1986 in American television

none list September 2017 1986 In 1986, 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 6A Vicks Formula 44 cough medicine advertisement premieres, featuring Peter Bergman from All My Children, in which he told the viewing audience "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV". This phrase, first used during the early 1970s by actor Robert Young of the series Marcus Welby, M.D., was subsequently parodied by many popular culture references.A revival of Card Sharks premieres on CBS. In order to make room for the show (which aired at 10:30 AM), CBS moves Press Your Luck to the 4:00 PM timeslot.January 17Dana Plato makes her final appearance as Kimberly Drummond on ABC's Diff'rent Strokes.January 18On NBC's Saturday Night Live, The Replacements perform "Bastards of Young" and "Kiss Me On the Bus", both from the Tim album. The entire band was drunk during both their performances. As one reviewer succinctly observed, the band could quite often be "mouthing profanities into the camera, stumbling into each other, falling down, dropping their instruments, and generally behaving like the apathetic drunks they were." After this incident, they were banned permanently from SNL, although lead singer Paul Westerberg would return as a solo musical guest during the 19th season.January 24Drake Hogestyn makes his first appearance as John Black on Days of Our Lives. First known as the Pawn (and played successively by two different actors), Hogestyn's character was then revealed to be Roman Brady after plastic surgery and amnesia some months later. He was then retconned when Wayne Northrop (Roman's original portrayer) returned in 1991. Hogestyn continued to play John Black (expect during a brief period from January 2009 to September 2011) until his death in September 2024,Iannucci Rebecca Drake Hogestyn, Days of Our Lives John Black, Dead at 70 https://www.tvline.com/news/drake-hogestyn-dead-cause-of-death-days-of-our-lives-1235344560/ TVLine Penske Media Corporation January 24, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20240929024021/https://tvline.com/news/drake-hogestyn-dead-cause-of-death-days-of-our-lives-1235344560/ September 29, 2024 United States September 28, 2024 liveLevinsky Mara Days of Our Lives Superstar Drake Hogestyn (John) Dies At 70 https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/days-of-our-lives-superstar-drake-hogestyn-john-dies-at-70/ Soap Opera Digest A360media January 24, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20240929024249/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/days-of-our-lives-superstar-drake-hogestyn-john-dies-at-70/ September 29, 2024 United States 0164-3584 September 28, 2024 liveFairman Michael Michael Fairman (journalist) Drake Hogestyn's Final Days of Our Lives Episode Date Confirmed Following His Passing https://michaelfairmantv.com/drake-hogestyn-final-days-of-our-lives-episode-date-confirmed/2024/09/30/ Michael Fairman TV The Michael Fairman Company January 24, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20241001011149/https://michaelfairmantv.com/drake-hogestyn-final-days-of-our-lives-episode-date-confirmed/2024/09/30/ October 1, 2024 United States September 30, 2024 live with his character being killed off in June 2025.Fairman Michael Michael Fairman (journalist) Drake Hogestyn Tribute Live on the Michael Fairman Channel Featuring His ‘Days of our Lives’ Co-Stars https://michaelfairmantv.com/days-of-our-lives-drake-hogestyn-tribute-live-michael-fairman-channel/2025/06/02/ Michael Fairman TV The Michael Fairman Company June 2, 2025 January 24, 2026January 25HBO begins scrambling its signal.January 26NBC's pregame coverage for Super Bowl XX includes what became known as "the silent minute"; a 60-second countdown over a black screen (a concept devised by then-NBC Sports executive Michael Weisman). Also featured was an interview by NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw of United States President Ronald Reagan at the White House (this would not become a regular Super Bowl pregame feature until Super Bowl XLIII, when Today show host Matt Lauer interviewed U.S. President Barack Obama).January 28NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft disintegrates. CNN is the only news service to broadcast the disaster nationally.The premiere episode of Melba, a vehicle for singer/actress Melba Moore, ranks as one of the lowest-rated programs of the week. CBS immediately pulled the show from its schedule. The remaining episodes were later aired during the summer.February 9Helen Martin joins the cast of the NBC comedy 227, after appearing on every episode in the 1985–86 season. Martin replaces Kia Goodwin (who was dismissed from the cast after the first season), who portrayed Rose's (Alaina Reed) daughter, Tiffany, before written off the show initially during 1988.February 11Culture Club's main singer Boy George appears on an episode of the NBC drama The A-Team.February 14Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the NBC drama Miami Vice. Zappa plays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie" in the episode "Payback".February 17Rod Roddy becomes the permanent announcer of the CBS daytime game series The Price Is Right, replacing Johnny Olson, who had died the previous October.February 22In honor of the 20th anniversary of the first episode of the television series The Monkees, MTV broadcasts "Pleasant Valley Sunday", a 22-hour marathon of Monkees episodes.March 1Bay Area TV station KEMO-TV changes its call sign to KOFY-TV.March 3The made-for-TV movie Diary of a Perfect Murder airs on NBC. This pilot episode serves as the basis for Matlock, which premieres September 23.March 6–12A female contestant named Barbara Lowe appears on the game show Jeopardy! winning 5 games with approximately $50,000 in cash winnings. She was later found ineligible after it was revealed that Barbara appeared on about seven different game shows (most notably Bullseye, which was already off the air by the time of Jeopardy! current syndicated run) under four different aliases with as many Social Security numbers. Her winnings were originally withheld until Barbara sued the show's distributors Merv Griffin Enterprises and King World Productions. She ended up receiving her winnings, and was subsequently banned from the 1986 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions and any future tournaments on the show.March 7WNEW-TV, TV station in New York changes its call sign to WNYW, in anticipation of its switch to Fox on October.Dallas/Fort Worth independent television station KRLD-TV changes its calls to KDAF in anticipation of its switch to Fox in October.March 9On the NBC soap opera Search for Tomorrow, the entire town of Henderson is washed away in a flood. Main character Joanne Tourneur's motel is the only structure in town left standing.Punky Brewster broadcasts a "very special episode" concerning