West Side Tale Blog

Easy Rider co-stars among Dennis Hopper’s mourners

Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider co-stars Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson joined mourners at a memorial service in New Mexico to remember the Oscar nominee.

Also in attendance was Val Kilmer, who co-starred with Hopper in True Romance.

Nicholson described his friend as ”an all-around guy”.

“It was a very singular relationship I had with him, like nobody else. We were soulmates in a way. I really miss him,” Nicholson said.

Hopper died on Saturday aged 74 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Source: Splash News

Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman has died following a fall

Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman died today (Friday) after failing to come out of a coma. He was 42.

The diminutive actor had been rushed to hospital in Provo, Utah, on Wednesday after suffering what his family called "a serious medical problem" after falling at home and hitting his head.

He later fell into a coma and was on life support after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage.

He was pulled off life support Friday morning – the decision reportedly made by his wife Shannon Price – and passed away with loved ones at his side.

The distinctive actor, who lived in Santaquin, about 55 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah, had been through a troubling spell in his life, including a long string of health problems.

He has been battling kidney disease since his childhood – the disease hampering his growth to 4ft 8ins – and twice had kidney transplants in 1973 and 1984. He required daily dialysis in his everyday life.

He also had heart surgery last year and was hospitalized earlier this year having had a seizure on the set of The Insider.

He had struggled professionally – and hence financially – as he struggled to find work following the fame he had found in the 1980s. He later confessed he had twice tried to overdose on sleeping pills.

Source: Splash News

Man accused of David Letterman extortion was a ’swashbuckler’ of a newsman

The man accused of attempting to blackmail talkshow star David Letterman for $2 million drew the praise of many colleagues.

Robert Joe Halderman, a producer for CBS 48 Hours Mystery, was called a “swashbuckler” of a newsman whose bravery was attested by war postings.

High-profile CBS news anchor Dan Rather said: “I’m mystified. The Halderman I knew would have never been involved in this but certainly wouldn’t have thought it would have been a success.”

Halderman, who allegedly threatened to expose Letterman’s sexual liaisons with staff, was nominated for Emmy Awards for his work on Sarajevo and a bloody assault on a school in Russia.

Halderman’s colleagues said they noted he was distressed in recent months when his ex-wife and two children moved cross-country, and his girlfriend, Stephanie Birkitt, moved out of their home in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Birkitt, formerly hired as an assistant to Letterman, is alleged to have had an affair with Letterman.

Julia Roberts en route to Rome to shoot Eat, Pray, Love

Julia Roberts will head out to Rome this week to shoot the movie Eat, Pray, Love.

The movie is a big screen adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir which tells the story of an American woman in midlife who gets a divorce and goes on a journey of travel and self-discovery only to find love again – in far-off Bali.

Roberts has already been filming in Brooklyn and is set to shoot scenes in India and Indonesia after leaving Italy.

In Rome, Roberts will act alongside Luca Argentero, a rising star in Italian cinema. Argentero will make his first appearance in a major international picture. He has played the leading man in Italian films including romantic comedies Lezioni di cioccolato [Lessons In Chocolate] and Diverso da chi?.

Source: Splash News

Ivana Trump still friends with billionaire ex Donald Trump

Ivana Trump says she is still good friends with her billionaire ex-husband Donald Trump.

The 60-year-old had been married to the business magnate for 14 years when she discovered he was having an affair and filed for divorce.

She told Channel 4’s Alan Carr: Chatty Man: "We are very good friends. From the beginning it’s not easy, the financial settlements, the kids, but after a year or so it was perfectly fine. We are very friendly and this is how it should be."

Source: Splash News

David Carradine found hanging naked, Thai police officer says

Actor David Carradine was found hanging naked in the wardrobe of his hotel room, according to a Thai police officer.

One of the officers investigating Carradine’s mysterious death released a statement to celebrity website TMZ, saying: “I can confirm that we found his body, naked, hanging in the closet.”

Thai police could not be reached directly for comment.

