What Happened on December 31, 1997

Historical Events

Intel Cuts Pentium Price

Intel cuts price of Pentium II-233 MHz from $401 to $268

Semiconductor Pioneer and CEO of Intel Andrew Grove

Microsoft buys Hotmail email service for $400 million and re-launches it as MSN Hotmail
More Swedes died than were born in 1997, 1st time since 1809
Orlando Hernandez, half-brother of pitcher Livan, defects from Cuba
South African & US surgeons separate Zambian Siamese twins joined at the head

Events in 1997

Famous Weddings

Helen Mirren

Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren (52) weds The Devil's Advocate director Taylor Hackford (53) at the Ardersier Parish Church near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith

American rapper and actor "The Fresh Prince" Will Smith (31) weds actress Jada Pinkett (26) in Baltimore, Maryland

Famous Deaths

76 law enforcement officers, killed by felons in US this year
Billie Dove [Lilian Bohny], American actress (Black Pirate, Stolen Bride), dies at 96
Dominique de Menil, French-American arts patron (Menil Collection Houston) and human rights advocate, dies at 89
Floyd Cramer, American Country Music Hall of Fame pianist ("Last Date"; "On the Rebound"), dies of cancer at 64
Michael Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy, dies in ski accident at 39

Died in 1997 1997 Highlights