1977

Events in 1977 127

• 1890 – 1977 Groucho Marx (1890-1977) Died 19 August 1977, aged 86 Groucho Marx was an American comedian and film star, the wisecracking leader of the Marx Brothers. His stage persona of round glasses, greasepaint moustache, and rapid-fire wit remained instantly recognizable decades after his film career ended.
• 1896 – 1977 Howard Hawks (1896-1977) Died 26 December 1977, aged 81 Howard Hawks was an American film director known for classics including Scarface, The Big Sleep, and Rio Bravo. He worked across nearly every genre and was celebrated by critics as one of Hollywood's great studio-era directors.
• 1896 – 1977 Ethel Waters (1896-1977) American singer and actress who broke barriers on record, on Broadway, in film and on television.
• 1897 – 1977 Sepp Herberger (1897-1977) Died 28 April 1977, aged 80 Sepp Herberger was the German football coach who led West Germany to victory in the 1954 World Cup, a result celebrated as the "Miracle of Bern." He managed the national team for nearly three decades.
• 1899 – 1977 Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977) Died 2 July 1977, aged 77 Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian-American novelist best known for Lolita and Pale Fire. He died in Montreux, Switzerland, where he had lived for the last years of his life.
• 1902 – 1977 Guy Lombardo (1902-1977) Died 5 November 1977, aged 75 Guy Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader whose orchestra, the Royal Canadians, became synonymous with New Year's Eve broadcasts of Auld Lang Syne for decades. His recordings sold in the tens of millions.
• 1903 – 1977 Bing Crosby (1903-1977) Died 14 October 1977, aged 74 Bing Crosby was an American singer and actor whose recording of White Christmas remains the best-selling single of all time. He won an Academy Award for Going My Way and was one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century.
• 1905 – 1977 Eddie Anderson (1905-1977) American comedian and actor, famous as Rochester on The Jack Benny Program.
• 1911 – 1977 E. F. Schumacher (1911-1977) Died 4 September 1977, aged 66 E. F. Schumacher was a German-born British economist best known for his book Small Is Beautiful, which argued for human-scale, sustainable economics. His ideas influenced the later environmental and appropriate-technology movements.
• 1915 – 1977 Zero Mostel (1915-1977) Died 8 September 1977, aged 62 Zero Mostel was an American actor best known for originating the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. He also starred in The Producers and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
• 1916 – 1977 Peter Finch (1916-1977) Died 14 January 1977, aged 60 Peter Finch was a British-Australian actor best known for his role as a deranged newsman in the film Network. He died of a heart attack shortly before winning a posthumous Academy Award for the role.
• 1917 – 1977 Robert Lowell (1917-1977) Died 12 September 1977, aged 60 Robert Lowell was an American poet and a leading figure of the confessional poetry movement. He won the Pulitzer Prize twice during a career that shaped mid-20th-century American poetry.
• 1921 – 1977 James Jones (1921-1977) Died 9 May 1977, aged 55 James Jones was an American novelist best known for From Here to Eternity, drawn from his own military service before Pearl Harbor. The book won the National Book Award and was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film.
• 1922 – 1977 Janani Luwum (1922-1977) Died 16 February 1977, aged 55 Janani Luwum was the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda and an outspoken critic of Idi Amin's human rights abuses. He died in state custody in circumstances the government called a car accident, widely believed to have been an execution.
• 1923 – 1977 Jean Hagen (1923-1977) American actress, the squeaky-voiced Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain.
• 1923 – 1977 Maria Callas (1923-1977) Died 16 September 1977, aged 53 Maria Callas was a Greek-American soprano widely regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. She died in Paris, having largely withdrawn from public performance in her final years.
• 1935 – 1977 Elvis Presley (1935-1977) American singer and actor, known as the King of Rock and Roll. His mix of country, blues and gospel made him the defining star of early rock and roll, and he remains one of the best-selling solo artists in history.