Punky's reaction to the real life Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. This would be the final episode of Punky Brewster to be broadcast on NBC. Its final two seasons would be produced for the first-run syndication market.March 15On the Saturday Night Live sketch "Mr. Monopoly", cast member Damon Wayans plays a minor police officer character role as a gay stereotype, which would later result in his firing.Wright Megh Saturday Night's Children: Damon Wayans (1985–1986) http://splitsider.com/2013/10/saturday-nights-children-damon-wayans-1985-1986/ Splitsider March 17, 2015 October 22, 2013 October 24, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131024032631/http://splitsider.com/2013/10/saturday-nights-children-damon-wayans-1985-1986/ deadFennessey Sean SNL and The Curse of the Transitional Season http://splitsider.com/2010/10/snl-and-the-curse-of-the-transitional-season/ Splitsider March 17, 2015 October 13, 2010 October 23, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141023211100/http://splitsider.com/2010/10/snl-and-the-curse-of-the-transitional-season/ dead In the season finale however, executive producer Lorne Michaels invited Wayans back to perform stand up on the show, even though he had been fired by Michaels from the show two months prior. March 20After four seasons, NBC cancels Remington Steele. This announcement results in Pierce Brosnan being named the newest portrayer of James Bond. As a result of the media frenzy concerning Brosnan's appointment, as well as the corresponding increase of Steele's ratings, NBC reverses its decision and announces Steele will return midway through the 1986–87 season. This results in Bond movie producers withdrawing their offer to Brosnan, though he would take on the role of Bond in 1995.March 24MTV beings their annual Spring break coverage.April 3Merv Griffin sells his company, Merv Griffin Enterprises, to The Coca-Cola Company for $250,000,000.April 5The sitcom Too Close for Comfort is revamped under the new title, The Ted Knight Show. Production for the series is however, halted following star Ted Knight's death from colon cancer on August 26, 1986. Ten of the remaining episodes that were produced would eventually air from September 27, 1986, to February 7, 1987. Rebroadcasts of the single season of The Ted Knight Show would ultimately air under the Too Close for Comfort title.April 7The second annual WrestleMania event is broadcast on pay-per-view. It's the only WrestleMania that is not held on the traditional Sunday until the two-night WrestleMania 36 in April 2020. It's also to date, the only WrestleMania to take place at three separate venues: the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York; the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois; and the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California.April 13NBC broadcasts Return to Mayberry, which reunites sixteen original cast members from The Andy Griffith Show. Return to Mayberry would become the highest-rated television film of 1986.http://www.allmovie.com/work/return-to-mayberry-41130 Return to Mayberry Erickson Hal allmovie.com 1 2009-06-07April 19The series finale of Benson is broadcast on ABC. In the finale, the term-limited Governor Gatling runs for re-election as an independent candidate with Benson securing the party nomination, setting the stage for the two to go head-to-head in the general election. Benson and Gatling—who had strained relations due to the race—make peace with each other and watch the tight election returns together on television. As the broadcaster begins to announce that a winner is at last being projected, the episode ends on a freeze frame of Benson and Gatling, leaving the series with an unresolved cliffhanger.April 20Like the previous films, a separate extended edition for Superman III was produced and aired on ABC. The opening credits were in outer space, featuring the main Superman theme with slight differences. This is followed by a number of scenes, including additional dialogue but not added into any of the official VHS, DVD or Blu-ray cuts of the film. The "Deluxe Edition" of Superman III, released in 2006 on par with the DVD release of Superman Returns, included these scenes in its extra features section as "deleted scenes".https://www.supermanhomepage.com/tv/tv.php?topic=articles/unreleased-stuff2 Superman Homepage www.supermanhomepage.comApril 21Geraldo Rivera hosts a live two-hour syndicated special The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults, eventually coming up empty-handed.April 27A man calling himself Captain Midnight jams HBO's signal to protest its monthly fee of $12.95.May 4–5NBC broadcasts the two-part miniseries The Deliberate Stranger, starring Mark Harmon as real life serial killer Ted Bundy. During the second part's broadcast, a few NBC affiliates (including WPXI channel 11 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and KPRC channel 2 Houston, Texas) were interrupted by a frozen scene and a static sound until placing their own technical difficulties tel-op graphics for less than 30 seconds before returning to its fixed program.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdAZLy8uKSg https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/vdAZLy8uKSg December 21, 2021 live KPRC issued technical difficulties during second part YouTube May 5, 1986 July 12, 2020 en-UShttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqHpDwxcO9o https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/FqHpDwxcO9o December 21, 2021 live WPXI issued technical difficulties during second part YouTube May 5, 1986 July 12, 2020 en-USMay 10Tommy Lee of the rock group Mötley Crüe marries actress Heather Locklear.May 12NBC unveils its new six-feathered Peacock logo during its 60th anniversary special. It is still used by the network today.May 16Bobby Ewing is revealed to be alive and showering in his ex-wife Pam's bathroom in the season finale of the CBS drama Dallas; in the September 26 season premiere, it was shown that the entire 1985–86 season was a dream of hers the night after they agreed to remarry.May 16–24The Stanley Cup Final between the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens is broadcast in the United States on ESPN. This is the first of three consecutive seasons that ESPN would televise the Stanley Cup Final before being succeeded by SportsChannel America in 1989.May 22Cher calls David Letterman an "asshole" during a taping of NBC's Late Night with David Letterman.May 26–June 8The NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets is broadcast on CBS. This is notably, the first time the "NBA Finals" branding is officially used, as the "NBA World Championship Series" branding, which had been in use since the beginning of the National Basketball Association, is dropped.May 31ABC airs the Indianapolis 500 live for the first time.June 1CBS affiliate