1978 in American television

none 1978 In 1978, 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 15Super Bowl XII airs on CBS, the first time the NFL's championship event is played and telecast at night. The Dallas Cowboys defeat the Denver Broncos 27-10.January 23Roots One Year Later, a special examining the impact and influence of the miniseries, airs on ABC.January 28The Doobie Brothers make a guest appearance on ABC's What's Happening!!February 5ABC celebrates its silver anniversary with a retrospective special.February 28Robin Williams makes his first appearance as Mork from Ork on an episode of Happy Days on ABC. The episode proved to be such a success, that it would soon give way to a spin-off starring Williams entitled Mork & Mindy. March 7Showtime goes nationwide on the air.March 22The Beatles spoof The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash airs on NBC.March 26 – April 1CBS commemorates its golden anniversary in radio and TV broadcasting with CBS: On the Air, a 9½-hour retrospective special airing over 7 nights.April 16–19Holocaust, starring James Woods and Meryl Streep first airs on NBC.April 17KDOG-TV, Houston's independent station, changes its call sign to KRIV-TV following its purchase by Metromedia.Hodges Ann Metromedia out to teach KDOG new tricks April 14, 1978 6:4 Houston Chronicle https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/metromedia-out-teach-kdog-new-tricks/ispxvpncagwecfknqvdmvnvwyatrfqch_ip-10-166-46-151_1732483519514 January 13, 2026April 22The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live; the duo of Jake & Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) are introduced in a skit by Paul Shaffer (as Don Kirshner) and performs "Hey Bartender".April 26Ringo Starr's, Ringo, a musical version of The Prince and the Pauper, airs on NBC, with Starr's fellow former Beatle, George Harrison, providing the narration.May 7The television special celebrating the 30th anniversary of the state of Israel, The Stars Salute Israel at 30 is broadcast on ABC.The Stars Salute Israel at 30 (1978) https://www.barbra-archives.info/stars-salute-israel-at-30 Barbra Archives website Barbra Archives 3 January 2026June 12WHNB-TV, NBC affiliate in New Britain/Hartford/New Haven, Connecticut, changes its name to its current WVIT, shortly after Viacom purchased the station.June 26WTOP-TV changes its call sign to WDVM-TV. In return the NBC affiliate, WWJ-TV changes its call sign to WDIV-TV.July 1In Charlotte, North Carolina, NBC affiliate WSOC-TV leaves the network and joins ABC,Wisehart Bob WTVI way short of goal March 15, 1978 15A The Charlotte News https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65521626/ January 13, 2026 Newspapers.com March 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210328182041/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65521626/wtvi-way-short-of-goal/ live citing a stronger affiliation (at the time, NBC is in last place among the three major networks, while ABC is in first place). NBC eventually aligns with Ted Turner-owned independent station WRET-TV (now WCNC-TV),Wister Emery WRET-TV joining with NBC April 29, 1978 1A, 2A The Charlotte News https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65521774/ January 13, 2026 Newspapers.com March 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210328182038/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65521774/wret-tv-joining-with-nbc/ live tempted by promises Turner made to NBC to make $2.5 million worth of upgrades, including a stronger transmitter and the launch of a news department;Alridge Ron WRET Goes All Out To Woo NBC April 25, 1978 15A The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65521683/ January 13, 2026 Newspapers.com March 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210328182103/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65521683/wret-goes-all-out-to-woo-nbc/ live former ABC affiliate WCCB becomes an independent station,Alridge Ron WRET-TV Will Tune In To NBC Network April 29, 1978 1A The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65522016/ January 13, 2026 Newspapers.com March 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210328182108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65522016/wret-tv-will-tune-in-to-nbc-network/ live and eventually a charter affiliate of Fox in 1986.July 10On ABC, the ABC Evening News is revamped to become ABC World News Tonight, employing a unique three-anchor setup (Frank Reynolds serving as lead anchor from Washington, Max Robinson presenting national news from Chicago, and Peter Jennings with international news from London).August 1Taking advantage of an oral escape-clause in his contract with ABC, Harry Reasoner returns to CBS, eventually rejoining 60 Minutes, the program he anchored with Mike Wallace from its 1968 premiere until he joined ABC News in 1970.September 17All three networks interrupts primetime programming by 10:30pm (the three-hour premiere of Battlestar Galatica on ABC, live coverage of that's year Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS, and the second part of 1976 film King Kong, shown on The Big Event on NBC) to broadcast from the White House East Room the ceremony formalizing the success of the peace talks between Israel's Menachem Begin and Egypt's Anwar Sadat—the Camp David Accords.Top of the Week: Right in the middle (east) of it all September 25, 1978 25 Broadcasting https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1978/1978-09-25-BC.pdf June 12, 2026 March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308045021/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1978/1978-09-25-BC.pdf liveSeptember 18The chairs on which Archie and Edith Bunker sat through 8 seasons of the CBS comedy All in the Family are presented to the Smithsonian Institution.September 27Replacing Zara Cully and Damon Evans, Jay Hammer joins the cast of the CBS comedy The Jeffersons, for a short period of time.October 7On NBC's Saturday Night Live, The Rolling Stones become the first and to date, only band to serve as both hosts and musical guests in the same episode.October 14SIN broadcasts the final of the 1st National OTI-SIN Festival live from the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton in Miami.October 31On NBC, Norma Brown wins $28,800 playing the Money Cards on Card Sharks, the first and only time a contestant has won the maximum amount.November 9Jack Soo makes his final appearance as Nick Yemana on the ABC sitcom Barney Miller prior to his death from cancer on January 11, 1979. The Season 5 finale of Barney Miller (airing later that May) would subsequently, feature the cast stepping out of character to pay tribute to Soo.November 12In Fort Smith, Arkansas, KLMN-TV (now Fox affiliate KFTA-TV) signs-on the air and takes CBS programming from KFPW-TV/KTVP. Both KFPW-TV and KTVP subsequently become full-time ABC affiliates, giving Fort Smith in-market affiliates of all three major networks.November 17The Star Wars Holiday Special airs on CBS. The special gives fans their first glimpse of Boba Fett, a character from the upcoming Star Wars sequel.November 20Anthony Geary makes his first appearance as Luke Spencer on General Hospital. Initially due to stay for thirteen weeks, his character was then given a contract. A year later, Luke drunkenly raped Laura Webber (Genie Francis), thus giving birth to what is considered as daytime television's signature supercouple, with their wedding in 1981 attracting thirty million viewers. Geary would play Luke until December 1983, returning for a guest arc (alongside Francis) in late 1984. After coming back to General Hospital in 1991 to play Bill Eckert (a look-alike of Luke), he resumed the latter role two years later due to Francis' return, eventually staying until 2015,Levinsky Mara General Hospital Legend Anthony Geary, Who Played Luke Spencer, Dies At 78 https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-legend-anthony-geary-who-played-luke-spencer-dies-at-78/ Soap Opera Digest A360media February 20, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20251220012824/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-legend-anthony-geary-who-played-luke-spencer-dies-at-78/ December 20, 2025 United States 0164-3584 December 15, 2025 live with a guest appearance in 2017 to say goodbye to his latest wife Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot).Luke Returns To GH! https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/luke-returns-gh/ Soap Opera Digest A360media February 20, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20170428170505/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/luke-returns-gh/ April 28, 2017 United States 0164-3584 April 28, 2017 live Luke Spencer was later killed off in early 2022.Aurthur Kate January 21, 2022 How ‘General Hospital’ Said Goodbye to the Iconic Luke Spencer https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/general-hospital-luke-spencer-death-memorial-1235158496/ Variety February 20, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20220121233119/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/general-hospital-luke-spencer-death-memorial-1235158496/ January 21, 2022 live Programs Debuting this year Date Show Network January 28 Fantasy Island ABC January 30 Baby... I'm Back! CBS January 31 The Harvey Korman Show ABC February 19 Project U.F.O. NBC March 7 Having Babies ABC March 10 Husbands, Wives & LoversCBS The Incredible Hulk March 14 Sam March 16 A.E.S. Hudson Street ABC March 17 Richie Brockelman, Private Eye NBC April 2 DallasCBS April 3 Pass the Buck Ever Increasing Faith Syndication April 5 The Amazing Spider-Man CBS April 8 The Ted Knight Show Another Day April 13 The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour NBC April 24 Card Sharks Joe & Valerie Rollergirls April 27 The Runaways June 6 20/20 ABC June 24 Free Country July 10 World News Tonight July 24 America Alive! NBC August 28 Flying High CBSSeptember 7 Grandpa Goes to Washington NBC The Waverly Wonders September 8 The Eddie Capra Mysteries September 9 Fabulous Funnies The New Fantastic Four Galaxy Goof-Ups Godzilla Jana of the Jungle The Krofft Superstar Hour Yogi's Space Race Challenge of the Superfriends ABC Fangface The All New Popeye HourCBS The Paper Chase Tarzan and the Super 7 September 10 Kids Are People Too ABC Kaz CBS Sword of Justice NBCSeptember 12 Taxi ABC Battle of the Planets SyndicationSeptember 13 W.E.B. NBC September 14 Mork & Mindy ABC September 16 30 Minutes CBS September 17 Battlestar Galactica ABC Lifeline NBC September 18 WKRP in Cincinnati CBS September 20 Dick Clark's Live Wednesday NBC In the Beginning CBS Vega$ ABC September 22 Who's Watching the Kids? NBC September 23 Apple Pie ABC The American Girls CBS September 24 Mary October 1 Centennial NBC October 30 A.M. Weather PBS November 2 David Cassidy: Man Undercover NBC November 3 Diff'rent Strokes November 27 The White Shadow CBS Resuming this year Show Last aired Previous network Retitled as/Same Returning High Rollers 1976 NBC The New High Rollers April 24 Tic Tac Dough 1959 NBC The New Tic Tac Dough July 3 Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! 1970 CBS Same September 9Jeopardy! 1975 NBC The All-New Jeopardy! October 2 Ending this year Date Show DebutJanuary 7We've Got Each Other1977January 9The Betty White ShowJanuary 10The FitzpatricksJanuary 13The Better SexJanuary 14TabithaJanuary 21The SkatebirdsJanuary 25SzysznykJanuary 28Search and Rescue: The Alpha TeamFebruary 6Logan's RunMarch 6The Six Million Dollar Man1973March 18KojakThe Robonic Stooges1977March 25The Tony Randall Show1976What Really Happened to the Class of '65?1977March 29The Carol Burnett Show1967March 30Police Woman1974March 31TattletalesApril 1The Bob Newhart Show1972April 6Black Sheep Squadron1976April 7Quark1977April 14Richie Brockelman, Private Eye1978April 18SamApril 20A.E.S. Hudson StreetApril 21Knockout1977To Say the LeastApril 22Maude1972April 24Baby... I'm Back!1978April 28C.P.O. Sharkey1976April 29Another Day1978April 30On Our Own1977May 10Rollergirls1978May 11The Hanna-Barbera Happy HourMay 12The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams1977May 13The Ted Knight Show1978The Bionic Woman1976Columbo1971May 18Baretta1975Fish1977May 29Sugar Time!June 6Man from