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PERFORMERS AND PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 50TH ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS

The show, hosted by ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT’s Nischelle Turner and Kevin Frazier, includes a historic reunion, as actor Shemar Moore will present the Lifetime Achievement Honor to Susan Lucci. Moore famously presented Lucci with her landmark first Daytime Emmy Award in 1999 after she had been nominated in the lead actress category 19 times for her portrayal of Erica Kane in “All My Children.” At the time of opening the envelope, Moore famously exclaimed, “the streak is over!” in what is frequently cited as one of the greatest awards show moments in history.

In addition, Grammy Award-winning, Emmy-nominated superstar Jennifer Nettles will perform “Life is Sweet” for the In Memoriam segment, which pays tribute to the stars and contributors in the field of daytime whom we lost this past year. The song originally premiered on the Daytime Emmy-nominated television show “American Anthems” and is also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for original song.

Presenters for the evening will include icons of daytime as the show pays tribute to 50 years, including Lauralee Bell (Y&R), Peter Bergman (Y&R), Michael Damian (Y&R), Don Diamont (B&B), Mary Beth Evans (“Days of Our Lives”), Akbar Gbajabiamila (THE TALK), Drake Hogestyn (“Days of Our Lives”), Finola Hughes (“General Hospital”), Amanda Kloots (THE TALK), A Martinez (“The Bay”), John McCook (B&B), Melody Thomas Scott (Y&R), Heather Tom (B&B), Donnell Turner (“General Hospital”), Kym Whitley (“The Bay”) and Laura Wright (“General Hospital”). Maury Povich and Connie Chung will make special appearances to present the Gold & Silver Circle honorees and the In Memoriam tribute, respectively..

Nominations For The 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
BRADLEY COOPER (MAESTRO)
LEONARDO DICAPRIO (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON)
COLMAN DOMINGO (RUSTIN)
BARRY KEOGHAN (SALTBURN)
CILLIAN MURPHY (OPPENHEIMER)
ANDREW SCOTT (ALL OF US STRANGERS)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
EMILY BLUNT (OPPENHEIMER)
DANIELLE BROOKS (THE COLOR PURPLE)
JODIE FOSTER (NYAD)
JULIANNE MOORE (MAY DECEMBER)
ROSAMUND PIKE (SALTBURN)
DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH (THE HOLDOVERS)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES, OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
MATT BOMER (FELLOW TRAVELERS)
SAM CLAFLIN (DAISY JONES & THE SIX)
JON HAMM (FARGO)
WOODY HARRELSON (WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS)
DAVID OYELOWO (LAWMEN: BASS REEVES)
STEVEN YEUN (BEEF)

One-on-One with Vincent Irizarry

Vincent made his daytime debut as “Brandon / Lujack Luvonaczek Spaulding” on CBS’s Guiding Light in 1983. Vincent received his first Daytime Emmy nomination for the role in 1985. In addition to his role as Lujack, Vincent went on to play Dr. Scott Clark on Santa Barbara, Nick McHenry back on Guiding Light, Dr. David Hayward on All My Children, David Chow on The Young and the Restless and Deimos Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives.

Vincent has also starred in several TV movies and mini-series, such as Jackie Collins' Lucky Chances (opposite Sandra Bullock), Left to Die (opposite Barbara Hershey), and Lying Eyes, to name a few. His feature work has been opposite Clint Eastwood, (Heartbreak Ridge), Sissy Spacek (Marie: A True Story), and Worth, opposite Jeffrey Johnson, Eric Roberts, and Corey Feldman. His most recent Primetime work has been Guest Starring roles on NCIS:LA, Homeland, and Wild West Chronicles.

Richard Moll Dies: ‘Night Court’ Bailiff And Voice/Character Actor Was 80

Standing 6’8", Moll was a character actor, but worked steadily during his career. Night Court ran from 1984 to 1992, and his commanding presence, deep voice, and endearing manner drew the frequent attention of casting directors.

After Night Court, Moll landed a recurring role on the sitcom Getting By (NBC, 1992-94), starring Cindy Williams, before appearing in an episode of the cult sci-fi hit Babylon 5 (TNT, 1993-99). He also voiced the bodyguard to the title character of the animated Mighty Max (syndicated, 1993-94).

His Night Court stint also enabled him to branch out into larger films and voiceover work on animated series, where he often relished the chance to play the bad guy. Moll was the voice of Harvey Dent/Two-Face on The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Fox, 1992-95) and Scorpion on Spider-Man: The Animated Series (Fox, 1994-98).

During that, he also had small parts in big studio movies like The Flintsones (1994), the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy Jingle All the Way (1996), the direct-to-video sequel, Caspar Meets Wendy (1998) and Scary Movie 2 (2002).

His feature films resume included parts in The Dungeonmaster (1986) and House (1986), as well as with small screen flicks such as If It’s Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium (NBC, 1987) and Class Cruise (NBC, 1989). Additional credits include Wicked Stepmother (1989), Think Big (1990) and Driving Me Crazy (1991).

Richard Charles Moll was born in Pasadena, Calif., to Harry and Violet Moll on January 13, 1943, the youngest of three children. In his early years he spent time in California and Jackson Hole Wyoming, where he developed a love for the outdoors. Tall for his age, others often assumed he would pursue sports, but he was much more academically inclined.

A graduate of UC Berkeley as a history major, he found his love for acting through the Will Geer Theatre, performing in works of Shakespeare.

In 1999, Moll was cast against type for the satirical romantic comedy, But I’m a Cheerleader, which starred Natasha Lyonne. He continued to make appearances on television.

Following character parts in the movies Evolution (2001) and Scary Movie 2 (2002), Moll landed more significant parts in made-for-television films like No Place Like Home (2003) and The Headless Horseman (Syfy, 2007).

An avid bird watcher and nature lover, Moll spent his retirement in the mountain community of Big Bear Lake.

Moll is pre-deceased by parents Violet and Harry Moll and stepfather Milton Berle. He is survived by his children Chloe and Mason Moll and ex-wife and dear friend Susan Moll, and stepchildren Cassandra Card and Morgan Ostling.

No memorial plans have been revealed..

Soap Opera Digest Is Ending Its Weekly Print Edition

Staffers were informed of the decision Friday, according to sources. A spokesperson for a360Media, the company that owns the brand, confirmed that the weekly edition is being discontinued. The company plans to continue publishing special print issues of Soap Opera Digest four times per year.

“Soap Opera Digest, like many other brands, is adjusting its print frequency and shifting more resources to digital to better accommodate its audience,” the a360Media rep said in a statement to Variety.

Soap Opera Digest was first launched in 1975. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp bought the publication in 1989 for $70 million before selling it two years later, per the New York Times, and it has had a succession of different owners ever since.

In its heyday, the magazine had a circulation of 1.5 million in 1991, according to the Times. But the reach of its print edition, as with many magazines, has sharply fallen off in the decades since.

According to its website, Soap Opera Digest is “the leading magazine reporting on the soap opera industry for over 40 years,” serving up “behind-the-scenes scoops and breaking news to passionate soap fans every week.” The mag also has included special editorial features on beauty, fashion, parenting, and health and fitness.

Soap Opera Digest has been available in print and digital subscription plans, priced at $45.97 for six months (26 issues at $1.77 apiece) or $69.97 for one year (52 issues at $1.34 apiece).

A360media houses a media portfolio of celebrity, entertainment and women’s lifestyle brands including Us Weekly, Star, InTouch and Life & Style. The company claims that it is the largest print publisher in the U.S., both in retail sales and units sold, with its titles representing about one-third of all magazines sold at retail.

A360media was formerly known as American Media Inc., which had been the owner of the National Enquirer (involved in the “catch and kill” scandal involving Donald Trump and which Jeff Bezos accused of an extortion attempt). In 2020, AMI was acquired by Atlanta-based logistics firm accelerate360, which sold off the National Enquirer, Globe and National Examiner tabloids earlier this year.

Bradley Cole and Friends Concert

Soap Alum John Wesley Shipp Shares a Health Update

“Hello out there!” he shared. “Friends and contacts have written recently like, ‘Where are you? Are you OK?’ Well, here’s the deal: I had surgery early this month for a health issue that had to be dealt with immediately. All went well, but I’ve had to postpone a theatre production and personal appearances as the recoup will take some weeks.

“I do read and appreciate what you share with me, that you entrust me with your thoughts and feelings,” he continued. “You are ever on my mind and in my heart, and I look forward to getting active and out there again as soon as possible. Until then, remember to play nice, be kind, and stay engaged! Our futures depend on it!”

Shipp made his daytime debut playing Dr. Kelly Nelson on CBS sudser GUIDING LIGHT from 1980-84. From 1985-86, he moved over to sister soap AS THE WORLD TURNS to portray Douglas Cummings, a role which earned him the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1986. In 1987, he won his second Daytime Emmy, this time for Outstanding Guest Star for his stint as Martin Ellis on NBC’s SANTA BARBARA.

The actor also had small roles on ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ALL MY CHILDREN in 1989 and 1992, respectively. Shipp then found primetime fame beginning with his starring role in THE FLASH, then appearing on shows like SISTERS and DAWSON’S CREEK. He returned to daytime in 2010 playing the villainous Eddie Ford on OLTL, and most recently enjoyed multiple roles on THE FLASH and other superhero series in The CW’s “Arrowverse.”

It sounds like Shipp is already on the mend following his surgery, so we’re hoping he’ll be back to full power very soon!

‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ Trailer Drops As October Release Date Nears

The film, adapted from David Grann’s bestseller by Scorsese and Eric Roth and based on a true story, is set in Oklahoma in the 1920s, when oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder.

Scorsese has turned the story into a 3-hour, 26-minute Western crime saga, and one of the year’s most anticipated movies, arriving at the heart of awards season. It had its world premiere earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival. Jesse Plemons, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, William Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Tatanka Means, Michael Abbot Jr., Pat Healy, Scott Shepard, Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson round out the main cast.

Apple is teaming with Paramount for the global launch, after opting last month that it was best to bypass its original platform-release plan and go all-in on a worldwide release. It will eventually land on Apple TV+.

Martin Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi are producers on the pic from Apple Studios, Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Sommer, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul are executive producers.

Check out the new trailer above.

Barn Theatre's production of 'Clue' to open on Thursday

Clue will be performed September 7-10, as well as September 14-17. On Thursday and Friday, the play will be performed at 8 p.m. The performances on Saturday will be held at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. On Sunday, it will be performed at 5 p.m.

The Barn Theatre production of Clue will feature Lance Barber as Colonel Mustard. Barber is well-known for playing George Cooper Sr. in the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon. His other work includes playing Paulie G in HBO’s The Comeback and Bill Ponderosa in FXX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

The production will also star Robert Newman as Wadsworth. Newman is well-known for playing Joshua Lewis in the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. His other work includes playing Prescott Harrell on ABC’s General Hospital and Kirk Cranston in NBC’s Santa Barbara.

The play also stars Penelope Alex as Mrs. White, Melissa Cotton Hunter as Miss Scarlet, Charlie King as Mr. Green, John Jay Espino as Professor Plum, Allena Evans as Mrs. Peacock, Gabrille Bieder as Yvette the maid, Elliott Austin Wirshba as the motorist, Will Davis-Kay as the cop, and Elizabeth Volpe as the cook.

In Clue, the cast of characters find themselves in an opulent mansion, where they must solve the mystery of who committed a murder.

The play also stars Penelope Alex as Mrs. White, Melissa Cotton Hunter as Miss Scarlet, Charlie King as Mr. Green, John Jay Espino as Professor Plum, Allena Evans as Mrs. Peacock, Gabrille Bieder as Yvette the maid, Elliott Austin Wirshba as the motorist, Will Davis-Kay as the cop, and Elizabeth Volpe as the cook.

In Clue, the cast of characters find themselves in an opulent mansion, where they must solve the mystery of who committed a murder.

The Barn Theatre’s production of Clue was directed by Eric Parker. The scenic designers of the production were Brendan Ragotzy and Brett Burradell. The costume designer was Nettie Fischer and the hair/wig designer was Garrylee McCormick. Steven Lee Burright designed the properties and Adam Guerriero designed the lights. The sound designer was Troy Benton. Brett Burradell was the technical director.

The play is based on the Clue board game that was designed by Anthony E. Pratt, and first released in 1949. It is also based on the 1985 film adaptation of the game. The film was written and directed by Jonathan Lynn, who worked on the story with John Landis. The movie version stars Eileen Brennan as Mrs. Peacock, Tim Curry as Wadsworth, and Martin Mull as Colonel Mustard.

The Barn Theatre’s production of Clue will open on Thursday. Tickets can be purchased on the theatre’s website.

Phylicia Rashad Stepping Down As Dean of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts

The announcement comes two years after Rashad was named dean of the College of Fine Arts. She was praised by the administration for her efforts, but she made no statement as to the reasons for her departure.

Rashad graduated from Howard with a bachelor’s in fine arts and has served as adjunct faculty and guest lecturer at several other institutions, including New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, SUNY Purchase, Vassar College and Fordham University.

Rashad got in hot water in 2021 when she tweeted her support for former costar Bill Cosby, whose sexual assault conviction was overturned. She received a reprimand from the school,

Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a role which earned her two out of her five Emmy noms.

Rashad also earned two Primetime Emmy noms for playing Carol on NBC’s This Is Us in the guest actress drama series category. She also received an Emmy and SAG movie best actress nom for her turn in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun as Lena Younger, a role which she also played on stage.

Other recent TV and film credits include Diana Dubois on the Fox series Empire; Dr. Woods-Trap in Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man on the OWN Network; Libba Gardner in Pixar’s Academy Award-winning animated feature, Soul; Grandmother Journey in the Netflix holiday musical Jingle Jangle; and Dr. Jones in Between the World and Me on HBO Max.

Actor Mark Margolis, murderous drug kingpin on 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul,' dies at 83

The actor died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City following a short illness, according to a statement from his son, Morgan Margolis.

Margolis was nominated for an Emmy in 2012 for “Breaking Bad,” for outstanding guest actor, as Salamanca, the elderly don of his drug clan who was unable to speak or walk due to a stroke. Much of his character’s backstory later played out on “Better Call Saul,” the prequel in which he guest-starred from 2016 to 2022.

Margolis also was known for many film roles, particularly in the films of Darren Aronofsky: “Noah,” “Black Swan,” “The Wrestler” and “Pi.” He also played Alberto “The Shadow” in “Scarface.” Other film roles included “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “Gone Baby Gone,” and “Stand Up Guys.”

Margolis was born in Philadelphia in 1939 and studied acting in New York City with noted teacher Stella Adler. Focusing on the stage in his early career, he appeared in dozens of shows off-Broadway, including at the Public Theater in New York, and on Broadway in “Infidel Caesar,” based on Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” He founded Blue Dome, a touring theater troupe.

Margolis is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jacqueline Margolis, and his son Morgan, who is CEO of Knitting Factory Entertainment. The family plans to have a private memorial and funeral.

‘All My Children’ Star Eva LaRue: “You Don’t Have To *Earn* Self-Care

But now, after a rough couple of years of loss and worry, the 55-year-old Daytime Emmy Award-winner is focusing on spending more time with her daughter, Kaya, enjoying hikes with good friends, cuddling her two dogs and simply enjoying some well-deserved R & R.

Eva LaRue recently sat down with FIRST for Women for an interview for our latest cover (on sale now!) and shared some of her tips for overcoming heartache, relieving stress and simply making yourself a priority. Here is some highlights of had to say.

“Vulnerability makes you strong”

Over the last few years, LaRue has had to deal with more of her fair share of grief. Her father passed away in 2019 and she lost her ex-husband, father to her daughter and fellow All My Children alum, John Callahan, in 2020. And then, just last April, LaRue was struck another blow when she lost her 85 year-old mother.

“It was a horror show,” LaRue admits to First For Women. “It was just loss after loss; it was a struggle.”

When asked if she believes pain makes a person stronger, LaRue said simply…no. “I don’t think pain itself makes us stronger or more resilient, I think pain makes us more vulnerable and strength comes out of that vulnerability,” she explains. “Losing your mother really strips you down to your most childlike self.”

To turn her pain into purpose, LaRue tries to see heartache as an opportunity to be gentle with herself. “It’s a chance to really self soothe and be merciful with yourself and to have an opportunity to heal any leftover mother wounds,” she adds. “I think when you’re sitting in that vulnerability you really have that opportunity to build that strength going forward.”

Another way LaRue nurtured her hurting heart was sharing stories with loved ones about her mother. “I heard amazing childhood stories from my aunts that I’d never heard before,” she says with a smile. “I was getting a fuller perspective of my mom based on other peoples perspective of her which I really loved. So much laughter and healing that came out of that.”

“Miracles show up big and small”

To to cultivate peace and fight stress, LaRue also relies heavily on gratitude. “That’s something I’ve had to put into practice daily. Every morning before I get out of bed, I give gratitude and thanks. I feel like it’s a prayer for me,” she says. “I just look for miracles and they do show up big and small. It could be just finding a parking space. More pieces of life’s puzzles come together for me.”

Recently, LaRue experienced her own small miracle when she opened her prayer book and found a handwritten note in the back…it was a letter from her mom. “It was amazing sitting there and reading a story about my faith from my mom.”

One major blessing that happened for LaRue and her daughter last year, was an example of life imitating art: After 12 years of harassing and stalking LaRue and her daughter via threatening letters and phone calls, the perpetrator was caught sentenced to three years in prison.

The kicker? Authorities used DNA left on a discarded straw to place him, leading to his arrest. On CSI: Miami, Eva’s character played a DNA analyst who conducted work similar to the one used to solve her own stalking case. “DNA, oddly enough, has just played such an interesting role in my life in so many ways,” she says.

The ground-breaking forensic genetic genealogy used to catch LaRue’s stalker, which uses DNA databases to match people, helped solve the legendary Golden State Killer case. LaRue’s case was only the second investigation conducted using this program.

In addition, her story is in the infant stages of being developed into a scripted show and documentary.

“We don’t have to earn self-care”

LaRue admits that she and many of her girlfriends are guilty of this: “Instead of making self-care a priority, we consider it a luxury and that’s a bad way to look at it,” she admits. “Most women put other things first.

“We’ll have plans for a ‘me’ day then make 87 excuses why we’re running around the house picking up dog poop, cleaning out a closet – instead of doing the self-care we had planned. For some reason we think we’re not allowed to care for ourselves unless we’ve done our to-do list.”

She also catches herself and other women believing you have to earn it. “We make self care a luxury thing and think we have to be worthy of it,” she sighs. “I want to take the worthiness out of self-care. When I think that way I ask myself, ‘Why do I have to work for a self-care day?'”

“I really need to build self care into everyday. Just taking a walk, being in nature or daily time out – that is on my list of things to stop doing is to stop luxurizing self care and prioritize self care.”

We’re right there with you, Eva LaRue!

To read more Eva LaRue tips pick up the newest issue of FIRST for Women from your local grocery store, or have one delivered to your house by ordering it here!

Hollywood Stars Donate $1 Million Each To SAG-AFTRA Foundation To Aid Fellow Performers During Dual Strikes

The foundation said Wednesday that over the past three weeks it has raised more than $15 million from a growing list of $1 million donors to the Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program, including:

George and Amal Clooney
Luciana and Matt Damon
Leonardo DiCaprio
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness
Dwayne Johnson
Nicole Kidman
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively
Julia Roberts
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Meryl Streep
Oprah Winfrey

“Thanks to the support of some of Hollywood’s top-earning stars, the Foundation is preparing to bring aid and hope to thousands of journeymen actors facing tremendous economic hardship,” the foundation said in a release today.

“The entertainment industry is in crisis and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is currently processing more than 30 times our usual number of applications for emergency aid,” said SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance. “We received 400 applications in the last week alone. Our Emergency Financial Assistance Program is here to ensure that performers in need don’t lose their homes, have the ability to pay for utilities, buy food for their families, purchase life-saving prescriptions, cover medical bills and more. It’s a massive challenge, but we’re determined to meet this moment. For more than 38 years, the Foundation has been a safety net for our community during its most challenging times, and much like the Covid pandemic, this work stoppage magnifies the precarious living conditions and financial distress of many actors living paycheck to paycheck.”

Johnson helped kick-start the campaign with a seven-figure donation, Vance said, noting that Streep and George Clooney, two longtime supporters of the foundation and leaders of its Actors Council, then “stepped up with $1 million donations, emails, and many calls to action rallying others to give generously. We’ve crushed our initial goal because our people are coming together, but we still aren’t done. Our fundraising will continue in order to meet the overwhelming needs of our community now and in the future.”

Streep and Clooney called on the companies to end the strikes. The Writers Guild struck the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on May 2, followed by SAG-AFTRA on July 14.

“I remember my days as a waiter, cleaner, typist, even my time on the unemployment line,” Streep said in a statement. “In this strike action, I am lucky to be able to support those who will struggle in a long action to sustain against Goliath. We will stand strong together against these powerful corporations who are bent on taking the humanity, the human dignity, even the human out of our profession. I am proudest of my fellow actors who have immediately offered to fund the Emergency Financial Assistance Program.”

“We stand ready to get back to the table and make a fair deal with the AMPTP,” Clooney said. “Until then, I’m proud to be able to support the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and my fellow actors who may be struggling in this historic moment. We’ve stood on the shoulders of the likes of Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney and it’s time for our generation to give something back. I can’t thank Courtney enough for his determination in putting this effort together by shedding light on the human toll happening right now, and how we can work together to alleviate some of the pain and suffering.”.

Soap Star Nick Benedict Dead at 76

Although no specific cause of death was given, a GoFundMe had previously been set up on July 13 for the Benedicts that explained that Nick had undergone emergency spinal cord surgery on July 2. Two days later, he was admitted to hospice paralyzed from the neck down and requiring constant care and support.

Born in 1947 in Los Angeles, Benedict began his career in the late ‘60s, appearing in television series like IRON HORSE, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, HAWAII FIVE-0, ADAM-12, and IRONSIDE. In 1977, the actor was cast as Vietnam veteran Philip Brent on ALL MY CHILDREN, who found himself torn between Tara and Erica. In 1979, he earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Actor category for his work on the soap.

In 1981, Benedict joined the cast of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as Michael Scott, who Victor trapped in a bomb shelter believing he’d slept with his wife. From 1982-83, he played Ron Washington on ANOTHER LIFE, and in 1990, he appeared in some episodes of SANTA BARBARA. In 1993, the actor began making recurring appearances on DAYS OF OUR LIVES as Curtis Reed, Kate’s abusive ex and father to Austin and Billie.

Benedict’s career also included movies like An American Summer, Beach House, Memories of Murder, Get a Job, and Courting Courtney.

Our thoughts are with Ginger and the rest of Benedict’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Dishing with Digest 7/7/23 - Miranda Wilson

‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ Trailer: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro & Lily Gladstone Star In Martin Scorsese Film From Apple Studios

Killers of the Flower Moon will premiere on October 6 via Paramount in select theaters, including Imax, ahead of opening wide October 20 before streaming globally on Apple TV+.

The film co-written by Scorsese and Eric Roth takes place at the turn of the 20th century when oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder.

Killers of the Flower Moon is based on the best-selling book by David Grann and a true story told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Gladstone).

The film also stars Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, William Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Tatanka Means, Michael Abbot Jr., Pat Healy, Scott Shepard, Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson.

Hailing from Apple Studios, Killers of the Flower Moon was produced alongside Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Producers are Martin Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Sommer, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul serving as executive producers.

Watch the trailer in the video posted above.

Stars Pay Tribute To Soap Alum Nicolas Coster

Vincent Irizarry (ex-Scott, SB et al): “I’m so saddened to learn of the passing of my friend, this dear, dynamic man, @nicolascoster1 . He was one who was so full of life, so sweet and gracious, and such a wonderful talent as an actor. We worked together in the late ’80s on #santabarbarasoap and stayed in touch from time to time throughout the many subsequent years. I reached out to him several months ago to check in, hoping to get together, but he was leaving the next day on a trip somewhere. I regret that we didn’t reconnect sometime after. Just goes to show that we allow ourselves to be deceived by time in believing that opportunities to reconnect will always be available with those dear to us. Sadly, it’s a lesson I’m too often having to be reminded of: There are no guarantees in this life…Goodbye, my friend. I will always remember your kind, welcoming smile and your heartfelt laugh. It was truly a blessing knowing you, for which I will always be grateful… RIP.”

Mary Beth Evans (Kayla, DAYS et al): “Rest in peace, sweet Nicholas. What a joy it was to work with you. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be your daughter for the past decade. I will always remember your smile, your love of the work, and most importantly, your love of life! You were a one of a kind, sweet man. ??”

Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, GH; ex-Mark, SB): “#NicolasCoster has left us. One of my favorite people I’ve had the honor and pleasure to work, and become friends, with in this showbiz journey. He taught many of us youngsters how to scuba dive & I think of Nick every time I put on a tank. Got to be with him there night he finally won his Emmy, which made him very proud. R.I.P. @nicolascoster1 #Godspeed #SantaBarbara #AllMyChildren #Reds #AllthePresidentsMen #TheBay #EmmyWinner”

Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH; ex-Julia SB): “So many laughs with this smashing fella. RIP Nicky”

Gregori Martin (Creator, THE BAY): “A brilliant actor. A consummate pro. A real life merman. A film and television icon. A dear friend. We lost a legend yesterday. Nicolas Coster thank you for being a loyal part of The Bay family and always delivering and making my job as a director so much easier. You were a master at your craft and made any material given to you so much better. I truly loved writing and directing scenes for you, especially with our dear sweet @jacklyn.zeman. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, you were a true force to be reckoned with. A charmer and silver-haired-devil in the best sense of those expressions. You always knew what you wanted, and always knew how to get it and I am grateful for the years we worked together and all that I learned from my experience working with you. I will miss seeing you about town Nic, but your legacy shall live on through your enormous and incredible body of award worthy performances. And lastly, thank you for also always reminding all of us to live our lives to the fullest. Sleep in peace, Amazing Man. Sending love and light to your family and loved ones during this difficult time. Godspeed @nicolascoster1.”

A Martinez (Cruz, SANTA BARBARA) “The great Nicolas Coster walked on this week, and may the wind be warm at his back. He was a consummate actor, every bit as skilled on stage as he was before a camera. It was an honor to work in a company with him, and I’ll always hold his friendship and his sterling strengths as a professional close to heart. For 70 years, Mr. Coster practiced the art of acting with great vigor and distinction. There aren’t many people in the history of the world who can match him in that regard.”

Tristan Rogers (Robert, GH et al) “My thoughts go out in the passing of Nick Coster. My time’s working with him on The Bay were special and all to brief. RIP my friend.”

Jane Sibbett (Jane, SANTA BARBARA) “I was so sorry to hear the news of Nicolas Coster passing earlier tonight. I had recently shared the story with Yitzi Weiner’s interview about the actor who quietly saved me from a screaming director on my very first day at work on my first regular gig, and it was Nicky. He was kind, considerate, a consummate professional, and playing the almost-stepfather to my bitch by day/slut by night character on SANTA BARBARA, he was instrumental in helping me not only finding my light, but finding my way and supporting the craft of the good work we were doing. I am forever grateful for his generous heart, his love of great storytelling, and professionalism on and off set, and I wish to send my condolences to his family and all who loved him. Break the last leg, Lionel. May all your sails be full with love and peace to guide you home, Nicky.”r

Movie Academy Invites A Martinez Among Nearly 400 New Members

The list includes actors, directors, writers, producers, musicians, executives, artist reps, publicists and below-the-liners such as casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, production designers and sound pros.

“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement. “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide.”

As usual, the invitees include newly minted Oscar winners, which this year include actor Ke Huy Quan, filmmaking duo The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), producer Jonathan Wang, cinematographer James Friend, songwriters M.M. Keeravaani and Chandrabose, film editor Paul Rodgers, makeup artist Annemarie Bradley, production designer Christian M. Goldbeck and set decorator Ernestine Hipper.

Among the 18 people invited to join the Academy’s Music branch are such big names as Taylor Swift, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and David Byrne.

AMPAS noted that if all of the 2023 invitees accept membership, the total members (including Emeritus) would be 10,817 and number of voting members will be 9,375.

Here are all of the 2023 Actor invitees each must select one branch upon accepting membership:

Zar Amir-Ebrahimi – Holy Spider, Bride Price vs. Democracy
Sakura Ando – A Man, Shoplifters
Selma Blair – Hellboy, Legally Blonde
Marsha Stephanie Blake – I’m Your Woman, Luce
Austin Butler – Elvis, Once upon a Time…in Hollywood
Raúl Castillo – Cha Cha Real Smooth, The Inspection
Chang Chen – The Soul, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ram Charan – RRR, Magadheera
Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin, Gold
Robert John Davi – Licence to Kill, The Goonies
Dolly De Leon – Triangle of Sadness, Verdict
Martina Gedeck – The Lives of Others, Mostly Martha
Bill Hader – Trainwreck, The Skeleton Twins
Nicholas Hoult – The Favourite, Mad Max: Fury Road
Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Tin Lok Koo – A Witness out of the Blue, Paradox
Vicky Krieps – Corsage, Phantom Thread
Joanna Kulig – Cold War, Elles
Lashana Lynch – The Woman King, No Time to Die
A Martinez – Ambulance, Powwow Highway
Noémie Merlant – Tár, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Paul Mescal – Aftersun, The Lost Daughter
Richard Mofe-Damijo – Oloibiri, 30 Days in Atlanta
Keke Palmer – Nope, Hustlers
Park Hae-il – Decision to Leave, Memories of Murder
Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
NT Rama Rao Jr. – RRR, Nannaku Prematho
Paul Reiser – Whiplash, Aliens
Rosa Salazar – Alita: Battle Angel, The Kindergarten Teacher.

Nicolas Coster, Santa Barbara‘s Lionel Lockridge, Dead at 89

“There is great sadness in my heart this evening, my father actor Nicolas Coster has passed on in Florida at 9:01 pm in the hospital,” Coster’s daughter, Dinneen Coster, shared on Facebook. “Please be inspired by his artistic achievements and know he was a real actor’s actor! I will remember him as always doing his best and being a great father. Rest In Peace.”

Coster’s daytime career included stints on the now-defunct soaps Young Doctor Malone, The Secret Storm, Somerset, Another World, As the World Turns, One Life to Live and All My Children.

But it was his turn as the heavily monied Lockridge family patriarch Lionel on Santa Barbara that Coster will be most remembered for. He played the character on and off throughout the beloved series’ 1984-1993 run, earning four Daytime Emmy nominations in the process. He would ultimately pick up his first Daytime Emmy in 2017 for his role as Mayor Jack Madison in the digital soap The Bay.

Coster also guest-starred in dozens of primetime shows, including Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, Buck Rogers, Magnum P.I., T.J. Hooker and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He notably recurred on The Facts of Life as the father of Lisa Whelchel’s Blair Warner.

Coster’s film work included a supporting role in 1976’s All the President’s Men.

“It was an honor to work in a company with him, and I’ll always hold his friendship and his sterling strengths as a professional close to heart,” wrote Coster’s longtime Santa Barbara costar A Martinez on Facebook early Tuesday. “Unsolicited one day, he gave me this profoundly useful advice: ‘What you choose to do with a scene doesn’t have to be the probable thing. You can choose any course imaginable –– no matter how unlikely –– as long as it’s possible.'”

Nicolas Coster Dies: ‘Santa Barbara’, ‘All My Children’, ‘All The President’s Men’ Actor Was 89

His death was announced by his daughter Dinneen Coster on social media. “There is great sadness in my heart this evening, my father actor Nicolas Coster has passed on in Florida at 9:01 pm in the hospital,” Dinneen Coster wrote on Facebook. “Please be inspired by his artistic achievements and know he was a real actor’s actor!”

A cause of death was not given.

A prolific actor whose career spanned decades on television and encompassed both leading and character roles, was born in London to a British mother and a New Zealand father. Raised mostly in California, Coster returned to England to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art then studied acting with Lee Strasberg in New York.

After a few early credited TV roles were in 1950s, Coster landed frequent, if small, roles throughout the ’60s on such series as No Time For Sergeants, Felony Squad, The Green Hornet and N.Y.P.D. In the ’70s he had roles in feature films such as All the President’s Men (1976) and 1776 (1972) but mostly focused on television, with guest roles on The Blue Knight, Charlie’s Angels, Little House on the Prairie, Baretta, Family, The Rockford Files, One Day at a Time, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk and Dallas.

His ’80s work included feature films Stir Crazy and Reds, and TV series Hart to Hart, Police Squad!, Simon & Simon, Knight Rider, L.A. Law, Thirtysomething, Matlock and many others.

His most recent credits included a 2021 episode of American Crime Story and the 2020 feature The Last Exorcist.

But Coster will likely be best remembered for his memorable performances, both long term and short term, on a raft of daytime soaps: Coster had regular or recurring roles on such series Another World, All My Children, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Another World, and, perhaps most notably, Santa Barbara, in which he played the wealthy patriarch Lionel Lockridge on and off from 1984 to 1993, accumulating four Daytime Emmy nominations.

In 2017, he won his first Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor category for his performance in The Bay.

Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.

Dishing with Digest - 6/2/23 - Jill Larson

Eva LaRue’s Stalking Nightmare Being Adapted As Scripted & Unscripted Series With Forté Entertainment

LaRue and her family, including daughter Kaya Callahan, were stalked by James David Rogers for 12 years and he was sentenced to just over three years in prison as punishment for his crime last year.

She has now teamed with Toronto-based producer Forté Entertainment to develop both scripted and unscripted projects. My Nightmare Stalker will include a scripted series, premium documentary series and a returning factual spin-off program.

In more than three dozen graphic letters and countless voicemail messages, Rogers threatened Eva and Kaya, who was five when the stalking began and is now 21, relentlessly over the years, with letters being sent directly to Kaya, when she turned 13. Prosecutors, in a sentencing memorandum, called his harassment a “campaign of torment” in which he “terrorized a mother and her daughter.” He signed many of the letters with the name Freddy Krueger, from A Nightmare on Elm Street.

He was captured thanks to the use of ground-breaking forensic genetic genealogy, using DNA databases to match people. This technique was pioneered by former FBI agents Steve Busch and Steve Kramer, who first used this DNA technology to solve the legendary Golden State Killer case. LaRue’s case was only the second investigation they conducted using this program.

Forté, which acquired the rights to the story, is now in the process of securing scripted and documentary teams to bring both projects to life. The company has worked on series including Disney+’s The Quest and Super Channel’s How I Got Here.

LaRue said, “I’m excited to be working with the talented team at Forté to bring my story to the screen, while also bringing crucial public awareness around better protection for both women and men from stalking and intimate partner violence.”

“What Eva and her daughter went through is unimaginable, and we are humbled to share their astonishing story with audiences worldwide,” said Forté Entertainment’s Andrea and Mitch Gabourie. “Not only was this ripped-from-the-headlines case recently adjudicated, but stalking continues to impact millions of victims each year, making this story undeniably timely,”

Forté Entertainment is represented in the U.S. by Hayden Meyer at APA.

‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’: First Trailer Drops For Martin Scorsese’s Anticipated Epic Starring DiCaprio, De Niro & Lily Gladstone

The Apple Original Films drama will make its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, before opening in select theaters on October 6, 2023 through Paramount Pictures before expanding October 20. It later moves to streaming globally on Apple TV+.

Watch the trailer above.

Over images of a turn-of-the 20th century Oklahoma boomtown and its people, we hear a Midwestern-accented Leonardo DiCaprio (as Ernest Burkhart) relate basics of the Osage Nation’s story as it relates to the invasion of the white man, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, whose members became some of the richest people in the world, virtually overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder.

Based on a true story and told through the romance between Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic Western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal.

Hailing from Apple Original Films, the film is directed and produced by Oscar-winner Scorsese and written by Scorsese and Eric Roth. Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons also star. It is produced by Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Other producers include Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi. Executive producers are by Leonardo DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Sommer, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Appian Way Board ‘We Are Guardians’ As EPs; Urgent Doc From Fisher Stevens’ Highly Flammable Tackles Threat To Amazon Rainforest

The film, about Indigenous protectors of the imperiled Amazon rainforest in Brazil, premiered at Hot Docs in Toronto last week. Stevens, the Oscar-winning producer of The Cove, recently launched Highly Flammable, and We Are Guardians marks the first documentary under the new banner. Stevens has previously collaborated with DiCaprio and Appian Way on several documentaries, including And We Go Green and Sea of Shadows.

We Are Guardians “follows Indigenous forest guardians of the Tenetehara as they fend off incessant encroachment of illegal loggers and invaders,” according to a description of the documentary. “The film weaves together politics, history, economics and science, providing an in-depth exploration of the critical situation in the Amazon — the impact of which ripples around the globe.”

The documentary is directed by Edivan Guajajara, co-founder of Mídia Indígena, the leading Indigneous-led investigative journalism collective in Brazil, and environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman. We have your first look at the film in the trailer above.

“This is my third collaboration with Appian Way and it is obvious that they have an enduring commitment to elevating important, often underrepresented, stories that shed light on some of the most critical issues of our time,” Stevens noted in a statement. “I am so grateful to have their support in bringing the fight of the forest guardians to the foreground and helping to illuminate their stories.”

Stevens, Zak Kilberg and Maura Anderson of Highly Flammable produced the documentary along with filmmaker Chelsea Greene of One Forest. DiCaprio, the Oscar-winning actor and activist, serves as executive producer with Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson of Appian Way Productions, in addition to Christopher Gebhardt and Randy Gebhardt of Random Good, Bruce Cohen, Edivan Guajajara, Flay Guajajara and Erisvan Bone Guajajara of Mídia Indígena, Rob Grobman, Iz Web, Luiza Krapels, and Marco Krapels. Co-executive producers are Conscious Good, Michael Grimm, Brigit Grimm, Heather Conforto Beatty and Scott Beatty.”

“This film is very important. It not only tells the story of my people and my community,” Guajajara said in a director’s statement, “it reinforces the need to be attentive and unite more and more to take care of our Mother Earth and take care of those who give their lives for forests, for the preservation and maintenance of biodiversity in the world. This is our strength. We are all together in this fight.”

UTA is representing the documentary for sales. Highly Flammable is repped by Danny Passman at Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown and Passman. Appian Way is repped by LBI Entertainment.

Highly Flammable is promising “a robust impact campaign” for the film, in support of “the ongoing work of the Tenetehara forest guardians.” .

Barbara Crampton Interview 3/22/23

Barbara made her television debut on Days of Our Lives as Trista Evans. She went on to play Mindy Lewis on Guiding Light and Maggie Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Barbara’s career as an iconic figure in the horror/thriller genre has spanned four decades and continues to gain momentum. Currently she is producing and co-starring with Heather Graham in the horror thriller Suitable Flesh. Barbara produced and starred in Jakob’s Wife. Other recently completed features include Run Hide Fight, King Knight with Aubrey Plaza, Superhost and Sacrifice, a thriller shot in Norway.

This year, Barbara will appear in Larry Fessenden’s new film Blackout, Onyx The Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls which premiered at Sundance 2023, and the thriller Last Stop in Yuma County. On television, Barbara guest starred on the last season of Channel Zero: The Dream Door, on season 2 of Creepshow and in an episode of the highly acclaimed series Into the Dark: Culture Shock.

In addition, Barbara writes a column for Fangoria magazine entitled Scene Queen, for which she won two “Rondo Hatton Horror Awards” in 2020 and 2021.

Barbara made her film debut in 1984’s Body Double. The cult classic Re-Animator, in which Barbara portrayed the leading role of Megan Halsey, continues to be a huge fan favorite. Other films she has starred in include From Beyond, the original and remake of Puppet Master, You’re Next, and We Are Still Here.

Crystal Chappell and Michael Sabatino Interview 3/2/23

Michael gained fame when he first appeared as Chip Roberts on the hit prime-time series, Knots Landing. Besides his role on Days, Michael is known to daytime audiences for his roles on The Bold and the Beautiful as Anthony Armando, on All My Children as Dr. Jonathan Kinder, on Sunset Beach as Phillip Vargas, on Passions as J.T. Cornell, on Guiding Light as Vince Russo and on Crystal’s series Venice as Alan Anders.

Crystal made her daytime debut as a day player on All My Children before landing a short-term role on Santa Barbara. She spent three years playing Carly on Days before moving over to One Life to Live where she played Maggie Carpenter. She joined the cast of Guiding Light as Olivia Spencer in 1999 and remained with the show until the last episode aired in 2009. On Guiding Light, Chappell and Jessica Leccia were paired together creating the uber popular same sex pairing of, OTALIA. Crystal went on to win the Daytime Emmy-Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in 2002. She also played another Spencer, Danielle on The Bold and the Beautiful in 2012.

In addition to her roles in front of the camera, Crystal has created, Executive Produced and directed the Emmy Award-winning Venice: The Series and Beacon Hill.

Together they are the proud parents of two sons Jake and Dylan. Jake and his wife Grace welcomed their first grandson Zeke in 2021.

The Flash Brings Back Teddy Sears as Zoom, John Wesley Shipp as Jay Garrick

Series vets John Wesley Shipp and Teddy Sears are both set to appear during Season 9, TVLine has learned exclusive, reprising their respective roles as Jay Garrick and Hunter Zolomon (aka Zoom).

The duo in turn join a final-season guest star slate that already boasts Stephen Amell (as Arrow‘s Oliver Queen/Green Arrow), David Ramsey (as John Diggle/Spartan), Keiyan Lonsdale (as Wally West/Kid Flash) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (as Dr. Ramsey Rosso/Bloodwork), all in Episode 9 directed by Danielle Panabaker; Batwoman‘s Javicia Leslie (as Red Death), Nicole Maines (reprising her Supergirl role of Nia Nal aka Dreamer), Rick Cosnett (as Eddie Thawne), Matt Letscher (as Eobard Thawne) and Jessica Parker Kennedy (as Nora/XS). As for Cisco, time will tell?

Previewing Sears’ encore, The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace says, “As one of our most memorable villains ever, he scared and delighted audiences in Season 2. And now, I’m happy to announce that the brilliant Teddy Sears is coming back as the evil Zoom aka Hunter Zolomon… for one more battle against Team Flash.

“It’s a reunion I’ve been hoping could happen for several seasons,” the EP adds, “and now I’m so excited that we were finally able to bring Teddy and incredible talents back into our Flash Family for our epic and emotional ninth season. So, get ready to be frightened again, Flash fans!”

And as for Shipp’s latest swing by Central City, “Flash fans have loved John Wesley Shipp’s heroic and heartwarming portrayals on our show since its inception,” Wallace notes. “So, it’s a huge honor to have John back as part of our epic final season. This time, John’s lent his incredible talents to an incredibly emotional story — one that sheds new light on Barry Allen’s tragic past.”

John Wesley Shipp Interview

John made his television debut on Guiding Light where he played, “Dr. Kelly Nelson.” John is a two-time Emmy winner, garnering his first award for his incredible performance as the duplicitous Douglas Cummings opposite Julianne Moore on As the World Turns and his second Emmy the following year for his guest turn as Martin Ellis on Santa Barbara - making him the only actor to win consecutive Emmys for two different daytime dramas. Other memorable roles include stints on One Life to Live, and All My Children.

John currently portrays Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash and will return to Vancouver soon to shoot the ninth and final season. John has played five different roles across five different shows in the FLASH franchise for over 30 years.

He starred as The Flash when CBS brought the series’ first to television in the 1990’s; he has played Barry Allen, Professor Zoom, Henry Allen, and Jay Garrick. He just appeared in the series finale of STARGIRL on December 7, 2022.

John took on another iconic role after The Flash that of Mitch Leery, James Van der Beek’s father, on the WB’s series Dawson’s Creek. He continued with a memorable turn as boxer Lucky Williams, love interest to Julianne Phillip’s Frankie, on NBC’s hit drama Sisters, and terrified audiences with his haunting arc as Isaac’s abusive father and Beacon Hills gravedigger, Mr. Lahey, opposite Daniel Sharman on MTV’s drama Teen Wolf.

John is a classically trained theater actor who also studied opera. He was featured on Broadway playing the Welsh wastrel, Gerry Evans, in the TONY Award winning production of Dancing at Lughnasa, as well as in Safe Sex at the Lyceum Theatre opposite Harvey Fierstein to name a few. John just played Henry Fonda in a workshop of a new play Hank and Jim Build a Plane written by One Life to Live’s David Gregory.

GH’s Lindstrom's Book Optioned

Louise Sorel - The Interview 11/9/22

Daytime audiences know Louise for her role as Vivian Alamain in Days of Our Lives, Augusta Wainwright on Santa Barbara and Emily Tanner on Beacon Hill. In addition, Louise has appeared on All My Children, One Life to Live and Passions and Port Charles in smaller roles. Louise received theatrical training at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and began performing on stage when she was 15 years old. She spent several years on Broadway and made her film debut with The Party’s Over in 1965. She has appeared in Plaza Suite, Night Gallery, The Return of Charlie Chan, Airplane II: The Sequel, Where the Boys Are and Crimes of Passion to name a few.

She has made guest appearances on more than 50 prime time programs and TV movies including Star Trek as Rayna in the Requiem for Methuselah episode, The Fugitive, Bonanza, Route 66, The Big Valley, Vegas, Hart to Hart, The Incredible Hulk, Hawaii Five-0, Magnum P.I., and one of my favorites, Charlie’s Angels to share a small few.

John O’Hurley guests on NCIS: Los Angeles 11/13/22

GUEST CAST includes: Duncan Campbell (NCIS Special Agent Castor), John O’Hurley (Navy Rear Admiral Ted Gordon), Bryan Lillis (Jessie Fiore).

Paul Bettany To Co-Star Opposite Tom Hanks And Robin Wright In Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Here’ For Miramax And Sony

Based on Richard McGuire’s graphic novel, Here is described as a breathtaking and revolutionary odyssey through time and memory. The innovative film is centered around a single geographic location in New England — starting as wilderness and later becoming the site of a home – where a story of love, loss, struggle, hope and legacy play out between couples and families over generations.

The project came together earlier this year, becoming one of the bigger packages to hit the market given that it would reunite the Forrest Gump team of Hanks, Zemeckis, Wright and Roth; the pic bowed nearly 30 years ago, taking home six Oscars including Best Picture.

Sony would eventually land distribution rights to Here in May when the film was taken to the Cannes film market.

As for Bettany, he was most recently seen in Amazon Studios and the BBC’s A Very British Scandal opposite Claire Foy. Additionally, he recently reprised his role as Vision in the Disney+ series WandaVision, which earned him an Emmy nomination. Upcoming, he will star in and produce the Miramax dramedy Harvest Moon, from a script he co-wrote with Dana Brown. He will also soon star in The Collaboration on Broadway and is currently filming a film adaptation of the play.

Bettany is repped by UTA and Affirmative Entertainment.

18th Annual Stars And Strikes Event To Honor Jerry verDorn

Stalker Who Threatened Actress Eva LaRue & Her Daughter With Torture, Rape Is Sentenced To 40 Months In Prison

James David Rogers, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt, who called the man’s conduct “inexcusable.”

Rogers pleaded guilty in April to two counts of mailing threatening communications, one count of threats by interstate communications and two counts of stalking.

According to court documents, from March 2007 until his arrest in November 2019, Rogers stalked, threatened, and harassed Eva LaRue, an actress whose credits include The Young & the Restless — for which she won a daytime Emmy in 2020 — CSI: Miami, Santa Barbara and All My Children, and her daughter — who was 5 years old when the campaign of terror began.

For example, in February 2008, Rogers sent LaRue a letter in which he vowed to “stalk you until the day you die.” In other letters, Rogers repeatedly threatened to rape LaRue and her daughter.

From March 2007 to June 2015, Rogers mailed about 37 handwritten and typed letters in which he threatened to rape, kill, and otherwise injure LaRue and her daughter. In June 2015, Rogers sent a letter to LaRue’s daughter which stated, in part, “I am the man who has been stalking for the last 7 years. Now I have my eye on you too.”

Rogers signed each letter using the name “Freddie Krueger.”

In October and November 2019, Rogers called the school LaRue’s daughter attended, spoke with a school employee, claimed to be her father and asked if she was present. In November 2019, he again called the girl’s school and left a voicemail in which he identified himself as “Freddie Krueger” and threatened to “rape her, molest her and kill her.”

Rogers’ federal public defense attorney, Waseem Salahi, told the court that his client suffers from “psychiatric instability,” and that “People do irrational things when they’re mentally ill.”

Salahi, who proposed a non-custodial sentence of home confinement and court-mandated mental health treatment, said Rogers deals with mental disorders including “repressed gender dysphoria” and faces “a long road of recovery.”

According to his attorney, Rogers is “actually a very sweet, gentle person — but he’s also mentally ill, and that makes him into someone else sometimes.”

LaRue gave a tearful victim impact statement, telling the judge in L.A. federal court that she has undergone therapy since the harassment began in order to deal with feelings of fear and paranoia.

She said that although she and her daughter had no direct contact with the Ohio resident, “We didn’t know if he would show up on our doorstep. We will think about him for a lifetime. The fear is with me forever.”

Appearing via Zoom, Rogers apologized to LaRue “for what I said to you for the past 12 years, and putting your family through this hellish nightmare. I hope someday I can earn your forgiveness for my misdeeds. I wish someone had intervened much sooner and I was caught much sooner.”

The judge ordered Rogers to self surrender Oct. 12 to begin his sentence at a federal prison in Ohio.

Leonardo DiCaprio & Martin Scorsese Reteam For Apple Film ‘The Wager’ Based On David Grann Book

The film set in the 1740s will watch as the British naval ship the Wager is wrecked on a desolate island off the tip of South America, with the captain and crew then struggling to survive and maintain order, while battling not only the most extreme elements but their own human natures.

It’s not yet clear who will handle the screenplay adaptation for The Wager. But Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas will produce for Imperative Entertainment, along with Scorsese for Sikelia Productions and DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson for Appian Way Productions, with Eden Productions’ Richard Plepler serving as EP.

DiCaprio will next be seen in the 1920s Oklahoma-set Killers of the Flower Moon, which depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror. He most recently appeared in the end-of-the-world comedy Don’t Look Up, which Adam McKay directed for Netflix.

Oscar winner Scorsese most recently released the acclaimed Netflix miniseries Pretend It’s a City centered on Fran Lebowitz and the Netflix crime drama The Irishman, which landed 10 Oscar nominations in 2020.