• 1977 Bill Bradley retires Forward and future US Senator Bill Bradley, a member of both title teams, retires from the Knicks.
• 1977 DNA Sequencing Sanger Method The first method for reading the genetic blueprint of life.
• 1977 – 1995 Dire Straits Mark Knopfler's band — London 1977 to 1995 Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, his brother David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. Their timeless guitar-driven sound sold over 100 million records worldwide. Brothers in Arms (1985) was one of the best-selling albums of the 20th century.
• 1977 – 2026 James Van Der Beek (1977-2026) Died 11 February 2026, aged 48 American actor best known for the teen drama Dawson's Creek and the film Varsity Blues. He had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2024.
• 1977 MRI Body Imaging The invention of non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging of the human body.
• 1977 Star Wars Blockbuster era begins George Lucas's Star Wars (1977) revolutionised filmmaking, invented the modern blockbuster, and became one of the highest-grossing franchises ever.
• 1977 – present Sukhoi Su-27 The Soviet answer to the F-15 The Soviet answer to the F-15: a long-range, highly manoeuvrable fighter whose airframe spawned the Su-30, Su-35 and Chinese J-11 families.
• 1977 Australian Open 1977 — two editions Men: Roscoe Tanner (Jan) & Vitas Gerulaitis (Dec) · Women: Kerry Reid (Jan) & Evonne Goolagong (Dec) Two editions held in 1977 as the tournament transitioned from December to January scheduling.
• 1977 – 1986 The Police English rock band Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland — a trio that blended punk, reggae and pop into five albums and one of the biggest songs of the 1980s.
• 1977 Apple Computer incorporated Steve Jobs & Wozniak make it official Apple Computer Company was officially incorporated on January 3, 1977 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
• 1977 Super Bowl XI Oakland Raiders beat Minnesota Vikings 32-14 The Oakland Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32–14 at Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977 in Pasadena, California.
• 1977 – present Giorgia Meloni Prime Minister The first female Prime Minister of Italy, taking office in 2022.
• 1977 Gary Gilmore executed First US execution since 1967 Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad in Utah on January 17, 1977, becoming the first person executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
• 1977 Egyptian bread riots Nationwide protests over cuts to food subsidies Riots broke out across Egypt after President Anwar Sadat's government cut subsidies on bread and other staples under IMF pressure. Dozens were killed before the government restored the subsidies to quell the unrest.
• 1977 Legionnaires disease identified Bacterium named after deadly outbreak Scientists identified the bacterium responsible for Legionnaires disease on January 18, 1977, following the deadly outbreak at a Philadelphia hotel in 1976 that killed 34 people.
• 1977 Jimmy Carter inaugurated 39th US President takes office Jimmy Carter was inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States on January 20, 1977, succeeding Gerald Ford. He walked the inaugural parade route on foot as a symbol of humility.
• 1977 Carter pardons Vietnam draft evaders Blanket pardon for 10,000+ men President Carter issued a full pardon to all who evaded the Vietnam War draft on January 21, 1977, fulfilling a campaign promise and controversially allowing tens of thousands of men to return to the US.
• 1977 Roots premieres on ABC Most-watched miniseries in TV history Roots, Alex Haley's landmark miniseries about an African family through slavery, premiered on ABC on January 23, 1977. The eight-episode series was watched by 130 million Americans — the most-watched TV event in US history at the time.
• 1977 Great Lakes Blizzard Buffalo buried under 6 feet of snow The Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 struck Buffalo, New York on January 28, creating snowdrifts up to 30 feet high and paralyzing the city for weeks. It remains one of the worst blizzards in US history.
• 1977 Concorde begins NY service Supersonic flights to New York approved British Airways and Air France began regular supersonic Concorde flights to New York City on February 1, 1977, after a long legal battle over noise levels. The crossing took just 3.5 hours.
• 1977 – present Shakira Colombian pop superstar Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. She became one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time with hits including Hips Dont Lie and Waka Waka.
