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Last updated: 2009 June 27.

1990 January 1 Charles Boost, Dutch film critic, dies at age 82. [1] US Federal Communications Commission implements "SYNDEX" giving independent stations more rights over cable TV outlets for exclusive syndicated programs. [1] Gerhard Schröder, West German minister of Defense, dies at age 79. [1] Sports News Network begins operation on cable TV. [1] Suzuki Sochu, Zen teacher (Rinzai line)/abbot of Ryutakuji, dies. [1] January 2 Alan Hale Jr, American actor (Skipper Jonas Grumby - Gilligan's Island), dies of cancer at age 71 (born 1921). [1] [42] Belcampo [Herman Schönfeld Wichers], Dutch lawyer/writer, dies at age 87. [1] Dow Jones Industrial Average hits record 2,800 (2,810.15). [1] Sting joins wrestling's four Horsemen (Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson). [1] Vladimir Alexis Ussachevsky, Manchuria composer (Creation), dies at age 78. [1] January 3 Ken Hill, actor (Cobra, Protocol), dies. [1] Panamá's leader General Manuel Noriega surrenders to US military troops to face charges of drug trafficking. [1] [42] [81.48] [129] January 4 Alberto Lleras Camargo, President of Colombia (1945-46, 1958-62), dies. [1] Robert F Adams, American sci-fi author (Castaways in Time), dies at age 57. [1] Over 300 people are killed in a train accident in Ghotki, Pakistan. [42] Death of Doc Edgerton, American electrical engineer (born 1903). [42] January 5 Arthur Kennedy, actor (Air Force), dies of a brain tumor at age 76. [1] Bart LaRue, entertainer, dies. [1] January 6 Hans Jaray, actor (Lydia, Fedora), dies. [1] Ian Charleson, actor (Gandhi, Chariots of Fire), dies of AIDS at age 40. [1] New York Lotto pays US$35 million to one winner (numbers are 18-25-26-32-42-44). [1] Death of Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov, Russian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1904). [42] January 7 Gail Lucas, entertainer, dies. [1] In Italy, the Leaning Tower Of Pisa closed to the public due to safety concerns. [1] [42] January 8 Terry Thomas, English comic (Heroes), dies of Parkinson's disease at age 78. [1] Demonstrations in Leipzig, Germany, demand reunification; "Wir sind ein Volk!" is the chant used on this day during the demonstrations. [37] January 9 64th US manned space mission STS 32 (Columbia 10) launches into orbit. [1] Ugandan Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara-Okello, who led a coup against Dr. Apolo Milton Obote's government, dies in Ormduruman Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. [42] January 10 China lifts martial law (imposed after Tiananmen Square massacre). [1] Juliet Berto, screenwriter/actress (Bastienne Bastien), dies at age 42. [1] Yvonne Peattie Marquard, actress (Donovan's Reef), dies. [1] Time Warner is formed from the merger of Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc. [42] January 11 In Lithuania, 300,000 demonstrate for independence. [1] [42] Mary Jane Carr, actress (Forbidden Trail, Second Wife), dies. [1] January 12 Civil Rights activist Reverand Al Sharpton is stabbed in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. [1] Laurence J Peter, author (Peter Principle), dies from a stroke at age 70. [1] Paul Amadeus Pisk, composer, dies at age 96. [1] Romania bans Communist party (first Warsaw Pact member to do so). [1] January 13 The Walt Disney World Swan Hotel opens in Walt Disney World. [6] First elected US black governor inaugurated (Douglas Wilder-Virginia). [1] [42] In Maryland, a magnitude 2.6 earthquake occurs, the largest historical earthquake in Maryland. [53] January 14 American TV show The Simpsons premieres on Fox-TV. [1] David Arkin, actor (I Love You Alice B Toklas), dies. [1] Perez de Cuellar says he has lost all hope for peace in the Persian Gulf. [1] January 15 6th Soap Opera Digest Awards - Knots Landing wins. [1] AT&T experiences long distance problems due to a computer glitch. [1] Gordon Jackson, actor (Hamlet), dies after a short illness at age 