Significant Events
- Feb 1 Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
- Feb 15 An estimated 6-11 million people around the world take to the streets to protest against war with Iraq
- Mar 13 The journal Nature reports that 350,000-year-old footprints of an upright-walking human have been found in Italy
- Mar 19 Invasion of Iraq by American and British-led coalition begins without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion
- Apr 9 Baghdad falls to U.S. forces ending the invasion of Iraqi but resulting in widespread looting
- Apr 14 The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%
- Apr 16 Treaty of Accession is signed in Athens admitting 10 new member states to the European Union
- Jun 10 The Spirit Rover is launched, beginning NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission
- Aug 11 NATO takes over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.
- Dec 13 Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit, during Operation Red Dawn by US forces
2003 in Film & TV
- Feb 21 Bill Maher's political talk show "Real Time with Bill Maher" debuts on HBO
- Dec 1 "The Return of the King", 3rd and final film in the Lord of the Rings series, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen premieres in Wellington, New Zealand
2003 in Music
- Nov 17 Britney Spears, at 21 years old, becomes the youngest singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2003 in Sport
- Apr 28 Andre Agassi recaptures the world no. 1 ranking to become the oldest top-ranked male in the history of the ATP rankings (33 years, 13 days)
- May 22 In Fort Worth, Texas, Annika Sörenstam becomes the first woman to play the PGA Tour in 58 years.
- Jun 23 Barry Bonds steals second base against the LA Dodgers, becoming the first player in MLB history to have 500 career homers and 500 steals
- Nov 16 Lionel Messi makes his official debut for FC Barcelona in a friendly against Porto
World Leaders in 2003
George W. Bush
43rd US President
Hu Jintao
Paramount Leader of China
Tony Blair
British Prime Minister
Famous People in 2003
Charlize Theron
Oscar for Best Actress
David Robinson
Sportsperson
of the Year
Serena Williams
World Sportswoman
of the Year
Famous People Born in 2003
- Jan 26 Robby Novak [Kid President], American internet personality (YouTube), born in Henderson, Tennessee
- Apr 29 Barbaro, American thoroughbred racehorse (d. 2007)
- Apr 29 Maud Behn, Princess of Norway
- Jul 4 Alessia di Matteo, Italian medical figure (d. 2005)
- Aug 20 Prince Gabriel of Belgium
Would You Believe?
The last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line in Mexico
On July 30, 2003
Famous Weddings
- Jan 1 "Lord of The Rings" actress Miranda Otto (35) weds actor Peter O'Brien (44) at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia
- Jan 1 "A Beautiful Mind" actress Jennifer Connelly (32) weds actor Paul Bettany in Scotland
- Jan 3 Actress Emily Mortimer (31) weds actor Alessandro Nivola (30) in Chilterns, Buckinghamshire
- Jan 11 "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" actor Taye Diggs (32) weds broadway actress Idina Menzel (31) at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Jan 11 "The Sixth Sense" actress-singer Toni Collette (30) weds musician Dave Galafassi in a Buddhist ceremony near Sydney, Australia
Famous Divorces
- May 27 Actress Angelina Jolie (26) divorces actor Billy Bob Thornton (47) due to irreconcilable differences
- Sep 27 Actress Halle Berry announces her separation from second husband, R&B singer Eric Benet
- Dec 29 Retired NFL quarterback John Elway (43) divorces first wife Janet Buchan after 18 years of marriage
Bob Hope
Charles Bronson
Dolly the Sheep
Johnny Cash
Jonathan Brandis
Katharine Hepburn