August 23: What Happened on This Day in History
August 23rd marks the 235th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 236th in case of leap years). There are 130 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on August 23rd in history, famous birthdays on August 23rd, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to August 23.
What happened on August 23?
Here's what happened on August 23rd in history:
- 2008: Ian Hibell, a renowned British long-distance cyclist, tragically died at age 74 from dehydration while cycling in a desert, highlighting the extreme challenges faced by endurance cyclists.
- 2006: Maynard Ferguson, renowned Canadian trumpet player and big band leader, passed away. Ferguson was a celebrated jazz musician known for his exceptional high-note trumpet playing and influential career spanning several decades.
- 2000: Nicaragua officially became a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty, which effectively superseded the Buenos Aires Convention. This membership signified Nicaragua's commitment to international copyright protection standards and aligned the country with global intellectual property regulations.
- 1990: The United States began calling up 46,000 military reservists to prepare for potential conflict in the Persian Gulf, signaling a significant military response to regional tensions.
- 1987: A 15-year-old boy dramatically hijacked a KLM Boeing 737, making an extraordinary demand of $1 billion. This unprecedented incident raised significant questions about airport security and juvenile criminal behavior.
- 1986: The musical 'Rags', staged at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York City, closed after a very brief run of only 4 performances. This short-lived production likely indicates challenges with audience reception or critical reviews.
- 1983: Nicol David is a renowned Malaysian professional squash player, widely considered one of the most successful female squash players in history. Born on August 23, 1983, she would go on to become a multiple-time world champion and a significant sports icon in Malaysia.
- 1978: On August 23, 1978, a group of Iranian students occupied the Iranian embassy located in Wassenaar, Netherlands. This event occurred during a period of significant political unrest in Iran, preceding the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The embassy occupation likely reflected the growing tensions and political dissent among Iranian students against the Shah's regime.
- 1977: Rudolf Bahro, a prominent Marxist philosopher and dissident, was imprisoned by the East German authorities in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) for his critical views and writings challenging the communist regime's policies.
- 1975: The Pathet Lao communist movement successfully overthrew the existing government, establishing a communist regime in Laos and dramatically altering the country's political landscape during the Cold War era.
What famous birthdays are on August 23?
On August 23rd there are the following famous birthdays:
![Gene Kelly]()
Gene Kelly (1912)Legendary Hollywood dancer, actor, and choreographer who revolutionized movie musicals through innovative dance techniques and storytelling.
![River Phoenix]()
River Phoenix (1970)River Phoenix was a promising young actor who became an iconic figure in 1980s and early 1990s cinema, known for his powerful performances...
![Kobe Bryant]()
Kobe Bryant (1978)Bryant, an american basketball star and athlete for the los angeles lakers, was accused of rape on 23 march 2003.
![Barbara Eden]()
Barbara Eden (1931)Barbara Eden is an iconic American actress best known for her starring role in the popular 1960s sitcom 'I Dream of Jeannie'.
![Jay Mohr]()
Jay Mohr (1970)Jay Mohr is a versatile comedian and actor known for his roles in 'Jerry Maguire', 'Saturday Night Live', and the sitcom 'Gary Unmarried',...
![Ray Park]()
Ray Park (1974)Scottish martial artist and actor known for playing Darth Maul in Star Wars and Snake Eyes in G.I.
![Saira Banu]()
Saira Banu (1944)Prominent Bollywood actress known for her iconic roles in classic Indian cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, and wife of legendary actor...
![Vera Miles]()
Vera Miles (1929)Vera Miles was a prominent American actress known for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock films like 'Psycho' and 'The Man Who Shot Liberty...
![Marian Seldes]()
Marian Seldes (1928)Renowned American actress and theater artist known for her extensive stage career and significant contributions to Broadway and theater...
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on August 23?
On August 23rd the following celebrities died:
![Rudolph Valentino]()
Rudolph Valentino (1926)Rudolph valentino was an italian-born american actor known for his roles in silent films, particularly for his role in 'the sheik'.
![Brock Peters]()
Brock Peters (2005)Renowned African American actor famous for his powerful roles in 'Carmen Jones' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird', who made significant...
- Satoshi Kon (2010)
Legendary Japanese anime director and screenwriter known for groundbreaking films like 'Perfect Blue' and 'Paprika'.
- John Kendrew (1997)
Renowned British biochemist who pioneered the understanding of protein structure by revealing the three-dimensional structure of myoglobin.
- David Rose (1990)
David Rose was a renowned English-American pianist, composer, and conductor known for his musical versatility and contributions to...
- Margaret Tucker (1996)
Prominent Australian Indigenous rights activist and author who fought for Aboriginal social justice and wrote extensively about Indigenous...
- Jack Dyer (2003)
Prominent Australian rules football player and coach who was a significant figure in the sport during mid-20th century.
What day of the year is August 23?
August 23rd marks the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 236th in case of leap years).
There are 130 days remaining until the end of the year.
August 23rd is the 23rd day of the month of August.
What day of the week is August 23?
On August 23rd, 2025 the day of the week is Saturday.
| August | 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
What zodiac sign is associated with the day August 23?
The zodiac sign associated with August 23rd is Virgo according to the Western Zodiac.
