” John Schnabel decided to step down and give the Big Nugget mine to grandson Parker Schnabel.

Jason Wingreen (1920–2015), original voice of Boba Fett

Jason Wingreen, who first provided the voice of “Star Wars” bounty hunter Boba Fett, in 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back,” died on Dec. 25.

Maureen O'Hara (1920–2015), Miracle on 34th Street star

Actress Maureen O'Hara, star of classic movies of the golden age of Hollywood including "Miracle on 34th Street" and "The Quiet Man," died in her sleep on October 24, 2015.

Jack Lord: Book 'em, Danno!

Fifteen years ago today, Jack Lord died – the first of the stars of the original Hawaii Five-O to go...

Ravi Shankar's Rock 'n' Roll

We remember the sitar master who influenced countless musicians from the Beatles to John Coltrane.

Esther Let the Good Times Rolle

On the day she would have turned 82, we remember the gifted actress who played one of TV's greatest moms.