66. [1] Thousands storm the Stasi headquarters in Berlin in an attempt to view their government records. [42] January 16 Two Bank of Credit and Commerce members plea guilty to money laundering. [1] January 17 Charles Hernu, French minister of Defense (1981-85), dies. [1] The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Four Seasons, Four Tops, Hank Ballard, Platters and Kinks inducted into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [1] January 18 Melanie Appleby, rocker (Mel and Kim), dies of liver cancer at age 23. [1] South Africa says it is reconsidering ban on African National Congress. [1] Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry is arrested for drug possession in an FBI sting. [1] [42] January 19 Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Indian guru, dies at age 58. [1] Herbert Wehner, German ex-communist/chairman (1958-73), dies at age 83. [1] January 20 47th Golden Globes: Born on Fourth of July, Driving Miss Daisy win. [1] Barbara Stanwyck [Ruby Stevens], American actress (Big Valley), dies at age 82 (born 1907). [1] [42] Miloslav Istvan, composer, dies at age 61. [1] Naruhito Higashi-Kuni, Japanese Prime Minister (1945), dies. [1] US 64th manned space mission STS 32 (Columbia 10) returns from space. [1] Soviet troops occupy Baku, Azerbaijan, under the state of emergency decree issued by Gorbachev, and kill over 130 and wound over 700 protesters for national independence. [42] January 21 The East German political party, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, changes its name to the Party of Democratic Socialism to minimize negative association with East Germany. [37] January 22 Robert Tappan Morris, Jr. is convicted of releasing the 1988 Internet worm. [5] [42] 17th American Music Awards: Milli Vanilli. [1] Death of Roman Vishniac, Russian-American photographer (born 1897). [42] January 23 Allen Larkin Collins, guitarist, dies of pneumonia at age 37. Collins was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern US rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. His unique guitar playing and songwriting skills were vital to the success of the band during his time with them. [1] [42] Mariano Rumor, Italy's Prime Minister (1968-70, 1973-74), dies. [1] January 24 Japanese MUSES-A (Hiten) launched towards moon. [1] Madge Bellamy, actress (White Zombie), dies at age 87. [1] January 25 Alexander Lockwood, actor (Duel), dies. [1] Ava Gardner, actress (Barefoot Contessa), dies from pneumonia in London, England, at age 67 (born 1922). [1] [42] Avianca Flight 52 runs out of fuel and crashes into Cove Neck, Long Island, after a miscommunication between the flight crew and JFK Airport officials. 73 die. [1] [42] Ian Dudley Hardy, entertainer, dies. [1] (to January 26) The Burns' Day storm kills 97 in northwestern Europe. [1] [42] January 26 Annular eclipse visible over Antarctica and South Atlantic. [1] FHP "Boy" Trip, Dutch minister, dies. [1] Death of Lewis Mumford, American historian of science (born 1895). [42] January 27 Dissolution of Polish communist party. [1] Helen Jerome Eddy, actress (Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm), dies at age 92. [1] The city of Tiraspol in the Moldavian SSR briefly declares independence. [42] January 28 Independent on Sunday begins publishing in London, England. [1] East German agreement to form all-party government. [1] January 29 The trial of Joseph Hazelwood, former skipper of the Exxon Valdez, begins in Anchorage, Alaska. He is accused of negligence that resulted in America's worst oil spill to date. [1] [42] January 31 First McDonald's fast-food restaurant in Russia opens in Moscow, world's biggest McDonald's. [1] [42] February 1 Nintendo ships the Super Mario Bros. 3 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. (It becomes the best-selling video game of all time, grossing US$500 million, selling 17.28 million cartridges.) [9] February 2 Joel Fluellen, actor (Man Friday, Burning Cross), dies at age 79. [1] In South Africa, President