Historical Events
- Apr 1 Anguilla (dependent territory of UK) adopts constitution
NHL Record
Apr 1 Quebec center Peter Šťastný scores 4th career hat trick and 4 assists, and his brother Marián adds 5 assists to lead the Nordiques to an 8-5 win at Boston
- Apr 1 US formally transfers Canal Zone to Panama
- Apr 2 Several thousand Argentine troops invade and seize the Falkland Islands from the United Kingdom
- Apr 3 136th Grand National: 48-year-old Dick Saunders wins aboard 7/1 favourite Grittar; oldest jockey to win the event
- Apr 3 Buffalo Sabre Gil Perrault scores his 1,000th NHL point
Sports History
Apr 3 Marco van Basten plays his first match for Ajax, scoring a debut goal in a 5-0 victory over NEC
- Apr 3 UN Security Council demanded Argentina withdraw from Falkland Islands
- Apr 5 43-year-old St. Louis reliever Jim Kaat pitches 1 inning for the Cardinals in a season-opening, 14-3 rout of Houston; sets a MLB record for pitchers by playing in his 24th consecutive season
- Apr 5 British Royal Navy aircraft carriers Invincible and Hermes, with escort vessels, depart Portsmouth, England for the Falkland Islands in response to the Argentine invasion
- Apr 5 Lord Carrington, British Foreign Secretary resigns for his failure to foresee the invasion of the Falkland Islands
- Apr 6 Columbia returns to Kennedy Space Center from White Sands
- Apr 6 Largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Minnesota 52,279
- Apr 7 Iran minister of Foreign affairs Ghotbzadeh arrested
- Apr 8 Tracy Caulkins wins her 36th US swimming title aged 19
- Apr 9 LA Lakers block 21 Denver shots setting NBA regulation game record
- Apr 10 LA Kings losing 5-0 to Edmonton in 3rd period, win in OT 6-5
- Apr 11 46th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Craig Stadler wins his only major title by defeating Dan Pohl on the 1st hole of a sudden-death playoff
- Apr 12 3 CBS employees shot to death in NYC parking lot
Music History
Apr 12 American composer Roger Sessions receives Pulitzer Prize for Music, for his "Concerto for Orchestra"
Proclamation of the Constitution Act
Apr 17 Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Queen Elizabeth II sign the "Proclamation of the Constitution Act", establishing the "Charter of Rights and Freedoms" as part of the country’s new Constitution
Music History
Apr 17 Country music legend Johnny Cash hosts Saturday Night Live, participates in skits, performs medley of hits; Elton John is additional musical guest
- Apr 17 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
- Apr 18 Atlanta Braves win record 11th straight opening game (beat Astros)
- Apr 18 Canada Constitution Act replaces British North America Act
- Apr 18 Zimbabwean capital Salisbury renamed Harare
Boston Marathon
Apr 19 86th Boston Marathon: American Alberto Salazar claims men's title in 2:08:51; Charlotte Teske of West Germany wins women's section in 2:29:33
- Apr 19 Guinon Bluford announced as 1st African American NASA astronaut
- Apr 19 Rosie Ruiz, marathon race cheater, arrested for forgery
Event of Interest
Apr 19 Sally Ride is named the 1st American woman astronaut
- Apr 19 USSR Salyut 7 space station put into orbit
- Apr 20 Atlanta Braves become 1st team to win 1st 12 games of the season
- Apr 20 The Provisional Irish Republican Army explode bombs in Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Ballymena, Bessbrook and Magherafelt; 2 civilians are killed and 12 injured
- Apr 21 Atlanta Braves win their 13th straight game
- Apr 21 Dr Michael E Bakey performs 1st successful heart implant
- Apr 21 Dutch Queen Beatrice addresses US Congress
- Apr 22 Atlanta Braves lose after winning 1st 13 games of season
- Apr 23 Conch Republic is established - secession of the Florida Keys from the United States of America
- Apr 23 The 8-bit personal home computer the Sinclair ZX Spectrum is released (goes on to sell 5 million worldwide)
