July 20 is a day marked with significant and historical events such as Turkey’s Invasion of Northern Cyprus in 1974, the Shooting at Denver Batman Midnight Showing in 2012, the assassination of Jordan’s King Abdullah in 1951, and President Harry Truman issued a proclamation today calling for a peacetime military draft in 1948. This day has also given rise to the birth of famous and legendary figures who have inspired the World and generations.
Stay tuned for this article as we unveil the famous people born today, July 20, and their historic contributions and achievements to the World.
Who Are The Famous People’s Born Today: July 20?
Today, we celebrate the birthdays of famous people who contributed significantly to the World. Scroll down to discover and explore the famous people born on this day, July 20:
Sir Edmund Hillary will have been 105 years old today.

Edmund Hillary was a renowned mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. He and Tenzing Norgay were the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. He was born to military officer Percival Augustus and Gertrude Hillary on July 20, 1919, in Auckland, New Zealand.
Edmund Hillary was educated at Tuakau Primary School and Auckland Grammar School. She studied mathematics and science at Auckland University College and joined the Tramping Club. His interest in climbing began during a school trip to Mount Ruapehu, a volcanic peak in New Zealand, at the age of 16. Hallary dropped out of college after two years and joined his father and brother as an apiarist.
He completed his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as a navigator in the No. 6 Squadron and No. 5 Squadron during the Second World War.
On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary, along with Tenzing Norgay, a Nepalese sherpa, became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This monumental achievement was part of the British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. Their successful ascent was announced on June 2, 1953, the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, and it brought Hillary international fame and recognition.
Hillary continued his mountaineering career, leading numerous expeditions to the Himalayas. He also reached the North and South Poles, becoming the first person to complete the “Triple Crown” of adventuring.
Deeply moved by the poverty and needs of the Sherpa people, Hillary devoted much of his life to humanitarian efforts in Nepal. In 1960, he founded the Himalayan Trust, which built schools and hospitals. His contributions significantly improved the quality of life for many Nepalese people.
In recognition of his accomplishments and service, Hillary received numerous awards. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1953. He also received the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) in 1987 and was appointed to the Order of the Garter (KG) in 1995. Other accolades include the Polar Medal, the Padma Vibhushan from India, and honorary citizenship of Nepal.
Sir Edmund Hillary married Louise Mary Rose in 1953. The couple had three children: Sarah, Peter, and Belinda. Tragically, Louise and their youngest daughter, Belinda, died in a plane crash in 1975. Later, Sir Edmund married June Mulgrew in 1989, the widow of his close friend. Edmund died at the age of 88 on January 11, 2008.
Quick Fact About Sir Edmund Hillary
- Sir Edmund Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand.
- He develops an interest in climbing at the age of 16.
- Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
- He also reached both the North and South Poles.
- Edmund died at the age of 88 on January 11, 2008.
Lord Reith will have been 135 years old today.

Lord Reith was a distinguished Scottish broadcasting executive and politician. He was the fifth son of the seven children of the Rev. George Reith, a Scottish Presbyterian minister of the College Church, and Adah Mary Weston, born on July 20, 1889, in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, Scotland.
Lord Reith married Muriel Katharine Odhams in 1921. The couple had two children: a son, Christopher John Reith, and a daughter, Marista Leishman. He died on June 16, 1971, at the age of 81.
John Reith was educated at the Glasgow Academy and later attended Gresham’s School in Norfolk. He studied at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow and later apprenticed as an engineer at the North British Locomotive Company. His early career was marked by his service in World War I, where he served as an officer with the Scottish Rifles and later Royal Engineers as a lieutenant and was wounded in action.
In 1921, he resigned from military duties and became the manager of an engineering company in Glasgow. John then relocated to London and served as the secretary to the London Conservative group of MPs in the 1922 general election.
In 1922, Reith was appointed General Manager of the newly formed British Broadcasting Company (BBC). He quickly became its Managing Director in 1923 and then its Director-General in 1927 when the company was reorganized into the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Under his leadership, the BBC adopted the principles of informing, educating, and entertaining the public. Reith’s vision was to create a broadcasting service independent of commercial interests and government influence to serve the public good.
During World War II, Reith briefly served as Minister of Information in Winston Churchill’s government and held other positions, such as Minister of Transport and First Commissioner of Works. After the war, he continued to influence public service and broadcasting policies through various roles, including serving as chairman of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Board and as chairman of several companies.
John Reith was knighted in 1927 and raised to the peerage as Baron Reith of Stonehaven in 1940. His contributions to broadcasting were further recognized through various honorary degrees and awards from institutions worldwide. He was also appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE).
Quick Fact About Lord Reith
- Lord Reith’s full name is John Charles Walsham Reith.
- He was appointed General Manager of the newly formed British Broadcasting Company (BBC).
- John became the Minister of Information in Winston Churchill’s government.
- He died at the age of 81 and was survived by two children.
Diana Rigg will have been 86 years old today.

