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Celebrities Having a Blast During Christmas in the '80s: The Photos

Esquire Editors

December 24, 2018 at 3:38 AM

<p>The 1980s was a watershed decade for the modern idea of Christmas, ushering in iconic holiday staples like <em>A Christmas Story, </em>Wham!'s "Last Christmas," and hysteria-inducing toys like Cabbage Kids. Here are 25 photos that show how the decade's biggest celebrities marked the holiday season. </p>

<p>Sam Elliott at the 58th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1989.</p>

<p>Bruce Willis, as John McClane in 1988's <em>Die Hard</em>, which is most definitely a Christmas movie, no matter what others may say. In the film, McClane, a New York City cop on vacation in L.A., saves his wife's work holiday party from terrorists. </p>

<p>Madonna attends Sandy Gallin's Holiday Party on December 18, 1988, in Beverly Hills. Gallin was one of the most powerful talent agents in the business in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. </p>

<p>Bill Murray in 1988's <em>Scrooged</em>, a modern take on <em>A Christmas Carol</em>. Esquire calls it the sixth best Christmas movie of all time. </p>

<p>Michael Caine switches on the Christmas lights at Harrods department store in London in 1989.</p>

<p>President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan in front of the White House Christmas tree in 1989. </p>

<p>Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin at the premiere of <em>9 to 5, </em>which came out during the holiday season, at the Sutton Theater in New York City in 1980.</p>

<p>George Michael poses in the promotional photo for Wham!'s single "White Christmas" in 1984. (Michael died on Christmas day in 2016.)</p>

<p>Christie Brinkley and daughter Alexa Joel at the Covenant House Christmas Party in New York in 1989.</p>

<p>Dolly Parton on the set of her Christmas show, <em>Dolly</em>, in 1987. </p>

<p>Neil Patrick Harris at the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1989.</p>

<p>David Letterman in <em>Old Fashioned Christmas</em> special in 1987. </p>

<p>Anna Maria Horsford and Sherman Hemsley at the 58th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1989.</p>

<p>Paul and Linda McCartney leave for New York from London in December 1980. </p>

<p>Kermit the Frog, Jim Henson, Big Bird, Miss Piggy, and Scooter in 1987. </p>

<p>A scene from <em>The Golden Girls</em> episode "Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas," which aired on December 20, 1986. In the episode, Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia are held hostage by a man dressed as Santa Claus inside a grief counseling center. </p>

<p>Martin Kove, who played Cobra Kai sensai John Kreese in <em>The Karate Kid</em>, attends the Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1988.</p>

<p>Lynda Carter and Ron Samuels at Joanna Restaurant in New York during the holiday season in 1980. </p>

<p>Kool & the Gang pose in front of a Christmas tree in 1984.</p>

<p>Clint Eastwood and singer Dinah Shore at a Christmas party in 1982. </p>

<p>Julia Louis-Dreyfus as April May June during <em>Saturday Night Live</em>'s "A Special Christmas Message" skit on December 11, 1982. Louis-Dreyfus was a member of the <em>SNL</em> cast from 1982 until 1985. </p>

<p>Steve Martin during Saturday Night Live's "A Holiday Wish" skit on December 6, 1986.</p>

<p>Brooke Shields and Santa Claus in 1983. </p>

<p>A young Prince William attends Christmas day service in 1988. </p>

<p>The band Thin Lizzy celebrating Christmas in 1980. </p>

<p>Mike D of the Beastie Boys during Sandy Gallin's Christmas Party in Beverly Hills in 1988. </p>

<p>The Bee Gees check out the Christmas lights on Regent Street, London, in 1981.</p>

<p>Nicole Eggert at the Hollywood Christmas Parade in L.A. in 1988. </p>

<p>Nightclub owner Frank Roccio and Mike Tyson at the <em>Details</em> magazine Christmas party in 1987.</p>

<p>Debbie Harry and Chris Sten, both of the group Blondie, pose for a photo was used for the cover of the holiday edition of the <em>SoHo News</em> in 1980.</p>

<p>First Lady Nancy Reagan kisses Mr. T on the forehead during the White House Christmas decoration tour. </p>

Thirty photos from the decade that brought you A Christmas Story and Wham!'s "Last Christmas."

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