Headlines
(February 20th)
1981 - Andy Kaufman Started a Brawl During an Episode of Friday Night’s Sketch on ABC
* Michael Richards (Kramer) Dropped the Cue Cards on His Table That Set Kaufman Off
Other Notable Birthdays
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (Wrestler)
February 20, 1921 - June 26, 1992
Passed Away at Age 71 From a Stroke
In 1963 Became the First WWE Heavyweight Champion (WWWF at the Time)
Elected to the WWE Hall of Fame in 1994
Sidney Poitier (Actor)
February 20, 1927 - January 6, 2022
Passed Away at Age 94 in His Home From Cardiopulmonary Failure
* Alzheimer's and Prostate Cancer were Underlying Causes
In 1964 Became First African-American to Win an Academy Award For Best Actor
Bobby Unser (Race Car Driver)
February 20, 1934 - May 2, 2021
Passed Away at Age 87 in His Home (Natural Causes)
3x Indianapolis 500 Winner (1968, 1975, 1981)
Antonio Inoki (Japanese Wrestler)
February 20, 1943 - October 1, 2022
Passed Away at Age 79 From Systemic Transthyretin Amyloidosis (Disease That Affects the Heart)
Considered the Most Popular Wrestler in Japan
Elected to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010
J. Geils (Singer)
February 20, 1946 - April 11, 2017
Passed Away at Age 71 From Natural Causes
Founder of J. Gelis Band
* Best Known For “Centerfold”
Kurt Cobain (Singer)
February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994
Passed Away at Age 27 From a Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound to the Head
Lead Singer For Nirvana
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Dick York (Actor)
September 4, 1928 - February 20, 1992
Passed Away at Age 62 of Complications From Emphysema
Played Darrin Stephens on the TV Series Bewitched
Gene Siskel (Film Critic)
January 26, 1946 - February 20, 1999
Passed Away at Age 53 From a Brain Tumor
Siskel & Ebert
Sandra Dee (Actress)
April 23, 1942 - February 20, 2005
Passed Away on February 20, 2005 at Age 62 From Kidney Disease
Began Her Career as a Child Model
Curt Gowdy (Sportscaster)
Passed Away on February 20, 2006 at Age 86 from Leukemia
Coined the Phrase "The Granddaddy of Them All" For the Rose Bowl
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80s Movies
(On This Day)
1987 - Death Before Dishonor
Director: Terry Leonard
Starring: Fred Dryer, Brian Keith, Joanna Pacuła and Paul Winfield
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $4.5 Million
1987 - Square Dance
Director: Daniel Petrie
Starring: Winona Ryder, Jason Robards, Jane Alexander and Rob Lowe
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $225,000
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1980 - Actress Susan Dey (LA Law) Married Bernard Sofronski (Producer)
1981 - Andy Kaufman Started a Brawl on Friday Night’s Sketch Series on ABC
1982 - Bruce Dern Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Luther Vandross
1987 - David Hartman Quit Good Morning America After 11 Seasons
1988 - Final Episode of Women in Prison
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 13
Network: Fox
1988 - Tom Hanks Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Randy Travis
1989 - Final Episode of Almost Grown
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 13
Network: CBS
1989 - Charlie O'Donnell Returned as the Announcer of Wheel of Fortune After a 9-Year Absence
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1984 - Keep Moving
Madness (5th Album)
Billboard Charts: #109
1989 - Storm the Studio
Meat Beat Manifesto (Debut Album)
1989 - The Raw & Cooked
Fine Young Cannibals
Hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 Charts
* Also Hit #1 in the UK, Austria and Australia
Featuring “She Drives Me Crazy”
Singles Released
1985 - “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”
Simple Minds
#1 Song in America from May 8 - 24
* Also Hit #1 in Canada and the Netherland
1989 - "Forever Your Girl"
Paula Abdul
#1 Song in America from May 20 - June 2
* Also Hit #1 in Canada
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1983 - Cale Yarborough Won the Daytona 500
Number: 28
Starting Position: 8th
Team: Ranier-Lundy
Car Manufacturer: Pontiac
1985 - Sot Chitalada (WBC Flyweight Champion) had a Check for $104,000 Stolen by a Ringside Pickpocketer
1986 - Orel Hershiser Won a $1 Million Dollars in Arbitration
1986 - Mike Tyson Sexually Assaulted a Woman in New York
1989 - Members of 1949 Oklahoma National Champion Football Team Canceled a Reunion
* Due to Bad Behavior From the Current Oklahoma Players
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In Other 80s News
(On February 20th)
1986 - The Soviet Union Launched the Mir Spacecraft That Remained in Orbit For 15 Years
* Occupied For 10 Years
1988 - Peter Kalikow Purchased the New York Post From Rupert Murdoch For $37.6 Million
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<- February 19th February 20th ->
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1982 - Pat Benatar Married Her Guitarist Neil Giraldo in Maui
* Still Married Today
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On February 20, 1983 Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500
President Reagan
Other Notable Dates
(Frebruary 20th)
1872 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Opened in New York City
* Currently Holds Over 2 Million Pictures
"Season's Change" Became the #1 Song in America
February 20th in 80s History
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1988 - "Seasons Change" by Expose Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from February 20 - 26
Also Hit #1 in Canada
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Daytona 500
#1 Songs in America
(January 20th)
1980 - "Do It To Me One More Time"
Captain & Tennille
2/16 - 2/22
1981 - "Celebration"
Kool and the Gang
2/7 - 2/20
1982 - "Centerfold"
J. Geils Band
2/6 - 3/19
1983 - "Baby, Come to Me"
Patti Auston and James Ingram
2/19 - 3/4
1984 - "Karma Chameleon"
Boy George
2/4 - 2/24
1985 - "Careless Whisper"
Wham!
2/16 - 3/8
1986 - "How Will I Know"
Whitney Houston
2/15 - 2/28
1987 - "Livin' on a Prayer"
Bon Jovi
2/14 - 3/13
1988 - "Seasons Change"
Expose
2/20 - 2/26
1989 - "Straight Up"
Paula Abdul
2/11 - 3/3
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1937 - Roger Penske (Auto Racing) Penske Corporation
1938 - Richard Beymar (Actor) 80s TV Star
1946 - Brenda Blethyn (Actress) Chance in a Million
1946 - Sandy Duncan (Actress) Hogan Family
1947 - Peter Strauss (Actor)
1948 - Jennifer O’Neill (Actress) Scanners
1954 - Jon Brant (Bassist) Cheap Trick
1963 - Charles Barkley (Basketball)
1963 - Ian Brown (Singer) Stone Roses
1964 - Willie Garson (Actor) Troop Beverly Hills
1966 - Cindy Crawford (Supermodel)
1967 - Lili Taylor (Actress) Say Anything…
Fun Fact!
Cindy Crawford Was Valedictorian of Her 1984 Graduating Class at DeKalb High School in DeKalb, Illinois
* Attended Northwestern For a Quarter Before Pursuing Modeling Full-Time
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1989 - Jane Wyman (Falcon Crest) Was Rushed to the Hospital After Suffering From Diabetes and a Liver Ailment
* Played Angela Channing
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On February 20, 1988 President Reagan Gave a Radio Address on the Federal Budget