1976 in American television

none January 2025 1976 thumb|The arcade game Fonz was released in 1976, the first video game to be based on a television show (Happy Days). This is a list of American television-related events in 1976. Events Date EventJanuary 1 NBC officially replaces its snake and peacock logos with a "modern N," composed of blue and red trapezoids—and nearly identical to the logo for Nebraska Educational Telecommunications' TV network, prompting NET to sue NBC for trademark infringement.January 11–12Eleanor and Franklin, a two-part miniseries starring Jane Alexander and Edward Herrmann, airs on ABC.January 17 The Blues Brothers make their debut on NBC's Saturday Night Live, singing Slim Harpo's song "I'm a King Bee" in their Killer Bees costumes. Their first appearance as The Blues Brothers proper occurred in 1978.January 24The 33rd Golden Globe Awards are aired.January 31The 3rd American Music Awards are aired.February 1 The miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man debuts on ABC, becoming a critical and ratings success over its 12-episode run.February 2 Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, and Art Carney reunite in an ABC special, The Honeymooners – The Second Honeymoon.February 10The controversial "Episode 847" of Sesame Street featuring Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as The Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is broadcast. The episode was subsequently pulled from broadcast due to a barrage of complaints leveled at the Children's Television Workshop from parents who felt that Hamilton's performance was too traumatizing for their children.February 16ABC airs the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The film was broadcast in two parts, totaling in 90 minutes each. The second part would air on February 23. The first part begins with Bond's escape from Piz Gloria on skis, which was actually in the middle portion of the film. Meanwhile, a disembodied voice (who is meant to be Bond, but not performed by George Lazenby) provides narration to explain the backstory. The edit ends at the scene in Piz Gloria, where Bond flirts with Ernst Stavro Blofeld's girls.February 19CBS affiliate KXLY-TV in Spokane, Washington is given a "notice of termination" by the network, stripping KXLY-TV of its affiliation effective August 19. CBS cites business reasons (KXLY-TV had been airing several network programs out of pattern in recent years) as the reason they stripped KXLY-TV. In the end, CBS decides to affiliate with ABC affiliate KREM-TV, while KXLY-TV joins ABC. The move takes effect August 8 at the request of KREM-TV, who wanted to air ABC Sports' entire coverage of the 1976 Summer Olympics.1976-03-03 CBS Plans to Terminate KXLY-TV Affiliation https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-cbs-plans-to-terminate/160039834/ 2025-01-25 Spokane Daily Chronicle 5 Newspapers.com1976-03-29 KREM-TV to Join CBS Chain https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-expected-in-august-kr/160039542/ 2025-01-25 Spokane Daily Chronicle 5 Spokane, Washington Newspapers.com1976-08-06 On Sunday: TV Stations Switching https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-on-sunday-tv-stations/160039593/ 2025-01-25 Spokane Daily Chronicle 20 Newspapers.com1976-03-30 Timing decided for TV shift https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-timing-decided-for/160039676/ 2025-01-25 The Spokesman-Review 16 Spokane, Washington Newspapers.com1976-05-05 'Early Summer': KXLY Set to Join ABC https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-early-summer-kxly-s/160039725/ 2025-01-25 Spokane Daily Chronicle 5 Newspapers.comFebruary 28The 18th Annual Grammy Awards are aired from the Hollywood Palladium on CBS.February 29 The movie The Sound of Music is televised for the first time, on ABC.CBS affiliates KRSD-TV in Rapid City, South Dakota and KDSJ-TV in Lead both shut down after a 5-year struggle over their unsatisfactory technical operations, which had rendered complaints from viewers, NBC (its former affiliation