What Happened On This Day in History?
You’ve come to the right place for #trivia, sports, rockandroll and Hollywood history, birthdays and famous deaths. Check back daily!
Scroll down to find out what happened on this date and a list of celebrities who died recently.
We may receive a commission on
purchases made from links.
November 26
Historic Events
1976 Tthe SEX PISTOLS released their debut single “Anarchy in the U.K.”
1995 DAN MARINO became the all-time NFL leader with his 343rd touchdown pass to Keith Byars in a 36-28 loss in Indianapolis. (Fran Tarkenton)
1995 Biggest 1-hole payoff in “Skins” history: FRED COUPLES sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, CA. ($270,000)
1991 MICHAEL JACKSON’S album “DANGEROUS” went on sale.
1991 Mattel announced that a national poll indicated BARBIE should remain faithful to KEN. (64% to 36%)
1989 TINA TURNER gave herself a 50th birthday party at London’s Reform Club. (She was actually 51!)
1989 At the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, the “Great Zsa Zsa Drill Team” made up of women in gaudy dresses slapped down men dressed as Beverly Hills Cops.
1975 Rev. CHARLES BOYKIN lead a mass record burning. (Claimed 984 of 1,000 un-wed mothers became pregnant listening to Rock ‘n Roll!)
1975 LYNETTE FROMME was found guilty of the attempted assassination of President Ford.
1973 ROSEMARY WOODS testified that she accidentally caused an 18 minute gap in key Presidential recordings involved in Watergate.
1966 “I’M A BELIEVER” by the MONKEES went gold.
1962 BEATLES’ 1st recording session.
1948 The first Polaroid instant camera went on sale in Boston.
1942 “CASABLANCA” starring Humpfrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman premiered in New York City. (Academy Award for Best Picture 1943)
1936 After cleaning a church in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where they had Thanksgiving dinner the day before, ARLO GUTHRIE and a friend tossed the trash down a hill when they can’t find an open dump. They were arrested, fined $25 each, and forced to pick up the garbage. When they returned to the church, Guthrie wrote “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” about the incident, embellishing some details.
1917 The National Hockey League (NHL) was officially formed in Montreal, Canada.
1825 1st fraternity (Kappa Alpha) formed at Union College in Schnectady.
1789 1st national celebration of Thanksgiving. (It was later changed to the 4th Thursday in November)
Birthdays On This Day
November 26
1999 Singer/songwriter OLIVIA O’BRIEN Known for her 2016 collaboration with Gnash on the hit song “I Hate U. I Love U.” (2016)
1990 Singer/songwriter RITA ORA Rose to fame when she was featured on DJ Fresh’s single, “Hot Right Now” (2012), which peaked atop the UK singles chart. She was an uncredited extra in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” (2004)
1975 Singer & record producer DJ KHALED Known for high-profile collaborative albums with major artists.
1962 Country singer LINDA DAVIS She is best known for her Grammy-winning duet with Reba McEntire, “Does He Love You.”
1956 Stock car driver DALE JARRETT He won the Daytona 500 three times and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. (1999) Covers car racing for ESPN and NBC. Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. (2014)
1945 British bass player JOHN MCVIE Played with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers (1964-1967) and Fleetwood Mac. The band’s name came from drummer Mick Fleetwood and his surname.
1944 Singer JEAN TERRELL She replaced Diana Ross as lead singer of The Supremes in 1970.
1939 Admiral JEREMY “MIKE” BOORDA Chief of Naval Operations. Committed suicide, apparently over questions concerning service stripes he wore.
1939 Singer/songwriter & actress TINA TURNER The Queen of Rock ‘n Roll” and her husband Ike Turner (1962-1978) rose to fame in the 1960s. “Proud Mary” reached #4 on the Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award. As a solo artist, her biggest hit was “What’s Love Got to Do With It” (1984) It was #1 for 3 weeks.
1938 Canadian-American impressionist RICH LITTLE The Man of a Thousand Voices’ is well-known for his comedy albums and TV sppearances, including 3 HBO specials. Little was banned from NBC’s “TONIGHT SHOW” in 1982 because host Johnny Carson simply hated Little’s Johnny Carson impressions.
