Today in 80s history! What happened on April 15th in the 80s? Find out what happened today in 80s Movies, 80s Music, 80s TV Shows, and 80s Sports! Also find out about celebrity birthdays for the legends, icons and characters we grew up with in the 80s!
TODAY'S 80S BIRTHDAYS
🎂 Happy 67th birthday to Thomas F. Wilson, born April 15, 1959!
Best known for his unforgettable role as Biff Tannen in the Back to the Future trilogy, here’s a quick look at his 80s and early 90s run:
Movies:
• Back to the Future (1985) – Biff Tannen
• Back to the Future Part II (1989) – Biff Tannen / Griff Tannen
• Back to the Future Part III (1990) – Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen / Biff Tannen
TV Appearances:
• Knight Rider (1985) – Robert O’Brien
• Day by Day (1988) – Doug
Dave Edmunds (Singer and Guitarist) - 82
April 15, 1944
Emma Thompson (Actress) - 67
April 15, 1959
Linda Perry (Singer, 4 Non Blondes) - 61
April 15, 1965
Samantha Fox (Singer) - 60
April 15, 1966
Ed O'Brien (Guitarist, Radiohead) - 58
April 15, 1968
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on April 15th
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
Chaka Khan
3rd Album
Release Date: April 15, 1981
Billboard 200: #17
Top R&B Albums: #3
Featuring: "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me"
As the Band Turns
Atlantic Starr
6th Album
Release Date: April 15, 1985
Billboard 200: #17
Top R&B Albums: #3
Featuring: "Secret Lovers"
Singles Released
True
Spandau Ballet
Release Date: April 15, 1983
Details: The song later reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in the UK.
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On April 15th
Flashdance (1983)
Release Date: April 15, 1983
Director: Adrian Lyne
Starring: Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri
Budget: $7 Million
Box Office: $201.5 Million
Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
Release Date: April 15, 1983
Director: Steve Carver
Starring: Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera, Leon Isaac Kennedy and L. Q. Jones
Budget: $5 Million
Box Office: $12.2 Million
Colors (1988)
Release Date: April 15, 1988
Director: Dennis Hopper
Starring: Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, María Conchita Alonso and Don Cheadle
Budget: $10 Million
Box Office: $46.6 Million
Plain Clothes (1988)
Release Date: April 15, 1988
Director: Martha Coolidge
Starring: Arliss Howard, Suzy Amis and George Wendt
Box Office: $289,323
Return to Snowy River (1988)
Release Date: April 15, 1988
Director: Geoff Burrowes
Starring: Tom Burlinson, Sigrid Thornton and Brian Dennehy
Budget: A$8.7 Million
Box Office: $13.7 Million
TODAY IN 80S TV
The Paper Chase
Event: Showtime Premiere
Network: Showtime
First Episode Date: April 15, 1983
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 60
Note: The series originally ran on CBS before returning on Showtime.
Lady Blue
Event: Pilot Premiere
Network: ABC
Date: April 15, 1985
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 14
Note: The pilot aired on April 15, 1985, and the series run followed that fall.
Saturday Night Live
Event: Dolly Parton Hosts
Network: NBC
Date: April 15, 1989
Musical Guest: Dolly Parton
Note: This episode also featured the first "Sprockets" sketch.
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1984 - Ben Crenshaw Wins the Masters
Event: Masters Tournament
Location: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Details: Crenshaw won his first Masters title by two strokes.
1985 - Geoff Smith Wins the Boston Marathon
Event: Boston Marathon
Details: Geoff Smith won the men's race, and Lisa Rainsberger won the women's race.
1985 - Marvin Hagler Stops Thomas Hearns
Event: Undisputed Middleweight Title Fight
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Details: Hagler defeated Hearns by third-round TKO in one of boxing's most famous fights.
TODAY IN OTHER 80S NEWS
1983 - Tokyo Disneyland Opens
Event: Theme Park Milestone
Location: Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
Details: Tokyo Disneyland became the first Disney park built outside the United States.
