Dashed left edge = started before June 2009 ·
Dashed right edge = ongoing beyond June 2009
Events in June 2009 18
1923 – 2009Ed McMahon (1923-2009)Died 23 June 2009, aged 86McMahon was an American broadcaster best known as Johnny Carson's longtime sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show for three decades. He also hosted Star Search and appeared in numerous commercials and specials. His catchphrase introductions became a fixture of American late-night television.
1936 – 2009David Carradine (1936-2009)Died 3 June 2009, aged 72Carradine was an American actor best known for the 1970s television series Kung Fu and for his role as Bill in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films. He came from a prominent acting family and appeared in dozens of films over his career. He was found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok.
1947 – 2009Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009)Died 25 June 2009, aged 62Fawcett was an American actress who rose to fame on the television series Charlie's Angels and whose 1976 red swimsuit poster became one of the best-selling posters in history. She later earned critical acclaim for dramatic roles including The Burning Bed. Her death from cancer came the same day as Michael Jackson's.
1982 – 2009Neda Agha-Soltan (1982-2009)Died 20 June 2009, aged 26Agha-Soltan was an Iranian woman shot and killed during protests in Tehran against the disputed 2009 presidential election. Video of her death, filmed by bystanders, spread worldwide online and made her a symbol of the Green Movement protests. Her death drew international condemnation of the Iranian government's crackdown.
2009French Open 2009Men: Roger Federer · Women: Svetlana KuznetsovaFederer won his only French Open after Nadal lost in the fourth round. Federer completed the career Grand Slam.
2009Galaxy brand launchedSamsung launches its Galaxy line of Android smartphones — beginning with the Samsung Galaxy GT-I7500 in June 2009. The Galaxy brand gives Samsung a credible answer to Apple's iPhone. Within three years, Galaxy smartphones outsell iPhones. The Galaxy S series becomes Samsung's flagship product line, with over 300 million Galaxy devices sold annually at peak. The Galaxy brand becomes one of the most valuable in consumer electronics history.
2009Morris Chang returns as CEOMorris Chang returns as CEO of TSMC in June 2009 at the age of 77, after the company loses process technology leadership during his absence. His return is immediately transformative: he increases R&D spending, accelerates the 28nm node development, and refocuses the company on technology leadership as the primary competitive strategy. The decision to pour capital into leading-edge nodes while competitors retreat to trailing-edge manufacturing proves decisive.
2009Air France Flight 447 crashes into the AtlanticAll 228 aboard killed on flight from Rio to ParisAir France Flight 447, an Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean after its pitot tubes iced over and the crew lost control following an aerodynamic stall. All 228 people on board were killed. Wreckage and flight recorders were not recovered until nearly two years later.
2009General Motors files for bankruptcyAutomaker restructures with US government backingGeneral Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming one of the largest industrial bankruptcies in US history. The US government provided billions of dollars in financing and took a majority ownership stake in the restructured company. GM emerged from bankruptcy protection about six weeks later.
2009World Health Organization declares H1N1 pandemicFirst global flu pandemic declaration in 41 yearsThe World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert to the highest level after the H1N1 swine flu virus spread across multiple continents. The declaration was the first of its kind since 1968. The virus ultimately proved less deadly than initially feared but prompted vaccination campaigns worldwide.
2009Iran's Green Movement protests eruptMass demonstrations follow disputed presidential electionMillions of Iranians protested after incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared winner of a presidential election that opposition supporters of Mir-Hossein Mousavi said was rigged. Security forces cracked down harshly, killing dozens of protesters over the following months. The unrest became known as the Green Movement.
2009Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen#2 film of 2009 — $836m worldwideDirected by Michael Bay. Sam Witwicky and the Autobots battle the Decepticons who are searching for an ancient energy source.
2009Drafted seventh overall by Golden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors select Curry with the seventh pick — a draft position later regarded as one of the greatest steals in NBA history, as six teams pass on him.
2009Michael Jackson diesKing of Pop, age 50Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, aged 50, from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication administered by his personal physician. His death triggered an outpouring of grief worldwide.
2009Honduran military ousts President ZelayaCoup plunges Honduras into political crisisHonduran soldiers removed President Manuel Zelaya from office and flew him into exile after a dispute over a proposed constitutional referendum. Congress installed Roberto Micheletti as interim president, a move most of the international community refused to recognize. The crisis triggered months of unrest and diplomatic isolation.
2009Bernie Madoff sentenced to 150 years in prisonWall Street financier ran history's largest Ponzi schemeBernard Madoff was sentenced in a New York federal court to the maximum 150 years in prison for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of tens of billions of dollars over decades. The fraud collapsed in late 2008 during the financial crisis. Thousands of individuals, charities and funds lost their savings.
2009U2 start the 360 TourHighest-grossing tourFor years the highest-grossing tour in history.
2009US combat troops withdraw from Iraqi citiesHandover marks step toward full US withdrawalAmerican combat forces withdrew from Iraqi towns and cities under the terms of a bilateral security agreement, handing responsibility for urban security to Iraqi forces. Iraqis celebrated the milestone as National Sovereignty Day. The withdrawal was a step toward the full US troop pullout completed in 2011.