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May 26th, 1980

May 26th, 1980, was a Monday. It was Day 147 of 1980. The decade was the Eighties.

43 years and 12 days have passed since May 26th, 1980.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Gemini.

On This Day

Events that occurred.

Notable events that occurred on May 26th, 1980.

  • 2,000 people are killed in South Korea when military forces clash with pro-democracy protesters.
Song charts

Popular songs.

On May 26th, 1980, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK.

  • United States: Funky Town - Lipps Inc.
  • United Kingdom: Suicide Is Painless - MASH

The record charts on May 26th, 1980.

The following singles were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Call Me - Blondie
  • Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.
  • Lost In Love - Air Supply
  • Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer - Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes
  • Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
Play the top hits 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 date was "Friday the 13th".

Take me back to May 26th, 1980!

Let's go back in time!

The date is May 26th, 1980, and it's a Monday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Gemini. The weekend has just passed, so some people are feeling a bit down. Others are tired after partying too much.

The summer of 1980 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual. It is Memorial Day in the United States, which means that summer has unofficially begun. In America, the song Funky Town by Lipps Inc. is at the top of the singles charts.

Over in the UK, Suicide Is Painless by MASH is the number-one hit song. 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.

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. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "M*A*S*H", "Barney Miller", "Quincy, M.E.", and "WKRP in Cincinnati". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Space Invaders", "Lunar Lander", "Asteroids", and "Galaxian".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids", "Happy Days", "The Muppet Show", and "Mork & Mindy". Popular toys at the moment include Micronauts, Star Wars action figures, Water Ring Toss, and Rubik's Cube.

News

News topics, nostalgic fads, and pop culture events.

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 26th, 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.

Information

Facts.

Basic facts and information about this date:

  • 43 years and 12 days have passed since May 26th, 1980.
  • Week Number: This date occurred during Week 22 of 1980.
  • Leap Year: 1980 was a leap year, which means that it contained 366 days instead of 365 (with an extra day in February).
  • Age: People born on May 26th, 1980, are now 43 years old.
  • Generation: People born in 1980 belong to the Generation Y (Millennial) generation.
  • Unix Timestamp: The Unix Timestamp for this date is 328143600.

Personality traits.

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 26th, 1980.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

Around this time.

Notable events that happened close to May 26th, 1980.

  • April 26th, 1980: 14-year-old Laureen Rahn goes missing from her apartment in Manchester, New Hampshire.
  • April 29th, 1980: English film director Alfred Hitchcock passes away at the age of 80.
  • April 30th, 1980: Six Iranian-born terrorists take over the Iranian embassy in London.
  • May 4th, 1980: Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito dies.
  • May 9th, 1980: Friday the 13th (1980) is released.
  • May 10th, 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 14th, 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 16th, 1980: The Los Angeles Lakers win the 1980 NBA Finals after they defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2.
  • May 16th, 1980: The teen drama film "Fame" is released.
  • May 18th, 1980: The eruption of Mount St. Helens occurs.
  • May 18th, 1980: Joy Division singer Ian Curtis hangs himself.
  • May 21st, 1980: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is released.
  • May 23rd, 1980: The Shining (1980) is released in cinemas.
  • May 23rd, 1980: NBA player Terry Furlow dies in a car accident in Linndale, Ohio.
  • May 25th, 1980: 13-year-old Philippe Pignot goes missing in La Morte in southeastern France.
  • This date: May 26th, 1980
  • May 27th, 1980: American mobster Henry Hill agrees to become an informant.
  • May 28th, 1980: Football: Nottingham Forest win the European Cup after defeating Hamburg 1-0.
  • June 1st, 1980: CNN is launched.
  • June 3rd, 1980: A bomb explodes in the museum at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
  • June 9th, 1980: Comedian Richard Pryor is badly burned while trying to freebase cocaine.
  • June 10th, 1980: The President of United Airlines, Percy Woods, is injured by a bomb sent by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.
  • June 20th, 1980: The Blues Brothers (1980) is released in cinemas.
  • June 22nd, 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

Horoscope, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Zodiac and birthstone information.

