The 1980s
Explore 5464 historical events from 1980–1989.
Alexander Oparin, Russian biochemist and academic (born 1894)
Alexander Ivanovich Oparin was a Soviet biochemist notable for his theories about the origin of life and for his book The Origin of Life.
Alexander Oparin, Russian biochemist and academic (born 1894)
Sohrab Sepehri, Iranian poet and painter (born 1928)
Sohrab Sepehri was an Iranian poet and painter, considered to be one of the five most famous Iranian poets who have practiced modern poetry alongside Nima Youshij, Ahmad Shamlou, M…
Sohrab Sepehri, Iranian poet and painter (born 1928)
Jane Froman, American actress and singer (born 1907)
Ellen Jane Froman was an American actress and singer. During her 30-year career, she performed on stage, radio, and television despite chronic health problems due to injuries susta…
Jane Froman, American actress and singer (born 1907)
Fritz Strassmann, German chemist and physicist (born 1902)
Friedrich Wilhelm Strassmann was a German chemist who, with Otto Hahn in December 1938, identified the element barium as a product of the bombardment of uranium with neutrons. Thei…
Fritz Strassmann, German chemist and physicist (born 1902)
Alejo Carpentier, Swiss-Cuban musicologist and author (born 1904)
Alejo Carpentier y Valmont was a Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist who greatly influenced Latin American literature during its famous "boom" period. Born in Lausanne, Swit…
Alejo Carpentier, Swiss-Cuban musicologist and author (born 1904)
Cicely Courtneidge, Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer (born 1893)
Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge was an Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer. The daughter of the producer and playwright Robert Courtneidge, she was appearing in …
Cicely Courtneidge, Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer (born 1893)
Tommy Caldwell, American bass player (born 1949)
Thomas Michael Caldwell was an American musician who was the bassist for the Marshall Tucker Band between 1973 and 1980.
Tommy Caldwell, American bass player (born 1949)
Luis Muñoz Marín, Puerto Rican journalist and politician, 1st Governor of Puerto Rico (born 1898)
José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín, most commonly known as Luis Muñoz Marín, was a Puerto Rican journalist, politician, and statesman who served as the first democratically elected gove…
Luis Muñoz Marín, Puerto Rican journalist and politician, 1st Governor of Puerto Rico (born 1898)
Clarrie Grimmett, New Zealand-Australian cricketer (born 1891)
Clarence Victor Grimmett was a New Zealand-born Australian cricketer. He was one of the finest spin bowlers of his time and usually credited as the developer of the flipper.
Clarrie Grimmett, New Zealand-Australian cricketer (born 1891)
George Pal, Hungarian-American animator and producer (born 1908)
George Pal was a Hungarian-American animator, film director and producer. He is known for his stop motion animated film series Puppetoons and his fantasy and science-fiction films.…
George Pal, Hungarian-American animator and producer (born 1908)
Alfred Hitchcock, English-American director and producer (born 1899)
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six d…
Alfred Hitchcock, English-American director and producer (born 1899)
Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav field marshal and politician, 1st President of Yugoslavia (born 1892)
Josip Broz, commonly known as Tito, was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and politician who led Yugoslavia as prime minister from 1943 to 1963 and as president from 1953 until hi…
Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav field marshal and politician, 1st President of Yugoslavia (born 1892)
Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, Scottish pianist and composer (born 1920)
Joseph Turner Henderson, known as Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, was a Scottish pianist, composer and recording artist who became well-known in Britain in the 1950s, with his entertainm…
Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, Scottish pianist and composer (born 1920)
María Luisa Bombal, Chilean writer (born 1910)
María Luisa Bombal Anthes was a Chilean novelist and poet. Her work incorporates erotic, surrealist, and feminist themes. She was a recipient of the Santiago Municipal Literature A…
María Luisa Bombal, Chilean writer (born 1910)
Geoffrey Baker, English Field Marshal and Chief of the General Staff of the British Army (born 1920)
Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Harding Baker, was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, from 1968 to 1971. He served in the Second World War and became…
Geoffrey Baker, English Field Marshal and Chief of the General Staff of the British Army (born 1920)
Kate Molale, South African activist (born 1928)
Kate Molale OMSS was a South African political activist, between 1970 and 1975 she represented the ANC Women's League/Women's Section in the Women's International Democratic Federa…
Kate Molale, South African activist (born 1928)
Dyre Vaa, Norwegian sculptor and painter (born 1903)
Dyre Vaa was a Norwegian sculptor and painter.
Dyre Vaa, Norwegian sculptor and painter (born 1903)
Hugh Griffith, Welsh actor (born 1912)
Hugh Emrys Griffith was a Welsh actor. Described by BFI Screenonline as a "wild-eyed, formidable character player", Griffith appeared in more than 100 theatre, film, and television…
Hugh Griffith, Welsh actor (born 1912)
Gündüz Kılıç, Turkish football player and coach (born 1918)
"Baba" Gündüz Kılıç was a Turkish football player and coach. He was Ali Kılıç's son and Altemur Kılıç's brother.
Gündüz Kılıç, Turkish football player and coach (born 1918)
Victims of Mount St
Reid Turner Blackburn was an American photographer killed in the 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens. A photojournalist covering the eruption for a local newspaper—the Vanco…
Victims of Mount St
Ian Curtis, English singer-songwriter (born 1956)
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer, songwriter and musician. He was the lead vocalist, songwriter, and occasional guitarist of the band Joy Division, with whom he released the …
Ian Curtis, English singer-songwriter (born 1956)
Joseph Schull, Canadian playwright and historian (born 1906)
Joseph Schull was a Canadian playwright and historian who wrote more than two dozen books and 200 plays for radio and television.
Joseph Schull, Canadian playwright and historian (born 1906)
Gordon Prange, American historian and author (born 1910)
Gordon William Prange was the author of several World War II historical manuscripts which were published by his co-workers after his death in 1980. Prange was a professor of histor…
Gordon Prange, American historian and author (born 1910)