WCHS-TV in Charleston, West Virginia swaps affiliations with ABC affiliate WOWK-TV, reversing a swap that took place in 1962. June 9General Electric completes its acquisition of RCA, owner of NBC at that time, this made Denver's KCNC-TV an NBC owned and operated station.June 18St. Louis' CBS affiliate KMOX-TV was changed to KMOV-TV after being bought out by Viacom.June 29CBS affiliate WOWT-TV and NBC affiliate KMTV, both in Omaha, Nebraska, agree to swap affiliations, thus reversing a swap that took place in 1956.July 4CBS' Washington affiliate WDVM-TV changes its call letters to WUSA. In return, the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis/St. Paul already changed its call letters to KARE on June 11.WUSA, Ch. 11, will switch to KARE June 11 June 6, 1986 16C Minneapolis Star and Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wusa-ch-11-will-switch-t/137600709/ January 25, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240101060552/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wusa-ch-11-will-switch-t/137600709/ liveColeman Nick It's storytime: Golden Valley and TV bears June 12, 1986 1C, 5C Minneapolis Star and Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-its-storytime-golden-vall/137600722/ January 25, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240101060552/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wusa-ch-11-will-switch-t/137600709/ liveJuly 5The opening ceremonies for the first annual Goodwill Games, an international multi-sport event created by Ted Turner in response to the Olympic boycotts of the period, is broadcast on TBS.July 15The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, emanating from the Astrodome in Houston, Texas is broadcast on ABC. The American League would defeat the National League by the score of 3–2. This would also turn out to be the final baseball game to be managed by Dick Howser of the American League team and Kansas City Royals. Broadcasters noticed that Howser was messing up signals when he changed pitchers, and Howser later admitted he that felt sick before the game. Shortly thereafter, Howser was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery. On June 17, 1987, Dick Howser died at the age of 51.July 18A tornado is broadcast live by NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis when the station's helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter.Tai Wendy S. Byrne Carol When funnels hit, pilot was on top of things—literally July 19, 1986 1A, 6A Minneapolis Star and Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-when-funnels-hit-pilot-was/137805528/ January 25, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240101184913/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-when-funnels-hit-pilot-was/137805528/ liveSeptember 1For one week, CBS Evening News anchorman Dan Rather attempts to initiate the use of the word "Courage" as a slogan. The attempt is a failure, and is noticed by other members of the press.Disney Channel, at the time a premium cable network, begins broadcasting a 24-hour-a-day schedule.September 8Oprah Winfrey's Chicago-based talk show goes national.Al Michaels makes his debut as the new play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Football. Michaels succeeds Frank Gifford, who was transferred to a color commentating role. Michaels would remain as the play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Football until the end of the 2005 season, when ABC terminated their broadcasting relationship with the National Football League.The second season of the Leave It to Beaver sequel series, Still the Beaver airs on TBS. Originally broadcast on The Disney Channel, the series, now titled The New Leave It to Beaver, will air on TBS for three seasons, finally concluding in 1989.September 17ABC becomes the second American network to discontinue use of chime intonations at the beginning of telecasts, switching to satellite feed activation. September 20The pilot episode for what would become Lucille Ball's final television series, Life with Lucy, airs on ABC. Only 8 out of the 13 episodes produced were aired before ABC cancelled the series. Unlike Ball's previous sitcoms, Life with Lucy was a failure in the ratings and poorly received by critics and viewers alike, ranking among the worst sitcoms in broadcasting history.The film-review program Siskel & Ebert & the Movies makes its debut in syndication. Although the two critics have been working as a pair since 1975, this will be their longest running program and will run in various incarnations until 2010.September 27On the NBC comedy The Facts of Life, Charlotte Rae quits the role of Mrs. Garrett (who marries her old friend Bruce Gaines, played by Robert Mandan), and is replaced by Cloris Leachman, who played Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett's sister.Mama's Family begins its third season now in first-run syndication after spending its first two seasons on NBC.Sheryl Lee Ralph joins the cast of the sitcom It's a Living as Ginger St. James. Ralph replaces Ann Jillian, who portrayed Cassie Cranston and departed after three seasons (the first two on ABC and the third in first-run syndication). Ralph would remain on It's a Living until its conclusion in 1989.September 28CBS returns the 4:00 p.m. timeslot to its affiliates following the cancellation of Press Your Luck a month earlier.ABC airs the broadcast network television premiere of Raiders of the Lost Ark.October 4While walking to his New York City home, CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather is accosted and beaten on the sidewalk by two men, who pummeled and kicked him while repeating the question "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"October 5ABC affiliate KDEB-TV in Springfield, Missouri disaffiliates from the network and becomes an independent station as a result of an agreement between ABC and Telepictures, owners of independent station KSPR.Marymont Mark Pulling the plug: KDEB notified by ABC that it will switch to KSPR this year April 4, 1986 1A, 2A Springfield Leader and Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-pulling-the/181012508/ January 24, 2026 Newspapers.comLemons Terry KDEB sues KSPR owners over loss of ABC pact May 8, 1986 1B Springfield Leader and Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-kdeb-sues-k/40035229/ January 24, 2026 Newspapers.comMarymont Mark KDEB-TV will drop local news May 28, 1986 1B, 2B Springfield Leader and Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-kdeb-tv-wil/40035673/ January 24, 2026 Newspapers.comCapital Cities/ABC sued by KDEB for $109 million on loss of affiliation June 3, 1986 1B Springfield Leader and Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-capital-cit/181012578/ January 24, 2026 Newspapers.comMarymont Mark ABC change spices up fall TV in the Ozarks September 14, 1986 2H The News-Leader