Andy Griffith, the beloved star of two legendary television programs, has passed away at his home in North Carolina. He was 86. UNC President Bill Friday, a close friend of the actor’s, broke the sad news to WITN News in that state. Griffith rose to fame on the The Andy Griffith Show and later anchored Mayberry R.F.D. and Matlock . He was also a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005. The actor is survived by his third wife, Cindi Knight, and his daughter Dixie Nan. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones.
There’s a potential custody fight over Suri Cruise on the horizon, but when it comes to Tom Cruise’s older kids, the ties that bind seem to be tight ones. Isabella and Connor Cruise, his two adopted children with ex Nicole Kidman, have so far remained mum on the impending Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce . But Connor seems to be weighing in, subtly, taking to Twitter to allude to the news: “#LaFamilia Always. Friends Come And Go, But Family Is Forever.” Connor Cruise , 17, is especially tight with his dad. These last few weeks, he was on hand as Tom received the Friar’s Club’s Entertainment Icon Award. The 33-year-old Holmes, who is reportedly seeking sole custody of Suri, 6, has been close to her stepson and stepdaughter since marrying Tom. Holmes has hunkered down in NYC following the split, amid speculation that his commitment to Scientology played a role in the relationship’s demise. Cruise, who’s been on location in Iceland filming the sci-fi flick Oblivion , has just hired Dennis Wasser to represent him in the divorce battle ahead. That’s the same attorney who handled his divorce from Kidman in 2001; He and Nicole, who is re-married to Keith Urban, remain on good terms. [Photo: WENN.com]
While it isn’t exactly receiving the same attention as the Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split, another famous couple has called it quits: Jamie Campbell Bower and Bonnie Wright are no longer engaged. The actor, 23, and the actress, 21, met on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow s in 2010 and agreed to marry within five months of their introduction. “They have split but it is amicable,” an insider tells The Daily Mail , with Jamie – who also plays Caius in The Twilight Saga – admitting he is “heartbroken” by the development. Wright, of course, portrayed Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter saga and, in fictional life, is happily married to to that franchise’s title character. [Photo: WENN.com]
Big Brother and Scientology are watching Via TMZ reports : Katie Holmes believes Scientology now views her as a threat to the organization and has put a team on her tail … sources close to the actress tell TMZ. We’re told Katie believes in recent weeks — as the discord between her and Tom Cruise grew — Scientology has been following her moves, especially in New York City. This does not appear to be the mind of a paranoid person. People who have photographed Katie multiple times tell TMZ there have been several “mysterious” men and vehicles around Katie’s apartment and following her when she’s out. Specifically … a white Cadillac Escalade and black Mercedes SUV (see above) have been seen near Katie’s NYC apartment for the past week. FYI — there is a publication that has put a tail on Katie, but the people doing that are separate from the people Katie believes have been dispatched from Scientology. It is unclear if the two vehicles that have been constantly spotted near Holmes’ pad are from Scientology or from the publication. If Katie is able to keep the divorce in New York — where courts generally like to award sole legal custody to one parent or the other when there is conflict — proof that she’s being tailed could help her case. We put in a call to Scientology … so far, no word back. Poor Katie, Xenu doesn’t want her to escape.
