Other Notable Birthdays
Vince McMahon Sr. (Wrestling Promoter)
July 6, 1914 - May 24, 1984
Passed Away at Age 69 (Unknown Cause)
The Founder of WWE
Fun Fact!
WWE Was Founded in 1953 as The Capitol Wrestling Corporation
WWWF: 1963 - 1979
WWF: 1979 - 2002
WWE: 2002 - Present
Nancy Reagan (Former First Lady)
July 6, 1921 - March 6, 2016
Passed Away at Age 94 From Heart Failure
The First Lady Lady From 1980 to 1988
* Led the D.A.R.E. Campaign, Just Say No To Drugs
Merv Griffin (Talk Show Host)
July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007
Passed Away at Age 82 From Prostate Cancer
The Host of The Merv Griffin Show
* Also the Creator of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune
Della Reese (Jazz and Gospel Singer)
July 6, 1931 - November 19, 2017
Passed Away at Age 86 (Unknown Cause)
Played Vera in the 1989 Film Harlem Nights
Ned Beatty (Actor)
July 6, 1937 - June 13, 2021
Passed Away at Age 83 From Natural Causes
Played Dean Martin in the 1985 Film Back to School
Also Otis in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980)
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Louis Armstrong (Trumpeter and Vocalist)
August 4, 1901 - July 6, 1971
Passed Away at Age 69 From a Heart Attack
Best Known For the Song “What a Wonderful World”
* Won a Grammy Award in 1965 For Hello, Dolly!
Roy Rogers (Actor and Singer)
November 5, 1911 - July 6, 1998
Passed Away at Age 86 From Heart Failure
Known as The "King of the Cowboys" in Hollywood
Buddy Ebsen (Actor)
April 2, 1908 - July 6, 2003
Passed Away at Age 95 From Respiratory Failure
Played Jed Clampett on the TV Series, The Beverly Hillbillies From 1962 to 1971
* Also Starred in Barnaby Jones From 1973 to 1980
James Caan (Actor)
March 26, 1940 - July 6, 2022
Passed Away at Age 82 From a Heart Attack Caused by Coronary Artery Disease
Nominated For an Academy Award For His Role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1983 - Class
Director: Lewis John Carlino
Starring: Rob Lowe, Jacqueline Bisset, Andrew McCarthey, Cliff Robertson, John Cuscak, Alan Ruck and Virginia Madsen
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $21.6 Million
Movie Debut for Andrew McCarthey, John Cuscak and Virginia Madsen
1988 - License to Drive
Director: Greg Meeman (Film Directing Debut)
Starring: Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Carol Kane, Richard Masur and Heather Graham
Budget: $8 Million
Box Office: $22.4 Million
Heather Graham's Film Debut
Fun Fact!
License to Drive Director, Greg Meeman is Best Known For Directing and Producing the TV Shows, Smallville and Heroes
1988 - Short Circuit 2
Director: Kenneth Johnson
Starring: Fisher Stevens, Michael McKean, Cynthia Gibb, Jack Weston and Tim Blaney
Budget: $15 Million
Box Office: $21.6 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
No 80s TV Premieres or Finales On This Day
Fun Fact!