https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-abc-change/40035466/ January 24, 2026 Newspapers.com KDEB-TV will eventually become a charter affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company by March 1987.Shales Tom Fox TV's first show bodes ill March 30, 1987 3C The Springfield News-Leader https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-fox-tvs-fir/181784070/ January 24, 2026 Newspapers.comOctober 6The game show Double Dare premieres on Nickelodeon. Almost overnight, the show would make Nickelodeon (which by this time was struggling and only had a couple of hits, such as You Can't Do That on Television) the most watched cable channel. It would go on to be the channel's longest running game show (and the longest running series overall by episode count).October 9The Fox Broadcasting Company (then abbreviated as FBC; now Fox) launches as the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network, the first such attempt since 1967. Its very first program is The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers.Harmetz Aljean Fox's Barry Diller Gambles on a Fourth TV Network October 5, 1986 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/05/arts/fox-s-barry-diller-gambles-on-a-fourth-tv-network.html January 25, 2026 May 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150524183815/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/05/arts/fox-s-barry-diller-gambles-on-a-fourth-tv-network.html liveOctober 11Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Victoria Jackson, and Kevin NealonGendel Morgan Another Groundling Hops To 'Snl' https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-30-ca-10028-story.html 23 January 2015 Los Angeles Times 30 September 1986 officially join the cast of Saturday Night Live. The season opener features Madonna, who hosted of the previous season's opener, reading a "statement" from NBC about Season 11's writing and bad cast choices.http://snltranscripts.jt.org/86/86amadonna.phtml Madonna: "It Was All a Dream" - SNL Transcripts Tonight 8 October 2018 According to the "statement", the entire 1985–86 season was "...all a dream. A horrible, horrible dream."October 12Fox signs its first affiliate outside of its charter group, when WTUV in Utica, New York signs-on.Lewis Audrey WTUV-TV today starts broadcasting: Area's newest station on air 2 p.m.-12:30 a.m. October 12, 1986 Utica Observer-Dispatch https://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%202/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Observer/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20pdf/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20-%207554.pdf January 25, 2026 August 3, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210803235905/https://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%202/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Observer/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20pdf/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20-%207554.pdf liveOctober 17SIN broadcasts the final of the 9th National OTI-SIN Festival live from the Miami Convention Center in Miami.October 25NBC's broadcast of Game 6 of the World Series, in which the New York Mets came from behind to defeat the Boston Red Sox in ten innings, causes the first cancellation of Saturday Night Live in its eleven-year history up until that point. That night's episode, which was hosted by Rosanna Arquette with musical guest Ric Ocasek, actually filmed starting at 1:30 AM EST. Instead, it aired two weeks later on November 8 with an introduction by Mets pitcher Ron Darling, who playfully apologized for the cancellation.October 31As a Halloween special, WPIX in New York City airs the uncut Invasion of the Body Snatchers, followed by an uncut episode of The Twilight Zone.November 3New episodes of Kids Incorporated began airing on The Disney Channel. The series had originally aired for two seasons in first–syndication. Disney's buyout package also includes the entire syndicated run, and as Disney Channel has never carried traditional commercial breaks, the episodes are re-edited to remove any advertising-related continuity to become continuous episodes. November 9A night for programs that could be described as anything but eventful. On ABC, a special celebrating the 15th birthday of Walt Disney World airs followed by the network television premiere of Splash. On NBC, Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star is shown for the first time. While on CBS, part 1 of the miniseries Monte Carlo airs.November 19–23On CBS, Murder, She Wrotes Jessica Fletcher crosses over to Magnum, P.I. in a plot that sees her coming to Hawaii to investigate an attempt to murder Robin Masters' guests. She then tries to clear Thomas Magnum when he's accused of killing the hitman. November 30The Disney Channel signs off for the last time. From 7 a.m. on December 1, 1986, the channel broadcasts 24 hours a day.December 16Singer Darlene Love performs "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" for the first time on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman. Love would go on to sing the song annually from 1994 to 2014 on David Letterman's succeeding program, CBS' Late Show with David Letterman on the episode before Christmas. The only exception would be 2007, when Love was unable to perform due a Writers' Strike. So a repeat of her 2006 performance was shown instead.December 20NBC's Saturday Night Live features a sketch where William Shatner, sick of Star Trek fans asking him inane questions, tells them to "Get a life!"December 25Liberace makes what turns out to be his last public appearance on a prerecorded interview with Oprah Winfrey. Programs Debuting this year Date Title Network January 5 Blacke's Magic NBC January 6 Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak ABC January 10 He's the Mayor January 18 The Redd Foxx Show January 22 Planet Earth PBS January 26 The Last Precinct NBC January 28 MelbaCBS February 15 Fortune DaneABC February 16 Sidekicks February 24 You Again? NBCMarch 1 Valerie March 3 Matlock March 5 Fast Times CBS Tough CookiesMarch 20 All Is ForgivenNBCMarch 25 Morningstar/EveningstarCBS Perfect Strangers ABCMarch 28 Mr. Sunshine April 6 Fathers and SonsNBCApril 13 The Wind in the WillowsThe Disney ChannelApril 24 Bridges to CrossCBSApril 25 Leo & Liz in Beverly HillsJune 21 The Canned Film FestivalSyndication Me & Mrs. CNBCJune 30 The Mysterious Cities of GoldNickelodeonJuly 28 A Current AffairSyndication September 6 WWF Superstars of Wrestling The Flintstone Kids ABC September 8 GhostbustersSyndicationNightlife The Oprah Winfrey Show SilverHawks Superior Court September 9 The Wizard CBS September 10 It's Garry Shandling's Show Showtime September 11 Our House NBC September 13 Easy Street Kissyfur The Real Ghostbusters ABCPound Puppies Pee-wee's Playhouse CBS Teen Wolf Wildfire At the MoviesSyndication September 14 The New