28 April

Edward IV

James Monroe

Nicola Romeo

Lionel Barrymore

Kurt Godel

Oskar Schindler

Carl Laemmle Jr

Lee Falk

Odette Sansom Hallowes

Ferruccio Lamborghini

Nigel Kneale

Kenneth Kaunda

Blossom Dearie

Harper Lee

Eugene M. Shoemaker

Carolyn Jones

Saddam Hussein

Ann-Margret

Mike Brearley

Terry Pratchett

Paul Guilfoyle

Jay Leno

Ian Rankin

L’Wren Scott

Howard Donald

Elisabeth Rohm

Penelope Cruz

Vernon Kay

Lauren Laverne

Bradley Wiggins

Jessica Alba

1442

 Edward IV
Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was the first Yorkist King of England. The first half of his rule was marred by the violence associated with the Wars of the Roses, but he overcame the Lancastrian challenge to the throne at Tewkesbury in 1471 to reign in peace until his sudden death. Born in Rouen, France. (d. 1483)

1758

 James Monroe
James Monroe (April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831) was the fifth President of the United States (1817-1825). Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States. Born in Monroe Hall, Virginia. (d. 1831)

1876

 Nicola Romeo
Nicola Romeo (28 April 1876 – 15 August 1938) was an Italian engineer and an entrepreneur. In 1911 he returned to Italy and created “Ing. Nicola Romeo e Co.”. He wanted to expand and acquired a majority of Milan based car manufacturing company A.L.F.A. in 1915. The first car carrying the Alfa Romeo badge was the 1921 Torpedo 20/30 HP. Born in Sant’Antimo, Italy. (d. 1938)

1878

 Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore (April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul (1931), and remains perhaps best known for the role of the villainous Mr. Potter character in Frank Capra’s 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life. Born Lionel Herbert Blythe in Philadelphia. (d. 1954)

1906

 Kurt Gödel
Kurt Gödel (April 28, 1906 – January 14, 1978) was an Austrian, and later American, logician, mathematician, and philosopher. Considered with Aristotle and Gottlob Frege to be one of the most significant logicians in history. Born Kurt Friedrich Gödel in Brünn, Austria-Hungary. (d. 1978)

1908

 Oskar Schindler
Oskar Schindler (28 April 1908 – 9 October 1974) was an ethnic German industrialist, German spy, and member of the Nazi party who is credited with saving the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories, which were located in what is now Poland and the Czech Republic respectively. He is the subject of the 1982 novel Schindler’s Ark, and the subsequent 1993 film Schindler’s List, which reflected his life as an opportunist initially motivated by profit who came to show extraordinary initiative, tenacity, and dedication in order to save the lives of his Jewish employees. Born in Zwittau, Moravia, Austria-Hungary. (d. 1974)

 Carl Laemmle Jr
Carl Laemmle, Jr. (April 28, 1908 – September 24, 1979) was an American heir and businessman. He was in charge of production at Universal Studios from 1928 to 1936. Produced films such as All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Dracula (1931), Waterloo Bridge (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Born Julius Laemmle in Chicago, Illinois. (d. 1979)

1911

 Lee Falk
Lee Falk, (born April 28, 1911 – March 13, 1999), was an American writer, theater director and producer, best known as the creator of the popular comic strips The Phantom (1936-present) and Mandrake the Magician (1934-2013). Born Leon Harrison Gross in St Louis, Missouri. (d. 1999)

1912

 Odette Sansom Hallowes
Odette Hallowes GC, MBE, Chevalier de la légion d’honneur (28 April 1912 – 13 March 1995) was an Allied heroine of the Second World War. She was enrolled in Special Forces Executive and sent into Nazi-occupied France to work with the French underground. Born Odette Marie Céline Brailly in Amiens, France. (d. 1995)

1916

 Ferruccio Lamborghini
Ferruccio Lamborghini (April 28, 1916 – February 20, 1993) was an Italian industrialist. He most famously created Automobili Lamborghini, a maker of high-end sports cars. Born Ferruccio Elio Arturo Lamborghini in Renazzo di Cento, Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. (d. 1993)

1922

 Nigel Kneale
Thomas Nigel Kneale (28 April 1922 – 29 October 2006) was a British screenwriter. He wrote professionally for more than 50 years, was a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award, and was twice nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay. In 2000, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association. Predominantly a writer of thrillers that used science-fiction and horror elements, he was best known for the creation of the character Professor Bernard Quatermass. Born Thomas Nigel Kneale in Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire, England. (d. 2006)

1924

 Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth Kaunda (28 April 1924 – 17 June 2021) served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991. Born Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia. (d. 2021)

 Blossom Dearie
Blossom Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist, often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her light and girlish voice. One of the last supper club performers, she performed regular engagements in London and New York City over many years. Born Margrethe Blossom Dearie in East Durham, New York. (d. 2009)

1926

 Harper Lee
Harper Lee (April 28, 1926 – February 19, 2016) was an American novelist known for her 1961 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with the issues of racism that she observed as a child in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. It led to her being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to literature. Born Nelle Harper Lee in Monroeville, Alabama. (d. 2016)

1928

 Eugene M. Shoemaker
Eugene M Shoemaker (April 28, 1928 – July 18, 1997), also known as Gene Shoemaker, was an American geologist and one of the founders of the field of planetary science. He is best known for co-discovering the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Born Eugene Merle Shoemaker in Los Angeles, California. (d. 1997)

1930

 Carolyn Jones
Carolyn Jones (April 28, 1930 – August 3, 1983) was an American actress. Jones began her film career in the early 1950s. She received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Bachelor Party (1957) and a Golden Globe Award as one of the most promising actresses of 1959. In 1964 she began playing the role of Morticia Addams in the television series The Addams Family. Born Carolyn Sue Jones in Amarillo, Texas. (d. 1983)

1935

 Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein (28 April 1935 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. Born Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti in Al-Awja, Saladin Province, Iraq. (d. 2006)

1941

 Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress, she is best known for her roles in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Viva Las Vegas (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Carnal Knowledge (1971), and Tommy (1975). She has won five Golden Globe Awards and been nominated for two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and six Emmy Awards. Born Ann-Margret Olsson in Stockholm, Sweden.

1942

 Mike Brearley
Mike Brearley OBE (born 28 April 1942) is a retired English first-class cricketer. He captained the international side in 31 of his 39 Test matches. Born John Michael Brearley in Harrow, Middlesex, England.

1948

 Terry Pratchett
Sir Terry Pratchett, OBE (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author of fantasy novels, especially comical works. He is best known for the Discworld series of about 40 volumes. Born Terence David John Pratchett in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England. (d. 2015)

1949

 Paul Guilfoyle
Paul Guilfoyle (born April 28, 1949) is an American television and film actor. He is currently a regular cast member of the forensic television drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation where he plays Captain Jim Brass. Born Paul Vincent Guilfoyle in Canton, Massachusetts.

1950

 Jay Leno
Jay Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an American comedian, actor, voice actor, writer, producer and television host. Born James Douglas Muir Leno in New Rochelle, New York.

1960

 Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin, OBE, DL (born 28 April 1960) is a Scottish crime writer, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels. Born Ian James Rankin in Cardenden, Fife, Scotland.

1964

 L’Wren Scott
L’Wren Scott; (April 28, 1964 – March 17, 2014) was an American fashion designer, costume designer and model. Previously a celebrity stylist, Scott’s fashion design following included a clientele of high profile actors and politicians. Born Laura Bambrough in Salt Lake City, Utah. (d. 2014)

1968

 Howard Donald
Howard Donald (born 28 April 1968), is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist, dancer, DJ and house producer. He is a member of English pop band Take That. Born Howard Paul Donald in Droylsden, Lancashire, England.

1973

 Elisabeth Röhm
Elisabeth Röhm (born April 28, 1973) is a German-born, American television actress. She is best known for playing Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn in the American TV series Law & Order and as Detective Kate Lockley in the TV series Angel. Born in Düsseldorf, Germany.

1974

 Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz (born April 28, 1974) is a Spanish actress and model. Cruz achieved recognition for her lead roles in the 2001 films Vanilla Sky, All the Pretty Horses, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Blow. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She was the first Spanish actress in history to receive an Academy Award and the first Spanish actress to receive a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Born Penélope Cruz Sánchez in Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain.

 Vernon Kay
Vernon Kay (born 28 April 1974) is an English television presenter, radio DJ and former model best known for his television roles with ITV, presenting shows such as All Star Family Fortunes, Beat the Star and Splash!. Born Vernon Charles Kay in Bolton, England, UK.

1978

 Lauren Laverne
Lauren Laverne, (born 28 April 1978) is an English radio DJ, television presenter, author, singer and comedienne. She presents a radio show on BBC Radio 6 Music, and has presented television programmes including 10 O’Clock Live for Channel 4, and The Culture Show. Born Lauren Cecilia Gofton in Sunderland, England.

1980

 Bradley Wiggins
Sir Bradley Wiggins, CBE (born 28 April 1980) is a British former professional road and track racing cyclist, who competed professionally between 2001 and 2016. He is the only rider to have combined winning both World and Olympic championships on both the track and the road, as well as winning the Tour de France. Born Bradley Marc Wiggins in Ghent, Belgium.

1981

 Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba (born April 28, 1981) is an American television and film actress and model. Alba appeared in Honey (2003), Sin City (2005), and Fantastic Four (2005). Born Jessica Marie Alba in Pomona, California.