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
Birthplace: Camden, New Jersey
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
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
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
Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Passed Away at Age 87 in His Home From Natural Causes
* A 3x Indianapolis 500 Winner (1968, 1975, 1981)
Antonio Inoki (Japanese Wrestler)
February 20, 1943 - October 1, 2022
Birthplace: Yokohama, Empire of Japan
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
Birthplace: New York City
Passed Away at Age 71 From Natural Causes
* Founder of J. Geils Band
Best Known For the 1981 Song “Centerfold” and “Freeze Frame (1982)
Kurt Cobain (Singer)
February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994
Birthplace: Aberdeen, Washington
Passed Away at Age 27 From a Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound to the Head
* Suffered From a Heroin Addiction
The Lead Singer For Nirvana
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Dick York (Actor)
September 4, 1928 - February 20, 1992
Birthplace: Fort Wayne, IA
Passed Away at Age 63 From Emphysema
* Smoked 3 Packs of Cigarettes a Day
Best Known For Playing Darrin Stephens on the 70's TV Show, Bewitched
Gene Siskel (Film Critic)
January 26, 1946 - February 20, 1999
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Passed Away at Age 53 During Surgery to Remove a Cancerous Brain Tumor
* Best Known For the TV Show Siskel & Ebert at the Movies
Sandra Dee (Actress)
April 23, 1942 - February 20, 2005
Birthplace: Bayonne, New Jersey
Passed Away at Age 62 From Kidney Disease
* Began Her Career as a Child Model
Curt Gowdy (Sportscaster)
July 31, 1919 - February 20, 2006
Birthplace: Green River, Wyoming
Passed Away 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 This Day)
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
Happy 80s Birthdays
1937 - Roger Penske (Auto Racing) Penske Corporation
Birthplace: Shaker Heights, Ohio
1946 - Brenda Blethyn (Actress) Chance in a Million
Birthplace: Ramsgate, Kent, England
1946 - Sandy Duncan (Actress) Hogan Family
Birthplace: New London, Texas
1947 - Peter Strauss (Actor)
Birthplace: Croton-on-Hudson, New York
1948 - Jennifer O’Neill (Actress) Scanners
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1954 - Jon Brant (Bassist) Cheap Trick
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
1963 - Charles Barkley (Basketball)
Birthplace: Leeds, Alabama
1963 - Ian Brown (English Singer) Stone Roses
Birthplace: Warrington, England
1966 - Cindy Crawford (Supermodel)
Birthplace: DeKalb, Illinois
1967 - Lili Taylor (Actress) Say Anything…
Birthplace: Glencoe, Illinois
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
February 20th in 80s History
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1989 - Actress Jane Wyman (Falcon Crest) Was Rushed to the Hospital After Suffering From Diabetes and a Liver Ailment
* Would Eventually Recover
Fun Fact!
Jane Wyman Won an Academy Award For Her Role as Belinda MacDonald in the 1948 Film Johnny Belinda
* A 4x Academy Award Nominee
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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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#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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On February 20, 1988 President Reagan Gave a Radio Address on the Federal Budget
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Daytona 500