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October 21, 1986

October 21, 1986, was a Tuesday. It was 37 years, 5 months, and 26 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Libra.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on October 21, 1986:

  • American writer Edward Tracy is kidnapped in Lebanon.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 21, 1986:

  • United States: "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper
  • United Kingdom: "Every Loser Wins" by Nick Berry

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 21, 1986

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • When I Think Of You - Janet Jackson
  • Typical Male - Tina Turner
  • True Colors - Cyndi Lauper
  • Throwing It All Away - Genesis
  • Heartbeat - Don Johnson
Play the top singles from 1986
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1986. Take a trip back to the days of Lionel Richie, Genesis, Bon Jovi, Berlin and Madonna.
Top Gun

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Top Gun".

Facts

This date occurred 13,692 days ago. Approximately 456 months have passed. It was the 294th day of 1986, in week 43. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on October 21, 1986, are now 37 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 152 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to October 21, 1986

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is October 21, 1986, and it's a Tuesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Libra. The summer is long gone. Temperatures have become much cooler, and the evenings are beginning to get darker.

There is a fresh, earthy scent in the air, and fallen leaves have carpeted driveways, lawns, pathways, and sidewalks. Halloween 1986 is quickly approaching and stores are selling costumes and decorations. In America, the song "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper is at the top of the singles charts, while "Every Loser Wins" by Nick Berry is the number-one song in the UK.

Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Top Gun 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 "Knots Landing", "Cheers", "Sherlock Holmes", and "Murder, She Wrote".

In fashion, women are wearing sweater dresses, short skirts, small shoulder pads, animal print, long full wool coats, and bulky sweaters. Meanwhile, men are wearing tracksuits, sweatshirts, Nike Air Jordan shoes, and denim. Because it's 1986, the radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Falco, Madonna, the Pet Shop Boys, Berlin, Whitney Houston, Dionne and Huey Lewis and the News. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Gia Carangi, Liberace, Andy Warhol, and Fred Astaire would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Missile Command", "Donkey Kong", "Duck Hunt", and "Boulder Dash". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Smurfs", "Postman Pat", "Inspector Gadget", and "The Real Ghostbusters". Children are playing with toys such as My Little Pony (figures), Pogo ball / Lolo ball, Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards), and Sylvanian Families.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on October 21, 1986.

  • People are buying waterbeds.

    People are buying waterbeds

    Waterbeds became a huge fad during the late 1980s. Although they were invented in the 1970s, they didn't reach their heyday until the 1980s. In 1986 and 1987, nearly a quarter of all beds sold were filled with water.
  • 1986 in music.

    1986 in music

    Popular music artists in 1986 included Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Klymaxx, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Survivor, Mr. Mister, Robert Palmer and Atlantic Starr.
  • VCRs have become a common household item.

    VCRs have become a common household item

    VCRs became a common household item in the mid-1980s. By that stage, prices had started to drop. This device gave people the ability to play VCR tapes and record TV programs and movies.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1986?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1986?

    The best NBA players in 1986 were Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Isiah Thomas.
  • 1986 in movies.

    1986 in movies

    Movies released in 1986 included Top Gun, Crocodile Dundee, Stand by Me, The Karate Kid Part II, Platoon, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, The Fly, Back to School, Aliens, The Golden Child, An American Tail, Ruthless People and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
  • Best soccer players in the world.

    Best soccer players in the world

    In 1986, the best soccer players were Igor Belanov, Diego Maradona, Gary Lineker, Emilio Butragueño, Manuel Amoros, Preben Elkjær Larsen, Ian Rush, Oleksandr Zavarov, Helmuth Duckadam, Marco van Basten and Alessandro Altobelli.
  • Platoon.

    Platoon

    The war film "Platoon" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1986.
  • Corazon Aquino.

    Corazon Aquino

    Corazon Aquino was named Time Person of the Year in 1986 for her role in the People Power Revolution in the Philippines.
  • Dionne Warwick - "That's What Friends Are For"

    Dionne Warwick - "That's What Friends Are For"

    "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick would go on to win a Grammy for 1986's Song of the Year.
  • The Nintendo Entertainment System.

    The Nintendo Entertainment System

    During the second half of the 1980s, the Nintendo Entertainment System became one of the most popular video game consoles in the world. Releases for the NES included Duck Hunt, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Bros.
  • Mid 1980s fashion.

    Mid 1980s fashion

    Strappy sandals, Keds, kitten-heeled sandals, and pumps were popular footwear in the mid-80s. Fashion became more colorful during this period. Popular clothing included long wool coats, long and bulky sweaters, jumpsuits, large scarves, beanies, leather gloves, long flared skirts, slim miniskirts, slightly tapered pants, and stirrup pants.
  • The Commodore 64.

    The Commodore 64

    The Commodore 64 was dominating the home computer market.
  • Iran-Iraq War.

