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May 23, 1980

May 23, 1980, was a Friday. It was 43 years, 9 months, and 27 days ago. The zodiac sign for this date is Gemini.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on May 23, 1980:

  • The Shining (1980) is released in cinemas.
  • NBA player Terry Furlow dies in a car accident in Linndale, Ohio.
Song charts

Popular songs

On May 23, 1980, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Call Me" by Blondie
  • United Kingdom: "What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 23, 1980

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Call Me - Blondie
  • Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross
  • Lost In Love - Air Supply
  • Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.
  • With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston & Syreeta
Play the top singles from 1980
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1980. Take a trip back to the days of Kool & The Gang, ABBA, Air Supply, Blondie and Queen.
Friday the 13th

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Friday the 13th".

Facts

This date occurred 16,006 days ago. Approximately 534 months have passed. It was the 144th day of 1980, in week 21. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on May 23, 1980, are now 43 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 1980 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. 178 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to May 23, 1980

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is May 23, 1980, and it's a Friday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Gemini. Many people have "that Friday feeling" and are looking forward to the weekend.

The summer of 1980 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual. The school year is nearly finished. In the United States, it is the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. As a result, many Americans are looking forward to attending barbecues, picnics, and other outdoor events. In America, the song "Call Me" by Blondie is at the top of the singles charts, while "What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan is the number-one song in the UK.

Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Friday the 13th is at the top of the box office. Margaret Thatcher is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Chips", "The Incredible Hulk", "Trapper John, M.D.", and "Knots Landing".

Because it's 1980, the radio stations are being dominated by artists such as Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, John Lennon, Lipps Inc, Diana Ross, Blondie and Kenny Rogers. In fashion, women are wearing jelly shoes, turtleneck sweaters, loose high-waist pants, crop tops, and puffer jackets lined with fur. Meanwhile, men have been ditching the disco look of the 1970s in favor of athletic clothing such as tracksuits and sports jerseys. The "preppy" look has also been making a comeback. In movie theaters, the film "The Empire Strikes Back" is being shown.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Dorothy Stratten, Steve McQueen, John Lennon, and Bob Marley would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Space Invaders", "Asteroids", "Galaxian", and "Pac-Man". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "The Bugs Bunny Show", "Sesame Street", "The Muppet Show", and "Battle of the Planets".

Children are playing with toys such as Lego Technic, Simon (memory game), the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, and the Big Wheel (tricycle).

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 23, 1980.

  • The Empire Strikes Back is released.

    The Empire Strikes Back is released

    "The Empire Strikes Back" was being shown in movie theaters at this time.
  • Ian Curtis commits suicide.

    Ian Curtis commits suicide

    On May 18th, 1980, Joy Division singer Ian Curtis committed suicide at the age of 23.
  • Fame is showing at movie theaters.

    Fame is showing at movie theaters

    The teen drama film "Fame" was playing at movie theaters at this time.
  • 1980 in music.

    1980 in music

    Popular music artists in 1980 included Blondie, Pink Floyd, Billy Joel, Olivia Newton-John, Michael Jackson, Captain & Tennille, Queen, Paul McCartney and Lipps Inc.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1980?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1980?

    The best NBA players in 1980 were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, George Gervin and Paul Westphal.
  • Early 1980s fashion.

    Early 1980s fashion

    The early 1980s saw a minimalist approach to fashion, with some trends carrying over from the late 1970s. Sweaters, fur-lined puffer jackets, tunics, ripped jeans, leotards, velour tracksuits, tube tops, knee-length skirts, high-waisted pants, and embroidered jeans were all popular. The colors during the early 1980s were subdued, quiet, and basic. Varying shades of brown, tan, and orange were in fashion.
  • 1980 in movies.