• 1977 Chicago elevated train crash 11 killed in rush hour derailment Four cars of an elevated train jumped the tracks during rush hour in Chicago on February 4, 1977, killing 11 people and injuring 200. It remains the worst elevated train disaster in Chicago Transit Authority history.
• 1977 Fleetwood Mac releases Rumours Best-selling album of 1977 Fleetwood Mac released Rumours on February 4, 1977. The album topped the Billboard charts for 31 weeks, won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and sold over 40 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
• 1977 – present Natalie Imbruglia Australian singer-actress Natalie Imbruglia was born on February 4, 1975. Known for her hit Torn (1997).
• 1977 – present Cadel Evans The Aussie Grit First Australian to win the Tour de France (2011).
• 1977 Hydrothermal vents discovered on the ocean floor Alvin submersible finds life without sunlight near the Galapagos Scientists aboard the submersible Alvin discovered hydrothermal vents on the Galapagos Rift, along with dense communities of tube worms and other organisms living off chemosynthesis. The find overturned assumptions that all life ultimately depends on sunlight.
• 1977 Carter meets Giscard d'Estaing First European summit of new president President Carter met French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in Washington on February 18, 1977, his first meeting with a European head of state.
• 1977 Space Shuttle prototype unveiled Enterprise shown to public NASA unveiled the Space Shuttle prototype Enterprise on February 19, 1977 at Palmdale, California, named after the starship in Star Trek following a campaign by the show's fans.
• 1977 Eagles release Hotel California as a single Number one The title song tops the charts.
• 1977 Hanafi Muslim siege 149 hostages held in Washington DC Twelve Hanafi Muslim gunmen seized three buildings in Washington DC on March 9, 1977, taking 149 hostages. One hostage was killed. The 39-hour siege ended when the gunmen surrendered after negotiations with ambassadors from Muslim countries.
• 1977 Rings of Uranus discovered Astronomers find new planetary ring system Astronomers announced the discovery of a system of rings around Uranus on March 10, 1977, making it only the second planet known to have rings after Saturn.
• 1977 Indira Gandhi resigns Indian PM concedes election defeat Indira Gandhi resigned as Prime Minister of India on March 22, 1977 after her Congress party was defeated in elections following the controversial State of Emergency she had imposed.
• 1977 First non-Congress PM of India Morarji Desai takes power Morarji Desai was sworn in as India's first non-Congress Prime Minister on March 24, 1977, leading the Janata Party coalition to power.
• 1977 Tenerife airport disaster Worst aviation accident in history — 583 killed Two Boeing 747s collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife on March 27, 1977. A KLM plane took off without clearance and struck a Pan Am aircraft in thick fog. All 248 on the KLM plane and 335 of 396 on the Pan Am plane were killed — 583 in total — making it the deadliest aviation accident in history.
• 1977 Apple II launched First mass-market personal computer Apple launched the Apple II personal computer on April 1, 1977, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputers. It came with a colour display, keyboard and BASIC programming language.
• 1977 Commodore PET unveiled First all-in-one personal computer The Commodore PET was demonstrated at the January 1977 Consumer Electronics Show, one of the first complete personal computers with built-in keyboard, monitor and cassette drive.
• 1977 The Clash debut album released Punk rock arrives The Clash released their self-titled debut album on April 8, 1977, one of the defining albums of the punk rock movement alongside the Sex Pistols.
• 1977 Seattle Mariners first game New MLB expansion team debuts The Seattle Mariners played their first ever Major League Baseball game on April 6, 1977, as one of two new expansion franchises added that season.
• 1977 Toronto Blue Jays first game Canada gets a second MLB team The Toronto Blue Jays played their inaugural Major League Baseball game on April 7, 1977, becoming the first MLB team based outside the United States.
• 1977 Space Shuttle first flight test Enterprise glides through California skies The Space Shuttle Enterprise made its first approach and landing test flight at Edwards Air Force Base on August 12, 1977, released from a Boeing 747 and gliding to a successful landing.
