Studio chief takes shot at Cruise after split

Studio chief takes shotat Cruise after split
LOS ANGELES -- The latest high-profile Hollywood breakup is between Tom Cruise and his studio. Sumner Redstone, whose company owns Paramount Pictures, said the studio would sever its 14-year relationship with Cruise's film production company because "his recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."
"As much as we like him personally," the Viacom Inc. chairman told The Wall Street Journal, "we thought it was wrong to renew his deal." Cruise's partner, Paula Wagner, said negotiations on a new contract simply fizzled.
The deal in recent years paid Cruise and Wagner up to $10 million a year to develop films and operate an office on the Paramount lot, the Journal said Wednesday. It was reported that Cruise and the studio had been discussing a less lucrative deal.
Today's birthdays
Rhythm-and-blues singer Marshall Thompson (The Chi-Lites) is 64. Rock musician Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) is 61. Actor Joe Regalbuto is 57. Actor Steve Guttenberg is 48. Baseball star Cal Ripken Jr. is 46. Talk show host Craig Kilborn is 44. Country singer Kristyn Osborn (SheDaisy) is 36. Actor-comedian Dave Chappelle is 33. Christian rock musician Jeffrey Gilbert (Kutless) is 23. Actor Rupert Grint ("Harry Potter" films) is 18.