Historical Events
- Apr 2 Bubba Stewart becomes first African-American to win a major motor sports event when he takes out the Monster Energy AMA Supercross C'ship event in Irving, Texas
- Apr 2 Newcastle United teammates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer are sent off for fighting each other in a 3-0 home defeat to EPL rivals Aston Villa at St. James’ Park
WrestleMania
Apr 3 WrestleMania XXI, Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA: Batista defeats Triple H; John Cena beats John "Bradshaw" Layfield
- Apr 4 67th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: North Carolina beats Illinois, 75-70; Tar Heels' 4th national championship
- Apr 5 24th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Baylor beats Michigan State, 84-62; Bears' small forward Sophia Young is named Most Outstanding Player
- Apr 5 The Washington Nationals lose their inaugural season opener, 8-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies; first team to represent the nation's capital since the Washington Senators left after the 1971 season
Event of Interest
Apr 6 Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes the Iraqi president; Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named premier the next day
Event of Interest
Apr 7 Head of government of the Federal District, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, faces an impeachment process at the Mexican Congress
- Apr 9 158th Grand National: 9-year-old 7/1 favourite Hedgehunter, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins, win by 14 lengths from 40/1 shot Royal Auclair
US Masters Golf
Apr 10 69th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his 4th green jacket on the 1st hole of a playoff with Chris DiMarco
- Apr 10 At 16 years, 271 days James Vaughan scores for Everton in a 4-0 win against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park; becomes youngest goalscorer in EPL history
- Apr 10 Cricket Women's World Cup: Australia defeats India by 98 runs
CMT Music Awards
Apr 11 4th CMT Video Music Awards: Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson & Kenny Chesney win
- Apr 14 The Oregon Supreme Court nullifies marriage licenses issued to gay couples a year earlier by Multnomah County
- Apr 17 51st British Academy Television Awards: "Little Britain" Best Comedy, "Sex Traffic" Best Drama
- Apr 18 109th Boston Marathon: Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia claims men's section in 2:11:44; Catherine Ndereba of Kenya wins back-to-back races and 4th overall women's title in 2:25:12
Papal Inauguration
Apr 19 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger elected Pope Benedict XVI on the second day of the Papal conclave.
- Apr 23 NFL Draft: University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith first pick by San Francisco 49ers
- Apr 23 YouTube's co-founder Jawed Karim uploads the first video to YouTube, "Me at the zoo" showing him in front of two elephants at the San Diego Zoo. Has over 311 million views. [1]
- Apr 24 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.
- Apr 25 107 die in Amagasaki rail crash in Japan
- Apr 25 Bulgaria and Romania sign accession treaties to join the European Union
- Apr 25 Final piece of the Obelisk of Axum is returned to Ethiopia after being stolen by the invading Italian army in 1937
Devils and Dust Released
Apr 26 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 13th studio album "Devils and Dust"
- Apr 26 Under international pressure, Syria withdraws the last of its 14,000 troop military garrison in Lebanon, ending its 29-year military domination of that country.
- Apr 27 The superjumbo jet aircraft Airbus A380 makes its first flight from Toulouse, France
- Apr 28 The Patent Law Treaty goes into effect.