• 1977 1977 World Snooker Championship First at the Crucible The first time the event was held at the Crucible Theatre. Winner: John Spencer; Runner-up: Cliff Thorburn. Score: 25–21.
• 1977 – present Samantha Cristoforetti Astronaut ESA astronaut and the first Italian woman in space; a symbol of modern Italian scientific excellence.
• 1977 Studio 54 opens Legendary New York discotheque debuts Studio 54 opened its doors in New York City on April 26, 1977, becoming the world's most famous nightclub and the epicentre of the disco era. Its celebrity-studded guest lists and hedonistic atmosphere defined late 1970s New York culture.
• 1977 Bloody May Day -- the Taksim Square massacre Gunfire into a May Day crowd in Istanbul Shots were fired into a crowd of several hundred thousand leftist demonstrators gathered in Taksim Square, Istanbul, on International Workers' Day. Between 31 and 36 people were killed and well over a hundred injured, many in the panic that followed. No perpetrator was ever convicted, though suspicion fell on the Counter-Guerrilla and allied right-wing groups. The massacre became a defining episode in the political violence that gripped Turkey until the 1980 coup.
• 1977 Bukovsky-Corvalan prisoner swap Cold War spy exchange Soviet dissident Vladimir Bukovsky was exchanged for Chilean Communist leader Luis Corvalán in a prisoner swap in Zurich on December 18, 1976, one of the first high-profile Cold War prisoner exchanges.
• 1977 The Mahapakh -- Likud wins the Israeli election Twenty-nine years of Labour rule end in one night Elections to the ninth Knesset gave Likud, led by Menachem Begin, 43 seats against the Alignment's 32, ending almost three decades of uninterrupted rule by Labour and its predecessor Mapai. Anchor Haim Yavin announced the result live with the word "Mahapakh" -- upheaval -- and the name stuck. Turnout was 79%. Begin formed a government the following month.
• 1977 T-10 prototype first flight The first Su-27 Test pilot Vladimir Ilyushin flies the T-10. Its performance disappoints, and Sukhoi redesigns almost the entire aircraft before production.
• 1977 South Moluccan hostage crisis in the Netherlands Train and school siege by South Moluccan separatists South Moluccan militants seized a train and an elementary school in the Netherlands, demanding an independent Moluccan republic. Dutch marines stormed both sites after three weeks, ending the siege with several hostage and hijacker deaths.
• 1977 Synthetic insulin created Genetic engineering breakthrough Scientists announced on May 23, 1977 that they had created synthetic human insulin by splicing genes into bacteria — a landmark moment for genetic engineering and the treatment of diabetes.
• 1977 Star Wars released Blockbuster era begins George Lucas's Star Wars opened in US cinemas on May 25, 1977. It immediately broke box office records, sparked a global cultural phenomenon, and became the highest-grossing film of all time until E.T. in 1982.
• 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire 165 killed in Kentucky nightclub blaze A fire swept through the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky on May 28, 1977, killing 165 people. It was one of the worst nightclub fires in US history.
• 1977 Bob Marley releases Exodus Recorded in London exile With Jamming, Three Little Birds and One Love.
• 1977 First Macintosh team formed Jef Raskin starts Mac project at Apple Jef Raskin began work on what would become the Macintosh project at Apple Computer in June 1977, envisioning an affordable, easy-to-use computer for the masses.
• 1977 Trans-Alaska Pipeline opens Oil flows from Prudhoe Bay The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System opened on June 20, 1977, allowing oil to flow 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. It was the largest privately funded construction project in history.
• 1977 Queen Elizabeth II celebrates Silver Jubilee Marking 25 years on the throne Street parties, beacons, and a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral marked the 25th anniversary of Elizabeth II's accession. Millions across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth took part in celebrations throughout the year.
