1979 in American television

none 1979 In 1979, television in the United States saw a number of significant events, including the debuts, finales, and cancellations of television shows; the launch, closure, and rebranding of channels; changes and additions to network affiliations by stations; controversies, business transactions, and carriage disputes; and the deaths of individuals who had made notable contributions to the medium. Events Date EventJanuary 3The USA Network is founded.January 10The Music for UNICEF Concert is televised from New York City on NBC.February 11In the U.S., 43 million viewers watch Elvis, an ABC movie starring Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley, despite being the first Elvis biopic film ever made.February 18The Daytona 500 is broadcast live from start to finish, in its entirety for the very first time by CBS. It was won by Richard Petty.February 20Melody Thomas makes her first appearance as Nikki Reed on The Young and the Restless.March 5KSTP-TV in Saint Paul, Minnesota ends its 31-year relationship as the Twin Cities' NBC affiliate and joins ABCCarman John Marriage of ABC to Ch. 5 follows a long courtship August 30, 1978 1A, 9A Minnesota Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-marriage-of-abc-to/137697698/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com December 31, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231231182146/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-marriage-of-abc-to/137697698/ live in what is called the network's biggest coup yet.Carman John KSTP switch was matter of time: Long loyalties eroded with NBC slump September 12, 1978 11A The Minneapolis Star https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-kstp-switch-was-mat/137698452/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com December 31, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231231182154/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-kstp-switch-was-mat/137698452/ live NBC, meanwhile, aligns with Metromedia-owned independent station WTCN-TV,Gendler Neal NBC chooses WTCN as new affiliate September 30, 1978 7C Minneapolis Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-nbc-chooses-wtcn-as-new-aff/137697097/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240101004823/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-nbc-chooses-wtcn-as-new-aff/137697097/ live while former ABC affiliate KMSP-TV, having failed to procure an NBC affiliation, becomes independent itself.Carman John Still confused? Just turn dial March 2, 1979 1A, 4A The Minneapolis Star https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-still-confused-jus/137694267/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240101045011/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-still-confused-jus/137694267/ liveMarch 6On NBC, Another World becomes the only soap opera to air regularly scheduled 90-minute telecasts (it would go back to 60-minute episodes in 1980). Meanwhile, on ABC, Family Feud increases its goal to 300 points.March 19C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched.April 1Nickelodeon is founded.April 8On CBS, the final episode of All in the Family is seen by 40.2 million American viewers (it will relaunch the following season as Archie Bunker's Place).April 20The 1,439th and final CBS episode of Match Game 79 airs – however, the show didn't air on April 5, causing the Friday episode from that week to air on April 9. The last 9 aired episodes were culled together from 3 separate taping sessions, leaving 6 unaired until Game Show Network aired them for the first time. Match Game continues for 3 more years in syndicated daytime (sans the omnipresent 2-year designation in the title).April 22Friendly Fire, an ABC movie starring Carol Burnett as a mother who wants to know how her son died in Vietnam, airs.April 23The game show Whew!, hosted by Tom Kennedy, premieres on CBS. The new daytime programme airs at 10:30 am, leading to the hour-long game show The Price Is Right moving thirty minutes later, at 11:00 am, which