Adventures of Jonny Quest September 15 Rambo: The Force of Freedom Zoobilee Zoo September 16 Jack and MikeABC September 17 Head of the Class September 18 Crime Story NBC L.A. Law September 19 Starman ABC September 20 The Ellen Burstyn Show Heart of the City Life With Lucy September 22 Dennis the MenaceSyndication Zoobilee Zoo Together We Stand CBS ALF NBC September 23 Sledge Hammer! ABC September 25 Our World September 26 Kay O'Brien CBS September 27 The New Mike Hammer Amen NBC September 28 WWF Wrestling ChallengeSyndication September 29 Designing Women CBS October 1 Better Days October 6 My Sister Sam Double Dare Nickelodeon October 9 The Late Show Fox December 1 The Cavanaughs CBS December 5 DadsABC Gung Ho December 28 OutlawsCBS Resuming this year Title Final Aired Previous Network New title Returning Network Date of returnCard Sharks1981NBCSameCBSJanuary 6Too Close for Comfort1985SyndicationThe Ted Knight ShowSameApril 219 to 51983ABCSameSyndicationSeptember 13Hollywood Squares1984NBCSeptember 15Mama's FamilySeptember 26 Ending this year Date Title DebutJanuary 3Body Language1984January 7Stir Crazy 1985January 16Shadow Chasers January 25Lady Blue February 1Inspector Gadget (returned in 2015) 1983February 6Ripley's Believe It or Not! (returned in 2000) 1982February 21Misfits of Science 1985March 5Planet Earth 1986March 7Diff'rent Strokes1978April 4Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak1986April 8Foley Square1985MaryApril 19Benson1979The Redd Foxx Show1986April 23Fast TimesApril 27Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors1985May 2The Fall Guy1981May 3Crazy Like a Fox1984May 5Hardcastle and McCormick1983May 7Blacke's Magic1986May 16Charlie & Co.1985 May 23The Joker's Wild (returned in 1990)1972The All-New Let's Make a Deal (returned in 1991)1963Tic Tac Dough (returned in 1990)1956 May 24The Love Boat1977Mr. Sunshine1986May 28T. J. Hooker1982June 6The Merv Griffin Show1972June 7Star Wars: Droids1985August 8Knight Rider1982August 9The Paper Chase1978August 22Riptide1984August 24Code of Vengeance1985September 4Trapper John, M.D.1979September 5Price Is Right (nighttime) (returned in 1994)1972September 26Press Your Luck (returned in 2019)1983October 22Better Days1986November 15Life with LucyNovember 20Kay O'BrienDecember 5GhostbustersSilverHawksDecember 6It's Punky Brewster1985December 13EwoksWildfire1986December 26The Canned Film FestivalRambo: The Force of FreedomSearch for Tomorrow1951 Changing networks Show Moved from Moved toNational Geographic ExplorerNickelodeonTBSThe New Leave It to Beaver Disney ChannelThe Wonderful World of DisneyCBSABCThe Care BearsSyndicationPink Panther and SonsNBCCard SharksCBSHollywood SquaresSyndicationMama's FamilySilver Spoons9 to 5ABC Made-for-TV movies and miniseries Title Channel Premiere dateThe Last Frontier (miniseries)CBSNovember 3North and South: Book II (miniseries)ABCMay 4 Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source Festival Cable television April 1 C-SPAN2 Cable television June 2 QVC Cable television November 24 Conversions and rebrandings Old network name New network name Type Conversion Date Notes SourceNational Christian NetworkLiberty Broadcasting NetworkCable televisionUnknownSatellite Program Network Tempo TelevisionCable television March 8 Closures There are no closures for cable and satellite television channels in this year. Television stations Station launches Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/Ref. January 1 Quincy, Illinois WTJR !6 CTN January 8 Columbus, Ohio W17AI 17 Independent January 10 Mansfield, Ohio WMFD-TV 68 Independent January 27 Houston, Texas KTHT 67 Independent January 30 Pensacola, Florida/Mobile, Alabama WHBR 33 CTN January 31 Birmingham, Alabama WCAJ 68 Independent February 7 Hot Springs, Arkansas KRZB-TV 26 Independent February 15 Syracuse, New York WKAF 68 Independent February 19 Urbana, Illinois WCCU 27 Independent Satellite of WRSP-TV/Springfield March 6 Rockford, Illinois W68BR 68 March 7 Olean/Buffalo, New York W20AB 20 ACTS/TempoTV March 10 Roanoke/Lynchburg, Virginia WVFT 27 Independent March 17 Lufkin, Texas KHTM-LP 13 Independent March 23 Lynchburg, Virginia WJPR 21 Independent March 24 Honolulu, Hawaii KBFD 32 Asian independent Odessa/Midland, Texas KOCV-TV 36 PBS March 30 Jefferson City/Columbia, Missouri KNLJ 25 Religious independent April 2 Louisville, Kentucky WBNA 21 Independent April 7 West Monroe/Monroe, Louisiana (El Dorado, Arkansas) KMCT-TV 39 Religious independent April 6 Omaha, Nebraska KPTM 42 Independent April 13 Stockton, California Sacramento/Modesto, California) KSCH-TV 58 Independent April 16 Rawlins, Wyoming KRWY 9 ABC April 19 Florence, Alabama WTRT 26 Independent April 24 Lakeland/Tampa, Florida WTMV 32 Independent April 25 San Francisco, California K30BI 30 The Box April 27 Mayaguez, Puerto Rico WUHM-TV 22 Independent Satellite of WAPA-TV/San Juan April 29 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania W35BT 35 Cornerstone Television June 1 Joplin, Missouri KOZJ 26 PBS Satellite of KOZK/Springfield June 2 Ottumwa, Iowa (Kirksville, Missouri) KOIA-TV 15 Independent June 8 Madison, Wisconsin WMSN-TV 47 Independent June 14 Hartford, Connecticut W13BF 13 Netspan June 16 Odessa/Midland, Texas KPEJ-TV 24 IndependentJune 17 Beaumont, Texas KITU-TV 34 TBN Little Rock, Arkansas KJTM-TV 38 Independent June 25 Nashville, Tennessee W61AR 61 Independent (primary) America One (secondary) July 1 Charleston, Illinois WEIU-TV 51 Independent July 9 Wilmington, Delaware (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) WTGI-TV 61 Independent (primary) ABC (secondary) Clearednetwork programs not cleared by WPVI-TV until 1988. July 22 Gadsden/Anniston, Alabama (Birmingham/Tuscaloosa, Alabama) WTJP-TV 60 TBN August 12 Nashville, Tennessee W24AE 24 HSN August 15 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico WELU 32 Religious independent August 20 Iron Mountain/Marquette, Michigan WDHS 8 TBN August 23 Honolulu, Hawaii KWHE 14 Independent August 28 Naranjito, Puerto Rico WECN 64 Religious independent August 29 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma K07TX 7 Independent September 1 Monterey/Santa Cruz, California KSMS 67 SIN September 2 Erie, Pennsylvania WETG 66 Independent September 12 Indianapolis, Indiana W31AL 31 EWTN September 14 Portland, Maine WPXT 51 Independent September 15 New London/Hartford, Connecticut WTWS 26 Independent September 19 Pembina, North Dakota (Emerson/Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) KNRR 12 Independent Satellite of KVRR/Fargo September 21 Great Falls, Montana KTGF 16 NBC September 25 Garland/Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas KIAB-TV 23 SIN (primary) CTN/HSN (secondary) Detroit, Michigan W26AB 26 America One (primary) FamilyNet (secondary) September 28 La Crosse, Wisconsin WQOW 18 ABC October 7 St. Joseph, Missouri KTAJ-TV 16 TBN October 8 Reno, Nevada KREN-TV 27 SIN