• 1977 Damned release debut punk album First UK punk LP The Damned released Damned Damned Damned on February 18, 1977, the first punk rock album released in the United Kingdom.
• 1977 Spain holds first free elections End of 41 years of Francoist rule Spain held its first democratic elections in 41 years on June 15, 1977, following the death of Francisco Franco. Adolfo Suárez's Union of Democratic Centre won the most seats.
• 1977 Soweto anniversary protests South Africa marks first anniversary South Africa marked the first anniversary of the Soweto uprising on June 16, 1977, with widespread protests and international pressure on the apartheid government.
• 1977 Elvis's last concert The King performs for the final time Elvis Presley gave his final concert performance at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977. He died less than two months later. The concert was released posthumously as Elvis in Concert.
• 1977 Donna Summer releases I Feel Love Electronic dance music born Donna Summer released I Feel Love in June 1977, produced by Giorgio Moroder. The fully electronic production was groundbreaking and is widely credited with inventing electronic dance music.
• 1977 Pakistani coup General Zia overthrows Bhutto General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq seized power in Pakistan on July 5, 1977, overthrowing Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in a bloodless military coup. Bhutto was later executed in 1979.
• 1977 The Spy Who Loved Me — Roger Moore Widely regarded as the best of the Moore era. Bond teams up with Soviet agent Anya Amasova to investigate a plan to steal nuclear submarines. Jaws makes his first appearance — the towering steel-toothed henchman becomes one of the franchise's most beloved characters. Budget: $14 million. Box office: $185.4 million.
• 1977 New York City blackout Looting and arson grip the city A complete electricity blackout plunged New York City into darkness on July 13–14, 1977. Unlike the 1965 blackout, this one triggered widespread looting, arson and disorder across the city, with over 3,000 arrests.
• 1977 Ogaden War begins Somalia invades Ethiopia's Ogaden region Somali forces invaded the Ogaden region of Ethiopia in an attempt to unite ethnic Somali territories. The war drew in Soviet and Cuban support for Ethiopia after the USSR switched sides, and fighting continued into 1978.
• 1977 – present Crown Princess Victoria The Future Queen The heir apparent. Her position was secured by the 1979 change in the Act of Succession.
• 1977 Libyan-Egyptian border war Four-day war between Libya and Egypt Long-simmering tension between Muammar Gaddafi and Anwar Sadat erupted into a brief border war with air strikes and armored incursions. Algerian and Palestinian mediation ended the fighting after four days.
• 1977 Deng Xiaoping restored to power Chinese reformer returns Deng Xiaoping was restored to all his posts in the Chinese Communist Party on July 22, 1977, nine months after being purged. His return began China's transformation into a market economy.
• 1977 Led Zeppelin's last US concert Final North American tour ends Led Zeppelin played their final North American concert in Oakland, California on July 24, 1977, ending their 11th and last North American tour due to Robert Plant's family emergency.
• 1977 – present Manu Ginobili Manu Popularized the "Eurostep"; 4-time champion and Olympic gold medalist.
• 1977 Son of Sam serial killer arrested David Berkowitz caught after year-long manhunt David Berkowitz was arrested in New York City and confessed to a series of shootings that had terrorized the city for over a year. The case drew intense media coverage and prompted new laws on profiting from crime stories.
• 1977 Wow! Signal received Mysterious radio signal from deep space The Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University received a strong, narrowband radio signal from deep space on August 15, 1977. Volunteer Jerry Ehman circled the data and wrote "Wow!" — the signal has never been explained or received again.
• 1977 Elvis Presley dies The King of Rock and Roll, age 42 Elvis Presley was found dead at his Graceland home in Memphis on August 16, 1977, aged 42. His death was attributed to cardiac arrhythmia. An estimated 75,000 fans lined the streets of Memphis for his funeral procession.
• 1977 Soviet Arktika reaches North Pole First surface ship at the North Pole The Soviet nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika became the first surface vessel to reach the geographic North Pole on August 17, 1977.