Imperative produced Scorsese’s Killers and most recently released the acclaimed Apple limited series Black Bird, staring Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser, which is winding down toward its August 5th conclusion.

DiCaprio is repped by LBI Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Scorsese by WME, LBI Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; and Grann by CAA and The Robbins Office.

Heather Graham, Judah Lewis, Barbara Crampton Lead Erotic Bodyswap Horror Based On H.P. Lovecraft Short Story; Crampton Joins Producer Amp As VP

Directed by Joe Lynch (Mayhem) and loosely based on Lovecraft’s short story The Thing On The Doorstep, the film is an erotic body-swapping horror, in which a psychiatrist played by Graham becomes obsessed with a young client with multiple personalities.

Also starring are Bruce Davison (X-Men), Johnathon Schaech (That Thing You Do!), and scream queen Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator).

The film, which recently finished shooting in Mississippi, is produced by Crampton, Bob Portal, Inderpal Singh and Joe Wicker for genre specialist producer and seller Amp, in association with Mississippi-based Eyevox Entertainment. Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator) serves as an executive producer, as does Joe Lynch, alongside Rick Moore for Eyevox, and James Norrie and Nina Kolokouri for Amp. Amp is handling worldwide sales.

Dennis Paoli, who wrote the screenplays for Lovecraft adaptations Re-Animator and From Beyond, penned the screenplay. The project completes a full circle for Paoli with Crampton, who made her name as an actress in those movies, which were directed by the late Stuart Gordon.

Crampton, doyenne of genre cinema, has also joined Amp as Vice President of Production and Development.

The new untitled H.P. Lovecraft picture is the third production that Crampton has worked on at Amp. The first, vampire movie Jakob’s Wife, premiered in the Midnight section of SXSW 2021, and was released by RLJ Entertainment in 2021. Crampton subsequently acted as executive producer on Rebekah McKendry’s Glorious, a supernatural horror starring Ryan Kwanten and J.K. Simmons, which premiered at the 2022 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal and is released on Shudder on August 18.

Barbara Crampton said: “We’ve been so fortunate to work with top talent both behind and in front of the camera on our recent films. At Amp it’s about developing not only memorable, thought-provoking material for an audience, but also fresh and unusual enough to attract the very best creative collaborators. I was ecstatic when first the formidable Joe Lynch, then Heather Graham signed on – her natural charm is always in evidence, but we get to see a different untapped side of her abilities here. I’ve been thrilled to be invited to join seasoned pros at Amp, and we are only getting started.”

Joe Lynch commented: “When I read Dennis Paoli’s adaptation of the story, I felt like there was a fantastic opportunity to update and subvert Lovecraft’s often old-fashioned sensibilities in a way that felt modern, relevant and even dangerous, with a pinch of 90’s neo-noir and a dash of eroticism to spice up the stew. Working with Amp and such a fantastic cast – including Heather, Judah, Barbara, Bruce and Johnathon – we’re so excited that this sexy, funny, scary film isn’t just a modernized love letter to Lovecraft, but the kind of provocatively entertaining “sin-ema” I believe audiences are salivating for!”

Heather Graham is repped by RMS Productions, Paradigm, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes. Judah Lewis is repped by Buchwald, Untitled Entertainment, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes. Bruce Davison is repped by Chris Roe Management, and TalentWorks.

Johnathon Schaech is repped by LINK Entertainment. Joe Lynch is repped by Anonymous Content. Barbara Crampton is repped by AEFH, Silver J Management, and Mark Temple.

Gregory Itzin Dies: Actor Who Played ‘24’ President Charles Logan Was 74

His death was announced by his son, the actor Wilke Itzin.

According to a family statement, Itzin suffered a major heart attack while onstage performing Shakespeare, as Falstaff, in 2015, and “came back only to continue to thrive in theatre, film and tv.”

“It is with an incredibly heavy heart to announce that my father Gregory Martin Itzin has passed on,” Wilke Itzin wrote on Instagram.

“My friend Greg Itzin passed away today,” Jon Cassar, producer and director of 24, wrote on Twitter. “He was one of the most talented actors I had the honor to work with but more than that he was an all around great guy. He’ll be missed by his 24 family who had nothing but love & respect for him. You made your mark, now Rest in Peace friend.”

Itzin, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in 1993’s The Kentucky Cycle, joined the cast of 24 during the series’ fourth season in 2005. Initially a recurring role as Vice President Charles Logan, Itzin returned the following season as President and became one of the show’s central figures.

He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance.

Itzin, a Washington D.C. native who later moved to San Francisco and trained at the American Conservatory Theatre, began his TV career in the 1980s in small roles on such series as Mork & Mindy, Charlie’s Angels, Fame, Dallas, Hill Street Blues, Lou Grant and many others while also taking similar film roles in movies including Airplane!, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and The Fabulous Baker Boys.

In 1989 he landed a series regular role on the short-lived Mel Brooks-Alan Spencer sitcom The Nutt House starring Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman. He maintained a prolific television career throughout the ’90s, appearing in, among many others, Matlock, Major Dad, Quantum Leap, L.A. Law, Picket Fences, Something Wilder, ER, and, in 1995, Murder One, on which he played Distract Attorney Roger Garfield.

In the 2000s, Itzin had roles on Profiler, Bull, Strip Mall, The Practice, Friends, Judging Amy and in three Star Trek series (Deep Space Nine, Enterprise and Voyager).

His signature role came in 2005 with with his casting as the vice president on 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland and, the following season, as the president. He would remain with the series through its conclusion in 2010.

After 24, Itzin played the recurring characters on Big Love, The Mentalist, Covert Affairs, Mob City and, most recently, NCIS.

On the film side, Itzin appeared as Judge John A. Campbell in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012), as well as roles in The Change-Up, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Ides of March.

Itzin also maintained a busy stage career with many performances at such theaters as the Mark Taper Forum, the Kennedy Center, the Antaeus Theatre Company, and the Matrix Theatre Company.

On Broadway, he was Tony-nominated as best actor in a feature role in a play for 1993’s The Kentucky Cycle. He returned to Broadway in 2010 as Kenneth Lay in Enron.

“My dad was known in the world as a phenomenal actor with a body of work that would trump most famous actors resumes,” wrote son Wilke. “He’s been on everything from Airplane, Friends, Star Trek deep space nine, Mork and Mindy and of course the infamous president on 24 and so much more. But what many people truly knew him for was his incredible performances on the stage. I remember watching him in the one man show Shipwrecked by Donald Margulies and being blown away, in awe that the man on stage was my dad. He was in love with the theater, and even on his dying breath he could recite Shakespeare like he made the words up himself.”

Itzin is survived by wife of 43 years Judie, son Wilke, daughter Julia and grandson Wylder Gregory. According to the family statement, he spent his final days in the midwest with his sister Pamela and niece and nephew, Deidre and Aaron, and great niece and nephew, Claire and Cole, along with his son and grandson.

Leigh J. McCloskey Interview 7/6/22

Leigh is known to daytime audiences for his roles on Santa Barbara (Ethan Asher), General Hospital (Damian Smith), The Young and the Restless (Dr. Kurt Costner) and One Life to Live (Drake Faraday).

In addition to his daytime TV roles, he starred in three primetime series, the hit show Dallas where he played Mitch Cooper for two seasons and returned to the show as a guest star numerous times. Leigh also appeared in several feature films, including Inferno, directed by the Italian master of the macabre, Dario Argento. He starred in the popular cult classic, Bermuda Depths, and many others.

Leigh guest starred on numerous primetime shows including, Bones, Third Rock from the Sun, Star Trek Voyager and Deep Space Nine to name a few. He also starred in a number of made for television movies, including playing Kris Kristopherson’s son in Troubleshooters: Trapped Beneath the Earth, Terror in the Shadows with Genie Francis, Accidental Meeting with Linda Grey and two of the highest rated TV films ever, Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway and Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn (in which he played the title character).

Leigh was also the spokesman for the Max Factor fragrance California for Men working with Jaclyn Smith and Jane Seymour. His last theater performance was in 2006 playing the role of Trigorin in The Seagull by Anton Chekov, at the Odyssey Theatre.

2022 Tony Award Winner

Sony Pictures Lands U.S. Rights To Miramax’s ‘Here’; Robin Wright Joins Tom Hanks, Robert Zemeckis, Eric Roth In ‘Forrest Gump’ Reteam

Deadline revealed the package as it was forming in February, before Wright was in the picture. Miramax’s Bill Block stepped up with backing, and then came Sony Pictures Motion Group chairman/CEO Tom Rothman to land U.S. rights. He is planning for a theatrical release in 2023 in time for awards season. Miramax retains international rights and will present the film to international buyers in Cannes.

Zemeckis and Jack Rapke’s ImageMovers (Flight, Polar Express, Cast Away) will produce alongside Block (The Gentlemen, Fury, upcoming The Holdovers).

Based on McGuire’s graphic novel, Here is described as a breathtaking and revolutionary odyssey through time and memory. The innovative story is centered around a place in New England where from wilderness, and then, later, a home – love, loss, struggle, hope and legacy play out between couples and families over generations. The film begins production in September.

Wright was last to join, and she comes off directing and starring in Land, and acclaimed turns in House of Cards and Wonder Woman.

Miramax’s Block called it “a privilege to serve the vision of these renowned creators. We look forward to bringing this unique visual and emotional experience to the world.”

Said Rothman: “I had the privilege to observe close at hand, Bob and Tom break the typical storytelling mode with Castaway, to audiences’ immense delight. With Here, Eric and Bob have written another, perhaps even more remarkable, exquisitely emotional, and entirely unique story. At Sony, we believe in originality and in supporting great artists pushing the boundaries and so we are grateful to Bill Block and all the filmmakers for letting us join this grand journey.”

The deal was negotiated by Jon Freedberg, EVP Content Strategy & Operations for Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films. The auction was brokered by CAA Media Finance’s Roeg Sutherland. CAA reps Hanks and Roth, latter of whom is managed by Adam Berkowitz of Lenore Entertainment Group and lawyered by Alan Wertheimer and Darren Trattner. Wright is with CAA and attorney Logan Clare. WME reps Zemeckis and ImageMovers.

The acquisition furthers the studio’s relationship with Hanks, whose A Man Called Otto just wrapped production, with Sony releasing it in theaters December 25.

Liz Sheridan Dies: ‘Seinfeld’ Mom & ‘ALF’ Actress Was 93

Her longtime friend and rep Amanda Hendon told Deadline that Sheridan died overnight in her sleep of natural causes.

Sheridan already was a veteran TV and film actress when she was cast as the grumpy neighbor Raquel Ochmonek on NBC’s ALF, appearing in about three dozen episodes from 1986-90. Soon after that, she landed the role of Helen Seinfeld, the adoring, protective and occasionally bemused mother of Jerry Seinfeld’s Jerry. She appeared in more than 20 episodes ranging from Episode 2 — “The Stakeout” at the beginning of Season 2 — to the 1998 finale.

During Seinfeld‘s run, Sheridan provided the voice of Mrs. Stillman in the 1994-98 animated sitcom Life with Louie, starring Louie Anderson.

A longtime dancer, she also appeared on Broadway, including opposite Christopher Lloyd and a young Meryl Streep in the 1977 musical Happy End.

Sheridan later wrote a book about her 1950s romantic relationship with James Dean. Published in 2000, Dizzy and Jimmy: My Life with James Dean – A Love Story chronicled their love affair from when the NYC dancer met the 21-year-old Indiana farm boy who had come to New York via Hollywood.

She also was longtime close friends with Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery.

Born on April 10, 1929 in Rye, NY, Sheridan began her screen career with guest shots on such series as Kojak, The White Shadow and Gimme a Break! and had small roles in the Madonna film Who’s That Girl and features Star 80 and Jekyll & Hyde: Together Again. She continued to guest on TV through the mid-1980s on popular shows including One Day at a Time, Three’s a Crowd, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Three’s a Crowd, The A-Team, Newhart, Remington Steele, Moonlighting and Murder, She Wrote before landing her recurring gig as the eccentric and spy-happy Raquel on ALF.

All that would lead to her signature role on Seinfeld, which became the most popular sitcom of the 1990s and remains a quotable pop-culture favorite in reruns. Her Helen Seinfeld character was the prototype doting mom, and when she heard that “Crazy” Joe Devola was “after” her beloved son in the 1992 episode “The Wallet,” she was incredulous that there was anyone who didn’t like Jerry.

“Ma, I know this may be hard for you to understand, but I am sure there are many people who do not like me,” Jerry told her. Helen’s predictable reply was: “No, it’s not true. You’re a wonderful, wonderful boy. Everybody likes you. It’s impossible not to like you. Impossible!”

Seinfeld debuted on NBC as a summer replacement titled The Seinfeld Chronicles in July 1989, when stand-up comedy was hot and comics were landing TV gigs. From there, the “show about nothing” had an uphill climb but landed the plum post-Cheers 9:30 p.m. Thursday slot the following spring. The show’s popularity increased with each ensuing season, finally breaking into the postseason Top 25 in the Nielsen rankings in 1992-93 after Cheers wrapped its juggernaut 12-season run.

Seinfeld took over Cheers’ 9 p.m. slot for the 1993-94 season and ended it ranked No. 3 among all primetime shows. It would rank No. 1 or No. 2 overall for the rest of its nine-season run, wrapping in 1998.

Sheridan was the last surviving “parent” from Seinfeld. Estelle Harris, who played George Costanza’s mother Estelle, died just last week, and Jerry Stiller, who played Frank Costanza, died in 2020. Barney Martin, who played Sheridan’s onscreen husband Morty Seinfeld, died in 2005.

Sheridan would continue to work in film and TV through the 2000s, with roles in films including Now You Know, Closing the Deal and Play the Game and guest shots on TV series including Numbers and American Dad!

Sheridan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law.

‘Damsel’: Robin Wright, Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Brooke Carter & Shohreh Aghdashloo Join Netflix Millie Bobby Brown Fantasy Pic

In the movie from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, a dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. Thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive.

Wrath of the Titans scribe Dan Mazeau is writing, with Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Chris Castaldi producing and Emily Wolfe co-producing. EPs are Brown and Robert Brown for PCMA Productions, Mazeau, Zack Roth and Sue Baden-Powell. Nick Nesbitt is the creative lead from Netflix.

Wright is an eight-time Emmy-nominated actress and producer of Netflix’s House of Cards. She made her feature directorial debut last year with Focus Features’ Land and also directed 10 episodes of House of Cards and two for Netflix’s Ozark. Her feature credits include the Wonder Woman franchise, Blade Runner 2049, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Forrest Gump and The Princess Bride.

Winstone starred in such moves as The Departed, Sexy Beast, Black Widow, Point Break and Snow White and the Huntsmen and starred on such TV series as Ice and Of Kings and Prophets.

Robinson’s movie credits include Jurassic World, The Kings of Summer, Shadow in the Cloud and Love, Simon. He starred on FX’s A Teacher and Netflix’s The Maid.

Carter’s TV credits include The Irregulars, The Alienist, Close to Me and The Peripheral.

Aghdashloo received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the 2003 movie House of Sand and Fog. Her feature credits include The Exorcism of Emily Rose, X-Men: The Last Stand, Rose Water, A Simple Wedding and the upcoming Nicolas Cage Dracula movie Renfield.

Wright is repped by CAA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Winstone is repped by Creative Artists Management. Carter is repped by Bonnie and Betty Model and Casting Agency. Robinson is represented by CAA and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern. Aghdashloo is repped by CAA, the Artist Partnership (UK) and Tamara N. Houston of Icon Mann Management.

Dishing with Digest - 3/25/22 - Jack Wagner

Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Stiller Sign Letter Protesting Canada Gas Pipeline

The letter, sent “In solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders,” is demanding the immediate withdrawal of financial support for a 416-mile gas pipeline slated to cut through what’s termed “sacred and sensitive ecosystems” in Wet’suwet’en land, in British Columbia, Canada without consent from hereditary chiefs.

More than 65 Hollywood celebrities, including Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson, Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, and Robert Downey Jr., released a letter to City National Bank’s (CNB) parent company, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).

CNB, dubbed the “Bank of the Stars,” is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBC, the lead financier of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. RbC acquired CNBin 2015.

The letter states, “Despite claiming to be a leader in climate conscious banking, since acquiring CNB in 2015, RBC has spent over $160 billion to become one of the world’s largest and most aggressive financiers of tar sands, fossil fuel extraction, and transport.”

RBC has not yet responded to the letter.

Vincent Irizarry Has Emergency Surgery

The man then proceeded to beat his wife unconscious. Vincent was rushed to the ER and had to be treated for his head wound, injuries and tests run. Unfortunately, that fluid has increased substantially over the last 3 months requiring emergency head surgery this Friday morning.” Glisson then posted a photo of the soap vet, with an update on his recovery.

“Vincent’s surgeon performed the procedure early this am skillfully but finding a bit more than he expected,” she wrote. “But he has been watched and tested all day and thankfully fluid has not increased again. They will keep him there and be watching for that or any complications and observing his condition before sending him home. Otherwise Vincent has been awake all day talking, eating and being his ever charming self even with his head bandaged and tubes coming out all over him! On behalf of Vincent, Thank you for all the love and well wishes. It is not overlooked or taken for granted. He is as always grateful.” We are wishing Vincent a very speedy recovery!

‘BMF’: La La Anthony Upped To Series Regular, Kelly Hu, Christine Horn Also Cast In Starz Series

Anthony will reprise her role as Markisha Taylor, who will have an expanded storyline in the second season. Markisha is the smart, sophisticated and street savvy wife of a powerful Detroit dealer. Despite the risk, Terry begins to pursue her relentlessly and they develop a friendship.

Hu will play Detective Veronica Jin, a smart, complex and tough cop out on the streets. Jin’s emotional journey is both universal and unique as she is a product of the American Dream shaped by her Chinese immigrant parents, but unique because Jin becomes the only Asian American, female detective in the murder capital of the world in the ‘80s.

Horn will portray Mabel Jones, a trusted friend and neighbor to the Flenory family. Despite her vivacious facade, the Flenory’s will discover there’s more to Mabel than what meets the eye.

The three join returning cast including Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., the son of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory; Da’Vinchi, Russell Hornsby, Michole Briana White, Myles Truitt and Steve Harris. Snoop Dogg, Arkeisha “Kash Doll” Knight, Wood Harris and Serayah recur in the series.

BMF is inspired by the true story of two brothers who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980’s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in this country.

The series is executive produced by Jackson, alongside Huggins. Heather Zuhlke joins as an executive producer on Season 2 with Anthony Wilson and Anne Clements who are both set to return to executive produce. BMF is produced through Jackson’s G-Unit Film and Television in association with Lionsgate Television for Starz.

Mitchell Ryan Dies: Veteran Actor For ‘Dark Shadows’ And Many Other Film/TV Roles Was 88

His former costar Kathryn Leigh Scott shared the news on Facebook.

“My sweet, beloved friend Mitch died early this morning,” Scott wrote. “He was a great gift in my life. I cherish my warm memories of his beautiful soul. I’m heartbroken.”

Ryan and Scott played love interests Burke Devlin and Maggie Evans on Dark Shadows. That was before the vampire Barnabas Collins (played by Jonathan Frid) made a victim of Maggie. Ryan left the series in 1967 and was replaced by Anthony George in the role.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ryan made his acting debut in the play Thunder Road at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. From there, he moved to Broadway, appearing in the plays Wait Until Dark, Medea, and The Price.

Ryan accumulated more than 135 credits over the course of his career appearing in such television series as Golden Girls, St. Elsewhere, Who’s the Boss?, Matlock, and Murder, She Wrote, among many others. He also played mobster Frank Smith on General Hospital.

His film roles included appearances in Judge Dredd, Halloween, Liar Liar, Magnum Force, and Lethal Weapon.

No information was immediately available on survivors or memorial plans.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Ray Liotta, Peyton Manning, Robin Roberts & Pierce Brosnan Set Docuseries At History Channel

The A+E Networks cable network has ordered six series from Leonardo DiCaprio, Ray Liotta, Pierce Brosnan, Peyton Manning and Robin Roberts ahead of its latest Upfront ad event.

DiCaprio, who has previously worked with the network on miniseries Grant, is behind docuseries Sitting Bull, Good Morning America’s Roberts is behind WWI series Harlem Hellfighters, NFL legend Manning is behind The Einstein Challenge and History’s Greatest of All-Time with Peyton Manning and Liotta is behind Five Families. Four-part series Sitting Bull traces the life of the legendary Hunkpapa Lakota chief, a fierce warrior, loving father, and holy man. It will detail seminal moments and key figures in Native American history including the Battle of Little Big Horn, Washita Massacre, Crazy Horse, Battle of Cedar Creek and the Wounded Knee Massacre.

The Lakota community will be involved with Larry Pourier, an Oglala Lakota consultant with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry advising on Native American TV and film projects and IllumiNative, a Native woman-led non-profit organization focused on increasing Native representation in media in front of and behind the camera, serving as consultants and advisors.

It will be produced by Stephen David Entertainment, Appian Way Productions and IllumiNative. Exec producers include Stephen David, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson, Phillip Watson, Crystal Echo Hawk, Larry Pourier, Mary E. Donahue and Zachary Behr.

Ray Liotta is exec producing Five Families, about the dramatic rise and fall of the New York’s mafia’s five families – Genovese, Gambino, Bonnano, Colombo and Lucchese.

For decades these five families ruled New York and built the American Mafia into an underworld empire. The series will follow the Mob from its explosive and violent growth in Prohibition, its golden age of domination in the 1970s and 1980s, up through its heated war with law enforcement – a feud they ultimately lost.

The eight-part series is based on Selwyn Raab’s book Five Families: The Rise, Decline and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires.

It is produced by Propagate with Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Michael Stiller exec producing alongside Liotta.

Peyton Manning and his company Omaha Productions are producing two series – History’s Greatest of All-Time with Peyton Manning and competition series The Einstein Challenge.

Eight-part series History’s Greatest of All-Time, which is produced by Omaha and Six West MediaTM group, will see the football star count down the greatest of all-time in a single category, from the greatest General to the greatest inventor or President. Manning, Steve Ascher, Mary E. Donahue and Brooke Townsend exec produce.

Half-hour series The Einstein Challenge is being produced by Omaha and Citizen Jones and will see two world-class experts will compete to see who can best explain seriously complicated concepts – such as how does an airplane fly or how bad was the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius – to a panel of kids. Manning, Jonah Bekhor, Jonas Bell Pasht, Mike Stiller and Amy Savitsky exec produce.

Pierce Brosnan is hosting History’s Greatest Heists, going inside the most unbelievable, elaborate real-life heists that have taken place throughout history – from the Wilcox train robbery of 1899 to Boston’s Great Brink robbery in 1950.

The eight-part series comes from Big Fish Entertainment and Anchor Entertainment and will feature “stylized” cinematic recreations and VFX. Dan Cesareo, Lucilla D’Agostino, Jordana Starr, Ethan Goldman, Mary E. Donahue and Jennifer Wagman exec produce.

Finally, Robin Roberts is exec producing Harlem Hellfighters. The four-part series will tell the story of the Hellfighters through the eyes of three men: band leader James Europe and Privates Henry Johnson and Horace Pippin.

A century ago, after intensive lobbying by civic leaders, an all-black regiment was formed in New York as the U.S. geared up to enter World War I. The group, which began as New York’s 15th infantry with most members from Harlem, faced intense racism at home as they trained and later confronted shocking discrimination in the field during the war. They were assigned to fight the Germans not alongside U.S. troops, but as part of the French Army; their own countrymen refused to fight with them. Even so, the men fought ferociously in the war’s horror filled trenches. They displayed extraordinary courage in battle after battle, earning the name Harlem Hellfighters and France’s highest military honor, the Croix de Guerre. The Hellfighters spent an unprecedented 191 days in combat, longer than any other American unit in the war.

The four-part series is produced by Rock’n RobinProductions and RadicalMedia. Roberts, who previously exec produced Tuskegee Airman: Legacy of Courage for the History Channel, exec produces alongside Reni Calister, Dave Sirulnick, Jon Kamen, Meredith Bennett and Mary E. Donahue.

Dishing with Digest - 2/25/22 - Eileen Davidson

SAG Awards Adds Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga & Will Smith As Presenters

The news comes after SAG said Tuesday that Hamilton stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr and Daveed Diggs have been set to open this year’s ceremony, which is Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT airing live on TNT and TBS from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

The casts of SAG’s film ensemble category that will be onstage Friday include Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill and Ciarán Hinds for Belfast; Daniel Durant, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin for CODA; Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tyler Perry for Don’t Look Up; Lady Gaga and Jared Leto for House of Gucci; and Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton and Will Smith for King Richard.

The SAG ceremony will also include Kate Winslet presenting the guild’s Life Achievement Award to Helen Mirren. Additional presenters so far include Alexandra Daddario, Rosario Dawson, Ross Butler and Vanessa Hudgens.

As for Miranda, Odom and Diggs, the SAG Awards have rarely dipped a toe in having a host, but have done “openers” of sorts including memorably Eugene and Dan Levy, who steered the top of the 2020 broadcast.

Miranda created Hamilton, the hip-hop story of founding father Alexander Hamilton, which stormed Broadway and won 11 Tony Awards in 2016 and went on to zeitgeist status. Odom played Aaron Burr and Diggs both the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson; each won a Tony. Miranda won for Book and Score and the play won Best Musical.

Miranda has been in the awards conversation this year via Disney’s Encanto and as director of Tick, Tick…Boom! both of which are Oscar-nominated. Odom was Oscar and SAG nominated last year for playing Sam Cooke in One Night In Miami. Diggs, who stars in TNT’s Snowpiercer, is up next on the big screen as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid.

Critics Choice Super Awards Nominations

BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR MOVIE
Barbara Crampton – Jakob’s Wife
Rebecca Hall – The Night House
Anya-Taylor Joy – Last Night in Soho
Thomasin McKenzie – Last Night in Soho
Agathe Rousselle – Titane
Millicent Simmonds – A Quiet Place Part II

BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE
Mahershala Ali – Swan Song
Timothée Chalamet – Dune
Leonardo DiCaprio – Don’t Look Up
Tom Hanks – Finch
Dev Patel – The Green Knight
Ryan Reynolds – Free Guy

BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE
Cate Blanchett – Don’t Look Up
Jodie Comer – Free Guy
Rebecca Ferguson – Dune
Mckenna Grace – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Jennifer Lawrence – Don’t Look Up
Alicia Vikander – The Green Knight

Dishing with Digest - 2/18/22 - A Martinez

Dishing with Digest - 2/4/22 - Robert Newman

BAFTA Film Awards: ‘Dune’ & ‘The Power Of The Dog’ Lead Nominations

Winners will be announced at the 2022 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, hosted by Rebel Wilson, on March 13 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

LEADING ACTOR
ADEEL AKHTAR Ali & Ava
MAHERSHALA ALI Swan Song
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH The Power of the Dog
LEONARDO DICAPRIO Don’t Look Up
STEPHEN GRAHAM Boiling Point
WILL SMITH King Richard

The Lewis Family - Rebecca Hollen, Robert Newman and Krista Tesreau 2/11/22

Rebecca made her daytime television debut on As the World Turns in the role of Tina Cornell in 1978 before joining Guiding Light in 1981. She played the role of Trish until November of 1985 and returned to the show a few times over the years. In addition to Tina and Trish, she played the part of Peggy Lazarus on Another World. Before working in daytime, Rebecca made a living working on stage and in commercials for Nabisco and Hallmark to name a few.

Robert Newman played Joshua Lewis on and off the canvas for 28 years. Since Guiding Light left the air, he has appeared on stage, in primetime and on film in several high-profile roles. Some of those roles include The Amazing Spider Man 2, Homeland, House of Cards, Criminal Minds and Law and Order: SVU to name a few. He just took over the role of Ashland Locke on CBS' The Young and the Restless and the fans can't wait to see what trouble Robert stirs up in Genoa City. Robert's first airdate on Y&R is February 9th.

Krista Tesreau Strauss played Melinda Sue Lewis for six years before departing Springfield for good in 1989. Fans were always happy to see her return over the years and were thrilled when she came back to the show at the end of the series to bring the "Four Musketeers" together one last time. Krista also returned to daytime television as Andi Klein on Santa Barbara. She assumed the role of the tantalizing Tina Roberts on One Life to Live in 1994, and played that role for three years. In addition to her daytime roles, Krista has appeared in several hit prime-time series.

A First Look at Robert Newman as Ashland Locke on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS

“What a wonderful first week of shooting,” Newman shared on Facebook on Jan. 23. “Five episodes in three days right out of the box. Couldn’t ask for a nicer bunch. And this character… what a wild ride. In the old days, we would have called it an E-Ticket. Cheers!”

Newman is best known for playing Josh Lewis for almost three decades on the much-missed GUIDING LIGHT, a role that earned him two Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor. During his daytime career, the actor also played Prescott Harrell on GENERAL HOSPITAL and Kirk Cranston on SANTA BARBARA. After GL was canceled, Newman took to the stage, appearing in productions of shows like Peter Pan, Nine, Death Trap, Gypsy, and Annie.

Soap fans are excited to see Newman back in daytime, though, and starting on Wednesday, Feb. 9, they’ll be able to see him step into the designer shoes of Ashland Locke just in time for some major drama! His marriage to Victoria seems to be going well, but they’re already butting heads over business. And it looks like Victor is about to discover the truth about Ashland’s cancer treatments. So make sure you tune in!

BAFTA Unveils Longlists For 2022 Film Awards

The Rising Star Award nominations will be announced on February 1. The full nominations will then be unveiled February 3. Round Three, to determine the winners, runs February 9 – March 8. The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards take place March 13, with a physical ceremony planned.

LEADING ACTOR
Riz Ahmed Encounter
Adeel Akhtar Ali & Ava
Mahershala Ali Swan Song
Javier Bardem Being The Ricardos
Daniel Craig No Time To Die
Benedict Cumberbatch The Power of the Dog
Leonardo DiCaprio Don’t Look Up
Peter Dinklage Cyrano
Adam Driver House of Gucci
Andrew Garfield tick tick…BOOM!
Stephen Graham Boiling Point
Cooper Hoffman Licorice Pizza
Joaquin Phoenix C’mon C’mon
Will Smith King Richard
Denzel Washington The Tragedy of Macbeth

SAG Awards Nominations

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BELFAST
CAITRÍONA BALFE / Ma
JUDI DENCH / Granny
JAMIE DORNAN / Pa
JUDE HILL / Buddy
CIARÁN HINDS / Pop
COLIN MORGAN / Billy Clanton

CODA
EUGENIO DERBEZ / Bernardo Villalobos
DANIEL DURANT / Leo Rossi
EMILIA JONES / Ruby Rossi
TROY KOTSUR / Frank Rossi
MARLEE MATLIN / Jackie Rossi
FERDIA WALSH-PEELO / Miles

DON’T LOOK UP
CATE BLANCHETT / Brie Evantee
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET / Yule
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / Dr. Randall Mindy
ARIANA GRANDE / Riley Bina
JONAH HILL / Jason Orlean
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Kate Dibiasky
MELANIE LYNSKEY / June Mindy
SCOTT MESCUDI / DJ Chello
ROB MORGAN / Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe
HIMESH PATEL / Phillip
RON PERLMAN / Benedict Drask
TYLER PERRY / Jack Bremmer
MARK RYLANCE / Peter Isherwell
MERYL STREEP / President Orlean

HOUSE OF GUCCI
ADAM DRIVER / Maurizio Gucci
LADY GAGA / Patrizia Reggiani
SALMA HAYEK / Pina Auriemma
JACK HUSTON / Domenico De Sole
JEREMY IRONS / Rodolfo Gucci
JARED LETO / Paolo Gucci
AL PACINO / Aldo Gucci

KING RICHARD
JON BERNTHAL / Rick Macci
AUNJANUE ELLIS / Oracene “Brandi” Williams
TONY GOLDWYN / Paul Cohen
SANIYYA SIDNEY / Venus Williams
DEMI SINGLETON / Serena Williams
WILL SMITH / Richard Williams

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

THE HANDMAID’S TALE
ALEXIS BLEDEL / Emily Malek
MADELINE BREWER / Janine Lindo
AMANDA BRUGEL / Rita Blue
ANN DOWD / Aunt Lydia Clements
O-T FAGBENLE / Luke Bankole
JOSEPH FIENNES / Commander Fred Waterford
SAM JAEGER / Mark Tuello
MAX MINGHELLA / Commander Nick Blaine
ELISABETH MOSS / June Osborne/Offred
YVONNE STRAHOVSKI / Serena Joy Waterford
BRADLEY WHITFORD / Commander Joseph Lawrence
SAMIRA WILEY / Moira Strand

THE MORNING SHOW
JENNIFER ANISTON / Alex Levy
SHARI BELAFONTE / Julia
ELI BILDNER / Joel Rapkin
NESTOR CARBONELL / Yanko Flores
STEVE CARELL / Mitch Kessler
BILLY CRUDUP / Cory Ellison
MARK DUPLASS / Charlie “Chip” Black
AMBER FRIENDLY / Layla Bell
JANINA GAVANKAR / Alison Namazi
VALERIA GOLINO / Paola Lambruschini
TARA KARSIAN / Gayle Berman
HANNAH LEDER / Isabella
GRETA LEE / Stella Bak
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Laura Peterson
JOE MARINELLI / Donny Spagnoli
MICHELLE MEREDITH / Lindsey Sherman
RUAIRI O’CONNOR / Ty Fitzgerald
JOE PACHECO / Bart Daley
KAREN PITTMAN / Mia Jordan
VICTORIA TATE / Rena Robinson
DESEAN K. TERRY / Daniel Henderson
REESE WITHERSPOON / Bradley Jackson

SQUID GAME
HEO SUNG-TAE / Deok-su
JUN YOUNG-SOO / Game Operator Voice
JUNG HO-YEON / Kang Sae-byeok
KIM JOO-RYOUNG / Mi-nyeo
LEE BYUNG-HUN / Front Man
LEE JUNG-JAE / Seong Gi-hun
OH YOUNG-SOO / Oh Il-nam
PARK HAE-SOO / Cho Sang-woo
ANUPAM TRIPATHI / Ali
WI HA-JUN / Hwang Jun-ho

SUCCESSION
NICHOLAS BRAUN / Greg Hirsch
JULIANA CANFIELD / Jess Jordan
BRIAN COX / Logan Roy
KIERAN CULKIN / Roman Roy
DAGMARA DOMINCZYK / Karolina Novotney
PETER FRIEDMAN / Frank Vernon
JIHAE / Berry Schneider
JUSTINE LUPE / Willa
MATTHEW MACFADYEN / Tom Wambsgans
DASHA NEKRASOVA / Comfrey Pellits
SCOTT NICHOLSON / Colin
DAVID RASCHE / Karl Muller
ALAN RUCK / Connor Roy
J. SMITH-CAMERON / Gerri Kellman
SARAH SNOOK / Shiv Roy
FISHER STEVENS / Hugo Baker
JEREMY STRONG / Kendall Roy
ZOË WINTERS / Kerry Castellabate

YELLOWSTONE
KELSEY ASBILLE / Monica Dutton
WES BENTLEY / Jamie Dutton
RYAN BINGHAM / Walker
GIL BIRMINGHAM / Thomas Rainwater
IAN BOHEN / Ryan
EDEN BROLIN / Mia
KEVIN COSTNER / John Dutton
HUGH DILLON / Sheriff Donnie Haskell
LUKE GRIMES / Kayce Dutton
HASSIE HARRISON / Laramie
COLE HAUSER / Rip Wheeler
JEN LANDON / Teeter
FINN LITTLE / Carter
BRECKEN MERRILL / Tate Dutton
WILL PATTON / Garrett Randle
PIPER PERABO / Summer Higgins
KELLY REILLY / Beth Dutton
DENIM RICHARDS / Colby
TAYLOR SHERIDAN / Travis
FORRIE J. SMITH / Lloyd
JEFFERSON WHITE / Jimmy Hurdstrom

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

THE GREAT
JULIAN BARRATT / Dr. Vinodel
BELINDA BROMILOW / Aunt Elizabeth
SACHA DHAWAN / Orlo
ELLE FANNING / Catherine
PHOEBE FOX / Marial
BAYO GBADAMOSI / Arkady
ADAM GODLEY / Archbishop
DOUGLAS HODGE / Velementov
NICHOLAS HOULT / Peter
FLORENCE KEITH-ROACH / Tatyana
GWILYM LEE / Grigor Dymov
CHARITY WAKEFIELD / Georgina

HACKS
ROSE ABDOO / Josefina
CARL CLEMONS-HOPKINS / Marcus Vaughan
PAUL W. DOWNS / Jimmy Lusaque, Jr.
HANNAH EINBINDER / Ava Daniels
MARK INDELICATO / Damien
POPPY LIU / Kiki
CHRIS McDONALD / Marty Ghilain
JEAN SMART / Deborah Vance
MEGAN STALTER / Kayla Schaeffer

THE KOMINSKY METHOD
JENNA LYNG ADAMS / Darshani
SARAH BAKER / Mindy Kominsky
CASEY THOMAS BROWN / Lane
MICHAEL DOUGLAS / Sandy Kominsky
LISA EDELSTEIN / Phoebe
ASHLEIGH LaTHROP / Breana
EMILY OSMENT / Theresa
HALEY JOEL OSMENT / Robbie
PAUL REISER / Martin
GRAHAM ROGERS / Jude
MELISSA TANG / Margaret
KATHLEEN TURNER / Roz

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING
AARON DOMINGUEZ / Oscar
SELENA GOMEZ / Mabel Mora
JACKIE HOFFMAN / Uma Heller
JAYNE HOUDYSHELL / Bunny
STEVE MARTIN / Charles-Haden Savage
AMY RYAN / Jan
MARTIN SHORT / Oliver Putnam

TED LASSO
ANNETTE BADLAND / Mae
KOLA BOKINNI / Isaac McAdoo
PHIL DUNSTER / Jamie Tartt
CRISTO FERNÁNDEZ / Dani Rojas
BRETT GOLDSTEIN / Roy Kent
BRENDAN HUNT / Coach Beard
TOHEEB JIMOH / Sam Obisanya
NICK MOHAMMED / Nathan Shelley
SARAH NILES / Dr. Sharon Fieldstone
JASON SUDEIKIS / Ted Lasso
JEREMY SWIFT / Leslie Higgins
JUNO TEMPLE / Keeley Jones
HANNAH WADDINGHAM / Rebecca Welton

Y&R Taps Guiding Light Vet

Newman, who played Josh Lewis on Guiding Light on-and-off from 1981-2009, will make his Y&R debut in February.

In announcing his departure, Burgi — who had joined the soap in March 2021 — said in an Instagram video, “I want to say thank you to all of you wonderful folks, who have been so kind and generous and supportive with your words, and I have such gratitude for the support. …. I’ve had a great year on Y&R, and just thoroughly enjoyed the great cast and crew.”

Dishing with Digest - 1/7/22 - Nancy Lee Grahn

Rainforest scientists name tree after Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio’s love for the environment now has the ultimate commemoration: a tree named after him.

Researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the United Kingdom, discovered a tree — and named it Uvariopsis dicaprio — in the Cameroon forest, which is hailed for its biodiversity.

The scientists wanted to honor DiCaprio’s ecological endeavors to save the rainforest, finding it fitting to name a tree after the actor.

“We think he was crucial in helping to stop the logging of the Ebo forest,” Kew botanist Martin Cheek told the BBC.

Logging, which refers to the process of cutting and transporting trees, increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, contributing to climate change.

Conservationists and researchers alike were aghast when large portions of the Ebo forest, one of the largest rainforests in central Africa, were going to be logged.

In 2020, DiCaprio, 47, campaigned to protect the forest, home to the Banen people and a diverse population of plants and animals. He posted appeals on social media, linking to a petition for his followers to sign.

DiCaprio’s efforts aided international experts, who wrote a letter to the Cameroonian government detailing the endangered species of both animals and plants that reside in the forest.

Later, the government revoked the logging plans for the forest, which has yet to be named a national park.

The “dicaprio” tree — a small, tropical evergreen with yellow flowers sprouting from the trunk — is the first plant officially named by Kew researchers this year. It’s a member of the ylang ylang plant family, and is already classified “critically endangered.”

Until a species has a scientific name, researchers have a difficult time assessing its risk of extinction, making protecting species impossible.

In 2021, over 200 plans and fungi worldwide were named by Kew scientists and collaborators, according to the BBC, and several of those new species are extinct or threatened because of climate change.

Cheek told the BBC that last year’s discoveries are a reminder that time is running out to find new species and protect them before extinction.

“There are still thousands of plant species and maybe millions of fungal species out there that we don’t know about,” he said. “This natural habitat that they’re growing in — especially forests, but other habitats, too — is increasingly and more rapidly being destroyed by us humans without knowing what’s there.”

Leonardo DiCaprio jumped into a frozen lake to save his dog

The actor was in Boston shooting his new film Don’t Look Up at the time, and the revelation came during an Entertainment Weekly interview with him, several co-stars and director Adam McKay.

“One of the dogs fell in,” said Jennifer Lawrence, “and he jumped in the frozen lake to save the dog and as soon as he pushed the one dog out of the pond the other one jumped in.”

Added DiCaprio: “The other one started licking the one that was drowning and then we all were in the frozen lake together.” Lawrence wrapped up the story, saying, “And I’m sure you guys are all wondering, I was too, he immediately got naked in the car.”

Golden Globes Nominations

LEONARDO DICAPRIO - DON’T LOOK UP
PETER DINKLAGE - CYRANO
ANDREW GARFIELD - TICK, TICK…BOOM!
COOPER HOFFMAN - LICORICE PIZZA
ANTHONY RAMOS - IN THE HEIGHTS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

UZO ADUBA - IN TREATMENT
JENNIFER ANISTON - THE MORNING SHOWCHRISTINE BARANSKI - THE GOOD FIGHT
ELISABETH MOSS - THE HANDMAID’S TALE
MICHAELA JAÉ RODRIGUEZ - POSE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

BRIAN COX - SUCCESSION
LEE JUNG-JAE - SQUID GAMEBILLY PORTER - POSE
JEREMY STRONG - SUCCESSION
OMAR SY - LUPIN

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

HANNAH EINBINDER - HACKS
ELLE FANNING - THE GREAT
ISSA RAE - INSECURE
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS - BLACK-ISHJEAN SMART - HACKS

Toni Braxton & Angie Harmon Lifetime Movies Round Out Casts With Eddie Cibrian, Kelly Hu & Kristoffer Polaha

Eddie Cibrian (Northern Lights, CSI Miami) has joined the first installment of Braxton’s Fallen Angels, while Kelly Hu (List of a Lifetime, Scorpion King) joins the cast of the second film. Both films are based on the Hollis Morgan mystery book series by author R. Franklin James.

Cibrian stars as Avery Mitchell, Hollis Morgan’s (Braxton) charismatic boss, while Hu will make her debut in the second installment as the mysterious Joelle. Both productions have started filming and will premiere in 2022. Additionally, Harmon’s Barstow (working title) movies has added Kristoffer Polaha (Jurassic World: Dominion, Wonder Woman 1984) as Elliot, a mysterious stranger with a troubling past.

In the first installment of Fallen Angels Murder Club (wt), members of the Club must have two things in common – a love for books and have a criminal record. Hollis Morgan (Braxton) meets both requirements. Left holding the bag in an insurance fraud scheme concocted by her ex-husband, Hollis served her time and now hopes the court will pardon her conviction so she can return to law school and fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer. But when a member of her book club is murdered in a scene straight out of the previous night’s novel, Hollis once again becomes the subject of police scrutiny. Refusing to get stuck with another bad rap, Hollis sets out to investigate her fellow club members and after a second book-inspired murder, she races to identify the killer before she becomes the next victim.

Cast also includes Keith D. Robinson (Dreamgirls, Saints & Sinners), Lisa Berry (Working Moms, Supernatural), Yanic Truesdale (Gilmore Girls), Kaitlyn Leeb (Spinning Out), Humberly Gonzalez (Ginny & Georgia), Rainbow Sun Francks (Umbrella Academy), Henderson Wade (Dear White People, Riverdale), Rob Stewart (Killjoys, Suits, Nikita), Raoul Bhaneja (Blind Spot, Clarice, The Lost Symbol) and Shawn Ahmed.

The Fallen Angels Murder Club films fall in line with Lifetime’s Broader Focus initiative which supports the hiring of women in key production roles. The movies are produced for Lifetime by Brain Power Studio and executive produced by Beth Stevenson, Nancy Yeaman, Toni Braxton and Rhonda Baraka. The films are written and directed by Baraka.

In Barstow (wt),Harmon stars as Hazel King, a single mother determined to shield her daughter from the life she once had while protecting and defending those who can’t protect themselves. Plucked off the streets of Las Vegas at 15, Hazel was trained as a hit woman until a surprisng pregnancy drives her to leave it all behind. Living as a single mother running a diner in Barstow with her teenage daughter, Hazel’s past eventually catches up with her and she’s pulled back in for one more hit.

Additional cast include Lauren Richards (Venom, Doom Patrol), George Paez (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mom), Tim Granaderos (13 Reasons Why, T@gged), Gabriel Rodriguez (The Suicide Squad, Chicago P.D.), Casey Mills (Catrachos and Kings, Ozark), Ben Cain (Cruel Summer, Panic), Anthony Reynolds (Dopesick, I, Tonya) and Nelson Bonilla (Ozark, The Haunting of Hill House).

The Barstow movies are produced for Lifetime by Untitled Entertainment and executive produced by Angie Harmon, Michael Rosenberg, Laura Notarianni, Stan Spry and Eric Scott Woods. The first film is written by Tom Evans and directed by Howie Deutch.

Leonardo DiCaprio In Final Talks To Star & Produce ‘Jim Jones’ At MGM; Scott Rosenberg Writing

MGM scooped up the Scott Rosenberg-penned script in what we hear was a seven-figure deal. The Venom scribe will also executive produce Jim Jones.

Jones founded the Peoples Temple in Indianapolis in 1955, and hailed it as a fully integrated congregation promoting Christian Socialism. By the 1970s he openly rejected traditional Christianity and claimed that he was God. He constructed Jonestown in Guyana in 1974 and spurred a following to live with him there as he touted a socialist paradise free from U.S. government oppression.

Amid rumors of human rights abuses, the American government sent a delegation led by U.S. Representative Leo Ryan in November 1978. Ryan, along with four others, would eventually be gunned down by Jones’ followers. Following the shooting, Jones orchestrated a mass murder-suicide of his followers, which took the lives of 918 commune members, 304 of them children, in an act that entailed drinking Flavor Aid laced with cyanide.

DiCaprio stars next in Netflix’s Adam McKay comedy Don’t Look Up opposite Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and Ariana Grande among others. He also stars next in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon for Apple Originals Films. DiCaprio has been nominated at the Oscars seven times and won Best Actor for 2016’s The Revenant.

DiCaprio is repped by LBI Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson.

Rosenberg’s feature writing credits include Beautiful Girls, Con Air, High Fidelity, Gone in 60 Seconds, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level. He’s an executive producer on the upcoming miniseries Citadel, Epix/MGM’s From and Netflix’s live-action series Cowboy Bebop, as well as Hulu’s High Fidelity among several others. Rosenberg is repped by WME and Sloane, Offer.

With Jim Jones, MGM continues to bet on theatrical. The studio has a full dance card this awards season with Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci on November 24, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza on November 26 (it features a cameo by George DiCaprio, Leonardo’s father) and Joe Wright’s feature musical Cyrano on December 31. Their 25th James Bond movie, No Time to Die, is closing in on the $700 million global gross mark, the second highest-grossing title of the pandemic behind Universal’s F9. As an actor and producer, DiCaprio’s movies have grossed over $7.9 billion worldwide. Since its launch, Appian Way has released a diverse slate of films including Alejandro González Iñárritu’s three-time Academy Award and Golden Globe winner The Revenant, Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated The Wolf of Wall Street and Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning The Aviator. Other credits include Peabody winner Sea of Shadows, Shutter Island, Scott Cooper’s Out of the Furnace and George Clooney’s Golden Globe-nominated The Ides of March. Appian currently is in production on Shining Girls for Apple+ starring Elizabeth Moss.

Appian Way has put forth strong efforts in the documentary world, especially as it pertains to progressive environmental change. It recently worked in partnership with the History Channel on Grant, and National Geographic to produce Before the Flood. It also worked with Netflix on the Oscar-nominated Virunga, directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, and Kip Anderson’s Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. Appian is in partnership with Netflix on several additional documentaries including The Ivory Game, How to Change the World and Catching the Sun. Recently released projects include Ice on Fire with HBO, And We Go Green for Hulu, Eli Roth’s Fin for Discovery+ and The Loneliest Whale.

Patrick Mulcahey Interview 11/11/21

Patrick has written for Another World (briefly), Texas, Guiding Light (twice), Loving, Santa Barbara, General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful, two short-lived primetime series, and two Movies of the Week. Patrick earned his first Emmy win at Guiding Light working where he was working side by side with Douglas Marland until Douglas left the show. 40 years after his start at Search for Tomorrow, Patrick left The Bold and the Beautiful at the end of 2019 and in his post-soap pandemic shutdown life, he’s writing plays nobody’s seen (no eyeballs in shutdown theaters), submitting to contests nobody’s heard of (won three of them, though), and enjoying the wilds of the North Cascade Mountains in Washington state, where he lives quietly and happily with his husband, who’s also named Patrick Mulcahey, to the amusement of everyone but the TSA. (In Patrick's words)

Vincent Irizarry Returns to DAYS OF OUR LIVES!

Actor Vincent Irizarry — who played Victor’s black-sheep half brother for a little over a year — confirmed his return on Facebook. Punctuating his announcement with a devil-face emoji, Irizarry teased, “Heeeeere’s Deimos!” and informed at least one excited viewer that he’d be airing on DAYS “next week.”

Although Irizarry didn’t divulge any details of his return from the grave, his return lines up with a teaser from the soap that Nicole’s past will come back to haunt her on Nov. 2. As longtime DAYS fans will recall, Nicole killed Deimos back in 2017 when he drugged everyone at a party with the hallucinogen Halo so he could steal a priceless amulet that belonged to Sonny. During a struggle with Nicole, Deimos was accidentally stabbed by his drugged ex and died on the living room floor of Martin House.

