History Blog

April 9

Happy Birthday RIP Avery Schreiber(1935–2002) ; Hugh Hefner–87 Michael Learned–74 Dennis Quaid–59 Marc Jacobs–50 Cynthia Nixon–47 Jennifer Massoli(“Jenna Jameson”)–39 Keshia Knight Pulliam–34 Jonathan Baruchel–31 Leighton Meester–27 Jesse McCartney–26 Kristen Stewart–23 Mary Elle Fanning–15 ; 1867 – Alaska purchase: Passing by a single vote, the United States Senate ratifies a treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska.

April 8

Happy Birthday RIP Elizabeth “Betty” Ford(1918–2011) ; Fred Greenfield(“Shecky Greene”)–87 Vivienne Westwood(Swire)–72 John Schneider–53 Jeffrey “Izzy” Isbell–51 Julian Lennon–50 Robin Wright–47 Patricia Arquette–45 ; 1913 – The 17th amendment to the Constitution, providing for the popular election of U.S. senators, was ratified.

April 7

Happy Birthday RIP Ian Richardson(1934–2007) Billie Holiday(Elinore Harris 1915–1959) ; James Bumgarner(“Garner”)–85 William “Wayne” Rogers–80 Jerry Brown–75 Francis Ford Coppola–74 John Oates–64 Kong-sang “Jackie” Chan( 陳港生)–59 Russell Crowe–49 ; 1967 – Film critic Roger Ebert published his very first film review in the Chicago Sun-Times

April 6

Happy Birthday Billy December Williams–76 Merle Haggard–76 John Ratzenberger–66 Patrika Darbo–65 Mary Lucy Henner–61 Paul Rudd–44 Anders Jensen–41 Zach Braff–38 Candace Cameron–37 ; 1896 – In Athens, the opening of the first modern Olympic Games is celebrated, 1,500 years after the original games

April 5

Happy Birthday RIP Eldred Gregory Peck(1916–2003) Ruth “Bette” Davis(1908–1989) Spencer Tracy(1900–1967) ; Colin Powell–76 Maxwell Gail–70 Agnetha Fältskog–63 Thea Gill–43 Pharrell Williams–40 ; 1792 – U.S. President George Washington exercises his authority to veto a bill, the first time this power is used in the United States.

April 4

Happy Birthday RIP Heath Ledger(1979–2008) Anthony Perkins(1932–1992) Daniel David White(1916–1990) ; Estelle Nussbaum(“Harris”)–85 Craig T. Nelson–69 Hugo Weaving–53 Graham Walker(“Norton”)–50 David Cross–49 Robert Downey Jr–48 Nancy McKeon–47 James Rodriguez(“Roday”)–37; 1850  – The city of Los Angeles was incorporated ; 1968 – Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray at a motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

April 3

Happy Birthday  RIP Marlon Brando(1924–2004) ; Doris Kappelhoff(“Doris Day”)–90 Dame Valerie Jane Morris Goodall–79 Marsha Mason–71 Carson “Wayne” Newton–71 Michael Orlando Cassavitis(“Tony Orlando”)–69 Alexander “Alec” Baldwin III–55 David Hyde Pierce–54 Edward “Eddie” Murphy–52 Jamie Bamber Griffith–40 ; 1860–The Pony Express began service between St. Joseph, Mo., and Sacramento, Calif.

April 2

Happy Birthday RIP Alec Guinness de Cuffe(1914–2000) Christian “Buddy” Ebsen(1908–2003) Ron Paolillo(1949–2012) Marvin Gaye(1939–1984) ; Emmylou Harris–66 Chris Meloni–52 Michael Fassbender–36 Aiden Turner–36 ; 1956 – As The World Turns debuts on CBS-TV

April 1

Happy Birthday RIP Leonidas “Lon” Chaney(1883–1930) Gordon Jump(1932–2003) ; Mary “Debbie” Reynolds–81 Elizabeth “Ali” MacGraw–75 Barry Sonnenfeld–60 Susan Boyle–52 Rachel Maddow–40 Sam Huntington–31 Matt Lanter–30 Hillary Scott–27 ; 1970 – President Richard Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, requiring the Surgeon General’s warnings on tobacco products and banning cigarette advertisements on television and radio in the United States

March 31

Happy Birthday RIP Cesar Chavez(1927–1993) Anne “Liz” Claiborne(1929–2007) ; George Richard Chamberlain–79 Shirley Jones–79 Herbert Alpert–78 Ronald “Christopher” Walken–70 Gabe Kaplan–68  Albert Gore Jr.–65 Rhea Perlman–65 William McNamara–48 Ewan McGregor–42 ; 1889 – The Eiffel Tower is officially opened.