is the time slot that it still holds to this day. As a result, soap opera Love of Life is relegated to 4:00 pm, taking over this timeslot from cancelled game show Match Game 79. In addition, the noon slot, held until then by The Young and the Restless, is given to local stations, with the latter soap opera moving to 1:00 pm.RADIO-TELEVISION: CBS Adds 'Whew' To Daytime Sked, Moves Local Time March 28, 1979 44, 69 Variety https://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1979-03-28_294_8/page/44/mode/1up July 1, 2026May 16Kate Jackson makes her final appearance as Sabrina Duncan on Charlie's Angels.May 17The Season 5 finale of Barney Miller features the cast stepping out of character to pay tribute to the late Jack Soo, who played detective Nick Yemana. Soo, who died of cancer on January 11, 1979, made his final appearance in the series in the season's ninth episode, "The Vandal".May 26Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi's make their final appearances on NBC's Saturday Night Live as cast members.June 1In Indianapolis, Indiana, NBC affiliate WRTV swaps affiliations with ABC affiliate WTHR, citing a stronger affiliation (at the time, NBC is in last place among the three major networks).Television Schedule May 30, 1979 Marion Chronicle-Tribune Marion, INJuly 10KSD-TV, NBC affiliate in St. Louis, changes its call sign to KSDK-TV.July 30The Satellite Program Network (SPN) is founded.September 7ESPN, an all-sports channel, launches and becomes the first cable TV channel to be launched as a 24-hour channel.September 9KNXV-TV goes on the air for the first time as Phoenix's first UHF station,Today the UHF station ... September 9, 1979 TV Digest 2 The Arizona Republic https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33724058/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com November 1, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201101195652/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33724058/here-comes-knxv/ live airing with ONTV.Wilkinson Bud ON TV planning to halt programming to Valley April 14, 1983 A1, A12 The Arizona Republic https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61984015/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com November 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201105055527/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61984015/on-tv-planning-to-halt-programming-to/ live It was soon stripped off ONTV in 1983, eventually going first with Fox in 1986,Wilkinson Bud PBS series provides a close-up look at life of Soviet citizens July 2, 1986 E9 The Arizona Republic https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29343682/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com November 26, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211126075333/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29343682/pbs-series-provides-a-close-up-look-at/ live then to ABC via an affiliation agreement with Scripps Howard in 1995.Walker Dave ABC drops Ch. 3 after 40 years June 16, 1994 A15 The Arizona Republic https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33050851/abc-drops-ch-3-after-40-years/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com December 26, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211226001655/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33050851/abc-drops-ch-3-after-40-years/ liveSeptember 12On the two-hour season four premiere of Charlie's Angels on ABC, Shelley Hack is introduced as new angel Tiffany Welles, replacing Sabrina Duncan played by Kate Jackson.September 19On the two-hour Eight Is Enough season premiere on ABC, both David and Susan Bradford married their respective loves in a double ceremony.September 22The character Scrappy-Doo makes his first appearance in the Scooby-Doo franchise. Scrappy-Doo would become a mainstay in the franchise going into the following decade. October 6KTAB-TV in Abilene, Texas begins broadcasting as a CBS affiliate,Reed Jerry Mighty Mouse, KTAB Both Ready for Abilene October 4, 1979 13-A Abilene Reporter-News