AtlantisJune 29James at 16June 30Husbands, Wives & Lovers1978Pass the BuckJuly 7ABC Evening News1970July 21Chico and the Man1974The Gong Show1976July 22Free Country1978August 3The Harvey Korman ShowAugust 27Switch1975September 1Fred Flintstone and Friends1977September 2The Batman/Tarzan Adventure HourThe Krofft Supershow1976September 29For Richer, For Poorer1977September 30Apple Pie1978October 5W.E.B.October 6The Waverly WondersOctober 8MaryOctober 18In the BeginningOctober 28Laff-A-Lympics1977November 10The American Girls1978December 1Fabulous FunniesDecember 2Buford and the Galloping GhostGalaxy Goof-UpsYogi's Space RaceDecember 4Lucan1977December 9Rhoda1974December 15Who's Watching the Kids?1978December 16The New Fantastic FourDecember 23The Scooby-Doo Show1976Scooby's All-Stars1977Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!1969December 27Dick Clark's Live Wednesday1978 Made-for-TV movies and miniseries Title Network Date of airing The Dain Curse CBS May 22–24King NBC February 12–14Holocaust April 16–19 Zuma Beach September 27Centennial October 1–February 4 Donner Pass: The Road to Survival October 24 The Time Machine November 5 Someone's Watching Me! November 29 Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source Home Theater Network Cable television September 1 INSP Cable television Unknown WGN-TV Cable television November 9 Operation Prime Time Cable television Unknown Network conversions and rebrandings Network Type Conversion date Source Hughes Television Network Occasional broadcast television network April Paramount Television Service Unrealized broadcast television network Unknown 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 3 Rock Hill, South Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina) WNSC-TV 30 PBS Part of South Carolina ETV February 9 Martin, South Dakota KZSD-TV 8 Part of South Dakota Public Broadcasting March 23 Washington, D.C. WPXW-TV 66 Religious independent March 26 Manassas, Virginia/Washington, D.C. WTKK 66 May 1 Mason City, Iowa KYIN 24 PBS Part of Iowa Public Television August 6 Cheyenne, Oklahoma KWET 12 Part of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority August 9 Shreveport, Louisiana KLTS-TV 24 Part of Louisiana Public Broadcasting August 18 El Paso, Texas KCOS 13 August 21 Cookeville, Tennessee WCTE 22 September 2 Phoenix, Arizona KTVW 23 Spanish International Network Now a Univision affiliate September 10 Memphis, Tennessee WPTY-TV 24 Independent September 26 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania WPTT-TV 22 September 27 Montpelier, Vermont WNNE 31 NBC Signed on as a satellite of WPTZ-TV/Plattsburgh, New York October 1 Juneau, Alaska KTOO-TV 3 PBS Satellite of KAKM/Anchorage October 24 Salt Lake City, Utah KSTU 20 (now 13) Independent November 12 Fort Smith, Arkansas KLMN-TV 24 CBS November 27 Rockford, Illinois WQRF-TV 39 Independent December 17 Kansas City, Missouri KYFC 50 Was previously on air as KCIT-TV from 1969 to 1971. Network affiliation changes Date City of license/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. July 1 Charlotte, North Carolina WCCB 18 ABC Independent WRET-TV 36 Independent NBC WSOC-TV 9 NBC ABC Station closures Date City of license/Market Station Channel Affiliation Sign-on date Notes/Ref. April 9 Greenfield, Massachusetts WRLP 32 NBC June 29, 1957 August 15 Warrensburg/Sedalia, Missouri (Columbia/Jefferson City) KMOS-TV 6 CBS July 8, 1954 (as an independent station) Returned to the air December 22, 1979 as a PBS member station Births Date Name Notability January 2Patricia de LeonActressJanuary 3Kimberley LockeTV Personality (American Idol, Little Talent Show)Kimberley Locke https://genius.com/artists/Kimberley-locke 2024-02-24 Genius enJanuary 5January JonesActress (Mad Men, The Last Man on Earth)January 7Ryan StarSingerJanuary 8Ron PedersonCanadian actor (Mad TV)January 9AJ McLeanActor and singer (Backstreet Boys)January 10Jill NicoliniActressJanuary 14Sage BrocklebankActorJanuary 15Jamie ClaytonActress (Sense8)Eddie CahillActor (CSI: NY)January 24Kristen SchaalActress (Bob's Burgers, The Last Man on Earth, Gravity