1987 - The Final Episode of Gimme a Break Aired
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 137
Network: NBC
Starring: Nell Carter
Fun Fact!
The Theme Song For Gimme a Break Was Sung Nell Carter
* Unfortunately She Passed Away in 2003 at Age 54 From Heart Disease and Diabetes
_______________________________
In Other News
(On May 12th)
1846 - The Donner Party Departed Missouri For California
* Become a Year-Long Journey of Hardship and Cannibalism
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
1984 - The Louisiana World Exposition Opened in New Orleans
* The 1984 World's Fair
1989 - The San Bernardino Train Disaster Killed 4 People
Headlines
(May 12th)
1982 - The Final Episode of The Incredible Hulk Aired
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 80
Starring: Bill Bixby, Jack Colvin and Lou Ferrigno
Network: CBS
Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk
1987 - The Final Episode of Hill Street Blues Aired
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 146
Network: NBC
Emmy Nominations: 98
Emmy Wins: 26
Won 4 Emmy Awards in a Row For Most Outstanding Drama From 1981 to 1984
May 12th in 80s History
_______________________________
_______________________________
1984 - "Hello" by Lionel Richie Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from May 12 - 25
Also Hit #1 in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Australia
The Final Episode of Hill Street Blues Aired
Happy 80s Birthdays
1948 - Steve Winwood (Singer)
Birthplace: Handsworth, Birmingham, England
1950 - Billy Squier (Singer)
Birthplace: Wellesley, Massachusetts
1951 - George Karl (Basketball)
Birthplace: Penn Hills, Pennsylvania
1957 - Lou Whitaker (Baseball)
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
1958 - Eric Singer (Drummer)
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
1962 - Emilio Estevez (Actor) The Breakfast Club
Birthplace: New York City
1962 - Brett Gurewitz (Guitarist) Bad Religion
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
1966 - Stephen Baldwin (Actor) Born on the 4th of July
Birthplace: Massapequa, New York
1968 - Tony Hawk (Skateboarder)
Birthplace: San Diego, California
1968 - Scott Schwartz (Actor) The Toy (Eric Bates)
Birthplace: Sacramento, California
1969 - Kim Fields (Actress) The Facts of Life
Birthplace: New York City
1970 - Jim Furyk (Golf)
Birthplace: West Chester, Pennsylvania
1971 - Jamie Luner (Actress) Just the Ten of Us, Melrose Place
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California
1973 - Mackenzie Astin (Actor) The Facts of Life
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Fun Fact!
Mackenzie Astin is Patty Duke’s Son and Sean Astin’s Brother
In 1984 Vanessa Williams Became the First African-American to Win Miss America
* Had the #1 Song in America “Save the Best for Last” in 1992
_______________________________
Other Notable Birthdays
Florence Nightingale (Italian-English Nurse)
May 12, 1820 - August 13, 1910
Birthplace: Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Passed Away Peacefully in Her Sleep at Age 90 in Her London Home
* Unknown Cause of Death
The Founder of Modern Medicine
Katharine Hepburn (Actress)
May 12, 1907 - June 29, 2003
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut
Passed Away Age 96 From Cardiac Arrest
* A Hollywood Leading Lady For 6 Decades
A 4x Academy Award Winner For Best Actress Winner
Morning Glory (1934)
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1968)
The Lion in Winter (1969)
On Golden Pond (1982)
Mary Kay Ash (American Businesswomen)
May 12, 1918 - November 22, 2001
Birthplace: Hot Wells, TX
Passed Away at Age 83
* Unknown Cause of Death
Founded Mary Kay Cosmetics in 1963 in Dallas, Texas
Yogi Berra (Baseball)
May 12, 1925 - September 22, 2015
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
Passed Away at Age 90 From Natural Causes
MLB Seasons: 19 (New York Yankees)
* Spent 1-Season With the Mets
Position: Catcher
All-Star: 18
AL MVP: 3 (1951, 1954, 1955)
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972
Fun Fact!
