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August 16, 1985

August 16, 1985, was a Friday. It was 39 years, 2 months, and 16 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Leo.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on August 16, 1985:

  • The Return of the Living Dead (1985) is released in cinemas.
  • Madonna marries actor Sean Penn.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on August 16, 1985:

  • United States: "Shout" by Tears for Fears
  • United Kingdom: "Into The Groove" by Madonna

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 16, 1985

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Shout - Tears For Fears
  • Everytime You Go Away - Paul Young
  • If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting
  • Never Surrender - Corey Hart
  • The Power Of Love - Huey Lewis & The News
Play the top songs from 1985
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1985. Take a trip back to the days of Bryan Adams, a-ha, Phil Collins and Huey Lewis and the News.
European Vacation

Top movie

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

Facts

This date was 14,322 days ago. Approximately 477 months have passed. It was the 228th day of 1985, in week 33. The decade was the eighties. People born on this day are currently 39 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. We have gone through approximately 159 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to August 16, 1985

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Friday, August 16, 1985. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Leo. People have "that Friday feeling" and are excited for the weekend.

The summer of 1985 is in full swing. The weather is warm, and the evenings are brighter than usual. Most schools and colleges are now finished until August or September. In America, the song "Shout" by Tears for Fears is at the top of the singles charts, while "Into The Groove" by Madonna is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie European Vacation is at the top of the box office.

Margaret Thatcher is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In fashion, women are wearing long sweaters, fishnet stockings, fingerless gloves, jumpsuits, over-sized scarves, miniskirts, stirrup pants, and spandex cycling shorts. Meanwhile, men are wearing Hawaiian shirts, flannel, shell suits, and wool sport coats. Because it's 1985, the radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Tears For Fears, USA For Africa, A-ha, Foreigner, Madonna, Wham! and Phil Collins.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Rock Hudson, Ian Stewart, Paul Castellano, and Phil Lynott would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "'Allo 'Allo!", "The A-Team", "The Cosby Show", and "Who's the Boss?". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Galaxian", "Mario Bros.", "The Way of the Exploding Fist", and "Back to the Future".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Diff'rent Strokes", "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero", "Voltron", and "Thomas the Tank Engine". Popular toys at the moment include Water Ring Toss, the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, the Commodore 64, and Transformers.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 16, 1985, will have the star sign Leo.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1985 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 2.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 16, 1985 falls under the Salmon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of August will have the birthstone Peridot.
  • Birth flower (August): The Gladiolus and the Poppy.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on August 16, 1985.

  • 1985 in music.

    1985 in music

    Popular music artists in 1985 included Wham!, Madonna, Foreigner, Chaka Khan, Hall & Oates, Tears for Fears, Dire Straits and Paul Young.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1985?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1985?

    The best NBA players in 1985 were Larry Bird, Bernard King, Moses Malone, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas.
  • 1985 in movies.

    1985 in movies

    Movies released in 1985 included Back to the Future, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rocky IV, The Color Purple, Out of Africa, Cocoon, The Jewel of the Nile, Witness, The Goonies, Spies Like Us, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Commando, Teen Wolf and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge.
  • Who were the best football players?

    Who were the best football players?

    In 1985, the best soccer players were Michel Platini, Diego Maradona, Preben Elkjær-Larsen, Bernd Schuster, Michael Laudrup, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Zbigniew Boniek, Oleg Protassov, Hans-Peter Briegel, Bryan Robson and Rinat Dassaev.
  • Out of Africa.

    Out of Africa

    "Out of Africa" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1985.
  • Deng Xiaoping.

    Deng Xiaoping

    Deng Xiaoping was named Time Person of the Year in 1985 due to his economic reforms in China.
  • USA for Africa - "We Are the World"

    USA for Africa - "We Are the World"

    "We Are the World" by USA for Africa won a Grammy for 1985's Song of the Year.
  • The Night Stalker is terrorizing Los Angeles.

    The Night Stalker is terrorizing Los Angeles

    Between June 1984 and August 1985, a serial killer nicknamed "The Night Stalker" was carrying out a home invasion and murder crime spree in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Richard Ramirez was later arrested and convicted of the crimes.
  • Mid 1980s fashion.

    Mid 1980s fashion

    Strappy sandals, Keds, kitten-heeled sandals, and pumps were popular footwear in the mid-80s. Fashion became more colorful during this period. Popular clothing included long wool coats, long and bulky sweaters, jumpsuits, large scarves, beanies, leather gloves, long flared skirts, slim miniskirts, slightly tapered pants, and stirrup pants.
  • The Commodore 64.

