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December 16, 1980

December 16, 1980, was a Tuesday. It was 43 years, 11 months, and 5 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 16, 1980:

  • KFC founder Colonel Sanders passes away at the age of 90 after a short battle with leukemia.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 16, 1980:

  • United States: "Lady" by Kenny Rogers
  • United Kingdom: "Starting Over" by John Lennon

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 16, 1980

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Lady - Kenny Rogers
  • More Than I Can Say - Leo Sayer
  • Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
  • (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
  • Master Blaster (Jammin') - Stevie Wonder
Play the top songs 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.
Flash Gordon

Top movie

The movie "Flash Gordon" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date was 16,046 days ago. Approximately 535 months have passed. It was the 351st day of 1980, in week 51. The decade was the eighties. The end of 1980 was just 15 days away. People born on this day are currently 43 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 1980 had 366 days because it was a leap year. We have gone through approximately 178 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to December 16, 1980

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Tuesday, December 16, 1980. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The Christmas season of 1980 is in full swing. People are putting up their decorations and festive songs are playing on the radio.

In America, the song "Lady" by Kenny Rogers is at the top of the singles charts, while "Starting Over" by John Lennon is the number-one song in the UK. Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Flash Gordon 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. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Bob Marley, Terry Fox, Adam Walsh, and Bill Shankly would all still be alive.

On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Chips", "Taxi", "Knots Landing", and "Magnum, P.I.". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Space Invaders", "Lunar Lander", "Galaxian", and "Pac-Man". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The All New Popeye Hour", "Mork & Mindy", "Casper and the Angels", and "Thundarr the Barbarian".

Popular toys at the moment include the Easy-Bake Oven, Magna Doodle, Star Wars action figures, and the Big Wheel (tricycle).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 16, 1980, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • 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: December 16, 1980 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.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 16, 1980.

  • Christmas 1980.

    Christmas 1980

    The Christmas period of 1980 was in full swing by this stage. The decorations were up, festive music was playing on the radio, people were feeling stressed, retail stores were filled with shoppers, and everyone was making plans for the big day.
  • 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 December 16, 1980.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 16, 1980.

  • 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".
  • November 23, 1980: Over 2,000 people are killed after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake strikes the Irpinia region of Italy.
  • November 25, 1980: "No Más Fight": Sugar Ray Leonard defeats Roberto Durán after he turns around and quits in the 8th round.
  • December 2, 1980: Four American missionaries are raped and murdered by members of the El Salvador National Guard.
  • December 4, 1980: English rock band Led Zeppelin announce their break-up.
  • December 7, 1980: American punk singer Darby Crash commits suicide.
  • December 8, 1980:
    • Beatles legend John Lennon is shot and killed outside of his New York apartment.
    • The comic strip "Bloom County" is published for the first time.
  • December 12, 1980:
    • Stir Crazy (1980) is released in cinemas.
    • Technology company Apple makes its IPO on the US stock market at $22 per share.
  • This date: December 16, 1980
  • December 17, 1980: The comedy-action film Any Which Way You Can (1980), is released in cinemas.
  • December 18, 1980: The former Premier of the Soviet Union, Alexei Kosygin, passes away at the age of 76.
  • December 19, 1980: The film 9 to 5 (1980) is released in cinemas.
  • December 24, 1980: Britain's Roswell: Multiple witnesses report seeing strange lights near the RAF Woodbridge station in Suffolk, England.
  • January 2, 1981: Serial killer Peter Sutcliffe (The Yorkshire Ripper) is arrested.
  • January 8, 1981: UFO case: An unidentified flying object leaves physical evidence in a field outside of Trans-en-Provence in France.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 16, 1980

TV audiences were watching the following shows on December 16, 1980:

TV shows from December 1980.

Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
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

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 December 16, 1980

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

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

Popular toys and games in 1980

Toys and games that were popular in 1980:

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 December 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 December 16, 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 December 16, 1986, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 16.

Xander Berkeley

Xander Berkeley

Actor
Born on December 16, 1955
He turned 25 on this day in 1980.

Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks

Stand-up comedian Deceased
Born on December 16, 1961
He turned 19 on this day in 1980.

Michael McCary

Michael McCary

Boyz II Men
Born on December 16, 1971
He turned 9 on this day in 1980.

Brodie Lee

Brodie Lee

Wrestler Deceased
Born on December 16, 1979
He turned 1 on this day in 1980.

Mats Hummels

Mats Hummels

German soccer player
Born on December 16, 1988
He was born exactly 8 years after this date.

Kai Cenat

Kai Cenat

Streamer
Born on December 16, 2001
He was born exactly 21 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on December 16, 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 December 16, 1980 was most likely conceived around March 25, 1980.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 16, 1980 is close to September 8, 1981.

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Stats for December 16, 1980

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 16, 1980:

  • 16,046 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,292 weeks have passed.
  • 1,386,374,400 seconds have passed since December 16, 1980.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,617,436,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 715,369,190,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 231,062,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 119,228,198 steps. That's roughly 52,990 miles.
  • 16,636,493 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1980?

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