https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87002206/mighty-mouse-ktab-both-ready-for/ January 14, 2026 Newspapers.com October 29, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211029173050/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87002206/mighty-mouse-ktab-both-ready-for/ live taking that affiliation from KTXS-TV.Whitaker William 3rd TV station to start in fall March 28, 1979 1A, 10A Abilene Reporter-News https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-tv-station-to-star/136465373/ January 15, 2026 Newspapers.com December 9, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231209031749/https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-tv-station-to-star/136465373/ live KTXS-TV then elevates its secondary ABC affiliation to full-time status, making Abilene one of the last markets in the country to receive full service from the three major networks.November 4Jaws is broadcast on television for the first time on ABC. November 9 SIN broadcasts the final of the 2nd National OTI-SIN Festival live from San Antonio.November 25Pat Summerall calls his first NFL telecast (Minnesota Vikings–Tampa Bay Buccaneers) with John Madden.December 1The Movie Channel, an American premium cable channel, begins broadcasting movies 24/7. The first movie to air was Roman Holiday. Programs Debuting this year Date Show Network January 8 All Star SecretsNBC Password Plus January 18 Delta HouseABC January 20 Salvage 1 January 21 Brothers and SistersNBC January 22 Nightly Business ReportPBS January 26Hello, LarryNBC$weepstake$Turnabout The Dukes of HazzardCBS January 28 CBS News Sunday Morning February 1 Makin' ItABC February 3 The New Fred and Barney ShowNBC February 7 Supertrain February 8 AngieABC February 20 This Old HousePBS February 26 BillyCBS Flatbush February 27 CliffhangersNBC March 4 Stockard Channing in Just FriendsCBS March 13 The RopersABC March 15 Harris and CompanyNBC March 24 The Bad News BearsCBS March 28 Dear DetectiveABC April 6 The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove April 12 Highcliffe ManorNBC Whodunnit? April 18 Real People April 23 Whew!CBS May 10 HizzonnerNBC May 24 Comedy Theatre (returning from 1976) July 31 Detective SchoolABC August 24 The Facts of LifeNBC August 25 Hart to HartABC August 28 240-Robert September 1 Lap Quilting with Georgia BonesteelPBS The Woodwright's Shop September 7 SportsCenterESPN September 8 Fred and Barney Meet the ThingNBC September 9 Jason of Star CommandCBS Out of the BlueABC September 13 Benson September 15 Working StiffsCBS September 16 A New Kind of FamilyABC September 17 Three's a CrowdSyndication September 18 The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboNBC September 19 The Last ResortCBS Struck by Lightning September 20 Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyNBC September 21 Eischied September 22 Casper and the Angels A Man Called Sloane The New Adventures of Flash Gordon The New Shmoo The Super Globetrotters Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-DooABC Spider-Woman September 23 The Associates Archie Bunker's PlaceCBS September 25 California Fever Trapper John, M.D. September 29 Big Shamus, Little Shamus Paris October 26 ShirleyNBC October 29 Freedom RoadNBC November 8 Nightline (debuting as The Iran Crisis–America Held Hostage)ABC November 28 Young MaverickCBS December 17 House Calls December 27 Knots Landing Ending this year Date Show DebutJanuary 12The Eddie Capra Mysteries1978January 14The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries1977January 16Grandpa Goes to Washington1978January 21Lamp Unto My Feet1948March 2Jeopardy! (returned in 1984)1964March 16Makin' It 1979March 30$weepstake$ 1979Turnabout 1979April 8All in the Family1971April 24The Paper Chase (returned in 1983)1978April 28What's Happening!! (returned in 1985)1976April 29Battlestar Galactica (returned in 1980)1978May 15Starsky and Hutch1975May 17Whodunnit?1979May 18Rhoda1974June 8Welcome Back, Kotter1975June 23Stockard Channing in Just Friends1979June 28Comedy Theatre1976June 29Operation