A Thai newspaper reported the star’s body was hanging for at least 12 hours before it was discovered by a maid. The report claimed there was no sign of struggle.

Jim Wynorski, the director of a film Carradine finished working on only last week, told TMZ the actor had been “jovial, full of life and kept everyone laughing on the set”.

He said Carradine constantly talked about his family.

The website also reported Carradine had been in “good spirits” while shooting scenes at a restaurant the day before he died.

Sources told TMZ he “didn’t look sad… he looked fine”.

Source: Splash News

Brooke Shields confesses to skin cancer scare

Actress Brooke Shields has revealed she had a recent skin cancer scare and blames it on years of sun worship as a teen.

The Lipstick Jungle star visited her doctor in New York after she was concerned about a spot that developed on her face.

“I had a spot on my face. The doctor scraped it and it turned out to be precancerous. I was scared,” Shields confessed.

The 43-year-old actress had the spot removed and is doing ‘fine’.

But she says the cancer scare should act as a warning to woman who ‘used to think it was the best thing in the world to be baking in the sun’.

And has warned anyone not to get involved in the sun-worship rituals that she did like: “Baby oil and tinfoil and lemon in your hair.

“All my girlfriends and I would go up on the roof in New York; we didn’t have to be at the beach,” said Shields who claims to have stopped actively sunbathing ten years ago.

“You think that because you’re not in the sun anymore, it’s all in the past. And then something like that crops up and you’re made aware of how dangerous it really can be.”

Michelle Pfeiffer has said acting with younger men keeps her feeling youthful

Michelle Pfeiffer has said acting with younger men keeps her feeling youthful.

The mum-of-two is currently starring in new period film Cheri where her love interest is played by Keira Knightley’s off-screen boyfriend Rupert Friend, 26.

She said: “It seems my leading men keep getting younger the older I get.” The actress was filming Cheri when she turned 50 in April last year and she revealed she got on well with her younger co-star.

She said: “The more we got to know each other, the more comfortable we were with each other, but initially it was a little strange. But Rupert has a really good sense of humour and that always helps.”

Michelle also appeared in the 2007 film I Could Never Be Your Woman, where her character seduced a younger man, played by Paul Rudd, now 40.

She said: “It seems people have an aversion to casting me with men my age. Lucky for me. I’m not one that’s ever really thought about birthdays, but 50 was a big one and I was not looking forward to it.”

She added: “But surprisingly it has left me feeling liberated.”

Source: Splash News

Samuel L. Jackson’s fairy part

The actor recently admitted that his first parts in theatre plays were very contrasting to what he did later in his career. Samuel L. Jackson related: “There were never enough boys to act in the plays, so I always had to be in them. I remember myself in Sugar Plum Fairy outfits, being Humpty Dumpty, wearing loin cloths.” Samuel L. Jackson is supposedly famous for playing very hardcore parts: murderers and the like. Maybe he’s overcompensating for all of the tutus and other ridiculous costumes he had to wear at the beginning of his career? After all, it’s not like playing the Sugar Plum Fairy can very easily be forgotten in a child’s lifetime.

Farrah Fawcett out of hospital soon

Farrah Fawcett is definitely not on death’s door and as proof her doctor will soon give her the go signal to go home. Farrah Fawcett has been fighting cancer for three years now but aside from undergoing health procedures she is also busy filming her “A Wing and a Prayer” documentary which is being produced by her friend Craig Nevius. The 62-year old actress has been confined at the hospital and is said to have undergone a minor procedure. Craig Nevius however said she is doing fantastic and is on the mend.

Dr. Lawrence Piro said Farrah Fawcett has undergone a minor procedure which led to a small amount of bleeding in her abdominal wall muscles. The Charlie’s Angels star was diagnosed with anal Cancer in September 2006 and was told she was cancer-free after a series of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, her cancer had returned in 2007 so she has sought an alternative but advanced treatment in Germany.

