Today in 80s history! What happened on March 6th 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
David Gilmour (Guitarist, Pink Floyd) — 80 March 6, 1946
Martin Kove (Actor, The Karate Kid - John Kreese) — 79 or 80 (birth year varies by source) March 6, 1946 or 1947
Kiki Dee (Singer) — 79 March 6, 1947
Anna Maria Horsford (Actress, Amen) — 78 March 6, 1948
Sleepy Floyd (Basketball Player) — 66 March 6, 1960
Andrea Elson (Actress, ALF) — 57 March 6, 1969
Passed Away
Rob Reiner (Actor and Director, All in the Family - “Meathead”) Born: March 6, 1947 Died: December 14, 2025 (age 78)
Ed McMahon (TV Personality) Born: March 6, 1923 Died: June 23, 2009 (age 86)
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
March 6, 1982: The Go-Go’s Hit #1 with Beauty and the Beat
On March 6, 1982, the Go-Go’s debut album Beauty and the Beat reached #1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the most popular album in America.
Released on July 14, 1981, the album steadily climbed the charts for more than seven months before finally taking the top spot. Once it reached #1, Beauty and the Beat stayed there for six consecutive weeks, powered by hit singles like “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat.”
The achievement was historic. The Go-Go’s became the first all-female band that wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album chart.
The album would go on to sell over two million copies in the United States and remains one of the defining pop records of the early 1980s.
Release Date: July 14, 1981 Reached #1: March 6, 1982 Weeks at #1: 6 Notable Singles: “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation” (later album-era hit)
This is the only Dream Theater album to be recorded with their full original lineup.
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On March 6th
The Devil and Max Devlin (1981)
Director: Steven Hilliard Stern Starring: Elliott Gould, Bill Cosby and Susan Anspach Budget: $9 Million Box Office: $16 Million
Maniac (1981)
Director: William Lustig Starring: Joe Spinell and Caroline Munro Budget: $350,000 Box Office: $10 Million
On the Right Track (1981)
Director: Lee Phillips Starring: Gary Coleman and Norman Fell Budget: N/A Box Office: $5.9 Million
All Night Long (1981)
Director: Jean-Claude Tramont Starring: Barbra Streisand, Gene Hackman, Diane Ladd, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Dobson and William Daniels Budget: $15 Million Box Office: $4.4 Million
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Director: Richard Donner Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Gary Busey Budget: $15 Million Box Office: $120.2 Million ($65 Million Domestic)
Tin Men (1987)
Director: Barry Levinson Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito and Barbara Hershey Budget: $11 Million Box Office: $25.4 Million
Angel Heart (1987)
Director: Alan Parker Starring: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro and Lisa Bonet Budget: $17 Million Box Office: $17.1 Million
Event: Walter Cronkite Resigns as Anchorman Network: CBS
Date: March 6, 1981
Details: After 19 years as anchor of the CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite stepped down and was succeeded by Dan Rather.
Chicago Story
Event: Series Premiere Network: NBC First Episode Date: March 6, 1982 Last Episode Date: June 5, 1982 Seasons: 1 Episodes: 13
Country Music Television (CMT)
Event: Network Launch
Launch Date: March 6, 1983
Details: Country Music Television (CMT) launched as the first cable network dedicated entirely to country music videos and programming.
a.k.a. Pablo
Event: Series Premiere Network: ABC First Episode Date: March 6, 1984 Last Episode Date: April 24, 1984 Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Starring: Paul Rodriguez
In the Heat of the Night
Event: Series Premiere Network: NBC First Episode Date: March 6, 1988 Last Episode Date: May 16, 1995 Seasons: 7 Episodes: 142 (plus 4 TV movies)
Notable Achievement: Carroll O’Connor won the 1989 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Chief Bill Gillespie.
Details: The United States Football League (USFL) began its first season on March 6, 1983, launching a spring professional football league to compete with the NFL.
Fun Fact: The league opened with five games on opening day.
1985 - Enos Slaughter and Arky Vaughan Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Event: Hall of Fame Election (Veterans Committee)
Details: Enos Slaughter and Arky Vaughan were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee as part of the Class of 1985.
Fun Fact: Vaughan was one of the greatest shortstops of the 1930s and 1940s, while Slaughter was famous for his “Mad Dash” run in the 1946 World Series.
1985 - Mike Tyson Wins by First-Round TKO in Pro Debut
Event: Professional Boxing Debut Opponent: Hector Mercedes Result: TKO (Round 1)
Details: Mike Tyson won his first professional fight with a first-round technical knockout of Hector Mercedes in Albany, New York.
Fun Fact: Tyson would go on to become the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history in 1986 at age 20.
1988 - Julie Krone Becomes the Winningest Female Jockey
Event: Horse Racing Milestone Location: Aqueduct Racetrack
Details: Julie Krone earned her 1,205th career win, becoming the winningest woman jockey in horse racing history at the time.
Fun Fact: Krone later became the first woman to win a Triple Crown race, capturing the Belmont Stakes in 1993.
1984 - Dale Hawerchuk Sets an NHL Record with Five Assists in One Period
Event: NHL Record Team: Winnipeg Jets
Details: Dale Hawerchuk recorded five assists in one period during a 7–3 win over the Los Angeles Kings, setting an NHL record for most assists in a single period.
Fun Fact: The record for five assists in one period still stands in NHL history
TODAY IN 80S POP CULTURE
1986 - Death of Georgia O’Keeffe
Known For: Major American modernist painter Age: 98
Details: Georgia O’Keeffe died in Santa Fe, New Mexico on March 6, 1986.
