- Herman Uyttersprot, Flemish literature historian, born in Denderbelle (d. 1967)
- Gerard McLarnon, British-Irish actor and writer (The Wrestler's Honeymoon), born in Clitheroe, Lancashire (d. 1997)
- Geoffrey Owen, British journalist and editor of the Financial Times (1981-90), born in England
- Benoît Bouchard, French Canadian public official and former politician, born in Roberval, Quebec
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [Lew Alcindor], American Basketball Hall of Fame center (6 x NBA champion; NBA Finals MVP 1971, 1985; 6 × NBA MVP; 19 × NBA All-Star), born in New York City
- Lynne Franks, British public relations consultant, born in London
- Melody Patterson, American actress (F Troop), born in Inglewood, California (d. 2015)
- Tom Kelly, American pop songwriter, with Billy Steinberg ("Like A Virgin"; "True Colors"; "I Touch Myself"), and session vocalist, born in Indiana
- First passenger railway opens in India from Bori Bunder (Bombay) to Thane (34 km)
- To dispel rumors he's dead, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appears on TV
- August Wilson's "Fences" wins 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- South Korean ferry MV Sewol sinks on route Incheon to Jeju, 304 drown, mostly students. National controversy erupts over rescue efforts and actions of crew and owner.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wins referendum on 18-article constitutional reform package
- Georg Curtius, German classical linguist, born in the Free Imperial City of Lübeck (d. 1885)
- Milton Cross, American radio announcer (Metropolitan Opera's Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, 1931-75), born in New York City (d. 1975)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [Lew Alcindor], American Basketball Hall of Fame center (6 x NBA champion; NBA Finals MVP 1971, 1985; 6 × NBA MVP; 19 × NBA All-Star), born in New York City
- John Bowe, Australian racing driver, born in Devonport, Tasmania
- Nick Berry, British actor (EastEnders, Heartbeat), born in Woodford, England