October 12 Utica, New York WTUV 33 Fox October 13 Johnstown/Altoona, Pennsylvania WWCP-TV 8 Independent October 16 Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina WUNP-TV 36 PBS Part of University of North Carolina Public Television October 21 Clarksville, Indiana (Louisville, Kentucky) W05BA 5 TBN October 25 Bend, Oregon K48BL 48 America One November 2 Visalia/Fresno, California KNXT 49 Religious independent November 14 Portsmouth, Ohio K21BK 21 Independent November 15 San Jose, California (San Francisco/Oakland, California) KLXV-TV 65 TBN November 25 Vallejo, California (San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, California) KPST-TV 66 Asian independent December 1 Salt Lake City, Utah KUEN 9 Educational independent December 5 Fort Wayne, Indiana WFWA 39 PBS December 6 Norwell/Boston, Massachusetts WRYT 46 Independent December 12 La Salle/Chicago, Illinois WWTO-TV 35 TBN Unknown date Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands WTTM-TV 27 Independent Network affiliation changes Date City of License/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. January 1 Columbia, Missouri KMIZ 17 NBC ABC KOMU-TV 8 ABC NBC June 1 CharlestonHuntington, West Virginia WCHS-TV 8 CBS ABC Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia WOWK-TV 13 ABC CBS June 29 Omaha, Nebraska KMTV-TV 3 NBC CBS WOWT 6 CBS NBC October 9 Albany, New York WXXA-TV 23 Independent Fox Albuquerque, New Mexico KGSW 14 Amarillo, Texas KCIT 14 Anchorage, Alaska KTBY 4 Anderson, South Carolina (Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina) WAXA-TV 40 Appleton/Green Bay, Wisconsin WXGZ-TV 32 Atlanta, Georgia WATL 36 Augusta, Georgia W67BE 67 Austin, Texas KBVO 42 Baltimore, Maryland WBFF 45 Independent (primary) ABC/CBS (secondary) Previously cleared programs not cleared by WMAR-TV (later WBAL-TV) and WJZ-TV Bessemer, Alabama (Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/Anniston) WDBB 17 Independent Boise, Idaho KTRV-TV 12 Charlotte, North Carolina WCCB 18 Champaign/Decatur/Springfield, Illinois WRSP-TV 55 Charleston, South Carolina WTAT-TV 24 Chattanooga, Tennessee WDSI-TV 61 Chicago, Illinois WFLD 32 Colorado Springs, Colorado KXRM-TV 21 Columbus, Ohio WTTE 28 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas KDAF 33 Danville/Lexington, Kentucky WDKY-TV 56 Dayton, Ohio WRGT-TV 45 Des Moines, Iowa KDSM-TV 17 Detroit, Michigan WKBD-TV 50 El Paso, Texas KCIK-TV 14 Eugene, Oregon K25AS 25 Fargo, North Dakota KVRR 15 Flint/Saginaw, Michigan WSMH 66 Fort Myers, Florida WFTX-TV 36 Gadsden, Alabama (Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/Anniston) WNAL 44 Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan WXMI 17 Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina WNRW-TV 45 Harrisburg/Lebanon, Pennsylvania WPMT 43 Hartford, Connecticut WTIC-TV 61 Independent (primary) CBS/ABC (secondary) Previously cleared ABC or CBS programming not carried by WTNH or WFSB-TV, respectively. Hazleton/Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania WOLF-TV 56 Independent Honolulu, Hawaii KHNL 13 Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia (Ashland, Kentucky/Portsmouth, Ohio) WVAH-TV 23 Indianapolis, Indiana WXIN (recalled from WPDS-TV) 59 Inglis/Yankeetown, Florida(Gainesville/Ocala) W49AI 49 Jacksonville, Florida WAWS 30 Kansas City, Missouri KSHB-TV 41 Kerrville/San Antonio, Texas KRRT 35 Lafayette, Louisiana KADN 15 Lake Charles, Louisiana KVHP 29 Las Vegas, Nevada KVVU-TV 5 Los Angeles, California KTTV 11 Louisville, Kentucky WDRB 41 Lubbock, Texas KJTV-TV 36 Lynchburg/Danville, Virginia WJPR-TV 21 Madison, Wisconsin WMSN-TV 47 Miami, Florida WCIX-TV 6 Milwaukee, Wisconsin WCGV-TV 24 Montgomery, Alabama WCOV-TV 20 Mobile, Alabama (Pensacola, Florida) WPMI-TV 15 Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz, California KCBA 35 Nashville, Tennessee WCAY-TV 30 Newport, Kentucky/Cincinnati, Ohio WXIX-TV 19 New York City WNEW-TV 5 Norfolk, Virginia (Newport News/Portsmouth/Virginia Beach) WTVZ 33 Oakland/San Francisco, California KTVU 2 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma KAUT-TV 43 Orlando, Florida WOFL 35 Ottumwa, Iowa/Kirksville, Missouri KOIA-TV 15 Peoria/Bloomington, Illinois WYZZ-TV 43 Pembina, North Dakota (USA) (Emerson/Winnipeg, Manitoba) KNRR 12 Satellite of KVRR/Fargo Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WTXF-TV 29 Phoenix, Arizona KNXV-TV 15 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania WPGH-TV 53 Independent (primary) CBS (secondary) Pine Bluff/Little Rock, Arkansas KJTM-TV 38 Independent Portland, Maine WPXT 51 Providence, Rhode Island WNAC-TV 64 Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina WLFL-TV 22 Redding/Chico, California KRCR-TV 7 ABC (exclusive) ABC (primary) Fox (secondary) Reno, Nevada KAME-TV 21 Independent Fox Richmond, Virginia WRLH-TV 35 Rochester, New York WUHF 31 Sacramento, California KTXL 40 Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands WSZE-TV 10 NBC (primary) CBS/ABC (secondary) NBC (primary) CBS/ABC/Fox (secondary) Satellite of KUAM-TV/Hagåtña, Guam San Angelo, Texas KIDY 6 Independent Fox Salt Lake City, Utah KSTU 13 Savannah, Georgia WTGS 28 Casper, Wyoming KFNB 20 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania WOLF-TV 38 Shaker Heights/Cleveland, Ohio WOIO 19 Shreveport, Louisiana KMSS-TV 33 Independent (primary) CBS (secondary) Spokane, Washington KAYU-TV 28 Independent Springfield, Missouri KDEB-TV 27 St. Louis, Missouri KDNL 30 Syracuse, New York WSYT-TV 68 Tacoma/Seattle, Washington KCPQ 13 Independent (primary) CBS (secondary) Tampa, Florida WTOG 44 Independent Thief River Falls, Minnesota (Grand Forks, North Dakota) KBRR 10 Satellite of KVRR/Fargo Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (San Diego, California, United States) XETV-TV 6 Toledo, Ohio WUPW 36 Tulsa, Oklahoma KOKI-TV 23 Tucson, Arizona KMSB 11 Waco, Texas KWKT-TV 44 Washington, D.C. WTTG 5 Watertown, New York WJCK 50 ABC (exclusive) ABC (primary) Fox (secondary) Wichita, Kansas KSAS-TV 24 Independent Fox Wichita Falls, Texas KJTL 18 October 13 Altoona/Johnstown, Pennsylvania WWPC-TV 23 ABC Independent Births Date Name NotabilityJanuary 1Anna BrewsterEnglish actress (Versailles)January 4Charlyne YiActress (House, Steven Universe, We Bare Bears, Summer Camp Island)January 5Jesse DraperActress (The Naked Brothers Band) January 6Shane SweetActor (The Journey of Allen Strange, Married... with Children)January 8Jaclyn LinetskyCanadian voice actress (Mega Babies, What's with Andy?, Caillou) (d. 2003)January 15Jessy SchramActress (Last Resort, Falling Skies, Nashville) and singerMolly OrrActress (Drake & Josh)January 18Devin KelleyActress (The Chicago Code, Resurrection, Frequency)Becca TobinActress (Glee) and singerJanuary 21Julianna StricklandYouTube personality and actressJanuary 22Daniel Wayne SmithActor (d. 2006)January 24 Mischa BartonActress (KaBlam!, Once and Again, The