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October 17, 1983

October 17, 1983, was a Monday. It was 41 years, 1 month, and 4 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Libra.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on October 17, 1983:

  • The first episode of the tabloid talk show "The Sally Jessy Raphael Show" is aired on TV.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 17, 1983:

  • United States: "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" by Bonnie Tyler
  • United Kingdom: "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 17, 1983

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
  • Making Love Out Of Nothing At All - Air Supply
  • King Of Pain - The Police
  • True - Spandau Ballet
  • Islands In The Stream - Kenny Rogers Duet With Dolly Parton
Play the top singles from 1983
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1983. Take a trip back to the days of Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, the Police, Elton John and Phil Collins.
The Big Chill

Top movie

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

Facts

This date occurred 15,011 days ago. Approximately 500 months have passed. It was the 290th day of 1983, in week 42. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on October 17, 1983, are now 41 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. We have gone through approximately 167 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to October 17, 1983

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is October 17, 1983, and it's a Monday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Libra. The weekend has just passed, so some people are feeling a bit down. Others are tired after partying too much.

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 "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" by Bonnie Tyler is at the top of the singles charts, while "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club is the number-one song in the UK.

Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie The Big Chill 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 "Columbo", "The Facts of Life", "Knots Landing", and "Family Ties".

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 1983, the radio stations are being dominated by artists such as Culture Club, Michael Jackson, Irene Cara, David Bowie and The Police. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Marvin Gaye, Andy Kaufman, and Truman Capote would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Space Invaders", "Galaxian", "Donkey Kong", and "Mario Bros.". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids", "Diff'rent Strokes", "Danger Mouse", and "Alvin and the Chipmunks". Children are playing with toys such as Screwball Scramble, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, Monchhichi / Chicaboo, and Fisher-Price Little People (Farm).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 17, 1983, will have the star sign Libra.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1983 was the year of the .
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 17, 1983 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 17, 1983.

  • 1983 in music.

    1983 in music

    Popular music artists in 1983 included The Police, Michael Jackson, Irene Cara, Men at Work, Bonnie Tyler, Hall & Oates, Michael Sembello, Eurythmics, Culture Club and Dexys Midnight Runners.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1983?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1983?

    The best NBA players in 1983 were Moses Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Sidney Moncrief and Julius Erving.
  • 1983 in movies.

    1983 in movies

    Movies released in 1983 included Return of the Jedi, Terms of Endearment, Flashdance, Trading Places, National Lampoon's Vacation, WarGames, Scarface, Octopussy, Sudden Impact, Staying Alive, Mr. Mom and Risky Business.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1983, the best soccer players were Michel Platini, Kenny Dalglish, Allan Simonsen, Gordon Strachan, Felix Magath, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Rinat Dasayev, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Jesper Olsen, Bryan Robson and Fernando Gomes.
  • Terms of Endearment.

    Terms of Endearment

    "Terms of Endearment" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1983.
  • Time Person of the Year: 1983.

    Time Person of the Year: 1983

    Ronald Reagan and Yuri Andropov were both named Time Person of the Year in 1983.
  • The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

    The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

    "Every Breath You Take" by The Police went on to win a Grammy for 1983's Song of the Year.
  • The Commodore 64.

    The Commodore 64

    The Commodore 64 was dominating the home computer market.
  • Leg warmers.

    Leg warmers

    Wearing leg warmers was a popular fad during this period. The trend was popularized by movies such as Fame and Flashdance.
  • VCRs are becoming popular.

    VCRs are becoming popular

    VCRs started to become a popular household item during the first half of the 1980s. However, they were still very costly. This device gave people the ability to play VCR tapes and record TV programs and movies.
  • 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 17, 1983.

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 17, 1983.