- Apr 29 New Zealand's first civil union takes place
- Apr 29 Syria completes withdrawal from Lebanon, ending 29 years of occupation
Famous Weddings
Charles III & Camilla Parker Bowles
Apr 9 His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales marries Camilla Parker Bowles
- Apr 16 "Survivor: All-Stars" winner Amber Mariano (26) weds The Amazing Race star Rob Mariano (29) at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas
- Apr 16 One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush (23) weds actor Chad Michael Murray (24) at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica, California
- Apr 19 "Extra" co-host Dayna Devon (35) weds plastic surgeon Dr. Brent Moelleken at the Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga, California
Famous Divorces
- Apr 8 Prince Joachim of Denmark (35) divorces Countess of Frederiksborg Alexandra (40) after 9 years of marriage
Famous Deaths
- Apr 1 Alexander Brott, Canadian violinist, conductor, educator, and composer (McGill Chamber Orchestra), dies at 90
- Apr 1 Harald Juhnke, German actor, comedian and entertainer (Guitars of Love; Schtonk), dies at 75
- Apr 1 Jack Keller, American songwriter, and record producer ("Run To Him"; "Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart"; theme to Bewitched), dies of leukemia at 68
- Apr 1 Robert Coldwell Wood, American educator MIT, University of Massachusetts), and government administrator (US Housing and Urban Development; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority), dies of stomach cancer at 81
John Paul II (1920-2005)
Apr 2 264th Roman Catholic Pope (1978-2005), dies of heart failure at 84
- Apr 3 Jef Eygel, Belgian basketball player (b. 1933)
- Apr 3 Tony Croatto [Hermes Martinis], Italian-Puerto Rican folk song singer and composer (Los TNT; Haciendo Punto en Otro Son), and television presenter, dies of cancer at 65
- Apr 4 Edward Bronfman, Canadian businessman (co-owner of Montreal Canadiens, 1971-78), dies of colon cancer at 77
- Apr 5 Dale Messick [Dalia Messick], American comic strip artist (Brenda Starr, Reporter), dies at 98
- Apr 5 Debralee Scott, American actress (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - "Cathy"; Angie), dies at 52
- Apr 5 John Sichel, British film and television director (b. 1937)
Saul Bellow (1915-2005)
Apr 5 Canadian-born American author (Mr Sammler's Planet, Nobel 1976), dies at 89
- Apr 6 Geoff Millman, English cricket wicket-keeper (6 Tests; Bedfordshire CCC, Nottinghamshire CCC), dies at 70
Rainier III (1923-2005)
Apr 6 Prince of Monaco (1949-2005), dies at 81
- Apr 7 Bob Kennedy, American MLB baseball player (Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians), manager (Chicago Cubs, Oakland A's), and executive, dies at 84
- Apr 7 Cliff Allison, British racing driver (b. 1932)
- Apr 7 Grigoris Bithikotsis, Greek singer, dies at 82
- Apr 7 José Melis, Cuban-American pianist, orchestra leader, and television personality (Jack Paar Program), dies of a respiratory infection at 85
- Apr 8 Eddie Miksis, American baseball player, dies at 78
- Apr 8 Onna White, Canadian choreographer (b. 1924)
- Apr 9 Andrea Dworkin, American radical feminist (Pornography: Men Possessing Women), dies of heart failure at 58
- Apr 9 Jerrel Wilson, American NFL punter (Pro Bowl 1970-72; Super Bowl 1970; KC Chiefs), dies of cancer at 63
- Apr 10 (Wladimir) "Wally" Tax, Dutch rock singer-songwriter, and guitarist (The Outsiders; Tax Free), dies at 57
- Apr 10 Al Lucas, American football player (b. 1978)
- Apr 10 Iakovos, Archbishop of North and South America (Greek Orthodox), dies at 93
- Apr 10 Norbert Brainin, Austrian-British violinist (Amadeus Quartet, 1947-87), dies at 82
- Apr 11 André François, Hungarian-French cartoonist, dies at 89
- Apr 11 Lucien Laurent, French footballer (scored the first ever FIFA World Cup goal), dies at 97
- Apr 11 Maurice R. Hilleman, American microbiologist who developed over 36 vaccines including measles, mumps, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chickenpox, meningitis, pneumonia, dies at 85
- Apr 13 Don Blasingame, American baseball player, dies at 73
- Apr 13 Johnnie Johnson, American blues & jazz piano player (Chuck Berry's band), dies of kidney problems and pneumonia at 80
- Apr 13 Johnny Loughrey, Irish singer, dies at 59
- Apr 13 Nikola Ljubičić, President of the Presidency of Serbia (1982-84) & Communist politician, dies at 89
- Apr 13 Philippe Volter, Belgian actor, dies at 46
- Apr 13 Yuri Anatoyevich Ponomaryov, Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz 18 backup), dies at 73
