What Happened on December 19, 1996

Historical Events

:Once Upon a Mattress"

Revival of Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer's musical comedy "Once Upon a Mattress", starring Sarah Jessica Parker, opens at Broadhurst Theatre, NYC; runs for 188 performances

Famous Birthdays

  • Paige Speakman, British preemie baby, born 19 days before her twin sister in Swindon, Wiltshire, England

Famous Deaths

  • Marcello Mastroianni, Italian actor (8½; La Dolce Vita; Dark Eyes; The Pizza Triangle), dies of pancreatic cancer at 72
  • Ronald Howard, British actor (Naked Edge; Come September; Murder She Said), dies at 78
  • Yuli Borisovich Khariton, Russian physicist and "chief nuclear weapon designer" for the Soviet Union, dies at 92
Died in 1996 1996 Highlights

About December 19, 1996

Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 27 years, 4 months and 23 days
Leap Year: Yes

Generation: Millennial
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Music Charts

  • US #1 Song: Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
  • UK #1 Song: Knockin' On Heaven's Door/Throw These Guns Away - Dunblane