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October 15, 1981

October 15, 1981, was a Thursday. It was 43 years and 18 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Libra.

On This Day

What happened on this day?

Notable events that occurred on October 15, 1981:

  • The Evil Dead (1981) is released.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 15, 1981:

  • United States: "Arthur's Theme" by Christopher Cross
  • United Kingdom: "It's My Party" by Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 15, 1981

These were the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
  • Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross
  • Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks With Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
  • Who's Crying Now - Journey
  • For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton
Play the top singles from 1981
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1981. Let us take you back to the peak days of Kim Wilde, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins and The Police.
Paternity

Top movie at the box office

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

Facts

This date occurred 15,724 days ago. Approximately 524 months have passed. It was the 288th day of 1981, in week 42. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on October 15, 1981, are now 43 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. We have gone through approximately 175 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to October 15, 1981

Ready for a walk down memory lane?

The date is October 15, 1981, and it's a Thursday. Anyone 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. In America, the song "Arthur's Theme" by Christopher Cross is at the top of the singles charts, while "It's My Party" by Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Paternity 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 "Dallas", "Trapper John, M.D.", "Hill Street Blues", and "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends". 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.

Because it's 1981, the radio stations are being dominated by artists such as Kim Carnes, Soft Cell, Phil Collins, John Lennon, Stars On 45, Diana Ross and Olivia Newton-John. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as William Holden, Natalie Wood, John Belushi, and Ayn Rand would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Lunar Lander", "Asteroids", "Pac-Man", and "Donkey Kong".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "Happy Days", "The All New Popeye Hour", and "Battle of the Planets". Children are playing with toys such as Dungeons & Dragons, Screwball Scramble, Intellivision (games console), and the Big Wheel (tricycle).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 15, 1981, will have the star sign Libra.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1981 was the year of the Rooster (Yin Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 8.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 15, 1981 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.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on October 15, 1981.

  • The AIDS epidemic begins.

    The AIDS epidemic begins

    The AIDS epidemic officially began in the middle of 1981, after the CDC reported that an unusual type of pneumonia had been discovered in five homosexual men in Los Angeles.
  • 1981 in music.

    1981 in music

    Popular music artists in 1981 included Kim Carnes, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Rick Springfield, Kool & the Gang, Hall & Oates, Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton and REO Speedwagon.
  • The Rubik's Cube.

    The Rubik's Cube

    The Rubik's Cube became a craze in 1981 and 1982. The toy was so popular that books on how to solve it regularly made it into the top ten selling books list.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1981?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1981?

    The best NBA players in 1981 were Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin and Dennis Johnson.
  • 1981 in movies.

    1981 in movies

    Movies released in 1981 included Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Superman II, Arthur, Stripes, The Cannonball Run, Chariots of Fire, For Your Eyes Only, The Four Seasons, Escape from New York, The Evil Dead, Mad Max 2, An American Werewolf in London and Time Bandits.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1981, the best soccer players were Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Paul Breitner, Bernd Schuster, Michel Platini, Oleg Blokhin, Dino Zoff, Ramaz Shengelia, Alexsandr Chivadze, Liam Brady and John Wark.
  • Chariots of Fire.

    Chariots of Fire

    "Chariots of Fire" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1981.
  • Lech Walesa.

    Lech Walesa

    The architect of the Gdansk Agreement, Lech Walesa, was named Time Person of the Year in 1981.
  • Kim Carnes - "Bette Davis Eyes"

    Kim Carnes - "Bette Davis Eyes"

    "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes won a Grammy for 1981's Song of the Year.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 15, 1981.

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 15, 1981.

  • September 15, 1981: Sandra Day O'Connor becomes the first female justice of the US Supreme Court.
  • September 16, 1981: The first episode of the stop motion TV series "Postman Pat" airs on BBC One.
  • September 17, 1981: Das Boot (1981) is released.
  • September 20, 1981: Golf: The United States wins the 1981 Ryder Cup at the Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England.
  • September 28, 1981:
    • Olivia Newton-John releases her single "Physical".
    • The first episode of the animated TV series "Danger Mouse" airs on ITV.
  • September 29, 1981: Legendary football manager Bill Shankly passes away after a heart attack.
  • October 6, 1981: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is assassinated by fundamentalist army officers.
  • October 8, 1981: The first episode of Cagney & Lacey is aired.
  • October 9, 1981: Capital punishment is officially abolished in France.
  • October 14, 1981: Hosni Mubarak becomes the fourth president of Egypt.
  • This date: October 15, 1981
  • October 26, 1981: Queen release their "Greatest Hits" album.
  • October 30, 1981: The film Halloween II (1981) is released.
  • October 31, 1981: American rock band Journey release their song "Don't Stop Believin'".
  • November 5, 1981: It is announced that Diana, Princess of Wales, is pregnant.
  • November 12, 1981: American actor William Holden dies following a fall at his apartment in Santa Monica, California.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on October 15, 1981

TV audiences were watching the following shows on October 15, 1981:

TV shows from October 1981.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Dynasty
Dynasty
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

Cars in 1981

1981 saw the introduction of cars such as the Chevrolet Cavalier, the DMC DeLorean, the Honda City, the Nissan Maxima, the BMW 5 Series (E28), and the Chevrolet Camaro (third generation).

Cars in 1981.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in October 1981

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

Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Postman Pat
Postman Pat

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

Toys in 1981

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

Fisher-Price Little People (Farm)
Fisher-Price Little People (Farm)
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1981.

Donkey Kong 1981
Donkey Kong
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 15, 1981?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1981.

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 15, 1987, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on October 15.

Tanya Roberts

Tanya Roberts

Actress Deceased
Born on October 15, 1949
She turned 32 on this day in 1981.

Tito Jackson

Tito Jackson

Musician Deceased
Born on October 15, 1953
He turned 28 on this day in 1981.

Dominic West

Dominic West

English actor
Born on October 15, 1969
He turned 12 on this day in 1981.

Andy Cole

Andy Cole

Soccer player
Born on October 15, 1971
He turned 10 on this day in 1981.

Mesut Özil

Mesut Özil

German soccer player
Born on October 15, 1988
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua

Boxer
Born on October 15, 1989
He was born exactly 8 years after this date.

Ncuti Gatwa

Ncuti Gatwa

Actor
Born on October 15, 1992
He was born exactly 11 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on October 15, 1981.

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 15, 1981 was most likely conceived around January 22, 1981.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 15, 1981 is close to July 8, 1982.

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Stats for October 15, 1981

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 15, 1981:

  • 15,724 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,246 weeks have passed.
  • 1,358,557,200 seconds have passed since October 15, 1981.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,584,983,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 701,015,515,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 226,426,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 116,835,919 steps. That's roughly 51,927 miles.
  • 16,302,686 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1981?

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