In addition to his role on DAYS, soap-hopper Irizarry has played ALL MY CHILDREN villain David Hayward, GUIDING LIGHT twins Lujack Luvanoczeck and Nick Spaulding, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ politician David Chow, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Dr. Jordan Armstrong, and SANTA BARBARA’s Scott Clark.

DAYS typically does a standalone Halloween episode where a character has a crazy dream of some sort. But with the devil running around town in control of Marlena, anything crazy that happens can impact the soap’s storyline for real this year! Stay tuned to see which other familiar faces from the past will be rising from their graves this Halloween in Salem!

Judith McConnell Interview 10/22/21

Judith was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and started dance classes at age 6. She has continued with dance for most of her life and today she takes a weekly tap and jazz class. She was accepted and attended the renowned Carnegie Mellon School of Acting.

Upon leaving college, Judith went to New York City and immediately landed a commercial. Shortly thereafter, she was offered a role in a pilot shooting in Los Angeles. In LA she started booking work, doing an original Star Trek, and had recurring roles in Dragnet, Beverly Hillbillies, Mayberry RFD, Green Acres and guest starring in Mannix, The Streets of San Francisco and many others. She also worked in the theatre at The Rocking Chair Playhouse and The Century City Playhouse.

Judith’s first daytime role was in General Hospital, where she played Augusta McLeod. Then New York City came calling her back for roles in As the World Turns (Valerie Conway), Another World (Amanda Bishop), and One Life to Live (Eva Vasquez). She soon returned to Hollywood for the part of Sophia Capwell on Santa Barbara.

Robin Wright To Receive Stockholm Film Festival Achievement Award

Kenneth Branagh will be in Stockholm to pic up an Achievement Award after a screening of his new movie Belfast, which is seen as a hot contender in this year’s awards season, on November 20.

Jane Campion, whose The Power Of The Dog screens at the fest, is receiving the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Awards this year, and will collect it on November 18.

Robin Wright, whose Land is playing in Stockholm, will receive an Achievement Award on November 18.

The festival has also confirmed its final program, which features 43% female directors, a new high-watermark for the event. Movies also screening include Annette, Spencer, Jane by Charlotte, The Hand Of God, and The Souvenir Part II.

Stockholm Film Festival takes place November 10-21.

Leonardo DiCaprio-Backed Electric Automaker Polestar Valued At $20 Billion In SPAC Deal

The company, founded in 2017 by Volvo Cars and Chinese automotice group Zhejiang Geely Holding, has two cars, Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, currently on roads in Europe, North America and Asia and plans to launch three new models by 2024. Existing investors include Volvo Car Group, Geely and actor and activist DiCaprio.

The company Monday announced plans to merger with a SPAC, or special purpose acquisition company, Gores Guggenheim, formed by the Gores Group global investment firm, and Guggenheim Capital. On closing, a new public company called Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited will be listed on the Nasdaq market under the ticker symbol PSNY. The transaction implies an enterprise value for the business of approximately USD $20 billion. SPACS, called “blank check” companies, are created by investors often teamed with executives to raise cash by going public. They scout for promising private companies to buy. Those companies get automatic public listings without having to go through an onerous IPO process. The actor is a longtime environmental activist who has established foundations and raised funds for organizations from the WWF, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Green USA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. He’s a founding board member of Re:Wild, which aims to protect and restore biodiversity. In 2014, The Secretary-General designated DiCaprio as a Messenger of Peace with a special focus on climate change ahead of the 2014 Climate Summit.

‘Don’t Look Up’ Clip: Jennifer Lawrence & Leonardo DiCaprio Warn President Of Incoming Comet In Adam McKay’s Latest

In the Oscar-winning writer-director’s satirical sci-fi pic, a meteor is coming to Earth. So what are we gonna do about it? Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio play Drs. Kate Dibiasky and Randall Mindy, two low-level astronomers who go on a media tour to warn mankind that the end of days might be near.

The new clip takes us into the White House, watching as the scientists attempt to convince President Janie Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her son and Chief of Staff Jason (Jonah Hill) that they should be worried about what’s to come.

While Mindy shares that the meteor is “5 to 10 kilometers across” and will cause “mile-high tsunamis,” the President and her son can’t be bothered by the news. “I’m so bored,” Jason says. “Seriously, stop.”

The White House meeting closes with Jason urging the scientists to “Sit tight and assess.”

Don’t Look Up also stars Timothée Chalamet, Mark Rylance, Cate Blanchett, Melanie Lynskey, Gina Gershon, Ron Perlman, Matthew Perry, Ariana Grande, Tyler Perry, Michael Chiklis, Himesh Patel, Kid Cudi and more.

McKay and Kevin J. Messick produced under their Hyperobject Industries banner.

Check out the new clip from the film above.

Basil Hoffman Dies: Veteran Film/TV Actor And Author Was 83

Hoffman appeared in more than 200 roles in TV and films. The veteran character actor was a recurring player in several series, including Hill Street Blues, Santa Barbara, Square Pegs and Courage, New Hampshire.

Born in Houston, Hoffman graduated Tulane University with an economics degree, then headed to New York. He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and scored several commercials and bit parts before heading to Hollywood.

His acting resume includes roles in the Academy Award-winning films Ordinary People and The Artist, as well as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Hail Caesar!, All the President’s Men, Comes a Horseman, The Milagro Beanfield War and Down With Love, among others.

In television, he had roles in Seinfeld, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Waltons, Sanford and Son, Columbo, Night Court, L.A. Law, Murder, She Wrote and The West Wing.

His final role will be in the feature comedy Lucky Louie, which is in post-production.

Beyond his acting career, Hoffman was an author of the books Cold Reading and How to Be Good at It, Acting and How to Be Good at It, and Acting and How to Be Good at It: The Second Edition.

No information was immediately available on survivors or memorial plans.

Camilla Cabello Leads Leonardo DiCaprio, Dozens Of A-listers Calling On Google, Amazon, Fox, Netflix, Disney & More To Demand Congress Support Biden’s Climate Plan

Boldfaced signatories to the group letter included J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti, Cate Blanchett, Jack Antonoff, Don Cheadle, Ellen DeGeneres, Selena Gomez, Chris Evans, Jimmy Kimmel, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Chuck Lorre, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Porter, Robert Redford, Ryan Reynolds, Shakira, Barbra Streisand, Wes Studi, Justin Timberlake, Kerry Washington and many more. The full list of names is below.

The effort was spearheaded by the National Resources Defense Council Action Fund and actress/singer Camila Cabello, who convinced the sizable group of A-listers to speak out, specifically about the need to address climate change. (On Monday, a group of 17 Nobel Prize-winning economists also signed a letter in support of Biden’s plan.)

Manish Bapna, President and CEO of the NRDC Action Fund said, “These are the tastemakers of our time—and in moments like these they have an opportunity to be the changemakers, too. What started as an idea by Camila Cabello has exploded into a clarion call from entertainers overnight to take action. Congress holds in its hands our best chance at combating our biggest environmental challenge yet. We need all hands on deck to make sure they seize it, and these industry leaders can play a critical role in making sure that they do.”

In today’s initiative, the artists call out the following execs by name: Lincoln Benet at Access Industries (Warner Music Group), Sundar Pichai at Alphabet (Google, YouTube), Andy Jassy at Amazon, Tim Cook at Apple, John Stankey at AT&T (WarnerMedia), Brian Roberts at Comcast, David Zaslav at Discovery (and soon Warner Bros. Discovery), Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook, Lachlan Murdoch at Fox, Reed Hastings at Netflix, Kenichiro Yoshida at Sony, Robert Bakish at ViacomCBS, Arnaud de Puyfontaine at Vivendi (Universal Music Group) and Bob Chapek at Walt Disney.

The letter says, in part:

As the top leaders of the entertainment industry—one of the nation’s most powerful and influential business sectors—you are needed to lead our community’s call for action and embrace this vision for a better world. The entertainment community has a long, proud tradition of driving societal change. Our industry is already leading the charge toward more sustainable practices within our own businesses and productions. Now is the time to use your influence to shape our future.”

Congress needs to hear you demand, unequivocally, that it put forward and pass the most ambitious climate change agenda in U.S. history.

“It’s no secret that climate change is here and is already affecting people’s lives across the globe,” wrote Cabello in her post on Instagram about the effort. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to act boldly to fight the climate crisis, so I am honored to join over 60 fellow artists to call on leaders of the entertainment industry to use their power and demand that Congress pass @potus’s #BuildBackBetter agenda this fall.”

The standard was taken up by longtime environmental champion DiCaprio, who tweeted to his 19 million followers, “This fall, Congress has a rare opportunity to invest in a clean, just, and equitable future by passing the Build Back Better agenda. This is our moment, and there is no time to waste. Join us and @NRDC_AF…” Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is an NRDC board member, said the following in a statement: “People are seeing the impacts of climate change first-hand, from climate-fueled wildfires, to floods and storms,” said . “We cannot wait longer to act and we must use our voices to demand that our government leaders pass President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.”

The full text of the letter and a list of its signatories are below.

Dear Entertainment Industry Executives:

Climate change has arrived on our doorstep: California is on fire, record-breaking and deadly storms are flooding New York City, hurricanes are devastating the Gulf. This summer alone, nearly one in every three people in the United States experienced an extreme weather event.

Scientists warn that if we fail to act now, every single one of us will feel the impacts, a billion people will be displaced, and low-income people and communities of color will continue to be hit first and worst. Right now, we have a critical window of opportunity to do something about it. And we need all hands on deck to demand that our leaders protect the people we love and the places they live before it’s too late.

Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in a clean, just, and equitable future for all by passing the robust climate action that President Biden called for in his Build Back Better agenda. This legislation will create healthier communities, put millions to work in clean energy jobs, and free us from the fossil fuels that are driving climate change.

As the top leaders of the entertainment industry—one of the nation’s most powerful and influential business sectors—you are needed to lead our community’s call for action and embrace this vision for a better world. The entertainment community has a long, proud tradition of driving societal change. Our industry is already leading the charge toward more sustainable practices within our own businesses and productions. Now is the time to use your influence to shape our future.

Congress needs to hear you demand, unequivocally, that it put forward and pass the most ambitious climate change agenda in U.S. history.

The plan currently before Congress will protect people’s health and clean up our drinking water. It will create a just transition away from dirty fossil fuels and create millions of new jobs. It will protect communities from climate change through investments in clean energy, clean transportation, and infrastructure upgrades. And it will make sure we finally prioritize and invest in the low-income communities and communities of color that are hit hardest by both fossil fuel pollution and climate impacts.

This plan will create a stronger, brighter, and more just America—and we need you to help make this vision a reality.

At this pivotal moment, please lead the call. Demand publicly and loudly that our senators and representatives in Congress pass this critical legislation.

And we pledge to do our part as well. We will use our platforms to remind all Americans: Tell your senators and representatives in Congress that you demand climate action now. Advocate for Congress to take up the president’s climate agenda. And don’t stop there. Tweet. Post. E-mail. Call. Whatever it takes.

Sincerely,

J.J. Abrams
Anitta
Jack Antonoff
Troian Bellisario
Greg Berlanti
Cate Blanchett
Benny Blanco
Dave Burd aka “Lil Dicky”
Camila Cabello
Dove Cameron
Alessia Cara
Don Cheadle
Glenn Close
Coldplay
Jacob Collier
Lily Collins
James Corden
Ellen DeGeneres
Cara Delevingne
Leonardo DiCaprio
Zac Efron
Billie Eilish
Chris Evans
Jimmy Fallon
Finneas
Selena Gomez
Conan Gray
Grimes
Todrick Hall
Hugh Jackman
Jimmy Kimmel
Joey King
Liza Koshy
Lady Gaga
Cyndi Lauper
John Legend
Adam Levine
Kevin Liles
Dua Lipa
Lorde
Chuck Lorre
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Demi Lovato
Ziggy Marley
Shawn Mendes
Idina Menzel
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Sean Penn
Joaquin Phoenix
Billy Porter
Zachary Quinto
Addison Rae
Robert Redford
Ryan Reynolds
Mark Ronson
Kyra Sedgwick
Shakira
Lilly Singh
Troye Sivan
Barbra Streisand
Wes Studi
Ryan Tedder
Justin Timberlake
Kerry Washington
Sigourney Weaver
Shailene Woodley
Calum Worthy.

‘Don’t Look Up’ Teaser: Jennifer Lawrence & Leonardo DiCaprio Try To Save The World But Can’t Get Its Attention

Here’s the first teaser for Don’t Look Up, Adam McKay’s satirical feature for Netflix starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio as a pair of low-level astronomers who go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of the impending disaster. Have a look above.

And if those Oscar-winning stars and filmmaker — or that flaming ball in the sky — don’t get your attention, how’s this for a supporting cast: Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, Michael Chiklis and Tomer Sisley? Oh, and a couple of rising actresses named Meryl Street and Cate Blanchett.

Here’s your doomsday scenario: Kate Dibiasky (Lawrence), an astronomy grad student, and her professor Dr. Randall Mindy (DiCaprio) make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system. The problem — it’s on a direct collision course with Earth. The other problem? No one really seems to care. Turns out that warning mankind about a planet-killer the size of Mount Everest is an inconvenient fact to navigate. With the help of Dr. Oglethorpe (Morgan), Kate and Randall embark on a media tour that takes them from the office of an indifferent President Orlean (Streep) and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason (Hill), to the airwaves of The Daily Rip, an upbeat morning show hosted by Brie (Blanchett) and Jack (Perry). With only six months until the comet makes impact, managing the 24-hour news cycle and gaining the attention of the social media-obsessed public before it’s too late proves shockingly comical.

What will it take to get the world to just look up?!

The Big Short‘s McKay wrote and directed the comedy based on a story he penned with David Sirota and also produced the pic with Kevin Messick. It hails from McKay’s Hyperobject Industries. Part of Netflix’s recently announced fall slate, Don’t Look Up crashes into theaters on December 10, followed by the streaming release two weeks later.

Lifetime Sets Premiere Dates For Fall Movies With Jill Scott, Heather Locklear, Shannen Doherty, More

Full Fall schedule and descriptions below. All times at 8pm/7c.

Sept 6: Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace
(Sydney Morton, Jordan Dean)

Sept 18: Imperfect High
(Sherri Shepherd, Nia Sioux)

Sept 24: Dying to Marry Him
(Only on Lifetime Movie Club)

Oct 2: The Good Father: The Martin MacNeill Story
(Tom Everett Scott, Anwen O’ Driscoll, Charisma Carpenter, EP Nancy Grace)

Oct 9: Dying to Belong
(Shannen Doherty, Favour Onwuka, Jenika Rose)

Oct 10: List of a Lifetime
(Kelly Hu, Sylvia Kawn, Shannen Doherty, Patricia Velasquez)

Oct 16: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
(Heather Locklear, Natasha Bure, EP Meghan McCain, Kris Carlson)

Oct 17: Fighting for Her Life

Oct 23: Switched Before Birth
(Justina Machado, Skyler Samuels, director Elisabeth Rohm)

Oct 24: The Fight That Never Ends

Oct 30: Torn From Her Arms
(Judy Reyes, Gloria Reuben, Fatima Molina)

Nov 6: Highway to Heaven
(Jill Scott, Barry Watson)

Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace
Premieres September 6 at 8/7c

Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace explores what really happened inside the palace that drove Harry (Jordan Dean) and Meghan (Sydney Morton) to leave everything behind in order to make a future for themselves and their son Archie. The movie will detail Meghan’s growing isolation and sadness, their disappointment that “The Firm” was not defending them against the press’s attacks and Harry’s fear that history would repeat itself and he would not be able to protect his wife and son from the same forces that may have contributed to his mother’s untimely death. Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace will examine the dynamics between Will and Harry, Kate and Meghan, and Harry with Will and Charles, that lead to the ultimate break from the royal ties.

Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace is executive produced by Merideth Finn and Michele Weiss. Menhaj Huda will direct from a script by Scarlett Lacey. A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights to the three-film Harry & Meghan franchise.

Imperfect High
Premieres September 18 at 8/7c

Imperfect High is the story of Hanna Brooks (Nia Sioux), the new girl in town who is looking to find her place and fit in at Lakewood High School, which was rocked a couple of years earlier by the shocking drug overdose of a popular student. Hanna suffers from an anxiety disorder and the move to a new school is especially stressful for her. While trying to fit in with the “it” crowd, she finds herself pulled between two boys – a bad boy with a heart of gold, and an alluring, popular rich kid who is not as straight of an arrow as he seems. Her relationship with them sweeps her into a dangerous situation that her mother Deborah (Sherri Shepherd) must fight to save her from. Ali Skovbye (Firefly Lane) also stars.

Imperfect High is produced by Tina Pehme and Kim C. Roberts of Sepia Films for Lifetime. Sheri Singer is the executive producer, and Siobhan Devine directs from a script written by Anne-Marie Hess. The film reunites the producers and writer of Perfect High.

Dying to Marry Him
Premieres September 24 only on Lifetime Movie Club

Starring Anna Marie Dobbins and Andrea Hickey. No longer recognizable, Amy returns to her hometown and becomes the wedding planner for her first love with her mind set on getting him back no matter what the cost.

The Good Father: The Martin MacNeill Story
Premieres October 2 at 8/7c

Based on actual events, The Good Father tells the story of Dr. MacNeill (Tom Everett Scott) and the incredible life he led with his former beauty queen wife, Michele (Charisma Carpenter) and their eight children. A pillar of the community, he was respected and loved by all especially by his daughter Alexis (O’Driscoll) who adored him and even wanted to follow in his footsteps to become a doctor. But everything soon changes after Dr. MacNeill convinces Michele to have plastic surgery, ultimately leading to her drowning while on prescription medication. Just a few short weeks after his wife’s suspicious death, Dr. MacNeill brings home Gypsy Willis, a new live-in “nanny” for his children but who is in actuality his mistress. Shocked by her father’s actions, Alexis begins to question everything she has known about him and discovers the depth of his lies, including his bogus medical credentials, falsified military records, and that the man and good doctor she once revered, was capable of murder.

The Good Father: The Martin MacNeill Story is produced by Good Doctor Films Inc. for Lifetime. Nancy Grace and bestselling author Josh Sabarra executive produce alongside Howard Braunstein. Annie Bradley directs from a script written by John Fasano and Abdi Nazemian.

Dying to Belong
Premieres October 9 at 8/7c

A remake of the classic 1997 film, Dying to Belong tells the story of journalism major Olivia (Onwuka) meets Riley (Rose), a shy freshman who suffers from anxiety, they become fast friends. Riley, whose mother Katherine (Doherty) was a legacy Pi Gamma Beta, decides to rush in hopes of following Katherine’s footsteps and is ecstatic when Olivia joins her. Sensing the opportunity to go undercover to write a story about hazing practices, Olivia soon discovers there are deadly secrets involved in being part of the “sisterhood.”

Dying to Belong is produced by Pink Buffalo Films and Wishing Floor Films with Danielle von Zerneck (The Christmas Set Up) executive producing, Gail Harvey (Gone Mom: The Disappearance of Jennifer Dulos) directs from a script from Caitlin D. Freyers (Wynona Earp). Shawn Angelski (Story of a Girl) also serves as executive producer.

List of a Lifetime
Premieres October 10 at 8/7c

List of a Lifetime follows Brenda Lee (Kelly Hu) who is diagnosed with breast cancer, is prompted to look for the daughter she gave up for adoption decades ago. After finding Talia (Sylvia Kwan) and sharing her devasting news, Talia convinces Brenda to make a bucket list of everything she wants to do, promising to help her complete everything on the list. While keeping Brenda a secret from her adoptive parents Diana (Shannen Doherty) and Marty (Jamie Kahler, How I Met Your Mother), Talia grows closer to the mother she never knew. Meanwhile, Brenda discovers a meaningful relationship with Talia she didn’t know she needed, and a reason to fight for her life.

Patricia Velasquez stars as Brenda’s best friend, Meg while Jane Sibbett stars as Brenda’s oncologist, Dr. Elizabeth Boyer. Jim Klock (Underground Railroad) also appears in the film as Brenda’s supervisor, Kevin and Chad Lindberg (The Fast and the Furious) plays Brenda’s boyfriend, Mike.

List of a Lifetime also falls under Lifetime’s Broader Focus initiative which champions women in key production roles. The movie is produced by Ninth House Films and MarVista Entertainment and is directed by Roxy Shih and written by Jessica Landry. Producers for The Ninth House are Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren while Marianne C. Wunch, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew executive produce for MarVista Entertainment. The film also included a diverse predominately female crew with Daphne Wu as the director of photography, Hanuel Kim as the gaffer and many others.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Premieres October 16 at 8/7c

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff is about Kristine Carlson (Heather Locklear) and her husband Dr. Richard Carlson (Jason MacDonald) had an amazing life with their two daughters. But when Richard tragically passes away, Kristine is knocked off balance. Comfortable with living in Richard’s shadow, she is now forced to navigate the unchartered territory of becoming a single mom while dealing with pressure to become the new face and voice of the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff brand. Looking deep inside herself, Kristine comes to understand the true essence of emotional authenticity and not sweating the small stuff, which leads to the resilience and confidence needed to carry on the legacy of the beloved brand.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff is produced for Lifetime by The Johnson Production Group and Teitelbaum Artists. Maura Dunbar (The American Bible Challenge, What Should You Do?), Mark Teitelbaum (Superior Donuts, The Crazy Ones) and Meghan McCain (The View, Moms) are executive producers. Ellen S. Pressman will direct from a script written by Shannon Bradley-Colleary.

Fighting for Her Family
Premieres October 17 at 8/7c

Inspired by a true story, Devina has always wanted to be a mother and after years of trying and many miscarriages, Devina and her husband, Rick, have all but given up–until Devina discovers she’s pregnant again with a healthy baby girl. Adding to her stress is Devina’s mother, Ani, who is against her being with Rick, let alone having his child. When Devina collapses midway through her pregnancy, she is taken to the hospital and discovers she has a life-threatening blood disorder. Now, with every day possibly being her last, Devina is determined to see the pregnancy to term and deliver her miracle baby. Will Devina’s baby girl survive and have a mommy waiting for her when she arrives? Starring Aisha Kumari, Adam Huss, Alice Amter

Switched Before Birth
Premieres October 23 at 8/7c

Switched Before Birth follows Olivia Crawford (Skyler Samuels) and her husband Brian (Bo Yokely), who after multiple miscarriages, numerous failed IVF trials and stretching themselves to the limit financially, finally receive the joyous news that she’s pregnant with twins. While going through her latest round of IVF, Oliva meets and becomes fast friends with Anna Ramirez (Machado), who is struggling to have a child after years of focusing on her successful restaurants. When Anna becomes pregnant as well, the ladies celebrate and begin to prepare for their babies. Olivia is also there for Anna when she suffers a devastating miscarriage and struggles to move forward while her marriage to restaurateur Gabe Ramirez (Yancey Arias) crumbles. When Olivia and Brian finally welcome their twins Olivia’s life feels complete, but the happy couple’s world is turned upside down when they discover that not only are the babies not twins, but one of the babies is also biologically Anna and Gabe’s that was implanted into Olivia by mistake. Now pitted against each other, Olivia will do anything to keep the baby that she carried, while Anna will stop at nothing to bring her son home.

Switched Before Birth is produced by Big Dreams Entertainment and Swirl for Lifetime. Leslie Greif, Laurie Pozmantier and Stacy Mandelberg serve as executive producers and Elisabeth Rohm directs a script from Kelly Fullerton. Eric Tomosunas also serves as executive producer and Alex Kerr and Ron Robinson serve as producers.

The Fight That Never Ends
Sunday, October 24 at at 8/7c

Leon Watkins (Allen Payne) runs a community helpline in South Central LA, where anyone in need of help is welcome. One of his most frequent visitors is local gang leader, John Wesley Hunter (Robert Ri’chard), otherwise known as “Joker” to the streets. After a day of hustling and almost losing his life in a shoot-out, Joker goes to the one place where he knows he can get help. All in a typical day’s work for Leon until an unlikely woman, Joanne (Christa B. Allen), shows up insisting on aiding him in his fight for his community. This unlikely team defies social constructs by working together to actively fight oppression and gain nation-wide recognition for a hidden reality of many. Along their way they experience the deep-seeded hatred that has plagued America, great love, and tragedy as they leave behind a legacy.

The Fight That Never Ends is inspired by Joanne Beck’s story, who also serves as a producer alongside Dahlia Waingort. The film is produced by Electric Entertainment and Brandani Productions, in association with Sunset Pictures, and is directed by Preston A. Whitmore ll.

Torn From Her Arms
Premieres October 30 at 8/7c

Torn From Her Arms is based on a true story, originally covered by the OZY editorial team. Amidst the ongoing crisis at the U.S. border, the timely film depicts the harrowing true story of a mother and daughter who must find their way back to each other after being separated. Judy Reyes (Devious Maids, Claws) takes on the role of Thelma Garcia, a Texas Immigration lawyer who works tirelessly to reunite the pair, and Gloria Reuben (Mr. Robot, ER) portrays Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist ProPublica reporter, Ginger Thompson, who broke the story. The movie follows Cindy Madrid (Fátima Molina, Who Killed Sara?) and her six-year-old daughter, Ximena (Camila Nuñez), who fled violence in El Salvador for safety in the U.S., only to be separated at the border as a part of the Administration’s Zero Tolerance Policy. Detained in detention centers in different states, Cindy and Ximena endured inhumane living conditions and inadequate medical care, but that was nothing compared to the emotional toll of being apart. Their story would gain national attention when a whistleblower leaked a gut-wrenching audiotape of six-year-old Ximena crying for her mother. The onslaught of media attention incited by Ginger’s story alerted the nation to the cruelties being committed against undocumented immigrant families at the border.

Torn From Her Arms is produced by OZY Media and Motion Picture Corporation of America. Executive producers are Brad Krevoy, Linda Berman, Carlos Watson, Lindsay Rodger, Amanda Phillips, Eric Jarboe and Steve McGlothen. Alan Jonsson Gavica directs from a script written by Tawnya Bhattacharya and Ali Laventhol. Originally covered by Ozy’s reporting arm, Torn From Her Arms marks Ozy’s first foray into scripted programming and an expansion of its television catalog.

Highway to Heaven
Premieres November 6 at 8/7c

A contemporary take on Michael Landon’s iconic 80s television series Highway to Heaven, Lifetime’s new event movie series follows Angela Stewart (Jill Scott), an angel who is sent back to earth to help others in need. In the premiere movie, Angela takes on the role of a temporary school counselor and finds herself working alongside junior high school principal Bruce Banks (Barry Watson) as she intervenes in the lives of a troubled student Cody (Ben Daon), his father Jeff (Robert Moloney) and his aunt Vanessa (Victoria Bidewell), who are grieving the tragic loss of Cody’s mother, Melissa (Ashley Ross).

The first movie in the Highway to Heaven event movie series is produced by Rain Productions and Propagate for Lifetime. Jonathan Baruch and Rob Wolken executive produce for Rain Productions; Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Gregory Lipstone and Rodney Ferrell executive produce from Propagate; Howard Braunstein is executive producer; Jill Scott and Shawn Gee also executive produce. Stacey K. Black directs from an original script by executive producer/writer Cathryn Humphris and award-winning playwright Angelica Chéri. Cindy Landon and Wayne Lepoff are executive producing on behalf of Michael Landon’s estate.

Video Interview: Writers Carolyn and Richard Culliton

Dishing with Digest - 8/13/21 - Kimberlin Brown

Soap Opera Writers Interview: Carolyn and Richard Culliton

This talented duo met when they were both students at Northwestern University. Carolyn grew up watching soaps and Richard had never seen one. Fate intervened in 1978 when a family friend offered to make some introductions to an executive Procter & Gamble Productions. The rest is history.

Carolyn’s first job in the daytime industry was working as Paul Rauch’s assistant at Another World and Richard’s first job was as a script writer on Texas. From that moment forward this duo worked non-stop as breakdown writers, script writers and as head writers on almost every soap opera on the air. Together this duo created the General Hospital spin-off Port Charles while serving as head writers for the first few months of the show’s run.

They are the recipient of numerous Daytime Emmy Awards and Writer’s Guild Awards for their work. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Emily who is an adjunct professor of creative writing at St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, and Kathleen a journalist. Emily published her first novel In 2017, "The Misfortune of Marion Palm" was published by Knopf.

Looks like the writing gene is a strong one in the Culliton family.

A Martinez Video Interview

A Martinez Video Interview 8/12/21

Lifetime Acquires ‘List Of A Lifetime’ Movie Starring Kelly Hu, Shannen Doherty

Doherty also directs special content as part of Lifetime’s Stop Breast Cancer for Life Campaign, in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The special content features Doherty, Hu, Kwan and Velasquez and will air throughout October on Lifetime and LMN and extended off channel through local distributor partnerships. The content will also be shared on Lifetime’s social media platforms and on Mylifetime.com.

Roxy Shih, who recently directed Whose Child for Ninth House Films, will direct from a screenplay by Jessica Landry.

List of a Lifetime revolves around Brenda Lee (Hu), who, when diagnosed with breast cancer, is prompted to look for the daughter she gave up for adoption decades ago to warn her she may be at risk too. After finding Talia (Kwan) and sharing her devastating news, Talia convinces Brenda to make a bucket list of everything she wants to do, promising to help her complete everything on the list. While keeping Brenda a secret from her adoptive parents Diana (Doherty) and Marty (Kahler), Talia grows closer to the mother she never knew. Meanwhile, Brenda discovers a meaningful relationship with Talia she didn’t know she needed, and a reason to fight for her life.

Velasquez plays Brenda’s best friend, Meg. Sibbett portrays Brenda’s oncologist, Dr. Elizabeth Boyer. Klock is Brenda’s supervisor, Kevin, and Lindberg plays Brenda’s boyfriend, Mike.

List of a Lifetime also falls under Lifetime’s Broader Focus initiative which champions women in key production roles. The movie is produced by Ninth House Films and MarVista Entertainment and is directed by Shih and written by Landry. Producers for The Ninth House are Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren. Marianne C. Wunch, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew executive produce for MarVista Entertainment. The film also included a diverse predominately female crew with Daphne Wu as the director of photography, Hanuel Kim as the gaffer and many others.

Lifetime’s Stop Breast Cancer for Life initiative has been dedicated to offering women the most up-to-date, comprehensive information about the disease. Reaching women and families through continued support from Lifetime’s distribution partners, advertising sponsors and leading non-profit organizations, Lifetime has been a leading advocate for women and for the fight against breast cancer.

Amber Riley, Bill Bellamy And Loretta Devine Lead BET+ Holiday Film Slate

The full breakdown of the 2021 BET+ holiday films is below.

A Christmas Wish

Roz McKenzie, a single mother, is calling upon a miracle so she and her daughter can survive Christmas.

Starring: Noree Victoria, Nadia Simms, Blue Kimble, Javon Johnson

Written and Directed by: Christopher Nolen

A Rich Christmas

A spoiled and ungrateful socialite learns a valuable lesson one Christmas after her mega-rich father forces her to work at the first property he ever owned – a family homeless center.

Starring: Bill Bellamy, Vanessa A Williams, Tyler Abron, Brandee Evans, Denise Boutte

Directed by: Victoria Rowell

Written by: Shateka “SJ” Johnson

The Business of Christmas 2

For the Franklin family, Christmas will never be the same without their father, Oscar. As their mother hesitates to let love in again, the children struggle to see beyond their own career and relationship problems. They must get outside of themselves and forgive each other for the mistakes of the past in order to remember that there is no Christmas without family.

Starring: Daphne Maxwell Reid, Jennifer Freeman

Directed by: Tim Reid

Written by: Camara Davis

Christmas Déjà Vu

A woman with a downtrodden life who hates Christmas longs for the life she could have had as a singer. She meets an angel who grants her wish.

Starring: Amber Riley, Loretta Devine, Blue Kimble

Written and Directed by: Christel Gibson

Christmas for Sale

A young real estate agent pretends to be a billionaire’s yoga instructor on a holiday ski trip to gain a lucrative real estate listing, but she ends up falling in love with the eccentric and charming gentlemen.

Starring: Nadine Ellis, Aaron Spears, Shanti Lowry

Written by: Camara Davis

Directed by: Michael Mayhall

The Jenkins Family Christmas

After burying their father earlier in the year, Baneatta and Beverly attempt to carry on his Christmas traditions without strangling each other – but when an unknown half-sister arrives at the family festivities, more than just Christmas presents are opened.

Starring: Regina Taylor, Kim Coles, Tammy Townsend, Robert Gossett, Ashley Love Mills, Anthony Chatmon II, Derek Chadwick, Bailey Bass, Thomas Miles (“Nephew Tommy”), Monti Washington

Directed by: Robin Givens

Written by: Christopher Oscar Pena and Joy Kecken

Merry Switchmas

The holidays take a wrong turn when identical twin sisters agree to switch places for one night only at their parents’ Christmas party. With their boyfriends, a feisty great-aunt, and others tangled in their charade, the sisters end up finding out more about their family and themselves before the night ends. But the real question is whether the sisters can eventually make things right with their family and boyfriends when the truth comes out.

Starring: Valarie Pettiford, Thea Camara, Peter Parros, Rachel Aladdin, Rebekah Aladdin, Joseph Harold, Joel Harold

Directed by: Chris Nolen

Written by: Gabrielle Collins

Soul Santa

When an unlucky businessman gambles away the mob’s money, he is forced to go on the run and hide out as a shopping mall Santa Claus.

Starring: David Mann, Tamela Mann, Brooke Monroe Conaway, Christopher Gurr, Ross Fleming

Directed by: Terri Vaughn

Written by: Greg Anderson

BET+ will announce the full schedule at a later date.

Video: Susan Marie Snyder Interview

Susan legally changed her name to Suzenne Marie Seradwyn and currently makes her home on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Susan Marie Snyder Interview 7/15/21

Susan just released her first novel, Love: The Harmonizing Essence co-written with her partner Elijah Carter. Susan will be here to discuss her new book, her role of Julie Snyder, and her other daytime roles on Another World, Ryan's Hope, and Santa Barbara.

In addition to her daytime roles, Susan is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and has appeared on screen in a number of movies including the hit film Ruthless People.

Susan legally changed her name to Suzenne Marie Seradwyn and currently makes her home on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Phylicia Rashad Howard U. Calls Her Cosby Tweet Insensitive ... Still Has Her Job Though

As we reported, Rashad -- who was recently named Dean of Howard's College of Fine Arts -- responded to Cosby's stunning prison release Wednesday by saying, "FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!"

Her comment swiftly drew backlash and outrage, and although she followed up by saying she fully supports sexual assault survivors ... she did not apologize or back down from her support of Cosby.

Howard University seems to be okay with that, while also distancing itself from her comments. A University rep tells TMZ ... "Personal positions of University leadership do not reflect Howard University’s policies."

Howard U. says "Survivors of sexual assault will always be our priority," adding ... "We will continue to advocate for survivors fully and support their right to be heard. Howard will stand with survivors and challenge systems that would deny them justice."

As for Rashad, the school says "her initial tweet lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault." That's it for admonishment ... at least so far.

Cosby was released from prison Wednesday -- 3 years after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand -- because the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said the prosecution had not honored a deal the previous D.A. made to not criminally prosecute Cosby for the Constand case.

Phylicia Rashad Walks Back Praise of Bill Cosby's Overturned Sexual Assault Conviction: 'I Fully Support Survivors'

Rashad originally came to Cosby’s defense in a 2015 interview with Showbiz411.com. “What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it’s orchestrated,” she said at the time. “I don’t know why or who’s doing it, but it’s the legacy. And it’s a legacy that is so important to the culture.”

She followed up on her remarks in a televised sit-down with ABC News‘ Linsey Davis. “He is a genius,” she said. “He is generous, he is kind, he is inclusive… What has happened is declaration in the media of guilt, without proof.”

Cosby’s overturned conviction comes more than three years after he was first convicted in April 2018. Later that year, he was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison for three counts of sexual assault. He was charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault after being accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in his Philadelphia home in 2004, and was registered for life as a sexually violent predator.

Cosby, who is now 83 years old, previously vowed to serve out his 10-year sentence rather than express remorse over the 2004 encounter with Constand. He has spent the last two years imprisoned at the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix in Philadelphia.

Rashad is most commonly associated with her role as Cosby Show matriarch Clair Huxtable. She reunited with the comedian on the CBS sitcom Cosby, and appeared in episodes of The Cosby Mysteries and Little Bill.

Phylicia Rashad, Bill Cosby’s TV Wife, Speaks Out On Overturned Sexual Assault Conviction: “Finally!!!! A Terrible Wrong Is Being Righted”

“FINALLY!!!!” she wrote on Twitter. “A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!” While the comments on Rashad’s tweet were closed and unviewable save for people Rashad follows, less than an hour after she posted her thoughts, there were over 10,000 retweets with commentary on them. The term “Claire Huxtable,” the name of Rashad’s Cosby Show character, was quickly trending in Twitter.

Writer and producer Eric Haywood — Manifest, Power, Empire — said that, as a result of people retweeting Rashad’s post, his timeline “is filled with that big-ass photo of that rapist smh.” Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison, and has been serving time at Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institution at Phoenix. He had been found guilty in his second trial for the 2004 rape of former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. Cosby, 83, has maintained that the engaged in consensual relations.

“Cosby’s convictions and judgment of sentence are vacated, and he is discharged,” the justices wrote in their opinion. The ruling means that the actor can not be charged for the rape of Constand again. There is the potential that the overturn opinion could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but that is highly unlikely and doubtful that the Nation’s highest court would even take the case.

More than 60 women have claimed that Cosby drugged and assaulted them over the decades with a similar combo of pills and alcohol as used on Constand. Some of those women were among the onlookers at the two trials and the sentencing hearing in the fall of 2018. Additionally, Judge Steven O’Neill allowed current Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele in the second trial to have five other accusers, including ex-America’s Next Top Model judge Janice Dickinson, take the stand and tell their stories of being assaulted by once beloved Cosby.

Morgan Spector And Phylicia Rashad Join Thriller ‘Nanny’ For Stay Gold Pictures And Topic Studios

The film follows, Aisha, an undocumented nanny (Diop) who takes a job working for a wealthy Manhattan family on the Upper East Side in the hopes that she may earn enough money to bring her six-year-old son from West Africa to live with her in New York. Aisha finds herself caring for the privileged child of Adam (played by Spector) and Amy (played by Monaghan). “

As Aisha prepares for the arrival of her young son, a violent supernatural presence invades her reality, threatening the “American Dream” she so painstakingly pieced together. The film’s use of West African folklore breathes fresh air into the genre, illustrating ways in which this aspirational dream can torment one’s reality. Rashad plays Kathleen, the matriarch of her family and is a spiritual conduits – an unofficial bridge to the supernatural.

Selected as a screenplay for the 2019 Sundance Institute Creative Producing Lab & Summit, the pic was chosen for Sundance’s 2020 Writer’s Lab and the 2020 Director’s Lab. The script was also featured on the 2020 Blacklist. Additionally, the project has been recognized as part of the 35 projects chosen for the 2020 Creative Capital Awards.

The film will be produced by Nikkia Moulterie and Stay Gold Features’ Daniela Taplin Lundberg.

Executive producing are Maria Zuckerman, Ryan Heller and Michael Bloom for Topic Studios; Rebecca Cammarata of Stay Gold Features, Sumalee Montano and Grace Lay of LinLay Productions. Jusu will also executive produce.

Production is set to begin in June in New York City later this week.

Spector is coming off the best reviews of his career in the HBO limited series The Plot Against America from David Simon. He can be seen next in the new HBO series The Gilded Age.

Rashad was most recently seen as the mother of Beth in NBC’s hit drama series This Is Us. On the film side she has played Michael B. Jordan’s foster mother in the Creed series.

Spector is represented by Innovative Artists, Untitled Entertainment and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown and Passman. Rashad is represented by Innovative Artists and BKEntertainment.

Video: Jill Farren Phelps Interview

Chat with Jill Farren Phelps

Phylicia Rashad Sets Broadway Return With ‘Skeleton Crew’

The show’s opening date also was announced: Skeleton Crew will begin previews at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 21, with an opening night on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.

Additional casting and the creative team for Skeleton Crew will be announced at a later date.

Skeleton Crew is set in 2008 Detroit, where a small automotive factory is on the brink of foreclosure and a tight knit family of workers hangs in the balance. As described by MTC: With uncertainty everywhere, the line between blue collar and white collar becomes blurred, and this working family must reckon with their personal loyalties, their instincts for survival and their ultimate hopes for humanity.

Rashad, best known to TV audiences for her long-running portrayal of Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, received a Tony Award for her performance as Lena Younger in 2004’s A Raisin in the Sun, and was Tony-nominated for the following year’s Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson. Rashad was recently appointed Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.

Paul Johansson Cast In ‘God Is A Bullet’

Based on the novel of the same name by Boston Teran, the action thriller follows vice detective Bob Hightower (Coster-Waldau) who finds his ex-wife murdered and daughter kidnapped by a satanic cult. Frustrated by the botched official investigations, he quits the force, gets tattoos, and infiltrates the cult to hunt down the cult leader with the help of the cult’s only female victim escapee, Case Hardin (Monroe). Johansson will play John Lee Bacon, a corrupt sheriff who sets in motion the events which force detective Hightower to take matters into his own hands.

Michael Mendelsohn from Patriot Pictures and Don Allen are producing with Sidney Kimmel, Chuck Pacheco, Johansson, and Natalie Perrotta serving as executive producers.

Johansson is repped by Gilbertson Entertainment, Maverick Artists Agency, and Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP.

Video: Real Andrews Interview

Video: Nicolas Coster Chat

Grab a copy of the book here.

Daytime television fans will recognize Nicolas from his popular roles on As the World Turns (Edward Grimaldi), Another World (Robert Delaney) and Santa Barbara (Lionel Lockridge) to name a small number of those roles. In his 70-year career, Nicolas has appeared in over a dozen soap operas, countless primetime television shows and scores of stage and screen productions. This memoir "Another Whole Afternoon" is his first behind the scenes retelling of his life in front of the camera and his adventures beyond it.

Phylicia Rashad Hands-On Approach at Howard U ... Big Goals for New Dean

Provost Anthony K. Wutoh tells TMZ ... when the legendary TV mom takes on her new role at Howard in July, she's made it clear she'll be a present figure on campus and laser-focused from day one on re-establishing the fine arts school as a premier program in the country.

Wutoh says one of Rashad's major focal points will be the new building for the College of Fine Arts and School of Communications, adding that she'll be involved in designing it along with spearheading fundraising.

We're told Phylicia's also very interested in making sure the school's curriculum is contemporary, and she'll be recruiting excellent new faculty members to replace recent retirees. There's also hope she'll be able to expand enrollment in the fine arts majors.

That being said, the actress still has a number of performing obligations -- including 'Creed' in 2022 -- so she will be allowed to balance her work in the acting world with her work as dean. Rashad's stated that she will be a "working artist."

Of course, as soon as "The Cosby Show" star steps on campus she'll instantly become one of Howard's most famous faces, but the provost believes she'll have no problem managing the inevitable attention.

Wutoh points out HU is used to having big names on campus -- like when Nick Cannon was a student -- and it all works out. He says it might be a novelty at first to Phylicia's fans to have her as dean, but he believes she'll still get the respect she deserves.

Live chat with Real Andrews

Chat with Nicolas Coster (and order his new memoir)

Daytime television fans will recognize Nicolas from his popular roles on As the World Turns (Edward Grimaldi), Another World (Robert Delaney) and Santa Barbara (Lionel Lockridge) to name a small number of those roles. In his 70-year career, Nicolas has appeared in over a dozen soap operas, countless primetime television shows and scores of stage and screen productions. This memoir "Another Whole Afternoon" is his first behind the scenes retelling of his life in front of the camera and his adventures beyond it.

Phylicia Rashad Named Howard University College Of Fine Arts Dean

She begins July 1 and will report to Provost Anthony K. Wutoh. An alumna of Howard University, Rashad graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in fine arts.

“It is a privilege to serve in this capacity and to work with the Howard University administration, faculty and students in reestablishing the College of Fine Arts,” said Rashad.

“It is an honor to welcome one of Howard’s acclaimed daughters back home to Alma Mater. In this full circle moment, Ms. Phylicia Rashad will take the training and skills that she honed as a student at Howard and exuded in an outstanding performing career, and she will share those pearls of wisdom with the next generation of students in the College of Fine Arts. Her passion for the arts and student success makes her a perfect fit for this role,” said Wutoh.

“I can think of no individual better suited to take on this role than Ms. Phylicia Rashad,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA. “As we reintroduce our campus community and the world at large to Howard’s College of Fine Arts, the dean will play an instrumental role in ensuring an auspicious beginning for this reestablished institution. Given Ms. Rashad’s reputation as well as her capabilities and impressive list of accomplishments, she will undoubtedly empower the college to transcend even our incredibly high expectations. Under her leadership, Howard will continue to inspire and cultivate the artists and leaders who will shape our niche and national cultures for generations to come.”

Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a role which earned her two out of her five Emmy noms.

Over the last two years, Rashad earned two Primetime Emmy noms for playing Carol on NBC’s This Is Us in the guest actress drama series category. She also received an Emmy and SAG movie best actress nom for her turn in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun as Lena Younger, a role which she also played on stage.

Other recent TV and film credits include Diana Dubois on the Fox series Empire; Dr. Woods-Trap in Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man on the OWN Network; Libba Gardner in Pixar’s Academy Award-winning animated feature, Soul; Grandmother Journey in the Netflix holiday musical Jingle Jangle; and Dr. Jones in Between the World and Me on HBO Max.

Other stage credits include Aunt Ester in August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean; The Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods; Violet Weston in Tracey Letts’ August Osage County; and Shelah in Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s Head of Passes.

She made her critically acclaimed directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theater with August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. She has also directed Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Our Lady of 121st Street at the Signature Theatre; The Roommate at Steppenwolf Theatre; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (winner of the 2014 NAACP Theatre Award for best director) at the Mark Taper Forum; Immediate Family at the Taper and Goodman Theatre; Fences at the Long Wharf Theatre and McCarter Theatre; A Raisin in the Sun at Ebony Repertory Theatre, Kirk Douglas Theatre and Westport Country Playhouse; and Four Little Girls at the Kennedy Center.

Rashad has served as guest lecturer and adjunct faculty member, conducting master’s-level classes at many colleges, universities and arts organizations, including Howard University, New York University, Vassar College, Carnegie Mellon, Wayne State University, Juilliard, The Black Arts Institute of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the prestigious Ten Chimneys Foundation established at the Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne Estate. She also holds the distinction of being the first recipient of the Denzel Washington Chair in Theater at Fordham University.

Rashad holds honorary doctorates from Howard University, Spelman College, the University of South Carolina at Columbia, Tuskegee University, Brown University, Bennett College, St. Augustine College, Providence College, Barber Scotia College, Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, Carnegie Mellon University and Fordham University.

She has received the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, BET Honors Theatrical Arts Award, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s Spirit of Shakespeare Award, the inaugural Legacy Award of the Ruben Santiago Hudson Fine Arts Learning Center, and the Lucille Lortel Award. In 2016, the actress was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. Among the other awards that decorate her walls and shelves are the 2018 Will Award from Washington D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, the 2014 Mosaic Woman Legend Award of Diversity Woman Magazine, the Texas Medal of Arts, the National Council of Negro Women’s Dorothy L. Height Dreammaker Award, People’s Choice Awards, NAACP Image Awards, AFTRA’s AMEE Award for Excellence in Entertainment, New York Women in Film and Television’s Muse Award for Outstanding Vision and Achievement, Dallas Women in Film Topaz Award, and the Pan African Film Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tawny Kitaen Dies: ‘Bachelor Party’ Actress And Whitesnake Video Vixen Was 59

Whitesnake’s hits Here I Go Again and Is This Love from the album Whitesnake helped make that band the toast of the late 1980s, thanks in no small part to Kitaen’s allure. Here I Go Again reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987.

Kitaen was also prominent in the 1984 film Bachelor Party, starring Tom Hanks. She also starred in the 1984 French cult classic The Perils of Gwendoline and 2014’s After Midnight.

Director Marty Callner, who was behind the camera for the memorable Whitesnake videos, posted on Facebook about the time he met Kitaen.

“When I met David Coverdale, we met for lunch, he had $5, a condom in his wallet, no car insurance, and was staying at the Mondrian hotel (he couldn’t afford it, but the owner liked him), singing jingles for New York Seltzer, and basically out of the business. I was approached by his manager, Howard Kaufman, who also represented Heart, who I was working with at the time. Howard and John Kolodner asked me if I would direct a video for Whitesnake, on the cheap, because Geffen records had no money to put into the project. I liked the song, and decided to go ahead with it. We made our first video, “Still Of The Night,” which was a 9 minute song, with some guys who didn’t even play on the record.

“Near the end of the shoot, I knew we didn’t have a video, and in walks Tawny Kitaen to my house, with David, and I immediately asked her if she would be in the video. I knew it would be the perfect layer. She had so much magic, so much charisma, so sexy, so sweet, I loved her immediately, and I knew, and was right that she would be not only the first, but the ultimate video vixen.

“Whitesnake ended up saving Geffen Records, we went onto make groundbreaking videos, including “Here I Go Again” & “Is This Love.” They sold millions of records, and Tawny became a bigger superstar than she already was.”

Kitaen started out on the game show “To Tell the Truth” in 1976 and eventually migrated into movies.

After her video success, she married Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale in 1989. She then married Angels baseball pitcher Chuck Finley, and had two daughters with him.

Kitaen is survived by daughters Wynter, 28, and Raine, 22. No memorial plans have been revealed.

Another Grandchild On The Way For Soap Faves

The Haves and the Have Nots Returning With Final Episodes in June — First Look

The remaining episodes “will see the wealthy residents of Savannah, Georgia involved in a true-to-life Greek tragedy as Judge Jim Cryer (played by John Schneider) and his rich friends” all find out “what happens when personal flaws go unchecked,” according to the official logline. “Karma has not been kind to the elite one percenters.”