Petticoat1977July 6The Amazing Spider-Man1977July 11Sword of Justice1978July 12David Cassidy: Man UndercoverAugust 1Good Times1974September 11Wonder Woman1976October 20The New Fred and Barney Show1979November 24Detective SchoolDecember 8Godzilla1978 Made-for-TV movies and miniseries Title Network Premiere dateBackstairs at the White House NBC January 29 Murder by Natural Causes CBS February 17Roots: The Next Generations ABC February 18 (7 episodes)Survival of Dana CBS May 29 Death Car on the Freeway CBS September 25All Quiet on the Western Front CBS November 14Salem's Lot CBS November 17 and 24Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July ABC November 25The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree NBC December 3The Miracle Worker NBC October 14 Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source Christian Television Network Cable television Unknown National Christian Network Cable television Unknown C-SPAN Cable television March 19 Take 2 Cable television April 1 Galavision Cable television April 2 Cornerstone Television Cable television April 15 Satellite Program Network Cable television July 30 ESPN Cable television September 7 Conversions and rebrandings Old network New network Type Conversion date Notes Source WTCG-TV SuperStation WTBS Cable television Unknown C-3 Nickelodeon Cable television April 1 Star Channel The Movie Channel Cable television December 1 Closures There are no closures for Cable and satellite television channels in this year. Television stations Sign-ons Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/Ref. January 3 Boston, Massachusetts WQTV 68 Independent January 12 Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Brownsville/McAllen, Texas, United States) XHRIO-TV 2 English-language independent March North Platte, Nebraska K57CZ 57 CBS LPTV translator of KOLN/Lincoln, Nebraska; now KNPL-LD channel 10, a semi-satellite of KOLN April 15 Greensburg/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania WPCB-TV 40 Religious independent April 28 Red Deer/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania WGCB 49 Independent May 3 Austin, Texas KLRU 18 PBS Originally a satellite of KLRN/San Antonio, Texas June 1 Springfield, Illinois WBHW 55 Independent June 12 Charlottesville, Virginia W64AO 64 ABC Low-powered translator of WHSV-TV/Harrisonburg, Virginia June 18 Bismarck, North Dakota KBME-TV 3 PBS Part of Prairie Public Television August El Paso, Texas KCIK-TV 14 Religious independent August 10 Denver, Colorado KDVR 31 Independent September 2 Flagstaff/Phoenix, Arizona KTVW 33 SIN September 9 Paducah, Kentucky WKPD 29 PBS This station was previously on the air 1971-1975 as commercial independent station WDXR-TV; it returned to the air as a satellite of WKLE/Lexington as part of the Kentucky Educational Television network. Phoenix, Arizona KNXV-TV 15 Independent September 24 Greensboro, North Carolina WGNN-TV 45 Independent Norfolk, Virginia WTVZ-TV 33 Independent October 6 Abilene, Texas KTAB-TV 32 CBS October 22 Grand Junction, Colorado KJCT 8 ABC October 24 Tampa, Florida WCLF 22 CTN October 28 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma KGMC 34 Independent December 22 Warrensburg/Sedalia, Missouri (Columbia/Jefferson City) KMOS-TV 6 PBS Returned to the air after being taken off the air in 1978 as a CBS affiliate Unknown date Hartford, Connecticut W61AH 51 SIN Translator of WXTV/New York City Miami, Florida W56AZ 56 PBS Translator of WPBT-TV Network affiliation changes Date City of License/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. March 5 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota KMSP-TV 9 ABC Independent KSTP-TV 5 NBC ABC WTCN-TV 11 Independent NBC June 1 Indianapolis, Indiana WRTV-TV 6 NBC ABC WTHR-TV 13 ABC NBC October 6 Abilene, Texas KTXS-TV 12 CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) ABC (exclusive) Births Date Name Notability January 2Erica HubbardActress (The Replacements, Lincoln Heights)January 3Lyriq BentActorJanuary 4Cindy VelaActressJeannie MaiHostJanuary 6Cristela AlonzoActressJanuary 