On This Day for June 11 - Oklahoma City bomber executed, Jacques Cousteau is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. June 11 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Jacques Cousteau READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 2001 Oklahoma City bomber executed READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2014: American actress and activist Ruby Dee, who was known for her pioneering work in African American theatre and film and for her outspoken civil rights activism, died at age 91. [Take our quiz about actors and acting.] 2010: The 19th World Cup football (soccer) tournament opened in the host country of South Africa, marking the first time that the event was played on the African continent; Spain won the tournament. [Sort fact from fiction in our football (soccer) quiz.] 2002: The reality competition TV series American Idol debuted, and it became one of the most-watched shows in the United States. [ How much do you know about American reality TV?] 1982: Steven Spielberg's blockbuster E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was released in theatres, and it is widely seen as a classic of American cinema. [Take our movie quiz.] 1950: Capping a dramatic recovery from a near-fatal automobile accident, American golfer Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open. [Test your knowledge of golf.] 1927: American aviator Charles Lindbergh was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge. [Take our quiz about early aviation.] SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1959 Hugh Laurie British actor 1933 Gene Wilder American actor 1956 Joe Montana American football player 1913 Vince Lombardi American football coach 1960 Mehmet Oz Turkish American surgeon, educator, and author 1880 Jeannette Rankin American politician SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2021 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help