The impending Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce apparently has the actress feeling uneasy and convinced the Church of Scientology now views her as a threat. As such, Holmes believes the church put a team on her tail . Katie reportedly believes that in recent weeks, as discord between herself and Tom grew and they began living apart – even while both were in New York City in mid-June – Scientology higher-ups have been following her every move. It’s unclear if this is in fact the case, but Scientology has been linked to such activity for years, and sources say “mysterious” men have photographed Katie when she’s out, with vehicles spotted near her apartment around the clock. A white Cadillac Escalade and black Mercedes SUV have been outside her place for the past week. Again, it’s unclear who, if anyone, is tailing Katie Holmes. The actress filed for sole custody of Suri in New York last week, a move Tom allegedly had no idea was coming. His ties to Scientology are said to be a big reason. It’s unclear what “threat” Katie would pose. She’s given no indication of trying to expose anything or portray it negatively; she likely just wants to shield her daughter from the controversial religion and be done with it. New York courts are more inclined than those in California to award sole legal custody to one parent or the other when there is conflict. She has been setting up residence there in recent weeks, preparing for the move. If she is being stalked by Scientologists, that would certainly bolster her case in court. Katie, 33, wed Tom, 49, in 2006, a few months after Suri was born. For more on the religion and specifically what it means to the famous actor, check out this Tom Cruise Scientology video that was leaked in 2008. [Photo: WENN.com]
There’s no church in the wild… Katie Holmes Secretly Rented New York Apartment To Help Ensure Custody Of Daughter Suri Katie Holmes decision to file for divorce from Tom Cruise Thursday wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment act. She’d been planning it for weeks, even secretly renting a Manhattan apartment to move into with Suri once the papers dropped, reports Us Weekly. The timing of her petition also coincided with Cruise being away filming the sci-fi movie ‘Oblivion’ in Iceland, when both his kids with Nicole Kidman, Connor and Isabella, were visiting. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Katie is being represented by top New Jersey-based attorney Jonathan Wolfe in the divorce. She’s requested sole legal custody and primary physical custody of six-year-old S All’s fair in love, war, and divorce. Image via WENN via RadarOnline
Katie Holmes surprised many by filing for divorce from Tom Cruise, but the apparent reason behind her decision would likely be anyone’s first guess. Scientology. Sources say the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce is happening for precisely that reason, specifically her concern that Suri will be introduced to it. Their daughter is now six, the age where Scientology will begin to be a major part of her life, and Katie fears Suri will be dragged in too deep . Holmes has never fully committed to Scientology, TMZ reports, despite her ties with the church and more than five years of marriage to Tom. Many observers felt their marriage would never work for this reason; Katie respected Tom’s beliefs, but raising their child his way a different story. As she’s grown, the couple had been arguing over Suri with greater frequency, and Katie eventually filed for divorce to protect the little girl. A key detail in the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce filing was the location in which it was filed: The 33-year-old actress made if official in New York. She does not want Tom, 49, to control decisions relating to Suri’s religion, and feels N.Y. is far more likely to grant her request for sole custody. Holmes reportedly is not after money – she had plenty before they got married and there’s a prenup in place anyway – just little Suri Cruise . Tom deeded their NYC apartment to Katie last year, reportedly for tax purposes; she’s using it to establish residence, and file for divorce, in the city. What is Scientology and is Katie right to be running scared? You will surely have plenty to say about it in the comments, but we leave you with this: Here’s Cruise describing Scientology and what the faith means to him in a video leaked in 2008. Clearly, the man takes it very seriously … Tom Cruise Scientology Video
Katie Holmes surprised many by filing for divorce from Tom Cruise, but the apparent reason behind her decision would likely be anyone’s first guess. Scientology. Sources say the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce is happening for precisely that reason, specifically her concern that Suri will be introduced to it. Their daughter is now six, the age where Scientology will begin to be a major part of her life, and Katie fears Suri will be dragged in too deep . Holmes has never fully committed to Scientology, TMZ reports, despite her ties with the church and more than five years of marriage to Tom. Many observers felt their marriage would never work for this reason; Katie respected Tom’s beliefs, but raising their child his way a different story. As she’s grown, the couple had been arguing over Suri with greater frequency, and Katie eventually filed for divorce to protect the little girl. A key detail in the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce filing was the location in which it was filed: The 33-year-old actress made if official in New York. She does not want Tom, 49, to control decisions relating to Suri’s religion, and feels N.Y. is far more likely to grant her request for sole custody. Holmes reportedly is not after money – she had plenty before they got married and there’s a prenup in place anyway – just little Suri Cruise . Tom deeded their NYC apartment to Katie last year, reportedly for tax purposes; she’s using it to establish residence, and file for divorce, in the city. What is Scientology and is Katie right to be running scared? You will surely have plenty to say about it in the comments, but we leave you with this: Here’s Cruise describing Scientology and what the faith means to him in a video leaked in 2008. Clearly, the man takes it very seriously … Tom Cruise Scientology Video