    1980 in movies

    Movies released in 1980 included The Empire Strikes Back, 9 to 5, Friday the 13th, Stir Crazy, Airplane!, Any Which Way You Can, Caddyshack, Private Benjamin, Coal Miner's Daughter, Smokey and the Bandit II, The Blue Lagoon, The Blues Brothers, The Shining and The Fog.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1980, the best soccer players were Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bernd Schuster, Michel Platini, Wilfried Van Moer, Jan Ceulemans, Horst Hrubesch, Herbert Prohaska, Hansi Müller, Liam Brady, Manfred Kaltz and Erwin Vandenbergh.
  • Ordinary People.

    Ordinary People

    The film "Ordinary People" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1980.
  • Ronald Reagan.

    Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan was named the Time Person of the Year in 1980 after he defeated incumbent President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 United States presidential election.
  • Christopher Cross - "Sailing"

    Christopher Cross - "Sailing"

    The song "Sailing" by Christopher Cross won a Grammy for 1980's Song of the Year.
  • Computers are replacing typewriters.

    Computers are replacing typewriters

    Desktop computers were beginning to replace typewriters in offices.
  • TV remotes.

    TV remotes

    Although TV remotes existed, many homes didn't have one. Infrared technology was still relatively new.
  • The Atari 2600.

    The Atari 2600

    The Atari 2600 was the dominant video game system.
  • The Iran hostage crisis.

    The Iran hostage crisis

    The Iran hostage crisis was ongoing. Between November 4th, 1979, and January 20th, 1981, 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran. The hostages were taken into captivity after a group of Iranian college students stormed the US embassy in Tehran.
  • The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981.

    The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981

    During this time, the Atlanta murders of 1979–1981 were taking place. At least 28 children and young adults were murdered before Wayne Williams was eventually arrested and convicted.
  • The Walkman.

    The Walkman

    In the late 1970s and 1980s, portable cassette players such as the "Sony Walkman" were becoming more common.
  • Wallpaper.

    Wallpaper

    Wallpaper was extremely common in people's homes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn't until the mid-late 1980s that "modernism" started to creep in.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 23, 1980.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around May 23, 1980.

  • April 24, 1980: Operation Eagle Claw: U.S. President Jimmy Carter aborts an attempt to rescue 52 hostages in Iran.
  • April 25, 1980: Dan-Air Flight 1008 crashes in Tenerife, killing 146 people.
  • April 26, 1980: 14-year-old Laureen Rahn goes missing from her apartment in Manchester, New Hampshire.
  • April 29, 1980: English film director Alfred Hitchcock passes away at the age of 80.
  • April 30, 1980: Six Iranian-born terrorists take over the Iranian embassy in London.
  • May 4, 1980: Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito dies.
  • May 9, 1980: Friday the 13th (1980) is released.
  • May 10, 1980: FA Cup 1980: West Ham win the FA Cup after a goal from Trevor Brooking helps them secure 1-0 victory over Arsenal.
  • May 14, 1980: 4 white police officers are found not guilty of killing a black insurance executive called Arthur McDuffie. Their acquittal sets off riots in Miami.
  • May 16, 1980:
    • The Los Angeles Lakers win the 1980 NBA Finals after they defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2.
    • The teen drama film "Fame" is released.
  • May 18, 1980:
    • The eruption of Mount St. Helens occurs.
    • Joy Division singer Ian Curtis hangs himself.
  • May 21, 1980: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is released.
  • This date: May 23, 1980
  • May 25, 1980: 13-year-old Philippe Pignot goes missing in La Morte in southeastern France.
  • May 26, 1980: 2,000 people are killed in South Korea when military forces clash with pro-democracy protesters.
  • May 27, 1980: American mobster Henry Hill agrees to become an informant.
  • May 28, 1980: Football: Nottingham Forest win the European Cup after defeating Hamburg 1-0.
  • June 1, 1980: CNN is launched.
  • June 3, 1980: A bomb explodes in the museum at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
  • June 9, 1980: Comedian Richard Pryor is badly burned while trying to freebase cocaine.
  • June 10, 1980: The President of United Airlines, Percy Woods, is injured by a bomb sent by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.
  • June 20, 1980: The Blues Brothers (1980) is released in cinemas.
  • June 22, 1980: A late 88th minute goal from Horst Hrubesch helps West Germany to seal a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the UEFA Euro 1980 Final.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 23, 1980, will have the star sign Gemini.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1980 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 23, 1980 falls under the Deer.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of May will have the birthstone Emerald.
  • Birth flower (May): The Lily of the Valley and the Hawthorn.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in May 1980

