The 1980s was an era filled with icons who shaped the decade. With the assistance of technology, music transformed and started to have more of a disco sound than ever before. There were more television shows and movies filmed since people were getting more channels on TV inside their homes. There was a myriad of athletes who led fabled teams to levels of success only a few teams had ever reached in sports history.
Even 15 years after his death, people still reminisce about music icon Michael Jackson. From the time he was born, Jackson was rehearsing dance moves and training his voice to belt out pitch-perfect notes. His legendary dancing is still mimicked in 2024, years after he stopped performing and died. Celebrities continue to aspire to reach the same levels of fame and success as Jackson. Compared to every other person in history, Jackson is near the top of the list of most iconic people ever.
Princess Diana is another celebrity who left a meteor-sized imprint on society before she died. She was known for having a soft heart towards people. One group she showed love to was people diagnosed with HIV in the 1980s. Back then, there was a stigma surrounding people with the disease. It was believed they shouldn’t be touched and were seen as less than human. Princess Diana shook their hands and wanted to make sure they knew they were loved. For more 1980s content, click here to read about the 80s collectibles that are worth a ton of money today.
To compile this list of the biggest icons of the 1980s, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment-related sources. These include Marie Claire and American Songwriter.
Madonna
It was challenging for anyone to go more than two days without hearing news about Madonna during the 1980s. She was one of the first female artists to incorporate sexual lyrics in her songs. During the 1980s, women were continuing to fight for equality. They were proving they were just as necessary as men in helping society function. Madonna sang and millions of people around the world followed.
Tunes her fans blasted on the radio include “Like a Virgin” and “Take a Bow.” Madonna was always on the red carpet, receiving one award or another for her influential hits. Some of the trophies she’s collected are the 1987 American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist and seven Grammy Awards in various categories. Madonna is still gracing stages in front of millions of people in 2024 with the same energy she had in the 1980s.
Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) attends the Ascot race meeting in England, wearing a black and white spotted dress by Victor Edelstein and a Philip Somerville hat, June 1988. (Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)
There’s plenty of pressure to deal with when representing the Royal Family. However, Princess Diana handled the responsibility with grace and elegance. She was known for her kind heart and spirit that would seemingly light up any room she walked into. Before she died, Princess Diana worked with numerous charities and helped discriminated groups of people. It’s no secret Princess Diana had a soft-spot in her heart for individuals who found themselves diagnosed with HIV.
The virus first ran rampant throughout the United States in the 1980s, engraining fear inside of society. There was once an outlandish theory that only people who were part of the LGBTQ+ community could contract the disease. Society also thought if you touched someone with the virus, you would suffer from the affects of the illness. Princess Diana broke down those hurtful stereotypes and gave HIV positive people a new lease on life.
Michael Jackson
Arguably the biggest name in the history of music is Michael Jackson. He was performing on national television like it was no big deal when he was still a young child. His voice and dancing skills turned him into the worldwide phenomenon people wanted to watch live. Some of Jackson’s biggest songs are “Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “ABC” with The Jackson 5.
Jackson was one of the first music artists to headline a Super Bowl halftime show, a tradition that’s continued into 2024. However, Jackson’s life wasn’t without controversy. While Jackson was born African-American, he was diagnosed with vitiligo. Jackson was accused of abusing various young boys multiple times throughout his run as a musician. In 2009, Jackson died after going into cardiac arrest from taking multiple pills.
Olivia Newton-John
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1983: Photo of Olivia Newton-John Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Olivia Newton-John was an A-lister who redefined the entertainment industry. She etched a name for herself as a musician. It all started in 1974 when she released her first album. The record was called “If You Love Me, Let Me Know.” It pulled off the nearly impossible feat of becoming a number one album. To this day, fans love turning the volume up for her hits that include “I Honestly Love You” and “Have You Ever Been Mellow.”
Newton-John graced the big screen in addition to creating music. Unsurprisingly, her first major role was in the revolutionary musical “Grease,” where she starred alongside John Travolta. Newton-John’s accolades list is filled with countless Billboard Awards and Grammys. 2022 is when Newton-John’s soul left Earth after a tumultuous battle with cancer.