Dynasty Was the Highest Rated TV Show in 1985
View The Highest Rated TV Shows From 1985
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1981 - Precious Time
Pat Benetar (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #1
Over 2 Million Copies Sold in the US
1984 - New Edition
New Edition (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #6
* 1 in R&B
Hit #1 in Ireland
Over 2 Million Copies Sold in the US
Featuring “Cool it Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man”
1984 - This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get
Public Image Ltd. (4th Album)
Billboard Charts: #56
1985 - Heart
Heart (8th Album)
Hit #1 on the US Billboard Charts
Over 5 Million Copies Sold in the US
* Featuring “What About Love”
1986 - QR III
Quiet Riot (5th Album)
Billboard Charts: #31
1987 - Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen (5th Album)
Billboard Charts: #51
1987 - In the Dark
The Grateful Dead (12th Album)
Billboard Charts: #6
1987 - Live in Australia (With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
Elton John
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1983 - Fred Lynn (California Angels) Hit the First Grand Slam in All-Star History
Pitcher: Atlee Hammaker (Giants)
* The AL Beat the NL 13 - 3 at Comiskey Park in Chicago
Attendance: 43,801
MVP: Fred Lynn
1985 - The First NWA Great American Bash Took Place in Charlotte, NC
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium
1985 - Martina Navratilova Won Wimbledon
Runner Up: Chris Evert
Match: 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
1986 - Boris Becker Won the 100th Wimbledon
Runner Up: Ivan Lendl
Match: 6-4, 6-3, 7-5
1986 - Atlanta Braves First Baseman Bob Horner Hit 4 Home Runs Against the Montreal Expos
* The Braves Beat the Expos 11 - 8 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on a Sunday Afternoon
Attendance: 18,153
1986 - Davis Phinney Became the First American Cyclist to Win a Stage at the Tour de France
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In Other 80s News
(On This Day)
1988 - 167 Oil Workers Were Killed in an Explosion on The Piper Alpha Drilling Platform in the North Sea
* World's Worst Offshore Oil Disaster
#1 Songs in America
(July 6th)
1980 - "Coming Up"
Paul McCartney
6/28 - 7/18
1981 - "Bette Davis Eyes"
Kim Carnes
6/27 - 7/24
1982 - "Don't You Want Me"
The Human League
7/3 - 7/23
1983 - "Flashdance... What a Feeling"
Michael Sembello
5/28 - 7/8
1984 - "The Reflex"
Duran Duran
6/23 - 7/6
1985 - "Sussudio"
Phil Collins
7/6 - 7/12
1986 - "There'll Be Sad Songs"
Billy Ocean
7/5 - 7/11
1987 - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
Whitney Houston
6/27 - 7/10
1988 - "Dirty Diana"
Michael Jackson
7/2 - 7/8
1989 - “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” Milli Vanilli
7/1 - 7/7
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
1986 - Boris Becker Defeated Ivan Lendl 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 to Win the 100th Wimbledon
1985 - "Sussudio" by Phil Collins Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from July 6 - 12
1986 - Bob Horner (Atlanta Braves) Hit 4 Home Runs Against the Montreal Expos
* The Only Player to Hit 4 Home Runs in a Game During the 80s
Did You Know?
In 1894, Bobby Lowe of the Boston Beaneaters Became the First Player to Hit 4 Home Run in a Game
Opponent: Cincinnati Reds
Lowe Finished His Career With 71 Home Runs in 18 Seasons
* Played Every Position, But Primarily a 2nd Baseman
Other Notable Dates
(On July 6th)
1854 - The First Convention of the United States Republican Party Was Held in Jackson, Michigan
1885 - The First Successful Rabies Shot Was Given by Louis Pasteur to Joseph Meister
* Joseph Meister Was a Boy Bitten by a Rabid Dog
1933 - The First Major League Baseball All-Star Game Was Played
* The American League Beat the National League 4 - 2 at Comiskey Park in Chicago
Babe Ruth Hit the First All-Star Home Run
1944 - Jackie Robinson Was Court Martialed For Not Moving to the Back of the Bus
1957 - Althea Gibson Became the First Black Tennis Player to Win Wimbledon
* Defeated Darlene Hard 6-3, 6-2
1957 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney Met for the First Time 3 Years Before Forming the Beatles
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"Sussudio" Became the #1 Song in America
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Headlines
(July 6th)
1983 - Fred Lynn (California Angels) Hit the First Grand Slam in All-Star History
Pitcher: Atlee Hammaker (San Francisco Giants)
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1946 - Sylvester Stallone (Actor) Rocky
1949 - Michael Shrieve (Drummer) Santana
1954 - Willie Randolph (Baseball)
1954 - Allyce Beasley (Actress) Moonlighting
1958 - Jennifer Saunders (Comedian)
Fun Fact!
Allyce Beasley, is the Safety Video Announcer on The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida
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July 6th in 80s History
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