before 1970), and the Federal Communications Commission. Dakota Broadcasting Company assumes a construction permit for new stations on KRSD-TV's channel 7 and KDSJ-TV's channel 5, which respectively sign-on as KEVN and KIVV-TV on July 11. This in turn will give the Rapid City area its first full-time ABC affiliate (A full-time CBS affiliate will return to Rapid City in 1981 when the network's Sioux Falls affiliate KELO-TV signs-on translator station K15AC (now KCLO-TV)).In Brief https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-03-01-BC.pdf 23 November 30, 2016 Broadcasting March 1, 1976It was a bad day at Black Hills https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1971/1971-11-08-BC.pdf 48 November 30, 2016 Broadcasting November 8, 1971In Brief https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1975/1975-05-05-BC.pdf 7 November 30, 2016 Broadcasting May 5, 1975ABC-TV adds two https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-06-28-BC.pdf 50 November 30, 2016 Broadcasting June 28, 1976For the Record https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1981/BC-1981-08-31.pdf 53 November 30, 2016 Broadcasting August 31, 1981March 4The 2nd People's Choice Awards air on CBS.March 29The 48th Academy Awards air on ABC.April 1–2 Helter Skelter, a two-part adaptation of Vincent Bugliosi's book about the Charles Manson case, airs on CBS, with Steve Railsback portraying Manson.April 12 ABC airs its first Monday Night Baseball broadcast, taking over the package from NBC.April 18The 30th Tony Awards are aired from the Shubert Theatre on ABC.April 24 Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels makes an on-air offer to pay The Beatles $3,000 to reunite on the show. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were apparently watching the show together in New York City and considered walking down to the studio to accept the check. Michaels would raise his offer to $3,200 on SNL's May 22 episode.May 11The 3rd Daytime Emmy Awards air from the Vivian Beaumont Theatre on CBS.May 17The 28th Primetime Emmy Awards air on ABC.June 4CBS broadcasts Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns. This triple-overtime contest, which ended in the Celtics defeating the Suns 128–126, has since been heralded as the greatest NBA game ever played.http://www.nba.com/suns/history/greatestgame_index.html The Greatest Game Ever Suns.com March 24, 2018http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/GreatestGameEverPlayed.html Greatest Game Ever Played nba.com June 4, 1976 August 8, 2012http://boston.sportsthenandnow.com/2011/06/03/35-years-ago-the-celtics-and-the-suns-play-the-greatest-nba-finals-game-ever-played/ 35 Years Ago: The Celtics and the Suns Play the Greatest NBA Finals Game Ever Played March 24, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20160113021107/http://boston.sportsthenandnow.com/2011/06/03/35-years-ago-the-celtics-and-the-suns-play-the-greatest-nba-finals-game-ever-played/ January 13, 2016 https://bleacherreport.com/articles/82496-the-phoenix-suns-the-unluckiest-franchise-in-professional-sports The Phoenix Suns: The Unluckiest Franchise In Professional Sports Bleacher Report November 16, 2008 March 24, 2018June 7 After several years providing commentaries for the show, David Brinkley joins John Chancellor as co-anchor of NBC Nightly News, an attempt by the network to bolster ratings against the CBS Evening News and to harken back to the success it had with The Huntley-Brinkley Report.June 15NBC affiliate in Dayton, WLWD change its call letters to WDTN after Grinnell College bought out the station.June 14, 1976 Ch. 2 folks in festive mood: WDTN will be born Tuesday Dayton Daily NewsJune 21Deidre Hall makes her debut as Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives. Initially brought in as the psychiatrist for Mickey Horton (John Clarke), she quickly meets his assistant Don Craig (Jed Allan). Don and Marlena would be married from 1979 to 1981. The following year, Marlena was allegedly killed by the Salem strangler Jake Kositchek (Jack Coleman), but instead her twin sister Samantha (played by Hall's real-life twin Andrea) was killed in a case of mistaken identity. In 1983, Marlena married Roman Brady (Wayne Northrop). In 1984, Roman was supposedly killed off, but the character returned in 1986, now being played by Drake Hogestyn. A year later, Hall briefly left the programme and Marlena "died" in a plane crash, before she returned in 1991. During the same time, Hogestyn's character was retconned as John Black, thus giving birth to the John Black and Marlena Evans supercouple. They first married in 1999, and the wedding continued off-and-on until Hogestyn's death in 2024. In 1995, Marlena was possessed by the Devil, leading to her taking the forms of Kristen DiMera (Eileen Davidson) and John's first dead wife Isabella Toscano (Staci Greason). The storyline was revived in 2021, when she took the forms of her husband, Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering). From 2003 to 2004, Marlena became The Salem Stalker, who killed multiple veteran characters, including her former husband Roman Brady (now played by Josh Taylor). She was "killed off" again at the end of the story line, but all of her victims were brought later back alive on a tropical island. Hall and Hogestyn were fired in late 2008 due to budget cuts,Fox Erin http://www.tvguide.com/Soaps/Days-Lives-Mega-67200.aspx TVGuide.com Days of our Lives Megastars Fired! 2008-11-19 2026-06-21 2009-01-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20090105193151/http://www.tvguide.com./Soaps/Days-Lives-Mega-67200.aspx dead but they returned in 2011. Hall had remained on the show since then.June 26Japanese pro wrestler Antonio Inoki and American boxer Muhammad Ali fight each other in "The War of the Worlds".July 1 The pay TV network Showtime makes its debut, appearing only on a Dublin, California cable system. The network would expand nationally in 1978.July 4 U.S. television networks present extensive coverage of nationwide events commemorating the country's bicentennial.July 11KYCU-TV of Cheyenne, Wyoming (and its satellites) drop all NBC programs and switch to a primary ABC affiliation, which will last until 1984.July 12 Family Feud premieres on ABC and would become daytime television's number 1 game show within the next few years and beyond.July 15Family Feud had its first Fast Money win on July 15, 1976, three days after the show's very first episode the same year.September 6 In an experiment, New York City station WOR-TV replaces its normal programming for 5 exclusive nights of British shows from Thames Television.September 16WECA-TV in Tallahassee, Florida begins broadcasting, giving the Tallahassee market its first full-time ABC affiliate.September 23 The first of three debates between U.S. presidential candidates Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter air in prime time; they are the first presidential debates ever televised in color, as well as the first debates between major party nominees for U.S. president since 1960.October 4 Newly arrived from NBC, Barbara Walters joins Harry Reasoner as co-anchor of the ABC Evening News. The pair have a noticeable lack of on-air chemistry, and by 1978 Reasoner would leave ABC to return to CBS and 60 Minutes.October 6The second 1976 presidential debate is aired with Pauline Frederick moderating.October 11 Jane Pauley makes her debut on NBC's Today.The 1976 Country Music Association Awards air from the Grand Ole Opry House on CBS.October 15The first ever vice presidential debate takes place between senators Bob Dole and Walter Mondale.October 22The final presidential debate between Carter and Ford takes place with Barbara Walters of ABC moderating.October 29WGTQ in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan signs-on as a full satellite of ABC affiliate WGTU in Traverse City, bringing the full ABC schedule to the Eastern Upper Peninsula.November 7–8 The film Gone with the Wind makes its broadcast television debut on NBC; it would be the highest-rated program ever aired on a single network, only to be