8Sarah PolleyActress (Ramona, Road to Avonlea)Windell MiddlebrooksActor (died 2015)January 9Joshua HartoActor (That's So Raven)January 13Jill WagnerActressJanuary 14James ScottBritish actor (All My Children, Days of Our Lives)January 16AaliyahSinger (died 2001)January 24Ricardo Medina Jr.Actor (Power Rangers Wild Force)Tatyana AliActress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)January 25Christine LakinActress (Step by Step)January 26 Sara RueActress (Less than Perfect)January 28Angelique CabralActressJanuary 29Jedediah BilaHostJeremy CoonEditorJanuary 30Michelle LangstoneNew Zealand actress (Power Rangers S.P.D.)February 1Rachelle LefevreCanadian actress (Under the Dome)February 2Mayer HawthorneSingerFebruary 3Costa RoninActorFebruary 4Tabitha BrownActressJodi ShillingActressFebruary 7Cerina VincentActress (Stuck in the Middle)February 8Josh KeatonVoice actor (Bratz, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, DC Super Hero Girls, Voltron: Legendary Defender, Justice League Action, Ben 10)February 11 Brandy NorwoodSinger and actress (Moesha, The Game)February 12Jesse SpencerAustralian actor (House, Chicago Fire)February 13Mena SuvariActressFebruary 15Steven BoyerActorFebruary 17Conrad RicamoraActor (How to Get Away with Murder) and singerBear McCrearyComposerFebruary 18Tyrone D. BurtonActor (The Parent 'Hood)February 20Bianca LawsonActress (Pretty Little Liars)February 21 Jennifer Love HewittActress (Party of Five, Ghost Whisperer) and singerJordan PeeleActor and comedian (Mad TV, Key & Peele)Tituss BurgessActorFebruary 23Maryke HendrikseVoice actress (Johnny Test)S. E. CuppAmerican television hostFebruary 25Jennifer FerrinActressFebruary 26Corinne Bailey RaeSingerShalim OrtizSingerFebruary 27Spero DedesSportcasterFebruary 28Chris HayesAnchorMarch 5Riki LindhomeVoice actress (Monsters vs. Aliens)March 7Stephanie Anne MillsCanadian actress (My Dad the Rock Star, Total Drama, Sidekick)March 9Oscar IsaacActorMarch 10Danny PudiActor (Community, DuckTales)March 10Edi GathegiActorMarch 12Rhys CoiroActorMarch 15Pollyanna McIntoshActressMarch 17Stephen Kramer GlickmanCanadian actor (Big Time Rush)Stormy DanielsActressCoco AustinActressMarch 18Danneel AcklesActress (One Life to Live, One Tree Hill)Adam LevineSingerMarch 19Joe HursleyActorMarch 20Daniel CormierMartial artist and commentator (UFC)March 21Melissa GorgaAmerican television personalityMarch 24Lake BellActress (How to Make it in America, Boston Legal)March 25 Lee PaceActor (Pushing Daisies)March 26Heidi ZeiglerActress (Rags to Riches, Just the Ten of Us)March 30Jose Pablo CantilloActorPete HolmesActorMarch 31Sasha DobsonSingerApril 1Matt SilversteinWriterApril 2Lindy BoothCanadian actressJesse CarmichaelAmerican musicianApril 4 Heath LedgerAustralian actor (Sweat) (died 2008)Natasha LyonneActressApril 6Clay TravisHostApril 7Adam GubmanComposerApril 9Keshia Knight PulliamActress (The Cosby Show)April 11Josh ServerActor (All That)April 12 Claire DanesActress (Homeland)Jennifer MorrisonActress (House, Once Upon a Time)April 15Luke EvansActorKaren DavidActressApril 16Tom SeguraActorApril 18Kourtney KardashianActress (Keeping Up with the Kardashians)Reena NinanAmerican television journalistAyman MohyeldinAmerican television journalistApril 19Kate HudsonActressApril 21James McAvoyActorApril 23Jaime KingActress (Hart of Dixie)April 26Ally MusikaWriterMay 3Emily V. GordonWriterMay 4Lance BassActorMay 5 Vincent KartheiserActor (Mad Men)May 6 Akbar Gbaja-BiamilaFootball playerMay 9 Rosario DawsonActor (Gemini Division)Andrew W.K.ActorMay 11Mary Elizabeth EllisActressMay 13Mickey MaddenSingerMay 16Jessica MorrisActress (One Life to Live)May 19Kyle CarrozzaVoice actor (Mighty Magiswords)May 20Craig MelvinAmerican broadcast journalistMay 22Maggie QActress (Nikita, Stalker) and modelMay 24Tracy McGradyNBA basketball playerMay 25Corbin AllredActor (Teen Angel)May 26Elisabeth HarnoisActress (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)Ashley MassaroTV host (died 2019)May 28Jesse BradfordActorKal ParekhActorMay 30Jenny MollenActressJune 2 