Falls)January 26Kelly StablesActress (W.I.T.C.H., Two and a Half Men, The Exes)February 2Rich SommerActor (Mad Men)February 3Kelly SullivanActress (Henry Danger, The Adventures of Kid Danger)Eliza SchneiderActress (Beakman's World, South Park, Squirrel Boy)February 6Har Mar SuperstarActorFebruary 7Ashton KutcherActor (That '70s Show, Two and a Half Men)February 14Joanna CantonActressDanai GuriraActor (The Walking Dead)February 16John TartagliaActorFebruary 20Lauren AmbroseActress (Six Feet Under)Chelsea PerettiActress (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)Jay HernandezActorFebruary 21Nicole ParkerComedian, actress and singer (Mad TV)February 24Nicole LynActressFebruary 28Geoffrey ArendActorMarch 1 Donovan PattonActor (Blue's Clues, Team Umizoomi, Clarence)Jensen AcklesActor (Days of Our Lives, Dark Angel, Smallville, Supernatural)March 5Kimberly McCulloughActress (Once and Again, General Hospital)PapooseRapperMarch 8Nick ZanoActor (What I Like About You)March 11Rob SimonsenComposerMarch 14Chris McCalebDirectorMarch 16Matthew MontgomeryActorBrooke BurnsActressMarch 17Patrick SeitzActorMarch 19Virginia WilliamsActress (One Life to Live, Monarch Cove, Fairly Legal)March 23Anastasia GriffithActress (Damages, Trauma, Copper)David TomActorNicholle TomActress (The Nanny)Perez HiltonBloggerMarch 24Amanda BrugelActressMarch 25Maribeth MonroeActress and comedian (Workaholics, The Brink)April 1Jason BellAmerican former professional football playerApril 2Jaime Ray NewmanActress (General Hospital, Eastwick)Deon RichmondActor (The Cosby Show, Sister, Sister)April 3Matthew GoodeActorApril 6Lauren RidloffActressTim HasselbeckAmerican sports journalistApril 7Nelson CraggDirectorJimmy AkingbolaActorApril 12Riley SmithActorApril 13 Kyle HowardActor (My Boys)April 15Chris StapletonSingerApril 17Lindsay HartleyActress and singer (Days of Our Lives, All My Children, Passions)Adam Jamal CraigActor (NCIS: Los Angeles)April 19James FrancoActor (Freaks and Geeks)Sheinelle JonesAmerican journalist and news anchorApril 20Clayne CrawfordActor (Lethal Weapon)Matt AustinActor (Power Rangers S.P.D.)Matthew WilkasActorApril 22 Manu IntiraymiActor (Star Trek: Voyager)April 23 Ian BrennanActor and writerApril 26Stana KaticActress (Castle)Pablo SchreiberCanadian-American actor (The Wire, Orange Is the New Black)Stephen WilliamsJamaican-Canadian directorApril 28Nate RichertActor (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)Robert OliveriFormer actorApril 29Tyler LabineActor (New Amsterdam)May 1James Badge DaleActor (24, The Pacific, Rubicon)May 2Kumail NanjianiAmerican-Pakistani actor (Silicon Valley, Franklin & Bash, Adventure Time)May 4Erin AndrewsActressMay 5Santiago CabreraVenezuelan-born Chilean-British actor (Heroes)May 8Matthew DavisActor (The Vampire Diaries)May 9Daniel FranzeseActorMay 10Corri EnglishActressKenan ThompsonActor (All That, Kenan & Kel, Saturday Night Live)May 12Jason BiggsActor (Orange Is the New Black, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)Malin AkermanActress (Childrens Hospital, Trophy Wife, Billions)May 13Brooke AndersonFormer co-host of The InsiderMay 15David KrumholtzActor (Numb3rs)Caroline DhavernasActress (Off the Map, Hannibal, Mary Kills People)May 16Jim SturgessActorMay 17Kat FosterActress ('Til Death)Carlos PeñaBroadcasterMay 22Ginnifer GoodwinActress (Ed, Big Love, Once Upon a Time)May 24Bryan Greenberg Actor (October Road), (How to Make It in America)May 26Benji GregoryActor (ALF) (died 2024)Adam RobitelDirector, producer, screenwriter, and actorMay 27Cindy SampsonCanadian actress (Supernatural)May 28Jake JohnsonActor (New Girl)June 1Link NealTV hostJune 2Justin LongActor (Ed)Nikki CoxActress (Unhappily Ever After, Las Vegas)June 4Robin TaylorActor (Gotham)June 5Nick KrollActor, comedian and writer (The League, Kroll Show)Rob NelsonAfternoon anchor for Newsy, Scripps Television's all news channelJune 6 Judith BarsiActress (d. 1988)June 7 Bill HaderActor and comedian (Saturday Night Live, South Park, Documentary Now!)June 8Maria MenounosActressJune 9Michaela ConlinActress (Bones)Brian Patrick WadeActorJune 10 