surpassed by Roots the following January.November 9 The Museum of Broadcasting opens on the first 3 floors of the Paley Foundation building in New York City. The museum would later be renamed The Paley Center for Media.November 13 The Carol Burnett Show airs Went with the Wind!, a movie parody of Gone With the Wind, five days after the film's network TV debut. TV Guide ranked the sketch #53 on its list of "Top 100 Episodes of All Time".http://rev-views.blogspot.com/2009/06/tv-guides-top-100-episodes.html TV Guide's Top 100 Episodes Rev/Views July 4, 2016December 10Rudolph's Shiny New Year premiered on ABC at the time when Christmas is around, with voice casts such as Billie Mae Richards as the voice of Rudolph, with special guest stars like Red Skelton, Morey Amsterdam and moreDecember 14 Barbara Walters airs her first interview special for ABC, with guests Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Barbra Streisand, and Jon Peters.December 17 At 1:00 p.m. (ET), Atlanta, Georgia station WTCG-TV begins satellite transmission of its regular programming to four cable systems, thus becoming the first superstation.December 31 President Gerald Ford presents the last of the Bicentennial Minutes on CBS; the vignettes had been airing nightly on the network since July 4, 1974. Also in 1976CBS' Match Game is the #1 rated game show on daytime television for the fourth consecutive year.The Olympics, broadcast from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, draw an estimated one billion viewers worldwide.Matsushita introduces the VHS home video cassette recorder to compete with Sony's Betamax system. Programs Debuting this year Date Show Network January 5 Take My AdviceNBC January 14 The Bionic WomanABC January 20 The Adams Chronicles PBS January 21 Dance in America January 27 Laverne & ShirleyABC January 28 The DumplingsNBC January 30 The Practice February 2 Jigsaw John February 13 Sara CBS March 9 FamilyABC April 12 Break the Bank May 3 Joe Forrester May 31 Viva Valdez June 14 The Fun Factory NBC The Gong Show July 12 Family Feud ABC Hot Seat July 26 Comedy TheatreNBC August 5 What's Happening!!ABC August 14 Clue ClubCBS August 30 New Howdy Doody ShowSyndication August 31 AliceCBS September 4 Clue Club September 6 In Search of...Syndication September 9 DelvecchioCBS September 11 Ark II Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle Way Out Games Big John, Little JohnNBC The Kids From C.A.P.E.R. McDuff, the Talking Dog Monster Squad Muggsy Dr. ShrinkerABC Electra Woman and Dyna Girl Jabberjaw Junior Almost Anything Goes! The Krofft Supershow The Mumbly Cartoon Show The Scooby-Doo Show The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour September 12 Animals, Animals, AnimalsABC September 17 Spencer's PilotsCBS September 19 CosABC September 20 All's FairCBSThe Muppet ShowSyndication September 21 Rich Man, Poor Man Book IIABC Baa Baa Black SheepNBC BronkCBS September 22 The QuestNBC Ball FourCBS Charlie's AngelsABC September 23 The Tony Randall Show Gemini ManNBC September 24 Serpico September 25 Holmes & Yo-YoABC Mr. T and Tina September 30 The Nancy Walker Show October 3 Quincy, M.E.NBC October 4 50 Grand Slam Stumpers October 16 Most WantedABC October 25 The Don Ho Show November 11 GibbsvilleNBC December 1 C.P.O. Sharkey The McLean Stevenson Show Sirota's Court December 6 The Feather and Father Gang ABC December 13 Double DareCBS Ending this year Date Show DebutJanuary 5Mobile One 1975January 25McCoy February 14Uncle Croc's Block February 20Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (returned in 1979)1968 February 25Clyde Frog Show1974March 3Cannon1971March 12The Magnificent Marble Machine 1975March 28BronkMarch 30The Rookies1972March 31The Dumplings1976April 4Ellery Queen 1975April 9The NeighborsApril 13The Adams Chronicles 1976April 29Harry O1974May 7Sara 1976June 11Take My AdviceJune 14Jigsaw John July 9Rhyme and Reason1975July 29Marcus Welby, M.D.1969September The Letter People1974September 5Make a Wish1971September 6Comedy Theatre (returned in 1979)1976Medical Center1969Viva