Today in 80s history! What happened on April 3rd 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 65th birthday to Eddie Murphy, born April 3, 1961!
One of the biggest stars of the 80s, Murphy exploded onto the scene with Saturday Night Live before becoming a box office powerhouse. Here’s a look at his essential 80s run:
Movies:
• 48 Hrs. (1982) – Reggie Hammond
• Trading Places (1983) – Billy Ray Valentine
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984) – Axel Foley
• The Golden Child (1986) – Chandler Jarrell
• Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) – Axel Foley
• Coming to America (1988) – Prince Akeem / multiple roles
• Harlem Nights (1989) – Quick
Stand-Up Specials:
• Delirious (1983)
• Raw (1987)
TV Appearances:
• Saturday Night Live (1980–1984) – Various Characters
Wayne Newton (Singer) - 84
April 3, 1942
Tony Orlando (Singer) - 82
April 3, 1944
James “Bonecrusher” Smith (Boxer) - 73
April 3, 1953
Alec Baldwin (Actor, Beetlejuice) - 68
April 3, 1958
David Hyde Pierce (Actor, Frasier) - 67
April 3, 1959
Sebastian Bach (Singer, Skid Row) - 58
April 3, 1968
Remembering
Herb Caen (Columnist and Humorist)
April 3, 1916 - February 1, 1997 (Age 80)
Doris Day (Actress and Singer)
April 3, 1922 - May 13, 2019 (Age 97)
Lyle Alzado (Football Player)
April 3, 1949 - May 14, 1992 (Age 43)
Ray Combs (Game Show Host, Family Feud)
April 3, 1956 - June 2, 1996 (Age 40)
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on April 3rd
Wheels of Steel
Saxon
2nd Album
Release Date: April 3, 1980
UK Albums Chart: #5
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On April 3rd
Hardly Working (1981)
Release Date: April 3, 1981
Director: Jerry Lewis
Starring: Jerry Lewis, Susan Oliver and Deanna Lund
Budget: $3.4 Million
Box Office: $49 Million
Alamo Bay (1985)
Release Date: April 3, 1985
Director: Louis Malle
Starring: Amy Madigan, Ed Harris and Ho Nguyen
Budget: $5 Million
Box Office: $380,000
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)
Release Date: April 3, 1987
Director: Jim Drake
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, David Graf, Tim Kazurinsky, Sharon Stone, Marion Ramsey, Lance Kinsey, Leslie Easterbrook, Colleen Camp, G. W. Bailey, Bobcat Goldthwait and George Gaynes
Budget: $17 Million
Box Office: $76.8 Million
TODAY IN 80S TV
Barnaby Jones
Event: Series Finale
Network: CBS
Final Episode Date: April 3, 1980
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 178
Starring: Buddy Ebsen
Top Card
Event: Series Premiere
Network: TNN
First Episode Date: April 3, 1989
Last Episode Date: March 26, 1993
Seasons: 4
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1982 - Gil Perreault Records His 1,000th Career NHL Point
Event: NHL Milestone
Details: Buffalo Sabres star Gil Perreault reached 1,000 career points, becoming one of the league’s milestone scorers.
1983 - USC Wins the NCAA Women’s Championship
Event: NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship
Location: Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia
Details: USC defeated Louisiana Tech 69-67 to win the national title. Cheryl Miller was named Most Outstanding Player.
1985 - MLB Expands the League Championship Series
Event: Postseason Format Change
Details: Major League Baseball approved expanding the League Championship Series from best-of-five to best-of-seven beginning with the 1985 postseason.
1987 - Dennis Eckersley Is Traded to Oakland
Event: MLB Trade
Details: The Chicago Cubs traded Dennis Eckersley to the Oakland A’s. He later became one of baseball’s most dominant closers.
1988 - Louisiana Tech Wins the NCAA Women’s Championship
Event: NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship
Location: Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington
Details: Louisiana Tech defeated Auburn 56-54 to win the national title. Erica Westbrooks was named Most Outstanding Player.
1988 - Mario Lemieux Wins the NHL Scoring Title
Event: NHL Season Milestone
Details: Mario Lemieux ended Wayne Gretzky’s seven-year streak as the NHL scoring champion.
1989 - Michigan Wins the NCAA Championship
Event: NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
Location: Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
Details: Michigan defeated Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime. Glen Rice was named Most Outstanding Player.
1989 - Ken Griffey Jr. Makes His Major League Debut
Event: MLB Debut
Team: Seattle Mariners
Age: 19
Details: Griffey doubled off Dave Stewart in his first major league at-bat on Opening Day.