O.C.)Raviv UllmanActor (Phil of the Future, Rita Rocks)January 29Drew Tyler BellActor (The Bold and the Beautiful)January 30Ashley BuccilleVoice actress (Lila Sawyer on Hey Arnold!)February 1Lauren ConradActress (Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, The Hills)February 2Gemma ArtertonEnglish actressFebruary 4Danielle VegaAmerican actress (Barney & Friends)February 5Elizabeth AlderferAmerican actressFebruary 6Alice GreczynActress (Quintuplets, The Lying Game)Dane DeHaanActor (In Treatment)February 7Stephen CollettiActor (Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, One Tree Hill)February 8Anna HutchisonNew Zealand actress (Power Rangers Jungle Fury)February 12Valorie CurryActressFebruary 14Tiffany ThorntonActress (Sonny with a Chance, So Random!) and singerFebruary 15Amber RileyActress (Glee)February 19Ophelia LovibondEnglish actress (Holby City, Titanic: Blood and Steel, Elementary)February 22Miko HughesActor (Full House, Life with Louie)February 24Bryce PapenbrookVoice actor (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Sword Art Online, Attack on Titan)February 25Justin BerfieldActor (Unhappily Ever After, Malcolm in the Middle, Kim Possible)Jameela JamilActressFebruary 26Teresa PalmerAustralian actressFebruary 28Kingsley Ben-AdirBritish actorMarch 1Big EPro wrestler2019-09-16 WWE Profile - Big E https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/17173037/wwe-profile-page-big-e 2025-07-27 ESPN.com enMarch 2Sonja KinskiActressMarch 4Margo HarshmanActress (Even Stevens, Run of the House)March 5Dominique McElligottActressMarch 9Brittany SnowActress (American Dreams, Harry's Law)March 10Vadim SchneiderFrench-Canadian actor (d. 2003)March 14Jamie BellEnglish actor (Turn: Washington's Spies)March 16Alexandra DaddarioActress (All My Children, White Collar, Parenthood)March 17Olesya RulinRussian-born actress (High School Musical)March 19Michael DrayerAmerican actorMarch 20Ruby RoseAustralian actress (Orange is the New Black, Batwoman)March 21Scott EastwoodActor and son of Clint EastwoodMarch 22Matt BushActor (Glory Daze, The Goldbergs)March 23Steven StraitActorBen RappaportActorMarch 26Jessica HartAustralian modelMarch 28Lady GagaSinger, songwriter, and actress (American Horror Story)Meagan SmithActress (Gwen Tennyson in Ben 10)March 30Tessa FerrerActress (Grey's Anatomy)Simon BakerActorApril 2 Drew Van AckerActor (Tower Prep, Pretty Little Liars)Lee DeWyzeSinger (American Idol)Levy Glen 2010-05-27 Fast Facts: American Idol Winner Lee DeWyze https://newsfeed.time.com/2010/05/27/fast-facts-american-idol-winner-lee-dewyze/ 2024-02-19 Time en-US 0040-781XChristopher WalbergVoice actor (Stinky Peterson on Hey Arnold!)April 3 Amanda BynesActress (All That, The Amanda Show, Rugrats, What I Like About You)Jerry MessingActorApril 5Charlotte FlairPro Wrestler (WWE)April 6Kay AdamsSportscasterApril 7Jason RalphActorApril 9Leighton MeesterActress (Gossip Girl, Single Parents) and singerJordan MastersonActor (Greek, Last Man Standing)April 12Matt McGorryActor (Orange is the New Black, How to Get Away with Murder)April 15Ester DeanActressApril 16Sufe BradshawActress (Veep) April 22Amber HeardActress (Hidden Palms)April 25John DeLucaActor (General Hospital)Daniel SharmanEnglish actor (Teen Wolf, The Originals)April 27Jenna ColemanEnglish actress (Emmerdale, Doctor Who, Victoria)April 28Jenna UshkowitzActress (Glee) and singerApril 29Zoran KorachActor (Sam & Cat)Crystal HefnerHostApril 30Dianna AgronActress (Glee), singer, and dancerBeau WirickActorMay 1Abby HuntsmanTV hostMay 2Emily HartActress (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sabrina: The Animated Series) Thomas McDonellActor (The 100)May 3Poppy DelevingneEnglish modelMay 6Sasheer ZamataActress and comedian (Saturday Night Live)May 8Laura SpencerActress (The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, The Big Bang Theory)May 9Grace GummerActress (Gigantic, American Horror Story, Extant) and daughter of Meryl Streep and Don GummerMay 12Emily VanCampActress (Everwood, Brothers & Sisters, Revenge)May 13Lena DunhamActress (Girls)May 16Drew RoyActor (Hannah Montana, Falling Skies)Jacob ZacharActor (Greek)Megan FoxActress (Ocean Ave., Hope & Faith, New Girl) and modelMay 17Amy GumenickSwedish-born American actress (Arrow, Turn: Washington's Spies)Tahj MowryActor (Full House, Smart Guy, Baby Daddy, Kim Possible)Erin RichardsWelsh actress (Gotham)May 20Louisa KrauseActressKyle HarrisActorMay 21Da'Vine Joy RandolphActressMay 22Molly EphraimActress (Last Man Standing)May 24 Mark Ballas Dancer and choreographer (Dancing with the Stars)May 28Seth RollinsPro wrestlerMarch 2025May 30Will PeltzActorJune 3Josh SegarraActor (Sirens, Arrow)June 4Oona ChaplinSpanish actress (The Hour, Game of Thrones)June 5Amanda CrewCanadian actress (Silicon Valley)June 6Leslie CarterSinger (died 2012)Justin AllgaierRace car driverCameron BrittonActorJune 10Joey Zimmerman Actor (Earth 2, Halloweentown)June 11 Shia LaBeouf Actor (Even Stevens)June 13Kat DenningsActress (Raising Dad, 2 Broke Girls)Mary-Kate OlsenActresses (Full House, Two of a Kind, So Little Time)Ashley OlsenJune 17Marie Avgeropoulos Actress (The 100)June 18Richard MaddenEnglish actor (Game of Thrones)Meaghan RathCanadian actress (15/Love, The Assistants, Being Human)June 19Erin MackeyActress (The Parent Trap)June 20Dreama WalkerActress (Gossip Girl, Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23)June 24Kaitlin CullumActress (Grace Under Fire)Solange KnowlesSinger, actressJune 27Drake Bell Actor (The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ben 10)Alex Plank ActorJune 28Shadia Simmons Canadian actressMaya Stojan ActressMatteo Lane ComedianKellie Pickler SingerJuly 1Casey Reinhardt Actress (Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County)July 2Lindsay Lohan Actress (4-time host of Saturday Night Live, Lindsay, Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club) and daughter of Michael Lohan and Dina LohanJuly 6Leon Frierson Actor (All That) July 8Jake McDorman Actor (Quintuplets, Greek, Limitless)July 9Kiely Williams Actress (The Cheetah Girls), singerJuly 10Wyatt Russell ActorJuly 15Mishael MorganActress (The Young and the Restless)July 16Laura CarmichaelEnglish actress (Downton Abbey)Taryn SouthernActress (Sorority Forever), singer and YouTube personalityJuly 17Brando EatonActor (Dexter, Zoey 101, The Secret Life of the American Teenager)Kaitlin VilasusoActressJuly 18Travis MilneCanadian actor (Rookie Blue)July 20Osric ChauCanadian actor (Supernatural)July 21Diane GuerreroActress (Orange Is the New Black, Jane the Virgin, Superior Donuts, Doom Patrol)Betty GilpinActressJuly 24Megan ParkActress (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Neighbors)July 26Monica RaymundActress (Lie to Me, The Good Wife, Chicago Fire)July 28Alexandra ChandoActress (As the World Turns, The Lying Game)Nolan Gerard FunkActor (Glee, Awkward)July 29Brandon GilberstadtActor (100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd)July 30Danielle KeatonActressAugust 3Andrew McFarlaneActor (My Wife and Kids)August 8Peyton ListActress (As the World Turns, The Tomorrow People)August 13Ashley SpillersActress (Vice Principals, Rugrats)August 16Casey LaBowActressSarah PavanCanadian volleyball playerShawn PyfromActor (Stanley, Desperate Housewives)August 17Bryton JamesActor (Family Matters, The Young and the Restless, Young Justice)August 21Kiami DavaelActressBrooks WheelanActor and comedian (Saturday Night Live)August 27MarioActorJack KesyActorAugust 28Armie HammerActorAugust 29Lea MicheleActress (Glee, Scream Queens)Nicole ByerActressAugust 31Ryan KelleyActor (Teen Wolf)Spencer KleinActor (Mad About You, Hey Arnold!)Brent MorinActorSeptember 1Camille ManaActress (One on One)September 5Davida WilliamsActress (Lizzie McGuire, Degrassi: The Next Generation, As the World Turns)September 8Leah LaBelleAmerican singer (American Idol) (d. 2018)September 10Sarah LevyActressSeptember 12Alfie AllenEnglish actor (Game of Thrones)Emmy RossumActress (Shameless) and singer-songwriterMolly TarlovActress (Awkward) September 14A. J. TrauthActor (Even Stevens, Kim Possible)September 15Heidi MontagActress (Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, The Hills)Jenna MarblesAmerican former YouTuberGeorge WatskyAmerican rapperSeptember 16 Ian Harding Actor (Pretty Little Liars)Kyla Pratt Actress (One on One, Let's Stay Together, Recovery Road, The Proud Family)September 18Danielle JonasActress (Married to Jonas) and television personalitySeptember 19Mandy MusgraveActress (Days of Our Lives, South of Nowhere)Peter VackActorSeptember 20Aldis HodgeActor (A.T.O.M., Leverage, Turn: Washington's Spies, Underground)September 23Kaylee DeFerActress (The War at Home, Gossip Girl)September 24Eloise MumfordActress (The River)Alex Paxton-BeesleyActressSeptember 26Ashley LeggatCanadian actressSean DoolittleAmerican professional baseball pitcherSeptember 28Hannah LederActressSeptember 29Lisa FoilesActress (All That)Lo BosworthActress (Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, The Hills)September 30Ki Hong LeeSouth Korean actor (The Nine Lives of Chloe King, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)October 1Jurnee SmollettActress (On Our Own, Friday Night Lights, The Defenders, True Blood, Underground)October 2Camilla BelleActressOctober 7Amber Stevens WestActress (Greek, The Carmichael Show, Ghosted, Happy Together)Holland RodenActress (Teen Wolf)October 10Lucy GriffithsEnglish actress (Robin Hood, True Blood, Preacher)October 18Renee BarghAustralian entertainment reporterOctober 12Tyler BlackburnActor (Pretty Little Liars, Ravenswood)Marcus T. PaulkActor (Moesha, The Proud Family) and rapperOctober 13Raquel LeeActress (The Amanda Show, The Proud Family)Julia McIlvaineVoice actress (June on KaBlam!)October 17Kristine LeahyAmerican television hostOctober 22Kyle GallnerActorOctober 23Briana EviganActress and daughter of Greg EviganEmilia ClarkeEnglish actress (Game of Thrones)Jessica StroupActress (90210)October 24DrakeCanadian actor (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and rapperOctober 25Annabelle Dexter-JonesActressOctober 27Inbar LaviIsraeli actress (Prison Break, Underemployed, Gang Related, Imposters)Christine EvangelistaActressOctober 28May CalamawyEgyptian-Palestinian actress (Ramy, Moon Knight)May Calamawy https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/may_calamawy May 8, 2022 Rotten Tomatoes April 2, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220402165609/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/may_calamawy liveOctober 29Italia RicciCanadian actress (Unnatural History)November 1Penn BadgleyActor (The Young and the Restless, The Mountain, The Bedford Diaries, Gossip Girl)November 3Antonia ThomasActressJoseline HernandezActressNovember 4Alexz JohnsonActress (So Weird)November 6Katie LeclercActress (Switched at Birth)November 10 Josh Peck Actor (The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, Grandfathered, Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones?, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)November 11Rafael de la FuenteVenezuelan actor (Every Witch Way, Empire, Dynasty)Jon BatisteSingerNovember 14Cory Michael SmithActor (Gotham)November 16Winston DukeActorNovember 17Mitchah WilliamsActor (Lizzie McGuire)November 18 Joseph Ashton Actor (L.A. Doctors, Hey Arnold!, Rocket Power)Georgia King ActressNovember 20Ashley FinkActress (Glee)November 21Jordan WarkolVoice actor (Hey Arnold!, Rocket Power)Sam PalladioBritish actor (Nashville)Colleen BallingerComedian and actressNovember 24Maya KazanActressNovember 25Katie CassidyActress (Harper's Island, Melrose Place, Arrow), singer and daughter of David CassidyCole EscolaActorNovember 28Johnny SimmonsActorDecember 1Scott EvansAmerican hostDecember 5Erin McGathyAmerican actressDecember 7Chris ChalkAmerican actorDecember 8Jo FirestoneAmerican actressDecember 10Elaine WelterothAmerican television hostDecember 11Alex HouseCanadian actor (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Total Drama)Condola Rashad Actress (Steel Magnolias)December 13Sunita ManiActressDecember 17Emma BellActress (Dallas)Vanessa ZimaActressDecember 20Conner O'MalleyActorDecember 23Noël WellsActress (Saturday Night Live, Master of None), voice actress (Wander Over Yonder, Craig of the Creek) and singerDecember 26Kit HaringtonEnglish actor (Game of Thrones)December 30Caity LotzActress (Death Valley, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow) Deaths Date Name Age Notability January 4Phil Lynott36Irish musician (Thin Lizzy)January 14 Donna Reed64Actress (The Donna Reed Show, Dallas)January 24 Gordon MacRae64 Actor and singerJanuary 29 Leif Erickson74Actor (The High Chaparral)March 30James Cagney86Actor and dancerMay 28 Don MacLaughlin79Actor (Chris Hughes on As the World Turns)June 14Marlin Perkins81Zoologist, host of (Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom)July 15 Florence Halop63Actress (Florence on Night Court)August 26 Ted Knight62Actor (Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show)September 12Frank Nelson75ActorSeptember 27Cliff Burton24Musician/songwriter (Metallica)October 25 Forrest Tucker67Actor (F Troop)November 2 Paul Frees66Voice actor (Boris Badenov on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, 1st voice for the Pillsbury Doughboy)November 11 Roger C. Carmel54Actor (The Transformers, Adventures of the Gummi Bears)November 18Gia Carangi26American modelNovember 22 Scatman Crothers76Actor (Harlem Globetrotters, Hong Kong Phooey, The Transformers)December 2 Desi Arnaz69Actor and musician (Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy) See also 1986 in the United States List of American films of 1986 References 2 External links List of 1986 American television series at IMDb 1986 Category:1980s in American television