Valdez1976September 19High Rollers (returned in 1978)1974October 1The Fun Factory1976October 16Shazam!1974October 22Hot Seat1976October 23The Secrets of Isis1975October 28Gemini Man1976October 30Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (returned in 1979)1972November 20McDuff, the Talking Dog1976December 4Land of the Lost1974Big John, Little John 1976Monster SquadDecember 10Gambit (returned in 1980 on NBC as "Las Vegas Gambit")1972December 11Clue Club1976 December 18Ark II JabberjawThe Mumbly Cartoon ShowThe Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt HourDecember 25Dr. ShrinkerElectra Woman and Dyna GirlDecember 30GibbsvilleDecember 31Bicentennial Minutes197450 Grand Slam1976Somerset1970Stumpers1976 Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source Mobil Showcase Network Cable television Unknown Showtime Cable television July 1 WTCG-TV Cable television December 17 Conversions and rebrandings There are no conversions and rebrandings for Cable and satellite television channels in this year. Closures Network Type Launch date Notes Source MGM Family NetworkCable and satelliteSeptember 9 Television stations Station launches Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/Ref. January 20 Wausau/Rhinelander, Wisconsin WHRM-TV 20 PBS Part of Wisconsin Public Television January 30 Pierre, South Dakota KPRY-TV 4 PBS Part of South Dakota Public Broadcasting March 9 Lowry, South Dakota KQSD-TV 11 PBS March 17 Eau Claire/La Crosse, Wisconsin WHLA-TV 31 PBS Part of Wisconsin Public Television May 31 Chicago, Illinois WCFC-TV 38 CTN July 11 Lead, South Dakota KIVV-TV 5 ABC Satellite of KEVN-TV/Rapid City Rapid City, South Dakota KEVN-TV 7 September 4 San Francisco, California KTSF-TV 26 Multicultural independent September 8 Monroe, Louisiana KLTM-TV 12 PBS Part of Louisiana Public Broadcasting September 16 Tallahassee, Florida WECA-TV 27 ABC September 18 Fayetteville, Arkansas KAFT 13 PBS Part of the Arkansas Educational Television Network October 2 Arkadelphia, Arkansas KETG 9 PBS October 3 Crossville, Tennessee WCPT-TV 55 Independent https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39035683/ Can You Believe A TV Station In Crossville? March 13, 1977 1-F, 3-F The Tennessean Max York November 14, 2019 October 29 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan WGTQ 8 ABC Satellite of WGTU/Traverse City, Michigan November 25 Allentown, Pennsylvania WFMZ-TV 69 Independent December 15 Park Falls/Superior, Wisconsin (Duluth, Minnesota) WLEF-TV 36 PBS Part of Wisconsin Public Television Network affiliation changes Date City of License/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. March 1 Salem, Oregon KVDO-TV 3 Independent (commercial) PBS/OEPBS Not effective until September 20 because tower was deliberately collapsed July 11 Cheyenne, Wyoming KYCU-TV 5 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) ABC (exclusive) August 8 Spokane, Washington KREM-TV 2 ABC CBS KXLY-TV 4 CBS ABC Station closures Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation First air date Notes/Ref. February 29 Lead, South Dakota KDSJ-TV 5 CBS January 1960 Satellite of KRSD-TV/Rapid City Rapid City, South Dakota KRSD-TV 7 CBS January 21, 1958 Channels of KRSD-TV and KDSJ-TV reoccupied that July by KEVN and KIVV June 30 Columbus, Ohio WGSF 31 PBS March 18, 1963 Births Date Name Notability January 1TankActor, R&B singerDan KloefflerJournalistJanuary 2Paz VegaActressJanuary 3Nicholas GonzalezActorJanuary 6Danny PintauroActor (Who's the Boss?)Johnny Yong BoschActor (Bleach, Power Rangers, Three Delivery)Isha SesayBritish journalist of Sierra Leonean descentJanuary 7Tyron LeitsoCanadian actor (Being Erica)Alfonso SorianoDominican former professional baseball left fielderJanuary 8Jessica LecciaActress (Guiding Light, The Bold and the Beautiful)Jenny LewisActressJosh MeyersActor (Mad TV, That '70s Show)January 9Todd GrishamSports broadcaster (DAZN, UFC, WWE)January 10Eduardo GarzaVoice actorJanuary 13Michael PeñaActorJanuary 15Meredith BishopActress (The Secret World of Alex Mack)Dorian