On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
September 8
Events on This Day
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1504
509 years agoMichelangelo's David statue is unveiled at the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy.
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1966
47 years agoGene Roddenberry's TV series Star Trek debuts on NBC, starring William Shatner as Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock.
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1974
39 years agoIn a controversial move, President Gerald Ford pardons his disgraced predecessor, Richard Nixon, in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
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1986
27 years agoThe Oprah Winfrey Show is broadcast nationally for the first time, paving the way for its host to become a media mogul and leading personality.
September 8
Born on This Day
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PinkPink
Animal Rights Activist, Film Actress, Dancer, Guitarist, Pianist, Singer / 1979 -
Contrasting her edgy, tomboyish style with that of her female popstar peers, Pink has had huge success with hits like "You Make Me Sick" and "There You Go".
Born: September 8, 1979
Age: 33 years old
Birthplace: Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation: Animal Rights Activist, Film Actress, ... -
Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Actor, Comedian / 1925 - 1980
British actor Peter Sellers was incredibly versatile, playing Chief Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films with as much ease as Clare Quilty in Lolita.
1925 | 54 years old
Actor, Comedian -
Ruby Bridges
- In these groups:
- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Black Activists
- Famous Civil Rights Activists
Ruby Bridges
Civil Rights Activist / 1954 -
Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to attend an all-white public elementary school in the American South.
1954 | 58 years old
Civil Rights Activist -
Patsy Cline
- In these groups:
- Country Legends
- Aviation Accident Victims
- Name Changers
Patsy Cline
Pianist, Singer / 1932 - 1963
Patsy Cline was a celebrated country singer best known for her crossover hits, including "Crazy" and "Walking After Midnight."
Born: September 8, 1932
Birthplace: Winchester, Virginia, United States
Occupation: Pianist, Singer -
Sid Caesar
- In these groups:
- Famous Military Veterans
- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Comedians
Sid Caesar
Comedian / 1922 -
Sid Caesar is a comedian and the creator of the classic Emmy Award-winning television variety program Your Show of Shows.
1922 | 90 years old
Comedian -
David ArquetteDavid Arquette
Film Actor, Television Actor / 1971 -
David Arquette is an actor known for paying quirky roles primarily in films, from Scream to Eight-Legged Freaks to Never Been Kissed.
1971 | 41 years old
Film Actor, Television Actor
September 8
Died on This Day
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Dorothy Dandridge
- In these groups:
- Groundbreaking Women
- African-American Biopics
- Real Life Leading Ladies
Dorothy Dandridge
Film Actress, Pin-up, Singer / 1922 - 1965
Dorothy Dandridge was an American actress and popular singer, and was the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress.
Died: September 8, 1965
Age: 42 years old
Place: West Hollywood, California , United States
Occupation: Singer -
Zero Mostel
- In these groups:
- Blacklisted
- Celebrity Enlistees
- Famous Military Veterans
Zero Mostel
Film Actor, Theater Actor / 1915 - 1977
Stage, television and screen actor Zero Mostel won a Tony Award playing Tevye in Jerome Robbins' Fiddler on the Roof, and starred in Mel Brooks' film The Producers.
1977 | 62 years old
Film Actor, Theater Actor -
Ann Lee
- In these groups:
- Famous Pisceans
- Famous People Named Lee
- Famous People Born on February 29
Ann Lee
Religious Leader / 1736 - 1784
British religious leader Ann Lee, also known as "Mother Ann," had a vision of the second coming of Christ, which led her to found an American society of Shakers.
1784 | 48 years old
Religious Leader -
Richard Strauss
- In these groups:
- Famous Geminis
- Famous Songwriters and Composers
- Famous Germans
Richard Strauss
Songwriter / 1864 - 1949
Richard Strauss was a leading German classical composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras best known for his operas Der Rosenkavalier and Salome.
Died: September 8, 1949
Age: 85 years old
Place: Garmisch-Partenkirchen , Germany
Occupation: Songwriter -
Willard Libby
- In these groups:
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Chemists
- Famous Scientists
Willard Libby
Chemist / 1908 - 1980
Willard Libby was a chemist whose technique of carbon-14 dating provided an extremely valuable tool for a variety of scientists.1980 | 71 years old
Chemist -
Roy Wilkins
- In these groups:
- Famous Harlem Residents
- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Black Activists
Roy Wilkins
Civil Rights Activist, Editor, Journalist / 1901 - 1981
Roy Wilkins was best known as the executive director of the NAACP and a leader of the African-American civil rights movement.
1981 | 80 years old
Civil Rights Activist, Editor, ...
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profile name: Peter Sellers profile occupation: Actor, Comedian
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profile name: Gerald Ford profile occupation: U.S. Representative
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profile name: H.L. Mencken profile occupation: Journalist
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