August 24: What Happened on This Day in History
August 24th marks the 236th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 237th in case of leap years). There are 129 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on August 24th in history, famous birthdays on August 24th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to August 24.
What happened on August 24?
Here's what happened on August 24th in history:
- 2008: On August 24, 2008, the Beijing Olympics concluded with a grand closing ceremony at the National Stadium. The event featured cultural performances and marked the end of the 29th Olympiad. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 2006: An overview of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, detailing the military operations, key events, and outcomes of the war between Israel and Hezbollah from July 12 to August 14, 2006. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 1990: On August 23, 1990, the Volkskammer, East Germany's parliament, voted to accede to the Federal Republic of Germany, setting October 3, 1990, as the date for reunification. This decision marked a significant step toward ending Germany's division after World War II. source: theguardian.com
- 1987: On August 24, 1987, researchers John A. Grant and Peter H. Schultz published a study in the journal Science, suggesting that dark, ephemeral, filamentary lineations on the Martian surface might be formed during the passage of intense atmospheric vortices, potentially similar to tornadoes. This study provided evidence for the existence of such phenomena on Mars. source: ui.adsabs.harvard.edu
- 1986: Juli Inkster secured her eighth LPGA Tour victory at the inaugural Atlantic City LPGA Classic on August 24, 1986. She finished three strokes ahead of runner-up Patti Rizzo, with a winning score of 209 (−4). source: en.wikipedia.org
- 1985: On August 24, 1985, the launch of NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery for the STS-51-I mission was scrubbed at T-5 minutes due to thunderstorms in the vicinity of the launch pad. The mission was successfully launched on August 27, 1985. source: nasa.gov
- 1983: On August 24, 1983, during a game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays at Memorial Stadium, Orioles pitcher Tippy Martinez made baseball history by picking off three consecutive Blue Jays base runners in the top of the 10th inning. The runners—Barry Bonnell, Dave Collins, and Willie Upshaw—each took large leads, anticipating easy steals against Orioles' emergency catcher Lenn Sakata, a utility infielder with no professional catching experience. Martinez's swift pickoff moves thwarted their attempts, and the Orioles won the game 7-4 in the bottom of the 10th inning on a three-run home run by Lenn Sakata. source: washingtonpost.com
- 1978: On August 24, 1978, the Soviet Union conducted an underground nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. This test was part of the USSR's ongoing nuclear weapons program during the Cold War. source: britannica.com
- 1975: On August 24, 1975, leaders of the military coup that had taken place in Greece were sentenced to prison. This marked a significant step in the country's transition back to democracy following years of military rule. source: bbc.com
- 1965: On August 24, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act into law, aiming to combat poverty in the United States. This legislation established programs such as Job Corps, Head Start, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), marking a significant step in the War on Poverty. source: presidency.ucsb.edu
What famous birthdays are on August 24?
On August 24th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Kobe Bryant]()
Kobe Bryant (1978)Kobe Bryant was an American professional basketball player who spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in history, Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, a five-time NBA champion, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). His influence extended both on and off the court, and he was a … [bio]
![Dave Chappelle]()
Dave Chappelle (1973)Dave Chappelle is an acclaimed American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer, best known for his boundary-pushing comedy and his influential television series, 'Chappelle's Show.' [bio]
![Stephen Fry]()
Stephen Fry (1957)Stephen Fry is an English actor, comedian, writer, presenter, and activist, celebrated for his wit, intelligence, and broad range of work in television, film, literature, and radio. [bio]
![Chad Michael Murray]()
Chad Michael Murray (1981)Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, writer, and former model best known for his roles in television dramas such as 'One Tree Hill' and 'Gilmore Girls,' as well as movies like 'A Cinderella Story.' [bio]
![Rupert Grint]()
Rupert Grint (1988)Rupert Grint is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series. He gained worldwide fame as one of the three principal characters in the adaptations of J.K. Rowling's bestselling novels. [bio]
![Paulo Coelho]()
Paulo Coelho (1947)Paulo Coelho is a renowned Brazilian author best known for his novel 'The Alchemist.' His works have been translated into over 80 languages and he is considered one of the most widely read authors in the world. [bio]
![Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola]()
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (1937)Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was a Nigerian businessman, publisher, politician, and philanthropist known for his pivotal role in Nigeria's pro-democracy movement. He is most notable for winning the annulled 1993 Nigerian presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigerian history. [bio]
![Kenny Baker]()
Kenny Baker (1934)Kenny Baker was an English actor and musician best known for portraying the droid R2-D2 in the Star Wars film series. His contribution to one of the most influential pop culture franchises made him an enduring figure in cinema history. [bio]
![John Green]()
John Green (1977)John Green is an acclaimed American author, YouTube content creator, and educator, best known for his young adult novels, particularly 'The Fault in Our Stars' and 'Looking for Alaska.' He is also recognized for co-creating the educational YouTube channel Crash Course with his brother, Hank Green. [bio]
![Marlee Matlin]()
Marlee Matlin (1965)Marlee Matlin is an acclaimed American actress and author, best known for being the only deaf performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Matlin has been a significant advocate for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and has appeared in numerous films and television series. [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 24?
On August 24th the following celebrities died:
![Charlie Watts]()
Charlie Watts (2021)Charlie Watts was an English drummer best known as a founding member of the Rolling Stones, one of the most influential and enduring rock bands in history. Renowned for his unique blend of jazz and rock drumming, Watts played with the group from 1963 until his death in 2021, contributing significantly to their signature sound and global success. [bio]
![Richard Attenborough]()
Richard Attenborough (2014)Richard Attenborough was an acclaimed English actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur known for his extensive career in British cinema and his work as a director and producer, including the Academy Award-winning film 'Gandhi'. [bio]
![Julie Harris]()
Julie Harris (2013)Julie Harris was an acclaimed American actress celebrated for her stage, film, and television performances. Renowned for her versatility and emotional intensity, Harris earned critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout a career spanning over six decades. [bio]
![Louis Prima]()
Louis Prima (1978)Louis Prima was an influential American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter known for his energetic stage presence and pioneering fusion of jazz, swing, and popular music. His performative charisma made him a defining figure of mid-20th-century American music. [bio]
![Jane Greer]()
Jane Greer (2001)Jane Greer was an American film and television actress best known for her role as Kathie Moffat in the classic film noir 'Out of the Past' (1947). Her cool, enigmatic style made her one of the most memorable femme fatales of the 1940s. [bio]
![Amanda Randolph]()
![Simone Weil]()
Simone Weil (1943)Influential French philosopher, mystic, and political activist who made significant contributions to social and religious thought.
![Bayard Rustin]()
Bayard Rustin (1987)A pivotal African American civil rights activist who was a key advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.
![Elisabeth Kübler-Ross]()
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (2004)A pioneering Swiss psychiatrist who revolutionized understanding of death and dying through her groundbreaking five-stage grief model.
![E. G. Marshall]()
E. G. Marshall (1998)Prominent American actor known for his roles in television, film, and theater, with a career spanning several decades in the mid-20th...
What day of the year is August 24?
August 24th marks the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 237th in case of leap years).
There are 129 days remaining until the end of the year.
August 24th is the 24th day of the month of August.
What day of the week is August 24?
On August 24th, 2026 the day of the week is Monday.
| 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 24?
The zodiac sign associated with August 24th is Virgo according to the Western Zodiac.