    The Commodore 64

    The Commodore 64 was dominating the home computer market.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 August 16, 1985.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to August 16, 1985.

  • July 19, 1985:
    • Day of the Dead (1985) is released in cinemas.
    • 268 people lose their lives after the failure of two dams above the village of Stava, near Tesero in Italy.
    • American teacher Christa McAuliffe is chosen to fly onboard the ill-fated Space Shuttle Challenger.
  • July 25, 1985: It is confirmed that American actor Rock Hudson has been diagnosed with AIDS.
  • August 2, 1985:
    • The film Weird Science (1985) is released.
    • 137 people are killed when Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crashes near Dallas, Texas.
  • August 5, 1985: Kate Bush releases the single "Running Up That Hill".
  • August 9, 1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) is released in movie theaters.
  • August 12, 1985: Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes, killing 520 people.
  • This date: August 16, 1985
  • August 22, 1985: 55 people die from smoke inhalation after a fire breaks out on British Airtours Flight 28M at Manchester Airport, England.
  • August 25, 1985: 13-year-old peace activist and child actress Samantha Smith dies in a plane crash.
  • August 30, 1985: A mugshot of the "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez is released by the media.
  • August 31, 1985: Serial killer Richard Ramirez (aka the Night Stalker) is captured in Los Angeles, California.
  • September 1, 1985: The wreck of the Titanic is located for the first time since it sank in 1912.
  • September 8, 1985: Jerry Rice makes his NFL debut for the San Francisco 49ers.
  • September 9, 1985: A race riot begins in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, England.
  • September 10, 1985: US President Ronald Reagan announces that he is adopting economic sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa.
  • September 13, 1985:
    • 1985 MTV Video Music Awards: "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley wins Video of the Year.
    • The first "Super Mario" video game is released in Japan.
  • September 15, 1985: Golf: Europe wins the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in Wishaw, England.

Mid-1980s fashion

Photographs of mid-1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Mid-1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on August 16, 1985

TV audiences were watching the following shows on August 16, 1985:

TV shows from August 1985.

Moonlighting
Moonlighting
Charles in Charge
Charles in Charge
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss?
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Transformers
The Transformers
Punky Brewster
Punky Brewster
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Kate & Allie
Kate & Allie
Night Court
Night Court
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Cars in 1985

1985 saw the introduction of cars such as the Chevrolet Astro, the Honda Integra, the Nissan Pathfinder, the Dodge Lancer, the Ford Scorpio, and the Subaru XT.

Cars in 1985.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on August 16, 1985

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1985:

ThunderCats
ThunderCats
Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats
Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine

The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Transformers
The Transformers
Snorks
Snorks
Muppet Babies
Muppet Babies
Voltron
Voltron
Heathcliff
Heathcliff
Mister T
Mister T
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1985

Toys and games that were popular in 1985:

Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families
Mr Frosty
Mr Frosty
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Pogo ball / Lolo ball
Pogo ball / Lolo ball
Transformers
Transformers
Pound Puppies
Pound Puppies
Turnin' Turbo Dashboard
Turnin' Turbo Dashboard
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)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in August 1985.

Back to the Future 1985
Back to the Future
The Way of the Exploding Fist 1985
The Way of the Exploding Fist
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 1985
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Boulder Dash 1985
Boulder Dash
Tetris 1984
Tetris
Duck Hunt 1984
Duck Hunt
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

Were you born on August 16, 1985?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1985.

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 August 16, 1991, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Vincent Curatola

Vincent Curatola

Actor
Born on August 16, 1953
He turned 32 on this day in 1985.

James Cameron

James Cameron

Movie director
Born on August 16, 1954
He turned 31 on this day in 1985.

Madonna

Madonna

Singer
Born on August 16, 1958
She turned 27 on this day in 1985.

Steve Carell

Steve Carell

Actor
Born on August 16, 1962
He turned 23 on this day in 1985.

Shawn Pyfrom

Shawn Pyfrom

Actor
Born on August 16, 1986
He was born exactly one year after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on August 16, 1985.

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 August 16, 1985 was most likely conceived around November 23, 1984.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 16, 1985 is close to May 9, 1986.

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Stats for August 16, 1985

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 16, 1985:

  • 14,322 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,046 weeks have passed.
  • 1,237,424,400 seconds have passed since August 16, 1985.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,443,661,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 638,510,990,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 206,237,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 106,418,498 steps. That's roughly 47,297 miles.
  • 14,849,093 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1985?

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