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: On August 23, 2008, the conflict between Georgia and Russia over the South Ossetia region escalated into a full-scale war. Russian forces entered Georgia, leading to significant international concern and condemnation. source: bbc.com
- 2006: On August 23, 2006, Austrian woman Natascha Kampusch escaped after being held captive for eight years by Wolfgang Přiklopil. She fled while cleaning his car, running through neighboring gardens and streets until she found help from a neighbor, leading to her rescue. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 2000: On August 23, 2000, Gulf Air Flight 72 tragically crashed into the Persian Gulf shortly after takeoff from Bahrain, resulting in the loss of all 143 passengers and crew on board. Investigations into the crash revealed technical failures and pilot error as contributing factors. source: bbc.com
- 1990: On August 23, 1990, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein appeared on state television with a group of Western hostages, including a young British boy named Stuart Lockwood. Hussein claimed their detention was to prevent war and stated they were not being held as "human shields," despite their presence at strategic sites. The broadcast aimed to deter international military intervention by highlighting the hostages' safety under Iraqi custody. source: news.bbc.co.uk
- 1987: In August 1987, Bangladesh faced its worst floods in 75 years, resulting in over 500 deaths, displacing tens of thousands, and inundating more than one-fourth of the country. The floods destroyed 2.3 million acres of cultivated land, leading to significant crop losses. International aid was mobilized, with the United States and the European Economic Community pledging substantial grain supplies to assist the affected population. source: upi.com
- 1986: 'Rags,' a musical with a book by Joseph Stein, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on August 21, 1986. Despite a cast featuring Teresa Stratas and Judy Kuhn, the production received generally negative reviews and closed after only four performances on August 23, 1986. source: masterworksbroadway.com
- 1983: On August 23, 1983, "Every Breath You Take" by The Police was the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track, released in 1983, became one of the band's most iconic hits. source: mybirthdayhits.com
- 1978: On August 23, 1978, Iranian students occupied the Dutch embassy in The Hague, protesting against the Shah's regime in Iran. This event was part of a larger wave of protests that characterized the Iranian Revolution. source: britannica.com
- 1977: On August 23, 1977, the Gossamer Condor, piloted by Bryan Allen, became the first human-powered aircraft to fly a figure-eight course around two pylons 0.8 km apart at Shafter, California, winning the £50,000 Kremer Prize. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 1975: On August 23, 1975, the Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. This test was part of a series of nuclear detonations that the USSR carried out during the Cold War. source: armscontrol.org
What famous birthdays are on August 23?
On August 23rd there are the following famous birthdays:
![Gene Kelly]()
Gene Kelly (1912)Gene Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director, producer, and choreographer, recognized for his energetic and athletic dancing style, his good looks, and his likable characters on screen. He is best known for his performances in classic Hollywood musicals such as 'Singin' in the Rain' and 'An American in Paris', contributing significantly to the development and popularity of … [bio]
![River Phoenix]()
River Phoenix (1970)River Phoenix was an acclaimed American actor, musician, and activist. He is best known for his roles in films such as 'Stand by Me' and 'My Own Private Idaho,' and was celebrated for his talent at a young age before his untimely death. [bio]
![Shelley Long]()
Shelley Long (1949)Shelley Long is an American actress and comedian best known for her role as Diane Chambers on the hit television sitcom 'Cheers.' She has received critical acclaim and awards for her performances in both television and film. [bio]
![Chan-wook Park]()
Chan-wook Park (1963)Chan-wook Park is a renowned South Korean film director, screenwriter, producer, and former critic, celebrated internationally for his stylish and thematically daring films, particularly the Vengeance Trilogy. [bio]
![Barbara Eden]()
Barbara Eden (1931)Barbara Eden is an American actress and singer, best known for her starring role as Jeannie in the classic television sitcom 'I Dream of Jeannie' (1965–1970). [bio]
![Joanne Froggatt]()
Joanne Froggatt (1980)Joanne Froggatt is an English actress best known for her role as Anna Bates in the critically acclaimed television series 'Downton Abbey.' She has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, including a Golden Globe Award and several Primetime Emmy nominations. [bio]
![Scott Caan]()
Scott Caan (1976)Scott Caan is an American actor, director, writer, photographer, and former rapper, best known for co-starring as Detective Danny "Danno" Williams in the television series 'Hawaii Five-0' and for appearing in films such as the 'Ocean's Eleven' trilogy. [bio]
![Jay Mohr]()
![Rick Springfield]()
Rick Springfield (1949)Rick Springfield is an Australian-American musician, singer-songwriter, actor, and author, best known for his 1981 hit single 'Jessie's Girl' and his role as Dr. Noah Drake on the soap opera 'General Hospital.' [bio]
![Rita Pavone]()
Rita Pavone (1945)Rita Pavone is an Italian singer and actress who rose to fame in the 1960s. Known for her energetic performances and distinctive voice, she became one of Italy's most prominent pop stars of her era, with international success in both Europe and the United States. [bio]
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 actor who became one of the most famous and iconic leading men of the silent film era. Known for his captivating screen presence and romantic roles, he became a cultural phenomenon in the 1920s, earning the nickname 'The Latin Lover.' [bio]
![Brock Peters]()
Brock Peters (2005)Brock Peters was an acclaimed American actor and singer best known for his powerful performances in film, television, and theater. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Tom Robinson in the classic film 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (1962) and continued to break ground as one of Hollywood's most respected African-American actors throughout his career. [bio]
![Satoshi Kon]()
Satoshi Kon (2010)Legendary Japanese anime director and screenwriter known for groundbreaking films like 'Perfect Blue' and 'Paprika'.
![John Kendrew]()
John Kendrew (1997)Renowned British biochemist who pioneered the understanding of protein structure by revealing the three-dimensional structure of myoglobin.
![David Rose]()
David Rose (1990)David Rose was a renowned English-American pianist, composer, and conductor known for his musical versatility and contributions to...
![Didier Pironi]()
Didier Pironi (1987)Famous French Formula 1 racing driver who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
![Jack Dyer]()
Jack Dyer (2003)Prominent Australian rules football player and coach who was a significant figure in the sport during mid-20th century.
![Margaret Tucker]()
Margaret Tucker (1996)Prominent Australian Indigenous rights activist and author who fought for Aboriginal social justice and wrote extensively about Indigenous...
![Hoyt Wilhelm]()
Hoyt Wilhelm (2002)Hall of Fame baseball pitcher renowned for his exceptional knuckleball technique and remarkably long Major League Baseball career.
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, 2026 the day of the week is Sunday.
| August | 2026 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
