Died on April 23 Trivia Quiz

Answer: William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth (April 7, 1770 to April 23, 1850) was an English poet. He was England's Poet Laureate from 1843 to his death. His most well known work was "The Prelude", a partially autobiographical poem of his early years. Wordsworth is credited with launching the 'Romantic Age in English Literature' when he collaborated with Samuel Taylor Coleridge with the joint publishing of "Lyrical Ballads" in 1798.

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (September 29, 1547 to April 23, 1616) was a Spanish author most known for the novel "Don Quixote".

Garcilaso de la Vega (April 12, 1539 to April 23, 1616) was a Peruvian author best known for his writings on historian and writer who is recognized primarily for his contributions to Incan history and life. He was known as "El Inca" Garcilaso de la Vega because there was another author with the same name. The date of his demise is unsure due to record keeping at the time, although April 23 is the most accepted.

William Shakespeare (April ??, 1564 to April 23, 1616) wrote (debatably) 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. Before the notes start flying, Shakespeare's birth date of April 23 is a point of conjecture...it IS known that he was baptized on the twenty-sixth of April...his EXACT birth date is unknown, again, due to record keeping of the era.

Answer: Paulette Goddard

Charlie Chaplin (April 16, 1889 to December 25, 1977) was an English comedic actor and silent film star.

Paulette Goddard (June 3, 1910 to April 23, 1990) was Chaplin's third wife from 1936 to 1942. Goddard was an American film and theater actress. She was also married to Burgess Meredith and Erich Maria Remarque. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role in "So Proudly We Hail!" (1943). Paulette had the 'honor' of being the oldest of Charlie's wives, when they married she was 26 he was 47.

Mildred Harris (November 29, 1901 to July 20, 1944) was an actress during the silent film era and Charlie's first wife, from 1918 to 1921. Notice the year, Harris was 17 when they married, he was 27.

Lita Grey (April 15, 1908 to December 29, 1995) was also an actress. She was the second wife of Charlie Chaplin, from 1924 to 1927. Again, note the year, Grey was sixteen when they married, Charlie was 35.

Oona O'Neill (May 14, 1925 to September 27, 1991) was the daughter of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill. She was his fourth and final wife, from 1943 to his death in 1977. Once again notice the year...she was 18 and Charlie was 54. Charlie apparently had a penchant for young gorgeous women.

Answer: Buster Crabbe

Clarence Linden 'Buster' Crabbe II (February 7, 1908 to April 23, 1983) was an American Olympic swimmer actor. Crabbe won a Gold medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics in the 400 meter freestyle and a Bronze medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics in the 1500 meter freestyle. He starred in the Hollywood film serials "Flash Gordon" and "Buck Rogers". Crabbe was also Tarzan in the 1933 serial "Tarzan the Fearless".

Esther Jane Williams (born August 8, 1921 or 1922) was a American swimmer and MGM movie star. Her movies were known for their elaborate scenes of swimming and diving. She was National AAU champion in the 100 meter freestyle before she began her film career. Williams appeared in "Bathing Beauty" (1944), "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952) and "Jupiter's Darling" (1955). Williams currently lends her name to a line of women's bathing suits and a swimming pool manufacturer.

Johnny Weissmuller (June 2, 1904 to January 20, 1984) was a swimmer and actor. He won five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He won gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics in the 100 meter freestyle, the 400 meter freestyle and the 800 meter freestyle relay. He also won gold at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics in the 100 meter freestyle and 800 meter freestyle relay, his bronze came at the same Olympics in men's water polo. Weissmuller is most noted as Tarzan in 12 films. He originated the Tarzan yell is still often used in films.

Gertrude Caroline Ederle (October 23, 1905 to November 30, 2003) was an American competitive swimmer. In 1926, she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Ederle won Gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay and 2 bronzes in the 100 meter freestyle and 400 meter freestyle. Ederle swam the English Channel in 1926 completing the swim in 14 and a half hours, a record that stood until 1950. She was not an actress.

Answer: Howard Cosell

Howard William Cosell (March 25, 1918 to April 23, 1995) was born Howard William Cohen. He was the prime sportscaster on "Monday Night Football" on American TV. He earned a law degree from New York University. Cosell became a sports reporter on WABC-TV in New York 1961 to 1974.

Cosell may be best known for Muhammad Ali, starting early in Ali's career when he was still known Cassius Clay. Cosell's bluntness in broadcasting was explained with his catch phrase: "I'm just telling it like it is."

When Lennon was shot in 1980, Cosell was broadcasting a regular season National Football League game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots when he announced; "This, we have to say it, remember this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all The Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to the Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival."

Answer: Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. (July 15, 1952 to April 23, 1991), was a guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a member of the New York Dolls, and The Heartbreakers before becoming a solo artist.

Thunders struggled had drug and alcohol problems and died under mysterious circumstances. Rumors surround Thunders' death at the in New Orleans, Louisiana in April 1991. He apparently died of drug-related causes, but it has been speculated that it was the result of foul play. The police did not open a criminal investigation. An autopsy was conducted by the New Orleans coroner, but served only to compound the mysteries, since it came up that he had advanced leukemia.

Answer: False

The music for "The Wizard of Oz" was Harold Arlen (February 15, 1905 to April 23, 1986). He was born as Chaim Arlook. Arlen wrote over 400 songs. His most popular was "Over the Rainbow" which was voted the twentieth century's No. 1 song by the Recording Industry Association of America.

The first successful song Arlen wrote was "Get Happy" and he followed that up with "Let's Fall in Love" and "Stormy Weather". "Over the Rainbow" was co-written with lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg and they won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song.

After that Arlen began working with lyricist Johnny Mercer, and wrote songs like "Blues in the Night", "That Old Black Magic," "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive", "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" and "The Man that Got Away".

Answer: Otto Preminger

Otto Ludwig Preminger (December 5, 1905 to April 23, 1986) was a director who directed over 35 feature films in his career. His most popular films were "Laura", "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955), "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), "Porgy and Bess" (1959), "Exodus" (1960) and "Advise and Consent" (1962). He also acted in several films, most notably "Stalag 17" (1953).

Answer: Godunov

Boris Fyodorovich Godunov (1551 (date unknown to April 23, 1605) was Russian Czar 1584 to 1605.

Godunov tried to convince English businesses to trade with Russia by exempting them from tariffs. He tried to strengthen the north-eastern and south-eastern borders of Russia by building numerous towns and fortresses. He also re-settled Siberia, which had been drifting from Russian control. He tried to bring about educational and social reforms by importing foreign teachers.

On the negative side Boris encouraged informants and persecuted suspects on their unsupported statements. Godunov's life was related by Alexander Pushkin, in his play Boris Godunov (1831) and Modest Mussorgsky based his opera Boris Godunov on Pushkin's play.

Answer: Boris Yeltsin

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (February 1, 1931 to April 23, 2007) was President of the Russian Federation holding the post from 1991 to 1999. Yeltsin was elected President on June 12, 1991, he was the first popularly elected president. His time in office was marked by economic collapse, corruption and political and social problems. He attempted to change Russia's socialist economy into a free market. In 1993, Yeltsin imposed a new constitution with strong presidential powers. Just before the turn of the century Yeltsin announced his resignation, leaving the presidency in the hands of Vladimir Putin.

Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (April 17, 1894 to September 11, 1971) was a leader of the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1964. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (March 2, 1931) was the leader of the Soviet Union, from 1985 until 1991. Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev ( December 19, 1906 to November 10, 1982) was the leader of Russia from 1964 to 1982.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Sir John Mills (February 22, 1908 to April 23, 2005) was an English actor. He made more than 120 films. He had two daughters, Juliet, best known for TV's "Nanny and the Professor" and Hayley, star of "Pollyanna" and "The Parent Trap" He also had one son, Jonathan. Mills' movies included; "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939), "Great Expectations" (1946), "War and Peace" (1956), "Tiger Bay" (1959)(with Hayley), "Ryan's Daughter" (1970), "Gandhi" (1982) and "Who's That Girl" (1987).

James Earl Ray (March 10, 1928 to April 23, 1998) was convicted of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which happened on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Ray died in prison at the age of 70 from complications related to kidney disease.

Cesar Estrada Chavez (March 31, 1927 to April 23, 1993) was a Mexican American farm worker and labor leader. He was the co-founder of the organization that eventually became the United Farm Workers.

Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12, 1915 to May 14, 1998) was a singer and actor.