In addition to the above promo, OWN has released the following first look photo featuring Crystal Fox’s Hannah Young and Angela Robinson’s Veronica Harrington. The Haves and the Have Nots Final Season Premiere Date

OWN confirmed in January that HAHN would conclude after eight seasons and 196 episodes. At the time, Oprah Winfrey put out a statement, which read: “The Haves and the Have Nots was the first scripted drama we aired on OWN, and to say it took off from the first day it hit the air is an understatement. It’s all due to one man’s creativity and very vivid imagination, a man I refer to as my ‘big little brother,’ Tyler Perry. I thank Tyler, the incredible cast, the tireless crew and every single viewer who watched with bated breath each week and tweeted along with us these past eight years. I will be watching alongside you all during this final season.”

In addition to HAHN, OWN’s scripted slate includes Cherish the Day (previously renewed for Season 2), David Makes Man (returning Tuesday, June 22), Delilah (which is still awaiting word on a potential Season 2 pickup) and Queen Sugar (renewed for Season 6).

Guiding Light Reunion 4/21/21 - Ellen Dolan, Harley Jane Kozak and Michael Woods

William “Biff” McGuire, Tony-Nominated Actor, Dies At 94

His death was announced by the Seattle Rep, a theater that McGuire shared a long history with. He performed in over 30 productions there, including Saint Joan (1979-80), Noises Off (1986-87), and A Flaw in the Ointment (1993-94). With dozens of films under his belt, he has appeared in scenes with Al Pacino in Serpico, Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair, and Alan Arkin in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Biff was also a regular on television from the late 1940’s to the early 2000’s. In his seventies, he was nominated for two Tony’s for his roles in The Young Man From Atlanta (1997) and Morning’s At Seven (2002).

In 1960, he was cast opposite British actress Jeannie Carson in a 1960 revival of Finian’s Rainbow. They married in November of that year, and then starred in the original national tour of Camelot. He played King Arthur while Carson played Guinevere. This was just the beginning of their lifelong romance and acting partnership. Together, they moved to the Pacific Northwest to bring playwrights’ works to life, including Shakespeare, Shaw and Ibsen.

Former Seattle Rep Associate Artistic Director Doug Hughes remembers the late actor as “reserved, even shy in real life.” However, Hughes says that Biff gained “a nearly scary confidence once he stepped on a stage.”

McGuire got his famous nickname from playing football as a kid growing up in Camden, Connecticut. He attended the University of Massachusetts, where he studied agricultural engineering and later left to join the US Army in the midst of World War II. Stationed in England, he studied acting, directing, radio, and television, eventually setting his sights on set design, only to return to acting.

In a 2004 talkinbroadway interview, McGuire attributes his love for theater to his big family and his love for entertaining them. “We had all of these big gatherings of the whole family on Saturday nights, and everybody had to do something, so that was my theater. I shared it with a very large family,” Biff reminisced.

McGuire is survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren.

2021 NAACP Image Awards Winners

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Blair Underwood – “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker”

Outstanding Performance in a Short Form
Laurence Fishburne – “#FreeRayshawn”

Henry Darrow Dies: ‘The High Chaparral’, Emmy-Winning ‘Santa Barbara’ Actor Was 87

His death was announced on Facebook by his former publicist Michael B. Druxman. A cause was not specified.

In addition to The High Chaparral, Darrow is best remembered by daytime viewers for his Daytime Emmy-winning 1989-92 role in NBC’s Santa Barbara.

Already a familiar presence on television by the mid-1960s through appearances on series including Wagon Train, Stoney Burke, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and The Wild Wild West, Darrow scored his signature role on The High Chaparral opposite Leif Erickson, who played a wealthy Arizona ranch owner in the 1870s married to the Mexican daughter of a rival rancher. Darrow played the bride’s brother, called Mano, who joins his sister (played by Linda Cristal, who died in June) on the High Chaparral ranch.

Born Enrique Tomás Delgado Jr. in New York City, Darrow returned with his family to Puerto Rico in his teens, later moving to California to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Despite his numerous appearances on television in the early ’60s, Darrow’s role on The High Chaparral was prompted by the actor’s stage role in Ray Bradbury’s The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, co-starring F. Murray Abraham. Bonanza producer David Dortort caught the performance and cast Darrow in his new project, The High Chaparral.

After Chaparral, Darrow went on to roles in The New Dick Van Dyke Show and Harry O starring David Janssen, on which he played detective Manny Quinlan in the first season. He appeared regularly on episodic TV throughout the next several decades, including primetime appearances on Quincy M.E., Benson, Hart to Hart, T.J. Hooker, Dallas, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The Golden Girls, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager and One Tree Hill, among many others.

Darrow began a long association with the character Zorro in 1981, voicing the title role in the CBS animated series The New Adventures of Zorro. He returned to the franchise, if not the title character, in 1983’s CBS series Zorro and Son and the 1990-93 Zorro on the Family Channel.

On daytime TV, Darrow appeared on Santa Barbara from 1989-92 and The Bold and the Beautiful from 1998-2001. He won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1990 for his Santa Barbara role of Rafael Castillo.

Darrow published his memoir, Henry Darrow: Lightning in the Bottle, in 2012, the same year he received the Ricardo Montalban Lifetime Achievement Award at the ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards.

Details on survivors were not immediately available.

Kelly Hu To Star In Ninth House Feature ‘Breast Cancer Bucket List’

Roxy Shih, who recently directed Whose Child for Ninth House Films, will direct from a screenplay by Jessica Landry.

Patricia Velasquez, and Sylvia Kwan will join Hu.

The film follows Brenda Lee (Hu) who is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Facing her own mortality, Brenda is determined to track down the daughter Talia Carroll (Kwan) she gave up for adoption as an infant. Brenda’s best friend, Meg (Velásquez) is by Brenda’s side every step of the way on her search to find Talia. Talia, having been afforded a privileged life by her adoptive parents, is initially hesitant to connect with the stranger who appears on her doorstep identifying herself as her biological mother, a moment Talia has been longing for her whole life. Talia decides to let Brenda into her life, and the mother/daughter duo embark on a journey to accomplish each and every thing on Brenda’s bucket list…no matter how wild.

Hu starred as Lady Deathstrike in the X-Men franchise and The Sorceress in The Scorpion King opposite Dwayne Johnson. Her television credits include LA’s Finest, Arrow, The Orville, Warehouse 13, and Dietland. She can currently be seen starring in the Netflix feature, Finding ‘Ohana directed by Jude Weng.

Velasquez is an award-winning actress, author and supermodel. Her film credits include The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and The Curse of La Llorona. Her television credits include Arrested Development, Rescue Me, The L Word, and Ugly Betty. She recently wrapped production on Free Dead or Alive/Malignant and Brut Force.

Kwan most recently starred as Mabel Tseng on Grey’s Anatomy. Her previous television credits include NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and 90210.

Ninth House Films is a full service production company co-founded by Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren. Ninth House Film’s most recently produced Dashing in December which aired on The Paramount Network in December. They are currently in post production on Whose Child, a socially conscious film about domestic child abuse starring Anna Schafer.

Hu is repped by A3 Artists Agency, Mainstay Entertainment, and Meyer and Downs. Velásquez is repped by Untitled and Insurge, Kwan is repped by A3 Artists Agency, Marque Entertainment, and Defining Artists Agency. The Ninth House is repped by Bradley Garrett, Esq. Shih is repped by Seth Nagel.

Talk Show Appearance

Tu 3/2: Robin Wright

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Réal Andrews Tested Positive for COVID-19

GH, like all the other daytime soaps and other entertainment productions, have strict COVID guidelines to protect their casts and crews from the dangerous virus. This winter, GH temporarily recast the role of Taggert with actor Asante Jones for a handful of episodes, but Andrews soon returned to the soap. Even with his subsequent negative test result, the positive COVID result still means that Andrews will have to take a short break from work to ensure evryone’s safety. When his castmate, Briana Nicole Henry (Jordan) caught COVID around the Thanksgiving holiday, she was temporarily recast with actress Tiffany Daniels until Henry was cleared to return to the studio. Whether or not GH is planning to recast Taggert again with Jones or another actor has not yet been announced.

“I’ll keep you up to speed,” Andrews promised. “I didn’t come in and tell you about it right away because obviously I was just devastated and frustrated, but I’m going to keep you in the loop, let you know how it goes. But that’s where we’re at right now. Taggert is sitting out on the sidelines.”

In the video, Andrews seems healthy, so hopefully, his initial COVID test result was a false positive. But please join us in wishing him well.

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Daughter Kate Grahn Releases Her Debut Album!

Kate, who graduated from the prestigious Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, has actually been writing, recording, and performing music for quite some time. One of her songs, a romantic ballad titled “Over Again,” was used in a May 2019 episode of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: THE PERFECTIONISTS. And she’d previously released a powerful rock song called “Someday Baby,” and has been performing on stage (including at GH Fan Club events!) since she was a young girl.

Ahead of the EP’s release, Kate released a single titled “The Name” last month, a powerful “feminist rant” in support of women’s equality. “I wrote this song because I’m tired of how society has normalized the regular dehumanization of women,” Kate wrote on Instagram. “To imply that a woman with a PhD need not call herself a doctor, to refer to a presidential candidate as nasty… this kind of behavior rarely holds consequences, to say nothing of the millions of women without prestige and power who are degraded and condescended to on a daily basis. This song is a rant, this song is an anthem, this song is me daring you to call us another name.”

“The Name” follows up Kate’s December single, “Untangling,” a song about her lifelong struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tic Disease. You can listen to “The Name” in the YouTube video. And don’t forget to pre-save Ragdoll on your favorite streaming music service here!

Phylicia Rashad To Exec Produce & Possibly Star In Emily March’s ‘Eternity Springs’ In Works For Television

Reel World Management’s Roth and Perry will executive produce with Rashad and Pogue. RWM’s Rosana Roth will serve as co-producer. A network is not yet attached. RWM and Rashad are preparing to take the series to market.

The storyline is still under wraps, but producers say the show will explore important and meaningful present-day issues while appealing to a diverse and multi-generational audience.

“We are excited to collaborate with Phylicia Rashad, an extraordinary, talented actor whose impressive body of work not only laid the foundation for inclusivity but opened the door to change in Hollywood at a time when it wasn’t as fashionable to do so” said Roth.

Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, earning numerous honors and awards for the role. She recently appeared in Netflix’s Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey and can be seen as Carol on NBC’s flagship drama series This Is Us. Her other recent credits include Soul, Fox’s Empire and Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man, on OWN.

Rashad is repped by Innovative Artists and Barbra Korn of BKEntertainment. March’s deal was negotiated by Christina Hogrebe and Meg Ruley of Jane Rotrosen Agency LLC.

Nominations For 21st Annual Black Reel Awards

OUTSTANDING VOICE PERFORMANCE

ANGELA BASSETT
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

JAMIE FOXX
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

MAYA RUDOLPH
THE WILLOUGHBYS (NETFLIX)

OCTAVIA SPENCER
ONWARD (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

PHYLICIA RASHAD
SOUL (WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES)

Stargirl Season 2: John Wesley Shipp to Play Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick

EW.com reports that Shipp is set to guest-star in the ninth episode of Stargirl‘s sophomore run (exclusively on The CW) as the Golden Age version of the scarlet speedster, “in a pivotal flashback episode” that establishes Garrick as a member of Earth-2’s Justice Society of America.

With Shipp’s appearance as The Flash, Stargirl will formally establish itself as a part of the new multiverse that Spectre fka Oliver Queen created at the close of the 2019-20 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. As was revealed in that montage (embedded below), Stargirl & Co. exist on Earth-2, the Titans team is on Earth-9, Swamp Thing calls Earth-19 home, and Doom Patrol‘s dysfunctional family resides on Earth-21.

In addition to his recurring run on The CW’s The Flash, where over the years has alternately played Henry Allen and Jay Garrick, Shipp’s TV credits include Teen Wolf, One Life to Live, Dawson’s Creek, Sisters and, of course, the OG, early-1990s The Flash series.

Video: Edge Of Night Reunion - Terry Davis, Frances Fisher, Sharon Gabet 2/18/21

THE EDGE OF NIGHT Cast Reunion 2/18/21

Hoda Kotb, NBC News’ Today coanchor and cohost of Today with Hoda & Jenna, will host the awards ceremony broadcast by Great Performances on Sunday, March 28 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS, its PBS.org website for the event, and the PBS Video app. Winners will be announced on March 4. on the website section dedicated to the event.

Best Actress
Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
Sophia Loren (The Life Ahead)
Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
Michelle Pfeiffer (French Exit)
Robin Wright (Land)

Best Actor (TV/Streaming)
Jason Bateman (Ozark)
Ted Danson (The Good Place)
Hugh Grant (The Undoing)
Ethan Hawke (The Good Lord Bird)
Mark Ruffalo (I Know This Much Is True)

Soap Alums 2021 NAACP Image Awards Nominations

Set to simulcast across all ViacomCBS Networks including BET, CBS and MTV on Saturday, March 27th at 8 p.m. ET, the 52nd NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of BIPOC artists across TV, music, film and literature.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
Deon Cole – Black-ish (ABC)
Jay Ellis – Insecure (HBO)
Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Laurence Fishburne – Black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series
Giancarlo Esposito – The Broken and the Bad (AMC.com )
J.B. Smoove – Mapleworth Murders (Quibi)
Jasmine Cephas Jones – #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)
Laurence Fishburne – #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)
Stephan James – #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Anika Noni Rose – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Gabourey Sidibe – Antebellum (Lionsgate)
Nia Long – The Banker (Apple)
Phylicia Rashad – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Taylour Paige – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson aka Questlove – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Angela Bassett – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Chris Rock – The Witches (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Jamie Foxx – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Phylicia Rashad – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Here’s how Robin Wright has been passing the time during the pandemic

“I think my guilty pleasure of releasing the days is getting in bed and watching a movie on Criterion Channel,” Wright, 54, said during The Cut’s “How I Get It Done” virtual panel at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday. “There’s so many movies that I haven’t seen I realize…to see old films that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Wright, who is premiering “Land” at the festival, noted Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film “The Man Who Knew Too Much” really left a mark on her.

“What a great film, and you get to see also how everybody steals a little bit from this person a little bit from this person,” she said, laughing. “…It’s so trippy to watch these 1940s movies and go, ‘Oh my God, now I see where that director got that idea.'”

Actress and director Zoe Lister-Jones, who is debuting “How It Ends” at the festival and also participated in the chat, said she’s been catching up on iconic shows and movies she has never been able to see.

“I also am watching so much content because that is the thing to do,” she joked, adding that she watched “The Sopranos” in full.

“I started to like write creative nonfiction about my childhood,” she added of her downtime in the pandemic. “It’s like journaling but telling the story of yourself, which I’ve found an interesting practice and exercise to dissect things in a new way about how I’ve gotten here.”

Talk Show Appearance

Fr 2/5: Robin Wright

Garret Dillahunt, A Martinez, Keir O’Donnell & Moses Ingram Join Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance

The four join current cast members Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Eiza Gonzalez in a feature that’s based off the original Danish Film Ambulancen. While the plot is being kept under wraps, the pic is expected to be in the spirit of such 1990s action pics Speed and Bad Boys. Chris Fedak wrote the original script. Bay, James Vanderbilt, Bradley Fischer, Will Sherak and Ian Bryce are producing. Michael Kase and Mark Moran will executive produce. Deadline first reported about the Bay project with Gyllenhaal in talks.

Universal is distributing the movie with Endeavor Content packaging of the project.

Dillahunt recently wrapped Zack Snyder’s upcoming Netflix film Army of the Dead and stars in AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead as a series regular. In addition, he starred opposite Viola Davis in Steve McQueen’s film Widows and appeared in television series including TBS’s The Guest Book, Amazon’s Hand of God, and Hulu’s The Mindy Project.

Martinez recently appeared in the series-long role of Jacob Nighthorse on Netflix’s Longmire, as well as recurring roles on The Bay and Queen of the South. He has also appeared in films including The Cowboys, She-Devil and Powwow Highway.

O’Donnell recently starred in Hulu’s Into the Dark and Project Blue Book for History Channel. His recent TV credits include Legion, Fargo and Ray Donovan, and his feature credits include Wedding Crashers, The Break-Up and American Sniper, among others.

Ingram recently made her television debut in Netflix’s limited series The Queens Gambit as chess champion Beth Harmon’s best friend and fellow orphan, Jolene. In addition, Ingram is set to play the role of Lady Macduff in A24’s Macbeth opposite Denzel Washington.

Dillahunt is repped by APA and D2 management; Martinez is repped by Teitelbaum Artists Group and David Shapira & Associates; O’Donnell is repped by Silver Lining Entertainment; Ingram is repped by Innovative Artists, Authentic Talent & Literary Management and Fox Rothschild.

Noted character actor Peter Mark Richman dies at 93

Richman died Thursday at his home in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles of natural causes, publicist Harlan Boll announced.

Born in Philadelphia, Richman was a pharmacist but turned to acting. He joined the Actors Studio and in 1953 he starred on stage in the play “End as a Man.” He appeared on Broadway in “A Hatful of Rain” and “Masquerade.” He also portrayed Jerry in more than 400 New York performances of Edward Albee’s “The Zoo Story,” Boll said.

His moves included 1958?s “The Black Orchid” with Sophia Loren, “The Strange One,” “The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear” and “Friday the 13th, Part 8.”

Bu he was best known for his TV work, appearing in more than 500 episodes of various shows over a decades-long career, from “Bonanza” and “The Fugitive” to ”Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

He starred as lawyer Nick Cain in the short-lived 1960?s NBC series “Cain’s Hundred” and had recurring roles as an attorney on the 1980s hit “Dynasty” and the 1970?s show “Longstreet.”

In the 1970s and 1980s he was Suzanne Somers’ father, the Rev. Luther Snow, on ”Three’s Company,” appeared as Lawrence Carson in a few episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and was C.C. Capwell for nearly 30 episodes of “Santa Barbara.”

Richman also wrote plays, including the acclaimed “4 Faces,” a novel, short stories and an autobiography.

In 1990, he received the Silver Medallion from the Motion Picture & Television Fund for outstanding humanitarian achievement.

Richman is survived by his wife, Helen, five children and six grandchildren.

Video: The Doctors Cast Reunion #3- 1/15/21

Retro TV airs The Doctors weekdays at 12 noon and at 7:30 p.m. EDT/PDT (see listings at MyRetroTV.com) and streams online at 4 p.m. EDT weekdays at MyRetroTV.com and on the Retro TV Roku channel. Episodes of the Emmy Award-winning series and exclusive interview content is available on-demand at WatchTheDoctors.com, Roku and App Stores.

Stars Of ABC’s ‘All My Children’, ‘One Life To Live’ & ‘General Hospital’ Reunite For Streaming Concert Benefit

ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway will gather musical performances by soap stars including Susan Lucci, Anthony Geary and Eva La Rue during the seven annual benefit concerts staged in New York from 2005-11. The daytime actors will revisit the performances in new interviews as part of the special.

The special will stream free of charge on February 11. See viewing options below. The lineup of performers includes Bobbie Eakes, Melissa Claire Egan, Vincent Irizarry, Eva La Rue, Susan Lucci, Cameron Mathison, Eden Riegel, Chrishell Stause and Walt Willey (from All My Children); Kristen Alderson, BethAnn Fuenmayor, Kathy Brier, Kassie DePaiva, David Gregory, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Catherine Hickland, Mark Lawson, Hillary B. Smith, Jason Tam and Brittany Underwood (One Life To Live); and Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash and Anthony Geary (General Hospital).

“There are no fans like ABC Daytime fans,” said Lucci in a statement. “Their love and support continue to astonish us. We can’t wait to share these special performances with them and help raise money for so many in need during this difficult time.”

The concerts were staged at New York City’s Town Hall, and included production numbers, Broadway show tunes, ballads and comedy skits. The concert series began in 2005 as a one-night-only benefit to mark the 35th anniversary of All My Children, but fan support prompted ABC to stage the annual event for another six years. Over its seven-year run, ABC Daytime Salutes Broadway Cares raised $1.85 million.

Tom Viola, Broadway Cares Executive Director, said, “We are so thankful to the stars from ABC Daytime for joining us again as we relive moments from this delightful tradition, while helping to provide lifesaving medication, healthy meals and emergency support to those struggling during this ongoing pandemic.”

This free streamed event can be viewed beginning Feb. 11, 8 pm ET, here, as well as on Broadway Cares’ YouTube channel, across ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and each of the eight station’s websites around the country, including abc7ny.com in New York; and on Good Morning America’s Facebook page.

While the stream is free, donations will be accepted for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, with all proceeds to provide people affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses with healthy meals, lifesaving medication, emergency financial assistance, housing, counseling and more. The donations also support and champion organizations focused on social justice and anti-racism.

Tyler Perry’s ‘The Haves And the Have Nots’ To End With Season 8 On OWN

The Haves and the Have Nots is the last Tyler Perry series on OWN under Perry’s deal, which ended in March 2019. Debuting in May 2013, it was OWN’s first scripted drama and one of the network’s highest-rated series. Along with the other Perry shows, it was a main driving force behind OWN’s ratings ascent after early struggles.

Over the course of the series run, The Haves and the Have Nots averaged nearly 3 million viewers and always ranked among the Top 2 scripted cable series among African American women and total viewers during all seven seasons.

The Haves and the Have Nots follows the complicated dynamic between the rich and powerful Cryer and Harrington families and the hired help who work for them in their opulent mansions. The series stars John Schneider, Tika Sumpter, Angela Robinson, Renee Lawless, Crystal Fox, Peter Parros, Tyler Lepley, Gavin Houston, Aaron O’Connell, Brett Davis and Brock Yurich.

“The Haves and the Have Nots was the first scripted drama we aired on OWN, and to say it took off from the first day it hit the air is an understatement,” said Oprah Winfrey, who is instrumental in bringing Perry to OWN eight years ago. “It’s all due to one man’s creativity and very vivid imagination, a man I refer to as my ‘big little brother,’ Tyler Perry. I thank Tyler, the incredible cast, the tireless crew and every single viewer who watched with bated breath each week and tweeted along with us these past eight years. I will be watching alongside you all during this final season.”

In the dramatic final eight episodes with a finale no one will see coming, the wealthy residents of Savannah, Georgia are involved in a true-to-life Greek tragedy as Judge Jim Cryer (John Schneider) and his rich friends find out what happens when personal flaws go unchecked. Karma has not been kind to the elite one percenters.

“We are so grateful to Tyler Perry, the amazing cast and everyone at Tyler Perry Studios for eight incredible years of making The Haves and the Have Nots one of the biggest hits on cable television of the last decade,” said Tina Perry, president, OWN. “The series will forever hold its place in history as the network’s first ever scripted drama for which we are so proud. We can’t wait for fans to see the juicy storylines Tyler has planned for the final episodes.”

The Haves and the Have Nots is produced for OWN by Tyler Perry Studios and created, written and executive produced by Perry.

The Doctors Cast Reunion #3- 1/15/21

Retro TV airs The Doctors weekdays at 12 noon and at 7:30 p.m. EDT/PDT (see listings at MyRetroTV.com) and streams online at 4 p.m. EDT weekdays at MyRetroTV.com and on the Retro TV Roku channel. Episodes of the Emmy Award-winning series and exclusive interview content is available on-demand at WatchTheDoctors.com, Roku and App Stores.

Eva LaRue Reveals Her COVID Diagnosis

“Oddly enough,” she added, “I really feel like we’ve been so sick of being scared to death of the invisible monster under the bed all last year, always looking over our shoulders. I feel oddly enough, like, alright, bring it on. Let’s be done with this already. The problem is, nobody knows which one they are. Are they the one that’s going to survive it? Are they the one that’s going to succumb to it? Are they the one that’s going to have the residual after-effects of it? Nobody knows until you’re there and you’re heading into it. So all we can do is pray for the best. But there is no way that I’m not going to take it on with every bit of new technology or new medical… I’m going in guns a-blazing.”

To hopefully help stave off some of the novel coronavirus’ more detrimental long-term effects, LaRue is exploring alternative treatments. “I’ve got this amazing integrative doctor who I’ve been working with for a long time,” the actress revealed. “I know a lot of people are like, ‘No, we only do Western medicine,’ and that’s fine. I love Western medicine. But integrated medicine and Western medicine have to go hand in hand in my opinion. Because I just feel like if we don’t open our minds to what is new and what is out there, can you imagine if we were all still throwing leeches at the problem?”

LaRue, who recently made another appearance as Celeste on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, sounded in good spirits in the podcast and is clearly not taking her diagnosis laying down. Please join us in sending her best wishes for a full and speedy recovery!

The Locher Room's 100th Episode Welcomed Cast from The Bay

The season finale of The Bay will air Tuesday, December 29th at 3 p.m. EST on PopStar TV. thebaytheseries.com/

THE BAY Virtual Interview Scheduled

Réal Andrews Reveals He Is Cancer Free

Eva LaRue And Jason Canela Back To Y&R

Kate Grahn - Untangling (official video)

Dishing with Digest - 11/27/20 - Tricia Cast

Dena Dietrich Dies: “Mother Nature” In Classic Margarine Commercials Was 91

Her death was confirmed by SAG-AFTRA in a statement honoring Dietrich’s service as a former SAG National Board member for nearly a decade.

With an impeccable delivery and a lightning shift in mood from matronly sweet to thunderous anger, Dietrich first uttered what would become a classic commercial catchphrase – “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” – in 1971. The commercials, created by the D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles advertising agency, had Dietrich dressed in a diaphanous white gown and a daisy-chain laurel, test-tasting what she was sure to be her very own natural butter. Told by a narrator that she was actually eating Chiffon margarine, the character sternly replied with the catchphrase, accompanied by a thunderclap.

The commercial series ran for a decade and helped make Dietrich a very busy character actress on episodic TV throughout the 1990s and into the new century. Among her TV credits are The Mod Squad, Adam’s Rib, Karen, Welcome Back Kotter, The Ropers, Square Pegs, Life With Lucy, Thirtysomething, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, The Golden Girls, Sisters, Murphy Brown and Mad About You.

Among her later credits was a recurring role as Judge Ellen Armstrong on the Steven Bochco 2001 legal drama Philly. She also recurred on the soaps All My Children and Santa Barbara.

On Broadway, Dietrich played Pauline in the original 1971 production of Neil Simon’s The Prisoner of Second Avenue, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Peter Falk and Lee Grant. She also appeared in the notorious flop Here’s Where I Belong, a musical based on John Steinbeck’s East of Eden that opened and closed on March 3 1968.

Dietrich’s film credits include The Crazy World of Julius Vrooder (1974), The Wild Party (1975) and Mel Brooks’ History of the World: Part I (1981), in which she played the handmaid Competence, delivering a memorable straight line to Madeline Kahn’s Empress Nympho.

Dietrich left no survivors.

Dishing with Digest - 11/20/20 - Real Andrews

Tricia Cast to return as Nina Webster on The Young and the Restless

EW has learned exclusively that Tricia Cast will return to The Young and the Restless to reprise her classic role. The plan is to reunite her with her best pal Christine (Lauralee Bell) and to check in with her son, Chance.

Cast is expected to appear on the CBS sudser in early November. She will also return during the week of Nov. 30 to help Y&R celebrate its 12,000 episode. (Wow!)

It's been a while since Y&R fans have seen their beloved Nina. She last appeared on the show in 2013 for Katherine Chancellor’s memorial service.

Webster first joined the CBS soap in 1986. She won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 1992.

The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS.

Capitol - Reunion with Catherine Hickland, Nicholas Walker and Constance Towers

‘Creepshow’ Season 2 Rounds Out Cast; Barbara Crampton, Ali Larter & Several Others Set For Shudder Anthology Series

Production on the six new episodes is under way in Atlanta for a 2021 premiere.

Created and EP’d by showrunner Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead) and based on George A. Romero’s 1982 movie, Creepshow shattered records for the AMC Networks streamer when it debuted in October 2019.

Shudder announced details last month about four of Season 2’s segments, which will be directed by Nicotero. Anna Camp and Adam Pally will star in the two-part “Shapeshifters Anonymous,” which follows an unlucky soul who finds himself in need of a werewolf support group. Keith David, Ashley Laurence and Josh McDermitt lead “Pesticide,” in which an exterminator makes an infernal bargain. And “Model Kid” is about a 12-year-old monster fan who turns to hand-built model kits to escape his unhappy reality.

The series is produced by the Cartel with Monster Agency Productions, Taurus Entertainment and Striker Entertainment. Nicotero exec produces alongside Brian Witten, Stan Spry, Jeff Holland, Eric Woods, Robert Dudelson, James Dudelson, Jordan Kizwani and Russell Binder. Co-EPs are Geoff Silverman, Anthony Fankhauser, Julia Hobgood and Marc Mostman.

On Thursday, Shudder will premiere an animated Creepshow Halloween special based on two stories by Stephen King and his author son Joe Hill.

Caitlyn Jenner, Vince Van Patten to Star in Indie Sitcom ‘Duke of The Valley’

“Duke of the Valley” is based on the memoirs of late actor Dick Van Patten, who was best known for portraying father figure Tom Bradford in the ABC dramedy series “Eight Is Enough” in the late 1970s. The show is co-created by Dick’s son Vince Van Patten and grandson, Duke Van Patten, who wrote the series together. Vince Van Patten will direct and produce with help from James Van Patten, Stefan Colson and Kim Waltrip. The show is currently shooting and has filmed a first episode, but without a network or release date.

The show will follow the life of Duke Patten (who plays himself), trying to make it as an actor in Hollywood while living in a dingy apartment in the San Fernando Valley that is owned by his “crazy uncle Jimmy” (played by James Van Patten).

The fictional apartment is packed to the brim with eccentric tenants, including Heather, a transgender “white trash” woman who sells perfume at the counter at Macy’s who is played by Jenner; Heather’s roommate Fong (played by actress Thai Fong); and a homeless killer named Skipy who demands to camp outside the apartment building (played by Vince Van Patten).

Former “The Young and the Restless” and “Real Housewives Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Eileen Davidson also joins the cast as Brenda, a washed-up actress who can’t accept that her career in showbiz is over.

Capitol - Reunion 10/29/20

Video: Guiding Light - Reunion - Judi Evans and Vincent Irizarry

Guiding Light Reunion - Judi Evans and Vincent Irizarry

Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Cate Blanchett, Others Join Jennifer Lawrence In Netflix’s ‘Don’t Look Up’ For Adam McKay

McKay will write, direct and co-produce along with Kevin Messick under McKay’s Hyperobject Industries Banner.

The film follows two low-level astronomers who embark on a media tour to warn mankind of an approaching asteroid that will destroy Earth.

While a majority of the cast had been loosely attached since the spring, it was DiCaprio who had been weighing the decision for some time, figuring out if he could do both this and his next Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon. With schedules out for him to do both, Netflix officially can celebrate landing one of the best ensembles in recent memory. DiCpario had flirted with handful of Netflix projects but never fully committed and remained one of the few movie stars in the industry who hadn’t starred in project produced by a streamer. With the times changing and theatrical experience in flux, the Oscar winner now finds his next two films produced by streamers, as Apple is the creative lead on Killers of the Flower Moon.

Given the star power in the projects, a theatrical release seems very likely for both (Paramount is a co-partner on Killers of the Flower Moonclearly and is handling the distribution side). That said, this development is a sign of things to come as it is unclear when theaters will fully reopen as more and more movies are either pushing their release dates or move from a studio to a streamer. Deadline just broke that the Coming to America sequel will move to Amazon Studios and join a long list of releases changing venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic..

Video: Killian and the Comeback Kids - Cast

Armelia McQueen Dies: ‘Ain’t Misbehavin”, ‘Ghost’ Actress Was 68

Her death was confirmed by her friend Dorian Hannaway in a Facebook post Sunday. “My dear friend Armelia crossed over yesterday,” Hannaway wrote. “She leaves us cherishing her memory as she was one of the greatest friends you could ever have. The only thing bigger than her beautiful soul was her extraordinary talent. She gave us such joy in her many turns on the Broadway stage as well as her film and TV roles. She was brilliant in Ain’t Misbehavin’ and so many other shows.”

A cause of death has not been released, and information on survivors was not immediately available.

Born in North Carolina and raised in New York City, McQueen was in the original Off Broadway cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’ in 1978, and made her Broadway debut when the cabaret-style revue of Harlem Renaissance music transferred to Broadway’s Longacre Theatre later that year. The production, which also starred Charlayne Woodard, André De Shields, Ken Page and Nell Carter, won that year’s Tony Award for Best Musical.

On film, McQueen had roles in 1976’s Sparkle and several others before appearing as Clara Brown, sister of Goldberg’s Oda Mae Brown, in the hit movie Ghost. Subsequent film roles included 1998’s Bulworth and 1999’s Life.

McQueen had her most prolific career in television, starring as the Red Queen in Disney Channel’s 1990s series Adventures in Wonderland, and making appearances in Martin, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, All About the Andersons, That’s So Raven, JAG and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She played the recurring role of Shula Whitaker in The CW’s 2011-15 series Hart of Dixie.

Live Chat: Killian and the Comeback Kids - Cast

Video: Crystal Chappell and Hillary B. Smith

Video: The Simon Family

Live Chat with The Simon Family 9/2/20

‘Between The World And Me’: Oprah Winfrey, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance Among 9 Cast In HBO Special

Originally adapted and staged by the Apollo Theater in 2018, the special will combine elements of that production, including readings from Coates’ book, and will once again be directed by award-winning director and Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes. It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage, and animation.

The book, which was first published in 2015 by One World, is written as a letter to Coates’ teenage son and recounts the author’s experiences growing up in Baltimore’s inner city and his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community. The narrative explores Coates’ notion that American society structurally supports white supremacy.

Forbes will executive produce with Coates, Watson and Roger Ross Williams.

The special, which is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, debuts this fall on HBO and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

Additional cast will be announced.

Bassett is represented by The Gersh Agency, Lighthouse Entertainment and Fox Rothschild. Garza is represented by ICM. Morton is represented by Vanguard Management Group and TalentWorks. Trotter is represented by Sweet 180, Maverick and the Law Office of Brad Rubens, Esq. Vance is represented by WME and Fox Rothschild. Washington is represented by WME. Rashad is represented by BKEntertainment, and Innovative Artists. Watson is represented by Authentic Talent and Literary Management, United Talent Agency and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein Winfrey is represented by Ziffren Brittenham.

James Hong, ‘Hollywood’s most prolific actor,’ may finally get Walk of Fame star

In his legendary career, actor James Hong (ex-Sung Cho Lee, General Hospital/ex-Baba Soo Lan , Days of Our Lives/Dave Cheng & Harry Yamada, Santa Barbara) — who recently went viral as “Hollywood’s most prolific actor” — has accrued more than 600 acting credits and inspired countless careers, yet he still doesn’t have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Now, a growing group of fans is actively trying to change that for Hong, 91, whose diverse projects include “Seinfeld,” “Big Trouble in Little China” and “Blade Runner.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: James Hong deserves a Star on the #Hollywood Walk of Fame. I’ve already started the nomination process. Who’s with me? #StarForJamesHong,” wrote “Hawaii Five-0” and “Lost” star Daniel Dae Kim in a now viral tweet earlier this month.

Other actors including Harry Shum Jr., of “Crazy Rich Asians,” and comedian Ken Jeong have also voiced their support for Hong getting a star, CNN reported.

Roughly 30 people are selected annually to be added to the Walk of Fame, where the creation and installation of a star costs $50,000. Kim, 52, has already raised more than enough via a GoFundMe.

“This man epitomizes the term ‘working actor,’ and that’s not even taking into account all he’s done to help further representation for actors of color,” reads the fund-raiser’s description of Hong. “Let’s show this man the respect and love his career has merited by getting him a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!”

Hong himself believes his name’s absence from the Walk of Fame is more than just an oversight by the industry. In an interview with the Great Big Story podcast, he referred to it as evidence of Hollywood’s continued prejudices.

“Even to this day, 500 credits or so, I don’t have a star on the Walk of Fame. So in a sense there is a lot of hidden prejudice behind this industry. They don’t think of us, like I say, the principal person,” he told the outlet. “And I try to fight against that.”

'The Haves And The Have Nots’: Return Date & Teaser For Tyler Perry’s OWN Drama

Check out the midseason teaser above.

Summer Premiere Dates 2020: Here’s What’s On As Lockdown Starts To Lift

So what to expect as Season 7 continues after the long hiatus? More revenge, deceit, betrayal, decadence and destruction as the Cryer, Harrington and Young families fight for their very existence, leaving the lives of every character forever changed.

Perry created, writes, directs and executive produces The Haves and the Have Nots, which stars John Schneider, Tika Sumpter, Angela Robinson, Renee Lawless, Crystal Fox, Peter Parros, Tyler Lepley, Gavin Houston and Aaron O’Connell.

Perry’s Sistas and The Oath, which are filmed at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, were among the first to U.S. series to resume production with coronavirus-mandated safeguards in place.

Emmys 2020 Nominations

(former soap stars in bold)

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away With Murder
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black
Harriet Walter, Succession
Cherry Jones, Succession
Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid’s Tale
Phylicia Rashad, This Is Us

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Ramy Youssef, Ramy

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Adam Driver, Saturday Night Live
Luke Kirby, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Eddie Murphy, Saturday Night Live
Dev Patel, Modern Love
Brad Pitt, Saturday Night Live
Fred Willard, Modern Family

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America
Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Margo Martindale, Mrs. America
Jean Smart, Watchmen
Holland Taylor, Hollywood
Tracey Ullman, Mrs. America.

Talk Show Appearance

Th 7/30: Eva LaRue

Download the Emmys App to Watch Past, Present, and Future Shows!

“Television programming and its underlying technology have each gone through immense change over the more than seven decades the Emmys have recognized excellence in both facets of our industry,” said Adam Sharp, NATAS President & CEO. “Our awards have adapted through each of these transitions. Working with Vimeo, we now bring our celebration of this dynamic community of creators to all of the devices the audience uses to watch the television programming they love.”

The platform will allow fans to watch behind the scenes interviews, clips of memorable moments, and past Emmy ceremonies. Plus, you’ll be able to watch the upcoming shows live as they happen, because this year’s Daytime Emmys were split up into multiple shows to separate out the categories. Here’s what’s coming up:

Sunday, July 19, at 9 p.m. ET: The 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards – Digital Dramas
Sunday, July 26, at 8 p.m. ET: The 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards – Children’s, Lifestyle, and Animation
Tuesday, August 11, at 8 p.m. ET: The 41st Annual Sports Emmy Awards
September 2020: The 41st Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards

The app is completely free and all you have to do is sign up. Watch The Emmys is available on the web, as well as for iOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, and Roku.

Oscar Winner Barry Jenkins Teams With Leonardo DiCaprio & Netflix On Film Adaptation Of ‘Virunga’ Documentary

DiCaprio, who served as an executive producer on the docu, is producing the project with his Appian Way partners Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson as well as Oscar-winner Joanna Natasegara for London-based Violet Films. von Einsiedel will serve as exec producer.

The true story follows rangers risking their lives to save Africa’s most precious national park and its endangered gorillas.

Jenkins, who was also lauded for his adaptation of James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk, is attached to direct Fox Searchlight’s biopic about Alvin Ailey, one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th Century. He also penned the screenplay to Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut, Flint Strong, and has a series adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s bestselling novel The Underground Railroad forthcoming on Amazon.

Leonardo DiCaprio vows to help end ‘disenfranchisement of Black America’

“I commit to listen, learn and take action,” the “Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood” actor announced on Instagram on Thursday night. “I am dedicated to end the disenfranchisement of Black America, that has been present for too long.”

Leo, 45, added that he will support individuals, organizations, and coalitions dedicated to bringing “long-term change.”

He announced he will be “personally donating” to several non-profits including Color of Change, Fair Fight Action, the NAACP, and the Equal Justice Initiative.

“Please, join me, in following and learning from the organizations,” he said.

The Oscar winner is known for his activism and started a foundation to help fight climate change and raise environmental awareness.

DiCaprio also co-launched America’s Food Fund with Laurene Powell Jobs to help raise funds for those struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic in April.

So far, the initiative has raised $26,674,400, according to a GoFundMe page.

Peggy Pope Dies: ‘9 To 5’, ‘Soap’ & Broadway Actress Was 91

Born Florence Pope on May 15, 1929, in Montclair, NJ, she began her long career on Broadway in the late 1950s, appearing in small roles in a handful short-lived plays. She ultimately would appear in seven Main Stem shows through 1975, including the 1970 revival of Harvey, for which James Stewart reprised his Oscar-nominated lead role as Elwood P. Dowd from the 1950 film.

By 1966, she was working in TV and made a couple of big-screen appearances in the early ’70s. In 1973, she landed a series-regular role in Calucci’s Department, a CBS sitcom starring James Coco that lasted only a couple of months. Six years later, Pope scored another regular TV role in Billy, a CBS sitcom in which she was the mother of the title character played by Steve Guttenberg. It too lasted only a few months.

Pope also appeared on such popular TV series as Rhoda, Barnaby Jones, Mork & Mindy, Eight Is Enough, Barney Miller, Hill Street Blues, Knots Landing. St. Elsewhere, Night Court, Too Close for Comfort, The Golden Girls, ER and multiple Law & Order series. She also recurred on Soap.

But she probably is best known for her role in 9 to 5, the popular 1980 comedy starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Dabney Coleman. She played Margaret, one of the secretaries alongside Parton’s Doralee who was known to tip the bottle and oexclaim “Attagirl!” She also guested as a different character on the 1982 ABC spinoff series.

Her film credits include All Night Long, The Last Starfighter, Once Bitten and The Substitute.

A celebration of Pope’s life is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27.

Video: All My Children Reunion 5/22/20

Leonardo DiCaprio-Produced Documentary ‘And We Go Green’ To Stream On Hulu

Oscar-winning documentarian Fisher Stevens and Malcolm Venville co-directed the film, a followup to Stevens and DiCaprio’s 2016 climate change doc Before The Flood.

Written by Mark Monroe (Before The Flood), And We Go Green debuted at the 2019 Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals. The doc provides a behind-the-scenes look at the ABB FIA Formula E Championship and chronicles how the groundbreaking series has become the world’s fastest growing motorsport since its inception in 2014. It features racing footage interwoven with candid interviews from reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne, former Formula E driver Nelson Piquet Jr., and current stars Sam Bird, Lucas di Grassi, and André Lotterer, the film follows the professional drivers on the international Formula E circuit as they race for victory across 10 major cities to contest the 2017/18 season.

“Originally, we thought we were making a film about the environment,” said Stevens and Venville. “We realized the best way to get the world to pay attention to climate change is to make a film about people — in this case, race car drivers and an upstart with a vision to disrupt racing series forever. The life of sportsmen, the ups and downs, the excitement of racing and the innovative, life-affirming electric technology coupled with racing through the hearts of the biggest cities in the world. This was an incredible, inspiring and thrilling film to make.”

“The documentary encapsulates the true mission and purpose of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, to show how competition drives technological development and how the excitement of sport can have a meaningful social impact and alter perceptions of electric vehicles,” added Formula E Founder and Chairman Alejandro Agag, who also appears in the film. “This notion is how the title And We Go Green came about. Not only does it signal the start of our races, but it also indicates an urgent need to put the brakes on devastating and irreparable damage already caused by fossil fuels. I’m proud to have worked with such great talent and a production team who share the same common values around sustainability and making a positive impact in the fight against climate change.”

DiCaprio and Stevens produced the pic alongside Christopher St. John, Jennifer Davisson, and Zara Duffy as well as executive producers Jon Kamen, Dave Sirulnick, Justin Wilkes, Alejandro Agag, and Rick Yorn.

“We’re thrilled this film is being distributed on the Hulu platform, as they’ve proven to be committed to not only premium nonfiction storytelling but a worthwhile cause to boot,” said RadicalMedia CEO Jon Kamen. “It’s time for the world to embrace alternatives to the fossil fuel dilemma and to think ahead of ourselves in terms of a more positive future. And We Go Green paves the way.”

All My Children Reunion 5/22/20

Video: Daytime Cares Live Event

‘Lincoln’ & ‘Theodore Roosevelt’ Miniseries Lead History Slate As A+E Networks Expands Relationship With Leonardo DiCaprio & Doris Kearns Goodwin

Lincoln (working title) and Theodore Roosevelt (working title) are both exec produced by Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, while Leonardo DiCaprio and his Appian Way Productions company are involved in the latter.

Lincoln is a three-part series, featuring two-hour episodes, that will be a multi-layered biography of the 16th President. From Lincoln’s impoverished childhood to his days as a young prairie lawyer and budding politician, through his unlikely election to the presidency and eventual assassination, the miniseries will feature live action scripted sequences, expert interviews and a rich historical archive of rare photographs, prints, and original documents.

It is produced by Nutopia with Jane Root and Ben Goold serving as executive producers alongside Goodwin and Beth Laski for Pastimes Productions. Eli Lehrer, Mary E. Donahue and Jennifer Wagman are executive producers for History.

Theodore Roosevelt is a two-part series, featuring two-hour episodes, on Roosevelt, widely considered the first modern President of the United States. It will look at the 26th President’s personal story, his work as a progressive reformer as well as his contradictions such as being a passionate conservationist who also hunted; a friend and supporter of the common man, who also worked closely with Wall Street and robber barons and a scion of an elite family who yearned to be a cowboy. Similarly, it will incorporate live action scripted sequences with expert interviews and live action sequences.

The two-part is produced by RadicalMedia with Jon Kamen and Dave Sirulnick as exec produces alongside Goodwin and Laski for Pastimes. DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson serve as executive producers for Appian Way. Knute Walker serves as showrunner. Lehrer, Donahue and Wagman are executive producers for History.

DiCaprio and Appian Way are also behind a follow-up to The Men Who Built America. The Men Who Built America 2 (w/t) chronicles the rise of industrial heavy hitters Du Pont, Boeing, Chrysler, JP Morgan Jr., Hughes, and FDR and looks at how a new age of robber barons came out of the Great Depression to revolutionize automobiles and erected monuments and skyscrapers.

The three-part series, featuring two-hour episodes, is produced by Banijay’s Stephen David Entertainment. Stephen David, Tim Kelly and Joey Allen serve as executive producers for Stephen David Entertainment. DiCaprio and Davisson serve as executive producers for Appian Way. Phillip Watso serves as co-executive producer. Lehrer, Donahue and Zachary Behr are executive producers for History.

These commissions come on the back of its hit Washington miniseries, which aired in February, and six-hour miniseries Grant, which is exec produced by DiCaprio and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow, produced by RadicalMedia and Lionsgate and launching May 25.

“History is doubling down on its commitment to invest in premium historical programming that showcases the compelling stories of those who have shaped our nation,” said Lehrer, EVP and General Manager for History. “We are truly honored to grow our partnerships with present-day icons like President Clinton, Leo and Doris to utilize their unique insider perspectives to help bring these incredible stories to life.”

“Understanding our past provides a pathway for our future, which is why I’m so glad to be partnering again with History to tell the remarkable stories of some of our best past presidents,” Goodwin said. “To truly appreciate how Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt handled extreme national crises and overcame heart-wrenching personal adversities can reassure us that as trying as our situation is now today, our country and our people have endured and prevailed through other tremendously trying times.”

Daytime Cares: A Live Event Scheduled

The event can be viewed here and in addition to those mentioned above, will feature:

Lamon Archey (Eli, DAYS), Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH), Ian Buchanan (ex-Duke, GH et al), Crystal Chappell (ex-Carly, DAYS et al), James DePaiva (ex-Max, ONE LIFE TO LIVE et al), Kassie DePaiva (ex-Eve, DAYS et al), William deVry (Julian, GH), Chad Duell (Michael, GH), Andrea Evans (ex-Tina, ONE LIFE TO LIVE et al), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah, DAYS), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen, DAYS), Bill Hayes (Doug, DAYS), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie, DAYS), Finola Hughes (Anna, GH), Michael E. Knight (Martin, GH), Kyle Lowder (Rex, DAYS), Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, GH), Sofia Mattsson (Sasha, GH), Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS), Robert Newman (ex-Josh, GUIDING LIGHT), Wes Ramsey (Peter, GH), James Reynolds (Abe, DAYS), Melissa Reeves (Jennifer, DAYS), Scott Reeves (ex-Steven, GH et al), Emme Rylan (Lulu, GH), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R), Paul Telfer (Xander, DAYS), Heather Tom (Katie, B&B), Jordi Vilasuso (Rey, Y&R), Cynthia Watros (Nina, GH), Maura West (Ava, GH), Josh Swickard (Chase, GH), Kim Zimmer (ex-Reva, GUIDING LIGHT)

Nancy Lee Grahn's Instagram Live Birthday Fundraiser 4/28/2020

Video: Guiding Light Chat 4/29/20

Video: As the World Turns / All My Children Chat 4/24/20

Eva LaRue adopts late ex-husband John Callahan’s dog

“Welcome to the family Cali!,” the actress wrote on Instagram, posting a few selfies with her new four-legged friend.

She continued, “Wasn’t looking to add another thing that poops to the household, but she was John’s baby, and I know she’ll be just what God ordered to help us heal and vice versa.”

LaRue, 53, and Callahan, who tied the knot in 1996, famously played on-screen couple Maria Santos and Edmund Grey on “All My Children.” They split in 2005, four years after welcoming daughter Kaya.

Following news of Callahan’s death from an apparent stroke, several of the actor’s former co-stars, including Kelly Ripa and Sarah Michelle Gellar, posted tributes and offered condolences to his family. He was 66 years old.

As the World Turns / All My Children / GH Chat 4/24/20

GUIDING LIGHT Santos Family Reunion Planned

Tom Lester Dies: ‘Green Acres’ Actor Was 81

Born Thomas William Lester in Laurel, Mississippi, Lester set out for Hollywood after graduating from the University of Mississippi. He studied acting with teacher and Petticoat Junction actress Lurene Tuttle (Psycho, TV’s Julia), soon coming to the attention of the show’s creator Paul Henning, who was casting another rural comedy within The Beverly Hillbillies-Petticoat Junction universe.

The show was Green Acres, an alternately hokey and surreal comedy starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a sophisticated couple who gave up city living – to the chagrin of Gabor’s character – for life on a ramshackle farm in the backwater Hooterville. Forever annoying Albert’s grumpy Oliver Wendell Douglas III, Lester’s Eb nonetheless became part of the family.