MissickActress (Southland)January 16Carrie KeranenVoice actress (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kappa Mikey, Ellen's Acres)Derek RichardsonActorJanuary 17Anne StedmanActressJanuary 19Ken LawsonActor and rapper (The Parkers)Drew PowellActor (Gotham)Marsha ThomasonEnglish actress (Las Vegas, Lost, White Collar)January 20Pedro BromfmanBrazilian musicianJanuary 23Tony LuccaActor (Mickey Mouse Club, Malibu Shores)Nigel McGuinnessEnglish professional wrestling commentatorJanuary 26Gilles MariniFrench-American actor (Brothers & Sisters, Switched at Birth, Devious Maids)January 28Rick RossRapperJanuary 30Andy MilonakisActor (The Andy Milonakis Show, Adventure Time, Future-Worm!) and comedianJanuary 31Paul ScheerActor (The League, NTSF:SD:SUV::, Fresh Off the Boat, Apple & Onion)February 2Lori Beth DenbergActress (All That, The Steve Harvey Show)February 3Isla FisherAustralian actress (Arrested Development)Tim HeideckerActorFebruary 4Cam'ronRapper, actorFebruary 7Kelly ChoiSouth Korean-American television hostFebruary 8Pooch HallActor (The Game)February 9Charlie DayActor (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)February 10Keeley HawesActressFebruary 11Brice BeckhamActor (Mr. Belvedere)February 12Jenni FalconerTelevision presenterAarón SánchezTelevision personalityFebruary 14Erica LeerhsenActressFebruary 15Brandon BoydSingerFebruary 16Janet VarneyActress (Korra on The Legend of Korra)Eric ByrnesBroadcasterFebruary 19Dan FogelmanScreenwriterFebruary 20Chris CillizzaPolitical commentatorFebruary 23Kelly MacdonaldScottish actress (Boardwalk Empire)February 24Crista FlanaganComedic actress (Mad TV, Mad Men)February 25Rashida JonesActress (Parks and Recreation)February 28Ali LarterActress (Heroes, Legends)February 29Ja RuleRapper, actorMarch 1Luke MablyActorMarch 2Jeff WadlowWriterMarch 5Neil JacksonActorLucian MsamatiActorMarch 8Freddie Prinze Jr.ActorHines WardCoachMarch 11Jason ReichWriterMarch 13Danny MastersonActor (That '70s Show, The Ranch)March 14Merlin SantanaActor (Romeo Santana on The Steve Harvey Show) (died 2002)Corey StollActorBrian QuinnActorMarch 15Cara PifkoActressMarch 16Daniel GilliesCanadian-born New Zealand actor (The Vampire Diaries, Saving Hope, The Originals)Paul SchneiderActorKyle NewmanFilmmakerJason JohnsonProfessorMarch 17Brittany DanielActressMarch 18Christopher HankeActorMarnie SternSingerMarch 19Rachel BlanchardCanadian actress (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Clueless, 7th Heaven)Nicholas StollerDirectorMarch 21Rachael MacFarlaneVoice actress (Fillmore!, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Codename: Kids Next Door, American Dad!)March 22Reese WitherspoonActress (Return to Lonesome Dove)Kellie Shanygne WilliamsActress (Family Matters)March 23Michelle MonaghanActress (True Detective)Keri RussellActress (Mickey Mouse Club, Felicity)Angela KangWriterMarch 26Amy SmartActress (Felicity)March 27Craig WayansActorMarch 30Jessica CauffielActressMarch 31Josh SavianoActor (The Wonder Years)April 1Troy BakerVoice actorApril 2Adam F. GoldbergWriterApril 4James Roday RodriguezActor (Psych)April 5Sterling K. BrownActor (This Is Us)April 6Candace Cameron BureActress (Full House, Fuller House)April 7Kevin AlejandroActorEric WareheimActorApril 13Glenn HowertonActor (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)Jonathan BrandisActor (seaQuest DSV) (d. 2003)April 16David LyonsActor (ER, Sea Patrol, Revolution)Lukas HaasActor and musicianApril 18Melissa Joan HartActress (Clarissa Explains it All, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Sabrina: The Animated Series, Melissa & Joey, The Loud House, The Casagrandes)Sean MaguireEnglish actor (Once Upon a Time)Kevin RankinActorApril 19Wyatt CenacActor (The Daily Show, Fanboy & Chum Chum, People of Earth)April 20Joey LawrenceActor (Gimme a Break!, Blossom, Brotherly Love, Run of the House, Melissa & Joey)April 25Tim DuncanNBA basketball playerApril 26Thurop Van OrmanVoice actor (The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Gravity Falls)April 28Michael CarbonaroActorMay 1Darius