    Iran-Iraq War

    Between September 1980 and August 1988, an armed conflict was being fought between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iraqi Republic.
  • 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.
  • 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 October 21, 1986.

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 October 21, 1986.

  • September 24, 1986: The Name of the Rose (1986) is released.
  • September 26, 1986: Crocodile Dundee (1986) is released in cinemas.
  • September 27, 1986: Metallica bassist Cliff Burton dies in a bus crash while on tour in Sweden.
  • September 29, 1986: Ireland: The first episode of The Den is aired.
  • October 9, 1986:
    • Retired Austrian film director Harald Reinl is stabbed to death by his wife in Tenerife.
    • The Phantom of the Opera premieres for the first time in London.
  • This date: October 21, 1986
  • October 23, 1986: 13-year-old Philip Cairns goes missing in Dublin, Ireland.
  • October 26, 1986: UK politics: Jeffrey Archer steps down as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party following newspaper reports that he tried to pay an escort to go abroad in order to avoid a scandal.
  • October 27, 1986: US President Ronald Reagan suspends construction of the US embassy in Moscow after listening devices are found in the building.
  • October 31, 1986: Dennis Rodman makes his NBA debut for the Detroit Pistons.
  • November 3, 1986: Iran-Contra affair: The Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa reports that the United States has been selling weapons to Iran in secret.
  • November 6, 1986: Football: Alex Ferguson is appointed as the manager of Manchester United.
  • November 15, 1986: The Beastie Boys release their debut studio album "Licensed to Ill".
  • November 18, 1986: American model Gia Carangi passes away due to AIDS-related complications.
  • November 20, 1986: Soccer: Vinnie Jones joins Wimbledon.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 21, 1986, will have the star sign Libra.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1986 was the year of the Tiger (Yang Fire).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 21, 1986 falls under the Raven.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of October will have the birthstones Tourmaline and Opal.
  • Birth flower (October): The Marigold and the Cosmos.

Mid-1980s fashion

Photographs of mid-1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Mid-1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in October 1986

People in October 1986 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from October 1986.

Matlock
Matlock
MacGyver
MacGyver
The Equalizer
The Equalizer
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls
Moonlighting
Moonlighting
Charles in Charge
Charles in Charge
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss?
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Transformers
The Transformers
Punky Brewster
Punky Brewster

Cars in 1986

1986 saw the introduction of cars such as the Acura Legend, the Ford Taurus, the Nissan Pintara, the Mercury Sable, the Dodge Shadow, the Cadillac Allanté, and the Ford Festiva.

Cars in 1986.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in October 1986

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

Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace
ALF
ALF
The New Adventures of Jonny Quest
The New Adventures of Jonny Quest

Pound Puppies
Pound Puppies
Popples
Popples
The Real Ghostbusters
The Real Ghostbusters
SilverHawks
SilverHawks
The Flintstone Kids
The Flintstone Kids
Pingu
Pingu
Jem and the Holograms
Jem and the Holograms
Growing Pains
Growing Pains
Toys

Toys in 1986

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

Popples
Popples
Fluppy Dogs
Fluppy Dogs
Laser Tag
Laser Tag
The Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System
Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy Ruxpin
Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families
Mr Frosty
Mr Frosty
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Pogo ball / Lolo ball
Pogo ball / Lolo ball
Transformers
Transformers
Pound Puppies
Pound Puppies
Turnin' Turbo Dashboard
Turnin' Turbo Dashboard
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1986.

The Legend of Zelda 1986
The Legend of Zelda
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Boulder Dash 1985
Boulder Dash
Tetris 1984
Tetris
Duck Hunt 1984
Duck Hunt
Mario Bros. 1983
Mario Bros.
Donkey Kong 1981
Donkey Kong
Missile Command 1980
Missile Command
Pac-Man 1980
Pac-Man
Asteroids 1979
Asteroids
Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders

Were you born on October 21, 1986?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1986.

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 October 21, 1992, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on October 21.

Judge Judy

Judge Judy

Judge / TV personality
Born on October 21, 1942
She turned 44 on this day in 1986.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister
Born on October 21, 1949
He turned 37 on this day in 1986.

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher

Actress Deceased
Born on October 21, 1956
She turned 30 on this day in 1986.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian

Television personality
Born on October 21, 1980
She turned 6 on this day in 1986.

Doja Cat

Doja Cat

Rapper and singer
Born on October 21, 1995
She was born exactly 9 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on October 21, 1986.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Garret FitzGerald was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on October 21, 1986 was most likely conceived around January 28, 1986.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 21, 1986 is close to July 14, 1987.

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Stats for October 21, 1986

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 21, 1986:

  • 13,692 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,956 weeks have passed.
  • 1,182,988,800 seconds have passed since October 21, 1986.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,380,153,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 610,422,220,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 197,164,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 101,737,037 steps. That's roughly 45,216 miles.
  • 14,195,866 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1986?

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