“He was the only connection with youth that the show had,” Green Acres director Richard L. Bare told the TV Academy’s The Interviews series in 2003. “They designed it that way – they needed some guy to hook in the younger viewers.”

Green Acres was an immediate hit upon premiering in September 1965, finishing that season as the No. 11 show in all of primetime. It jumped to No. 6 for the 1966-67 season and ranked in the top 20 the next two seasons. The series ended in 1971 as a victim of CBS’ famous “rural purge”, when it and the likes of The Beverly Hillbillies, Mayberry R.F.D. and Petticoat Junction were replaced by socially conscious fare including All in the Family, Maude, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and M*A*S*H.

Lester would subsequently make infrequent appearances on episodic TV (Marcus Welby, M.D., Little House on the Prairie), reprising the Eb role on 1990’s TV reunion movie Return to Green Acres. He also had roles in 1974’s Benji and 1994’s Gordy, eventually returning to Mississippi where he lived on a farm in Jasper County and devoted himself to his Christian faith.

Survivors include his fiancee and long-term caregiver Jackie Peters, brother Michael, and extended family. A graveside service for family and close friends is planned for Friday at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Laurel, with a celebration of life service to be held at a later date.

John Callahan Show - Memorial Special

AMC Alum John Callahan Dies At 66

All My Children Alum John Callahan Dies at 66

The Daytime Emmys announced the news on Saturday. “We’re devastated to share that John Callahan passed away earlier today. Sending our deepest condolences to Eva La Rue and all his loved one,” the tweet read.

A cause of death is currently unknown.

Callahan’s ex-wife and fellow All My Children alum Eva LaRue shared multiple throwback pictures of the pair and their daughter Kaya, 18, on Twitter. The actress also posted a lengthy Instagram tribute to Callahan.

“May Flights of Angels Wing You to Your Rest my Dear Friend,” LaRue, 53, wrote. “Your bigger than life, gregarious personality will leave a hole in our hearts forever. We are devastated-My great friend, co parent partner, and loving father to Kaya.”

The soap star added, “That big belly laugh, bear hugs, bad puns, ability to harmonize to any song, great kitchen table singing-fests, and two steppin bad ass! ‘Johnny Numbers’, my All My Children soap stud, the great time keeper, Beatles fanatic ( I wish to God we could go back to ‘Yesterday’).”

“Kaya and I are beyond broken hearted, so stunned, sorry that my thoughts are a mess,” LaRue said. “You gave the best most beautifully written tributes, and I am at a complete loss for words right now for you.”

LaRue concluded her heartfelt post, “I hope Heaven has baseball and that your team always wins! The Yankees has just lost their biggest Fan. ??????????????????????????.”

A rep for LaRue did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Kelly Ripa, who starred on All My Children from 1990 to 2002, commented on LaRue’s post with a single broken heart emoji.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was on All My Children from 1993 to 1995, shared a tribute to Callahan on Instagram, writing, “He stepped into a lot of moments in my life because I didn’t have a father to be there. Johns greatest joy in his life, was when he had a daughter of his own @kaya_callahan. John left us this morning. I promise you GP just as you were there for me, I will always be there for smoosh (Kaya) and @evalarue as well.”

Callahan and LaRue were married from 1996 to 2004. He was previously married to Linda Freeman from 1984 to 1992.

Before joining All My Children in 1992, Callahan had roles in General Hospital and Santa Barbara. After leaving the ABC soap opera in 2005, he had a two-year role on Days of Our Lives.

Roscoe Born's Family Reveals Cause of Death, Calls For More 'Conversations Around Mental Illness'

“Roscoe has long struggled with bipolar disorder, a shadow that he succumbed to when he took his own life on Tuesday March 3, 2020,” read the family’s statement, which was posted on Facebook. “We are grateful for the outpouring of kind words and memories. We only wish that Roscoe could have seen how much people still carry his daytime villains in their hearts. May his death remind us of the importance of opening up conversations around mental illness. May those who need help seek it. May those who seek help receive it. And may it serve them.”

Born’s myriad daytime-TV roles included Ryan’s Hope‘s Joe Novak, Santa Barbara‘s Robert Barr and Quinn Armitage (for which he earned a Daytime Emmy nod in 1990), All My Children‘s Jim Thomasen, The City‘s Nick Rivers, Passions‘ Warden, The Young and the Restless‘ Tom Fisher and, last but not least, One Life to Life‘s super-nefarious Mitch Laurence.

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s toll-free number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Soap Vet Roscoe Born Dead at 69

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Roscoe Born’s passing,” friend and business partner Deanna Lynne shared on the Born Roscoe Songs Facebook page. “He was an incredibly talented actor and songwriter. Many who knew him know how dedicated he was to social and political causes. He will be missed forever.” After starting out his acting career with guest spots on series such as Joe Forrester, The Rockford Files and The Incredible Hulk, Born played reporter Mark Bailey on the ABC primetime sudser Paper Dolls.

From there, he dove into a long run of daytime-TV roles, including Ryan’s Hope‘s Joe Novak, Santa Barbara‘s Robert Barr and Quinn Armitage (for which he earned a Daytime Emmy nod in 1990), All My Children‘s Jim Thomasen, The City‘s Nick Rivers, Passions‘ Warden, The Young and the Restless‘ Tom Fisher and, last but not least, One Life to Life‘s super-nefarious Mitch Laurence.

A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

Paula Kelly Dies: ‘Night Court’ & ‘Women Of Brewster Place’ Emmy Nominee Was 77

Her death was announced by her family and Los Angeles’ Ebony Repertory Theatre.

Kelly, who was also a dancer, choreographer and singer, had her breakthrough role of Helene in Bob Fosse’s 1969 film Sweet Charity, sharing the screen with star Shirley MacLaine and Chita Rivera in such musical numbers as “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This” and the showstopper “Hey, Big Spender.” She’d already played the role in a West End stage production.

Other film credits include The Andromeda Strain (1971), Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored (1995).

Kelly appeared in numerous TV series from the 1970s through the ’90s, including Sanford & Son, Medical Center, The Streets of San Francisco, Police Woman and The Richard Pryor Show. In one memorable performance, she played an arrogant doctor called upon to treat the young Janet Jackson’s character in a 1979 episode of CBS’ Good Times.

In 1984, she earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Night Court‘s public defender Liz Williams.

Her second supporting actress Emmy nomination came in in 1989, when she played the lesbian Theresa in the two-night miniseries The Women of Brewster Place, produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions.

Other television credits include a mid-’80s run on daytime’s Santa Barbara and co-choreographing, with Michael Kidd, BBC’s 1976 presentation of Peter Pan.

On stage, Kelly appeared in Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope at the Mark Taper Forum (for which she won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle best supporting actress award), the West Coast premiere of Sophisticated Ladies opposite Gregory Hines at the Shubert Theatre and Stevie Wants to Play the Blues directed by Simon Callow at L.A.T.C.

Kelly came out of retirement in 2009 to join the cast of Ebony Repertory Theatre’s production of Crowns by Regina Taylor at L.A.’s Nate Holden Performing Arts Center; the production later moved to Pasadena Playhouse.

“Her unassuming leadership was marked by compassion, elegance and grace,” said Ebony Repertory Theatre producing artistic director Wren T. Brown. “She was a rare and gifted artist, whom we will cherish forever.”

Kelly’s dance credits include solos for Martha Graham, Donald MacKayle and Alvin Ailey. Raised in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, Kelly attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art before graduating from Julliard School of Music, where she studied under Graham.

Kelly is is survived by her aunt Pearl Mackey of Jacksonville, Florida; longtime companion George Parkington; niece Dina McCarthy and nephew Lehman Brockett.

A celebration of Kelly’s life will be held in Los Angeles at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center. Details will be announced at a later date.

Vincent Irizarry to grand marshal neighborhood Easter parade

The actor got his start in daytime television in the early 1980s with a recurring role in “Guiding Light.” Since then, he’s gone on to star in just about every soap opera you can think of: “One Life to Live,” “The Young and the Restless,” “All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives” and most recently “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Irizarry is friends with neighbor Belynda Ortiz. When she told him about the parade, he expressed interest and agreed to serve as the grand marshal.

“It was that easy,” parade organizer Liz Simmons said.

Irizarry joins only a handful of celebrity grand marshals who have participated in the parade. In the past, Texas icon Kinky Friedman—a singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician, defender of stray animals and former Texas Monthly columnist—led the parade route.

“It’s a show up and do-your-thing event,” Simmons said. “I never know what we’re going to get. There’s no rules. It’s very creative and totally fun.”

The parade, in its 15th year, will start at 3 p.m. April 12.

Stars Remember Marj Dusay

On-screen son, Vincent Irizarry (ex-Lujack/Nick, GL) posted, “Honestly, not enough words for me to share my love and respect for, and sadness in the passing of our now late, great Marj Dusay. She was a force of nature as an actress, courageously pulling out all stops in whatever role she was gracing us with. Not only did she play my mother on two different shows, 2 very different characters, but in one of those shows she was brought in to replace the ever brilliant, incomparable Beverlee McKinsey when she left the role of Alexandra Spaulding on GL; a feat practically no other actress could have been able to accomplish. But Marj was never just any other actress, as she proved by making the role her own; doing so while sharing her dynamic brilliance with us as well… I reached out to her a couple months back, having heard that she was having a difficult time with some physical challenges as of late. I’m grateful to have heard her voice one last time, to have heard her infectious laughter one last time…

RIP darling Marj. Your gift was our blessing.” Ron Raines (ex-Alan, GL) tweeted, “Heartbroken by the loss of my dear friend and colleague Marj Dusay. Marj was a dear friend to me and I will miss her greatly. I, with a couple of other GL colleagues, visited her last year here in New York and we all had a wonderful visit. She was, as always, in terrific spirits And made us laugh a lot. We all talked of specific memories we shared with her while on set. Marj lived with much physical pain the last decades of her life however, and this is what’s amazing, she never complained. I will miss her and glad she is pain free now.

RIP dear Marj.” Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) wrote, “HUGELY TALENTED & Stunning looking #MarjDusay When she stepped on a set everything was better because she showed up-Classy & impeccable-never stuck on herself-A wonderful human being RIP.”

Tina Sloan (ex-Lillian, GL) tweeted, “Lost the wonderful Marj Dusay aka Alexandra Spaulding. Great actress. Great woman. She will be very missed. RIP MARJ.”

Carrie Genzel (ex-Skye, ALL MY CHILDREN) tweeted, “I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of #MarjDusay. We had mutual friends in NYC and she was always so welcoming and wonderful to me. My heart goes out to her friends and family, and,her many fans who appreciated her on and off camera.”

Lisa Whelchel (Blair on The Facts Of Life): Just heard about the passing of Marj Dusay who played Blair’s mom, Monica Warner. She was absolutely perfect for the part, a seasoned actress and a delightful woman. It was a privilege to call her Facts of Life family.

Soap Opera Vet Marj Dusay Dead at 83

During Dusay’s decades-long daytime career, she established herself as one of the industry’s most reliable recasts. Dusay made her suds debut in 1983 when she replaced Carolyn Jones as Washington, D.C. matriarch Myrna Clegg on CBS’ Capitol. Following that show’s cancellation in 1987, Dusay jumped to NBC’s Santa Barbara, where she took over the role of Mason Capwell’s mentally unstable mother Pamela from actress Shirley Ann Field. In 1993, she temporarily filled in for Louise Sorel as villainess Vivian Alamain on NBC’s Days of Our Lives, after which she succeeded Beverlee McKinsey as Alexandra Spaulding CBS’ Guiding Light, a role she played on and off from 1993 to 2009 and one that earned her a 1995 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress.

It was in 1999 that Dusay finally originated her first soap role when she was cast as the evil Vanessa Bennett (mother to (Josh Duhamel’s Leo and Vincent Irizarry’s David) on ABC’s All My Children. She exited the soap in 2002.

Prior to making a name for herself in the soap world, Dusay made frequent guest appearances in primetime, most memorably on the original Star Trek (as alien Kara) and The Facts of Life (as Blair’s mother Monica).

2020 Oscar Nominations

Actor in a Leading Role
Antonio Banderas - Pain and Glory (Sony Pictures Classics)
Leonardo DiCaprio - Once upon a Time in Hollywood (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Adam Driver - Marriage Story (Netflix)
Joaquin Phoenix - Joker (Warner Bros.)
Jonathan Pryce - The Two Popes (Netflix)

Actress in a Supporting Role
Kathy Bates - Richard Jewell (Warner Bros.)
Laura Dern - Marriage Story (Netflix)
Scarlett Johansson - Jojo Rabbit (Fox Searchlight)
Florence Pugh - Little Women (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Margot Robbie - Bombshell (Lionsgate)

Actor in a Supporting Role
Tom Hanks - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Anthony Hopkins - The Two Popes (Netflix)
Al Pacino - The Irishman (Netflix)
Joe Pesci - The Irishman (Netflix)
Brad Pitt- Once upon a Time in Hollywood (Sony Pictures Releasing).

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Foundation To Donate $3 Million To Australia Wildfire Relief Efforts

DiCaprio’s organization will add to donations from Australian actress-comedian Celeste Barber, who broke a Facebook record for a fundraiser that raised over $32 million for firefighting efforts. Chris Hemsworth and Elton John each has pledged $1 million via social media. Metallica also has pledged a donation of several hundred thousand dollars. Phoebe Waller-Bridge said at the Golden Globes on Sunday that she would auction off her Globes outfit and have the proceeds go to firefighter relief.

Earth Alliance was launched last year to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Oscar winner DiCaprio serves as the foundation’s co-chair alongside philanthropists Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth. The foundation also donated millions to help the wildfires that ravaged the Amazon rainforest last year.

The wildfires, fueled by drought and the country’s hottest and driest year on record, have burned an area twice the size of the state of Maryland, killed at least 25 people and an estimated one billion animals and their habitat, and destroyed 2,000 homes.

Leonardo DiCaprio saved drunk man who fell off ship: Report

The 45-year-old Titanic actor was apparently on a boat off the Caribbean island on Dec. 30 when the captain of his vessel heard that a 24-year-old French man had fallen from a cruise ship. After consulting the Oscar-winning actor, Leonardo is said to have agreed that his boat should be diverted to help search for the man who was reportedly drunk.

Following hours of searching, during which they became the only boat looking for the man, Leonardo and the crew on his boat reportedly spotted him waving his arms – after 11 hours of treading water.

They then are said to have pulled him from the rough ocean just before nightfall, as a massive rainstorm looked certain to set in.

“The captain put the man’s chances of survival at one in a billion — like winning the lottery twice,” a source told Britain’s The Sun newspaper.

“I should have died,” the rescued man, identified only as Victor in the paper, said when he was pulled from the waters.

He was given food, drink and clothes and handed over to coastguards.

BAFTA Film Awards Nominations

LEADING ACTOR
LEONARDO DICAPRIO Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
ADAM DRIVER Marriage Story
TARON EGERTON Rocketman
JOAQUIN PHOENIX Joker
JONATHAN PRYCE The Two Popes

SUPPORTING ACTOR
TOM HANKS A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
ANTHONY HOPKINS The Two Popes
AL PACINO The Irishman
JOE PESCI The Irishman
BRAD PITT Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.

Brad Pitt admits to having 'disaster of a personal life' amid Angelina Jolie divorce war

The hunk — who took home the best supporting actor award at the 2020 Golden Globes — appeared on the latest episode of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. During their talk, the actors spoke of their rise to fame and their secretive off-screen lives.

While DiCaprio, 45, said he no longer gets chased by photographers the way he used to, Pitt, 56, insisted the opposite.

“Oh man. I’m just like trash mag fodder,” he said, explaining that he often has to use disguises and escape tactics to leave his house.

When asked by Maron, 56, why he still gets followed so much, Pitt explained with a laugh: “Because of my disaster of a personal life, probably.”

“[You’ve] got a very exciting personal life,” DiCaprio agreed through laughs.

As RadarOnline.com readers know, Pitt has yet to finalize his divorce from Angelina Jolie, whom he split from in 2016. And while the two have finally settled their custody agreement, sources says things between them are anything but smooth sailing; plus, the actor still has little contact with his estranged son Maddox, who is currently attending college in South Korea.

Though Pitt has not publicly confirmed any romances since his separation from Jolie, 44, sources have hinted at a possible reconciliation with ex-wife Jennifer Aniston. Despite their nasty 2005 divorce, the two have rekindled their friendship in the past couple years, and even reunited at an exclusive Golden Globes after-party.

During a red-carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight, Pitt called Aniston, 50, a “good friend.”

In the last two years the Ad Astra actor has also been linked to MIT professor Neri Oxman, actress Alia Shawkat and gorgeous holistic healer Sat Hari Khalsa, among others.

“I wanted to bring my mom, but I couldn’t because any woman I stand next to, they say I’m dating, and it’d just be awkward,” Pitt joked in his Golden Globes speech, referencing the constant rumours about his personal life.

Season 5 Of THE BAY Available Now

Nancy Lee Grahn Announces She's Getting Married

Grahn keeps her personal life rather private on social media and only refers to her boyfriend — now fiancé — as "my love." But she has shared a handful of photos of him and he has accompanied her on family vacations to Santa Ynez in August of 2019 as well as to France in July of 2018. "This guy is kinda dreamy and has good taste," she shared on Instagram. "That necklace I wear every day on GH was his Valentine's gift." Grahn's real-life love is also a very talented jazz musician who plays guitar.

Please join us in wishing the couple all the best for a lifetime of happiness together.

SAG Awards Nominations

MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BOMBSHELL
CONNIE BRITTON / Beth Ailes
ALLISON JANNEY / Susan Estrich
NICOLE KIDMAN / Gretchen Carlson
JOHN LITHGOW / Roger Ailes
MALCOLM McDOWELL / Rupert Murdoch
KATE McKINNON / Jess Carr
MARGOT ROBBIE / Kayla Pospisil
CHARLIZE THERON / Megyn Kelly

THE IRISHMAN
BOBBY CANNAVALE / Skinny Razor
ROBERT DE NIRO / Frank Sheeran
STEPHEN GRAHAM / Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano
HARVEY KEITEL / Angelo Bruno
AL PACINO / Jimmy Hoffa
ANNA PAQUIN / Older Peggy Sheeran
JOE PESCI / Russell Bufalino
RAY ROMANO / Bill Bufalino

JOJO RABBIT
ALFIE ALLEN / Finkel
ROMAN GRIFFIN DAVIS / Jojo
SCARLETT JOHANSSON / Rosie
THOMASIN McKENZIE / Elsa
STEPHEN MERCHANT / Deertz
SAM ROCKWELL / Capt. Klenzendorf
TAIKA WAITITI / Adolf
REBEL WILSON / Fraulein Rahm

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
AUSTIN BUTLER / Tex
JULIA BUTTERS / Trudi
BRUCE DERN / George Spahn
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / Rick Dalton
DAKOTA FANNING / Squeaky Fromme
EMILE HIRSCH / Jay Sebring
DAMIAN LEWIS / Steve McQueen
MIKE MOH / Bruce Lee
TIMOTHY OLYPHANT / James Stacy
AL PACINO / Marvin Schwarz
LUKE PERRY / Wayne Maunder
BRAD PITT / Cliff Booth
MARGARET QUALLEY / Pussycat
MARGOT ROBBIE / Sharon Tate

PARASITE
HYAE JIN CHANG / Chung Sook
YEO JEONG CHO / Yeon Kyo
WOO SHIK CHOI / Ki Woo
HYEON JUN JUNG / Da Song
ZISO JUNG / Da Hye
JUNG EUN LEE / Moon Gwang
SUN KYUN LEE / Dong Ik
MYUNG HOON PARK / Geun Se
SO DAM PARK / Ki Jung
KANG HO SONG / Ki Taek

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

CHRISTIAN BALE / Ken Miles – “FORD v FERRARI”
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / Rick Dalton — “ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD”
ADAM DRIVER / Charlie Barber – “MARRIAGE STORY”
TARON EGERTON / Elton John – “ROCKETMAN”
JOAQUIN PHOENIX / Arthur Fleck – “JOKER”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

JAMIE FOXX / Walter McMillian – “JUST MERCY”
TOM HANKS / Fred Rogers – “A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”
AL PACINO / Jimmy Hoffa – “THE IRISHMAN”
JOE PESCI / Russell Bufalino – “THE IRISHMAN”
BRAD PITT / Cliff Booth – “ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD

2020 Golden Globes Nominations

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

DANIEL CRAIG
KNIVES OUT

ROMAN GRIFFIN DAVIS
JOJO RABBIT

LEONARDO DICAPRIO
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

TARON EGERTON
ROCKETMAN

EDDIE MURPHY
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE

KATHY BATES
RICHARD JEWELL

ANNETTE BENING
THE REPORT

LAURA DERN
MARRIAGE STORY

JENNIFER LOPEZ
HUSTLERS

MARGOT ROBBIE
BOMBSHELL

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE

TOM HANKS
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

ANTHONY HOPKINS
THE TWO POPES

AL PACINO
THE IRISHMAN

JOE PESCI
THE IRISHMAN

BRAD PITT
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Lisa de Cazotte Dies: Emmy-Winning Daytime Producer Was Age 58

Born Lisa Smith in Westchester, New York in 1961, she graduated from Fordham University and began her television career as an intern on ABC’s One Life to Live. She quickly moved up the ranks to associate, then coordinating producer.

Later positions included working as a producer then supervising producer on NBC’s Santa Barbara and ABC’s All My Children before she was named supervising producer of Aaron Spelling’s Sunset Beach.

In 1999, de Cazotte partnered with writer James E. Reilly and was named EP of NBC Studio’s Passions. She served as EP for the run of the show until 2008; then went on to executive produce General Hospital: Night Shift, a primetime spinoff of GH that ran on cable, before returning to All My Children. In 2012, de Cazotte was named co-executive producer of Days of Our Lives where she won two Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding drama series. In 2017, she became supervising producer of The Young and the Restless, where she won her third Emmy. She was still producing the Sony/CBS show at the time of her death.

In 2002, de Cazotte married French filmmaker and Oscar winner Antoine de Cazotte. They divided their time between Los Angeles, New York and Paris.

Lisa de Cazotte is survived by her husband Antoine, her brothers Michael Patrick Smith, Robert Terence Smith, and Brian Charles Smith, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Critics' Choice Awards Nominations 2020

Best Actress in a Drama Series
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Olivia Colman, The Crown (Netflix)
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve (BBC America)
Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Regina King, Watchmen (HBO)
Mj Rodriguez, Pose (FX)
Sarah Snook, Succession (HBO)
Zendaya, Euphoria (HBO)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Asante Blackk, This Is Us (NBC)
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show (Apple)
Asia Kate Dillon, Billions (Showtime)
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Justin Hartley, This Is Us (NBC)
Delroy Lindo, The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Tim Blake Nelson, Watchmen (HBO)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown (Netflix)
Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Audra McDonald, The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Jean Smart, Watchmen (HBO)
Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Susan Kelechi Watson, This Is Us (NBC)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Ted Danson, The Good Place (NBC)
Walton Goggins, The Unicorn (CBS)
Bill Hader, Barry (HBO)
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Paul Rudd, Living With Yourself (Netflix)
Bashir Salahuddin, Sherman’s Showcase (IFC)
Ramy Youssef, Ramy (Hulu)

BEST ACTOR - Film
Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory
Robert De Niro – The Irishman
Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Adam Driver – Marriage Story
Eddie Murphy – Dolemite Is My Name
Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Film
Willem Dafoe – The Lighthouse
Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes
Al Pacino – The Irishman
Joe Pesci – The Irishman
Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Robert Walker Jr. Dies: ‘Star Trek’ Actor And Son Of Hollywood Stars Was 79

The New York native portrayed the twitchy, callow title character in “Charlie X,” the second episode of Star Trek’s pioneering first season in 1966, and also handled the title role of the notable 1960s feature films Ensign Pulver and Young Billy Young.

For Ensign Pulver, the comedic 1964 naval drama, Walker inherited a role that had earned Jack Lemmon an Oscar for best supporting actor for Mister Roberts (1955). In the 1969 gunfighter tale Young Billy Young, Walker was the volatile outlaw who finds a mentor in Robert Mitchum in film that also featured Angie Dickinson and David Carradine. That same year Walker and his wife, Ellie Wood, appeared together in the milestone counter-culture epic Easy Rider.

Walker’s other big-screen credits include The Hook (1963), with Kirk Douglas; The Ceremony (1963), with Laurence Harvey; The War Wagon (1967), with John Wayne; Killers Three (1968), with Dick Clark; and Road to Salina (1970), with Rita Hayworth.

On television his career spanned 20 years and his many credits included roles on Route 66, Ben Casey, Combat!, Bonanza, The Time Tunnel, The Six Million Dollar Man, Quincy, M.E.,Charlie’s Angels, Columbo, CHiPs, L.A. Law, and Murder, She Wrote.

It was his role in Federation space, however, that earned Walker his most lasting screen legacy. Walker was 26 when he played the callow 17-year-old Charlie Evans, aka Charlie X, on the second episode of Gene Roddenberry’s sci-fi series for NBC. The petulant Charlie came aboard the USS Enterprise as a rescued castaway who survived 14 solitary years amid the wreckage of a downed transport ship. The memorable episode, penned by D.C. Fontana, takes a dark turn when the orphaned teen’s dangerous secret and formidable mental powers are revealed.

Walker was born in Queens in April of 1940, the year after his father (best remembered as Alfred Hitchcock’s off-kilter killer in the 1951 classic Strangers on a Train) and his mother (the Academy Award-winner from The Song of Bernadette in 1943) were married. The marriage ended in 1945. Four years later, the youngster got a powerful stepfather when Jones married David O. Selznick, the Hollywood titan who produced Gone with the Wind and Rebecca.

Leonardo DiCaprio To Present Robert De Niro With SAG Life Achievement Award

Soap Fave Welcomes First Grandchild

Réal Andrews Opens up About His Bipolar Diagnosis

Today, the soap vet is sober and reprioritizing both his health and his passion for performing. However, he’s also had a revelation that was two decades in the making. “I was having crazy, dark thoughts. Then it hit me one day that for the first time in my life, I’m not masking it with drugs, alcohol or anything like that. It was right there in my face!” he admitted. That’s when he decided to see a physician and “got officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder.”

Now receiving treatment, Andrews feels like a new man and wants to encourage others in the same boat to seek help. “I want to be able to tell you that you’re not alone,” he said. “There’s a big difference between being depressed, sad or having a bad day and suffering from this sickness. When you don’t know where [those feelings] come from, you don’t know how to stop them.”

My ultimate [goal], and kind of what I’ve already started working towards,” he said, “is being on the big stage, talking to hundreds of thousands of people about depression.”

The actor currently plays Dr. Keith Campbell on Amazon’s THE BAY THE SERIES, but as he looks to the future, there’s another kind of character he’s eyeing. “I like to play heavies: bad guys and psychos. I’ve always been drawn to that,” he admitted. “I became an actor because I saw Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.” While he says that he would “absolutely do daytime again,” Andrews remains open to whatever the next leg of his journey brings. “I put a lot of faith in my representation, but my No. 1 representation is God,” he insisted. “So whatever He puts on my plate… my job is to show up with excellence.”

Shipp returns To The Arrowverse

Dishing With Digest - 9/6/19 - Vincent Irizarry

Vincent Irizarry takes a deep dive into his daytime journey, from GUIDING LIGHT’s Lujack to B&B’s Jordan, recalls a memorable encounter with Marisa Tomei, his prime-time successes and more with Digest’s Stephanie Sloane and Mara Levinsky.

E! People’s Choice Awards Finalists

The E! People’s Choice Awards will be broadcast live from Barker Hanger in Santa Monica on Sunday, November 10 at 9p ET/PT

THE DRAMA MOVIE STAR OF 2019
Drama Star Movie
Taron Egerton Rocketman
Cole Sprouse Five Feet Apart
Zac Efron Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
Lupita Nyong’o Us
Leonardo DiCaprio Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood
Brad Pitt Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood
Sarah Paulson Glass
Samuel L. Jackson Glass

Dishing with Digest - 8/16/19 - Eva La Rue

Eva La Rue talks about her latest role as Y&R's Celeste, shares her memories of All My Children, jokes about the book she'll write with Kelly Ripa and more with Digest's Stephanie Sloane and Mara Levinsky. We also discuss the latest dual roles on daytime and how actors feel about playing them.

Santa Barbara Vet A Martinez Reveals the Cruz/Eden Plot He 'Hated,' Was 'Ashamed' of: 'I'll Never Get Over It'

In a refreshingly candid Facebook Q&A, A Martinez — who won an Emmy for his portrayal of Cruz Castillo, soul mate to Marcy Walker’s Eden — revealed that there is one Santa Barbara plot he was embarrassed to take part in.

“Pretty much the only thing I hated about [SB] — in fact I was ashamed that I did it — is when Eden came back [from the “dead”] disguised as another person to try to lead Cruz into the next stage of his life,” the actor shared of the 1991 arc that found the mentally ill Eden taking on the personality of a painter named Suzanne Collier. “She wore glasses and a [red] wig and we were supposed to pretend that Cruz would not know she she is when he danced with her. I was ashamed that I played that. I’ll never get over it. That was one of the weakest things I ever did as an actor.”

That one creative slip-up notwithstanding, Martinez stressed that he “loved” his time on the soap, which ran from 1984-1993. “You can be picky about it and look a gift horse in the mouth and all of that, but the truth is so much of the reason the [Cruz/Eden] relationship worked as well as it did was that the writers wrote us gloriously rich, sensitive [material],” he enthused. “We were so lucky. I want to be very careful not to fall prey to thinking ‘woulda-shoulda-coulda.’ We had a full meal for years. We were lucky.”

Martinez also divulged during the Q&A — which served to promote the forthcoming Santa Barbara-themed cruise — that the storyline he remains most proud of was the one that dealt with the aftermath of Eden’s rape. The landmark 1989 plot earned Santa Barbara eight Daytime Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actress for Walker. “It was a hideous thing that happened to that character,” Martinez admits, “but the way [Marcy] played it was off the charts great .”

You can watch Martinez’s full Facebook Q&A here.

Irizarry Joins B&B

Irizarry makes his debut on the CBS soap on Monday, Aug. 26, and will play a pivotal role in the baby Beth/baby Phoebe storyline.

Irizarry’s many daytime credits include Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, One Life to Live, All My Children (for which he won a Daytime Emmy in 2009), Santa Barbara and Guiding Light.

2019 Emmy Nominations

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (2018 winner: Claire Foy)
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Laura Linney, Ozark
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Robin Wright, House of Cards

DYNASTY Vet Joins Y&R

Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt bonded while making ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” made its splashy premiere Tuesday evening at Cannes, 25 years after Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” debuted at the French Riviera festival, where it went on to win the Palme d’Or. Tarantino’s latest is about an actor (DiCaprio) in TV Westerns and his stunt double (Pitt) in 1960s Los Angeles, set against the backdrop of the Manson family murders.

It’s the first time DiCaprio and Pitt have made a feature together, though the two co-starred in a 2015 short directed by Martin Scorsese. They both suggested it might not be the last.

“There was an incredible ease and comfort getting to work alongside Brad. We kind of grew up in the same generation, got our start around the same time,” said DiCaprio. “We together forged, hopefully, a great cinematic bond in a film about our industry together.”

Pitt concurred. “It’s that thing of knowing you’ve got the best-of-the-best on the opposite side of the table holding up the scene with you,” he said. “I hope we get to do it again.”

The anticipation and glamour of “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” brought a frenzy unlike anything else has to this year’s Cannes. Festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux had desperately sought its inclusion. The film was a late addition after Tarantino was able to finish post-production work in time.

The stakes have been high for Sony Pictures, which gave Tarantino a $95 million budget to make what DiCaprio called “his love letter to the industry.” On Wednesday, Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman sat front row as Tarantino and his cast spoke to reporters.

Tarantino was made a free agent in Hollywood after the downfall of his regular producer, Harvey Weinstein. The director has previously acknowledged knowing about some of the accusations against Weinstein for years, saying: “I knew enough to do more than I did.”

Tarantino made no mention on Wednesday of Weinstein or the controversy last year involving Uma Thurman. The actress said an unsafe stunt on “Kill Bill” left her neck and knees permanently damaged. Tarantino later apologized, calling the incident “the biggest regret of my life.”

He was, though, asked about his feelings toward director Roman Polanski, who was Tate’s husband at the time of the Manson family murders. Played by Rafal Zawierucha, Polanski is seen only sparingly in “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.” Tarantino previously defended Polanski for having sexing with a 13-year-old girl, telling Howard Stern in 2003 that she “wanted to have it.”

On Wednesday, Tarantino said only that he’s a deep admirer of Polanski’s “Rosemary’s Baby.” He said he didn’t consult Polanski on the new film.

The tensest moment for Tarantino came when a New York Times reporter asked why an actress as talented as Robbie had relatively few lines in the film. Robbie’s Tate is largely a side narrative in the movie, which focuses on her fictional neighbours (DiCaprio and Pitt).

“I just reject your hypotheses,” Tarantino retorted curtly. Robbie gave a fuller defence, calling her Tate “a ray of light.” She said Tarantino referred to her character as “the heartbeat of the story.”

“The moments that I got gave the opportunity to honour Sharon,” she said. “I did feel like I got a lot of time to explore the character even without dialogue, specifically.”

When another reporter asked Tarantino if he ever had any hesitation about turning a real-life tragedy into a movie, he replied, simply: “Um, no.”

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” which opens in U.S. theatres on July 26, has been met with largely good reviews in Cannes, with critics calling it a nostalgic ode to a bygone Hollywood.

Asked if he would have rather made movies in 1969 than now, Tarantino said: “I prefer any time before cellphones.”

‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Poster Out, Showing Cowboy Leonardo DiCaprio

The Columbia Pictures film will be out on July 26, starting DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. The film focuses on the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles, as Dalton and stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt) navigate a changing film industry, with an intersection with the Charles Manson gang.

The film is produced by Columbia Pictures, Heyday Films and Bona Film Group, and has its world premiere at the current Cannes Film Festival.

Margot Robbie will play Sharon Tate, Dakota Fanning will play Squeaky Fromme, Al Pacino is set as Marvin Shwarz and Damian Lewis will play Steve McQueen. Kurt Russell, Timothy Olyphant, Margaret Qualley, Tim Roth and the late Luke Perry are also among cast.

The Young and the Restless Adds All My Children Veteran Eva LaRue

The former CSI: Miami star will join the cast of CBS’ The Young and the Restless, TVLine has confirmed. In addition to her homecoming at the network, the move will mark LaRue’s daytime comeback: She played neurologist Dr. Maria Santos Grey on the ABC soap All My Children off and on over the course of 18 years. In 1997, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for supporting actress for her work on the series.

LaRue’s Y&R character, Celeste Rosales, is the mother of Lola (played by Sasha Calle), Arturo (played by Jason Canela) and Rey Rosales (played by Jordi Vilasuso). LaRue begins shooting in late May; look for Celeste’s first appearance to take place on Wednesday, June 26. EW.com first reported the casting.

The actress’ other TV credits include Fuller House, George Lopez, Soul Food, Third Watch and Santa Barbara. At present, she hosts Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Animal Tales.

CBS recently renewed The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful — as well as its entire daytime lineup, which also includes The Talk, The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal — for the 2019-2020 TV season.

Nancy Lee Grahn's Daughter, Kate Grahn, Released Another Amazing Song — Listen to It Here!

Back in February, Kate released her debut single, “Someday Baby.” a driving rock song with a little bluesy twang featuring lyrics about a woman who refuses to settle and be just your “someday baby.” “It would mean so much to me if you would help me celebrate my Kate’s 21st birthday by listening to her new single,” Grahn proudly tweeted upon the song's release.

Kate may be young but she’s already a confident presence on the stage, having performed live numerous times over recent years. And you can hear that confidence in her powerful vocals in “Someday Baby.” The song is available to stream and purchase on platforms like iTunes, Spotify, Google, Amazon, TIDAL, and more. Just click this song link and you can choose the way you want to listen to it. Or, you could just click play on the YouTube video below… then follow the links to buy it and download it to listen to it whenever you like!

Now that Kate has released two songs, hopefully this means that an EP or a full album is going to be released soon so that we can hear more music from this talented young artist.

Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ heads to Cannes

The director’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” was announced as a late addition to the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday. It will premiere in competition at the upcoming French festival, adding one of the summer’s starriest, most anticipated films to the Cannes’ red carpet.

When Cannes’ artistic director Thierry Fremaux announced the festival’s official selections last month, he said he was hopeful Tarantino would finish editing in time for the film to return to the festival where “Pulp Fiction” 25 years ago won Cannes’ top award, the Palme d’Or.

“We were afraid the film would not be ready,” Fremaux said in a statement Thursday. “But Quentin Tarantino, who has not left the editing room in four months, is a real, loyal and punctual child of Cannes.”

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” which opens in theaters July 26, is set in late ’60s Los Angeles and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a TV actor and Brad Pitt as his longtime stunt double. Margot Robbie co-stars as Sharon Tate, the actress murdered by Charles Manson’s followers in 1969.

As a producer, DiCaprio will additionally bring a documentary on climate change to Cannes titled “Ice on Fire.”

Fremaux also added Abdellatif Kechiche’s “Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo” to the festival’s main slate Thursday. Kechiche won the Palme d’Or in 2013 for “Blue Is the Warmest Color.” Last year, French authorities investigated the director for sexual assault after a complaint filed in Paris. Through his attorney, Kechiche has denied the allegation.

The Cannes Film Festival opens May 14 with the premiere of Jim Jarmusch’s “The Dead Don’t Die” and runs through May 25.

Robin Wright To Make Feature Directorial Debut On Wilderness Drama ‘Land’

The film is based on the original screenplay by Jesse Chatham and Golden Globe nominee Liz Hannah (The Post) and is due to begin production this summer in British Columbia where it will cover the wild landscape over four seasons.

Wright’s character is a cosmopolitan lawyer who takes herself off the grid almost entirely. With advice from online survivalists, she moves to the most unpopulated area in the U.S., living in a cabin in the Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. All alone, she must learn to hunt, fish and grow her food as she faces brutal winters, a challenging landscape and local wildlife that could kill her at any moment. In crossing paths with Joseph, a First Nations local, Edee begins to confront her demons and surprises herself with her own will to survive.

HanWay Films has picked up international sales rights and will commence sales at Cannes. Cinetic Media and CAA Media Finance will handle North American rights.

The project was developed by Allyn Stewart (Sully) with casting director Lora Kennedy (Wonder Woman) and is financed by Big Beach. It is produced by Stewart, Kennedy, Big Beach co-founder Peter Saraf (Little Miss Sunshine) and Leah Holzer (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood). Marc Turtletaub will executive produce for Big Beach with Cinetic Media’s John Sloss and Steve Farneth and Iron Circle Pictures’ Heather Rae.

HanWay Films MD Gabrielle Stewart commented, “Robin proved herself a tour de force taking in hand House Of Cards as a director as well as its lead actor. She speaks very eloquently and passionately about wanting to tell the story of a woman’s journey through loss and pain, where only by giving herself to nature can she find a path to inner peace and redemption. It is a unique cinematic experience of huge scale, yet speaks to our basic human need for more earthy simplicity in this busy noisy world.”

Wright is represented by CAA, Sugar 23, and Ziffren Brittenham.

Leonardo DiCaprio In Talks To Star In Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’

The film is being financed by Guillermo Del Toro and J. Miles Dale with TSG Entertainment, with Fox Searchlight acquiring worldwide distribution rights to the film that is based on the 1947 film about a corrupt con-man who teams up with a female psychiatrist to trick people into giving them money. It’s based on the novel by William Lindsay Gresham.

DiCaprio next stars in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, the Quentin Tarantino film for Sony. This is expected to be his next film, though he also is getting close on the Martin Scorsese-directed Killers of the Flower Moon for Imperative Entertainment.

LBI reps DiCaprio. Guillermo del Toro is repped by Gary Ungar of Exile Entertainment and WME.

Join SANTA BARBARA Stars For A Reunion Cruise!

Dishing with Digest - 3/22/19 - Donnell Turner

Donnell Turner (Curtis) traces his path from background actor to GH heartthrob with Digest’s Stephanie Sloane and Mara Levinsky. Plus, we remember late DAYS star Jed Allan and discuss Brandon Barash’s debut as DAYS’s Stefan.

‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Teaser: First Look Trailer At Quentin Tarantino Film

Then again, nothing is ever quite what it seems in a Tarantino film. What we can confidently take away from the teaser: Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt display a loose, best-buddy chemistry as their respective TV star and stuntman characters are interviewed — newsreel-style — and discuss what exactly a stunt double does. “Carryin’ his load?” Pitt’s Cliff Booth answers dryly. “Yeah, that’s about right.”

Here’s the official logline: Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.

During the teaser, we also see brief clips of Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate, some scene-setting shots of ’60s-era LA (a cinema marquee boasts The Night They Raided Minsky’s, putting us, at that moment, in 1968 or, depending on how long Minsky’s has been playing, maybe ’69), a Playboy club, maybe the Sunset Strip and, with hints of the danger to come, a group of hippie girls at what we can reasonably assume is Spahn Ranch, ground zero for Manson’s family of lost kids and killers. Bruce Dern plays the old and ailing Spahn.

Oh, and we also get a great look at Mike Moh playing Bruce Lee as Kato on The Green Hornet.

Earlier this week, Sony released character posters for the film. See them here and here.

Written and Directed by Tarantino, produced by David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh and Quentin Tarantino, the film hits theaters July 26. Check out the teaser above.

‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Poster: DiCaprio, Pitt & Tarantino’s Summer Of ’69

The pic is a Pulp Fiction-esque tapestry of stories set in an around Los Angeles in summer 1969, at the height of hippie Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), the former star of a Western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor: Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie).

Set alongside that trio are the likes of Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, James Mardsen, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth, Timothy Olyphant, Damian Lewis, Lena Dunham, Emile Hirsch, Scoot McNairy, James Remar, Brenda Vaccaro and Bruce Dern, who stepped into the role that was set for his friend Burt Reynolds, who died in September. Luke Perry also filmed a role in this film before he died two weeks ago.

Sony releases the Columbia Pictures film on July 26. Take a look at the poster — remember those Champion tees? — and tell us what you think.

Jed Allan Dies: Soap Star On ‘Days Of Our Lives’ And ‘Santa Barbara’ Was 84

Allan began his career on the CBS soaps Love of Life and The Secret Storm, then joined Days of Our Lives in 1971. He played the role of Don Craig for 14 years, then segued in 1986 to patriarch C.C. Capwell on Santa Barbara.

When that show ended in 1993, he joined Beverly Hills 90210 as Rush Sanders, the father of Ian Ziering’s Steve.

Ziering posted a tribute to his TV father via Instagram: “So sad to hear we’ve lost another 90210 castmate. I had the pleasure of working with Jed Allan from 94 to 99. He played Rush Sanders, Steve’s father. Such a great guy to work with, he will be missed. #ripjedallan”

But the lure of soaps was still strong and in 2004, he temporarily took over the role of General Hospital‘s Edward Quartermaine.

Aside from soaps, Allan played Forest Ranger Scott Turner on Lassie for three years, the main human companion for the collie. He also appeared as the host of Celebrity Bowling in the 1970s, and hosted a game show pilot, Temptation, in 1981. He was also in numerous TV movies.

Born Jed Allan Brown, he was married to Toby Brown until her death in 2001. The couple had three sons, Mitch, Dean, and Rick.

No memorial plans have been announced.

Jon Lindstrom Reveals How He Fell in Love With Wife Cady McClain

What happened was actually as New York as can be: The castmates fell for each other during their daily commutes from work! “ATWT shot on a stage way out in the middle of Brooklyn, and Cady and I both lived in Manhattan,” he explained. “We would finish our scenes and be done around the same time, so we often ended up taking the hour-long train ride back to Manhattan together and got to know each other that way. We got to be very very good friends before anything else transpired.” In other words, it wasn’t love at first sight — or first love scene! “Not at all,” Lindstrom said. “I just realized I’d met this really amazing person... who was hugely intelligent and creative.”

One of the biggest thrills for Lindstrom in falling for McClain and marrying her in 2014 has been seeing her blossom as a director, producer, writer, artist and activist. The Daytime Emmy winner has earned film-festival awards across the country for projects like her short, Butterflies, and her documentary, Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct. “People have asked me if I ever expected Cady to do something like this, Lindstrom confided. “Yeah, of course! That’s who she is. If she needs to learn it, she will master it and get it done. That’s my wife. It’s pretty cool!”

And Lindstrom, an award-winning filmmaker in his own right, is still keen to work with his leading lady anytime. In fact, after McClain directed him in the series, SWITCH, last summer, she pulled out one of his old scripts. “She said, ‘I think this is going to be timely,’” recounted Lindstrom. “And when Cady says something’s going to be timely, I listen! It’s like real estate. If she says a building is a good investment, I listen. She has incredibly good instincts for things like that. So we pulled that script out, and I’m getting some very good feedback on it. It turns out she’s right! It is very timely. I expect to direct it... I just don’t know when.”

Martin Scorsese & Leonardo DiCaprio Developing ‘The Devil in the White City’ At Hulu With Paramount TV

The pair are exec producing the series, which is being developed at the digital platform by Paramount TV, alongside Stacey Sher, Rick Yorn, Emma Koskoff, and Jennifer Davisson.

The development was announced on stage by Craig Erwich, Hulu’s SVP of originals, at TCA, where the network is promoting series including George Clooney’s Catch-22 and comedy Shrill.

The Devil in the White City tells the true story of two men, an architect and a serial killer, whose fates were forever linked by The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. It follows Daniel H. Burnham, a brilliant and fastidious architect racing to mark his mark on the world and Henry H. Holmes, a handsome and cunning doctor who fashioned his own pharmaceutical “Murder Castle” on fair grounds – a palace built to seduce, torture and mutilate young women. The story takes the viewer on a tour of murder, romance and mystery in the gilded age.

DiCaprio bought the film rights to the book in 2010 and was previously set up with Scorsese to direct.

It is the latest project for Paramount TV at Hulu following Looking for Alaska, which stars Kristine Froseth and Charlie Plummer and is produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.

AMC Alum Eva La Rue Debuts New Series

Leonardo DiCaprio Testifies To Federal Grand Jury In Malaysian Fund Probe: Report

The case, which involves some of the highest members of the Malaysian government and some major U.S. investors, centers on financier Low Taek Jho. Low allegedly stole and laundered billions of dollars from the investment fund, then financed a lobbying campaign to end the federal investigation.

The Washington Post reports DiCaprio is not a target of the probe. Reports indicate that DiCaprio is considered a witness who can provide insights into Low, which may help the ongoing investigation into his activities.

Court papers have alleged that the relationship between Low and DiCaprio involved allowing the actor to gamble on his tab at the Venetian casino in Las Vegas; giving him artwork; and helping him get funding for the hit movie The Wolf of Wall Street.

In 2016, prosecutors tried to seize proceeds from the film, which allegedly was financed in part with stolen funds routed to a production company co-founded by the former Malaysian prime minister’s stepson. DiCaprio thanked Low by name in accepting a Golden Globe for his role in the film.

Prosecutors later seized a Picasso painting from DiCaprio they said was purchased with $3.2 million in stolen funds and given to DiCaprio by an associate of Low’s.

Low was charged in New York federal court last year with theft and money laundering. Prosecutors have also looked at related cases involving former Goldman Sachs bankers who may have been involved, as well as a Justice Department employee who helped the Low lobbying campaign to end the investigation.

DiCaprio is one of the highest profile people identified so far as testifying in the case, but he’s not the only one. The Washington Post reports Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel was involved in setting up accounts to make payments for Low’s lobbying effort on the investigations. Michael also reportedly hired the owner of an investment firm to intercede with the Trump administration. Michael has denied the allegations.

The Post said DiCaprio declined comment on his activity through a spokesman. He has acknowledged in the past that he was cooperating.

