Famous Pop Icons, Films & TV Shows of 1980s American Culture

Famous Musicians and Entertainers of the 1980s

The 1980s was a vibrant decade filled with big hair, colorful fashions, and unforgettable music. Many famous musicians and entertainers rose to prominence during the '80s and became pop culture icons. Their music and movies defined the decade.

Michael Jackson

One of the most legendary musicians of all time, Michael Jackson skyrocketed to fame as a child star in the 1970s as part of The Jackson 5. He went solo in the 1980s and released the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, in 1982. Hits like "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and the title track "Thriller" with its famous zombie-filled music video cemented Jackson's status as the "King of Pop."

Madonna

Madonna burst onto the music scene in 1982 with her hit "Everybody." She followed it up with Like a Virgin in 1984, becoming one of the most influential artists of the decade. With her flashy fashion, iconic music videos, and catchy dance-pop tunes like "Lucky Star," "Material Girl," and "Like a Prayer," she embodied the spirit of the 1980s.

Prince

The artist known as Prince rose to fame in the late 1970s but dominated the 1980s music scene. His 1982 album 1999 contained two of his most enduring hits - "Little Red Corvette" and "Delirious." He went on to create a soundtrack for the decade, with songs like "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," "Kiss," and "Purple Rain." Prince dazzled audiences with his eclectic blend of funk, rock, R&B, and synth-pop.

Stand-Up Comedians and Comedy Movies

The 1980s saw comedy come into its own, with hilarious stand-up comedians and landmark comedy films. Comedy fans had plenty to laugh about in the '80s.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy erupted as a stand-up superstar in the early 1980s, even landing a spot on Saturday Night Live when he was only 19. His comedy album Eddie Murphy: Comedian went gold, featuring amusing sketches like "My mom has such a thick accent..." and "Ice Cream Man." He then launched his movie career with comedy smashes like 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop I and II, and Coming to America.

Whoopi Goldberg

Before becoming a talk show host and outspoken political activist, Whoopi Goldberg got her start as a stand-up comedian in the '80s. She made audiences crack up with unique characters and one-liners before getting her big break as Celie in The Color Purple. With her witty charm and humor, Whoopi paved the way for many female comedians.

John Candy

With his big frame and even bigger personality, John Candy charmed fans with laugh-out-loud roles in classic 1980s comedies like Stripes, Splash, Summer Rental, Spaceballs, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles alongside Steve Martin. Many became enamored with Candy's lovable brand of physical humor and affable nature.

Television Shows

Some of histories most loved, longest-running, and iconic TV shows entertained living rooms across America in the 1980s. Networks expanded on genres like family sitcoms, hard-hitting dramas, and cutting edge sci-fi.

The Cosby Show

Arguably the sitcom that defined the 1980s, The Cosby Show depicted an upper middle-class African American family living in Brooklyn. Starring pioneering comedian Bill Crosby as Cliff Huxtable, a doctor and family man, the series broke barriers and stereotypes. With its humor and warmth around universal family themes, The Cosby Show became the number one program on television for five straight years.

Miami Vice

This revolutionary cop drama arrived on NBC in 1984 starring Don Johnson as Detective James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Detective Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs. Set to a vibrant soundtrack and filled with pastel colors, fast cars, and action sequences, Miami Vice introduced a grittier side of police work involving undercover operations to take down drug dealers and organized crime. The show's fashions also set major trends.

MacGyver

Premiering in 1985, MacGyver starred Richard Dean Anderson as secret agent Angus MacGyver. Using only his Swiss Army knife and scientific know-how instead of weapons, MacGyver improvised ingenious solutions to extract himself from perilous situations. Viewers tuned in weekly to see how he would creatively use ordinary items to get himself out of a jam. The show inspired interest in science and critical thinking in its young fans.

Blockbuster Films

Movie theaters saw massive crowds flocking to see larger-than-life blockbuster movies in the '80s that went on to become beloved classics.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Director Steven Spielberg tugged at heartstrings across America with 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. This emotional story chronicles the charming friendship between lonely young Elliott and the adorable alien botanist stranded on Earth, E.T. Spielberg beautifully captured childhood innocence, imagination, and the universal longing for acceptance. Moviegoers fell in love with E.T.

Back to the Future

Tracing the wild time-travel adventures of teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), eccentric scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and a flux capacitor-enhanced DeLorean car, Back to the Future instantly enchanted audiences in 1985. Its perfect fusion of comedy, science fiction, action, and romance earned it Academy Award nominations and spawned two equally entertaining sequels in 1989 and 1990.

The Empire Strikes Back

1980 saw the epic continuation of George Lucas' beloved Star Wars saga with Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. Considered the finest film in the original trilogy, it saw morally-conflicted hero Luke Skywalker continuing Jedi training with his mentor Yoda on swamp planet Dagobah while Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and others evaded capture from Darth Vader's forces after the destruction of the Death Star. The Empire Strikes Back culminates with cinema's most famous reveal. To this day, Star Wars influences pop culture.

Impactful Figures

A host of famous politicians left indelible marks on history throughout the monumental decade of ups and downs that was the 1980s.

Ronald Reagan

Former Hollywood movie star turned Republican Ronald Reagan triumphed over incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980 to become the 40th U.S. president. Reagan entered the highest office facing serious crises like inflation, unemployment, and the Iran hostage situation. Though controversial for his trickle-down economic policies and for ramping up America's nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union, many credit Reagan's tenure for restoring prosperity at home. His famous demand, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" later brought the Cold War era to an end under his successor, President George H.W. Bush.

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher assumed office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979, the first woman in British history to do so. Nicknamed the "Iron Lady" for her rigid leadership style, Thatcher took an aggressive approach to revive Britain's struggling economy and restore national prestige. She successfully defended the Falkland Islands from an Argentine invasion in 1982. Though many criticized her tough fiscal policies, free market reforms, deregulation, and dismantling of social services, Thatcher still ranks among the UK's most dominant, influential, and longest-serving elected leaders.

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