- Apr 24 27th Eurovision Song Contest: Nicole for Germany wins singing "Ein bißchen Frieden" in Harrogate
- Apr 24 Cards win 12th game in a row; 7-4 over Phillies
- Apr 24 Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by Mike Durbin
- Apr 25 Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
- Apr 25 In accordance with Camp David, Israel completes Sinai withdrawal
- Apr 25 USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan
- Apr 25 Yanks fire manager Bob Lemon & replaces him with Gene Michael
Argentina Surrenders South Georgia Island
Apr 26 Argentina surrenders to Great Britain on South Georgia Island, near the Falkland Islands
- Apr 26 Gene Michael becomes NY Yankee manager for 2nd time
Music History
Apr 26 Rod Stewart is mugged, gunman steals his $50,000 Porsche on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
- Apr 27 NFL Draft: University of Texas defensive end Kenneth Sims first pick by New England Patriots
Ronald Reagan is Shot
Apr 27 Trial of John Hinckley begins for the attempted assassination of US President Ronald Reagan
Academy of Country Music Awards
Apr 29 17th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama, Merle Haggard, and Barbara Mandrell win
- Apr 29 Alfredo Magana elected President of El Salvador
Murder of Interest
Apr 29 American mafia hitman Richard Kuklinski murders pharmacist Paul Hoffman by beating him with a tire iron
- Apr 30 Alvaro Magana chosen to succeed Jose N Duarte as President of El Salvador
- Apr 30 Atlanta Braves win record 12th straight from beginning of season
- Apr 30 Iranian offensive in Khusistan
Famous Birthdays
- Apr 1 Andreas Thorkildsen, Norwegian athlete (Olympic gold men's javelin 2004, 08; World C'ship gold 2009), born in Kristiansand, Norway
- Apr 1 Gemma Hunt, British children's television presenter, born in Wiltshire, England
- Apr 1 Sam Huntington, American actor (Jungle 2 Jungle, Being Human), born in Peterborough, New Hampshire
Taran Killam (42 years old)
Apr 1 American comedian, actor, and writer (Saturday Night Live, 2010-16; Single Parents), born in Culver City, California
- Apr 2 Bianca Chatfield, Australian netball defender (42 caps; World C'ship gold 2007; C'wealth Games gold 2014) and TV personality (The Block 2018), born in Somerville, Mornington Peninsula, Australia
- Apr 2 David Ferrer, Spanish tennis player (World #3 2013; Davis Cup champion Spain 2008, 09, 11; French Open 2013 runner-up; 23 ATP titles), born in Xàbia, Alicante, Spain
- Apr 2 Jeremy Bloom, American alpine skier (FIS Freestyle World Ski C'ships gold dual moguls 2003) and football wide receiver (Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers), born in Loveland, Colorado
- Apr 2 Leyla Milani, Iranian-Canadian actress and model, born in Toronto, Ontario
- Apr 2 Marco Amelia, Italian soccer goalkeeper (9 caps; 2006 FIFA World Cup; Livorno), born in Frascati, Italy
Cobie Smulders (42 years old)
Apr 3 Canadian actress (How I Met Your Mother), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
- Apr 3 Fler [Patrick Losensky], German rapper, born in Berlin, Germany
- Apr 3 Iain Fyfe, Australian soccer player (Campbelltown City), born in Adelaide, Australia
- Apr 3 Jared Allen, American football player, born in Dallas, Texas
- Apr 3 Kasumi Nakane, Japanese gravure idol, born in Tokyo, Japan
- Apr 5 Alexandre Prémat, French racing driver, born in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne, France
- Apr 5 Hayley Atwell, British-American actress (Captain America; Agent Cater), born in London, England
- Apr 5 Matt Pickens, American professional soccer goalkeeper, 2002-19, and coach (Nashville), born in Washington, Missouri
- Apr 5 Thomas Hitzlsperger, German footballer, 2001-13, and football director (VfB Stuttgart), born in Munich, West Germany
- Apr 6 Bret Harrison, American actor (Orange County), born in Portland, Oregon
- Apr 6 Ilan Hall, Israeli-American chef
- Apr 6 Michael Guy Chislett, Australian-American rock and Christian music guitarist (The Academy Is...2007-11; Hillsong United, 1998-present), born in Skipton, Australia
- Apr 7 Sonjay Dutt, Indian American professional wrestler
- Apr 8 Gennady Golovkin, Kazakh boxer (undisputed world middleweight champion), born in Karaganda, Kazakhstan
- Apr 9 Carlos Hernández, Costa Rican footballer, born in San José, Costa Rica
- Apr 9 Jay Baruchel, Canadian actor (Man Seeking Woman), born in Ottawa, Ontario
- Apr 10 Andre Ethier, American baseball player, born in Phoenix, Arizona
- Apr 10 Chyler Leigh, American actress (Not Another Teen Movie), born in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Apr 10 Damián Lanza, Ecuadorian footballer, born in Cuenca, Ecuador
- Apr 11 Ian Bell, English cricket batsman (118 Tests, 22 x 100, HS 235; Warwickshire CCC), born in Coventry, Warwickshire
- Apr 12 Deen [Fuad Backović], Bosnian singer and fashion designer, born in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
- Apr 13 Janice Vidal, Hong Kong Cantopop singer, and actress, born in Kowloon, British Hong Kong
- Apr 13 Jill Vidal, Hong Kong Cantopop and R&B singer, and guitarist, born in Kowloon, British Hong Kong
- Apr 13 Nellie McKay, British-American singer-songwriter, pianist, and ukulele player, born in London, England
- Apr 15 Anthony Green, American rock singer-songwriter and musician (Circa Survive; Saosin), born in Holland, Pennsylvania
- Apr 15 Mark Mizzark [Marlis Pugh], American rapper (Another Bad Creation), born in Akron, Ohio
- Apr 15 Michael Aubrey, American baseball player (Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles), born in Shreveport, Louisiana
Seth Rogen (42 years old)
Apr 15 Canadian actor and writer (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Interview), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
- Apr 16 Barry Jones, Scottish magician, born in Aberdeen, Scotland
- Apr 16 Boris Diaw, French basketball player, born in Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France
- Apr 16 Gina Carano, American Mixed Martial Arts fighter, born in Dallas, Texas
- Apr 16 Jonathan Vilma, American football player, born in Coral Gables, Florida
- Apr 17 Brad Boyes, Canadian hockey player, 2003-16 (St. Louis Blues, and 6 other teams), born in Mississauga, Ontario
- Apr 17 Lee Joon-gi, South Korean actor and model, born in Busan, South Korea
- Apr 18 Marie-Élaine Thibert, Canadian contemporary pop singer, born in Lasalle, Montreal, Quebec
- Apr 18 Scott Hartnell, Canadian NHL hockey player, born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Apr 19 Ali Wong, American stand-up comedian, actress and writer (Always Be My Maybe), born in San Francisco, California
Kaká (42 years old)
Apr 22 Brazilian footballer (Orlando City, Brazil national team), born in Gama, Brazil
Kelly Clarkson (42 years old)
Apr 24 American pop singer ("Since U Been Gone"; "My Life Would Suck Without You"), winner of 1st season of "American Idol", songwriter, and TV personality, born in Fort Worth, Texas
- Apr 25 Monty Panesar, English cricketer, born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England
- Apr 26 Brock Gillespie, American basketball player (CB Ciudad de Valladolid), born in Des Moines, Iowa
- Apr 26 J. B. Holmes, American golfer (British Open 2016 3rd; 5 PGA Tour titles), born in Campbellsville, Kentucky
- Apr 26 Joanne Gobure, Nauruan poet, born in Denigomodu, Nauru
- Apr 26 Jon Lee, English actor and singer (S Club 7), born in Ipplepen, Devon
- Apr 27 Katrina Johnson, American actress, born in San Diego, California
- Apr 28 Harry Shum Jr. Costa Rican actor (Glee, Shadowhunters), born in Limón, Costa Rica
- Apr 28 Nikki Grahame, English TV personality (Big Brother), born in London, England
- Apr 29 Kamran Jawaid, Pakistani film critic
- Apr 30 Cleo Higgins, British singer and actress (Cleopatra), born in Birmingham, England
- Apr 30 Drew Seeley, Canadian actor, dancer, songwriter and singer (High School Musical), born in Ottawa, Ontario
Kirsten Dunst (41 years old)
Apr 30 American actress (Interview with the Vampire, Spider-Man), born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey
- Apr 30 Lloyd Banks [Christopher Lloyd], Amerrican rapper (G-Unit), born in New Carrollton, Maryland
Famous Weddings
George Foreman
Apr 28 Professional boxer George Foreman (33) weds Andrea Skeete
Famous Divorces
Bryan Cranston
Apr 8 Actor Bryan Cranston (26) divorces writer Mickey Middleton after 4 years of marriage
George Foreman
Apr 23 Professional boxer George Foreman (33) divorces Sharon Goodson after 7 months of marriage
Famous Deaths
- Apr 3 Herman W. Filarski, Dutch bridge journalist, dies at 69
- Apr 3 Warren Oates, American actor (Dillinger, East of Eden, Stoney Burke), dies of a heart attack at 53
- Apr 4 Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Bulgarian composer, dies at 50
- Apr 5 Abe Fortas, US Supreme Court Justice, 1965-69, dies at 71
- Apr 6 Paul Wiens, German writer and Stasi informant, dies at 59
- Apr 7 Brenda Benet, actress (Track of Thunder), commits suicide by gun at 36
- Apr 7 Harald Ertl, Austrian racing driver (b. 1948)
- Apr 8 Katherine Rawls, American diver (Olympic silver 3m springboard 1932, 36) and swimmer (Olympic bronze 4×100m freestyle 1936), dies from cancer at 64
- Apr 9 RobertHavemann, German chemist and dissident, dies at 72
- Apr 9 Wilfred Pelletier, Canadian conductor (Voice of Firestone), dies at 85
- Apr 15 Arthur Lowe, British actor (Dad's Army, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Ruling Class), dies following a stroke at 66
- Apr 15 Louis de Guiringaud, French foreign minister (1976-78), commits suicide at 70
- Apr 20 Andy Sandham, English cricket batsman (14 Tests; 1st triple centurion 325 v WI 1930), dies at 91
Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982)
Apr 20 American poet (Conquistador) and playwright (J.B.), dies at 89
- Apr 20 Mimi Boesnach, actress (Wedding of Kloris & Roses), dies at 82
- Apr 21 Joe Sawyer [Sauers], Canadian actor (Adventures of Rin Tin Tin - "Sgt. Biff O'Hara"), dies of liver cancer at 75
- Apr 22 Melville Bell Grosvenor, American photographer & president of National Geographic Society, dies at 80
- Apr 25 Celia Johnson, English actress (Brief Encounter, Happy Breed), dies at 73
- Apr 25 Don Wilson, American radio and TV announcer (Jack Benny Show), dies at 81
- Apr 25 John Cody, US cardinal/archbishop of Chicago (1965-82), dies at 74
- Apr 25 Paul de Vree, Flemish author (Round Table), dies at 72
- Apr 25 W. R. Burnett, American writer (Asphalt Jungle), dies at 82
- Apr 26 Celia Johnson, British actress (Jean Brodie), dies of stroke at 73
- Apr 26 Ville Ritola, Finnish 5/10km runner (Olympic gold 1924, 28), dies at 86
- Apr 27 Tom Tully, American radio, stage, and screen actor (The Caine Mutiny; Shane), dies at 73
- Apr 28 Bert van Dongen [Albert Cohen], Dutch singer, impressionist and actor (Het meisje met den blauwen hoed), dies at 66
- Apr 28 Nobby Clark, English cricketer (32 wickets in 8 Tests 1929-34), dies at 81
- Apr 29 Herbert Collum, German composer, dies at 67
- Apr 29 Jimmy Jones, American jazz pianist, arranger, and accompanist, dies at 62
- Apr 30 Albert TLCA Bird, lecture artist, dies
- Apr 30 Herman Tholen, Dutch cabaret performer (Juveniles), dies
- Apr 30 Lester Bangs, American music journalist (Creem; Rolling Stone), and musician (Birdland), dies of accidental cold medicine overdose at 33
- Apr 30 Taisen Deshimaru, Japanese founder of several Zen centers in France, dies at 67