Morena BaccarinActress (Homeland)James RansoneActorJune 5Pete WentzAmerican musician (Fall Out Boy)June 7Anna TorvActress (Fringe)June 11Preslaysa EdwardsActress (The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo)June 12Earl WatsonNBA basketball playerJune 14Osvaldo BenavidesActorJune 17Young MaylayRapperJune 21Chris PrattActor (Everwood, Parks and Recreation)June 22Paul CampbellActorJai RodriguezActorJune 23Linzie JanisAmerican television journalistJune 24Mindy KalingActress (The Office, The Mindy Project)June 25Busy PhilippsActress (Dawson's Creek, Freaks and Geeks, Cougar Town)June 26Julia BensonCanadian actress (Stargate Universe)Ryan TedderSingerJune 27CazwellRapperJune 28Felicia DayActress (The Guild)June 30Rick GonzalezActor (Reaper, Arrow)Christopher JacotActorLynn SmithAmerican journalistJuly 2Tom LlamasAmerican journalistJuly 3Elizabeth HendricksonActress (All My Children)July 4Kevin ThomsActorJuly 6Kevin HartActorMoshe KasherActorJuly 11Jax TaylorActorJuly 12Brooke BaldwinAmerican journalistOmid AbtahiAmerican actorJuly 14Scott PorterActor (Hart of Dixie)July 15Philipp KarnerActorLaura BenantiActressJuly 16Jayma MaysActress (Heroes, Ugly Betty, Glee, The League, The Millers, Trial & Error)July 17Mike VogelActor (Under the Dome)July 18Jason WeaverActor (Smart Guy) and singerJuly 22Parvesh CheenaActorJuly 23Michelle WilliamsActressJuly 24Rose ByrneActressJuly 25Juan Pablo Di PaceActorJuly 26Mageina TovahActressTamyra GraySinger and Actress (American Idol, Boston Public)Juliet RylanceActressJuly 31B. J. NovakActor (Ryan Howard on The Office)August 1Jason MomoaActor (Stargate Atlantis, Game of Thrones)August 3Danso GordonCanadian actor (In a Heartbeat, South of Nowhere)Evangeline LillyCanadian actress (Lost)Sarah HaskinsComedianAugust 7Eric JohnsonCanadian actor (Smallville, Rookie Blue)August 10JoAnna GarciaActress (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Freaks and Geeks, Reba, Privileged, Better with You, The Astronaut Wives Club)August 11Drew NelsonCanadian actor (Girlstuff/Boystuff, Total Drama)Rob KerkovichActor (NCIS: New Orleans)August 12Peter BrowngardtVoice actor (Secret Mountain Fort Awesome, Uncle Grandpa)Keith PowellActorAugust 15Jennifer FinniganActress (The Bold and the Beautiful, Close to Home, Better with You, Tyrant)August 22 Peter ShukoffComedianSteve KornackiHostBrandon AdamsActorAugust 23Clare GrantActressAugust 26Erik ValdezActor (General Hospital, Graceland, Superman & Lois)August 27Aaron PaulActorAugust 28Shane Van DykeActorAugust 30Marin IrelandActressAugust 31Yara MartinezActorSeptember 1Camille ChenActressSeptember 2Jonathan KiteActorSeptember 4Max GreenfieldActor (New Girl)September 5Stacey DalesBroadcasterSeptember 7Andrew CatalonBroadcasterSeptember 8PinkSingerSeptember 9Nikki DeLoachActress (Awkward)September 11Cameron RichardsonActressAriana RichardsActressSeptember 12Jay McGrawWriterSeptember 15Dave AnnableActor (Brothers & Sisters, 666 Park Avenue, Red Band Society, Heartbeat)Amy DavidsonActress (8 Simple Rules)September 16Flo RidaRapperSeptember 18Alison LohmanActress (Pasadena)Amna NawazJournalist (PBS NewsHour)September 20Chris TardioActorSeptember 22Michael GraziadeiActorSeptember 24 Erin ChambersActress (General Hospital)Justin BrueningActor (All My Children)Ross MathewsTV hostSeptember 25Rashad EvansAmerican retired mixed martial artistSeptember 26Nick WeidenfeldProducerSeptember 27Alicyn PackardVoice actress (The Mr. Men Show. The Tom And Jerry Show)September 28Bam MargeraProfessional skateboarder and stunt performer (Jackass, Viva La Bam)Anndi McAfeeVoice actress (Hey Arnold!, Recess, Lloyd in Space)Mara SchiavocampoAmerican journalistSeptember 30Mike DamusActor (Teen Angel, Brutally Normal, Men, Women & Dogs, Trust Me)October 2Brianna BrownActress (General Hospital, Devious Maids)October 3Claudia BassolsActressMatt DavisComedianJohn MorrisonActorJosh KlinghofferMusicianOctober 4Rachael Leigh CookActress (Perception)Caitriona BalfeIrish actress (Outlander)October 7Aaron AshmoreCanadian actors and brothersShawn AshmoreOctober 8 Kristanna LokenActress