Today marks the 114th day of the year 2024, leaving us with 252 days until the year’s end. On this day in history, we remember the passing of labor leader Cesar Chavez in 1993 in San Luis, Arizona, at the age of 66. History books also record the passing of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare in 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon, on what is traditionally regarded as the 52nd anniversary of his birth in 1564. April 23rd has been witness to events of great consequence. In 1898, Spain declared war on the United States, which responded in kind two days later. The year 1940 saw a tragic event unfold with the Rhythm Night Club Fire in Natchez, Mississippi, resulting in the loss of approximately 200 lives. In 1954, baseball history was made when Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves hit the first of his 755 major-league home runs in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, leading the Braves to a 7-5 victory. The year 1969 marked a somber moment with the sentencing of Sirhan Sirhan to death for the assassination of New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, although his sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment. In 1971, hundreds of Vietnam War veterans, opposed to the conflict, staged a powerful protest by tossing their medals and ribbons over a wire fence in front of the U.S. Capitol. A significant milestone was reached in 1988 with the implementation of a federal ban on smoking during domestic airline flights of two hours or less. Expanding its global presence, McDonald’s opened its first fast-food restaurant in the Chinese capital of Beijing in 1992. The year 1998 brought news of the passing of James Earl Ray, who confessed to assassinating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and later insisted he had been framed. Ray died at a Nashville, Tennessee hospital at the age of 70. The dawn of the 21st century witnessed the birth of YouTube, a video-sharing website that has revolutionized the way we consume and share content. On April 23, 2005, YouTube uploaded its first clip, titled “Me at the Zoo,” featuring YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim standing in front of an elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo. In 2007, Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s first freely elected president, passed away in Moscow at the age of 76. France took a progressive step in 2013 by legalizing same-sex marriage after a contentious national debate that revealed deep conservatism in the nation’s heartland and triggered large-scale demonstrations. A horrific incident occurred in Toronto in 2018 when a man plowed a rental van into crowds of pedestrians, killing 10 people and injuring 16 others. The perpetrator, Alek Minassian, was later convicted of 10 counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 2020, during a White House briefing, President Donald Trump made controversial remarks about researchers looking at the effects of disinfectants on the coronavirus, wondering aloud whether they could be injected into people. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. health officials lifted an 11-day pause on COVID-19 vaccinations using Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shot in 2021. Scientific advisers determined that its benefits outweighed a rare risk of blood clot formation, allowing for the resumption of its use. April 23rd is also a day to celebrate the birthdays of notable figures. Veteran actor Alan Oppenheimer turns 94 today, while fellow actor Lee Majors celebrates his 85th birthday. Irish nationalist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, actor Blair Brown, and writer-director Paul Brickman all turn 77. Actor Joyce DeWitt and James Russo mark their 75th birthdays, while filmmaker-author Michael Moore and actor Judy Davis turn 70 and 69, respectively. Actress Valerie Bertinelli and actor Craig Sheffer both celebrate their 64th birthdays, and actor-comedian-talk show host George Lopez turns 63. U.S. Olympic gold medal skier Donna Weinbrecht turns 59, and actor Melina Kanakaredes celebrates her 57th birthday. Rock musician Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray turns 56, and actor Scott Bairstow turns 54. Actor-writer John Lutz and actor Barry Watson both turn 51 and 50, respectively. Rock musicians Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National turn 48, and professional wrestler/actor John Cena turns 47. Actor-writer-comedian John Oliver, actor Kal Penn, and retired MLB All-Star Andruw Jones all turn 47. Actor Jaime King celebrates her 45th birthday, and pop singer Taio Cruz turns 41. Actor Aaron Hill and actor Jesse Lee Soffer both turn 41 and 40, respectively. Actor Rachel Skarsten turns 39, and rock musician Anthony LaMarca of The War on Drugs turns 37. Singer-songwriter John Fullbright celebrates his 36th birthday, and actor Dev Patel turns 34. Actor Matthew Underwood and model Gigi Hadid both turn 34 and 29, respectively. Rock musicians Jake and Josh Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet turn 28, and actor Charlie Rowe turns 28. Retired tennis player Ashleigh Barty celebrates her 28th birthday, and U.S. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim turns 24. Today’s list of notable birthdays is a testament to the wide range of talent and contributions made by individuals in various fields. From iconic actors and musicians to accomplished athletes and influential figures, these individuals have left a lasting impact on our world. As we celebrate their special day, we recognize their achievements and express our appreciation for their contributions to our collective culture and society.
Daily Notable Events and Birthdays: April 23