Shane WestActor (Once and Again, ER, Nikita)DJ QuallsActor (Legit)June 11Joshua JacksonCanadian actor (Dawson's Creek, Fringe)June 12Shiloh StrongActorTimothy SimonsActor (Veep)Jeremy RowleyActorJune 13Bianna GolodrygaMoldovan-born American journalistJune 15Ethan EmbryActor (Brotherhood)June 18Tara PlattVoice actress (Naruto, Bleach, Ben 10: Omniverse)June 19Dirk NowitzkiNBA basketball playerZoe SaldañaActressMía MaestroActress and singerJune 20Mike BirbigliaActorQuinton JacksonActorJune 21Erica DuranceCanadian actress (Smallville, Saving Hope)June 24Geoff KeighleyCanadian gaming TV presenter (GT.TV, G4tv.com, Spike Video Game Awards)June 26Tory MussettActressJune 27Courtney FordActressJune 29Lenard McKelveyMedia Personality (Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne, Hell of A Week)Luke KirbyActorNicole ScherzingerSingerJuly 1 Hillary TuckActress (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show)July 2Owain YeomanActorJuly 4Becki NewtonActress (Ugly Betty, The Goodwin Games)Andrea GabrielActress (Lost)July 6 Adam BuschActor (The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Men at Work)Tamera Mowry Actress (Sister, Sister, Strong Medicine, Tia & Tamera)Tia MowryActress (Sister, Sister, Bratz, The Game, Tia & Tamera, Instant Mom)July 8Rachael LillisActressJuly 9 Linda ParkSouth Korean actress (Star Trek: Enterprise)Sundance HeadSinger (American Idol, The Voice)Kyle DavisActorJuly 11Jeremy RowleyActor (iCarly, Bunsen Is a Beast)July 12Michelle RodriguezActress (Lost)Topher GraceActor (That '70s Show)July 13Jessica BarthActressJuly 15Greg SesteroActorJuly 18 Eddie MatosActor (Port Charles)July 19Ginifer KingActress (The Haunted Hathaways)Mark ProkschActorMarcela ValladolidAmerican chefJuly 21Josh HartnettActorJustin BarthaActorJuly 22A. J. CookActress (Higher Ground, Criminal Minds)July 24Jeff MauroCo-host of the Food Network series The KitchenAugust 2Natashia WilliamsActress (Romeo!)August 3Shanelle WorkmanActressAugust 6Marisa MillerActressAugust 8Countess VaughnActress and singer (Moesha, The Parkers)August 15Jennie EisenhowerActressAugust 18Andy SambergActor and comedian (Saturday Night Live, Brooklyn Nine-Nine)August 20Noah BeanActor (Damages, Nikita)August 22James CordenEnglish comedian and host (The Late Late Show)August 23Kobe Bryant NBA basketball player (died 2020)August 24Beth RiesgrafActress (Leverage, Caper)August 25Kel MitchellActor (All That, Kenan & Kel, Clifford the Big Red Dog, One on One, Pink Panther and Pals, Wild Grinders, Game Shakers)August 26Amanda SchullActress (Pretty Little Liars, Suits, 12 Monkeys)August 28Kelly OvertonActress (All My Children, True Blood, Legends)Rachel KimseyActress (The Young and the Restless, Justice League Action)August 29Danielle HamptonActressSeptember 4Wes BentleyActor (American Horror Story)September 6Mathew HorneActorSeptember 7Devon SawaActorSeptember 12Ben McKenzieActor (The O.C., Southland, Gotham)Ruben StuddardSinger and actorSeptember 13Megan HenningActress (7th Heaven)September 16Michael MosleyActor (Scrubs, Pan Am, Sirens)Matthew RogersAmerican television hostSeptember 17Nick CorderoActor (died 2020)September 18Billy EichnerActorSeptember 20Charlie WeberActor (How to Get Away with Murder)September 22Daniella AlonsoActress (Revolution, The Night Shift)September 23Keri Lynn PrattActress (Jack & Bobby)Josh MillerFilmmakerAnthony MackieActorSeptember 25Rossif SutherlandActorSeptember 28Peter CamborActor (NCIS: Los Angeles)Nikki McKibbinSinger (Popstars, American Idol) (died 2020)October 1Katie AseltonActressNicole AtkinsSinger-songwriterOctober 3Shannyn SossamonActressJake ShearsSingerChristian CoulsonActorOctober 4Dana DavisActress (Heroes, 10 Things I Hate About You, Franklin & Bash)Phillip GlasserActorMark DayActorOctober 5James ValentineAmerican musicianMorgan WebbTV hostJesse PalmerTV hostOctober 7Omar Benson MillerActor (CSI: Miami, Ballers, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)October 10Jodi Lyn O'KeefeActress (Nash Bridges, Prison Break)October 14UsherSinger and Actor October 15Devon GummersallActor (My So-Called Life)October 16Kala SavageActress