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December 20, 1987

December 20, 1987, was a Sunday. It was 36 years, 3 months, and 29 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Sagittarius.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on December 20, 1987:

  • 4,000 people are killed when the ferry "Doña Paz" sinks in the Philippines.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 20, 1987:

  • United States: "Faith" by George Michael
  • United Kingdom: "Always On My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 20, 1987

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Faith - George Michael
  • Is This Love - Whitesnake
  • So Emotional - Whitney Houston
  • Shake Your Love - Debbie Gibson
  • Got My Mind Set On You - George Harrison
Play the top songs from 1987
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1987. Let us bring you back to the days of Whitney Houston, U2, Rick Astley and Def Leppard!
Eddie Murphy Raw

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Eddie Murphy Raw".

Facts

This date was 13,270 days ago. Approximately 442 months have passed. It was the 354th day of 1987, in week 51. The decade was the eighties. The start of 1988 was just 11 days away. People born on this day are currently 36 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 147 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 20, 1987

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Sunday, December 20, 1987. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the days ahead.

Christmas Day of 1987 is fast approaching and the excitement is building. Department stores are packed with Christmas shoppers, and people are meeting up with friends that they haven't seen in a while. In America, the song "Faith" by George Michael is at the top of the singles charts, while "Always On My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Eddie Murphy Raw is at the top of the box office.

Margaret Thatcher is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 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 1987, the radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Los Lobos, Rick Astley, Whitney Houston, the Pet Shop Boys, Bon Jovi, U2 and Madonna.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Heather O'Rourke, Andy Gibb, Judith Barsi, and Anne Ramsey would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Magnum, P.I.", "Sherlock Holmes", "Murder, She Wrote", and "MacGyver". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Missile Command", "Boulder Dash", "Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar", and "Metroid".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "ThunderCats", "21 Jump Street", "Adventures of the Little Koala", and "Full House". Popular toys at the moment include Speak & Spell, Screwball Scramble, Pogo ball / Lolo ball, and Koosh Ball.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 20, 1987.

  • Christmas 1987 is days away.

    Christmas 1987 is days away

    Christmas 1987 was just days away. The decorations were up, festive music was playing on the radio, people were buying last-minute presents for their loved ones, and stores were packed with shoppers. Schools, colleges, and non-retail businesses were also beginning to close for the holiday season.
  • The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable.

    The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable

    A new elastic hair tie called the "scrunchie" became fashionable in the late 1980s.
  • 1987 in music.

    1987 in music

    Popular music artists in 1987 included The Bangles, Heart, Gregory Abbott, Whitney Houston, Starship, Robbie Nevil, Whitesnake, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, Bob Seger, U2, Los Lobos and Bon Jovi.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1987?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1987?

    The best NBA players in 1987 were Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Akeem Olajuwon, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird.
  • Late 1980s fashion.

    Late 1980s fashion

    The mini skirt became extremely popular. Shoulder pads became increasingly smaller. Popular clothing included reversible inside-out coats, bright-colored shoes with thin heels, berets, lacy gloves, rugby sweatshirts, sweater dresses, jumpsuits, capri leggings, bike shorts, and skirts worn with leggings. Colors included neon hues, plum, gold, and bright wines.
  • 1987 in movies.

    1987 in movies

    Movies released in 1987 included Beverly Hills Cop II, Fatal Attraction, The Untouchables, Three Men and a Baby, Lethal Weapon, Predator, RoboCop, Dirty Dancing, Hellraiser, Spaceballs, The Untouchables, The Princess Bride and Full Metal Jacket.
  • Best soccer players in the world.

    Best soccer players in the world

    In 1987, the best soccer players were Ruud Gullit, Diego Maradona, Paulo Futre, Emilio Butragueño, Míchel, Gary Lineker, John Barnes, Marco van Basten, Gianluca Vialli and Bryan Robson.
  • The Last Emperor.

    The Last Emperor

    "The Last Emperor" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1987.
  • Mikhail Gorbachev.

    Mikhail Gorbachev

    Mikhail Gorbachev was named Time Person of the Year in 1987 after he oversaw a number of political reforms in the Soviet Union.
  • Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram - "Somewhere Out There"

    Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram - "Somewhere Out There"

    "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram would go on to win a Grammy for 1987's Song of the Year.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 December 20, 1987.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 20, 1987.