F.W. de Klerk allows the African National Congress to legally function again and promises to free Nelson Mandela. [1] [42] Buena Vista releases the Touchstone Pictures / Samuel Goldwyn live-action feature film Stella to theaters in the USA. [6] February 4 Ten Israeli tourists murdered near Cairo, Egypt. [1] February 5 Manuel Fraga becomes the president of Galicia (Spain). [42] February 6 Jane Novak, silent screen actress (Ghost Town), dies of stroke at age 94. [1] John Merivale, actor (Caltiki), dies. [1] Steve Briers of Wales recites the entire lyrics of Queen's album A Night At The Opera in 9 minutes and 58.44 seconds, backwards. [1] February 7 Dom Heider Camara, nonviolent/human rights Bishop of Brazil, dies. [1] Jimmy Van Heusen, American composer (Call Me Irresponsible), dies at age 77 (born 1913). [1] [42] Karachi police kill 22 anti-nationalistic demonstrators. [1] Nathan Wartels, publisher (Crown), dies from pneumonia at age 88. [1] The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agrees to give up its monopoly of power. [1] [42] February 8 Del Shannon, in Coopersville, Michigan, rock vocalist ("Runaway"), shoots self at age 55 (born 1934). [1] [42] February 9 The Bradys return to TV for six episodes on CBS TV. [1] Galileo flies by Venus. [1] Namibia's constitution ratified. [1] February 10 Sixth largest wrestling crowd (63,900-Tokyo Dome). [1] South Africa President F.W. de Klerk announces Nelson Mandela will be free February 11th. [1] [42] February 11 Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison, near Cape Town, South Africa, after 27 years behind bars. [1] [42] [46.237] Enix releases the Dragon Quest IV game for the Famicom in Japan. On the first day in stores, 1.3 million copies are sold, for about US$75 each. [9] February 13 50 killed at Inkatha-UDF battle in Natal, South Africa. [1] Ken Lynch, actor (Paratroop Command, Legend of Tom Dooley), dies at age 79. [1] US, France, and England give consent to German reunification. [1] [37][42] February 14 Jean Wallace [Walasek], actress (Big Combo), dies of hemorrhage at age 66. [1] Perrier recalls 160 million bottles of sparkling water after traces of benzene, a carcinogen, are found in some. [1] Space probe Voyager 1 takes photograph of entire solar system. [1] February 15 Henry Brandon, actor (Assault on Precinct 13), dies at age 77. [1] Jack Fletcher, actor (Any Wednesday), dies of heart attack at age 68. [1] The United Kingdom and Argentina restore diplomatic relations, after severing them eight years ago. The UK had severed ties in response to Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands, a British Dependent Territory, in 1982. [42] IBM unveils its new RISC-based workstation line, the RS/6000. Development work had been done under code name "America" for the RISC chip research, and "RIOS" for systems using the America technology. The architecture of the systems is given the name POWER, standing for Performance Optimization With Enhanced RISC. [4] February 16 Keith Haring, American artist/cartoonist (brilliant baby), dies of AIDS at age 31 (born 1954). [1] [42] February 17 Erik Rhodes, actor (Top Hat), dies of pneumonia at age 84. [1] Frans Kellendonk, Dutch writer (Good for Nothing), dies at age 39. [1] Marc Clement, actor (Career Opportunities, Sluggers Wife), dies. [1] February 19 Michael Powell, English director (Life and Death of Colonel Blimp), dies at age 84 (born 1905). [1] [42] Police kill eight demonstrators for multi-party system in Nepal. [1] Soyuz TM-9 lands. [1] February 21 32nd Grammy Awards: "Wind Beneath My Wings", Nick of Time win. [1] February 22 Stephen Burns, actor (Casey's Shadow), dies. [1] February 23 Annelien Kappeyne van de Coppello, Dutch Member of Parliament (Liberal), dies at age 53. [1] Buena Vista releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Where the Heart Is to theaters in the USA. [6] James Gavin, commandant US 82nd Airborn Division (Normandy), dies at age 82. [1] Jose Napoleon Duarte, President of Salvador (1984-89), dies at age 62. [1] February 24 Johnnie Ray, singer (Cry), dies of liver failure at age 61. [1] Malcolm Forbes, CEO (Forbes Publishing), dies of a heart attack at age 70 (born 1919). [1] [42] Sandro Pertini, President of Italy (1978, 1985), dies at age 93. [1] February 25 Deborra Hampton, actress (Crossroads, Two of a Kind), dies at age 30. [1] February 26 Cornell Gunther, US musician (Coasters, Poison Ivy), dies at age 53. [1] Maurine Stuart, Zen teacher (head of Cambridge Buddhist Association), dies. [1] Scott Jarvis, musician (Great Expectationa), dies. [1] USSR agrees to withdraw all 73,500 troops from Czechoslovakia by July, 1991. [1] [42] The Sandinistas are defeated in the Nicaraguan elections. [42] February 27 Exxon Corp and Exxon Shipping are indicted on five criminal counts for the grounding and oil spill of the Exxon Valdez. [1] [42] Death of Nahum Norbert Glatzer, Jewish-American scholar (born 1903). [42] February 28 Dutch police seize 3,000 kg of cocaine. [1] Fabia Drake, actress (Nice Girl Like Me), dies at age 86. [1] US 65th manned space mission STS 36 (Atlantis 6) launches into orbit. [1] In Southern California, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. [53] March 1 Benin nullifies its constitution. [1] Claude Spaak, Belgian dramatist, dies. [1] Luis Alberto Lacelle sworn in as President of Uruguay. [1] In Texas, near-stock ZR-1 and L-98 Corvettes set a dozen land speed records. Average speed for all runs is 170- to 175-MPH. [8] The Royal New Zealand Navy discontinues its daily rum ration. [42] A fire at the Sheraton Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, kills 16 people. [42] Steve Jackson Games is raided by the U.S. Secret Service, prompting the later formation of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. [42] March 2 Greyhound Bus goes on strike. [1] March 3 Carole Gist, 20, (Michigan), crowned 39th Miss USA. [1] Frans Goedhart, Dutch journalist/founder (Parool), dies at age 86. [1] Gerard Blitz, Belgian swimmer/founder (Club Méd), dies at age 88. [1] March 4 US 65th manned space mission STS 36 (Atlantis 6) returns from space. [1] In Pakistan, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. At least 11 people killed, about 40 injured and many homes and buildings damaged. [53] March 5 Gary Merrill, actor (Time Tunnel, Huckleberry Finn), dies at age 75. [1] Gloria Carter Spann, President Carter's sister, dies at age 63 from cancer. [1] March 6 American SR-71 sets a transcontinental record, flying 2,404 miles in 1:08:17. [1] [42] March 7 Three passengers killed and 162 injured as subway train derails in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [1] Max Neuhaus, composer, dies at age 50. [1] March 8 New York City's Zodiac killer shoots first victim, Mario Orosco. [1] The German Parliament, Bundestag issues a resolution concerning the border with Poland which, "will at no time, either today or in the future, be questioned through territorial claims on the part of the Germans." [37] March 9 Antonia Novello is sworn in as Surgeon General of the United States, becoming the first female and Hispanic American to serve in that position. [1] [42] Police seal off Brixton in South London after another night of protests against the poll tax. [42] In Canada, Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells confirms he will rescind Newfoundland's approval of the Meech Lake Accord. [42] March 10 4th American Comedy Awards: When Harry Met Sally. [1] Lieutenant General Avril resigns as President of Haiti, eighteen months after seizing power in a coup. [1] [42] Michael Stewart, United Kingdom Secretary of State (1965-66, 1968-70), dies. [1] US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. [1] March 11 Lithuanian Parliament declares incorporation into the Soviet Union was illegal, and declares independence. [1] [10] [42] Patricio Aylwin is sworn-in as the first democratically-elected Chilean president since 1970. [42] March 13 Bruno Bettelhelm, Austrian/American child psychoanalyst, commits