Today in 80s history! What happened on March 23rd 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
Chaka Khan (Singer) - 73
March 23, 1953
In the 1980s, she ruled with classics like “Ain’t Nobody” with Rufus (1983) and her solo smash “I Feel for You” (1984). Originally written by Prince, “I Feel for You” became her biggest solo pop hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning her a 1985 Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. The track helped redefine 80s R&B with its blend of funk, pop, and hip-hop, featuring Melle Mel and Stevie Wonder.
Mark Rydell (Director, On Golden Pond) - 97
March 23, 1929
Ron Jaworski (Football Player) - 75
March 23, 1951
Kenneth Cole (Fashion Designer) - 72
March 23, 1954
Amanda Plummer (Actress, The World According to Garp) - 69
March 23, 1957
Catherine Keener (Actress) - 67
March 23, 1959
Richard Grieco (Actor, 21 Jump Street) - 61
March 23, 1965
Remembering
Joan Crawford (Actress)
March 23, 1908 - May 10, 1977 (Age 69)
Tony Burton (Actor, Rocky)
March 23, 1937 - February 25, 2016 (Age 78)
Ric Ocasek (Singer, The Cars)
March 23, 1944 - September 15, 2019 (Age 75)
Moses Malone (Basketball Player)
March 23, 1955 - September 13, 2015 (Age 60)
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on March 23rd
Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet
Rick Springfield
6th Album
Release Date: March 23, 1982
Billboard 200: #2
Featuring: “Don't Talk to Strangers”
Eliminator
ZZ Top
8th Album
Release Date: March 23, 1983
Billboard 200: #9
Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm
Joni Mitchell
13th Album
Release Date: March 23, 1988
Billboard 200: #45
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On March 23rd
Eddie Macon's Run (1983)
Release Date: March 23, 1983
Director: Jeff Kanew
Starring: Kirk Douglas, John Schneider, Lee Purcell and John Goodman
Budget: $5 Million
Box Office: $1.2 Million
Police Academy (1984)
Release Date: March 23, 1984
Director: Hugh Wilson
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, G. W. Bailey and George Gaynes
Budget: $4.8 Million
Box Office: $149.8 Million
Racing with the Moon (1984)
Release Date: March 23, 1984
Director: Richard Benjamin
Starring: Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGovern and Nicolas Cage
Budget: $6.5 Million
Box Office: $6 Million
TODAY IN 80S TV
Joanie Loves Chachi
Event: Series Premiere
Network: ABC
First Episode Date: March 23, 1982
Last Episode Date: May 24, 1983
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 17
Soul Train Music Awards
Event: 1st Annual Awards Show
Network: Syndicated
Date: March 23, 1987
Album of the Year - Male: Luther Vandross (Give Me the Reason)
Album of the Year - Female: Janet Jackson (Control)
Album of the Year - Group: Cameo (Word Up!)
The Bold and the Beautiful
Event: Series Premiere
Network: CBS
First Episode Date: March 23, 1987
Status: Still on the Air
HeartBeat
Event: Series Premiere
Network: ABC
First Episode Date: March 23, 1988
Last Episode Date: March 30, 1989
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 18
Starring: Kate Mulgrew
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1980 - Tracy Austin Wins the Avon Championships
Event: WTA Tour Championships Final
Details: Tracy Austin defeated Martina Navratilova 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 to win the title.
1980 - Lee Trevino Wins The Players Championship
Event: PGA Tour Victory
Details: Lee Trevino won by one stroke over Ben Crenshaw.
1981 - Raymond Floyd Wins The Players Championship
Event: PGA Tour Victory
Details: Raymond Floyd won in a sudden-death playoff over Barry Jaeckel and Curtis Strange.
TODAY IN 80S POP CULTURE
1983 - Reagan Announces Strategic Defense Initiative
Event: Presidential Address
Details: President Ronald Reagan introduced the missile defense plan later known as “Star Wars.”
