What Happened in 1983

Historical Events

1983 in Film & TV

Feb 28 Final TV episode of "M*A*S*H", a 2-hour special directed by series star Alan Alda titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", airs (CBS); record 125 million watch in the US
Oct 11 "Can't Slow Down" second studio album by Lionel Richie is released
Nov 20 100 million watch ABC TV movie "The Day After" about nuclear war

1983 in Music

May 20 "Every Breath You Take" single released by The Police (Billboard Song of the Year, 1983)
Nov 2 "Thriller" single released worldwide by Michael Jackson

1983 in Sport

Jan 18 IOC restores Jim Thorpe's Olympic medals (Pentathlon & Decathlon victories) 70 years after they were taken from him for being paid $25 in semi-pro baseball
Sep 26 Australia II wins America's Cup yacht race - 1st non-US winner

Did You Know?

World's greatest robbery; 26 million pounds (sterling) worth of gold, diamonds and cash stolen from Brink's-Mat warehouse at Heathrow Airport, England

On November 26, 1983

Famous People Born in 1983

More Famous Birthdays

Famous People in 1983

World Leaders in 1983

Would You Believe?

World's lowest-ever natural temperature recorded −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F; 184.0 K) at Soviet Vostok Station, Antarctica

On July 21, 1983

Famous Weddings

Feb 13 Film genius Jerry Lewis (56) marries 2nd wife dancer SanDee Pitnick
Mar 4 Actor Harrison Ford marries screenwriter Melissa Mathison (divorced 2004)
Jun 17 American singer-songwriter, of The Eagles, Glenn Frey (34) weds America artist Janie Beggs; divorce in 1988

Famous Divorces

Mar 16 Producer Dick Wolf (36) divorces Susan Scranton after more than 13 years of marriage
Sep 20 Actor James Woods (36) divorces costume designer Kathryn Morrison after 3 years of marriage
Nov 14 Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (35) divorces Sarah Hugill after more than 11 years of marriage

More Weddings & Divorces