Mexican-born actor, Anthony Quinn, died at the age of 86. He had dropped out of school and was a prize fighter and painter before becoming an actor. He portrayed more different ethnicities in his various characters than any other actor ever has.

A high speed train derailed in Lower Saxony, Germany, resulting in 101 fatalities.

Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died at the age of 89. He was the leader of Iranian revolution which deposed the Shah in 1979 and the founder of the Islamic republic of Iran.

A Soviet supersonic passenger jet (Tupolev Tu-144), crashed near Goussainville, France. 14 people died in the crash. which was the first ever of a supersonic passenger aircraft.

Bob Marley and the Wailers released the Reggae album "Exodus". In 1999 Time magazine named it the album of the century.

A Northwest Airlines passenger jet crashed in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of British Columbia. All 101 passengers died in the crash.

An Air France passenger jet, crashed shortly after taking off from Paris, 130 passengers died in the crash.

German planes began bombing the city of Paris.

Edward, The Duke of Windsor married Wallis Simpson. His relationship and subsequent marriage was the reason he had abdicated from the throne of the United Kingdom. He was king for a little less than 10 months.

American actor, Tony Curtis, was born in New York. He appeared in over 100 films and is best remembered for his part in the movie "Some Like It Hot" with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe.

Austrian novelist, Franz Kafka, died of tuberculosis at the age of 41. He is considered as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

Austrian composer, Johann Strauss, died at the age of 64. He was known as "the waltz king", and was responsible for popularizing waltz music. His most famous musical composition is that of "The blue Danube".