• 1977 – 2009 Robert Enke (1977-2009) Died 10 November 2009, aged 32 Enke was the goalkeeper for the German national football team and Bundesliga club Hannover 96 when he died by suicide after a long struggle with depression, which he had kept largely hidden. His death prompted widespread discussion of mental health in professional sport. A foundation in his name continues to fund depression research.
• 1977 TRS-80 computer demonstrated Radio Shack enters the PC market Radio Shack demonstrated the TRS-80 Micro Computer System at the Boston Computer Show on August 25, 1977, one of the first mass-produced personal computers available in retail stores.
• 1977 German Autumn: Hanns Martin Schleyer kidnapped and killed Red Army Faction terrorism crisis grips West Germany Employer association president Hanns Martin Schleyer was kidnapped by the Red Army Faction, triggering a national crisis that included the hijacking of a Lufthansa airliner. Schleyer was murdered after West Germany refused to release imprisoned RAF leaders.
• 1977 Voyager 1 launched Will become most distant human object NASA launched Voyager 1 on September 5, 1977. It flew past Jupiter in 1979 and Saturn in 1980, and in 2012 became the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space.
• 1977 Panama Canal Treaty signed US agrees to hand over canal President Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos signed the Panama Canal Treaty on September 7, 1977, agreeing that the US would transfer control of the canal to Panama by December 31, 1999.
• 1977 Annie Hall released Woody Allen's Oscar-winning masterpiece Woody Allen's romantic comedy Annie Hall was released in 1977, winning four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
• 1977 Steve Biko dies in detention Anti-apartheid activist killed by South African police Steve Biko, the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa, died in police custody on September 12, 1977 after being beaten during interrogation. His death caused international outrage.
• 1977 First optical fibre telephone call Voice transmitted by light in Turin The world's first telephone call transmitted over optical fibre cables took place in Turin, Italy on September 15, 1977, a breakthrough that would eventually revolutionise global telecommunications.
• 1977 – present James Marsden American actor American actor born September 18, 1973, known for roles in the X-Men films, Westworld, Enchanted and Sonic the Hedgehog.
• 1977 Marc Bolan dies T. Rex founder killed in car crash Marc Bolan, founder of glam rock band T. Rex and one of the defining stars of the early 1970s, was killed in a car crash in London on September 16, 1977, just two weeks before his 30th birthday.
• 1977 Vietnam admitted to the United Nations Reunified Vietnam joins the world body The Socialist Republic of Vietnam was admitted as a member of the United Nations two years after the end of the Vietnam War. The admission marked a step toward Vietnam's reintegration into international diplomacy.
• 1977 Djibouti joins UN Newly independent African nation admitted Djibouti, which had gained independence from France in June 1977, was admitted to the United Nations on September 25, 1977.
• 1977 Billy Joel releases The Stranger Just the Way You Are His breakthrough, one of Columbia's best-selling albums.
• 1977 Soap premieres on ABC Controversial US sitcom debuts Soap, a parody of daytime soap operas featuring adult themes, premiered on ABC in September 1977. It was the most controversial show on US television that year.
• 1977 Charter 77 declaration Czech dissidents challenge communism Charter 77, a human rights manifesto signed by 242 Czech intellectuals including Václav Havel, was officially presented to the Czechoslovak government in 1977. Signatories faced harassment and arrest.
• 1977 GSG 9 storms hijacked Lufthansa jet in Mogadishu Landshut hostage rescue ends hijacking West German commandos stormed a Lufthansa airliner hijacked by Palestinian militants at Mogadishu airport, freeing all remaining hostages. The successful rescue, tied to the Schleyer kidnapping, boosted West Germany's resolve against RAF terrorism.
• 1977 – present Paul Pierce The Truth Celtics legend and 2008 Finals MVP.
• 1977 Atari 2600 released Home video gaming era begins Atari released the Atari 2600 home video game console on October 14, 1977, popularising the use of game cartridges and bringing arcade-style gaming into millions of homes.