Diana Rigg was born in Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire, England on July 20, 1938. She was a celebrated actress known for her roles in films and television series. Her parents were Louis Rigg, a railway engineer, and Beryl Hilda Rigg.
Diana Rigg spent part of her childhood in India, where her father worked. She returned to England for her education and attended the Fulneck Girls School. She trained as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1955 to 1957.
Rigg began her professional acting career in the theatre. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1959, where she made a name for herself with her performances in various classical plays. Her notable stage roles included Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Diana Rigg gained international fame as Emma Peel in the British television series “The Avengers” (1961-1969). Her portrayal of the stylish and intelligent secret agent made her a household name and a fashion icon of the 1960s.
Rigg’s film career included roles in several notable movies. She starred as Tracy Bond in the James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969). Other film credits included “The Assassination Bureau” (1969), “In This House of Brede: (1975,) “Julius Caesar” (1970), and “Theatre of Blood” (1973).
On television, Rigg continued to impress with performances in various dramas and series. She starred in the BBC series “Mother Love” (1989) and “Rebecca” (1997). In the 21st century, her role as Olenna Tyrell in “Game of Thrones” (2013-2017) made her fans a favorite.
Throughout her career, Diana Rigg received numerous awards and honors. She won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her role in “Mother Love” and an Emmy Award for her performance in “Rebecca.”She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her contributions to drama.
Diana Rigg was married twice. From 1973 to 1976, she married Menachem Geffen, an Israeli artist. In 1982, she married Archibald Stirling, a theatrical producer. The couple had one daughter, Rachael Stirling, who followed in her mother’s footsteps to become an actress. Diana and Archibald divorced in 1990.
At the time of her death, Diana Rigg’s net worth was estimated to be $10 million. She died at the age of 82 on September 10, 2020.
Quick Fact About Diana Rigg
- Diana Rigg’s full name given at birth is Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg.
- She began her career in the theatre, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- Her net worth was $10 million at the time of her death.
- Some of her notable films and television series include “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Rebecca.”
- She died at the age of 82.
Natalie Wood will have been 86 years old today.

Natalie Wood was born to Nicholas Zacharenko and Maria Zudilova in San Francisco, California, United States, on July 20, 1938. She was a renowned actress who graced the screens as a child and transitioned into an adult actress.
Natalie Wood was interested in acting from a young age, influenced by her mother’s ambitions. She made her screen debut at the age of four in “The Moon Is Down” and later “Happy Land” (1943). Her breakthrough role came in 1947 when she appeared in “Miracle on 34th Street” at the age of eight, establishing her as a talented child actress.
As Wood transitioned to adult roles, she made a notable performance in “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955) opposite Sal Mineo and James Dean at the age of 16. This role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She continued to build her career with notable films such as “The Searchers” (1956), “Splendor in the Grass” (1961), and “West Side Story” (1961), the latter two earning her Academy Award nominations for Best Actress.
Wood continued to take on different roles in films such as “Gypsy” (1962), “Love with the Proper Stranger” (1963), and “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice” (1969). As of his death, Natalie Wood’s net worth stood at $2.5 million.
She was nominated for three Academy Awards and won three Golden Globes. Wood’s contributions to film were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Natalie Wood was married three times, twice to actor Robert Wagner. Her first marriage to Wagner lasted from 1957 to 1962, and they remarried in 1972. Between her marriages to Wagner, she married British producer Richard Gregson from 1969 to 1972. Wood had two daughters: Natasha Gregson Wagner, who had been married to Gregson, and Courtney Wagner, who had been married to Wagner in her second marriage.
Wood’s personal life was often in the public eye, especially her relationship with Robert Wagner. On November 29, 1981, she tragically drowned under mysterious circumstances while on a boat trip to Santa Catalina Island at the age of 43. Her death was initially ruled an accidental drowning, but in 2012, the case was reopened, and the cause of death was changed to “drowning and other undetermined factors.” The circumstances of her death remain a topic of speculation and investigation.
Quick Fact About Natalie Wood
- Natalie Wood’s full name given at birth is Natalie Zacharenko.
- She died at the age of 43 when she drowned under mysterious circumstances while on a boat trip to Santa Catalina Island.
- Wood married three times and had two children.
- Some of her notable films include “The Searchers,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Love with the Proper Stranger,” and “West Side Story.”
- Her net worth is $2.5 million as of her death.
More Famous People’s Birthday: July 20.
Pop Smoke will have been 25 years old today.

BirthYear: 1999
Place Of Birth: Canarsie, New York, United States
Profession: Rapper
Ben Simmons is 28 years old today.

BirthYear: 1996
Place Of Birth: Melbourne, Australia
Profession: Professional basketball player
Carlos Santana is 77 years old today.

BirthYear: 1947
Place Of Birth: Autlán de Navarro, Mexico
Profession: Guitarist
Chris Cornell is 53 years old today.

BirthYear: 1964
Place Of Birth: Seattle, Washington, United States
Profession: Musician
Gisele Bündchen is 44 years old today.

BirthYear: 1980
Place Of Birth: Horizontina, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Profession: Model and activist
Judy Greer is 49 years old today.

BirthYear: 1975
Place Of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Profession: Actress
Julianne Hough is 36 years old today.

BirthYear: 1988
Place Of Birth: Orem, Utah, United States
Profession: Dancer and actress
Mike McNeil is 66 years old today.

BirthYear: 1958
Place Of Birth: Isle of Barra, Scotland
Profession: Songwriter and keyboardist
Paul Cook is 68 years old today.

BirthYear: 1956
Place Of Birth: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Profession: Drummer
Ted Rogers will have been 89 years old today.

BirthYear: 1935
Place Of Birth: Kennington, London, United Kingdom
Profession: Comedian
Wendy Richard will have been 78 years old today.

BirthYear: 1946
Place Of Birth: Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
Profession: Actress