Natasha Richardson’s Organs Donated By Family

Natasha Richardson may have been laid to rest but not without accomplishing one good deed through the family she left behind. Liam Neeson’s wife, who is an accomplished film and Broadway actress in her own right, died as a result of a freak ski accident in Canada. However, before she died, her family was able to donate her organs. Family here includes her husband Liam Neeson, her mother Vanessa Redgrave, sister Joely Richardson and her sons 13-year old Michael and 12-year old Daniel.

Friends were no longer surprised about the donation since as they said, “it was very Natasha” considering that Natasha Richardson dedicated her time to fighting the HIV-AIDS stigma. Her family and friends believe that by donating her organs something good would at least comes out of her tragic death which was earlier rules as an accident. Friends say Liam Neeson is doing ok although it would take a while before the whole family can absorb this and move forward. Liam Neeson and his sons are expected to move on with Liam Neeson going back to Canada to continue filming his new movie “Chloe” and his kids going back to school.

Joaquin Phoenix does it again

Joaquin Phoenix is in the headlines once again no thanks to his queer ways and his temper. The actor turned rapper was performing at a local club Wednesday night when a heckler pissed him off. Joaquin Phoenix’ actions were documented in a video which was posted on Radar Online. The video shows Joaquin Phoenix performing at the Fontainebleau nightclub in Miami Beach. During his first song, the disheveled Joaquin Phoenix stopped and addressed a heckler in the audience asking him his problem and telling him to join him on stage.

Over the microphone, Joaquin Phoenix called the heckler an “a…..le” with the four letter word and then told the heckler that he (Phoenix) has a million dollar in the bank so what does the heckler have? Joaquin Phoenix dropped the microphone and jumped from the stage onto the crowd to go after the heckler. There was a commotion and you can see the security swarming but it was not clear whether a physical altercation ensued between Joaquin Phoenix and the heckler. Luckily, the DJ had presence of mind and played some music. So what prompted the whole fiasco Joaquin Phoenix was said to have kept the audience waiting for almost four hours and when he arrived, he sang songs with lyrics barely audible.

Michael Caine’s new character difficulty

The actor has recently admitted that he has been having difficulty playing a character his own age. Michael Caine explained: “I don’t think of me as an old man so this has been a real stretch. I play a guy, 75, 76, and I tell myself, ‘He is not you. He is him. He’s very sick. He is getting dementia. And he has a much harder life than you have.’ I always like to stretch myself and do films that interest me. I thought he was a wonderful old man. I really loved him.” Sounds to me like Michael Caine is one of those actors who can only play slight variations of his own self or a well defined alter-ego… it’s either that or his age is really starting to get to him. Well, whatever the case, hopefully Michael Caine won’t go too far with the character research and admit himself in a nursing home… he might never be able to get out. Those places are evil!

Gwyneth Paltrow’s site getting bad reviews

The actress’ site, goop.com, has received a number of not-so nice reviews and opinions and Gwyneth Paltrow believes that they are all rubbish. Here’s what the actress had to say: “I think the people who are criticizing it or criticizing the idea of it, don’t really get it, because if they did, they would like it.” Well, it is true that humans do tend to fear and hate what they do not understand, but still, the review from The Globe and Mail newspaper from Toronto really says a lot: “Perhaps ‘Any Old Load of Rubbish’ and ‘Learn From Me, Ungrateful Peasant’ were both taken.” I cannot understand where Gwyneth Paltrow came up with the name of “GOOP” for the site, but the ungrateful peasant bit says all there is to say about it.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s aging process

The “Sex and the city” actress has recently stated that she is happy with her looks even though she’s pushing 50 and wouldn’t like to change anything about them: It’s a real crucible because you feel daunted by your peers who somehow get younger and younger. People older than me have fewer lines than I do. And no, you’re not supposed to talk about it – you’re supposed to admire the fact that they look 22 even though they’re 58.” Well yes, they have found the secret to eternal youth: sucking on the blood of the innocent. Still, it is admirable that Sarah Jessica Parker doesn’t want to go against the natural course of nature, but it remains to be seen if she’ll change her opinion once she doesn’t have to worry about her husband running away with all the dough.

