Sport
The Washington Redskins were the Super Bowl champs, while the Baltimore Orioles won the World Series, and the New York Islanders clinched the Stanley Cup.
Crime
Six robbers broke into the Brink’s-Mat warehouse near Heathrow Airport and stole £25 million (just over R560 million) worth of gold bullion, diamonds, and cash. The heist was described by some as “the crime of the century.”
Weird and wonderful
In June Blake Giddens won the 56th National Spelling Bee by spelling the word “Purim.”
Fashion trends
Fashion trends in 1983 included off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, members-only jackets, Hawaiian shirts, big shoulders, popped collars, baracuta jackets, Guess jeans, parachute pants, Ray-Ban sunglasses, Calvin Klein underwear, and Kangol hats.
Film and TV
At the 55th Academy Awards, which honoured the best films of 1982, Gandhi won an Oscar for Best Picture, Richard Attenborough (Gandhi) won an Oscar for Best Director, Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Meryl Steep (Sophie’s Choice) won an Oscar for Best Actress.
Food
McDonald’s introduced chicken McNuggets, and the bite-size chicken pieces soon became a global phenomenon. Who doesn’t love a good nugget!
Death of interest
Earl Silas Tupper died, he was best known as the inventor of Tupperware.
Songs of the Year
Michael Jackson had two chart topping songs in 1983, Billie Jean and Beat It.
Weddings of Interest
- Actor Denzel Washington wed actress Pauletta Pearson
- Russian president Vladimir Putin wed flight attendant Lyudmila Shkrebneva.
Famous people turning 40 in 2023
- Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther star)
- Chris Hemsworth (Australian actor who came to fame for his role as Thor in several Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.)
- Emily Blunt (British-American actress)
- Andrew Northcote (South African-born Italian cricketer)
- Gugu Mbatha-Raw (British actress born to a South African doctor.)
Compiled by Nkosazana Ngwadla SOURCES: www.thepeoplehistory.com, hobbylark.com