and model (Painkiller Jane)October 9Brandon RouthActor (Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow)Alex GreenwaldActorChris O'DowdActorOctober 10MýaActressOctober 14Stacy KeiblerActressOctober 15Jaci VelasquezActressOctober 17Deanna RussoActressOctober 18Ne-YoSinger and actorOctober 19Angela SunAmerican journalistOctober 20John KrasinskiActor (Jim Halpert on The Office)October 22Tony DenmanActorNina ParkerAmerican television journalistOctober 25Sarah ThompsonActress (Angel, 7th Heaven)October 26Jonathan ChaseActorOctober 29Andrew-Lee PottsActorOctober 31Erica CerraActressNovember 2Erika FloresActress (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)November 5Leonardo NamActorNovember 6Lamar OdomNBA basketball playerAdam LaRocheBaseball playerBrad StuartHockey playerNovember 7Jon Peter LewisSinger (American Idol, The Voice)November 8Dania RamirezDominican-American actress (Entourage, Heroes, Devious Maids, Once Upon a Time)November 9Darren TrumeterActorNovember 12Cote de PabloChilean-American actress (NCIS)November 13 Henry WolfeActor, singer and son of Meryl Streep and Don GummerMetta World PeaceNBA basketball playerNovember 14Olga KurylenkoActressNovember 17Azita GhanizadaAmerican actressNovember 18Nate ParkerAmerican actorNovember 19Barry JenkinsAmerican screenwriterMichelle ViethAmerican actressNovember 20Jacob PittsAmerican actorNovember 22Josh CookeAmerican actorNovember 23 Jonathan SadowskiActor ($#*! My Dad Says, Young & Hungry)Kelly BrookModel and actress (Smallville)November 25Jerry FerraraAmerican actorJoel KinnamanActorNovember 28Daniel HenneyAmerican actorBrian NolanAmerican actorChamillionaireAmerican rapperNovember 29The GameAmerican rapperSimon AmstellPresenterNovember 30Diego KlattenhoffCanadian actor (Homeland, The Blacklist)December 2 Melissa ArcherActress (One Life to Live)December 3Tiffany HaddishActress (The Carmichael Show)Rainbow Sun FrancksActorDecember 5Nick StahlActorDecember 7Eric BauzaCanadian voice actor (Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, The Fairly OddParents, The Looney Tunes Show, Ben 10: Omniverse, Xiaolin Chronicles, Uncle Grandpa, Breadwinners, New Looney Tunes, Atomic Puppet, Mighty Magiswords, Ben 10, Unikitty, Muppet Babies, Legend of the Three Caballeros, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)Jennifer CarpenterActressSara BareillesActressDecember 8Nick ThuneActorIngrid MichaelsonActressDecember 11 Rider StrongActor (Boy Meets World, Kim Possible, Girl Meets World, Star vs. the Forces of Evil)December 13Kimee BalmileroActressDecember 15Adam BrodyActor (The O.C.)December 16Brodie LeePro wrestler (WWE, AEW) (died 2020)Trevor ImmelmanGolferDecember 17Jaimee FoxworthActress (Family Matters)Lil Rel HoweryActorDecember 18Emily SwallowActressDecember 19Tara SummersEnglish actress (Boston Legal)December 21 Rutina WesleyActress (True Blood)December 23Holly MadisonModelDecember 26 Chris DaughtrySinger (American Idol)December 28Bree WilliamsonActress (One Life to Live)André HollandActorBree WilliamsonActressDecember 29Ariel SchragWriterDiego LunaActorDecember 30Catherine TaberVoice actress (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Loud House)December 31Elaine CassidyActress Deaths Date Name Age NotabilityJanuary 11Jack Soo61Actor (Nick Yemana on Barney Miller)January 16Ted Cassidy46Actor (Lurch on The Addams Family)January 27Dick Wesson59Actor, announcer (The Wonderful World of Disney)June 2Jim Hutton45Actor (Ellery Queen)June 22Hope Summers83Actress (Clara Edwards on The Andy Griffith Show)July 11James Underwood Crockett63Author, gardener, and television host (Crockett's Victory Garden)July 29Bill Todman62Game show producer (Match Game, What's My Line?)August 17Vivian Vance70Actress (Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy)November 1 Mamie Eisenhower82First Lady of the United States and spouse of President Dwight D. EisenhowerNovember 30Zeppo Marx78Actor and comedian 1979 See also 1979 in the United States List of American films of 1979 References External links List of 1979 American television series at IMDb