In May 1980, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from May 1980.

Knots Landing
Knots Landing
Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Hart to Hart
Hart to Hart
The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
Taxi
Taxi
Dallas
Dallas
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Chips
Chips
Soap
Soap
Eight Is Enough
Eight Is Enough
Three's Company
Three's Company
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Barney Miller
Barney Miller
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
Happy Days
Happy Days
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
The Waltons
The Waltons
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
Columbo
Columbo

Cars in 1980

1980 saw the introduction of cars such as the Audi Coupé, the Dodge Mirada, the North American variant of the Ford Escort, the Fiat Panda, the Nissan Leopard, and the Lincoln Town Car.

Cars in 1980.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in May 1980

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

Cockleshell Bay
Cockleshell Bay
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
Casper and the Angels
Casper and the Angels

Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Mork & Mindy
Mork & Mindy
Battle of the Planets
Battle of the Planets
The All New Popeye Hour
The All New Popeye Hour
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
Happy Days
Happy Days
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Toys

Toys in 1980

If you were a child on this date, then you may have had some of the following toys:

Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube
Strawberry Shortcake dolls
Strawberry Shortcake dolls
The Big Wheel (tricycle)
The Big Wheel (tricycle)
Intellivision (games console)
Intellivision (games console)
The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
Screwball Scramble
Screwball Scramble
Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids
Speak & Spell
Speak & Spell
Simon (memory game)
Simon (memory game)
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Water Ring Toss
Water Ring Toss
The Atari 2600
The Atari 2600
Star Wars action figures
Star Wars action figures
Lego Technic
Lego Technic
Micronauts
Micronauts
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Magna Doodle
Magna Doodle
Big Jim (action figure)
Big Jim (action figure)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Operation
Operation
The Easy-Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in May 1980.

Pac-Man 1980
Pac-Man
Galaxian 1980
Galaxian
Asteroids 1979
Asteroids
Lunar Lander 1979
Lunar Lander
Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Breakout 1976
Breakout

Were you born on May 23, 1980?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1980.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out May 23, 1986, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 23.

John Bardeen

John Bardeen

American physicist Deceased
Born on May 23, 1908
He turned 72 on this day in 1980.

Bill Barr

Bill Barr

US Attorney General
Born on May 23, 1950
He turned 30 on this day in 1980.

Drew Carey

Drew Carey

Actor
Born on May 23, 1958
He turned 22 on this day in 1980.

Melissa McBride

Melissa McBride

Actress
Born on May 23, 1965
She turned 15 on this day in 1980.

Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt

Wrestler Deceased
Born on May 23, 1987
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Aaron Donald

Aaron Donald

NFL player
Born on May 23, 1991
He was born exactly 11 years after this date.

James Charles

James Charles

Internet personality
Born on May 23, 1999
He was born exactly 19 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on May 23, 1980.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Charles Haughey was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on May 23, 1980 was most likely conceived around August 31, 1979.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 23, 1980 is close to February 13, 1981.

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Stats for May 23, 1980

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 23, 1980:

  • 16,006 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,286 weeks have passed.
  • 1,382,922,000 seconds have passed since May 23, 1980.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,613,409,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 713,587,752,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 230,487,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 118,931,292 steps. That's roughly 52,858 miles!
  • Since this date, 16,595,064 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1980?

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