September 21
September 21
George Clooney makes “Facts of Life” debut
On September 21, 1985, a little‑known actor named George Clooney makes his first appearance as a handyman on the popular TV sitcom The Facts of Life. Clooney appeared in 17…
A Year In History: 1985
This Year in History:
1985
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
September 22
September 22
The first Farm Aid concert is held in Champaign, Illinois
It started with an offhand remark made by Bob Dylan during his performance at Live Aid, the massive fundraising concert held at Wembley Stadium, London, and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, in…
October 2
October 2
Rock Hudson dies of AIDS
On this day in 1985, Rock Hudson, a quintessential tall, dark and handsome Hollywood leading man during the 1950s and 1960s who made more than 60 movies during his career,…
October 2
October 2
Hollywood icon Rock Hudson dies of AIDS
On October 2, 1985, actor Rock Hudson, 59, becomes the first major U.S. celebrity to die of complications from AIDS. Hudson’s death raised public awareness of the epidemic, which until…
October 7
October 7
Palestinian terrorists hijack an Italian cruise ship
Four Palestinian terrorists board the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro shortly after it left Alexandria, Egypt, in order to hijack the luxury liner. The well‑armed men, who belonged to the Popular…
October 7
October 7
Lynette Woodard becomes first female Harlem Globetrotters player
On October 7, 1985, Lynette Woodard, captain of the gold‑medal‑winning U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team in 1984, becomes the first female player for the Harlem Globetrotters. “I got chills, Woodard, 26,…
October 10
October 10
U.S. Navy fighter jets intercept Italian cruise ship hijackers
On October 10, 1985, the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro reaches a dramatic climax when U.S. Navy F‑14 fighters intercept an Egyptian airliner attempting to fly the…
October 19
October 19
First Blockbuster store opens
On October 19, 1985, the first Blockbuster video‑rental store opens, in Dallas, Texas. At a time when most video stores were small‑scale operations featuring a limited selection of titles, Blockbuster…
October 19
October 19
“Take on Me” music video helps Norway’s A‑ha top the U.S. pop charts
On October 19, 1985, the song “Take On Me,” by the Norwegian band a‑Ha, hits #1 on the Billboard pop chart, catapulting the total unknowns to fame almost solely on…
October 26
October 26
Whitney Houston earns her first #1 hit with “Saving All My Love For You”
On October 26, 1985, a rising star named Whitney Houston shot to stardom when her first chart‑topping hit, “Saving All My Love For You,” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot…
November 2
November 2
Miami Vice soundtrack begins an 11‑week run at #1
Almost from its beginnings, television showed a remarkable ability to influence the pop charts, and not only by giving exposure to popular musical artists on programs like American Bandstand and…
November 13
November 13
Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupts in Colombia, burying more than 23,000
On the evening of November 13, 1985, around 9 p.m., the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia violently erupts. Within two to three hours, a fast‑moving flow of mud, ice,…
November 14
November 14
Nevado del Ruiz eruptions bury more than 20,000 in Colombia
On November 14, 1985, one day after beginning to spew lava, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia violently erupted, killing well over 20,000 people as nearby towns are buried…
November 19
November 19
Reagan and Gorbachev hold their first summit meeting
For the first time in eight years, the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States hold a summit conference. Meeting in Geneva, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader…
November 21
November 21
Israeli spy arrested in United States
Jonathan Jay Pollard, a civilian U.S. Navy intelligence analyst and Jewish American, is arrested on charges of illegally passing classified U.S. security information about Arab nations to Israel. Pollard, an…
December 27
December 27
World‑renowned primatologist Dian Fossey is found murdered in Rwanda
On December 27, 1985, primatologist and conservationist Dr. Dian Fossey is found murdered in her cabin at Karisoke, a research site in the mountains of Rwanda. It is widely believed…
December 29
December 29
The “Railway Rapist” commits his first murder
The “Railway Rapist” attacks 19‑year‑old Alison Day and abducts her from a London train. Her strangled body was recovered two weeks later. Although the perpetrator had attacked and raped many…
December 31
December 31
Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash
Former teen idol Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash in De Kalb, Texas, on December 31, 1985. When the teenage Ricky Nelson launched his pop career in 1957 by…
