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HistoryCentral Est. 1996
8520th C.
1985
The 20th Century Almanac · The Eighties

1985

Major Events · Sports · Music · Screen · Prizes

Mikhail Gorbachev rose to lead the Soviet Union, ushering in reform, while Palestinian hijackers seized the cruise ship Achille Lauro and TWA Flight 847. French agents sank Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior, famine ravaged Ethiopia, and Out of Africa won Best Picture.

A Year in Review
Best Picture
Out of Africa" Best DirectorSydney Polla
Nobel · Literature
—
World Series
Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardina
No. 1 Song
I Want To Know What Love Is
Top TV
—
Academy · Actor
William Hurt

Major Events of 1985

8 events
Gorbachev becomes Soviet leaderNimeiri ousted in the SudanRainbow Warrior sinksAchille Lauro seiezedTWA flight 847 hijackedUS becomes a debtor nationReagan tax reformColombian terrorists execute 100 people, including 11 judges

Sports Highlights

Champions of 1985

Champions

NBALos Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Series: 4-2
NCAA FootballOklahoma Record: 11-1-0
Heisman TrophyBo Jackson, auburn, RB points: 1,509
Stanley CupEdmunton Oilers vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series: 4-1 Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins Score: 38-16 US Open Golf: Andy North Score: 279 Course: Oakland Hills, CC Location: Birmingham, MI
World SeriesKansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Series: 4-3

Top Music of 1985

The year on the charts

Top Songs

  1. I Want To Know What Love Is Foreigner
  2. Careless Whisper Wham! featuring George Michael
  3. Can't Fight This Feeling REO Speedwagon
  4. One More Night Phil Collins
  5. We Are the World U.S.A. for Africa
  6. Crazy for You Madonna
  7. Don't You Simple Minds
  8. Everything She Wants Wham!
  9. Everyone Wants to Rule the World Tears for Fears
  10. Heaven Bryan Adams

Grammy Awards

Record of the Year
"We Are the World" ... USA for Africa
Song of the Year
"We Are the World" ... Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie Best Album: "No Jacket Required" ... P Male Vocalist: Phil Collins ... "No Jacket Required" Female Vocalist:Whitney Houston ... "Saving All My Love for You"

Screen & Television

At the box office & on the air

Top Movies

  1. Back to the Future
  2. Beverly Hills Cop
  3. Cocoon
  4. Fletch
  5. The Goonies
  6. The Jewel of the Nile
  7. National Lampoon's European Vacation
  8. Pale Rider
  9. Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
  10. Rambo: First Blood, Part II

Academy Awards

Honoring 1985
Best Picture
Out of Africa" Best DirectorSydney Pollack
Out of Africa
Best Actor
William Hurt
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Best Actress
Geraldine Page
The Trip to Bountiful

Nobel & Pulitzer Prizes

The year in letters & science

Pulitzer Prizes

Drama
Steven Sondheim & James Lapine ... "Sunday In the Park With George"
Fiction
Alison Lurie ... "Foreign Affairs" International Reporting: Josh Friedman & Dennis Bell ... "Newsday" (Garden City, NY) National Reporting: Thomas J. Knudson ... "Des Moines Register"
Public Service
"Ft. Worth Star-Telegram"