NEW! Check out our personality summary image for this birth date.

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 26th, 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 22.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 26th, 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.

Photos of early 1980s fashion.

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Photos of early 1980s fashion.

Television shows

TV shows in 1980.

Television shows that people were watching in May 1980.

TV shows from May, 1980.

Knots Landing
Knots Landing
American soap opera.

Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place
Sitcom starring Carroll O'Connor.

Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Medical drama.

Hart to Hart
Hart to Hart
TV show about a couple who moonlight as detectives.

The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life
Sitcom about a girls boarding school in Peekskill, New York. Starring Charlotte Rae as housemother Edna Garrett.

The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
American television series.

WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
Sitcom about staff members who work at a radio station in Cincinnati.

Taxi
Taxi
American sitcom starring Andy Kaufman and Danny DeVito.

Dallas
Dallas
Soap opera.

The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
Starring Lou Ferrigno.

The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Television series that was set on a cruise ship. Starring Gavin MacLeod as Captain Merrill Stubing.

Chips
Chips
TV show about two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers called Jon Baker and Frank "Ponch" Poncherello.

Soap
Soap
Comedy series / satire about soap operas. Starring Billy Crystal as Jodie Dallas.

Eight Is Enough
Eight Is Enough
Television series about the "Bradford brood" and their father.

Three's Company
Three's Company
Sitcom about two girls and their male room mate.

Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
TV show about a Los Angeles County medical examiner called Dr. Quincy.

Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
TV show about three female police academy-trained private detectives.

Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Series about two roommates called Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney.

Barney Miller
Barney Miller
Sitcom about a police station in New York City. Starring Hal Linden as Captain Bernard "Barney" Miller.

The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
TV show about an African- American couple that have moved into an upscale high-rise building.

Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
TV show that was set in the 1870s.

Happy Days
Happy Days
TV show that is set in the 1950s / 1960s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
British sitcom about three senior citizens in the Yorkshire Dales.

M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
TV series about an American military medical unit during the Korean War.

The Waltons
The Waltons
TV series about a family living in rural Virginia during the Great Depression.

The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
British comedy sketch show starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett.

Columbo
Columbo
Crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as 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

Kids' TV shows on May 26th, 1980.

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1980.

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

Popular toys and games in 1980.

Toys and games that were popular on this date in 1980.

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 of 1980.

Pac-Man 1980
Pac-Man
Maze arcade game.

Galaxian 1980
Galaxian
Fixed shooter arcade game.

Asteroids 1979
Asteroids
Space-themed shooter arcade game.

Lunar Lander 1979
Lunar Lander
In which the player controls a lunar landing module.

Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Shooter arcade game.

Breakout 1976
Breakout
Arcade game published by Atari.

Were you born on this date?

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 26th, 1986, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays.

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 26th.

John Wayne

Actor. Deceased
Born on May 26th, 1907
He was not alive on this date.

Miles Davis

Musician. Deceased
Born on May 26th, 1926
He turned 54 on this day in 1980.

Jeremy Corbyn

British politician.
Born on May 26th, 1949
He turned 31 on this day in 1980.

Lenny Kravitz

Singer.
Born on May 26th, 1964
He turned 16 on this day in 1980.

Ashley Massaro

Wrestler. Deceased
Born on May 26th, 1979
She turned 1 on this day in 1980.

Aaron Chalmers

TV personality.
Born on May 26th, 1987
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays.

National holidays and famous events that fall on the 26th of May.

  • Spring Bank Holiday (UK)
  • Memorial Day (USA)
USA

US President.

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on May 26th, 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.

Post a comment about this date.

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Stats for May 26th, 1980

Time difference & statistics.

Here are some fun statistics about May 26th, 1980.

  • A total of 15,717 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,245 weeks have passed.
  • 1,357,948,800 seconds have passed since the May 26th, 1980.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beated approximately 1,584,273,600 times.
  • Since May 26th, 1980, the Earth has travelled approximately 700,701,580,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 226,324,800 times.
  • If you were born on this day, you have taken approximately 116,783,597 steps. That's about 51,904 miles!
  • Since this date, 16,295,386 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1980?

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