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October 23, 1980

October 23, 1980, was a Thursday. It was 43 years, 11 months, and 14 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Scorpio.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on October 23, 1980:

  • John Lennon releases his last single "(Just Like) Starting Over".
Song charts

Popular songs

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

  • United States: "Woman In Love" by Barbra Streisand
  • United Kingdom: "Woman In Love" by Barbra Streisand

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 23, 1980

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
  • Woman In Love - Barbra Streisand
  • Upside Down - Diana Ross
  • All Out Of Love - Air Supply
  • He's So Shy - The Pointer Sisters
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.
Private Benjamin

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Private Benjamin".

Facts

This date occurred 16,054 days ago. Approximately 535 months have passed. It was the 297th day of 1980, in week 43. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on October 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 October 23, 1980

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is October 23, 1980, and it's a Thursday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Scorpio. 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 1980 is quickly approaching and stores are selling costumes and decorations. The song "Woman In Love" by Barbra Streisand is at the top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Private Benjamin 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 "The Waltons", "The Love Boat", "Taxi", and "Archie Bunker's Place".

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. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Steve McQueen, John Lennon, Bob Marley, and Terry Fox would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Breakout", "Asteroids", "Galaxian", and "Missile Command". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "The Muppet Show", "Mork & Mindy", and "Diff'rent Strokes". Children are playing with toys such as Lite-Brite, Magna Doodle, Speak & Spell, and Monchhichi / Chicaboo.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

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

  • 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.
  • 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 October 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 October 23, 1980.

  • September 23, 1980: Bob Marley performs his last concert.
  • September 25, 1980: Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham passes away.
  • September 29, 1980: Kenny Rogers releases the song "Lady".
  • October 6, 1980: American geologist and planetary scientist Thomas A. Mutch goes missing during his descent from Mount Nun in the Kashmir Himalayas.
  • October 12, 1980: Actor Dustin Hoffman marries Lisa Jo Gottsegen.
  • October 13, 1980: Garda Seamus Quaid is shot dead by the IRA in County Wexford, Ireland.
  • This date: October 23, 1980
  • October 27, 1980:
    • T.Rex musician Steve Peregrin Took dies due to drugs misadventure.
    • English heavy metal band Motörhead release their song "Ace of Spades".
  • November 1, 1980: The now-discredited book "Michelle Remembers" is published. The book helps to kickstart the "Satanic Panic" of the 1980s.
  • November 3, 1980: Dolly Parton releases her song "9 to 5".
  • November 4, 1980: Ronald Reagan is elected as the President of the United States.
  • November 7, 1980:
    • 11-year-old Johan Asplund goes missing in Sundsvall, Sweden.
    • Actor Steve McQueen dies from a heart attack at the age of 50.
  • November 20, 1980: Former Australian Prime Minister John McEwen dies from self-imposed starvation at the age of 80.
  • November 21, 1980:
    • 85 people are killed when a fire breaks out at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
    • Roughly 90 million American viewers tune in to watch the Dallas episode "Who Done It".
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 23, 1980, will have the star sign Scorpio.
  • Zodiac Element: Water.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1980 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 23, 1980 falls under the Snake.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of October will have the birthstones Tourmaline and Opal.
  • Birth flower (October): The Marigold and the Cosmos.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in October 1980

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

TV shows from October 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

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 October 1980

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

Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian
Cockleshell Bay
Cockleshell Bay
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon

Casper and the Angels
Casper and the Angels
Rickety Rocket
Rickety Rocket
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
Toys

Toys in 1980

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

Space Lego
Space Lego
Fischer Price cassette player
Fischer Price cassette player
Monchhichi / Chicaboo
Monchhichi / Chicaboo
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)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1980.

Missile Command 1980
Missile Command
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 October 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 October 23, 1986, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Pele

Pele

Brazilian soccer player Deceased
Born on October 23, 1940
He turned 40 on this day in 1980.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al Yankovic

Singer
Born on October 23, 1959
He turned 21 on this day in 1980.

Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace

Television host
Born on October 23, 1959
She turned 21 on this day in 1980.

Robert Trujillo

Robert Trujillo

Metallica
Born on October 23, 1964
He turned 16 on this day in 1980.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds

Actor
Born on October 23, 1976
He turned 4 on this day in 1980.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke

Actress
Born on October 23, 1986
She was born exactly 6 years after this date.

Fabinho

Fabinho

Soccer player
Born on October 23, 1993
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Amandla Stenberg

Amandla Stenberg

Actress
Born on October 23, 1998
She was born exactly 18 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on October 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 October 23, 1980 was most likely conceived around January 31, 1980.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 23, 1980 is close to July 16, 1981.

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Stats for October 23, 1980

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 23, 1980:

  • 16,054 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,293 weeks have passed.
  • 1,387,065,600 seconds have passed since October 23, 1980.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,618,243,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 715,725,849,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 231,177,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 119,287,642 steps. That's roughly 53,017 miles.
  • 16,644,787 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1980?

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