  • September 17, 1983: Vanessa L. Williams becomes the first African American to be crowned Miss America.
  • September 19, 1983: The first episode of the television game show "Press Your Luck" is aired.
  • September 24, 1983: Soccer: Peter Beardsley makes his debut for Newcastle United.
  • September 25, 1983: 38 Provisional IRA prisoners break out of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland.
  • September 26, 1983: Nuclear false alarm: An early-warning radar in the Soviet Union erroneously reports that an intercontinental ballistic missile has been launched from bases in the United States.
  • September 29, 1983: Billy Joel releases his single "Uptown Girl".
  • October 9, 1983: North Korea attempts to assassinate South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan.
  • October 11, 1983: The album "Can't Slow Down" is released by Lionel Richie.
  • October 14, 1983:
    • Jamaican reggae singer Hugh Mundell is shot to death while sitting in his car in Kingston, Jamaica.
    • UK politics: Conservative MP Cecil Parkinson resigns following revelations that his former secretary is pregnant with his child.
  • October 16, 1983: Golf: The United States wins the 1983 Ryder Cup at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
  • This date: October 17, 1983
  • October 19, 1983: Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop is executed following a coup.
  • October 23, 1983: 241 US servicemen, 58 French soldiers and 6 Lebanese civilians are killed by suicide attacks in Beirut.
  • October 24, 1983: The song "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is released.
  • October 25, 1983: The United States invades Grenada following the execution of its former Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop.
  • October 26, 1983: Sondra Kay Ramber (14) goes missing from her family home in Santa Fe, Texas.
  • October 27, 1983: Police in Alaska find jewelry belonging to missing women after searching the home of suspected serial killer Robert Hansen.
  • November 2, 1983: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is officially created in the United States.
  • November 7, 1983: A far-left group called the "Armed Resistance Unit" detonates a bomb near the United States Senate Chamber in Washington, D.C.
  • November 10, 1983: Soccer: Striker Andy Gray joins Everton.
  • November 15, 1983: English actor John Le Mesurier (Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army) dies aged 71.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on October 17, 1983

People in October 1983 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from October 1983.

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Manimal
Manimal
The A-Team
The A-Team
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
Cheers
Cheers
Knight Rider
Knight Rider
Family Ties
Family Ties
Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Dynasty
Dynasty
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.

Cars in 1983

1983 saw the introduction of cars such as the BMW M6, the Dodge Charger (1981), the Chrysler E-Class, the Ford Fiesta Mk2, the Renault 25, and the Honda Civic (third generation).

Cars in 1983.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in October 1983

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

Mister T
Mister T
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons

Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
The Littles
The Littles
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Toys

Toys in 1983

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

My Little Pony (figures)
My Little Pony (figures)
The Commodore 64
The Commodore 64
Masters of the Universe (figures)
Masters of the Universe (figures)
The Lego train set
The Lego train set
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)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1983.

Mario Bros. 1983
Mario Bros.
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

Were you born on October 17, 1983?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1983.

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 17, 1989, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on October 17.

Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel

Stunt performer Deceased
Born on October 17, 1938
He turned 45 on this day in 1983.

Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald

Comedian Deceased
Born on October 17, 1959
He turned 24 on this day in 1983.

Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley

Musician
Born on October 17, 1968
He turned 15 on this day in 1983.

Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean

Singer
Born on October 17, 1969
He turned 14 on this day in 1983.

Nancy Sullivan

Nancy Sullivan

Actress
Born on October 17, 1969
She turned 14 on this day in 1983.

Chris Kirkpatrick

Chris Kirkpatrick

NSYNC
Born on October 17, 1971
He turned 12 on this day in 1983.

Eminem

Eminem

Rap singer
Born on October 17, 1972
He turned 11 on this day in 1983.

Simon Harris

Simon Harris

Irish politician
Born on October 17, 1986
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira

Brazilian MMA fighter
Born on October 17, 1989
He was born exactly 6 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on October 17, 1983.

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 17, 1983 was most likely conceived around January 24, 1983.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 17, 1983 is close to July 9, 1984.

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Stats for October 17, 1983

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 17, 1983:

  • 15,011 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,144 weeks have passed.
  • 1,296,954,000 seconds have passed since October 17, 1983.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,513,113,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 669,228,264,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 216,159,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 111,538,044 steps. That's roughly 49,572 miles.
  • 15,563,448 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1983?

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