SAG Awards Nominations

The SAG Awards are January 27 at the Shrine Auditorium, simulcast live by Turner’s TNT and TBS. As previously announced, Alan Alda will receive the guild’s Life Achievement Award during the ceremony.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

A STAR IS BORN (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DAVE CHAPPELLE / George “Noodles” Stone
ANDREW DICE CLAY / Lorenzo
BRADLEY COOPER / Jack
SAM ELLIOTT / Bobby
RAFI GAVRON / Rez Gavron
LADY GAGA / Ally
ANTHONY RAMOS / Ramon

BLACK PANTHER (Marvel Studios)
ANGELA BASSETT / Ramonda
CHADWICK BOSEMAN / T’Challa/Black Panther
STERLING K. BROWN / N’Jobu
WINSTON DUKE / M’Baku
MARTIN FREEMAN / Everett K. Ross
DANAI GURIRA / Okoye
MICHAEL B. JORDAN / Erik Killmonger
DANIEL KALUUYA / W’Kabi
LUPITA NYONG’O / Nakia
ANDY SERKIS / Ulysses Klaue
FOREST WHITAKER / Zuri
LETITIA WRIGHT / Shuri

BLACKKKLANSMAN (Focus Features)
HARRY BELAFONTE / Jerome Turner
ADAM DRIVER / Flip Zimmerman
TOPHER GRACE / David Duke
LAURA HARRIER / Patrice Dumas
COREY HAWKINS / Kwame Ture
JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON / Ron Stallworth

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (20th Century Fox)
LUCY BOYNTON / Mary Austin
AIDAN GILLEN / John Reid
BEN HARDY / Roger Taylor
TOM HOLLANDER / Jim Beach
GWILYM LEE / Brian May
ALLEN LEECH / Paul Prenter
RAMI MALEK / Freddie Mercury
JOE MAZZELLO / John Deacon
MIKE MYERS / Ray Foster

CRAZY RICH ASIANS (Warner Bros. Pictures)
AWKWAFINA / Peik Lin Goh
GEMMA CHAN / Astrid Young Teo
HENRY GOLDING / Nick Young
KEN JEONG / Wye Mun Goh
LISA LU / Ah Ma
HARRY SHUM, JR. / Charlie Wu
CONSTANCE WU / Rachel Chu
MICHELLE YEOH / Eleanor Young

TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

THE AMERICANS (FX Networks)
ANTHONY ARKIN / Stavos
SCOTT COHEN / Glenn Haskard
BRANDON J. DIRDEN / Dennis Aderholt
NOAH EMMERICH / Stan Beeman
LAURIE HOLDEN / Renee
MARGO MARTINDALE / Claudia
MATTHEW RHYS / Philip Jennings
COSTA RONIN / Oleg Burov
KERI RUSSELL / Elizabeth Jennings
KEIDRICH SELLATI / Henry Jennings
MIRIAM SHOR / Erica Haskard
HOLLY TAYLOR / Paige Jennings

BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)
JONATHAN BANKS / Mike Ehrmantraut
RAINER BOCK / Werner Ziegler
RAY CAMPBELL / Tyrus Kitt
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO / Gustavo “Gus” Fring
MICHAEL MANDO / Nacho Varga
BOB ODENKIRK / Jimmy McGill
RHEA SEEHORN / Kim Wexler

THE HANDMAID’S TALE (Hulu)
ALEXIS BLEDEL / Ofglen/Emily
MADELINE BREWER / Janine
AMANDA BRUGEL / Rita
ANN DOWD / Aunt Lydia
O-T FAGBENLE / Luke
JOSEPH FIENNES / Commander Waterford
NINA KIRI / Alma
MAX MINGHELLA / Nick
ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June
YVONNE STRAHOVSKI / Serena Joy
SYDNEY SWEENEY / Eden
BAHIA WATSON / Brianna

OZARK (Netflix)
JASON BATEMAN / Martin “Marty” Byrde
LISA EMERY / Darlene Snell
SKYLAR GAERTNER / Jonah Byrde
JULIA GARNER / Ruth Langmore
DARREN GOLDSTEIN / Charles Wilkes
JASON BUTLER HARNER / Roy Petty
CARSON HOLMES / Three
SOFIA HUBLITZ / Charlotte Byrde
LAURA LINNEY / Wendy Byrde
TREVOR LONG / Cade
JANET McTEER / Helen Pierce
PETER MULLAN / Jacob Snell
JORDANA SPIRO / Rachel
CHARLIE TAHAN / Wyatt
ROBERT TREVEILER / Sheriff John Nix
HARRIS YULIN / Buddy Dieker

THIS IS US (NBC)
ERIS BAKER / Tess Pearson
STERLING K. BROWN / Randall Pearson
NILES FITCH / Teenage Randall
MACKENZIE HANCSICSAK / Young Kate
JUSTIN HARTLEY / Kevin Pearson
FAITHE HERMAN / Annie Pearson
JON HUERTAS / Miguel Rivas
MELANIE LIBURD / Zoe
CHRISSY METZ / Kate Pearson
MANDY MOORE / Rebecca Pearson
LYRIC ROSS / Déjà
CHRIS SULLIVAN / Toby Damon
MILO VENTIMIGLIA / Jack Pearson
SUSAN KELECHI WATSON / Beth Pearson
HANNAH ZEILE / Teenage Kate

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

ATLANTA (FX Networks)
KHRIS DAVIS / Tracy
DONALD GLOVER / Earn Marks
BRIAN TYREE HENRY / Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles
LAKEITH STANFIELD / Darius

BARRY (HBO)
DARRELL BRITT-GIBSON / Jermaine
D’ARCY CARDEN / Natalie
ANDY CAREY / Eric
ANTHONY CARRIGAN / NoHo Hank
RIGHTOR DOYLE / Nick
GLENN FLESHLER / Goran Pazar
ALEJANDRO FURTH / Antonio
SARAH GOLDBERG / Sally Reed
BILL HADER / Barry
KIRBY HOWELL-BAPTISTE / Sasha
PAULA NEWSOME / Det. Janice Moss
JOHN PIRRUCCELLO / Det. John Loach
STEPHEN ROOT / Monroe Fuches
HENRY WINKLER / Gene Cousineau

GLOW (Netflix)
BRITT BARON / Justine Biagi
SHAKIRA BARRERA / Yolanda Rivas
ALISON BRIE / Ruth Wilder
KIMMY GATEWOOD / Stacey Beswick
BETTY GILPIN / Debbie Eagan
REBEKKA JOHNSON / Dawn Rivecca
CHRIS LOWELL / Bash Howard
SUNITA MANI / Arthie Premkumar
MARC MARON / Sam Sylvia
KATE NASH / Rhonda Richardson
WYATT NASH / Phil
SYDELLE NOEL / Cherry Bang
VICTOR QUINAZ / Russell Barroso
GAYLE RANKIN / Sheila the She-Wolf
BASHIR SALAHUDDIN / Keith Bang
KIA STEVENS / Tammé Dawson
JACKIE TOHN / Melanie Rosen
ELLEN WONG / Jenny Chey
BRITNEY YOUNG / Carmen Wade

THE KOMINSKY METHOD (Netflix)
JENNA LYNG ADAMS / Darshani
ALAN ARKIN / Norman
SARAH BAKER / Mindy Kominsky
CASEY THOMAS BROWN / Lane
MICHAEL DOUGLAS / Sandy Kominsky
ASHLEIGH LaTHROP / Breana
EMILY OSMENT / Theresa
GRAHAM ROGERS / Jude
SUSAN SULLIVAN / Eileen
MELISSA TANG / Margaret
NANCY TRAVIS / Lisa

THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (Prime Video)
CAROLINE AARON / Shirley Maisel
ALEX BORSTEIN / Susie Myerson
RACHEL BROSNAHAN / Miriam “Midge” Maisel
MARIN HINKLE / Rose Weissman
ZACHARY LEVI / Benjamin
KEVIN POLLAK / Moishe Maisel
TONY SHALHOUB / Abe Weissman
BRIAN TARANTINA / Jackie
MICHAEL ZEGEN / Joel Maisel

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

JULIA GARNER / Ruth Langmore – “OZARK” (Netflix)
LAURA LINNEY / Wendy Byrde – “OZARK” (Netflix)
ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June – “THE HANDMAID’S TALE” (Hulu)
SANDRA OH / Eve Polastri – “KILLING EVE” (BBC America)
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Jon Lindstrom & Tim Lounibos Join ‘Bosch’

Jon Lindstrom Lands a Prime Role on Amazon's BOSCH!

Lindstrom had been teasing fans on social media for a couple weeks that he’d landed a new role but had kept details close to the vest until he could finally share the news. Amazon renewed BOSCH for a fifth season even before the fourth premiered, but there is still no premiere date for the series’ fifth season beyond just 2019.

BOSCH stars Titus Welliver as Los Angeles Police detective Harry Bosch, and is based on characters and storylines taken from novels by author Michael Connelly. In the books, Lindstrom’s character of Lance Cronyn is a former district attorney who has moved into private practice. He’s also not entirely on the right side of the law, and willing to do whatever it takes to get the verdict he’s after. Whether or not the TV series will follow the same storyline as the books, you’ll just have to stay tuned to find out!

We’ll let you know when the fifth season of BOSCH is going to premiere so you can check out Lindstrom in his newest role.

Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio Officially Attach To ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’

In addition to directing as his next project, Scorsese will produce alongside Imperative Entertainment’s Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Sikelia Productions’ Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Appian Way Productions.

Imperative, which went on to make All the Money in the World, and backed Ridley Scott’s decision to scrub Kevin Spacey and reshoot his scenes with Oscar-nominated Christopher Plummer weeks before the film’s release, really got on the map with its stunning acquisition of this book. It made a $5 million bid that was millions more than what other suitors were willing to pay back in 2016. Adding the seven-figure sum for Forrest Gump writer Roth to adapt it, and this has been a pricey development process. But when it results in landing Scorsese and DiCaprio, it sounds like money well spent. It put Imperative — which recently wrapped the Clint Eastwood-directed The Mule — on the map.

“When I read David Grann’s book, I immediately started seeing it—the people, the settings, the action—and I knew that I had to make it into a movie,” said Scorsese. “I’m so excited to be working with Eric Roth and reuniting with Leo DiCaprio to bring this truly unsettling American story to the screen.”

In 1920s Oklahoma, the Osage Nation were the richest people per capita in the world, after oil was discovered under their land. And then they were murdered, one by one. As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case and unraveled a chilling conspiracy and one of the most monstrous crimes in American history.

Imperative executives have met with the Osage Nation and the team is scouting locations in the coming months with production set to commence during the summer of 2019.

30WEST will arrange the financing and distribution for the project.

Scorsese and DiCaprio are both represented by LBI Entertainment and attorney Steve Warren of Hansen, Jacobson. Scorsese is also represented by WME.

Morning Show Appearance

Wednesday, October 17

(7-9 a.m.) Robin Wright on House of Cards

Talk Show Appearance

Friday, Oct. 19

Robin Wright

General Hospital Vet Susan Brown Dead at 86, Remembered by Co-Stars

GH vet Kin Shriner, who plays Scotty, shared the news on Twitter, hailing Brown as “one of my best friends and costars…. R.I.P., Susan. I will miss all our laughs.”

Brown first joined GH in 1977, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination two years later. She exited GH in the mid-80s, but recurred now and again, especially when Scotty’s family helped launch the ABC Daytime spinoff Port Charles. Brown last appeared on GH in a 2004 episode honoring the late Anna Lee, who had Lila Quartermaine.

Brown’s previous TV credits included As the World Turns (as Adelaide Fitzgibbon), ABC’s mid-1960s sudser The Young Marrieds, Death Valley Days and Santa Barbara (as Dorothy Lane). Her most recent primetime role was a 1994 episode of Frasier.

“She was so very special, on set and in friendship,” GH vet Jackie Zeman shared on Twitter, offering Shriner her condolences. “I remember all the good times we shared on our lunch breaks and at at her amazing dinner parties at her beautiful home. RIP Susan + God Bless.”

Current GH boss Frank Valentini tweeted, “It’s a very sad day in Port Charles as the wonderful Susan Brown (“Gail Baldwin”) passed away today. My sincerest condolences to her family and to all who knew this amazing woman.”

Brown’s GH husband, Peter Hansen (who played Scotty’s father, Lee Baldwin), passed away in April 2017, at the age of 95.

Robin Wright fought to save thousands of jobs on 'House of Cards'

Spacey was fired from his role as Frank Underwood in the political Netflix drama last year after multiple allegations of misconduct and harassment were levelled against the actor, beginning with claims made by actor Anthony Rapp, who alleged the actor pounced on him in the bedroom of his hotel suite when Rapp was an underage teenager.

In an interview with Porter Edit, Wright, who plays First Lady turned President Claire Underwood on the drama, revealed how she fought to save the show, and the jobs of up to 2,500 staffers.

“It came very, very close (to being axed),” she told the publication. “The air was thick, you know. Harvey Weinstein… People were (saying), ‘We have to shut everything down or otherwise it will looking like we are glorifying and honouring this thing that’’s dirty’.”

The mother of two, who is an executive producer on the show, which will premiere its final sixth season in November, said she strongly believed the producers should honour their commitment to the fans, and the thousands of employees who would have been affected by its cancellation.

“They printed that it was ‘only’ 600 people out of work, but if you include security, cops, shooting on location in Baltimore, everything, 2,500 people would have been out of a job,” she claimed. “And that’s not fair – to take that security away from those people… they didn’t do anything (wrong).”

The 52-year-old actress revealed she hasn’t reached out to her former co-star, explaining she expects Spacey will get in touch “when he’s ready”.

But when asked if he deserves a “career reprieve”, she carefully answered: “I believe every human being has the ability to reform.

“In that sense, second chances, or whatever you are going to call it – absolutely, I believe in that.“

Robin Wright marries French boyfriend Clement Giraudet: Report

According to Vogue Paris, the Wonder Woman star became Mrs. Giraudet at an undisclosed location on Saturday.

Robin’s representative has yet to comment on the news, but her daughter, Dylan Penn, from her former marriage to Sean Penn, appeared to share footage from the nuptials on her Instagram page.

“Weddin vibes (sic),” she captioned a clip of guests dancing outdoors at the bohemian-style party, which she tagged with the location of La Roche-sur-le-Buis in southeastern France.

Other images which have surfaced online show Robin beaming in a floor-length white gown, with her hair worn down and accessorized with a brown headband, as she hugs her new husband.

Robin, 52, first went public with her romance with Saint Laurent businessman Clement last September, when they were pictured attending a soccer game in Paris, before subsequently stepping out together for Paris Fashion Week.

They hit headlines again in March amid rumours suggesting the couple had secretly wed, after both Robin and Clement were spotted sporting gold bands on their left ring fingers as they sat in the crowd at the UEFA Champions League soccer game in the French capital, but they did not acknowledge the claims at the time.

The marriage is Robin’s third – she was previously wed to actor Dane Witherspoon from 1986 to 1988, while she tied the knot with Sean Penn, with whom she also shares 25-year-old son Hopper, in 1996. They divorced in 2010, and she went on to become engaged to Alpha Dog star Ben Foster, before they parted ways in August, 2015.

Foster is also a newlywed – he and actress Laura Prepon tied the knot in June.

3rd Rock's Elmarie Wendel Dead at 89

Wendel worked consistently as a character actress before landing 3rd Rock in 1996. Earlier credits include guest spots on Knight Rider, The Jeffersons, The Facts of Life, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, Major Dad, Santa Barbara, Empty Nest, Weird Science and Murder, She Wrote.

After 3rd Rock ended in 2001, Wendel guest-starred on four episodes of NYPD Blue, then landed a recurring role as the flirtatious Gina on George Lopez. She later appeared in select episodes of General Hospital and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, and reunited with 3rd Rock co-stars Kristen Johnston and Wayne Knight on an episode of the TV Land sitcom The Exes.

Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio turned down 'Brokeback Mountain' roles: Gus Van Sant

The moviemaker was initially attached to adapt author Annie Proulx’s short story of the same name into a feature film, but he struggled to convince a number of top actors to take on the cowboy love story.

“Nobody wanted to do it,” Van Sant recalled to IndieWire. “I was working on it, and I felt like we needed a really strong cast, like a famous cast. That wasn’t working out.

“I asked the usual suspects: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillippe. They all said no.”

Reports at the time suggested Van Sant had wanted his Good Will Hunting star Damon to feature opposite Joaquin Phoenix as Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, the roles which eventually went to Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, respectively, in director Ang Lee’s acclaimed 2005 release.

Producer Diana Ossana, who helped to adapt the script, confirmed the revelations in an email statement to the outlet, writing, “Yes, all those young gentlemen (at the time) turned down the project, for various reasons.”

Reflecting on his approach to casting the film over a decade ago, Van Sant admits he shouldn’t have focused so heavily on landing big names.

“What I could have done, and what I probably should have done, was cast more unknowns, not worried about who were the lead actors,” he said.

“I was not ready. I’m not sure why. There was just sort of a hiccup on my part. There was something off with myself, I guess, whatever was going on.”

Brokeback Mountain went on to lead all nominees at the 2006 Academy Awards with eight nods, including acting mentions for Ledger, Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Williams. It ended up picking up three honours, including Best Director for Lee, but missed out on Best Picture to Crash.

Meanwhile, Van Sant also told IndieWire he came close to taking charge of another acclaimed gay romance, 2017’s Call Me By Your Name, which was directed by Luca Guadagnino and starred Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer.

He explains a producer pal initially offered the project to him, and although the 65-year-old was interested, he doubts it would have been as well-received as Guadagnino’s version, because he found a “sentimentality” in the ending of the story that Van Sant didn’t.

“I think in that case in particular… I don’t think it would have panned out the way it did if I had directed it,” he shared. “I think it was great. I like the film… I’m not sure I would have ended up in the same place, so it probably wouldn’t have done as well.”

Call Me By Your Name, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Andre Aciman, landed four Oscar nominations earlier this year, and earned James Ivory the Best Adapted Screenplay prize.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt Strike a Pose in First Photo of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

While much has been said about the star-studded upcoming film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, DiCaprio took intrigued fans inside the movie when he shared a first look at the film on Instagram on Wednesday.

In the stylish shot, the Oscar winner is posed alongside his co-star Pitt, both sporting themed ensembles and oozing with swagger.

Naturally, the photo has attracted millions of likes and endless comments since the actor shared it in the morning. As has been previously reported. DiCaprio will be portraying Rick Dalton, a washed-up Western actor who lives next door to Sharon Tate, while Pitt will fill the role of stunt double Cliff Booth.

The plot of the film takes place at the time of the Manson Family murders in the summer of 1969, with Margot Robbie as Tate and Emile Hirschas Jay Sebring, one of the Manson family's victims.

In addition to reuniting DiCaprio with his Wolf of Wall Street co-star Robbie, the movie will also bring together Pitt with his Ocean's Thirteen co-star Al Pacino, who has been cast as Marvin Shwarz, Dalton's agent.

The movie will also star Burt Reynolds, James Marsden and Dakota Fanning among several other notable actors.

The film, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, is due out in summer 2019.

Soap's Robert Mandan Dead at 86

Mandan passed away in Los Angeles on April 29 after suffering a long, undisclosed illness, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He is survived by his wife, Sherry Dixon.

The veteran TV actor got his start in soap operas, with stints on From These Roots (1959-1961), The Edge of Night (1963), The Doctors (1963) and Search for Tomorrow (1966-1970). He continued to work regularly throughout the 1970s, appearing on episodes of All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, Mission: Impossible and The Streets of San Francisco, among other high-profile series.

Mandan’s star-making role came soon after, when he was cast on the aforementioned Soap as the philandering husband to Katherine Helmond’s Jessica from 1977 to 1981. The series ran for a total of four seasons and spawned the successful spinoff Benson, starring the late Robert Guillaume.

After Soap, Mandan starred as Col. Lawrence Fielding in the TV adaptation of Private Benjamin, which ran on CBS from 1981-1983. In 1984, he starred opposite John Ritter on the short-lived Three’s a Crowd, in a role he originated in the final episodes of Three’s Company. In 1986, he appeared on The Facts of Life as Dr. Bruce Gaines, a member of the Peace Corps who married Mrs. Garrett in Charlotte Rae’s farewell episodes. Then in 1991, he reunited with Soap spouse Helmond in two episodes of Who’s the Boss.

Mandan’s film credits include Hickey & Boggs, MacArthur and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Other notable TV gigs included episodes of The Love Boat, CHiPS, Highway to Heaven, Santa Barbara, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Married… with Children.

Jon Lindstrom Books Horror Thriller ‘The Great Illusion’

The plot follows a tortured FBI agent suffering from an irrational fear of darkness, as he investigates a mysterious former prostitute in order to catch a vicious serial killer.

Amy Williams (Mothers and Daughters) is producing the project, which also co-stars Trisha Rae Stahl (Fox’s Glee), Rebekah Kennedy (Netflix’s To the Bone), Jaime Gallagher (Know Your Enemy), Bella Shaw, Rob Evors (Project X), as well as Monte Markham (We Are Still Here) and Beverly Todd (The Bucket List). Filming is slated to begin next month in Los Angeles.

Blair can currently be seen in Netflix’s Lost in Space and will recur in Paramount Network’s Heathers series, based on the 1988 cult classic film, which will debut this summer. Greene, an Oscar nominee for his role in Dances with Wolves, was recently seen in Wind River and Molly’s Game.

Blair is repped by Gersh and Wishlab while Greene is repped by Greene & Associates Talent Agency.

Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Appian Way In Early Talks To Team On Ulysses S. Grant Epic At Lionsgate

Lionstate and Appian Way last November acquired movie rights to Grant, the bestselling Ron Chernow biography that is being adapted by David James Kelly. The writer just worked for Appian Way and Lionsgate on Robin Hood, the Otto Bathurst-directed that stars Taron Egerton in the starring role.

Pinning down a time when these two titans will work together is always a challenge. As Deadline revealed last January, Spielberg set Indiana Jones and West Side Story to be his next two films as his followup to The Post and Ready Player One. DiCaprio, who took time off after the arduous shoot that won him the Best Actor Oscar in The Revenant, next stars in the Quentin Tarantino-directed Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. DiCaprio and Davisson are developing several big star vehicles including the Leonardo Da Vinci project based on the Walter Isaacson book which Paramount set in a seven figure deal as Appian Way moved its deal to the studio. Appian Way and Paramount also have a Teddy Roosevelt film that Scott Bloom is scripting for Martin Scorsese to direct. Separately, there is also a possible collaboration with Scorsese on the David Grann book Killers of the Flower Moon which has a script by Eric Roth for Imperative Entertainment.

Despite this, sources labeled the Grant project a priority. The Penguin Press book has a high pedigree. Chernow is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Washington: A Life, whose Alexander Hamilton was the inspiration for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony winning musical Hamilton. Chernow is exec producer of Grant.

It provides Spielberg with another interesting way to explore the Civil War, ground he covered in Lincoln. Grant was one of the most complicated military leaders-turned politicians in American history. Down on his luck with failing businesses and a resignation from the army amid accusations of drunkenness, Grant enjoyed a rousing second act as Abraham Lincoln’s most trusted general. He won the battle of Shiloh and the Vicksburg campaign, and defeated the legendary Southern Confederate general Robert E. Lee. His military genius propelled him to two terms in the White House. He was a champion for black Americans and worked to crush the Ku Klux Klan, even as there were scandals involving administration’s leaders. Grant had EKG-like highs and lows even after his presidency, seeing his fortune swindled on Wall Street but resuscitating himself working with Mark Twain on his critically acclaimed memoirs.

Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio File Objections In Weinstein Co. Bankruptcy

Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Murray and Quentin Tarantino were among those filing documents raising concerns about outstanding payments ahead of the court-supervised auction of the studio.

Tarantino has had a long collaboration with The Weinstein Co. and its disgraced co-founder, Harvey Weinstein. He made four films for the studio — Grindhouse/Death Proof, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight.

The writer-director estimates he’s still owed nearly $4.6 million for these films: $300,000 for Grindhouse, $575,000 for Inglourious Basterds, some $1.3 million for Django and $2.5 million for The Hateful Eight.

Tarantino is asking the court to forestall the sale until The Weinstein Co. lives up to its contractual obligations and provides assurances of future payments.

The Weinstein Co. says it owes Lawrence $102,623 for her work on Silver Linings Playbook, though the actress says she can’t be sure if the amount is accurate because the studio only provided financial details through the end of December.

Streep found her name among the more than 2,000 pages of lists containing some 10,250 contracts — sometimes, misspelled as “Street.” She said she has been unable to get an accurate accounting of outstanding payments in connection with her work on the motion pictures August: Osage County and The Giver — though the Weinstein Co. claims it owes $168,611.

“Unless and until Ms. Streep is given such an opportunity and/or conducts a proper audit, the Debtors should not be permitted to unilaterally select cure amounts while withholding the information necessary for Ms. Streep to verify or contest those amounts,” Streep wrote in her filing.

The Weinstein Co. said it may owe Clooney $250,000 for August: Osage County, though the producer on the film said this amount does not take into account back-end participation.

Both Lawrence and Streep criticized co-founder Harvey Weinstein for taking their statements out of context as he sought to defend himself against sexual misconduct lawsuits.

Streep described as “pathetic” Weinstein’s use of her statement that he was not sexually transgressive or abusive as evidence that he had not abused other women. Lawrence echoed that sentiment, adding that she supports the women who have come forward seeking justice.

A group of film production companies — Studiocanal (Paddington I), Gaumont (Ballerina aka Leap!), Wild Bunch (The Artist), Delta Last Legion (Hannibal Rising),and Orange Studio (The Artist, Paradise Lost) — raised concerns about The Weinstein Co.’s lax bookkeeping. The studios claims that on some films, there has been no accounting for a year. On others, the records are up to seven years delinquent.

The Wild Bunch said an audit conducted for the reporting period ending in December of 2014 revealed a $293,00 payment shortfall for the Academy Award winning film, The Artist. Studiocanal believes it’s owed a share of profits on Paddington I, ditto for Gaumont on The Intouchables and Ballerina. They’re looking for the court’s assurance that a proper audit will occur and they’ll get paid.

Deadline previously reported that the list of the thousands of people owed money by the studio reads like a red carpet gala in Hollywood, including Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Dame Judi Dench, David Bowie, Michael Bay, Malia Obama, Boris Becker, Ryan Coogler, Daniel Radcliffe, Robert De Niro and Darlene Love.

Chuck McCann Dies: Comedian And Legendary Children’s TV Show Host Was 83

McCann was born on September 2, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York. It was in his hometown where he made a name for himself as a versatile entertainer in the ’60s. He, along with Soupy Sales, Sandy Becker, and Claude Kirschner were comedic influencers of the time. He worked on various children’s shows including Captain Kangaroo and Rootie Kazootie.

In 1963, he headed The Chuck McCann Show which ran on New York’s WPIX-TV, seven days a week. He went on to host Chuck McCann’s Laurel & Hardy TV Show in 1966 which featured Laurel & Hardy animated cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera. The show gave McCann the opportunity to do his Oliver Hardy imitation.

His television career also included recurring roles on Santa Barbara, Knots Landing, and Boston Legal. He also had guest-starring roles on iconic shows such as Bonanza, The Bob Newhart Show, Columbo, Kojak, Little House on the Prairie, Starsky & Hutch, The Rockford Files, One Day at a Time, St. Elsewhere, Diff’rent Strokes, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Mad About You.

On the film side, he starred in the critically-acclaimed, Academy Award-nominated 1968 film The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter with Alan Arkin as well as the 1970 comedy The Projectionist opposite Rodney Dangerfield and Ina Balin. Other film credits include They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978), C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979), The Comeback Trail (1982), and Herbie Rides Again (1974). He also appeared in Mel Brooks’ 1993 cult comedy classic Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

He was also remembered for many award-winning commercials particularly Sonny the Cuckoo Bird, the mascot for General Mills’ cereal Coco Puffs. He voiced the memorable character who was “cuckoo for Coco Puffs” from 1962 until 1978. He may also be remembered for being the famous “Hi Guy” from the Right Guard series of Right Guard antiperspirant commercials.

As a voiceover actor, McCann is essentially a legend, having voiced numerous characters on animated series for decades. His credits include DuckTales, TaleSpin, Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Garfield and Friends, Animaniacs, Fantastic Four, The Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time and many more.

McCann married former William Morris executive Betty Fanning in 1977. He has three children from a previous marriage.

GH’s Nancy Lee Grahn Hosts East Coast Fan Events

Soap producer Jill Farren Phelps lists her scenic spot on Mulholland Drive

The ranch-style house, built in 1962 and full of colorful details, is secluded on more than half an acre above the Hollywood Hills and adjacent to protected land.

The 2,606-square-foot house features vibrant hues and wallpaper, crown molding and hardwood floors. A brick-surround fireplace anchors the living and dining rooms, which center on panoramic views through a row of French doors.

The brickwork continues in the family room, which has a wall filled with built-ins and doors opening to the patio. A skylight-topped breakfast nook sits off the updated kitchen. Four bedrooms and three bathrooms complete the floor plan.

Outside, a blue-tiled swimming pool and spa take in the city lights and mountains. Lush landscaping and lawn complete the grounds.

Emmanuel Xuereb and Salvator Xuereb of 360 Realty are the listing agents.

Farren Phelps, 67, got her start in television in 1974 as a production assistant on the show “Guiding Light” and won the first of 11 Daytime Emmys in the early ’80s as the music director for “General Hospital." Her other credits include such soap operas as “Santa Barbara,” “Another World” and “One Life to Live.”

New Project For GUIDING LIGHT Fave

Soap Vets Star In New Film

Lin Bolen Dies: First Female VP Of Programming At A Network Was 76

Bolen worked for NBC in the 1970s and was responsible for commissioning the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune. She also is credited with bringing long-form narrative to soap operas, expanding them to hour-long formats.

It was long rumored that the ruthless Faye Dunaway character of Diana Christiansen in the 1976 satrical film Network was based on Bolen, something Bolen denied.

She was appointed VP of daytime programming at NBC in 1972, rising to become the VP of programming in Sept. 1975. NBC thrived under her leadership, becoming the No. 1 network in ratings.

Some of her moves were controversial. Bolen ended the 11-year run for Jeopardy!, citing its older demographics and stodgy host Art Fleming, and also killed the 15-year-old game show Concentration. Instead, she pivoted to a new concept from creator/producer Merv Griffin, a casino-like game called Wheel of Fortune that debuted in 1976. It became a huge hit.

Merv Griffin remembered Bolen in his Simon & Schuster memoir, Merv: Making The Good Life Last. He described her as a “hard-driving” and “difficult” woman, with whom he had many “bitter fights.” Still, he noted, “I developed a gruding respect for her talent and determination. She wanted to put her own stamp on NBC’s daytime lineup, and if that meant throwing out a few babies along with the bathwater, then so be it.”

Bolen left NBC in 1976 to form her own, self-named producion company focused on creating and developing game shows, movies of the week, and theatrical films for networks and studios. Among its show was Stumpers!, hosted by Allen Ludden (which lasted 13 weeks before cancellation), and W.E.B., a show that looked seriously at the men who ran network television. It, too, was canceled after 13 weeks, done in by its slot against the ABC hit Charlie’s Angels.

She fared better in television movies. The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle, starring Kurt Russell and Melissa Gilbert, was the highest-rated movie of the year for NBC.

Survivors include a son, Jason Wendkos. No details on memorial services have been made public.

John Conboy, Producer of ‘The Young and the Restless,’ ‘Guiding Light,’ Dies at 83

Conboy won four Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on the soap operas: his first for “The ABC Afternoon Playbreak,” two for ABC’s “The Young and the Restless” and one for “Santa Barbara.”

After beginning his television career as an actor, he made the switch to producing in 1973 on “The Young and the Restless,” then one of TV’s top-rated daytime programs, for which he won Emmys in 1975 and 1983 for outstanding daytime drama. In 1982, he left the show to create and executive produce soap opera “Capitol” for CBS, which ran for five years.

Conboy went on to executive produce NBC’s “Santa Barbara,” winning his fourth Emmy in 1990 for daytime drama. He returned to CBS to produce “Guiding Light,” then the longest-running daytime drama in TV history. He also worked on a number of TV movies, including “Kiss of a Killer,” “The Solitary Man,” “After Hours: Singin’, Swingin’ and All That Jazz” and “After Hours: From Janice, John, Mary and Michael, with Love.”

Growing up in Binghamton, New York, Conboy graduated from Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts.

“The Young and the Restless” star Judith Chapman tweeted on Friday, “It is with heavy hart and a grateful smile that I called him my friend.”

A private memorial service is being planned.

Former Executive Producer John Conboy Dead

Peter Parros on Scorpion 2/5/18

GUEST CAST includes: Peter Parros (Chief Benavidez), Jennifer Say Gan (Dr. Alicia Miller).

Leonardo DiCaprio joins Tarantino's Manson Family film

DiCaprio, who played the villain of Tarantino’s 2012 slave drama Django Unchained, will lead the cast in the untitled new film – the moviemaker’s first with a major studio.

The project will be Leonardo’s first since he won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Hugh Glass in The Revenant.

He’ll play an ageing actor in the new movie, according to Deadline.

His Wolf of Wall Street castmate Margot Robbie has reportedly been asked to portray Manson Family victim Sharon Tate in the film.

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt have also been offered roles, according to reports.

Robin Wright is seeing a sexy younger man

The “Wonder Woman” star is spending the holidays skiing with a handsome new beau, Clement Giraudet, worldwide VIP relations manager at upscale French fashion house Saint Laurent, in Tahoe City, Calif., a source exclusively tells Page Six.

“House of Cards” icon Wright, 51, and debonair Frenchman Giraudet were first pictured looking cozy together in September during Paris fashion week at a soccer match at Parc des Princes Stadium. Her son, Hopper, from her previous marriage to actor Sean Penn, also was with them. But Clement was labeled at the time as a “mystery man.” Wright had been in Paris that month attending the chic brand’s spring 2018 fashion show.

In May, she gave a talk sponsored by Kering, the luxury group which oversees YSL, during the Cannes Film Festival, while she was there promoting her short film “The Dark of Night.” Tousled-haired surfing fan Giraudet also posted images of himself at the film festival, but they were not spotted together.

Now it looks like things are serious between the pair. According to a source, Giraudet has been staying at Wright’s home when he visits Los Angeles.

This week, he has been posting Instagram Stories while skiing the slopes at Squaw Valley, with a source telling us they are staying together at an upscale resort.

Wright was previously married to Penn for 14 years. They have two children and remain on amicable terms. She was formerly engaged to “X-Men” actor Ben Foster, who was 14 years her junior. They called things off in 2015 after breaking up and reuniting.

And Wright will take the lead in sixth and final season of “House of Cards,” which starts filming early next year, now that Kevin Spacey has been removed over allegations of sexual misconduct.

A rep for Wright did not respond for comment. Giraudet, who has more than 35,000 followers, made his Instagram private after we reached out.

Jon Lindstrom on S.W.A.T. 1/11/18

GUEST CAST includes: Bre Blair (Annie Kay), Aaron Braxton (Katrell), Jon Lindstrom (Ashe).

SAG Awards Nominations

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
MARY J. BLIGE / Florence Jackson – “MUDBOUND” (Netflix)
HONG CHAU / Ngoc Lan Tran – “DOWNSIZING” (Paramount Pictures)
HOLLY HUNTER / Beth – “THE BIG SICK” (Amazon Studios/Lionsgate)
ALLISON JANNEY / LaVona Golden – “I, TONYA” (Neon/30West)
LAURIE METCALF / Marion McPherson – “LADY BIRD” (A24)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
LAURA DERN / Renata Klein – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)
NICOLE KIDMAN / Celeste Wright – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)
JESSICA LANGE / Joan Crawford – “FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN” (FX Networks)
SUSAN SARANDON / Bette Davis – “FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN” (FX Networks)
REESE WITHERSPOON / Madeline MacKenzie – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven – “STRANGER THINGS” (Netflix)
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
LAURA LINNEY / Wendy Byrde – “OZARK” (Netflix)
ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June – “THE HANDMAID’S TALE” (Hulu)
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ANTHONY ANDERSON / Andre “Dre” Johnson – “BLACK-ISH” (ABC)
AZIZ ANSARI / Dev – “MASTER OF NONE” (Netflix)
LARRY DAVID / Himself – “CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM” (HBO)
SEAN HAYES / Jack McFarland – “WILL & GRACE” (NBC)
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)
MARC MARON / Sam Sylvia – “GLOW” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

THE CROWN (Netflix)
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II
VICTORIA HAMILTON / Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
VANESSA KIRBY / Princess Margaret
ANTON LESSER / Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
MATT SMITH / Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
ALFIE ALLEN / Theon Greyjoy
JACOB ANDERSON / Grey Worm
PILOU ASBÆK / Euron Greyjoy
HAFÞÓR JÚLÍUS BJÖRNSSON / The Mountain
JOHN BRADLEY / Samwell Tarly
JIM BROADBENT / Archmaester Ebrose
GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE / Brienne
EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Jaime Lannister
LIAM CUNNINGHAM / Davos Seaworth
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister
RICHARD DORMER / Beric Dondarrion
NATHALIE EMMANUEL / Missandei
JAMES FAULKNER / Randyll Tarly
JEROME FLYNN / Bronn
AIDAN GILLEN / Petyr Baelish
IAIN GLEN / Jorah Mormont
KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow
LENA HEADEY / Cersei Lannister
ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT / Bran Stark
CONLETH HILL / Varys
KRISTOFER HIVJU / Tormund Giantsbane
TOM HOPPER / Dickon Tarly
ANTON LESSER / Qyburn
RORY McCANN / The Hound
STAZ NAIR / Qhono
RICHARD RYCROFT / Maester Wolkan
SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark
RUPERT VANSITTART / Yohn Royce
MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark

THE HANDMAID’S TALE (Hulu)
MADELINE BREWER / Janine/Ofwarren/Ofdaniel
AMANDA BRUGEL / Rita
ANN DOWD / Aunt Lydia
O-T FAGBENLE / Luke
JOSEPH FIENNES / Commander Waterford
TATTIAWNA JONES / Ofglen #2
MAX MINGHELLA / Nick Blaine
ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June
YVONNE STRAHOVSKI / Serena Joy
SAMIRA WILEY / Moira

STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)
SEAN ASTIN / Bob Newby
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven
CARA BUONO / Karen Wheeler
JOE CHREST / Ted Wheeler
CATHERINE CURTIN / Claudia Henderson (Dustin’s Mom)
NATALIA DYER / Nancy Wheeler
DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper
CHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan Byers
JOE KEERY / Steve Harrington
GATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin Henderson
CALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas Sinclair
DACRE MONTGOMERY / Billy
PAUL REISER / Dr. Owens
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers
NOAH SCHNAPP / Will Byers
SADIE SINK / Max
FINN WOLFHARD / Mike Wheeler

THIS IS US (NBC)
ERIS BAKER / Tess Pearson
ALEXANDRA BRECKENRIDGE / Sophie
STERLING K. BROWN / Randall Pearson
LONNIE CHAVIS / Young Randall
JUSTIN HARTLEY / Kevin Pearson
FAITHE HERMAN / Annie Pearson
RON CEPHAS JONES / William Hill
CHRISSY METZ / Kate Pearson
MANDY MOORE / Rebecca Pearson
CHRIS SULLIVAN / Toby Damon
MILO VENTIMIGLIA / Jack Pearson
SUSAN KELECHI WATSON / Beth Pearson
HANNAH ZEILE / Teenage Kate

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
BLACK-ISH (ABC)
ANTHONY ANDERSON / Andre “Dre” Johnson
MILES BROWN / Jack Johnson
DEON COLE / Charlie Telphy
LAURENCE FISHBURNE / Pops
JENIFER LEWIS / Ruby
PETER MACKENZIE / Mr. Stevens
MARSAI MARTIN / Diane Johnson
JEFF MEACHAM / Josh
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS / Dr. Rainbow Johnson
MARCUS SCRIBNER / Andre Johnson, Jr.
YARA SHAHIDI / Zoey Johnson

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
TED DANSON / Himself
LARRY DAVID / Himself
SUSIE ESSMAN / Susie Greene
JEFF GARLIN / Jeff Greene
CHERYL HINES / Cheryl David
JB SMOOVE / Leon Black

GLOW (Netflix)
BRITT BARON / Justine Biagi
ALISON BRIE / Ruth Wilder
KIMMY GATEWOOD / Stacey Beswick
BETTY GILPIN / Debbie Eagan
REBEKKA JOHNSON / Dawn Rivecca
CHRIS LOWELL / Bash
SUNITA MANI / Arthie Premkumar
MARC MARON / Sam Sylvia
KATE NASH / Rhonda Richardson
SYDELLE NOEL / Cherry Bang
MARIANNA PALKA / Reggie Walsh
GAYLE RANKIN / Sheila the She-Wolf
BASHIR SALAHUDDIN / Keith
RICH SOMMER / Mark
KIA STEVENS / Tammé Dawson
JACKIE TOHN / Melanie Rosen
ELLEN WONG / Jenny Chey
BRITNEY YOUNG / Carmen Wade

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
EMILY ALTHAUS / Maureen Kukudio
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
ROSAL COLÓN / Ouija
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
FRANCESCA CURRAN / Helen Van Maele
DANIELLA DE JESÚS / Zirconia
LEA DeLARIA / Big Boo
NICK DILLENBURG / CO Blake
ASIA KATE DILLON / Brandy Epps
BETH DOVER / Linda Ferguson
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
LAURA GÓMEZ / Blanca Flores
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
EVAN ARTHUR HALL / CO Stratman
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
BRAD WILLIAM HENKE / Desi Piscatella
MIKE HOUSTON / CO Lee Dixon
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
KELLY KARBACZ / Kasey Sankey
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Cindy Hayes
MIRIAM MORALES / Pidge
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
JOHN PALLADINO / Josh
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara Diaz
LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause
JOLENE PURDY / Stephanie Hapakuka
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina Murphy
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Yoga Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda Berlin
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
EMILY TARVER / CO Artesian McCullough
MICHAEL TORPEY / CO Thomas Humphrey
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Morgan Freeman

Critics' Choice Awards 2018 Nominations

Best Actress in a Drama Series
Caitriona Balfe – Outlander (Starz)
Christine Baranski – The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Claire Foy – The Crown (Netflix)
Tatiana Maslany – Orphan Black (BBC America)
Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Robin Wright – House of Cards (Netflix)

Best Supporting Actress in a Movie Made for TV or Limited Series
Judy Davis – FEUD: Bette and Joan (FX)
Laura Dern – Big Little Lies (HBO)
Jackie Hoffman – FEUD: Bette and Joan (FX)
Regina King – American Crime (ABC)
Michelle Pfeiffer – The Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead – Fargo (FX)

Best Supporting Actress - Film
Mary J. Blige – Mudbound
Hong Chau – Downsizing
Tiffany Haddish – Girls Trip
Holly Hunter – The Big Sick
Allison Janney – I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf – Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer – The Shape of Water

Best Young Actor/Actress - Film
Mckenna Grace – Gifted
Dafne Keen – Logan
Brooklynn Prince – The Florida Project
Millicent Simmonds – Wonderstruck
Jacob Tremblay – Wonder

Best Actor In A Comedy - Film
Steve Carell – Battle of the Sexes
James Franco – The Disaster Artist
Chris Hemsworth – Thor: Ragnarok
Kumail Nanjiani – The Big Sick
Adam Sandler – The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected).

Leo haggles over $850K Basquiat drawing at Art Basel

The Oscar winner — who tried but completely failed to hide his identity under a baseball cap and a black hoodie while walking around with a huge entourage — spent more than an hour at New York’s Van de Weghe booth at Art Basel in Miami during Wednesday’s VIP preview.

The 1983 Jean-Michel Basquiat work, titled “Wire,” measures 76 x 56 cm and is signed and titled on the reverse and features a figure looking at a fly with the words on corresponding parts “teeth,” “liver” “knee,” and a quite “keep your hands off that wire.”

Leo had earlier walked around the convention center with his posse looking at art in numerous booths for galleries including Luhring Augustine, Metro Pictures — which had a big Cindy Sherman artwork on display — White Cube, Max Hetzler, Hauser & Wirth and Acquavella.

Photographers who tried to take a picture of Leo were told they would be thrown out and have their press passes revoked.

Plus, his art advisor, Lisa Schiff, led Leo towards the Basquiat drawing.

A witness said, “It seemed like they had a plan beforehand. They brought the work into a private room with Leo, the advisor, and slowly the hat-clad entourage also poured in.

“Two blonde models who looked very much Leo’s type came and talked to his posse for a bit,” says the spy.

After about 45 minutes Leo emerged and looked at art at the booth across the way, while his advisor stayed to negotiate. “We are good, we’re getting there!” she said when she emerged while Leo huddled with his posse.

Also making the rounds at Art Basel Miami were Brad Pitt, former Knick turned collector Amar’e Stoudemire and model Frederique van der Wal.

There were also many high profile art world figures including collector Beth Rudin de Woody, Jeffrey Deitch, Tico Mugrabi and artist Chuck Close who told Page Six of the work on display, “There is a lot more interesting work here this year compared to previous years, mainly because the higher priced artworks aren’t exactly flying off the shelves right now. So the galleries are bringing their bigger pieces rather than digging into storage for something to show.”

He added his favorite artwork he’d seen so far was a painting by Brooklyn-based artist Dana Schutz.

Meanwhile, over at the Helly Nahmad Gallery stand, we are told a number of offers had gone in for the $25 million Pablo Picasso painting “Homme à l’épée” (1969).

Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation has an exhibition at the Perez Art Museum during Basel. The Perez will also be screening his climate documentary Before he Flood on Sunday.

Sony Pictures Confirms Quentin Tarantino Deal; Margot Robbie, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio Circling

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to report that late last night, Sony did indeed succeed in securing the worldwide rights in all media to Quentin Tarantino’s next epic film. I was looking forward to sharing the news with you all myself this morning, but unfortunately the story leaked.

Bottom line: Quentin chose Sony over many other competitors. And he did this because of all of YOU! He remembers well the outstanding job the company did on Django, and was particularly impressed last week by the presentation of our marketing and distribution capabilities, both domestically and internationally. I’m grateful to all who worked to make this happen and confident that we will do a great job for him on this film and others to come.

It’s a real credit to the studio and to each of you.

Congrats,

Tom Rothman

Chairman Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group

EARLIER EXCLUSIVE, 4:58 AM: Sony Pictures has won the derby to finance and distribute #9, the working title of Quentin Tarantino’s next film, sources said. The film is set in Los Angeles in the late ’60s and early ’70s, with Tarantino hoping hard that Margot Robbie will play the role of Sharon Tate. Just about every studio in town except Disney chased it, along with several financiers looking to fund the entire film, and mini-majors seeking domestic rights. The deal came after a long night of bargaining between Sony and Tarantino’s reps at WME.

The film is an ensemble, and Tarantino has had conversations with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio for the two main lead male roles. It is unclear if all three will be in the movie, or two of them, when Tarantino begins production next year, but it certainly looks like Tarantino will have a star cast here. The picture is being produced by Harry Potter’s David Heyman, Tarantino, and Shannon McIntosh, with Georgia Kacandes will be exec producer and line producer.

This has been the biggest skirmish over a project this side of the derby for international and ancillary rights to the James Bond film that is still going on right now (domestic rights will go to the joint venture between MGM and Annapurna).

It is a big get for Sony’s Tom Rothman and his production chief Sanford Panitch, and I’m told Tarantino sparked to Rothman’s deep knowledge of film history. Few can hang with Tarantino in that regard, but Rothman held his own and the studio chased this one hard. Rothman has overhauled Sony’s position as an international distributor, and Sony Pictures will have world rights on Tarantino’s film. Also important was a marketing campaign presented by Josh Greenstein and his team. Since Tarantino spent his whole career making movies in one place, there is every reason to imagine that if he enjoys this experience, he might well make his final film at Sony. This film’s working title comes from this being the ninth film for the director, who has pledged that he will stop at 10. That means one final film after this one.

The bidding came down to all the majors but Disney. Fox backed away during the week, and aside from Sony, Warner Bros and Universal, others circling included Annapurna and Lionsgate for a domestic deal that would require the international sales effort that went into The Hateful Eight. Also knocking were several pure equity financiers.

After making every movie in his directing career for Miramax and The Weinstein Company, Tarantino made the hard decision to look for a new home for his upcoming film. Tarantino planned to make this film with TWC, but those plans imploded with the scandalous removal of Harvey Weinstein after the revelation of a litany of nightmarish stories about forced sexual encounters with dozens of actresses and women who worked for the company. So The House That Quentin Built — as Weinstein often called his company because of the out-sized success of Tarantino-directed pictures that included Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained — is in the process of being sold off, and despite Tarantino’s loyalty to the 170 or so staff there that helped make his movies successful, he had little choice but to exit.

There has been a lot of press that the script focuses on Charles Manson and the murder spree he orchestrated, but I’m told that is akin to calling Inglourious Basterds a movie about Adolf Hitler, when the Nazi leader was only in a scene or two. Deadline broke months ago that Robbie had been asked to play Manson murder victim Tate.

The film will be set in Los Angeles and begin production in mid-2018 for a 2019 release, and it will be an R-rated film, like all Tarantino’s directing efforts. Those who’ve read it said the script has heart and a strong commercial appeal, and if there is a film of Tarantino’s it can be best compared to, it would be Pulp Fiction, which also was set in Los Angeles. The film will carry a budget in the range of Django Unchained.

GH Alum Steve Bond On Hallmark Debut

Eva LaRue Alleges Steven Seagal Sexually Harassed Her

Her allegation comes in the wake of similar claims of sexual harassment by Seagal by Jenny McCarthy, Portia de Rossi and Juliana Margulies.

LaRue was 22 when she got a call from her agent, saying that he’d set up an audition for her at Seagal’s house. “Even at 22, I knew better than to go to an audition at somebody’s house,” she said. “But my agent assured me that the reason it was at his house was because they hadn’t secured their studio offices yet.” “Don’t worry,” her agent told her, “there will be two producers there and the casting director. It’s totally on the up and up.”

“So I went, against my better judgment,” she recalled, “and sure enough, there were two other guys and some woman who was supposed to be the casting director. And there we were, sitting in his living room, talking about the character I was going to play and the story plot and what they’re looking for – the usual audition chitchat. But I didn’t have the sides. It was a meeting but not a reading. And then the casting director said, ‘I think she’s perfect for the role.’”

Now, all these years later, LaRue said that she doesn’t think there was a role, or even a movie – that it was all just a setup.

Seagal, dressed in a kimono, got up and told her to follow him to get the script. “I don’t know why we don’t have the script in the living room where we were meeting,” she said, “but I said, ‘OK,’ and I follow him, thinking we’re going to his office. We go down the hallway to this room, which is like an office and guest room kind of thing. And he says, ‘Have a seat on the couch.’ It was like a literal casting couch. And as I was walking towards the couch, with my back towards the door, he’s busy closing and locking the doors behind my back. I go to sit on the couch, and he comes towards me and he’s opening his weirdo kimono. There’s no script or anything. Just him standing there with his kimono open. He had underwear on, thank God, and he was bare everywhere else. And it was clear he was not just getting cozy.”

Jumping up from the couch, LaRue moved quickly to the door, making excuses to get out of there. “I wish I could stay, but I can’t,” she told him. “I have another meeting right after this.”

“No, no, sit down,” he said.

She kept moving to the door but found that he’d locked it from the inside. “I don’t know what’s happening,” she recalled. “I’m fumbling with the lock and he says, ‘No, no, come back. You’ve got to stay. Come sit on the couch and have a drink with me.’”

“I’d love to, but I have to go,” LaRue told him. “Send the script to my agent. I’ll read it, but I gotta go.” She said he never touched her, but the encounter was unnerving all the same. And as she made a “beeline” through the house and out the front door, she wondered: “Why am I even being nice to this guy? What is it about us women in general that it’s somehow beaten into our brains not to hurt somebody’s feelings even if they are about to horribly hurt ours.”

Once she got home, she called her agent and told him what happened.

“All these agents back then knew what was going on for ages. Thanks for not telling us. Everybody knew but us actors. But nobody followed up or anything,” LaRue told Deadline.

McCarthy said in a radio interview that in 1995, Seagal told her to take off her dress and then unzipped his pants during an audition for a role on Under Seige 2. She said she told him “No, thanks” and fled the room in tears, only to be chased by him out into the parking lot, where he allegedly threatened her not to tell anyone — “or else.”