McCraryActor (Family Matters)James MurrayActorMay 5Peter MorénSingerMay 8Luke BurbankRadio hostMay 10Rhona BennettSinger and actress (Mickey Mouse Club)May 17Rochelle AytesActress (Mistresses)May 19Kevin GarnettNBA basketball playerMay 25Ethan SupleeActor (Boy Meets World, My Name Is Earl)Erinn HayesActressMay 26Jay FeelySportscasterMay 27RJD2MusicianMay 28Liam O'BrienActorMay 30Omri KatzActorMay 31Colin FarrellActorJune 2Marek LarwoodActorJune 3Jamie McMurrayRace car driverJune 5Marc WordenActor (Mickey Mouse Club, Batman Beyond, The Zeta Project)Joe GattoActorAesop RockRapperJune 6Emilie-Claire BarlowCanadian actress (Total Drama)Jonathan NolanScreenwriterJune 7David BuckleyComposerJune 8Eion BaileyActor (Band of Brothers, Once Upon a Time)June 16Tom LenkActorJune 17Pedro Miguel ArceActorJune 18Alana de la GarzaActress (Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: Miami)Blake SheltonSingerChristina PazsitzkyActressJune 19Ryan HurstActorJune 20Jarrad PaulActorJune 21Antonio CochranFormer football playerNathan DarrowActorJune 22Mike O'BrienActor, writer and comedian (Saturday Night Live)June 23Emmanuelle VaugierCanadian actress (One Tree Hill, CSI: NY, Two and a Half Men) and modelJune 26Dave RubinConservative political commentatorJune 27Joseph SikoraActorWagner MouraActorJune 28Camille GuatyActress (Prison Break, Scorpion)Jason J. LewisVoice actor (Justice League Action)June 29Omar DoomActorJuly 1Thomas SadoskiTV actorHaaz SleimanTV actorJuly 1Kristen WelkerTV journalistJuly 2Erin BurnettTV anchor (Erin Burnett OutFront, Squawk on the Street)July 3Andrea BarberActress (Full House, Fuller House)July 4Rohan NicholActorJuly 5Jamie ElmanActorJuly 7Hamish LinklaterActorJuly 9Fred SavageActor and director (The Wonder Years, Generator Rex, The Grinder, Friends from College)Elliot CowanActorJuly 10Adrian GrenierActorJuly 12Anna FrielEnglish actress (Pushing Daisies)Alison WrightEnglish actressJuly 15Diane KrugerActress (The Bridge)Gabriel IglesiasActor (The Emperor's New School, Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution, Cristela)Jim JonesRapperSeth GordonScreenwriterJuly 16Bobby LashleyWrestlerJuly 17Brian K. VaughanWriterLuke BryanSingerDagmara DomińczykActressEric WinterActorEddie ShinActorJuly 19Vinessa ShawActressBenedict CumberbatchActor (Sherlock)July 20Erica HillJournalistJuly 21Jaime MurrayActressJuly 27Ryan Michelle BatheActress (Boston Legal, Army Wives)Seamus DeverActor (Castle)Chad FischerSingerJuly 28Jacoby ShaddixActorJuly 29Peter AlexanderJournalistJuly 31Eric WinterActorRod MonroeFootball player (died 2017)August 2Sam WorthingtonActorAugust 4David LewisActorAugust 6Melissa GeorgeActress (Alias)Josh SchwartzScreenwriterSoleil Moon FryeActress (Punky Brewster, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Proud Family, Bratz, Planet Sheen)August 8JC ChasezActor (Mickey Mouse Club) and singer (*NSYNC)Drew LacheyActor and singerTawny CypressActress (Heroes, Unforgettable)August 9Jessica CapshawActress (The Practice, Grey's Anatomy) and stepdaughter of Steven SpielbergRhona MitraEnglish actress (The Last Ship)August 11Will FriedleActor (Boy Meets World, The Random Years, Girl Meets World), voice actor (Batman Beyond, Kim Possible, Justice League Unlimited, The Secret Saturdays, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, The Penguins of Madagascar, ThunderCats, Ultimate Spider-Man, Teen Titans Go!, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Guardians of the Galaxy, Future-Worm!, Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, DC Super Hero Girls)August 12Antoine WalkerNBA basketball playerAugust 17Scott HalberstadtActor (Drake & Josh)Natalie GoldActressAugust 19M. WartellaAnimatorAugust 20 Kristen MillerActress (USA High)August 22Matt ObergActorAugust 23Scott CaanActor (Hawaii Five-0) and son of James CaanAugust 24Alex O'LoughlinAustralian actor (Hawaii Five-0)August 26Mike ColterActorAugust 27Sarah ChalkeActress (Roseanne, Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother, Rick and Morty)RonReaco LeeActor (Sister, Sister, Let's Stay Together)August 