Brooke Shields
From the time she was born, Brooke Shields had a magnetic stage presence. Her mother was Teri Shields, an actress in her own right. By the time she was 11 months old, Brooke was already posing for Ivory Soap. She would snag small acting roles until her big break through in the film “Pretty Baby.” At the time, she was only 12, but she became an icon for teenagers growing up in the 1980s.
She continued her work as a lead character in “The Big Lagoon” and made an appearance on “The Muppets Show” as the youngest person ever to appear on the program at the time. However, Shields took a break from acting in the 1980s to focus on her education. This inspired plenty of young women in the real world to do the same. After all, the 1980s was a time for women to further themselves in the world. Shields is still acting in 2024 and shows no signs of stopping in then near future.
Prince
Prince is another musician who became a cultural icon in the 1980s. He broke the mold of musicians before him when he decided to master multiple genres. Prince incorporated aspects of soul, rock, and hip-hop into his memorable hits. After it was released in 1984, “Purple Rain” changed the trajectory of music history. Some even make the case the album is the greatest music production in history.
“When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy” are two songs fans still blast on repeat in 2024. Prince once rocked the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show. The moment became one of his most celebrated peaks. After news of his death broke, tons of people took time to honor the music icon. They did so with Instagram shoutouts and song covers. Prince died in 2016 after overdosing on fentanyl.
Michelle Pfeiffer
The movie “Scarface” is regarded by critics as one of the greatest movies ever. Michelle Pfeiffer saw her acting career blossom like a tulip after its release. Pfeiffer found herself in yet another mob movie after the success of “Scarface.” In 1988, Pfeiffer was tasked with the role of Angela de Marco in the film “Married to the Mob.”
Pfeiffer is more than just a mob actress, though. Another hit movie she was in during the 80s decade was “The Witches of Eastwick.” During her career, Pfeiffer has won a Golden Globe and BAFTA. She’s currently filming “Oh. What. Fun.,” which doesn’t have a release date yet, but fans are waiting to see her on the big screen again.
Harrison Ford
It’s difficult to become known by audiences around the world for one specific role. Doing it for two separate roles in two different movie franchises is nearly unheard of – except for Harrison Ford. He became known as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy, while continuing to reprise his character in the 2020s. “Star Wars” isn’t the only franchise Ford helped establish.
After his success as Solo, Ford was pursued and convinced to play the titular character in the hit Indiana Jones franchise. The two storylines are wildly different. Solo is from a galaxy where technology is far more advanced than Earth, while Jones is a professor at a university. The two characters are similar because they’re both explorers who are always up for an adventure, no matter where it is.
Magic Johnson
The “Showtime Lakers” were led by Magic Johnson during the 1980s. Prior to them, cheerleaders weren’t a big part of the game and the pace of the games were slow. However, Johnson came right into the NBA and changed it immediately. During his career, the Lakers won five titles and made themselves into a dynasty.
Kids in their driveways pretended to be like Johnson, making flashy passes and always being camera ready. Johnson’s career ended abruptly when he announced his positive diagnosis with HIV in 1991. Following that, he became an activist for those who had the disease. Johnson was one of the first people in mainstream media who wasn’t a member of the LGBTQ+ community to be diagnosed with the disease.
Whitney Houston
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: Whitney Houston sings the National Anthem before a game with the New York Giants taking on the Buffalo Bills prior to Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991 in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won 20-19. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
There are tons of music fans who proclaim Whitney Houston had the greatest singing voice in history. Prior to the kickoff of Super Bowl XXV, Houston was tasked with singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” Her jaw-dropping performance is still regarded as the most amazing rendition ever. Houston had countless hits top the charts during her career.
Some of Houston’s biggest songs were “Saving All My Love For You,” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.” Her home trophy case was filled with six Grammy Awards and countless other honors in her name. In 2012, Houston died from a combination of drug use and heart issues. Tons of people lined the streets to pay their respects to her.
