The Year was 1986

I loved KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) and I swore when I was older I would get a car like KITT.....well I haven't yet, but this remote control car might be the closest I ever get! As much as I didn't like saying goodbye to the series Knight Rider there were some fun shows to watch still on television.

In the UK Eastenders was a year old and Michelle gave birth to Dirty Den's secret daughter. The soap is still going strong today.

The end of 1986 saw the debut of a huge hit television show LA Law which was 'like totally awesome!'

1986 Emmy Awards went to -

• Outstanding Drama Series - L.A. Law (NBC)
  Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Bruce Willis, Moonlighting


• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Sharon Gless, Cagney & Lacey


• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - John Hillerman, Magnum, P.I.


• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Bonnie Bartlett, St. Elsewhere


• Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series - Alfre Woodard, L.A. Law - Pilot


• Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series - Gregory Hoblit, L.A. Law - Pilot


• Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, L.A. Law


• Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special - Hallmark Hall of Fame: Promise (CBS)


• Outstanding Comedy Series - The Golden Girls(NBC)


• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Michael J. Fox, Family Ties


• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Rue McClanahan, The Golden Girls


• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - John Larroquette, Night Court


• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Jackee Harry, 227


• Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series - John Cleese, Cheers


• Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series - Terry Hughes, The Golden Girls


• Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series - Gary David GoldbergGary David Goldberg and Alan Uger, Family Ties


• Outstanding Talk/Service Show - The Oprah Winfrey Show (Syndicated)

Let's not forget that Aaron Spelling was still producing some great eighties television as well!

Two decades earlier people gathered to hear Neil Armstong utter his immortal workds - one small step for man, one gigantic leap for mankind In January 1986 crowds of people gathered to watch people relise their space dream - the crew of Challenger.

Unfortunately disaster was to happen and the space shuttle Challenger and all who travelled aboard were lost.

On a happier note millions flocked to see 1986's Star Trek movie - Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home. This Star Trek movie was the most popular of them as Kirk and crew visited 1986 San Francisco.

On a more stellar note Halley's comet passed by earth on. Halley's Comet is only visible every 76 years so astrologers were delighted to see it.

The Best Selling singles of 1986 included Every Breath You Take and Chain Reaction. People were also listening to A-Ha who became the first Norweigan group to get a number 1 single in the UK.

Grammys went to Steve Winward, Babs & Paul Simon:-

• Record of the year:- Higher Love by Steve Winwood


• Song of the year:- That's What Friends Are For written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager


• Album of the year:- Graceland by Paul Simon


• Male Pop Vocalist of the year:- Steve Winward


• Female Pop Vocalist of the year:- Barbra Streisland>

The best selling albums of 1986 (in the UK) were -

1. Madonna and True Blue
2. Dire Straits and Brothers in Arms
3. Various Artists and Now, That's What I Call Music 8
4. Paul Simon and Graceland
5. Whitney Houston and Whitney Houston
6. Various Artists and Now, That's What I Call Music 7
7. A-Ha and Hunting High and Low
8. Queen and A Kind of Magic
9. Eurythmics and Revenge
10. Five Star and Silk & Steel

Stars born in 1986 included twins Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen who would shoot to fame on the hit show Full House.

Other famous people born in 1986 were:-

• Mischa Barton


• Brittany Snow


• Amanda Bynes


• Megan Fox


• Lindsay Lohan


• Robert Pattinson


• Shia LaBeouf


• Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)


• Peyton Hillis


• Charlotte Church


• Brittany Snow


• Jamie Bell


• Scott Eastwood


• Emily VanCamp


• Eric Lloyd


• Drake Bell


• Lady Gaga


• Rafael Nadal

Deaths in 1986 included the following celebrities -

• Wallis Simpson


• Cary Grant


• Desi Arnaz


• James Cagney


• Donna Reed

Britain's House of Windsor welcomed a new princess into it's fold. Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son shook off the mantle of Randy Andy and married red-headed Sarah Fergusan.

Australian royalty were also getting married..........on Ramsey Street anyway. It was the Australian soap, Neighbours' wedding of the year when Scott & Charlene walked down the aisle (aka Jason Donovan & Kylie Minogue).

In the sporting arena we witnessed the 'hand of God' fiasco by Diego Maradona, in the World Cup quarter final which led to Argentina knocking England out. Argentina ended up winning the soccer World Cup beating West Germany 3-2 in the final.

The NY Giants won the Superbowl beating Denver 39-20.

The NY Mets beat the Boston Red Sox to take out the World Series, 4-3.

In tennis Martina Navratilova won the woman's singles title at both Wimbledon and the US Open, Chris Evert won the women's French Open title.

Boris Becker also managed to win two of the grand slams in 1986 taking out both the Wimbledon and US Open titles. Ivan Lendl won the French Open.

Robert Ludlum released his thriller "The Bourne Supremacy" little realizing the impact it would have in the world of film years later.

Stephen King was hitting his stride with the release of his book "It" and cementing his title as the king of horror.

Jackie Collins didn't disappoint with her steamy, 1986 bonkbuster "Hollywood Husbands" which caused quite a bit of speculation over who the characters were based on!

If non-fiction was more your thing comedian Bill Cosby (tv's Cliff Huxtable) released a book called "Fatherhood".

Joining the fitness craze was the booklists with Harvey & Marilyn Diamond's bestseller - "Fit for Life".

Pulitzer anyone? The Pulitzer prize for drama went to Larry McMurty for his novel "Lonesome Dove".

This 80s webpage was last updated by lou16 on 19th January 2012