30Sarah-Jane PottsActressAugust 31Shar JacksonActress and singer (Moesha)September 3Ashley JonesActressSeptember 5Carice van HoutenDutch actress (Game of Thrones)September 6Robin Atkin DownesActorRodrigo AmaranteArrangerNaomie HarrisActressSeptember 7Oliver HudsonActor (Rules of Engagement, Nashville, Scream Queens)September 9Joey NewmanComposerSeptember 15Rob WiethoffActorSeptember 18Sophina BrownActress (Shark, Numb3rs)September 19Alison SweeneyActress and host (Days of Our Lives, The Biggest Loser)Carter OosterhouseTelevision personalitySeptember 20Enuka OkumaCanadian actress (Rookie Blue, Steven Universe)Jon BernthalActorAinsley EarhardtTelevision personalitySeptember 24Reagan Dale NeisActressStephanie McMahonBusinesswoman and WWE personalityOctober 1Danielle BisuttiActress (True Jackson, VP)October 2MandisaSinger (American Idol) (died 2024)June 2024October 3Seann William ScottActorOctober 4Alicia SilverstoneActress (Braceface, Miss Match)October 5Matt HamillMixed martial artist and wrestlerOctober 7Taylor HicksSingerOctober 8Peter SticklesActorOctober 9Sam RiegelVoice actor (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wander Over Yonder, Pickle and Peanut)Nick SwardsonActorOctober 11Emily DeschanelActress (Bones)Dave BriggsJournalistOctober 15Jody HillFilm producerOctober 17Adrian SturgesBritish-born film producerOctober 19Desmond HarringtonActor (Dexter)Omar Gooding Actor (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Smart Guy) and rapperOctober 20Dan FoglerActorOctober 21Jeremy MillerActor (Growing Pains)October 23Ryan ReynoldsActor (Two Guys and a Girl)Jon HuertasActor (Castle)Cat DeeleyTelevision hostOctober 26Brad NeelyWriterThurop Van OrmanVoice actorOctober 29Milena GovichActress (Law & Order)October 31Piper PeraboActress (Covert Affairs)November 1Chad LindbergActorNovember 4Jonathan KimmelActorNovember 5Sebastian ArcelusActorNovember 6Sal VulcanoActorNovember 9Josh KaufmanSingerNovember 11Lisa GleaveActress and model (The Price Is Right)November 12Tevin CampbellActor and singerNovember 17Brandon CallActor (Step by Step)Diane NealActressNovember 18Dominic ArmatoVoice actor (Sputz Ringley on Rocket Power)Steven PasqualeActorJessi AlexanderSingerNovember 19Robin DunneActorNovember 20Laura HarrisActressNovember 23Joe SumnerSingerNovember 26Maia CampbellActress and model (South Central, In the House)November 27Jaleel WhiteActor (Steve Urkel on Family Matters)November 28Geno SegersActor (Pair of Kings)Ryan KwantenAustralian actor (Home and Away, Summerland, True Blood, The Oath)November 29Anna FarisActress (Mom)Chadwick BosemanActor (What If...?, Lincoln Heights) (died 2020)Ehren McGheheySunt performer (Jackass)Julian OvendenActorNovember 30Peter SullivanScreenwriterDecember 1Laura LingWriterDecember 5Amy AckerActress (Angel, Alias, Happy Town, Person of Interest, The Gifted)December 6Lindsay PriceActress and singer (Beverly Hills, 90210, Lipstick Jungle)December 7Mark DuplassActorT. J. LavinHostGeorges LaraqueSports commentatorDecember 8Dominic MonaghanActor (Lost, Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan)December 14Tammy BlanchardActressDecember 16Leland ChapmanBail bondsman and bounty hunterDecember 17Dan HagemanWriterDecember 26Nadia LitzActressDecember 27Aaron StanfordActor (Nikita)December 28Brendan HinesActorJoe ManganielloActorDecember 29Danny McBrideActor (Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals)December 31Chris TerrioScreenwriterClayton MorrisHost Deaths Date Name Age Notability June 25Jay Jostyn74Radio and TV actorCox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. 978-0-7864-3848-8.August 28 Anissa Jones18Actress (Buffy on Family Affair)December 12 Jack Cassidy49Actor (He & She) Television debuts Rick Moranis – SCTV Kim Cattrall – Dead on Target Jane Pauley – Today Jeffrey Jones – The Adams Chronicles Kim Basinger – Gemini Man Dave Thomas – SCTV Ray Winstone – The Sweeney Jonathan Banks – Barnaby Jones Harold Ramis – SCTV References External links List of 1976 American television series at IMDb 1976 Category:1976 in American television