What Happened on April 26, 1986

Historical Events

  • Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by Marshall Holman
  • France performs nuclear test
  • Game between Angels & Twins delayed for 9 minutes by strong winds

Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Explodes

World's worst nuclear disaster: 4th reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power station in USSR explodes, 31 die, radioactive contamination reaches much of Western Europe


1986 History

Famous Weddings

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Actor and body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger (39) weds American journalist and newscaster Maria Shriver (30); divorce in 2011

Jorge Luis Borges

Writer Jorge Luis Borges (86) weds author Maria Kodama (49) in Paraguay


Famous Deaths

  • Bessie Love, American actress (Broadway Melody, Isadora), dies at 87

Broderick Crawford (1911-1986)

American actor (All the King's Men, Highway Patrol), dies after a series of strokes at 74

  • Dechko Uzunov, Bulgarian painter, dies at 87

About April 26, 1986

Day of the Week: Saturday
How Long Ago? 37 years and 5 months
Leap Year: No

Generation: Millennial
Chinese Zodiac: Tiger
Star Sign: Taurus

Music Charts

  • US #1 Song: Kiss - Prince And The Revolution
  • UK #1 Song: A Different Corner - George Michael