Evangeline Lilly’s previous career plans

The actress recently told a story about how she had always wanted to be a flight attendant in order to see the world. She said: “I just wanted to travel so desperately that I would have done anything. I did the flight attendant training, which is grueling and hectic. I did the job for one month and then I quit. I hated it so much. I didn’t really get to see anywhere – I would go to Germany, and I’d be flying out the next morning. What’s the point of that?” Evangeline Lilly was probably expecting that airline companies, in their infinite capitalist wisdom, would spend thousands of dollars to accommodate flight attendants in the cities where they traveled. Vagabonds probably see more of the world than flight attendants and they travel on foot almost always.

America’s favorite movie star is Denzel Washington

For the 3rd straight year in a row Hollywood actor Denzel Washington has been named as the most popular movie star in Hollywood. The Harris Poll which annually carries out a poll where people vote for their favorite movies stars have once again chosen Denzel ahead of other Hollywood legends like Clint Eastwood and others.

The Oscar winner piped legendary actor-director Clint Eastwood into 2nd place while late actor John Wayne came in at 3rd and the multi-talented Will Smith is tied with John Wayne at third.

There are lots of people who could have been on this list, such as James Stewart, Meryl Streep, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracey, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Gary Cooper, James Cagney, Marlon Brando, (to name a few), but since the powers that be had to limit it to ten I think the choices (except barring Angelina Jolie) were good.

I think if I am not mistaken then Denzel Washington won a Best Actor Oscar for Training Day. In it he was NOT playing himself. I am glad Tom Hanks made the list. He is my favorite.

Kevin Bacon amongst celebrities hit by Wall Street scandal

Actor Kevin Bacon is amongst the number of celebrities who have suffered financial losses as part of the $50 billion fraud scandal that has rocked Wall Street. Bernard Madoff, the former NASDAQ chairman was arrested on 8th December for his hand in the scandal.

Bernard Madoff has a major hand in securities fraud, he has allegedly taken out billions of dollars that clients invested in securities run under his stewardship which collapsed after people began asking for their money back, due to the global financial crisis.

Hey that’s really bad but people like Kevin Bacon earn lots of money being celebrities and work in big budgeted Hollywood movies but what about those people who invested their saving hoping for good returns.

That’s why corrupt American bosses are the ones who should be blamed for this financial mess. Their perks should be withdrawn, year end bonuses stopped and salaries should be halved.

Actor Michael Rudder injured in Bombay terror attacks

Michael Rudder is a Canadian actor and works in movies, TV, theater and also lends his voice for movies. There are news reports that he was in Bombay on the 26th of November 2008 to attend a medication camp along with 6 others.

News coming from Bombay says that some sort of information has been passed to the Canadian Press that the actor was shot when terrorists stormed one of the hotels in Mumbai. It is really very sensitive news and I wish him and his family well in these trying times. These are really unconfirmed news reports but I would still like to share it with you guys that Rudder underwent surgery in an intensive care unit after three gunshot wounds.

Rudder has acted alongside the likes of Eddie Murphy and Johnny Depp and has acted in quite a number of Hollywood movies. Man isn’t it time that the world got together and found a lasting solution to this terror strikes problem. How long can we live like this? Really the Indian subcontinent is not a safe place to visit at all.

BRITNEY SPEARS UPDATE

It’s the time once again for your daily dose of Britney Spears news.
Earlier this week Britney Spears surprised a select group of fans by attending an MTV-sponsored screening event for her new documentary Britney Spears: For The Record (which debuts on MTV on November 30).
At the said event, Britney was too uncomfortable and she ended up leaving early, opting out of taking questions from the audience.
Then on Friday afternoon, Britney and her father Jamie Spears made a surprise visit to the LA County Courthouse reportedly to meet with the judge overseeing her conservator ship case. Speculators say that they wanted to talk to him about her upcoming plans to promote her new album Circus (album tour and concert).
After a few hours in the courthouse, it looks like that things did not go Britney’s way because the poor girl was seen leaving the courthouse in tears.
Her face was so swollen and she was being comforted by her father as they drove away.