De Rossi tweeted on Wednesday that she too was auditioning for a role on one of Seagal’s films when he sat down beside her and unzipped his leather pants, allegedly telling her “how important it is to have chemistry off-set.” She says she ran out of his office and called her female agent, who allegedly told her, “Well, I didn’t know if he was your type.”

Margulies said she was 23 when a female casting director asked her to go to the actor’s hotel room at 10 PM to go over a scene. The casting director wasn’t there, but Seagal was. “I don’t know how I got out of that hotel room. … I sorta screamed my way out,” Margulies said.

Seagal could not be reached for comment, but a spokesman denied that the actor ever harassed McCarthy.

“Most of us have had to dodge these bullets our entire careers,” LaRue said. “It was part of being a woman in the industry. It’s like wearing pumps: It’s painful, but we gotta wear pumps.”

And it’s not like these are untold stories, she said. “I told this story a thousand times, and finally it matters, I’m not ‘suddenly’ coming forward. All these women who have accused Harvey Weinstein aren’t ‘suddenly’ coming forward. These are not new stories that girls are ‘suddenly’ coming out with. These are stories we’ve been telling at dinner parties, and to our friends, our family members, our agents and our fellow actors for years. But nobody cared until now, and now people are ‘suddenly’ coming forward.”

Obit: Harry R. Eggart, 79

He spent his life in the theater, starting out as an actor and advancing to directing and producing. He was director of CBS’s “Guiding Light” for 18 years as well as many other soap operas.

Born in Florida, he attended Auburn University and Tulane University. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army in Ethiopia.

He was a member of theatrical unions AEA, SAG, AFTRA and DGA. He directed more than 2,000 hours of network television that also included episodes of “Search for Tomorrow,” “Another World,” and “Santa Barbara.” He also directed touring legit shows, dinner theater performances, industrials, and specials.

He was director of the daytime Emmy Awards for 12 years for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In 2003, he appeared as a panelist at the Westport Historical Society discussing soap operas with fellow Westporters (see WestportNow Oct. 19, 2003). In 2004, he and wife Roberta sold their home on Spicer Road.

He loved to paint, never met a book he didn’t like and wrote in his spare time. He loved hot weather, his family, a good joke, his dogs and cornbread. He had a great smile.

Married to Roberta B. Eggart for 50 years, he was father of Jesse, Casey, and Kat Eggart and proud Papi to Kai McCready. Survivors also include nieces Linda Dunn and Suzzie Akins of Florida, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Judy and Steve Penn, and niece, Joanna Shober of California, and son-in-law Michael McCready of Stratford.

There will be a military graveside service on Wednesday Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Avenue, Bourne, Massachusetts.

‘Ghosted’ Actress Ally Walker on Her First Big Break on NBC Soap ‘Santa Barbara’

Walker was first mentioned in Variety on March 2, 1988, when she joined “Santa Barbara” as secret agent Andrea Bedford.

When did you first get the acting bug?

My mother likes to say I was always performing, and I would write stories too, so I think the bug was always in me. But that wasn’t my first career ambition. I worked at a genetic engineering firm where I was sequestered in a laboratory prepping cultures and spinning cells.

How did the audition for “Santa Barbara” come about?

I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. I was in Los Angeles, and a producer saw me goofing off with some friends and he asked if I wanted to audition. I thought he was a nut, but my friends said he was the real deal. So I did it, and I got the job, and it was so exciting to do something that I didn’t know I could do.

What was the biggest lesson you learned from the show?

More than anything, it was discipline. You had to learn 10 to 20 pages a night, you had to hit your mark and you had to know what you were doing. It taught me a lot. I didn’t get to go to a school for acting to learn about lighting or cameras or how to move, so “Santa Barbara” was a training ground for me.

How was “Santa Barbara” different from what you thought of soaps at the time?

Everything exceeded my expectations. I really loved working with Marcy Walker, A. Martinez and Robin Wright on that set. They were really giving and kind, and there was a lot of collaboration between artists. The stories weren’t very melodramatic by soap opera standards. I mean, I’ve never been a spy or murdered on a beach, but it was still more real than what some other soaps were doing at the time!

What storyline was the most challenging from your time on the show?

Where Marcy Walker, who played Eden, was raped. I had a girlfriend in high school who had been raped, and I remember it was very hard to watch some of the stuff they did. It really affected me. I was on set, and I found myself just very disturbed and mesmerized by Marcy’s performance. I really have to give a shout-out to her. It was just very powerful.

There wasn’t a lot of crossover for actors between film and television at the time. Was that a concern for you?

I was very open when I started, because I had to get things going and I had to learn and I had to feed myself. Everything was a good opportunity to me. I was only on the soap for seven or eight months, and I was bummed when they killed me off, but at the same time, it did allow me to read for some films too. But for the most part for me, I just got better female parts on TV so I kept going back.

Obit: Warren Burton

Leonardo DiCaprio Says There’s “No Excuse For Sexual Harassment” Amidst Harvey Weinstein Scandal

DiCaprio worked with Weinstein on many awards season films such as The Aviator, Gangs of New York, and Django Unchained. Like Ben Affleck and Nicole Kidman, he didn’t mention Harvey Weinstein’s name when it came to his statement.

The Revenant actor is the latest in a growing list of Hollywood figures coming forward to express their opinions and support for women and victims coming forward about sexual assault and harassment. Others include Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Jennifer Lawrence, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, James Gunn, Michael Isner, and Kate Winslet.

A TV soap opera actress-turned-avocado grower is running for congress in Coachella Valley

Best known for playing the villainous Sheila Carter on “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Brown Pelzer also owns an interior design company and, with her husband, Gary, a sports fishing and marina rental business in San Diego, among others.

"The reason I'm running for office is because for the first time in our country we’re not leaving behind something better for the next generation," she said.

Brown Pelzer recently moved to Palm Springs, but told The Desert Sun that she's been attending charity events in the desert for more than two decades and that her financial services company has been operating ATMs here for seven years.

She closed out the second day of the Republican National Convention in 2016, scoring early points with local GOP organizers for her backing of Donald Trump and her complaints about taxes and small business regulations. She also criticized "suspect trade deals" that create foreign competition at home and can leave American workers unemployed.

The immediate reaction from Republican activists was positive.

“I know this is the person who’s going to win,” Joy Miedecke, chair of the East Valley Republican Women Federated, said on Tuesday. (Video)

The 36th Congressional district, which extends from Hemet to Blythe and includes all of the Coachella Valley, leans Democrat. For months, Republicans have been searching for a viable candidate — someone with name-recognition who can quickly raise money and sway independents in a region that voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in the last presidential contest.

Brown Pelzer said she's "the kind of person who will work with both parties" and doesn't see her prime-time support for Trump in the last election as an obstacle. "The fact that President Trump did not spend a lot of time in California was a business decision," she said. "You put your money where it brings you the most return."

Incumbent Raul Ruiz, a former emergency room physician and the son of farmworkers, easily won re-election in November 2016 and so he’s currently sitting on a war chest worth $1.6 million.

Republican Dan Ball, a former television news anchor, has also been in talks with consultants about a possible congressional run, but has yet to say for certain whether he, too, is going to challenge Ruiz. He said he planned to make an announcement next week.

The election is 13 months away.

Leonardo DiCaprio & Martin Scorsese Ride Again On Teddy Roosevelt Pic At Paramount

Roosevelt had an eventful life filled with military exploits, and a political track where he moved from New York Governor to vice president to become at 42 the youngest president when President William Mckinley was assassinated in 1901. His most enduring achievements though came in the area of conservation, including his work around reserves, preserves, national parks and forests. That is of particular interest for DiCaprio and why he is resurrecting playing the subject after a previous attempt at the film years ago didn’t pan out.

Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together multiple times before with Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Shutter Island, The Departed and The Wolf Of Wall Street, and they developing The Devil In The White City and Killers of The Flower Moon to do together, both based on critically acclaimed books.

DiCaprio is repped by LBI Entertainment chief Rick Yorn and attorneys Gretchen Rush and Steve Warren. Scorsese is repped by WME and LBI.

'Dynasty' Star Gordon Thomson Comes Out As Gay

In a new interview with the Daily Beast, the 72-year-old, who played the homophobic villain Adam Carrington in the ’80s soap opera, comes out as gay for the first time.

“It’s not something I’ve ever announced,” he told the Daily Beast of his sexuality. “I’m assuming that people know, and now that I’m my age that’s fine. I don’t go out of my way because it’s my generation, I think. I’m probably as homophobic as any gay man alive because of my background.”

His secrecy was tied to the times.

“When I was growing up it [homosexuality] was a crime, and then classified as a mental illness ... so you’re dealing with that,” he added. “And the shame, the breathtaking lack of self-esteem, has only just begun to seep out of my soul.”

The CW “Dynasty” reboot is set to premiere Oct. 11. While the drama will remain in tact, the homophobia will be erased.

The original version showcased homophobic sentiment when it came to Adam’s gay brother Steven Carrington (played by Al Corley), and patriarch Blake Carrington’s attitude toward him. The reboot will shed that hatred, with billionaire Blake supporting his son’s sexuality.

Thomson acknowledged Hollywood’s “closet problem” in the ’80s, saying he could not come out because of the social climate ? including the cruel scandal around Rock Hudson during the AIDS crisis.

“The ‘vibe’ on that set—sorry I hate that word but that’s what it was—was so heterosexual. I didn’t want to say, ‘Guess what everybody, the guy playing the father is gay.’ If I had there would have been a slight shift away which I wasn’t ready to deal with.”

Leonardo DiCaprio blasts Trump over climate change

The Oscar winner, 42, met with then-president-elect Trump, 71, in December, only to have the POTUS disregard their conversation once he took office.

“We presented him with a comprehensive plan to tackle climate change, while also simultaneously harnessing the economic potential of green jobs,” DiCaprio recalled at the Yale Climate Conference on Tuesday (via The Hartford Courant). “We talked about how the United States has the potential to lead the world in clean-energy manufacturing and research and development.”

Once in office, Trump pledged to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, which regulates greenhouse emissions, and appointed climate change skeptic Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

The moves left staunch environmentalist DiCaprio nonplussed.

“We should not have people in office who do not believe in facts and truths and modern science that are able to manipulate and risk the entire future of this entire generation,” he fumed. “We are at that turning point right now, and we are going to look back at this point in history, and frankly this administration, and certain people are going to be vilified for not taking action. They really are. And it’s up to this generation, it’s up to all of you to get involved and make a difference.”

Leonardo DiCaprio Invests In VR Company MindMaze

One of them might be this one. It has already raised $100M in capital and in the health industry is working to decode brain signals in real-time. MindMaze is the developer of MindOs, which mixes neuroscience, mixed reality and artificial intelligence by enabling real-time integration of signals from the brain with the environment the person is in. Their application, when applied to VR, opens a flurry of possibilities in entertainment and gaming. What they strive to do is to bridge the emotional gap between the physical and virtual worlds.

MindMaze likely sold DiCaprio not only on the technology but what it could be used for — advocacy work including tackling the very big problem of climate change. DiCaprio interests have long been care of the oceans and environment and his foundation has given out millions to those causes. Just this week he pledged to donate $20M to groups fighting climate change. He also sites on the board of the National Resources Defense Council, among others.

DiCaprio issued a quote for the announcement: “MindMaze technology has already impacted the lives of many people, and it is poised to define the way we will experience and create content in the future. I am excited about the possibilities of MindMaze’s technology, especially for its potential to be a driving force in media and entertainment in the years to come.”

MindMaze launched its first social VR product – Mask – earlier this year in April. Mask uses machine learning and bio-signal processing to decode real-life facial expressions in tens of milliseconds to instantly replicate that expression on a virtual reality avatar. The product attaches to any existing console and can understand a users’ physical real-time expressions – from smiles to scowls to frowns – and apply them into an avatar on any game or app. Yes, it’s a mask.

“We are already seeing immense potential for the application of our technology outside of healthcare, specifically in entertainment, sports and social VR,” said Dr. Tej Tadi, CEO and founder of MindMaze in making the announcement. “As we continue to gain traction in these industries, the addition of Leo to our advisory board is a vote of confidence in our technology and road map for ushering in a new age of interaction between humans and machines.”

The company just received FDA clearance (in Q2 2017) to begin marketing another program, MindMotion PRO in the U.S. Additionally, MindMaze announced a strategic investment towards the acquisition of GaitUp and its objective motion analysis solutions for sports and wellness.

Jon Lindstrom Shares a Backstage Peek at His New Primetime Role

LIndstrom also shared a pic from inside his trailer on the show’s set taking a selfie in the mirror while eating some eggs and toast. “Your own trailer and they bring you breakfast,” he wrote. “I love this biz.” He also shared some behind the scenes video of him filming the episode from behind the wheel of a car while a camera perches just outside the window as he drives down the road. “You ever feel like somebody’s watching you?” he teased. (You’ll note that he’s not actually driving the car, so don’t worry!)

NCIS: LA stars LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell but so far, Lindstrom has only shared a selfie with fellow guest star Costas Mandylor. “Costas thinking he can be taller than me,” he joked. “Awesome guy, amazing actor.” Back in 2013, Mandylor played the character of Tomas Mendez in a couple episodes of parent series NCIS, but at this time it’s unclear if he’s reprising that role or playing an entirely new one.

You can look forward to Lindstrom returning to Port Charles very soon, and as soon as we have more details on when his episode of NCIS: LA is slated to air, we’ll be sure to let you know so you can tune in!

Leo DiCaprio Opens Wide And Gives $1 Million to Harvey Relief

Leo's foundation gave the money to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund ... it will be used for both short and long-term relief.

United Way says the entire amount will go to help victims of the epic storm.

This is the first donation to the newly established United Way fund to help victims of the hurricane.

A number of celebs have donated ... notably the Kardashian family gave $500k. Sandra Bullock also gave $1 million to the cause.

Eva LaRue Opens up About She Finally Healed From the Heartbreak of Her Divorce

After leaving AMC in 2005, LaRue was cast on CSI: MIAMI as Detective Natalia Boa Vista, a recurring role that quickly became a series regular. But unfortunately, in 2012, the series was canceled, and in 2014, she divorced her husband Joe Cappucio after almost four years of marriage. “The long and the short of my story is that three years ago, my eight year run as an actress on CSI: MIAMI ended,” she confided, “and not long after, so did my marriage. I feel like heartbreak has a universality to it because everyone has or will go through it. And for me, it was an aching, crippling grief. And that panic-induced regret for the things I did do or didn’t do or should’ve done. And it left me feeling like a gutted shell of myself. Somebody I didn’t even recognize anymore.”

LaRue admitted that she never saw it coming, and allowed herself to wallow in blame and regret and all the other assorted emotions that come with that kind of heartbreak. Then she confessed that she had originally prayed for the outcome that she wanted before realizing that she had to let go instead. “It took me a while to realize that life is not about having my immediate wish list met,” she mused. “Because how would I change and grow and evolve?”

Although she allowed that it took a lot of work, LaRue revealed that she eventually had the breakthrough that led to positive change in her life. “Through that connection to God and my spirit, I was also able to find authentic joy,” she declared. “And that, in turn, connected me to renewed passion, new purpose, new work, and new love.”

You can watch LaRue’s entire presentation in the video below where she goes into more detail about her epiphany and how forgiveness played an integral role in changing her life for the better. (Video)

Leo Meet Leo: Paramount, Universal Vie For Walter Isaacson Da Vinci Book For Dicaprio

Isaacson wrote Steve Jobs, which was turned into the Danny Boyle-directed film that starred Michael Fassbender. The former Time Magazine editor has also written bestsellers on Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, the latter of which was the basis for the Emmy nominated NatGeo series Genius that starred Geoffrey Rush. The book will be published in October by Simon & Schuster.

According to info from the publisher, Isaacson used Da Vinci’s notebooks to weave a narrative that connects his art to his science and voracious curiosity and imagination. Aside from his priceless paintings, he pursued innovative studies of anatomy (his iconic drawing of Vitruvian Man), fossils, birds, the heart, flying machines, botany, geology, and weaponry. He peeled flesh off the faces of cadavers, drew the muscles that move the lips, and then painted history’s most memorable smile. He explored the math of optics, showed how light rays strike the cornea, and produced illusions of changing perspectives in The Last Supper. Isaacson also describes how Leonardo’s lifelong enthusiasm for staging theatrical productions informed his paintings and inventions. According to the book, he was also a bit of a misfit: illegitimate, gay, vegetarian, left-handed, easily distracted, and at times heretical.

Appian Way moved from Warner Bros to Paramount, making a three-year deal in March, 2016 right after DiCaprio won Best Actor for The Revenant. The studio is hoping that DiCaprio will star for them in The Devil In The White City, an adaptation of the Erik Larson book that’s got a script by Billy Ray and will re-team DiCaprio with Martin Scorsese. Appian and Paramount are separately percolating several projects including an adaptation of the Kayla Olson novel Sandcastle Empire, about an apocalyptic future with a society on the brink of collapse from climate change; a yet-untitled film based on a book proposal by New York Times journalist Jack Ewing about the recent Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal; and a limited television series based on A. Scott Berg’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Charles Lindbergh. Appian Way continues to work on its Warner Bros films that include Akira and a film about Richard Jewell, the security guard whose life unraveled when his heroic efforts to clear a park during a bombing led to a press witch hunt that he had planted the device. Jonah Hill is attached to play Jewell and DiCaprio could play his lawyer. The next Appian Way project to hit the screen will be the Otto Bathurst-directed Robin Hood, with Kingsman‘s Taron Egerton playing the title character. Appian Way is producing with Safehouse and Thunder Road. DiCaprio is also circling Killers of the Flower Moon in a Scorsese re-team, based on the David Grann book that Imperative Entertainment bought for $5 million, with Eric Roth adapting.

The Isaacson book is being brokered by ICM Partners; DiCaprio is repped by LBI and attorneys Gretchen Rush and Steve Warren.

Will let you know where the book landed as soon as we know.

Behind the ‘Titantic’ reunion at Leo’s star-studded charity bash

An insider at the flashy St Tropez bash — which featured a “Titanic” reunion between DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Billy Zane — cost a fortune to stage and the Prince is proposing to host it in one of his Monaco palaces next year.

The insider said, “Leo’s team put up a huge tent on the grounds of a plush vineyard Domaine Bertaud Belieu in Gassin, near St Tropez. Much of the talk was about how much money the event cost to put on, which was said to be $6 million, and that it might move to Monaco next year to save on costs.” Another insider added production costs are offset by ticket sales, and the auction was the main driver for funds for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Auction prizes included three dinners with DiCaprio, 41, and Winslet, 41, which sold for over 10,000 Euros, plus a chance to host a private dinner at Versailles for thirty diners. Billionaire Len Blavatnik bought the most expensive piece of art during the auction, an Urs Fischer painting for 2.5 million Euro ($2,916,375).

After wildfires ravaged the South of France, DiCaprio took to the stage with Winslet during the auction and when the “Titanic” theme “My Heart Will Go On” came on he joked, “We are about to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Titanic, but please don’t play that music anymore.” He also spoke about the work needed to save the planet, noting that a chunk of ice the size of Luxembourg was breaking off Antarctica.

DiCaprio also posed with Winslet and Zane, who posted on Instagram, “Gang’s back together. Now we’re saving icebergs. Go figure..”

Madonna and Lenny Kravitz later performed for guests, who included Adrien Brody, Sean Penn, Gerard Butler, Heidi Klum, Paris Hilton, and models Doutzen Kroes, Taylor Hill, and Jessica Hart.

Nat Geo Teams With Leonardo DiCaprio To Adapt ‘The Right Stuff’ As Scripted Series

The Right Stuff takes a gritty, anti-nostalgic look at what would become America’s first reality show, as these obsessive astronauts and their families become instant celebrities in a competition that will either kill them or make them immortal. The one-hour drama will follow the protagonists from the Mojave Desert to the edges of space, with future seasons carrying through to humankind’s greatest achievement — the moon landing.

The series will use the book as a starting point, featuring a mission for each season, with season one beginning at the height of the Cold War in 1958. A handful of adrenaline-junkie test pilots are living in the Mojave Desert, risking their lives daily to become the fastest pilots on earth. Meanwhile, America is against the ropes as the Soviets dominate the space race — they’ve not only beat us to put a satellite in orbit, but there is an ever-growing fear they can drop nuclear weapons from above. With the public wondering if we are a nation in decline, the U.S. government conceives ?the Mercury Program????, America’s attempt to beat the Soviets and put the first person in space. Now they need to find the perfect team — seven heroes willing to risk almost certain death to achieve international fame and reclaim the ultimate high ground, outer space.

This project marks the second collaboration between National Geographic and Appian Way following the release last fall of the critically praised and highly rated climate change documentary Before the Flood.

“Having already had a rich relationship with Leonardo, Jennifer and their production company Appian Way on Before the Flood, I’m excited to work with them in a scripted capacity,” said Courteney Monroe, CEO, National Geographic Global Networks. “With The Right Stuff, we’re looking at moment in time where the everyday life, the trials and tribulations, of these men was scrutinized in the public.”

Staples recently developed Animals with Appian Way Productions, a thriller set in Africa for Ben Affleck, and Dark Web for Chernin Entertainment. In 2015 he completed additional production work on the recent Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.

“National Geographic gave Before the Flood an international platform, and we couldn’t think of a better partner to bring The Right Stuff to the world,” added Davisson. “The heroism of these astronauts was rivaled only by the country’s fascination with their story; this series uncovers both the adventure of space exploration and the adventure of being unwittingly thrust into the public eye.”

Michael Hampton of Appian Way shepherded this project. Tom Wolfe is repped by Bob Bookman. Both Leonardo DiCaprio and Appian Way are repped by LBI Entertainment.

Leo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese team up for new movie

Scorsese’s longtime production designer, Dante Ferretti, told Variety that Scorsese hoped to start shooting “Flower Moon” in the spring of next year. The project is based on the bestselling book by David Grann, a staff writer for the New Yorker and author of “The Lost City of Z.”

Rights to “Flower Moon” were snapped up by Imperative last year for a reported $5 million, and a script has reportedly been drafted by veteran Oscar-winning scribe Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”).

Ferretti, who has worked with Scorsese on nine movies from “The Age of Innocence” through “Silence,” said he was going to “go to Oklahoma” to do preliminary location scouting for “Flower Moon.” The story, set in the 1920s, focuses on a string of murders of members of the Osage nation in Oklahoma after oil was discovered beneath their land. The chilling series of slayings was one of the fledgling FBI’s first major homicide investigations.

Scorsese and DiCaprio have been eyeing the project for months, and are developing it together with Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas, co-founders of Imperative Entertainment.

John Atwood, Imperative’s chief financial officer, said in an e-mail that “we are currently conducting preliminary research on the film, but there are no formal attachments nor confirmed start date at this time.”

Ferretti said that “the whole 1920s world of the Indians who lived there needs to be reconstructed” for “Flower Moon,” adding that he expects to “start preparing this film in September, because Scorsese will shoot it immediately after finishing ‘The Irishman.’”

Scorsese is currently getting ready for an early September shoot on “The Irishman,” a gangster movie centered on the life of mob hit-man Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, played by Robert De Niro. Several sources have confirmed that “The Irishman” will be financed by Netflix, though the deal has yet to be officially announced.

There is no word whether Netflix would give “The Irishman” a wide theatrical release, but “I don’t think Martin would accept the fact that one of his movies would just be seen on a small screen and not in movie theaters,” said Ferretti, who is not working on the film.

The triple-Oscar-winning production designer recently completed work on his first rock musical, “Divo Nerone,” staged in a unique open-air venue atop the Palatine Hill in the ancient Roman Forum, with a rotating proscenium and 28 scene changes. Although the show was mostly panned by Italian media and has been temporarily shut down after nuns in a nearby monastery complained about its high decibel levels, Ferretti noted that “critics praised the set design and costumes,” which were created by his wife and working partner, Francesca Lo Schiavo. The pair was recently honored by the American Academy in Rome with its McKim Medal.

Ferretti and Lo Schiavo also recently designed the set for Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” which opened the Spoleto Festival in June – “my third opera there in three consecutive years,” he said.

2017 Emmy Awards Nominations

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Carrie Coon - Fargo, FX Networks
Felicity Huffman - American Crime, ABC
Nicole Kidman - Big Little Lies, HBO
Jessica Lange - Feud: Bette And Joan, FX Networks
Susan Sarandon - Feud: Bette And Joan, FX Networks
Reese Witherspoon - Big Little Lies, HBO

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Pamela Adlon - Better Things, FX Networks
Jane Fonda - Grace And Frankie, Netflix
Allison Janney - Mom, CBS
Ellie Kemper - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep, HBO
Tracee Ellis Ross - Black-ish, ABC
Lily Tomlin - Grace And Frankie, Netflix

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Anthony Anderson - Black-ish, ABC
Aziz Ansari - Master Of None, Netflix
Zach Galifianakis - Baskets, FX Networks
Donald Glover - Atlanta, FX Networks
William H. Macy -Shameless, Showtime
Jeffrey Tambor - Transparent, Amazon

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Vanessa Bayer - Saturday Night Live, NBC
Anna Chlumsky - Veep, HBO
Kathryn Hahn - Transparent, Amazon
Leslie Jones - Saturday Night Live, NBC
Judith Light - Transparent, Amazon
Kate McKinnon - Saturday Night Live, NBC

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Louie Anderson - Baskets, FX Networks
Alec Baldwin - Saturday Night Live, NBC
Tituss Burgess - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix
Ty Burrell - Modern Family, ABC
Tony Hale - Veep, HBO
Matt Walsh - Veep, HBO

HOST FOR A REALITY/REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
Alec Baldwin - Match Game, ABC
W. Kamau Bell - United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell, CNN
RuPaul Charles - RuPaul’s Drag Race, VH1
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn - Project Runway, Lifetime
Gordon Ramsay - MasterChef Junior, Fox
Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg - Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, VH1.

Leonardo DiCaprio surrenders Oscar to government

And the Department of Justice has bigger targets than the statuette for “On the Waterfront” — it is now looking to seize the rights to films “Dumb and Dumber To” and “Daddy’s Home” and a trove of valuable art and movie memorabilia belonging to Red Granite Pictures, Deadline reports.

The feds filed paperwork today outlining how money allegedly stolen by corrupt Malaysian officials was funneled through the firm and used to finance films — along with a laundry list of big-ticket items they’re looking to recover — including an original poster for the Fritz Lang film “Metropolis” worth at $1.3M, the site reports.

The department already filed a civil suit last year demanding all profits from the 2013 DiCaprio-starring “The Wolf of Wall Street,” claiming it was financed with the ill-gotten money.

Red Granite gave Leo the Oscar as a thank-you for his work on the film. He voluntarily handed the statue over prior to the latest filing — which doesn’t mention the prize — but the government is still after other gifts including a Picasso painting worth $3.28 million, a Diane Arbus photograph worth $750,000 and a $9,191,040 Jean-Michel Basquiat collage, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Mexico and DiCaprio team up to help endangered porpoise

The vaquita is native to the northern Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, where only about two dozen remain. They are threatened largely due to unauthorized gillnets set to catch totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder is a prized delicacy in China. The illegal nets can ensnare and kill the vaquitas.

The agreement struck by President Enrique Pena Nieto, multibillionaire telecoms magnate Carlos Slim and DiCaprio sets the goal of ending gillnet use in the upper Gulf and makes permanent an earlier temporary ban.

“Mexico understands its responsibility as one of the countries with greatest biodiversity,” Pena Nieto said. “That is why we have implemented an historic effort to avoid the extinction of a unique species in the world and also to protect important ecosystems.”

Because illegal traders pay thousands of dollars per kilogram of the swim bladders, efforts to curb totoaba fishing have been ineffective and the number of surviving vaquitas has fallen rapidly.

Authorities say that later this year they will begin capturing and enclosing the few vaquitas that remain in a protected marine sanctuary as a last-ditch effort to save them from extinction.

Enforcement against go-fast boats used by illegal fishermen is difficult, so the memorandum also includes a prohibition on night fishing and improved entry and exit control in the vaquita reserve.

The agreement will be backed by both the Carlos Slim Foundation and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which have committed to helping fund local development and non-gillnet fishing options to try to offset the economic impact of the bans.

“This action is a critical step towards ensuring that the Gulf of California continues to be both vibrant and productive, especially for species like the critically endangered vaquita,” DiCaprio said.

The foundations believe the fishing rules and tighter enforcement should help protect threatened ecosystems across the entire gulf.

The effort has garnered the support of the Mexican environmental group Pronatura Noroeste. Executive director Gustavo Danemann said his organization is “encouraged by this recent announcement which signals a renewed sense of hope that we can turn things around for the vaquita.”

Other organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, Sea Shepherd and the Marisla Foundation also backed the initiative.

Robin Wright Had No Fear Demanding Equal Pay for House of Cards

Exactly one year ago in 2016, the actress, who also appears in the upcoming Wonder Woman film, spoke about her career during a discussion about human rights and equality in New York City. She said she demanded to paid the same amount as Spacey for her work on Netflix's House of Cards and even said that if she were denied her request, she would go public about it.

Wright, who plays Spacey's character's wife Claire Underwood on House of Cards, talked about her move in an interview with Garbage singer Shirley Manson, posted Thursday in Net-A-Porter's digital fashion magazine The EDIT, which features her on its latest cover.

"I was told that I was getting equal pay and I believed them, and I found out recently that it's not true," Wright said.

"Were you nervous about approaching [the studio]?" Manson asked, to which the actress responded, "Not for a second. It was just fair, on principle."

Wright, who has directed several episodes of House of Cards since 2014, also said has gotten "bored by the activity of acting" onscreen.

"I only want to direct," she told Manson. "I don't want to be in front of the camera anymore. I've done it, I'm bored. I so appreciate [this career], I've been doing it 30 years, but I love watching and helping other actors bring [their talent] to fruition."

She said she would love to continue to make cameos and also act in a play.

However, Wright said she is in a "really great place" in her life and feels "blessed" and "grateful."

"Really grateful for this, because this could not have happened," she said. "I could have hit 40 and nobody wants to hire you anymore because you're an older woman'. A lot of women have that."

Robin Wright on ‘House of Cards’: Trump ‘stole’ our ideas

“Trump has stolen all of our ideas for Season 6,” Wright said Thursday during Variety and Kering’s Women in Motion talk at the Cannes Film Festival.

In the hit Netflix series, Wright plays Claire Underwood, the icy wife of President Frank Underwood. The two are the ultimate power couple, as ruthless as they are brilliant, and not above using their public positions for personal gain. It sounds very reminiscent to a certain Oval Office occupant.

Despite the challenge of keeping “House of Cards” relevant in the current political climate, Wright said the producers know how the series is going to end, but she’s not giving any clues.

Wright admitted to feeling disheartened by the wave of scandal surrounding Donald Trump — the president has been dogged by impeachment talk as reports have surfaced that he tried to persuade former FBI director James Comey to drop an investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

“I’ve got to see the hope somewhere,” said Wright, admitting she feels, “’Oh my God, we have four years of this.’”

But Wright has an idea of who she’d like to see calling the shots at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“I want Michelle Obama up there,” she said. “She would be a great female president.”

“House of Cards” has earned Wright rave reviews and Emmy nominations, but the actress, who has starred in such hits as “Forrest Gump” and “The Princess Bride,” admits she almost turned down the part. She didn’t want to go back to television after beginning her career on soap operas, and she knew that the character in the British television show that inspired the Netflix series was only a minor part.

However, producer David Fincher and showrunner Beau Willimon prevailed upon her to reconsider, promising that Claire would be the equal of Kevin Spacey’s Francis Underwood.

“She’s Lady Macbeth to Richard III,” said Wright.

Her approach is very different than her husband’s. He’s more effusive while she prefers to sit back and wait to strike.

“You realize she’s just as fierce and evil, she just doesn’t have to talk so much,” said Wright. “She’s the best of both sexes.”

On “House of Cards,” Wright was inspired to move behind the camera, directing five episodes.

She’s at Cannes with “The Dark of Night,” a short film she directed in the style of a 1930s film noir. Wright has moved into directing at a time when women are vastly outnumbered by male filmmakers. Women comprised just 7 percent of all directors working on the 250 highest-grossing domestic releases in 2016, a decline of two percentage points from the level achieved in 2015.

Wright said that the time has come for Hollywood to encourage more perspectives, not just by endorsing more female directors, but by also supporting filmmakers by different ethnicities. Change will come by joining forces and speaking out.

“You don’t have to yell,” said Wright. “You can just stand your ground, speak your truth, and amplify your voice in that way.” Feminism, she said has problematic connotations.

“Feminism today has become such a derogatory or diva like word,” said Wright. “Feminism means equality period. Equal work, equal pay.”

Despite being on a streaming series, Wright is a traditionalist when it comes to big-screen entertainment.

“The movie theater will forever be the first choice, of course,” said Wright. “I think it’s actually rude for people to watch movies on their phones. It’s not fair to the filmmakers.”

Wright will next be seen this summer in “Wonder Woman,” playing the heroine’s aunt. She thinks the comic book blockbuster is offering up something positive for children.

“The message of this movie is not just female empowerment – it’s about love and justice and what a great message to spread to our little ones,” said Wright.

Wright thinks that the situation in Hollywood is improving, but she’s had her own disturbing experiences with sexism and harassment in the movie business. As a 17-year old in Paris, she went in for an audition and was told to lift up her top. When she did, she was told by the man overseeing her appointment, “No, I like the other [actress’] ones, I don’t like.’”

So what happened?

“I didn’t get the part,” she said.

Leo marches against Trump’s environmental policies

DiCaprio protested alongside the Sápara people, many of them sporting full tribal regalia and feathered headdresses.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators trooped down Pennsylvania Avenue and encircled the White House in unseasonable heat to mark Trump’s 100th day in office.

But they had no effect on the ­climate-change makeover that the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site began receiving on Friday, when the agency eliminated multiple pages relating to climate science.

Links at EPA.gov to climate-change projections and descriptions of the Obama administration’s signature climate program, the Clean Power Plan, were replaced with “under construction” notices.

“Our Web site needs to reflect the views of the leadership of the agency,” said agency spokesman J.P. Freire.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the former Oklahoma attorney general, led 14 lawsuits against the agency in his former post.

Pruitt made waves in March when he said he is not convinced that carbon dioxide from human activity is the main driver of climate change.

On Friday, Trump signed an executive order meant to loosen Obama-era restrictions on offshore oil drilling.

Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro Eyeing ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ From Eric Roth Adaptation

Scorsese and De Niro have been huddling on The Irishman at Netflix, but there’s no completed deal yet.

Grann’s Killers Of The Flower Moon, which bows this week from Doubleday, tells the true crime story about multiple murders of members of the Osage Indian tribe in Oklahoma that occurred after they found oil on their lands. It is about conspiracy, greed and murder in the Indian nation — so bad the federal government had to step in. It also chronicles the rise of J. Edgar Hoover, who led the investigation into the murders and ended up making a name for himself.

No one involved would comment.

Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together multiple times before with Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Shutter Island, The Departed and The Wolf Of Wall Street. In addition, they are both developing The Devil In The White City, also based on a critically acclaimed book. De Niro and Scorsese, of course, have teamed on such films as Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, and The King Of Comedy.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Q-Tip pal around at concert

The Oscar-winning actor and Grammy-winning rapper were in the small audience at Ludlow House as trio Chase Atlantic performed songs in a stripped, raw form.

DiCaprio bobbed his head from his plush chair while sitting next to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Nina Agdal and chatting with the leader of A Tribe Called Quest.

Q-Tip went to the stage to watch when the band asked people to come closer, as DiCaprio, in a fedora, sat back. The audience included music industry insiders, record label players and some press.

Chase Atlantic performed songs from its three-song project released in January, “Part One,” as well as tracks from another three-song album, “Part Two,” to be released Friday.

The group’s genre-bending sounds echo The Weeknd and The 1975. Band members include brothers Clinton Cave and Mitchel Cave, and Christian Anthony.

Leonardo DiCaprio Remembers ‘Gilbert Grape’ Star Darlene Cates: “She Was The Best Acting Mom I Ever Had”

“Darlene was the best acting mom I ever had the privilege of working alongside. Her endearing personality and incredible talent will live on in the memories of those who knew her, and those who loved her work,” DiCaprio wrote in a post on Facebook. “My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.

The Revenant star DiCaprio played Cates’ son Arnie in the 1993 film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape alongside Johnny Depp, who played title character Gilbert, Arnie’s older brother. Cates went on appear in the TV series Picket Fences and Touched By An Angel and the 2001 film Wolf Girl.

Charles Pratt Steps Down As ‘Star’ Showrunner

Pratt took the reins from Charley Murray, who previously served as co-showrunner alongside co-creator/executive producer Tom Donaghy. Murray exited the show last September over creative differences for the direction of the show.

Star was not the breakout series like Daniels’ hit hip hop series Empire, but has been stable in ratings and was renewed for a second season last month.

Set in Atlanta, Star revolves around three talented young singers (Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny and Brittany O’Grady) who navigate the cut-throat music business on their road to success. The series, whose pilot was directed by Daniels, features original music, along with musical fantasy sequences, as the girls dream of their future. Its cast includes Queen Latifah, Benjamin Bratt and Nicholas Gonzalez.

Daniels, Donaghy, Pamela Oas Williams and Effie Brown executive produce.

Pratt’s exit was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.

Guiding Light Veteran Robert Newman Joins Perfect Crime

Newman's role on Guiding Light garnered him two Daytime Emmy nomina­tions for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. His other television credits include guest appearances on Chicago Fire, Homeland, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Law and Order: SVU, along with film roles in Amazing Spider-Man 2, Dracano, and the short film Deadline, which earned him the Best Actor award at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 2015. His off-Broadway credits also include She's of a Certain Age, Sessions: the Musical, and Quiet on the Set.

Written by the late Warren Manzi and directed by Jeffrey Hyatt, Perfect Crime tells the story of attractive psychiatrist and suspected cold-blooded killer Margaret Brent, her wealthy husband, a deranged patient, and the handsome detective who's falling in love with her. Approaching a record-breaking 30th anniversary, the show features Catherine Russell, who has starred in the show since its first performance and has never taken a sick day or a vacation day in the past 30 years. The cast also includes David Butler, Hugh Hysell, and Patrick Robustelli.

For tickets and more information, click here.

Leonardo DiCaprio invests in frozen seafood company

The activist actor has become an investor in LoveTheWild, a brand that makes farm-raised frozen seafood with sauces like roasted pepper almond, mango Sriracha and Cajun creme.

The star, who’s also an advisory board member, said the brand offers an “environmentally conscious solution to feeding our planet’s growing population.”

Or at least the population that shops at Whole Foods and the other high-end markets where the line is sold.

‘Ghosted’: Ally Walker To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot

Written by Tom Gormican (That Awkward Moment) and directed by Jonathan Krisel, Ghosted centers on a cynical skeptic (Craig Robinson) and a genius “true believer” in the paranormal (Adam Scott), who are recruited by the Bureau Underground to look into the rampant “unexplained” activity in Los Angeles – all while uncovering a larger mystery that could threaten the existence of the human race. Walker will play Captain Lafrey, head of the Underground Investigative Service.

Known for her role as Peter Gallagher’s girlfriend Ashley Bartlett Bacon in the hit comedy feature While You Were Sleeping, Walker became a cult favorite for her longtime recurring role as Agent June Stahl in Sons of Anarchy. A series regular on HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me, Walker also starred on NBC’s Profiler, Lifetime’s The Protector and recurred on Colony and most recently Netflix’s Longmire. She’s repped by Abrams Artists Agency, Principato-Young and attorney Jared Levine.

Battlestar Galactica's Richard Hatch Dead at 71, Hailed as 'Gracious Man'

Hatch’s early career included the role of Phillip Brent on the daytime soap opera All My Children, while his first major primetime role was in the late 1970s’ The Streets of San Francisco, where he succeeded the exiting Michael Douglas.

On Battlestar Galactica, Glen A. Larson’s big budget sci-fi series for ABC that bowed in 1978, he created the role of Captain Apollo, for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination. That ran for a total of 21 episodes (including an extended pilot, which was shown in theaters with Sensurround technology), before meeting cancellation.

Hatch’s TV credits went on to include arcs on Dynasty, Santa Barbara and Ronald D. Moore’s 2004 Battlestar Galactica reboot, where he would recur as political activist Tom Zarek. Moore remembered Hatch in a Twitter posting, as did BSG vet Edward James Olmos:

@RonDMoore : Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family.

@edwardjolmos : Richard Hatch you made our universe a better place We love you for it. Rest In Peace my friend @SoSayWeAll the Admiral!

Oscars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brie Larson, Mark Rylance, Alicia Vikander Set As Presenters

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant) and Brie Larson (Room) who received lead actor and actress honors, respectively, and supporting actor winners Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) and Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) will present the gold statuettes to their successors. They are the first group of presenters announced today by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the trophy show is set for February 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. ABC will carry the ceremony live.

Paramount Acquires ‘The Black Hand’ For Leonardo DiCaprio To Star For The Gotham Group And Appian Way

Talty’s book follows Joe Petrosino, a courageous NYPD cop who unflinchingly went after a ruthless gang that came out of Italy and into America (whose calling card was a black hand) which kidnapped people and then extorted money from their families. They were loathed by law-abiding Italian families who were frightened but nevertheless helped Petrosino behind the scenes when they could as the viciousness of the gang of thugs knew no boundaries.

Petrosino, who was fluent in Italian having immigrated himself, was hawkish in his pursuit of them — and even worked with Italian law enforcement — but unfortunately, he would eventually die at their hands. He came as a child to this country, shining shoes outside a police precinct before becoming enthralled and inspired by those he literally looked up to.

But before he death, he had arrested and deported dozens, as many of these criminals as he could, for the sake of his own heritage. According to historical archives, the lawman didn’t want the Italians coming into this country to be known as mere criminals.

This scum eventually assassinated him, cutting him down in cold blood and leaving his widow, Adelina, and young child fatherless. He was murdered in 1909 in Palermo on a fact-finding mission; he thought he was meeting a confidential informant, but instead walked into his own death.

The Black Hand existed at the turn of the 20th century here in the U.S. — in the late 1890s and early 1900s — and were considered the precursor of the American mafia.

There were other law enforcement officials assassinated by The Black Hand, but Petrosino was, by far, the most famous — probably because of his doggedness. There is also an exhibit about him in the NYPD Museum.

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Jeremy Bell of The Gotham Group will produce. Jennifer Davisson will also produce with Gotham as will Nathaniel Posey on behalf of Appian. Ashley Brucks and Gabby Canton are the executives at Paramount who will oversee.

Talty is the New York Times bestselling author of six books focused on history and individual achievement. As a ghostwriter, Talty’s work includes A Captain’s Duty, which was the basis for the Oscar-nominated film Captain Phillips.

His forthcoming Under The Same Sky traces a North Korean boy’s harrowing experiences during the Great Famine and his escape to America. Other works include the first account of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet and a sweeping history of Napoleon at war. His two recent e–books, The Secret Agent and Operation Cowboy, were both No. 1 Amazon bestsellers;The Secret Agent was also named “best Kindle Single of the Year” by thinreads.

Talty was repped in the deal by Lucy Stille at APA and Scott Waxman at Waxman Leavell. DiCaprio and Appian Way are repped by LBI Entertainment.

Soap Opera Writer Courtney Simon to Be Honored by Writers Guild East

Simon will be honored at the 69th annual Writers Guild Awards at New York’s Edison Ballroom on Feb. 19. The Jablow award was established in 1978 to recognize service and created in honor of Jablow, who helped found the WGA East, authored its constitution, and served as its first counsel.

Simon has been a WGA East member since 1980. She has written for 12 different daytime dramas, including “As the World Turns,” “Santa Barbara,” “Guiding Light,” and “All My Children.” She has won seven Daytime Emmy Awards and seven Writers Guild Awards.

Simon has served on the WGA East Council since 2007 and has been active in lobbying efforts to promote a diversity-based tax credit in the state of New York. She co-chairs the WGAE Diversity Coalition, is a member of the Awards Committee, and has been chair of the Daytime Committee.

“Not only is Courtney Simon a gifted writer who has mastered the intricacies of daytime drama, she has been a dedicated member of the Writers Guild of America East council and a hardworking contributor to a number of union committees, most recently as co-chair of our Diversity Coalition,” said WGA East president Michael Winship. “No one is more deserving of our Jablow Award, presented to someone who has so thoroughly devoted herself to the Writers Guild of America East.”

The 2017 Writers Guild Awards ceremony in New York will be hosted by Lewis Black.

Leo DiCaprio does biz with Trump’s Secretary of the Army

Page Six has learned that Viola recently bought DiCaprio’s apartment in Manhattan’s “healthy living” Delos building (the place with the Vitamin C shower) for $8 million.

The condo at 66 E. 11th St. was purchased by an LLC registered to Michael Viola, Vincent’s son.

Meanwhile, DiCaprio recently bought an undeveloped piece of property on Malibu, Calif.’s Paradise Cove for $23 million, which has also belonged to Vincent.

The 1.76-acre cliff-edge plot with a tiny 610-square-foot cottage was purchased in 2004 by director Ridley Scott, who paid $7.2 million, then sold it two years later to billionaire Viola for $11 million.

Leonardo DiCaprio drops $23M on undeveloped Malibu property

Variety also connected some dots and reported that the Paradise Cove property was acquired through a corporate entity “linked to Mister DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company.”

The property clings to the edge of a cliff, and neighbors include producer Mark Burnett and actress Courteney Cox.

DiCaprio’s new lot has an interesting pedigree. The 1.76-acre slice of paradise with a tiny 610-square-foot cottage was purchased in 2004 by director Ridley Scott, who paid $7.2 million, then sold it two years later to billionaire Vinnie Viola for $11 million.

Viola is owner of the Florida Panthers hockey team and President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Army secretary. Viola briefly tried to sell the property for $15 million in 2012. When he found no takers, he sat on the spread while property values in Paradise Cove went bananas, and DiCaprio reportedly paid him $23 million in an off-market sale.

As he shuffles his property portfolio, DiCaprio is still trying to sell a remodeled beach house on Malibu’s Carbon Beach for $11 million. The actor sold a home in Studio City for $2.24 million a couple of months ago.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Actress Barbara Tarbuck Dead at 74

Tarbuck started her career as a child on a radio show before appearing on countless television series including the primetime soaps DALLAS, KNOTS LANDING, FALCON CREST and DYNASTY in the ‘80s. On the silver screen, she appeared in the films Short Circuit, Curly Sue, Walking Tall and S. Darko. Tarbuck was also very active on stage, performing in plays by Harold Pinter, David Mamet, and Neil Simon.

More recently, the actress appeared on GLEE, MAD MEN and DEXTER, as well as playing Mother Superior Claudia in AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM.

In 1990, Tarbuck also played a nun on NBC soap SANTA BARBARA, but is best known for playing Jax’s mom on GH. She debuted in 1996 and played the role on a recurring basis until 2010. Lady Jane was loyal to her sons, even though bad seed Jerry was constantly up to no good. And after Jerry had plastic surgery to disguise his appearance, she was the only one to still recognize him.

Lady Jane was also very supportive of Jax’s marriage to Carly, believing her to be the best woman for her son. So she was very saddened to learn of their eventual divorce. The character was last seen on screen in 2010 when she attended Josslyn’s christening.

“So sad,” Laura Wright (Carly) tweeted in response to the news of her co-star’s passing. “What an amazing woman the world lost — Barbara was fearless.”

Our thoughts are with Tarbuck’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Alan Thicke Honored in Memorial Attended by Full Growing Pains Cast, Bob Saget, Alex Trebek and More

The entire cast of Growing Pains, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Kirk Cameron; Bog Saget; Alex Trebek; Bill Maher and more attended a memorial in honor of the late actor, who passed away from a heart attack last week. A family member shared pictures on a public page and wrote a heartfelt note about the evening's emotional events. "Tonight's memorial for Alan was just about perfect. So much family and so many historic friends came out to remember our beloved father-figure," the post read. "Speaking for Alan so beautifully was (I'm realizing now) an all-star cast."

The post continued, "We heard from our own Robin Thicke who brought up all dear dad's best friends, Bob Saget, Bill Maher, Alex Trebec [sic] who I had no idea had such old deep ties to our family, the entire cast of Growing Pains including Leo and Kirk Cameron who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time, along with his wife who became an instant friend."

Trebek previously revealed that Thicke was the man behind his successful career. "Alan Thicke is the reason i got my big break here in the United States," Trebek told Access Hollywood before explaining how Thicke invited him to audition for a game show he had created. Trebek got the job, and since then he has always maintained that he wouldn't have made it in Hollywood without Thicke.

The 69-year-old actor starred in many iconic TV shows over the span of decades, so many of Thicke's former co-stars paid tribute to him on social media, in interviews and more.

"I spent Monday through Friday for seven important years with Alan Thicke as my 'TV dad.' I'm shocked and truly heartbroken today at the news of his death," Cameron wrote on Instagram after hearing the news.

"Alan was a generous, kind and loving man. I am so blessed to have grown up with him. Chelsea and I send our love and prayers to his family tonight. We will cherish the memories...'sharing the laughter and love.'"

Thicke suffered a heart attack while playing hockey with his son Carter Thicke. Carter, who stayed by his side as his father was transported to the hospital, shared a note shortly after losing his dad. "Today I lost my best friend and my idol, and the world lost one of it's finest. You are a legend and I love you Pops. Until next time."

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Thicke family.

