July 3

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
Battle of Gettysburg ends, 1863
American Revolution
Washington takes command of Continental Army, 1775
Automotive
"Back to the Future" released, features 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, 1985
Civil War
Pickett leads his infamous charge at Gettysburg, 1863
Cold War
Khrushchev consolidates his power, 1957
Crime
A mother is arrested and accused of killing her four children, 1989
Disaster
Charter jet crashes mysteriously, 1970
General Interest
Washington assumes command, 1775
U.S. warship downs Iranian passenger jet, 1988
Hollywood
Tom Cruise born, 1962
TV legend Andy Griffith dies, 2012
Literary
M.F.K. Fisher is born, 1908
Music
Brian Jones and Jim Morrison die, two years apart to the day, 1969
Old West
Idaho becomes 43rd state, 1890
Presidential
Eisenhower initiates federal flood-control program, 1958
Sports
Mike Marshall relieves Tommy John to pitch in 13th consecutive game, 1974
Vietnam War
U.S. command announces new high in casualties, 1968
World War I
Mohammed V, sultan of Turkey, dies, 1918
World War II
Operation Catapult is launched, 1940

Hollywood

Jul 3, 1962:

Tom Cruise born

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On this day in 1962, Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is born in Syracuse, New York. After his breakout role in the 1983 film "Risky Business," Cruise went on to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, appearing in a long list of critically acclaimed dramas and blockbuster action movies, including "Top Gun," "Rain Man" and "Mission: Impossible."

At age 18, Cruise made his feature film debut in "Endless Love" (1981), which was followed by "Taps" (1981) and "The Outsiders" (1983). He won international fame for his role as fighter pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 1986's "Top Gun." Cruise received his first Academy Award nomination for his performance as Vietnam vet and anti-war activist Ron Kovic in "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989). His second Oscar nomination came for his portrayal as a sports agent in "Jerry Maguire" (1996); a third nomination followed for Cruise's performance as a self-help guru in Paul Thomas Anderson's ensemble drama "Magnolia" (1999).

Cruise's numerous film credits also include "The Color of Money" (1986), with Paul Newman; "Rain Man" (1988), with Dustin Hoffman; "A Few Good Men" (1992), with Jack Nicholson; "The Firm" (1993); and "Interview with the Vampire: the Vampire Chronicles" (1994). He starred as superspy Ethan Hunt in 1996's "Mission: Impossible," and reprised his role in the hit 2000, 2006 and 2011 sequels. Other Cruise movies include "Minority Report" (2002) and "War of the Worlds" (2005), both of which were directed by Steven Spielberg.

In the spring of 2005, Cruise and actress Katie Holmes, who co-starred in the television teen drama "Dawson's Creek" (1998-2003), embarked on a whirlwind, high-profile romance. That May, Cruise went on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and generated headlines by jumping on the host's couch and expressing his love for Holmes, who is 16 years his junior. The following month, the two actors were engaged in Paris. Around the same time, Cruise sparked controversy for his impassioned advocacy of Scientology and his public criticism of anti-depressant drugs and psychiatry.
 
On November 18, 2006, following the birth of their daughter Suri in April of that same year, Cruise and Holmes were wed in Italy, an event that received huge media coverage. Prior to tying the knot with Holmes, Cruise was married to the actress Mimi Rogers ("Someone to Watch Over Me," "The Door in the Floor") from 1987 to 1990. Cruise acted in three films with his second wife, Nicole Kidman, to whom he was married from 1990 to 2001 (and with whom he has two children): "Days of Thunder" (1990), "Far and Away" (1992) and "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999). On June 28, 2012, Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise. Two weeks later, it was announced the couple had reached a divorce settlement.

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This Week in History, Jul 3 - Jul 9

Jul 03, 1962
Tom Cruise born
Jul 03, 2012
TV legend Andy Griffith dies
Jul 04, 1927
Playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon born
Jul 05, 1963
Edie Falco born
Jul 06, 1994
Forrest Gump opens, wins Hanks a second Oscar
Jul 07, 2006
Johnny Depp stars in second Pirates of the Caribbean movie
Jul 08, 1949
Official Oscars chef Wolfgang Puck born
Jul 09, 2008
MTV’s The Real World leaves Hollywood

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