Grace Jones
Grace Jones forged her own path to stardom. Jones was born on the tropical island of Jamaica. She used her voice for classic hit singles like “Pull Up to the Bumper” and “I’ve Seen That Face Before.” Fans still love it when they appear on their playlists. Music isn’t the only form of entertainment she’s perfected in her life. Jones also became known for her time as an actress.
Jones took the screen in films like “Conan the Destroyer” and “A View to A Kill.” Jones has won countless awards during her career. She won the Bravo Otto Award for the Best Female Actress. Jones last performed at a festival in 2023. Her last time on screen came during her 2017 documentary.
Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper used the 1980s to her benefit in a big way. That’s when her career jolted in the right direction. The album “She’s So Unusual” pushed her singing career to unfathomable heights. Lauper was part of the band Blue Angel before her first album went public. The group broke up after two years together. She also became a gay icon. Her interests in 2024 include focusing on the LGBTQ+ community.
Lauper quickly found success on her own. It was thanks to songs like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “All Through the Night.” Lauper also took some chances on the big screen during her career. Fans saw Lauper in various television roles. These include “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show” and “Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child.” Lauper is still performing her classics in 2024.
Lisa Bonet
Being an actress during your teenage years means you’re giving up having a normal life and typical high school experience. For Lisa Bonet, that was just fine. In 1984, she was cast to play Denise Huxtable in “The Cosby Show.”Amazingly enough, this role was the second that Bonet had during her career, after playing Carla in an episode of “St. Elsewhere.”
Bonet famously eloped with singer Lenny Kravitz and gave birth to their daughter who’s now an actress, Zoe Kravitz. Bonet and Kravitz divorced officially after six years of marriage. Bonet then famously got into a relationship with actor Jason Momoa. The couple had two kids together. They too got divorced after 15 years of being romantically involved together. Bonet hasn’t had a film or television role since 2016.
Cher
It’s challenging to find someone as iconic in the music world as Cher. During her career, Cher has devoted tons of time and resources to the LGBTQ+ community. She’s the mother of a trans man, which is part of the reason Cher has become so involved with uplifting people who align themselves with parts of LGBTQ+.
People in drag shows have dressed like Cher to show their appreciation for all she’s done. Cher isn’t only known for her work with the LGBTQ+ community. She’s an incredibly decorated musician. Her setlist fans love includes “You Better Sit Down Kids” and “Gypsys, Tramps, & Thieves.” She had an iconic Las Vegas residency that millions of people came to see.
Kim Bassinger
Portraying an attractive woman in a “James Bond” film is one of the best ways to enhance your career. Kim Bassinger saw that happen to her after her appearance in the movie “Never Say Never Again.” She was already an established actress before the movie was released. The film turned her into a sex-symbol during the 1980s. That wasn’t the only movie Bassinger starred in during the decade.
She also became known for her role in Tim Burton’s rendition of “Batman” in 1989. Thanks to “The Natural” Bassinger received a Golden Globe nomination for her work. Bassinger is widely considered one of the most sought after actresses because of the combination of skills and looks that she brings to each one of her roles.
George Michael
One of the biggest voices in pop culture history is George Michael. Throughout his career, Michael became known for his looks and singing ability. Michael won two Grammy Awards for his vocal abilities. Unsurprisingly to music-heads, Rolling Stone Magazine added Michael in their list of the “200 Greatest Singers of All Time.”
Some of Michael’s most memorable hits are “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Everything She Wants.” Michael was found dead in his home in 2016. Doctors concluded he died from natural causes. His grave is in London where he’s buried next to both his sister and mother.
Janet Jackson
The Jackson 5 was filled with legends in the music industry. Janet Jackson continued her career after leaving the group. Some of her solo hits include “That’s the Way Love Goes” and “All For You.” She’s won five Grammy Awards and 11 American Music Awards. She’s one of the faces of the R&B genre.
Janet is arguably the second most illustrious member of The Jackson 5. It’s no secret Michael Jackson had his scandals. She’s come to her brother’s defense multiple times over the years. Janet Jackson is still holding her stance to defend her brother’s image. For more 1980s content, click here to read about the most relatable television characters from the decade.