SAG Awards Nominations

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
RIZ AHMED / Nasir “Naz” Khan – “THE NIGHT OF” (HBO)
STERLING K. BROWN / Christopher Darden – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)
BRYAN CRANSTON / President Lyndon B. Johnson – “ALL THE WAY” (HBO)
JOHN TURTURRO / John Stone – “THE NIGHT OF” (HBO)
COURTNEY B. VANCE / Johnnie Cochran – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven – “STRANGER THINGS” (Netflix)
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
THANDIE NEWTON / Maeve Millay – “WESTWORLD” (HBO)
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers – “STRANGER THINGS” (Netflix)
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler
KALEY CUOCO / Penny
JOHNNY GALECKI / Leonard Hofstadter
SIMON HELBERG / Howard Wolowitz
KUNAL NAYYAR / Rajesh Koothrappali
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper
MELISSA RAUCH / Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz

BLACK-ISH (ABC)
ANTHONY ANDERSON / Andre Johnson
MILES BROWN / Jack Johnson
DEON COLE / Charlie Telphy
LAURENCE FISHBURNE / Pops
JENIFER LEWIS / Ruby Johnson
PETER MACKENZIE / Mr. Stevens
MARSAI MARTIN / Diane Johnson
JEFF MEACHAM / Josh
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS / Rainbow Johnson
MARCUS SCRIBNER / Andre Johnson, Jr.
YARA SHAHIDI / Zoey Johnson

MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS / Lily Tucker-Pritchett
JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett
NOLAN GOULD / Luke Dunphy
SARAH HYLAND / Haley Dunphy
JEREMY MAGUIRE / Joe Pritchett
ED O’NEILL / Jay Pritchett
RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny Delgado
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
ARIEL WINTER / Alex Dunphy

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
ALAN AISENBERG / Baxter “Gerber” Bayley
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
BLAIR BROWN / Judy King
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
LEA DeLARIA / Big Boo
BETH DOVER / Linda Ferguson
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
LAURA GOMEZ / Blanca Flores
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
BRAD WILLIAM HENKE / Desi Piscatella
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
JAMES McMENAMIN / Charlie “Donuts” Coates
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Cindy “Black Cindy” Hayes
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
LORI PETTY / Lolly Whitehill
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara “Daya” Diaz
LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause
JOLENE PURDY / Stephanie Hapakuka
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina Murphy
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Erica “Yoga” Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda Berlin
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco
SAMIRA WILEY / Poussey Washington

VEEP (HBO)
DAN BAKKEDAHL / Roger Furlong
SUFE BRADSHAW / Sue Wilson
ANNA CHLUMSKY / Amy Brookheimer
GARY COLE / Kent Davison
KEVIN DUNN / Ben Cafferty
CLEA DUVALL / Marjorie Palmiotti
NELSON FRANKLIN / Will
TONY HALE / Gary Walsh
HUGH LAURIE / Tom James
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / President Selina Meyer
SAM RICHARDSON / Richard
REID SCOTT / Dan Egan
TIMOTHY SIMONS / Jonah Ryan
JOHN SLATTERY / Charlie Baird
SARAH SUTHERLAND / Catherine
MATT WALSH / Mike McLintock
WAYNE WILDERSON / Wayne

Leonardo DiCaprio Remembers Alan Thicke: “No One Was Cooler”

“Alan was a devoted father, husband, friend and role model. He knew how to harness the power of the entertainment industry to be a positive influence in so many lives — including mine,” DiCaprio wrote in a post on his personal Facebook page. “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Alan early in my career. He had tremendous class, a huge heart, and he taught me and so many others the valuable lessons about humility and gratitude. “I’ve seen him a number of times over the years and when Alan Thicke walked in the room, quite frankly, no one was cooler,” he continued. “I miss him already — my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Thicke family during this difficult time.”

Thicke died of a heart attack yesterday after collapsing while playing hockey with his son. He was 69.

Stars React To Joseph Mascolo’s Passing

Co-star Lauren Koslow (Kate, DAYS) tweeted, “Good night, sweet prince..and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest” Forever my honor to share your stage, Joe.

Drake Hogestyn (John, DAYS) wrote, “The Phoenix will rise … R.I.P. Joe, we love you.”

On Facebook, Alison Sweeney (ex-Sami) wrote, “Some of my earliest memories of Days are working with Joe… I was really nervous to work with him because Stefano was such a strong, intimidating character and he embodied it so well. Joe was so talented, such a generous actor and always so prepared. I learned so much from working with him. Over the years, I got to know him much better and I stopped being so nervous around him (which probably made it easier for him) but I always had a sense of awe to work with him. There wasn’t a day when he didn’t give 100 percent to his performance and his character. When I became a director at DAYS, I remember him being so proud and supportive of me. Joe made a special point of pulling me aside to say that, having watched me on the set, it really meant something to him. He was always such a kind, generous man with a fabulously wry sense of humor and a proud, strong and dedicated actor. He will be greatly missed. #RIP.”

Former on-screen son James Scott (ex-EJ) posted, “So long Joe. I’ll miss you, yet a part of you will always be with me and for that beautiful gift I am so happy and grateful.”

Another past DiMera member — Casey Jon Deidrick (ex-Chad) — tweeted, “I am deeply saddened 2 hear of my onscreen Papa passing today. Such a kind heart & pleasure to learn from. I’ll never forget my DiMera days.”

Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R), who worked closely with the actor as DAYS’s Kristen and Susan, posted, “Very sad to hear of the passing of the great Joe Mascolo. God bless him and keep him.”

DAYS alum Molly Burnett (ex-Melanie) shared, “Sweet Joe Mascolo, the King of Daytime Evil with a heart of gold. You were a force to be reckoned with. It was an honor to know you.”

Mark Hapka (ex-Nathan, DAYS) wrote, “This is heart breaking. Joe was such a pleasure to not only work with but be around. Such a strong yet gentle spirit. Sending love.”

Martha Madison (ex-Belle, DAYS), tweeted, “So sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. He had an enormous presence. It was such a privilege to work alongside such a pro. Thoughts w his family.”

DAYS Head Writer Dena Higley wrote, “In Joe’s talented hands, bad never felt so good. #stefanoforever #ripjoemascolo.”

Chandler Massey (ex-Will) tweeted, “Favorite memory of Joe: being scared for my life when I yelled at him in a scene. He came at me, saying don’t raise your voice to me boy. He put Will in his place that day. Complete commitment to his craft and character. Extraordinary man who will be missed.”

Kate Mansi (ex-Abigail, DAYS) added, “Having a flood of cherished memories of our patriarch Joe Mascolo. A whiskey in your honor tonight Joe. Here’s to you, a man like no other.”

DAYS’s Joseph Mascolo Passes Away At 87

Days of Our Lives' Stefano, Actor Joseph Mascolo, Has Died

Joseph Mascolo, who played the infamous villain Stefano DiMera on Days, passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease, according to Soap Opera Digest. The actor was 87 years old.

Mascolo first joined the Days cast in 1982 and crafted Stefano into one of the most iconic villains in soap opera history. Even though he left the show for a regular stint on Bold and the Beautiful from 2001 to 2006, the actor still returned to Days for recurring visits. His last appearance on the show was earlier this year for the filming of Stefano's death.

"It is with great sorrow that I'm sharing the news of the passing of our dear friend and beloved member of the Days of Our Lives family, Joseph Mascolo," Days executive producer Ken Corday said in a statement. "The smile on Joe's face is something we'd all come to find comfort in, and he will be sorely missed. His larger-than-life presence, kind heart and unwavering positivity has impacted us all for decades, and will live on in the memories of his many fans. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time."

Mascolo's wife, Patricia Schultz-Mascolo, also issued a statement, saying, "Joseph was a big 'ol bear with a puppy dog heart. I'm so blessed to have had these many years with him. I will miss him every day."

Mascolo is survived by Schultz-Mascolo, his son Peter, his step-daughter Laura, and his sister, Marie and her husband Ronald LaVoie. He also had five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one niece, one nephew, 3 great nieces, one great nephew and one great-great niece.

‘Days of Our Lives’ actor Joseph Mascolo dies at 87

“It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and beloved member of the ‘Days of our Lives’ family, Joseph Mascolo,” “Days of Our Lives” executive producer Ken Corday said in a statement. “The smile on Joe’s face is something we’d all come to find comfort in, and he will be sorely missed. His larger than life presence, kind heart, and unwavering positivity has impacted us all for decades, and will live on in the memories of his many fans.”

Originally from West Hartford, Conn., Mascolo trained as a classical musician before becoming an actor. He also appeared in films including “Jaws 2” as a property developer, “Shaft’s Big Score,” “Sharky’s Machine,” and the 1986 thriller “Heat.”

On the long-running soap opera, he played the wealthy European businessman from 1982 to 1985, and then returned in 1988 and from 1993 to 2001. He continued making appearances until the character died on the show in 2016, after at least a dozen fake deaths. Soap Opera Digest named him the all-time best villain.

He also played a villain on “General Hospital,” and appeared on “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Santa Barbara.” Among his other television appearances were “The Incredible Hulk,” “All in the Family,” “Lou Grant,” and “The Rockford Files.”

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, a son, a step-daughter, a sister, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Days of Our Lives Star Joseph Mascolo, Who Played Stefano, Dead at 87

Mascolo passed away Thursday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, the show said in a statement on Friday. He joined the Days cast in 1982 and made crime lord/business tycoon Stefano DiMera into one of the most hated (and most loved) bad guys in soap-opera history.

Mascolo left and returned to the role of Stefano several times over the years, even joining CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful for an extended stint from 2001 to 2006. But he always came back to Days, most recently for the character’s death earlier this year. He also made appearances on TV shows like All in the Family and Lou Grant, and in films like Jaws 2 and Sharky’s Machine.

“It is with great sorrow that I’m sharing the news of the passing of our dear friend and beloved member of the Days of Our Lives family, Joseph Mascolo,” Days executive producer Ken Corday said in a statement. “The smile on Joe’s face is something we’d all come to find comfort in, and he will be sorely missed. His larger-than-life presence, kind heart and unwavering positivity has impacted us all for decades, and will live on in the memories of his many fans. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.”

Stacy Edwards on Pure Genius

GUEST CAST inlcudes: Stacy Edwards (Constance Durand), Raychel Diane Weiner (Lauren Durand).

DiCaprio meets with Trump on green jobs to boost economy

In a statement to The Associated Press, Terry Tamminen, the CEO of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, confirmed the meeting at Trump Tower in New York City. Tamminen said the pair gave a presentation to Trump, daughter Ivanka, and other members of Trump's team on how focusing on renewable, clean energy could create millions of jobs.

"Today, we presented the President-elect and his advisors with a framework — which LDF developed in consultation with leading voices in the fields of economics and environmentalism — that details how to unleash a major economic revival across the United States that is centered on investments in sustainable infrastructure," Tamminen said. "Our conversation focused on how to create millions of secure, American jobs in the construction and operation of commercial and residential clean, renewable energy generation."

The Oscar-winning actor has been a strong advocate of fighting climate change and preserving wildlife, and his recent documentary, "Before the Flood," addresses the peril that the world faces because of climate change.

DiCaprio previously met with Ivanka Trump and presented her with a copy of the film.

The meeting with Trump's team lasted for about 90 minutes. The actor also gave the president-elect a copy of the documentary, and Trump promised to watch it, according to a person who was familiar with the meeting but not authorized to speak publicly.

Tamminen, who was secretary of California's Environmental Protection Agency under former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Trump was receptive and suggested they meet again next month.

"We look forward to continuing the conversation with the incoming administration as we work to stop the dangerous march of climate change, while putting millions of people to work at the same time," said Tamminen.

The meeting came after word got out Wednesday that Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a climate-change denier whose policies have helped fossil fuel companies, is expected to be announced as Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

Preview the "Intense" Second Season of THE BAY — And the Stars Joining the Cast in Season Three!

Pete’s bright idea is to get his hands on his trust fund, but the legalese says that he’ll first have to get hitched. “A love triangle develops between Pete, Janice (played by GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Lily, Lilly Melgar), and Vivian (Karrueche Tran). “The question is: Who does he get married to?” Andrews offers. “It’s pretty intense.”

The second half of season two is also where the emotional material by story consultant Wendy Riche (formerly of GH) debuts. Viewers will also learn — via a series of artfully cast flashback scenes — how John Blackwell (played by Ronn Moss, ex-Ridge, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) came to be a vigilante. Look for Carolyn Hennesy (Diane, GH) to debut as his mom, who has a surprising journey to take with her ailing ex, Mayor Madison (played by SANTA BARBARA’s Lionel, Nicolas Coster).

In the wake of winning their second Emmy for Outstanding Digital Drama, THE BAY has attracted new talent for its third season, which is now in production with Riche at the helm. Current B&B scribe Michele Van Jean joins as story consultant, alongside veteran soap scriptwriters Karen Harris, Julie Poll and Anne Schoettle. And joining the cast in season three are Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) and Emmy Award-winning costume designer, Bob Miller (GH).

Critics’ Choice TV Nominations Include Former Soap Stars

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ellie Kemper – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Netflix
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep – HBO
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live – NBC
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish – ABC
Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Fleabag – Amazon
Constance Wu – Fresh Off the Boat – ABC

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Julie Bowen – Modern Family – ABC
Anna Chlumsky – Veep – HBO
Allison Janney – Mom – CBS
Jane Krakowski – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Netflix
Judith Light – Transparent – Amazon
Allison Williams – Girls – HBO

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin – Saturday Night Live – NBC
Christine Baranski – The Big Bang Theory – CBS
Larry David – Saturday Night Live – NBC
Lisa Kudrow – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Netflix
Liam Neeson – Inside Amy Schumer – Comedy Central

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones – HBO
Kit Harington – Game of Thrones – HBO
John Lithgow – The Crown – Netflix
Mandy Patinkin – Homeland – Showtime
Christian Slater – Mr. Robot – USA Network
Jon Voight – Ray Donovan – Showtime

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski – The Good Wife – CBS
Emilia Clarke – Game of Thrones – HBO
Lena Headey – Game of Thrones – HBO
Thandie Newton – Westworld – HBO
Maura Tierney – The Affair – Showtime
Constance Zimmer – UnREAL – Lifetime

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Caitriona Balfe – Outlander – Starz
Viola Davis – How to Get Away with Murder – ABC
Tatiana Maslany – Orphan Black – BBC America
Keri Russell – The Americans – FX
Evan Rachel Wood – Westworld – HBO
Robin Wright – House of Cards – Netflix

BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Bryan Cranston – All the Way – HBO
Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock: The Abominable Bride – PBS
Cuba Gooding Jr. – The People v. O.J. Simpson – FX
Tom Hiddleston – The Night Manager – AMC
Tim Matheson – Killing Reagan – National Geographic
Courtney B. Vance – The People v. O.J. Simpson – FX

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Elizabeth Debicki – The Night Manager – AMC
Regina King – American Crime – ABC
Sarah Lancashire – The Dresser – Starz
Melissa Leo – All the Way – HBO
Anna Paquin – Roots – History
Emily Watson – The Dresser – Starz

Leonardo DiCaprio To Play Music Pioneer Sam Phillips; Launched Elvis, Howlin’ Wolf, Johnny Cash & Jerry Lee Lewis

DiCaprio and Davisson will be among an array of producers that will include Mick Jagger, Victoria Pearman, Steve Bing, Ian Montone, Rick Yorn and Guralnick, whose book was published by Little Brown in 2015 and who previously authored the definitive Presley books Last Train To Memphis and Careless Love.

Jagger most recently was executive producer of HBO’s Vinyl, the high-profile, big-budget series that was canceled after one season. The iconic rocker was invaluable in informing that series though and is looked to be a similar asset to the story of Phillips’ iconic Sun Studio.

They will move quickly to set a writer and filmmaker, and this becomes just the latest high-profile project bought by Paramount for Appian Way since the production company signed a first-look with the studio. It’s the second big book this week, after Paramount acquired the Beth Macy book Truevine: Two Brothers, A Kidnapping, And A Mother’s Quest; A True Story Of The Jim Crow South, also as a potential star vehicle for DiCaprio, who hasn’t chosen a next project after winning Best Actor for The Revenant.

Appian Way has always been bookish, and has another book-to-film adaptation that could be on DiCaprio’s dance card shortly: a Martin Scorsese-directed adaptation of the Erik Larson book The Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic And Madness At The Fair That Changed America, which Billy Ray has scripted about the true story of a serial killer who was the 19th century equivalent of Hannibal Lecter. Dr. HH Holmes constructed a slaughterhouse called The World’s Fair Hotel and killed 27 to 200 people while the city of Chicago was enthralled with hosting the World’s Fair of 1893.

The first book acquired for Appian under the Paramount deal was The Corporation: An Epic Story Of The Cuban American Underworld which has Benicio Del Toro attached to star. Appian and Paramount are separately percolating an adaptation of the Kayla Olson novel Sandcastle Empire, about an apocalyptic future with a society on the brink of collapse from climate change; a yet-untitled film based on a book proposal by New York Times journalist Jack Ewing about the recent Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal; and a limited television series based on A. Scott Berg’s Pulitzer-winning biography of Charles Lindbergh. It also recently acquired rights to the 1990s comic series Captain Planet.

Reese Witherspoon, Robin Wright & ‘Spotlight’ Producer Team For First Ladies TV Series Based On ‘First Women’ Book

The book, published April 12 by HarperCollins, is described as an intimate, news-making look at the true modern power brokers at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: the First Ladies, from Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama. Wright, who won a Golden Globe for her role as FLOTUS Claire Underwood on House Of Cards, is attached to direct the pilot. She executive produces, along with Pacific Standard’s Witherspoon, Anonymous Content’s Michael Sugar, and Bruna Papandrea. Anonymous Content’s Ashley Zalta and Doreen Wilcox-Little are co-executive producers.

A former First Lady, Hillary Clinton, is now the Democratic nominee with a shot at becoming the first female U.S. President.

First Women author Brower is a former White House reporter for Bloomberg News who covered the Obama administration, as well as a former CBS News staffer and producer for Fox News.

First Women: The Grace And Power Of America’s Modern First Ladies’ paperback edition will be published by Harper Perennial on January 24, 2017. Brower was repped in the deal by the Ross Yoon Agency and Hotchkiss & Associates.

Jon Lindstrom Reads Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Narrated by Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, GH) Excellent characterization and well-crafted tension do much to redeem the outlandish plot of this SF thriller from Crouch (the Wayward Pines trilogy). Jason Dessen, a quantum physicist, once had a brilliant research career ahead of him. But after a girlfriend’s unexpected pregnancy and the birth of a son, this future was derailed. Now Jason is a professor at a small Chicago college, content with his warm and loving family life until he’s abducted into a world in which his quantum many-worlds theory has become a fully realized technology for inter-dimensional transfer. In this world, Jason didn’t marry his girlfriend and never had a son. Jason is determined to get back to his family and his own world, but nefarious powers in the alternate reality conspire to stop him from revealing the criminal lengths they have gone to create the world-hopping technology. Crouch makes little attempt to justify the underlying science fiction MacGuffin, but a rousing and heartfelt ending will leave readers cheering. Agent: David Hale Smith, Inkwell Management.

Chuck Pratt Named New Showrunner of Lee Daniels' Star

Chuck Pratt Jr., who most recently served as headwriter on CBS’ The Young and the Restless, has been named showrunner and executive producer of the upcoming Fox series, filling the void left by departing producer-writer Charles Murray.

In early September, Murray left the show after he and Star co-creators Daniels and Tom Donaghy amicably parted ways over creative differences.

Pratt’s TV resumé includes The Lying Game, Desperate Housewives, Melrose Place and Ugly Betty, as well as soap staples All My Children, General Hospital and Santa Barbara.

The Atlanta-set Star follows three young women (Ryan Destiny, Jude Demorest and Brittany O’Grady) who form a musical group and experience the music business’ highs and lows on their road to fame. The cast also includes Queen Latifah, Benjamin Bratt and Nicholas Gonzalez.

Star, which is slated to premiere in early 2017, will air Wednesdays at 9/8c.

'One Life to Live' director, Great Neck resident dies at 91

Hall was an avid supporter of Great Neck/North Shore Public Access Television and served on its Board of Directors from 1994 until this year.

“He shared all of his knowledge consistently,” said Erica Bradley, PATV’s executive director. “He brought us up so many notches. He was an amazing teacher, an amazing mentor and just a good person also.”

Hall found success in the late 1960s when he served as a director for the NBC daytime soap opera “The Doctors.”

His work as a director for “One Life to Live” saw him win a 1983 Emmy award for “Outstanding Direction for a Daytime Drama Series” along with fellow directors Allen Fristoe, Peter Miner and David Pressman.

Hall began serving on PATV’s Board of Directors the year after winning his Emmy, representing the Village of Great Neck Estates on the board.

In 1999, Bradley said, he began serving as president of the board, a position he held until 2007, when he stepped aside and served as the vice president in 2008.

Hall then served as the board’s secretary in 2009, a position he held until he died.

One of his most memorable contributions to PATV, Bradley said, was the creation of the “PATV Playwrights Showcase.”

She said the showcase is a contest that accepts 10-minute play submissions from playwrights across the country.

Two plays are chosen every year and made into a television production, Bradley said, which Hall directed himself.

The current PATV board president, Robert Schaufield, and the rest of the board recently agreed to change the name of the contest and dedicate it to Hall.

It is now called “The Norman Hall Memorial Playwrights Festival.”

PATV’s Studio A control room, which is located in the PATV facility at 1111 Marcus Ave., will be dedicated in his name as well.

Bradley, who worked for PATV as a technical director before taking the executive director’s position, said Hall often shared his experiences and expertise in directing.

“He brought so many talents,” she said. “I worked, personally, super close with him. He taught me how to edit and how to direct.”

This year, Hall finished directing a play called “The White Chalet” and, before his death, was preparing to direct his own play, “I Can See You.”

Bradley said that in honor of him, she would continue and complete the production of “I Can See You.”

“He’s wanted to do this play for well over a year now,” she said. “We know it’s something that was important to him and now it’s extremely important for us to do it and do it right.”

Charles Wagner IV, a longtime friend of Hall’s, will step in as the director for the play, Bradley said.

“Having him be a part of the team is amazing and it’ll just bring so much more to this production,” she said.

PATV will be cablecasting a special programming block in honor of Hall starting at noon on Sept. 25.

Hall’s wife, Helene, died on Nov. 28, 2011.

He is survived by his three children, Andrew, Stephen and Eve, and his grandchildren.

Nancy Lee Grahn Thrilled to Meet Olympian Simone Biles

“Pommel horsed over a busboy and did a double back off the dessert cart to meet the amazing Simone Biles,” the actress joked on Twitter.

You can clearly see the excitement in Grahn’s face at meeting the gold medalist and congratulating her on her incredible performance at this year’s Summer Olympics in Rio.

Guiding Light Star Is Mother of the Bride in It Shoulda Been You

Seen on Broadway last season, the musical comedy runs July 28-30 and August 4-6 at the Gretna Theatre in Mt. Gretna, PA.

Conceived by Barbara Anselmi, It Shoulda Been You has book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove, with music by Anselmi and additional lyrics by Jill Abramovitz, Carla Rose Fisher, Michael Cooper, Ernie Lijoi and Will Randall.

The cast also features Joe Briel, Jane Brockman and Mark Epperson, as well as Molly Tower, Tracy Bidleman, Luther Chakurian, Kayleen Seidl, Ryan Bloomquist, Chris Giordano, Drew Tildon, Tom Blaisse, and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton.

The production is directed and choreographed by Dennis Courtney. Music direction is by Ryan Edward Wise.

Visit gretnatheatre.org.

Jon Lindstrom Was Paid Pennies for an Acting Job

“Not the smallest I’ve seen,” Lindstrom wrote on Instagram, “but it’s the smallest I’ve gotten. Beats that one for $6.66 back in the day.”

While that check may look like a complete waste of time, paper, ink, and postage, it does allow Lindstrom to put his two cents in on any subject!

Former Soap Stars on the 2016 Emmys Nominations List

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Ellen Burstyn, House of Cards
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY
William H Macy, Shameless

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Allison Janney, Mom
Judith Light, Transparent

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo

LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Bryan Cranston, All The Way

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Melissa Leo, All The Way
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel
Jean Smart, Fargo

Leo makes his biggest commitment ever to the environment

Leonardo DiCaprio‘s foundation has announced $15.6 million in grants for conservation efforts, the largest series of donations ever by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

The foundation boasts donations of more than $59 million since it was founded in 1998.

DiCaprio, 41, has lobbied world leaders about climate change, protecting wildlife and more, and even spoke of the environment during his Oscar acceptance speech this year, telling the crowd: “Climate change is real. It is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species.”

In a statement released Wednesday, the actor said he was increasing the level of grants “to help solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.”

He also appointed Terry Tamminen as the foundation’s CEO. Tamminen was once secretary of California’s Environmental Protection Agency.

Beneficiaries of the grants include the Elephant Crisis Fund, the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund, organizations devoted to fighting climate change and groups dedicated to protecting the rights and cultures of indigenous people.

Tree-hugging DiCaprio raised eyebrows in May when he took a private jet from the Cannes Film Festival to New York to collect an environmental award and another jet straight back to Cannes for a charity gala. However, a source close to DiCaprio said at the time that DiCaprio didn’t charter his own flights and simply “hitched a ride with someone already flying back [and] to Cannes. Hitching a ride was the only way he could make it in time for both events.”

Jon Lindstrom Stars in New Horror Film, 'Val-En-Tina'!

The actor, who CBS fans remember as Craig on AS THE WORLD TURNS, co-stars with Marisol Sacramento in this chilling story of a controversial politician whose racist views get him in hot water with not only his Mexican-American mistress but a supernatural entity! Val-En-Tina is written by Jaquita Ta’le and Carlton Byrd and directed by Araeia Robinson.

“One of my favorite projects/characters ever,” Lindstrom tweeted. “Enjoy!”

You can watch Val-En-Tina right here… if you think your nerves can handle it!

Leo headed to court over ‘Wolf of Wall Street’

The Oscar winner will be deposed in a $25 million defamation lawsuit over his 2013 blockbuster “Wolf of Wall Street,” a Long Island federal-court judge ruled Thursday.

DiCaprio, who earned an Academy Award nomination for best actor for his role as sleazy businessman Jordan Belfort in the flick, is set to be grilled by lawyers for Andrew Greene. Greene sued Paramount Pictures and others in 2014 claiming the flick portrayed him as a toupee-wearing, prostitute-loving degenerate character named Nicky “Rugrat” Koskoff.

Earlier this week, Greene’s lawyers, Aaron Goldsmith and Stephanie Ovadia, indicated that they had tried to depose Hollywood’s most famous bachelor but couldn’t because he was “too busy.”

They said DiCaprio, who co-produced the movie, was a “driving force” behind getting the flick made and is “knowledgeable regarding significant issues in this case,” according to a court filing.

Judge Steven Locke granted a motion to compel DiCaprio’s deposition, saying it would take place “at a reasonable time and place agreed to by the parties.

Greene claims his identity is “readily apparent” in the movie and that his “Wolf” character, played by actor P.J. Byrne, was repeatedly mocked for his “piece of s—t hairpiece.”

The Huntington Station, Long Island resident says he was also depicted as a morally bankrupt drug abuser.

Greene worked for infamous boiler-room stock firm Stratton Oakmont from 1993 to 1996 and was a childhood friend of Belfort in real life, the lawsuit says.

“The motion picture’s scenes concerning Mr. Greene were false, defamatory, and fundamentally injurious to Mr. Greene’s professional reputation, both as an attorney and as an investment banker/venture capitalist, as well as his personal reputation,” the suit says.

A rep for DiCaprio didn’t immediately return a message.

Soap Opera Actress Faces Felony Charges Stemming From Highway 154 Head-On Crash

Buchanan is charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and felony driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or greater. District Attorney Joyce Dudley says Buchanan is also being charged with causing great bodily injury to Bradley Asolas.

Asolas is recovering at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and is listed in fair condition.

The formal complaint alleges Buchanan's blood alcohol level was over .15% at the time of the collision.

View the full complaint here.

Theresa Saldana Dies: ‘Commish’ & ‘Raging Bull’ Actress Who Survived Stalker Knife Attack Was 61

Brooklyn native Saldana had appeared in a number of films in the late 1970s and early ’80s, including as the wife of Joey La Motta (Joe Pesci) in Best Picture Oscar nominee Raging Bull, when she was the victim of a horrific assault. In March 1982, she was stabbed several times outside her West Hollywood home by a mentally disturbed fan who had stalked her. She barely survived the attack — which took place two years after the assassination of John Lennon and seven years before the murder of My Sister Sam actress Rebecca Schaeffer — but went on to resume her acting career and provide both a face and a voice to the then-new issue of celebrity stalking.

Saldana became a devoted victims’ advocate, founding the Victims for Victims organization that fought for the establishment of anti-stalking laws and playing herself in the 1984 TV movie Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story, directed by Karen Arthur. Her memoir, Beyond Survival, was published in 1987.

She first gained attention in Robert Zemeckis’s 1978 film I Wanna Hold Your Hand and, after her recovery, became a familiar presence on episodic TV. Saldana guested on a number of popular series including T.J. Hooker, Cagney & Lacey and Simon & Simon and continued to work in TV and film through the 1980s. Her big break came in 1991, when she was tapped to star opposite Michael Chiklis in ABC’s crime drama The Commish. She played the supportive wife of the title character, a tough-but-kind NYC police commissioner. Saldana earned a Golden Globe nom for her role on the series, which aired 90-plus episodes from 1991-96.

She also co-starred with Charles Bronson in the 1984 thriller The Evil That Men Do and continued to work in TV into the early 2000s, appearing on such series as Law & Order, Diagnosis Murder, Martial Law, All My Children and most recently Bernie Mac.

Robin Wright gets last laugh after Sean Penn’s movie flops

One insider told me, “Robin is thrilled the movie bombed. She has too much class to say so publicly, but this was her baby.”

The film was a passion project that Wright tried to develop for several years. She was attached to star in it with Ryan Gosling, and then Javier Bardem, but could never get financing.

When Wright divorced Penn, he optioned the script by Erin Dignam and put his then-girlfriend, Charlize Theron, in the starring role as a humanitarian doctor in war-torn Africa.

As a source told me two years ago, “This is obviously a vindictive move against his ex-wife.”

This week, my insider told me, “It would have killed her if Charlize had won an Oscar in the role that was meant for her.”

Wright’s publicist declined to comment, as did Penn’s and Theron’s.

Some speculate that Theron split with Penn last year when she saw a rough cut of “The Last Face.”

Wright recently launched a socially conscious sleepwear company with designer friend Karen Fowler, Pour les Femmes, which will donate all profits to Action Kivu and Synergie des Femmes, two organizations for female victims of violence in Congo.

The “Wrightnaissance” will continue with her big-screen comeback in the “Blade Runner” sequel, and as Amazon warrior General Antiope in “Wonder Woman.”

Another Hollywood insider noted that Wright is riding high with “House of Cards,” and said, “She’s quietly smirking while smoking by a window and banking all those sweet Netflix millions.”

Teen Choice Awards 2016 Nominations

Choice TV Actress: Drama
Ashley Benson – Pretty Little Liars
Jennifer Lopez – Shades of Blue
Kerry Washington – Scandal
Maia Mitchell – The Fosters
Taraji P. Henson – Empire
Troian Bellisario – Pretty Little Liars

Choice TV Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Andrew Lincoln – The Walking Dead
Grant Gustin – The Flash
Ian Somerhalder – The Vampire Diaries
Jared Padalecki – Supernatural
Joseph Morgan – The Originals
Paul Wesley – The Vampire Diaries

Choice TV Actress: Comedy
Candace Cameron Bure – Fuller House
Dove Cameron – Liv and Maddie
Emma Roberts – Scream Queens
Gina Rodriguez – Jane the Virgin
Laura Marano – Austin & Ally
Lea Michele – Scream Queens

Soap Actress Jensen Buchanan Arrested For Alleged DUI Crash That Injured Another Driver

Wednesday morning, around 6:20, Buchanan was reportedly driving her black 2016 Mercedes east on State Route 154, in Buelton, near Santa Barbara.

Officials said her vehicle drifted across a double yellow line and slammed into a white 2014 Ford C-Max which was going west.

Buchanan and the driver of the other vehicle were both taken to Cottage Hospital as a result of their injuries.

The CHP said her injuries were minor but that the 56-year-old Camarillo man in the Ford is being treated for “major injuries.” They did not specify the extent of his injuries.

Buchanan was later arrested for DUI.

The route was closed for nearly 20 minutes as a result of the crash, the CHP said.

Buchanan, now 53, made a name for herself in the daytime world in 1993 playing twins Vicky and Marley, a dual role also played formerly by Anne Heche.

She popularized other roles on “One Life to Live” (playing Sarah Gordon Buchanan, the same last name was just a coincidence) from 1987-90 and “General Hospital” (Melissa Bedford) from 2001-2202.

On “Y&R” she’s appeared a handful of times since November 2015 playing a judge who reveals a shocking conflict of interest in a case she was hearing — the fact she once had an adulterous affair with Victor Newman, the defendant’s grandfather back in the day. She last appeared about a month ago to reveal that revelation led to her marriage ending.

Soap Actress Arrested for Causing DUI Collision

A soap opera actress was arrested for driving under the influence after causing a head-on traffic collision on Highway 154 Wednesday morning that left one man in critical condition.

California Highway Patrol released the names of the individuals involved in the traffic collision earlier today. Jensen Buchanan, 53 of Los Angeles, was driving on Highway 154 after 6:00 a.m. when her black 2016 Mercedes S550 crossed over the yellow lines and crashed head-on into another vehicle driven by a Camarillo man. He was then sent to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in critical condition. Buchanan was transported to the same hospital for minor injuries where she was arrested for a DUI.

Edhat subscribers are reporting that Buchanan is an actress known for several soap opera roles. According to wikipedia, she has previously starred in One Life to Live, Another World, General Hospital, and is currently starring in The Young and the Restless.

May 18, 2016 1:39 p.m.

Vehicle 1: Driver - Jensen Buchanan, 53 of Los Angeles, driving a 2016 Mercedes S550, suffered minor injuries transported to Cottage Hospital

Vehicle 2: Driver - Bradley Asolas, 56 of Camarillo, driving a 2014 Ford CMax, suffered major injuries transported to Cottage Hospital

On 5/18/16, at approximately 0619 hours, the driver of the black Mercedes S550 was traveling E/B on SR-154, west of Live Oak. The driver of the Mercedes allowed her vehicle to drift across the solid double yellow line, directly into the path of the Ford C-Max, which was traveling W/B in the W/B lane.

Both parties were transported by AMR to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where the driver of the Mercedes was treated for minor injuries and the driver of the Ford was treated for major injuries. The driver of the Mercedes was arrested for DUI.

SR-154 was closed for approximately 17 minutes, as a result of this collision.

May 18, 2016 11:56 a.m.

A man is in critical condition after a head-on traffic collision on Highway 154 near the Live Oak Campground on Wednesday morning.

At 6:20 a.m., Santa Barbara County Firefighters responded with AMR ambulance and California Highway Patrol to Highway 154, just east of the Live Oak Campground entrance, to a two-vehicle head-on collision.

Captain Dave Zaniboni reports there was one person per vehicle and one required extrication. The male driver, approximately in his mid-50's, needed the Jaws of Life to be removed from the vehicle. He suffered major injuries and is reportedly in critical condition. The patient was transported to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital via AMR ambulance.

The other driver, a female in her 50's, suffered minor injuries and was also transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Highway 154 was closed for a while this morning while CHP investigated the scene.

Robin Wright Fought for (and Received) Equal Pay as House of Cards Costar Kevin Spacey

On Tuesday, the House of Cards star told a roomful of media, activists and philanthropists at the Rockefeller Foundation that she made a bold move after learning that costar Kevin Spacey, 56, was earning $500,000 – nearly $100,000 more than her $420,000-per-episode contract, adding up to a 16 percent disparity in their salaries.

Wright, 50, plays first lady female counterpart to Spacey's President Frank Underwood on the hit series, recalls that she demanded producers level out her compensation with Spacey's.

"I was like, 'I want to be paid the same as Kevin,' " Wright said, according to the Huffington Post. "It was the perfect paradigm. There are very few films or TV shows where the male, the patriarch, and the matriarch are equal. And they are in House of Cards."

Wright further reveals that she had additional leverage in fighting for her Golden Globe-winning turn.

"I was looking at the statistics, and Claire Underwood's character was more popular than [Frank]'s for a period of time," she said. "So I capitalized on it. I was like, 'You better pay me or I'm going to go public.' And they did."

House of Cards season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.

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'The Rockford Files' Actor Joe Santos Dead at 84

Joe's son, Perry, tells TMZ, Joe had a heart attack at his L.A. home Wednesday and was put on life support. He passed away Friday morning in a Santa Monica hospital.

Joe's career spanned more than 40 years and he was nominated for an Emmy in 1979 for his work on "The Rockford Files." He also had roles on "Magnum, P.I." and "The Sopranos." He was most recently in the movie "Chronic" which was released in 2015.

Joe had two sons and a daughter. He was 84.

R.I.P.

Soaps Hunks relive the '80s! Stephen Nichols! Don Diamont! A Martinez! Michael E. Knight!

2016 MTV Movie Award nominations

Best Male Performance
Chris Pratt – “Jurassic World”
Leonardo DiCaprio – “The Revenant”
Matt Damon – “The Martian”
Michael B. Jordan – “Creed”
Ryan Reynolds – “Deadpool”
Will Smith – “Concussion”

Best Fight
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) vs. Ajax (Ed Skrein) – “Deadpool”
Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) vs. The Bear – “The Revenant”
Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) vs. Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) – “Mad Max: Fury Road”
Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) vs. Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – “Avengers: Age of Ultron”
Rey (Daisy Ridley) vs. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) – Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) vs. Lia (Nargis Fakhri) – “Spy”.

NANCY LEE GRAHN SHARES PERSONAL STORY

Leonardo DiCaprio Wins Oscar For Best Actor For 'The Revenant'

But for all the surety of his win this season – DiCaprio had picked up every major acting prize on his route to the Dolby Theater – the 41-year-old actor was still visibly relieved when the envelope was opened. “The Revenant was the product of an unbelievable cast and crew,” he said in his speech. “First off to my brother in this endeavor, Mr. Tom Hardy. Tom, your fierce talent on-screen can only be surpassed by your friendship off-screen. To Mr. Alejandro Iñárritu, as the history of cinema unfolds, you have forged your way into history these past two years. What an unbelievable talent you are. Thank you to you and Chivo for creating a transcendent cinematic experience for all of us. “

DiCaprio thanked Fox and New Regency and called out Arnon Milchan before thanking people “from the very onset” of his career, including Michael Caton-Jones, who cast him in This Boy’s Life, his regular collaborator Martin Scorsese and Rick Yorn. “And to my parents: none of this would be possible without you.” In fact, on the carpet earlier DiCaprio revealed he’d brought his mom with him tonight. In Mike Fleming’s interview with the Oscar winner published earlier this month, he revealed she would drive 45 minutes each way, twice a day, just to take DiCaprio to a better school.

He finished his speech with a climate change plea. “Making The Revenant was about man’s relationship to the natural world, a world that we collectively felt in 2015 as the hottest year in recorded history. Our production needed to move to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow. Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters or the big corporations, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people who will be most affected by this, for our children’s children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed. I thank you all for this amazing award tonight. Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted.”

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s The Revenant follows DiCaprio’s Hugh Glass, a fur trapper abandoned by his colleagues when he’s savagely attacked by a bear. Left for dead and double-crossed, Glass crawls his way to safety, dodging Native American warriors and fixing to take his revenge on Tom Hardy’s John Fitzgerald, who murdered his son and conspired to take his share.

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Jon Lindstrom Guest Stars on RECOVERY ROAD

Lindstrom is set to appear as a therapist in the episode airing Monday, Feb. 15, at 9 p.m. ET on Freeform. RECOVERY ROAD is a new series based on a young adult novel about a group of teenage addicts in a rehab facility.

There’s no word yet on whether Lindstrom’s appearance could lead to a recurring role on the show. But soap fans will enjoy seeing GUIDING LIGHT alum Sharon Lean (Dahlia) starring in the series, and Laura Bell Bundy (Marah, GL) is set to join the cast at the end of the season.

Leonardo DiCaprio's Secret Weapons: Inside His Counterculture Childhood with Parents George and Irmelin

Over the course of many bold career choices and a much-chronicled love life, including many models, the constants in Leonardo DiCaprio's life have been his parents, George and Irmelin DiCaprio.

The 41-year-old star, who is up for his fifth Academy Award nomination, credits his parents for his current success.

"To my parents, thank you for listening to an overly ambitious, slightly annoying 13-year-old kid who wanted to go on auditions every day after school," he said in his acceptance speech at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Award Saturday, where he won outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role.

Leonardo, born in Los Angeles, had a counterculture childhood. George was an underground comic book distributor, and Irmelin was a legal secretary. In a 2002 interview with 20/20's Barbara Walters, he said his parents were "Bohemian in every sense of the word." When he was younger, he would travel with his father to comic book stores around the country. He was also allowed to drop out of high school to pursue acting.

From a young age, his parents tried to expose him to as much as possible. When he was 14, he watched Robert De Niro movies with his father, who would say, "Son, watch closely because this is what great acting looks like," Leonardo recalled in November at the SAG Foundation Awards. Three years later, he worked with De Niro on This Boy's Life.

His parents have always been on hand to support him. According to a 1995 New York Times profile, his parents both worked for his production company at the time, and George used to read through scripts and pick ones out he thought his son should consider.

Throughout his career, Leonardo has avoided sequels and franchises, preferring to take on more daring roles like his recent turn as Hugh Glass in The Revenant, a role that called for him to eat raw bison liver.

"My dad always told me, 'Go out there, son, and whatever you do, I don't care if you're successful or not, just have an interesting life,' " Leonardo recently told Parade.

To this day, he usually brings either George or Irmelin as his date to award shows. Most recently, George accompanied him to the 2016 Golden Globes Awards, where Leonardo took home the prize for best actor in a motion picture, drama.

The Oscar frontrunner also honored his parents as he accepted the Actors Inspiration Award at the SAG Foundation 30th anniversary celebration: "Irmelin, George – I would not be receiving this award and I would not be the actor that I am or be able to do any of the philanthropy that this job has given me the opportunity to have, and I wouldn't the person I am without the both of you, so thank you."

Screen Actors Guild Award Winners

Australian Academy's International Award Winners

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

‘Godfather’ star Abe Vigoda dies at 94

Vigoda’s career spans all the way back to 1949, when his first on-screen credit was in an episode of the TV series “Suspense.” He appeared on a number of shows after that before getting the role of Tessio in 1972’s “The Godfather.” He later appeared in the movie’s sequel, as well as a trio of video games, reprising his role.

Beyond his role in “The Godfather,” Vigoda appeared in films like “Look Who’s Talking,” “Prancer,” “Joe Versus the Volcano,” “Underworld” and “Goodburger.” He kept up his TV career as well, with guest starring roles on “Wings,” “The Norm Show” and “Law & Order.”

Throughout Conan O’Brien’s run as host of “Late Night,” Vigoda also played a recurring role as himself, often popping up in sketches. Following the news of Vigoda’s passing, O’Brien’s sidekick Andy Richter posted a tribute to Twitter.

His last on-screen role came in the form of 2014 romantic comedy “Sweet Destiny.”

Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1921, Vigoda is survived by his daughter Carol.

Legendary character actor Abe Vigoda dead at 94

Daughter Carol Vigoda Fuchs said the veteran actor died in his sleep at her home in Woodland Park.

People magazine erroneously reported in 1982 that Vigoda had passed away, sparking the decades-long joke about his dead-or-alive condition.

Vigoda rolled with the running gag, since he was in good health despite his sickly, sunken-eyed look.

“This man was never sick,” Fuchs said.

Vigoda is best known for playing Sal Tessio, an old pal of Vito Corleone, in the 1972 mobster classic.

A generation of TV fans also knew Vigoda as dry, lethargic Detective Phil Fish on “Barney Miller.”

Abe Vigoda, Barney Miller's Crotchety Detective Fish, Dead at 94

Vigoda’s 60-plus years in television and movies netted him several memorable character roles, including that of Miller‘s world-weary senior detective (a role he reprised in a short-lived spinoff titled Fish).

The actor’s other notable TV performances include Santa Barbara, MacGyver, Murder She Wrote, Wings and Mad About You. He also was known for appearing in The Godfather and Look Who’s Talking.

His last TV gig was voicing a character in a 2013 episode of the animated series High School USA!

Since 1982, when People errantly reported on his passing, Vigoda has been the subject of premature obituaries and downright hoaxes.

Carol Vigoda, the actor’s daughter, said her father died of old age at her Woodland Park, N.J., home.

Abe Vigoda Dies: ‘The Godfather’ & ‘Barney Miller’ Actor Was 94

Vigoda began acting in New York theater and with small roles in television. The turning point in his career came in 1972 when Francis Ford Coppola cast him as Vito Corleone’s old friend-turned-traitor Sal Tessio in the Oscar-winning film The Godfather. He also appeared briefly in The Godfather Part II in a flashback sequence at the end of the film.

Vigoda went on to play the dilapidated Detective Sgt. Phil Fish on the 1975-82 sitcom Barney Miller, a character known for his world-weary demeanor and persistent hemorrhoids. He also starred in its spinoff show Fish that aired from February 1977 to June 1978 on ABC. Before Barney Miller, he made a few appearances on the ABC soap Dark Shadows as Ezra Braithwaite and Otis Greene

Vigoda continued to work consistently in the ’80s and ’90s, with roles on Mike Hammer, Tales From The Darkside, MacGyver, Murder, She Wrote, Law & Order, Wings and soaps As the World Turns and Santa Barbara. He also played gangster Paul Castellano in NBC’s Witness To The Mob.

His most recent credit was 2014 in feature Sweet Destiny. His other films include Joe vs. The Volcano, North and Sugar Hill, among many others.

Abe Vigoda, sunken-eyed character actor, dead at 94

Vigoda's daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, told The Associated Press that Vigoda died Tuesday morning in his sleep at Fuchs' home in Woodland Park, New Jersey. The cause of death was old age. "This man was never sick," Fuchs said.

Vigoda worked in relative obscurity as a supporting actor in the New York theater and in television until Francis Ford Coppola cast him in the 1972 Oscar-winning "The Godfather." Vigoda played Sal Tessio, an old friend of Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando) who hopes to take over the family after Vito's death by killing his son Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). But Michael anticipates that Sal's suggestion for a "peace summit" among crime families is a setup and the escorts Sal thought were taking him to the meeting turn out to be his executioners.

"Tell Mike it was only business," Sal mutters to consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) as he's led away.

The great success of the film and "The Godfather Part II" made his face and voice, if not his name, recognizable to the general public and led to numerous roles, often as hoodlums.

But it was his comic turn in "Barney Miller," which starred Hal Linden and ran from 1975 to 1982, that brought Vigoda's greatest recognition.

He liked to tell the story of how he won the role of Detective Fish. An exercise enthusiast, Vigoda had just returned from a five-mile jog when his agent called and told him to report immediately to the office of Danny Arnold, who was producing a pilot for a police station comedy.

Arnold remarked that Vigoda looked tired, and the actor explained about his jog. "You know, you look like you might have hemorrhoids," Arnold said. "What are you — a doctor or a producer?" Vigoda asked. He was cast on the spot.

"The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows," a reference book, commented that Vigoda was the hit of "Barney Miller." ''Not only did he look incredible, he sounded and acted like every breath might be his last," it said. "Fish was always on the verge of retirement, and his worst day was when the station house toilet broke down."

Vigoda remained a regular on "Barney Miller" until 1977 when he took the character to his own series, "Fish." The storyline dealt with the detective's domestic life and his relations with five street kids that he and his wife took into their home.

The show lasted a season and a half. Vigoda continued making occasional guest appearances on "Barney Miller," quitting over billing and salary differences.

But he remained a popular character actor in films, including "Cannonball Run II," ''Look Who's Talking," ''Joe Versus the Volcano" and "North."

His resemblance to Boris Karloff led to his casting in the 1986 New York revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace," playing the role Karloff originated on the stage in the 1940s. (The murderous character in the black comedy is famously said by other characters to resemble Boris Karloff, a great joke back when the real Karloff was playing him.)

Born in New York City in 1921, Vigoda attended the Theater School of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall. In the early 1950s, he appeared as straight man for the Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn TV comedies.

For 30 years, he worked in the theater, acting in dozens of plays in such diverse characters as John of Gaunt in "Richard II" (his favorite role) and Abraham Lincoln in a short-lived Broadway comedy "Tough to Get Help."

Vigoda attributed his high percentage in winning roles to his performance in auditions. Instead of delivering the tired soliloquies that most actors performed, he wrote his own, about a circus barker. At a surprise 80th birthday party in New Jersey in 2001, he gave a spirited recital of the monologue to the delight of the 100 guests.

Reflecting on his delayed success, Vigoda once remarked: "When I was a young man, I was told success had to come in my youth. I found this to be a myth. My experiences have taught me that if you deeply believe in what you are doing, success can come at any age."

"Barney Miller" became his first steady acting job.

"I'm the same Abe Vigoda," he told an interviewer. "I have the same friends, but the difference now is that I can buy the things I never could afford before. I have never had a house before, so now I would like a house with a nice garden and a pool. Hollywood has been very kind to me."

He was married twice, most recently to Beatrice Schy, who died in 1992. He had his daughter with his first wife, Sonja Gohlke, who has also died. Vigoda is survived by his daughter, grandchildren Jamie, Paul and Steven, and a great-grandson.

Reruns of "Barney Miller" and repeated screenings of the two "Godfather" epics kept Vigoda in the public eye, and unlike some celebrities, he enjoyed being recognized. In 1997 he was shopping in Bloomingdale's in Manhattan when a salesman remarked: "You look like Abe Vigoda. But you can't be Abe Vigoda because he's dead." Vigoda often appeared on lists of living celebrities believed to have passed away.

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LEONARDO DICAPRIO, THE REVENANT

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Soap Vets Team Up For Gritty Film

In the murder mystery, Fontaine directs and stars as a Rolando Ramirez, a detective whose investigation of a hate crime against five Hispanic migrant laborers leads him to question his own identity and beliefs. Brainard stars as a contractor whose beef against the local immigrants providing competition to his business puts him on Ramirez's radar. "These people know each other from youth; it's a small town," Brainard offers. "But they've all gone in various ways — some nefarious and some heroic — and they end up meeting at this sort of crossroads of the crime."

Filmed in Newburgh, a historic but now crime-ridden town upriver from New York City, the timely movie is sure to fuel conversation about what it means to be an American. "Migrant workers have moved to almost to every corner of the United States, and judging by what's happening in the news and in the [current] political climate," Brainard observes, "There are people that don't want this kind of change." Mi America opens Friday, October 16, at the Village East Cinema in New York City, and Friday, October 23, at the Laemmle Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills, CA.

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