1933 Singer & actor ROBERT GOULET He rose to stardom in 1960 appearing in “CAMELOT” on Broadway. “If Ever I Would Leave You” The popular baritone was a frequent performer in Las Vegas.
1926 Theatricqal producer MICHAEL BUTLER Brought the rock musical “HAIR” to Broadway in 1968, where it ran for ,1,750 performances. He dated Candace Bergen and Audrey Hepburn.
1922 “PEANUTS” creator CHARLES SHULTZ Took a correspondence course in cartooning. Nicknamed “Sparky” after Barney Google’s horse Sparkplug.
1912 CBS journalist and commentator ERIC SEVAREID An author and TV comentator worked for CBS from 1939-1977. He won 3 Peabody Awards, which are radio’s version of the Pulitzer Prize. He has written a dozen or more books.
1607 Puritan minister JOHN HARVARD Founded Harvard College
That’s your daily look at nostalgia, history,
trivia, birthdays and more!
Recent Celebrity Obituaries
10/10/2025 English singer/songwriter John Lodge, Moody Blues bassist and co-lead vocalist, died at 82. Played on “Nights In White Satin.” and “Ride My See-Saw,”
10/9/2025 Red Sox Hall of Fame outfielder Mike Greenwell passed away from thyroid cancer. ‘The Gator’ was 62
10/1/2025 Jane Goodall, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, died of natural causes at age 91 Her work was captured in more than 40 documentaries. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 to support research on great apes. She lent her voice to an episode of “The Simpson’s” where she encouraged Lisa’s interest in primatology.
9/21/2025 Reputed mob boss Carmen “The Cheeseman” DiNunzio died at age 68. An FBI affidavit said he became underboss in 2004.
9/23/2025 Italian Actress Claudia Cardinale died at 87. A star in the 1960s and 1970s, she is remembered for “Once Upon a Time in the West,” and “The Pink Panther.”
9/9/2025 Actress Polly Jean Holliday Best-known for her role as the sassy Flo on the sitcom “Alice.” (1976-1980) Flo was known for her frequent use of “Kiss my grits!” She appeared on “The Goldin Girls” and had a recurring role as Jill Taylor’s mother on “Home Improvement.”
9/5/2015 Former Dodgers manager Davey Johnson died at age 82. He managed from 1984 to 2013 for the Mets, Reds, Orioles, Nationals and Dodgers. He won his 1,000th career game as manager with Los Angeles, The Dodgers were the only team he managed that didn’t make the postseason.
9/4/2005 Steel guitar player ROBBY TURNER died at 63. Country music’s ‘Man of Steel’ was best-known for his work with Waylon Jennings, but he also worked with Randy Travis, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill, The Highway Men, Tanya Tucker, Jessi Colter, The Oak Ridge Boys and others. The Waylon & Willie hit “Good Hearted Woman” was the first country album certified platinum by the RIAA.
9/6/2025 British inger/songwriter Rick Davies died after a long struggle with cancer. He was a founding member of Supertramp and co-wrote “The Logical Song,” “Take The Long Way Home” and “Breakfast In America.”
9/5/2025 Baseball’s Davy Johnson passed away at 82. He managed the Dodgers, Mets, Reds, Orioles and Nationals. (1984-2013) Lifetime record 1,372-1,071 and 2 ties. .562 winning percentage. Manager of the Year in both leagues(Orioles 1997, Nationals 2012) The 4-time All-Star outfielder played with the Orioles, Braves, Cubs and Phillies.
9/5/2015 American vocalist and guitar player Mark Volman died aftert a brief illness. He was 78. He was a co-founder of the Turtles: “Happy Together.” He was also known as ‘Flo’ of Flo & Eddie. “Keep It Warm” (1976)
9/4/2025 The Duchess of Kent, Katharine Worsley died at age 92. She died at Kensington Palace. The union flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half staff. Worsley married Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin Prince Edward in 1961.
Come back daily to find out what happened on this date in history, including which celebrities were born on this date and who recently died! #BOTD
We may receive a commission on
purchases made from links.