Novie Edwards Actress and singer (Cyberchase, Total Drama Island) October 17Erin KarplukCanadian actress (Being Erica)October 18Wesley JonathanActor (City Guys, What I Like About You, The Soul Man)Jake FarrowAmerican television writer and actorOctober 20Dionne QuanVoice actress (Rugrats, The Fairly OddParents, All Grown Up!, Bratz)David CaspeAmerican film and television writerOctober 21Will EstesActor (American Dreams, Blue Bloods)Michael McMillianActor (What I Like About You, True Blood, Hot in Cleveland)October 22Zuzanna SzadkowskiPolish-American actress (Gossip Girl)October 25Zachary KnightonActorOctober 26CM PunkActorOctober 27David WaltonActor (New Girl, About a Boy)October 28Gwendoline ChristieEnglish actress (Wizards vs Aliens, Game of Thrones) and singerJustin GuariniSingerOctober 30Matthew MorrisonActor (Glee)October 31Brian HallisayActor (Privileged, The Client List, Revenge)November 1Mary Kate SchellhardtActressNovember 2Erika FloresActress (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)November 6Nicole DubucActress (Major Dad, Young Justice)Taryn ManningActressErik ColeFormer professional ice hockey left wingerNovember 9SisqóActorNovember 10EveRapper and actress (Eve)DiploDJDavid PaetkauCanadian actor (Flashpoint)November 12Ashley WilliamsActress (As the World Turns, Good Morning, Miami, The Jim Gaffigan Show)November 15Samantha SheltonActress (Monarch Cove)November 17Zoë BellNew Zealand actressTom EllisActorRachel McAdamsActress (True Detective)November 18Daniel ChongAnimatorNovember 19Eric NenningerActor (Malcolm in the Middle)Chad DoreckVoice actor (Brad Carbunkle on My Life as a Teenage Robot)Lil' MoAmerican R&B singerNovember 20Nadine VelazquezActress (My Name is Earl, The League, Major Crimes) and modelNovember 24Katherine HeiglActress (Roswell, Grey's Anatomy, State of Affairs)November 28Aimee GarciaActress (Greetings from Tucson, All About the Andersons, George Lopez, Dexter)November 29Lauren GermanActress (Chicago Fire)November 30Clay AikenSinger (American Idol, Celebrity Apprentice)December 1Jen PsakiMSNBC political analyst and former press secretary December 2Nelly FurtadoSingerDecember 3TrinaRapperDecember 7Shiri ApplebyActress (Roswell, Life UneXpected, UnREAL)December 8Ian SomerhalderActor (Smallville, Lost, The Vampire Diaries)December 9Jesse MetcalfeActor (Passions, Desperate Housewives)December 10Summer PhoenixActressDecember 11Minty LewisVoice actress (Eileen on Regular Show)December 12Gbenga AkinnagbeActor (The Wire)December 13B.J. PennMixed martial artistWillis Dorothy The New Improved Version of BJ Penn, UFC MMA Warrior https://bleacherreport.com/articles/36718-the-new-improved-version-of-bj-penn-ufc-mma-warrior 2024-08-23 Bleacher Report enDecember 18 Josh DallasActor (Once Upon a Time)Ravi PatelActorKatie HolmesActress (Dawson's Creek, The Kennedys)December 19Patrick CaseyActorDecember 20Amanda SwistenActressDecember 22Joanne KellyActressAnthony JeselnikComedianDecember 23Estella WarrenCanadian actressDecember 28John LegendActorDecember 30Michael GrimmSingerTyrese GibsonSinger Deaths Date Name Age Notability January 13Hubert Humphrey66American politician1978-01-14 HUBERT H. HUMPHREY IS DEAD AT 66 AFTER 32 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/14/archives/new-jersey-pages-hubert-h-humphrey-is-dead-at-66-after-32-years-of.html https://web.archive.org/web/20241230160110/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/14/archives/new-jersey-pages-hubert-h-humphrey-is-dead-at-66-after-32-years-of.html 2024-12-30 2025-01-06 enFebruary 28 Zara Cully86Actress (Mother Olivia Jefferson on The Jeffersons)March 18 Peggy Wood86Actress (One Life to Live)April 22 Will Geer76Actor (Grandpa Walton on The Waltons)May 21 Bruce Geller47Screenwriter, producer (Mannix)June 29 Bob Crane 49Actor (Col. Hogan on Hogan's Heroes)July 3James Daly59Actor (Dr. Paul Lochner on Medical Center)September 7Keith Moon 32English drummer (The Who) See also 1978 in the United States List of American films of 1978 References External links List of 1978 American television series at IMDb 1978 Category:1978 in American television