March 15, Julius Caesar assassinated on ‘ides of March’

Welcome to your Saturday edition of historical events and birthdays on March 15th! Today marks the 74th day of the year, with 291 days remaining.

Historical Events on March 15th:

On this day in 44 B.C., the infamous “ides of March,” Roman dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated by Roman senators, including Brutus and Cassius, who were concerned about Caesar’s potential establishment of a monarchy.

Other significant events on this date:

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed Congress, advocating for new legislation to ensure every American’s right to vote, resulting in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Additionally, in 1972, the premiere of Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” based on the Mario Puzo novel and starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, took place in New York.

Fast forward to 2012, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich began serving a 14-year sentence for corruption in a federal prison in Colorado. He was later released in February 2020 and pardoned by President Donald Trump in February 2025.

In 2018, a tragic incident occurred when a pedestrian bridge collapsed over a busy Miami highway, resulting in the loss of six lives and injuries to 10 individuals.

On a somber note, in 2019, a gunman carried out a horrific attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, claiming the lives of 51 individuals. The assailant, Brenton Tarrant, a white supremacist from Australia, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to multiple charges.

Lastly, in 2022, Russia intensified its bombardment of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, while civilians fled the besieged city of Mariupol through a humanitarian corridor.

Birthdays on March 15th:

• Actor Judd Hirsch turns 90 today.
• Singer Mike Love of The Beach Boys celebrates his 84th birthday.
• Renowned filmmaker David Cronenberg is 82.
• Music icon Sly Stone turns 82.
• Musician Ry Cooder celebrates his 78th birthday.
• Actor Frances Conroy turns 72 today.
• Rock singer Dee Snider of Twisted Sister is 70.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Harold Baines celebrates his 66th birthday.
• Filmmaker Renny Harlin turns 66.
• Rock singer Bret Michaels of Poison is 62.
• Singer and TV host Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray turns 57.
• Actor Kim Raver celebrates her 56th birthday.
• Actress Eva Longoria turns 50 today.
• Musician will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas is 50.
• Actor Kellan Lutz celebrates his 40th birthday.