Yogi Berra Won a Major League Record 13 World Series Championships
George Carlin (Comedian)
May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008
Birthplace: New York City
Passed Away at Age 71 From Heart Failure
* Had Suffered 3 Heart Attacks (1978, 1982, 1991)
Regarded as the Most Influential Stand-Up Comedians of All-Time
_______________________________
Passed Away
(On This Day)
Robert Reed (Actor)
October 19, 1932 - May 12, 1992
Birthplace: Highland Park, Illinois
Passed Away at Age 59 From Colon Cancer
* Reed Was HIV Positive
Played Mike Brady On The Brady Bunch
_______________________________
80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1989 - Earth Girls Are Easy
Director: Julien Temple
Starring: Geena Davis, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans and Jeff Goldblum
Budget: $10 Million
Box Office: $3.9 Million
1989 - See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Director: Arthur Hill
Starring: Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder
Budget: $18 Million
Box Office: $46.9 Million
_______________________________
80s Television
(On This Day)
1982 - Final Episode of The Incredible Hulk
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 80 (Plus 5 TV Movies)
Network: CBS
Starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno
1984 - Billy Crystal, Ed Koch, Edwin Newman, Don Novello and Betty Thomas Hosted the Season 9 Finale of Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: The Cars
* The Final Episode For Robin Duke, Brad Hall, Tim Kazurinsky and Joe Piscopo as Cast Members
1986 - NBC Unveiled the New Peacock Logo During Its 60th Anniversary Special
1987 - Final Episode of Hill Street Blues
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 146
Network: NBC
Emmy Awards
Best Drama: 4
Best Actor: Daniel J. Travanti (1981, 1982)
Best Actress: Barbara Babcock (1981)
1987 - Final Episode of Gimme a Break
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 137
Network: NBC
1987 - Final Episode of The Tortellis
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 13
Network: NBC
Cheers Spinoff
1988 - Final Episode of Max Headroom
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 14
Network: ABC
_______________________________
80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1984 - Slades Greats (Compilation Album)
Slade
1986 - Sleight of Hand
Joan Armatrading (12th Album)
Billboard Charts: #70
1988 - Invisible Lanter
Screaming Trees (3rd Album)
1989 - Altars of Madness
Morbid Angel (Debut Album)
1989 - Dress (Remix Album)
TM Network
Singles Released
1980 - “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”
Billy Joel
#1 Song in America from July 19 - August 1
* Also Hit #1 in Canada
Over 2 Million Copies Sold in the US
_______________________________
80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - Kentucky Derby Winner Genuine Risk Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title: "THE LADY IS A CHAMP"
1981 - The Boston Celtics Beat the Houston Rockets 109 - 80 in Boston to Take a 3-2 Lead in the NBA Finals
1986 - Boston Red Sox Pitcher Roger Clemens Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title: "THE LORD OF THE K's"
1987 - Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher, Rick Honeycutt Pitched a Complete Game Shutout to Beat the Chicago Cubs 7 - 0 in Los Angeles
Attendance: 41,216
_______________________________
In Other 80s News
(On This Day)
1982 - Portugal Security Guards Were Able to Overpower Juan María Fernández y Krohn, Before He Could Attack Pope John Paul II With a Bayonet During a Procession Outside the Shrine of the Virgin Mary in Fátima
_______________________________
_______________________________
#1 Songs in America
(May 12th)
1980 - "Call Me"
Blondie
4/19 - 5/30
1981 - "Morning Train
Sheena Easton
5/2 - 5/17
1982 - "Chariots of Fire"
Vangelis
5/8 - 5/14
1983 - "Beat It"
Michael Jackson
4/30 - 5/20
1984 - "Hello"
Lionel Richie
5/12 - 5/25
1985 - "Crazy For You"
Madonna
5/11 - 5/17
1986 - "West End Girls"
Pet Shop Boys
5/10 - 5/16
1987 - "(I Just) Died in Your Arms"
Cutting Crew
5/2 - 5/15
1988 - "Wishing Well"
Terrence Trent D'Arby
5/7 - 5/13
1989 - "Like a Prayer"
Madonna
4/22 - 5/12
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards