It’s 4 April, and that means it’s time for another edition of Throwback Thursday! Today, we’re taking a look back at three prominent events that went down on this day in history:

1968 – Death of a King

On this day 56 years ago, the life of prominent US Civils Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. was tragically taken away.

In Memphis, Tennessee, local black sanitation workers were striking for better wages and treatment. In support, King arrived in the city on 29 March 1968 and stayed at the Lorraine Motel.

On 3 April, King addressed a rally, where he delivered his famous (and final) “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. The following night, he was assassinated.

Per reports, King had stepped out onto the balcony of his motel room to speak with colleagues when he was shot by a sniper. King was rushed to a hospital – unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the age of 39.

The identity of the killer was James Earl Ray, an escaped convict who went on the run and was captured nearly a year after King’s death. Ray confessed to killing King; by pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 99 years in prison.

The assassination of King sent shockwaves throughout the country and the world, sparking outrage and protests. Many viewed his death as a major setback for the Civil Rights Movement. However, King’s legacy and message of non-violent resistance and equality in all forms continued (and still continues) to inspire millions around the world to fight for justice and civil rights.

1979 – Birth of a “Ledgend”

Today marks what would have been the 45th birthday of Australian actor, Heath Ledger.

Born in Perth, Australia, Ledger’s passion for acting started in his tweens: starting by playing the eponymous role in a school production of “Peter Pan”. In his late teens, he later moved to Sydney to pursue a career in professional acting, making his television debut in 1996 on the television series, “Sweat”.

At the age of 20, Ledger gained international fame with his role as Patrick Verona in the 1999 teen comedy, “10 Things I Hate About You”, in 1999. He quickly established himself as a heartthrob; naturally, this earned him critiques about being a “pretty face” with little substance (with many critics citing his performances in flicks such as “A Knight’s Tale” and “Casanova” as examples of this). This only intensified Ledger’s efforts to prove his acting abilities.

Between 2005 and 2008, Ledger starred in multiple, critically acclaimed films such as “Monster’s Ball” and “Brokeback Mountain”, the latter which garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for performance as Ennis Del Mar, a ranch hand who has an emotional love affair with another man.

For many people, however, Ledger is beloved for his portrayal of iconic DC Comics villain, the Joker, whom he played in “The Dark Knight” opposite Christian Bale. His terrifying yet awe-inspiring performance earned him plaudits from critics and fans alike, and it helped him win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – albeit posthumously.

On 22 January 2008, Ledger passed away at the age of 28. His death was attributed to an accidental overdose of prescription drugs (additionally, pain-killers and other prescription medications for anxiety and insomnia were found in his system).

Ledger’s untimely death was a shock to the world, as he was seen as a rising talent in Hollywood. Although his life was cut short, he left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a lasting impact on the film industry.

2019 – More Money, No Marital Problems

Divorces can be a pricey affair, more so when it’s dragged out for too long to the point that the expenses are far more than the settlements.

In the case of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his ex-wife, author/philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, their divorce was quick but still VERY heavy on the pockets.

The former couple first met in 1992 and were married a year later – the same year in which Bezos established Amazon, the technology company worth a staggering $900 billion.

On 9 January 2019, Bezos confirmed that he and Scott (with whom he shares four children) had called it quits on their marriage after a long period of separation. Per reports at the time, Scott would have been worth more than $68 billion if she received half of Bezos’ estimated $136.2 billion net worth per the state of Washington’s divorce laws, thus making her the fifth-richest woman in the world.

On 4 April 2019, they finalised their divorce. As part of the divorce settlement, Scott received 25% of her and her ex-husband’s joint stake in Amazon, but also surrendered her voting rights to her shares so that Bezos could remain the controlling shareholder.

At the time, Scott was estimated to be worth $37 billion – soon afterwards, she revealed that she had signed with The Giving Pledge, an organisation where the world’s wealthiest people pledge to donate half or more of their fortunes.

“In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share,” she wrote in a statement. “My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful.”

In response, Bezos praised his ex-wife on Twitter, saying: “MacKenzie is going to be amazing and thoughtful and effective at philanthropy, and I’m proud of her.”

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