- Apr 13 [Salvador] Tutti Camarata, American composer and producer (Vic Damone Show), dies at 91
- Apr 14 Benny Bailey, American jazz trumpeter, dies at 79
- Apr 15 John Fred [Gourrier], American pop singer (John Fred and His Playboy Band - "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)"), dies from kidney disease at 63
- Apr 15 Ken Funston, South African cricket batsman (18 Tests, top score 92), dies at 79
- Apr 15 Margaretta Scott, British actress (Crescendo, Where's Charley, Counterblast), dies from pneumonia and breast cancer at 93
- Apr 16 Kathleen "Kay" Walsh, British actress (The Horse's Mouth, Oliver Twist), dies in a fire at 93
- Apr 16 Kim Mu-saeng, South Korean actor (b. 1943)
- Apr 16 Marla Ruzicka, American humanitarian worker and peace activist (b. 1976)
- Apr 17 Hans Gruijters, Dutch journalist and politician (Mayor of Lelystad, 1980-96; co-founder of D66 party), dies at 73
- Apr 17 James Archibald Houston, Canadian author and filmmaker (Tikta'Liktak), dies at 83
- Apr 18 Kenneth Schermerhorn, American conductor (American Ballet), dies at 75
- Apr 18 Sam Mills, American football player, dies at 46
- Apr 19 Clement Meadmore, Australian sculptor (b. 1929)
- Apr 19 George Pan Cosmatos, Greek film director (b. 1941)
- Apr 19 Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Danish jazz bassist (b. 1946)
- Apr 19 Rick Lewis, American doo-wop tenor (The Silhouettes - "Get A Job"), dies at 71
- Apr 19 Ruth Hussey, American actress (Another Thin Man), dies at 93
- Apr 20 Fumio Niwa, Japanese novelist (b. 1904)
- Apr 21 Gerry Marshall, British auto racer (625 x overall and class saloon wins), dies from heart failure at 63
- Apr 21 Heinz Kluncker, German trade union leader (ÖTV (Öffentliche Dienste, Transport und Verkehr - Public service, transport and traffic) president, 1964-82)., dies at 80
Zhang Chunqiao (1917-2005)
Apr 21 Chinese politician and writer (member of the Gang of Four), dies at 88
- Apr 22 (John) Norman Bird, British stage, wireless, and screen character actor (Worzel Gummidge, 1979–81 - "Mr Braithwaite"), dies at 80
- Apr 22 Eduardo Paolozzi, Scottish sculptor and pop art pioneer (mosaics Tottenham Court Rd tube), dies at 81
- Apr 22 Erika Fuchs, German translator, dies at 98
- Apr 22 John Marshall, American filmmaker and activist (Ju/'hoan Bushman films), dies at 76 [1]
- Apr 22 Norman Bird, English character actor, dies at 80
- Apr 22 Philip Morrison, American physicist, dies at 89
- Apr 23 Al Grassby, Australian immigration minister, dies at 78
- Apr 23 Earl Wilson, American MLB baseball pitcher, 1959-70, (Boston Red Sox (no-hitter 1962), Detroit Tigers (AL wins co-leader, 1967), dies from a heart attack at 70
- Apr 23 Johannes Bjelke-Petersen, Australian politician, Premier of Queensland (1968-87), dies at 94
- Apr 23 Robert Farnon, Canadian classical and light music composer and conductor dies at 87
- Apr 23 Romano Scarpa, Italian-born comic artist, dies at 77
- Apr 23 Sir John Mills, British actor (Ryan's Daughter, Big Sleep, King Rat, War & Peace), dies from a chest infection at 97
- Apr 24 Ezer Weizman, President of Israel (b. 1924)
- Apr 24 Fei Xiaotong, Chinese sociologist (b. 1910)
- Apr 25 John Love, Zimbabwean auto racer (British Saloon Car C'ship 1962; 6 x South African F1 C'ship 1964-69), dies at 80
- Apr 25 Swami Ranganathananda, Indian monk (b. 1908)
- Apr 26 Augusto Roa Bastos, Paraguayan author, dies at 87
- Apr 26 Maria Schell, Austrian-Swiss star of German cinema (The Last Bridge, Gervaise), dies at 79
- Apr 26 Mason Adams, American actor (Lou Grant, Deadliest Season), dies at 86
- Apr 27 Red Horner, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Stanley Cup 1932 Toronto Maple Leafs), dies at 95
- Apr 27 Stanley Orme, British Labour Party politician, dies at 82
- Apr 28 Chris Candido, American wrestler, dies at 33
- Apr 28 Percy Heath, American jazz bassist (Modern Jazz Quartet), dies at 81
- Apr 28 Taraki Sivaram, Tamil journalist of Sri Lanka, dies at 45
- Apr 29 (Gwendolyn) Dianne Brooks, American R&B, jazz, session and touring vocalist (Three Playmates - "Sugah Wooga"; solo - "Walking On My Mind"; Anne Murray), dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 66
- Apr 29 Mariana Levy, Mexican actress, singer, and television show host, dies of a heart attack at 39
- Apr 29 William J Bell, American television writer and producer (The Young and The Restless; The Bod and the Beautiful), dies at 87
- Apr 30 Ron Todd, British trade unionist (TGWU General Secretary, 1985-92), dies at 78