suicide at age 86 in Silver Spring, Maryland (born 1903). [1] [37] [42] Nicholoas Braithwaite elected premier of Grenada. [1] Death of Karl Münchinger, German conductor (born 1915). [42] March 14 4th Soul Train Music Awards: Soul II Soul, Janet Jackson. [1] March 15 Fernando Collor de Mello sworn in as President of Brazil. [1] The Soviet Union announces that Lithuania's declaration of independence is invalid. [42] Iraq hangs British journalist Farzad Bazoft for spying. Daphne Parish, a British nurse, is sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment as an accomplice. [42] Mikhail Gorbachev is elected as the first executive president of the Soviet Union. [1] [42] March 16 Ernst Bacon, composer, dies at age 91. [1] March 17 Capucine [Germaine Lefebvre], actress (Rendez-Vous de Juillet, Curse of the Pink Panther), commits suicide in Lausanne, Switzerland at age 57 (born 1933). [1] [42] Marí Mejía, Guatemalian feminist, murdered. [1] Rick Grech, British rock bassist (Blind Faith, Traffic), dies at age 44 (born 1946). [1] [42] March 18 First free elections in German Democratic Republic (East Germany); Conservatives beat Communists. [1] [42] Twelve paintings, collectively worth US$100+ million, are stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts by two thieves posing as police officers. This is the largest art theft in US history, and the paintings (as of 2007) have not been recovered. [1] [42] Robin Harris, actor (House Party, Mo' Better Blues), dies at age 36. [1] March 19 Death of Andrew Wood, American musician (born 1966). [42] March 20 Jannetje Visser-Roosendaal, Dutch writer, dies at age 90. [1] Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering. [42] March 21 After 75 years of South African rule, Namibia becomes independent; Sam Nujoma first president. [1] [42] March 22 Anchorage jury finds Captain Hazelwood innocent of Valdez oil spill. [1] March 23 Former Exxon Valdez Captain Joseph Hazelwood ordered to help clean up Prince William Sound and pay $50,000 in restitution for 1989 oil spill. [1] Buena Vista releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Pretty Woman to theaters. (World theater gross receipts: US$463 million, making this Disney's most successful live-action film to date.) [6] March 24 Alice Sapritch, actress (European Vacation), dies. [1] An Wang, computer manufacturer (Wang), dies at age 70 from cancer. [1] Indian troops leave Sri Lanka. [1] Ray Goulding, comedian (Bob and Ray), dies from kidney failure at age 68. [1] Rene Enriquez actor (Hill Street Blues), dies from pancreatic cancer at age 56. [1] The government of Australian prime minister Bob Hawke is re-elected for a fourth term. [42] March 25 10th Golden Raspberry Awards: Star Trek V wins. [1] In New York City, a fire due to arson at an illegal social club called "Happy Land" kills 87. [1][42] In Costa Rica, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs. Felt throughout Costa Rica and southwestern Nicaragua, and parts of Panama. [53] March 26 62nd Academy Awards: Driving Miss Daisy, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jessica Tandy win. [1] Roy "Halston" Frowick, fashion designer, dies of AIDS at age 68. [1] March 27 Bus accidentally touches high voltage wire in Karagpur, India; 21 die. [1] New South Wales beats Queensland by 345 runs to win Sheffield Shield Final. [1] The United States begins broadcasting TV Martí to Cuba. [42] March 28 Helene Fortescu Reynolds, actress (Bermuda Mystery), dies at age 65. [1] Michael Jordan scores 69 points, fourth time he scores 60 points in a game. [1] U.S. President George H. W. Bush posthumously awards Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal. [1] [5] [42] March 29 New York City's Zodiac killer shoots second victim, Germaine Montenesdro. [1] March 31 The NBC TV network begins airing the series Carol & Co.. [1] [6] A massive anti-poll tax demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, turns into a riot; 471 people are injured, and 341 arrested. [1] [42]