• 1977 David Bowie releases Heroes Berlin Wall song A song about lovers at the Berlin Wall.
• 1977 Reggie Jackson hits 3 World Series HRs Yankees win World Series New York Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson hit three consecutive home runs off three pitchers in Game 6 of the World Series on October 18, 1977, leading the Yankees to their first championship since 1962.
• 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash Three band members killed The tour plane carrying Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in a Mississippi swamp on October 20, 1977, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines.
• 1977 Last natural smallpox case Disease declared eradicated The last known case of naturally occurring smallpox was diagnosed in Merca, Somalia on October 26, 1977. The WHO subsequently declared smallpox eradicated in 1980 — the only human disease to have been completely wiped out.
• 1977 Sex Pistols release Never Mind the Bollocks Punk rock landmark album The Sex Pistols released their debut and only studio album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols on October 27, 1977. Despite being banned by major retailers, it entered the UK charts at number one.
• 1977 Sadat visits Israel Historic Arab-Israeli peace move Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made a historic visit to Israel on November 9, 1977, becoming the first Arab leader to officially visit the country. He addressed the Israeli Knesset, beginning the peace process that led to the Camp David Accords.
• 1977 – 2009 Brittany Murphy (1977-2009) Died 20 December 2009, aged 32 Murphy was an American actress known for roles in films including Clueless, 8 Mile and Girl, Interrupted. Her sudden death from pneumonia complicated by drug intoxication at age 32 drew widespread media attention. Her husband died of similar causes in the same house five months later.
• 1977 Malaysian Airlines hijacking All 100 aboard killed in Johor crash Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 was hijacked on November 17, 1977 and crashed near Tanjung Kupang, Malaysia, killing all 100 passengers and crew aboard.
• 1977 Egyptian flight crash Collision kills 42 near Athens An Egyptian airliner crashed near Argos, Greece on November 18, 1977, killing 42 people after a collision with another aircraft during approach.
• 1977 Harvey Milk elected in San Francisco First openly gay official of major US city Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on November 18, 1977, becoming the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California. He was assassinated a year later.
• 1977 TCP/IP test succeeds Internet protocol proven to work A successful test of the TCP/IP protocol on November 22, 1977 connected three ARPANET nodes across the US, proving the technical foundation of what would become the internet.
• 1977 China restores national college entrance exam Gaokao revived after Cultural Revolution suspension China reinstated its national college entrance examination, the gaokao, ending an eleven-year suspension during the Cultural Revolution. Millions of students, including many older applicants who had missed years of schooling, sat the exam that December.
• 1977 Jackson Browne releases Running on Empty Recorded on the road A live album recorded on stage, in hotel rooms and on the bus.
• 1977 Amnesty International wins Nobel Peace Prize Human rights organisation honoured Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1977 in recognition of its campaigns against torture and for the rights of political prisoners worldwide.
• 1977 Saturday Night Fever premieres Disco era defined on screen Saturday Night Fever premiered in New York City on December 12, 1977, starring John Travolta. The film made disco a global phenomenon and its Bee Gees soundtrack became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.
• 1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Spielberg's sci-fi classic opens Close Encounters of the Third Kind, directed by Steven Spielberg, opened in US cinemas on December 16, 1977, grossing $303m worldwide and establishing Spielberg as a leading director.
• 1977 – present Emmanuel Macron French president from 2017 Emmanuel Macron became France's youngest president in 2017, championing European integration and liberal democratic values.
• 1977 Begin and Sadat meet in Egypt Middle East peace talks continue Israeli PM Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat met in Ismailia, Egypt on Christmas Day 1977 to continue peace negotiations, building on Sadat's historic visit to Israel in November.
• 1977 Charlie Chaplin dies Silent film legend, age 88 Charlie Chaplin, the most celebrated comedian of the silent film era, died peacefully in his sleep on Christmas Day 1977 at his home in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, aged 88.