  • November 21, 1987: Bruce Willis and Demi Moore are married.
  • November 25, 1987: 3 Men and a Baby (1987) is released in movie theaters.
  • November 28, 1987:
    • Mexican singer Victor Yturbe is shot and killed outside of his home in Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico.
    • 159 people are killed when South African Airways Flight 295 crashes into the Indian Ocean.
  • November 29, 1987:
    • Beaumont Hospital opens in Dublin.
    • 115 people are killed when Korean Air Flight 858 is blown up by North Korean agents.
  • December 1, 1987: American novelist James Baldwin passes away.
  • December 2, 1987: The song "It Must Have Been Love" is released by Roxette.
  • December 4, 1987: Pop star Madonna files for divorce from actor Sean Penn after two years of marriage.
  • December 8, 1987: US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announce that will be reducing the size of their nuclear arsenals.
  • December 9, 1987: Palestine: The First Intifada begins in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
  • December 11, 1987: The American drama film "Wall Street" is released in movie theaters.
  • December 16, 1987:
    • Soccer: Steve Bruce signs for Manchester United.
    • Pop star Madonna reverses her decision to divorce actor Sean Penn by withdrawing her divorce papers.
  • December 18, 1987: Final Fantasy is released on the NES.
  • This date: December 20, 1987
  • December 23, 1987: Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) is released.
  • December 29, 1987: Kylie Minogue releases the single "I Should Be So Lucky".
  • January 5, 1988: Former NBA player Pete Maravich dies from an undetected heart defect at the age of 40.
  • January 10, 1988: NFL legend Walter Payton plays his final game.
  • January 16, 1988: Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer murders 14-year-old James Edward Doxtator.
  • January 17, 1988:
    • The first episode of Australian soap opera Home and Away is aired.
    • "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" premieres on the Disney Channel.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 20, 1987, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1987 was the year of the Rabbit (Yin Fire).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 20, 1987 falls under the Owl.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of December will have the birthstones Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise.
  • Birth flower (December): The Narcissus and the Holly.

Late 1980s fashion

Photographs of late 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 20, 1987

People in December 1987 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from December 1987.

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Full House
Full House
My Two Dads
My Two Dads
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
Married... with Children
Married... with Children
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

Cars in 1987

1987 saw the introduction of cars such as the BMW 5 Series, the Cadillac Brougham, the Chevrolet Corsica, the Dodge Dynasty, the Mazda Étude, and the Mercury Tracer.

Cars in 1987.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on December 20, 1987

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1987:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Fireman Sam
Fireman Sam
Full House
Full House

DuckTales
DuckTales
BraveStarr
BraveStarr
Adventures of the Little Koala
Adventures of the Little Koala
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace
ALF
ALF
The New Adventures of Jonny Quest
The New Adventures of Jonny Quest
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1987

Toys and games that were popular in 1987:

Koosh Ball
Koosh Ball
Boglins (hand puppets)
Boglins (hand puppets)
Jenga
Jenga
Micro Machines
Micro Machines
Hot Looks (fashion model dolls)
Hot Looks (fashion model dolls)
Popples
Popples
Fluppy Dogs
Fluppy Dogs
Laser Tag
Laser Tag
The Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System
Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families
Mr Frosty
Mr Frosty
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1987.

Final Fantasy 1987
Final Fantasy
Mega Man 1987
Mega Man
Maniac Mansion
 1987
Maniac Mansion
Platoon 1987
Platoon
Top Gun 1987
Top Gun
Street Fighter 1987
Street Fighter
Metroid 1987
Metroid
Punch-Out!! 1987
Punch-Out!!
Double Dragon 1987
Double Dragon
Contra 1987
Contra
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 1987
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Paperboy 1986
Paperboy

Were you born on December 20, 1987?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1987.

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 December 20, 1993, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 20.

John Spencer

John Spencer

Actor Deceased
Born on December 20, 1946
He turned 41 on this day in 1987.

Paul Ritter

Paul Ritter

English actor Deceased
Born on December 20, 1966
He turned 21 on this day in 1987.

Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole

Soccer player
Born on December 20, 1980
He turned 7 on this day in 1987.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill

Actor
Born on December 20, 1983
He turned 4 on this day in 1987.

Lucy Pinder

Lucy Pinder

Model
Born on December 20, 1983
She turned 4 on this day in 1987.

Gia Allemand

Gia Allemand

Model and Reality TV star Deceased
Born on December 20, 1983
She turned 4 on this day in 1987.

JoJo

JoJo

Singer
Born on December 20, 1990
She was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Jorginho

Jorginho

Soccer player
Born on December 20, 1991
He was born exactly 4 years after this date.

Dylan Wang

Dylan Wang

Chinese actor
Born on December 20, 1998
He was born exactly 11 years after this date.

Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé

Soccer player
Born on December 20, 1998
He was born exactly 11 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on December 20, 1987.

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 December 20, 1987 was most likely conceived around March 29, 1987.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 20, 1987 is close to September 11, 1988.

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Stats for December 20, 1987

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 20, 1987:

  • 13,270 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,895 weeks have passed.
  • 1,146,524,400 seconds have passed since December 20, 1987.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,337,611,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 591,606,590,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 191,087,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 98,601,098 steps. That's roughly 43,823 miles.
  • 13,758,293 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1987?

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