On this day

August 20, 1987

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from August 20, 1987

Giving Flowers Long Life

By Anne-Marie Schiro

LEAD: YOU might say that J. Barry Ferguson lives with and for flowers. He's known for the grandiose arrangements he devises for private parties (such as Malcolm Forbes's May extravaganza) and for charity events (such as the annual Winter Antiques Show in New York). He is much sought after as a lecturer at garden clubs, and he grows all sorts of flowers in the gardens surrounding his home on the North Shore of Long Island.

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U.S. Orders 8 Old Minesweepers to the Gulf

By Richard Halloran, Special To the New York Times

LEAD: The Reagan Administration, preparing to enlarge the United States naval presence in the Persian Gulf, has ordered the Navy to activate at least eight reserve minesweepers and send them to that region, officials here said today.

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U.S. PLANNED IN '84 FOR SOUTH AFRICA TO HELP CONTRAS

By Stephen Engelberg, Special To the New York Times

LEAD: Senior Reagan Administration officials approved a plan in early 1984, under which the Nicaraguan rebels would receive training and equipment that would ultimately have been paid for by South Africa, Government officials said today.

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of August 19, 1987, covering August 20, 1987.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Whitney by Whitney Houston

    Whitney

    Whitney Houston

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    9
  2. 2
    Album cover for Whitesnake by Whitesnake

    Whitesnake

    Whitesnake

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    19
  3. 3
    Album cover for Bad Animals by Heart

    Bad Animals

    Heart

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    11
  4. 4
    Album cover for Bigger And Deffer by LL Cool J

    Bigger And Deffer

    LL Cool J

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    10
  5. 5
    Album cover for The Joshua Tree by U2

    The Joshua Tree

    U2

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    21

Notable Births

Stefan Aigner

1987Stefan Aigner, German footballer[†]

Stefan Aigner is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Gunther (wrestler)

1987Gunther, Austrian wrestler[†]

Walter Hahn is an Austrian professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Gunther and is the current World Heavyweight Champion in his record-setting second reign. He is also the incumbent King of the Ring and is one half of the tag team Imperium alongside Ludwig Kaiser.

Manny Jacinto

1987Manny Jacinto, Canadian actor[†]

Manuel Luis Jacinto is a Filipino-Canadian actor. After several small roles on television, his breakout role came as Jason Mendoza on the NBC sitcom The Good Place (2016–2020). Jacinto had minor roles in Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and portrayed the Stranger/"Qimir" in the Star Wars series The Acolyte (2024). He also provided the voice of Scott Denoga in the Disney Channel animated series Hailey's On It! (2023–2024). In 2025, Jacinto will star in Disney's Freakier Friday.

Vedran Janjetović

1987Vedran Janjetović, Croatian-Australian footballer[†]

Vedran Janjetović is a Croatian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National Premier Leagues NSW club Wollongong Wolves.

1987Sido Jombati, Portuguese footballer[†]

Sido Coelho Jombati is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a right back or centre back for Salisbury. He has played in the English Football League for Cheltenham Town, Wycombe Wanderers and Oldham Athletic.

Egon Kaur

1987Egon Kaur, Estonian race car driver[†]

Egon Kaur is an Estonian rally driver.

Notable Deaths

1987Walenty KƂyszejko, Estonian–Polish basketball player and coach (born 1909)[†]

Walenty KƂyszejko was an Estonian–Polish basketball coach and player. He was also a professor of physical education at the Józef PiƂsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw.

Historical Context for August 20, 1987

In 1987, the world population was approximately 5,049,746,397 people[†]