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Tag: actor

  • Timothy Busfield’s detention hearing to address sexual misconduct charges in New Mexico

    COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON KOAT. ACTION SEVEN NEWS AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. IT’S GOING TO BE A REALLY INTERESTING ARGUMENT BEFORE THIS JUDGE FROM BOTH SIDES, ACTOR AND DIRECTOR TIMOTHY BUSFIELD, SCHEDULED FOR COURT TOMORROW. HE’S FACING SEXUAL CHARGES REPORTEDLY INVOLVING TWO CHILD ACTORS WHILE FILMING A TV SHOW IN NEW MEXICO. COREY HOWARD JOINS US LIVE FROM DISTRICT COURT. DOCUMENTS FROM BUSFIELD SUPPORTERS. WELL, TONIGHT, TIMOTHY BUSFIELD REMAINS BEHIND BARS, BUT HE COULD BE A FREE AGAIN TOMORROW, DEPENDING ON THE JUDGE’S RULING. THEY’RE TRYING TO CONVINCE THE JUDGE. THE JUDGE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE LETTING HIM OUT OF JAIL. OF COURSE, THE PROSECUTION WANTS TO KEEP HIM IN UNTIL HIS TRIAL SETTING, WHICH COULD BE A YEAR OR MORE. AND BOTH SIDES ARE SUBMITTING THEIR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. BUZZFEED’S DEFENSE TEAM SAYING THE HOLLYWOOD STAR PASSED A POLYGRAPH TEST AND HAS COLLECTED MORE THAN 70 LETTERS SUPPORTING HIM. ONE OF THE MORE EMOTIONAL LETTERS WRITTEN BY HIS WIFE, MELISSA GILBERT. THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE LETTER ASKING THE JUDGE, PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF MY SWEET HUSBAND AS HE IS MY PROTECTOR. I AM HIS, BUT I CANNOT PROTECT HIM NOW. AND I THINK THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IS WHAT TRULY IS BREAKING MY HEART. I AM RELYING ON YOU TO PROTECT THEM. FOR ME. KOAT LEGAL EXPERT JOHN DAY, EXPLAINING HOW THIS MIGHT AFFECT THE JUDGE’S DECISION. IT’S GOING TO BE UP TO THE JUDGE TO SAY YES. BUSPAR IS NOT A FLIGHT RISK. HE’S NOT A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY. HE’S NOT GOING TO COMMIT CRIMES SO I CAN LET HIM OUT OF CUSTODY. PROSECUTORS ARE READY TO REFUTE THOSE CLAIMS, ARGUING BUZZFEED SHOULD REMAIN BEHIND BARS. THEIR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SAY THE DEFENDANT POSES A SERIOUS AND ONGOING DANGER, NOT ONLY TO THE NAMED VICTIMS, BUT ANY CHILD IN HIS PROXIMITY. THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF BUZZFEED’S VOLUNTARY SURRENDER, SAYING DESPITE KNOWING ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON THAT A WARRANT HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR HIS ARREST, THE DEFENDANT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SURRENDER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. INSTEAD, HE DELAYED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS TRAVELING FROM NEW YORK TO NEW MEXICO TO AVOID THE EXTRADITION PROCESS. NOW, BUZZFEED DETENTION HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR 2 P.M. TOMORROW, AND KOAT WILL BE STREAMING IT LIVE, REPORTING IN DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE. COREY HOWARD KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. BUZZFEED ATTORNEYS HAVE CALLED 13 WITNESSES TO SPEAK AT THE

    Timothy Busfield’s detention hearing preview, what’s expected

    Updated: 3:23 PM PST Jan 20, 2026

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    Actor and director Timothy Busfield is facing a detention hearing in New Mexico to determine whether he will remain in custody or be released until his trial on charges of sexual misconduct involving two child actors.Video above: What was expected from Timothy Busfield’s detention hearingSince his arrest, Busfield has received substantial support, with more than 70 people advocating for his release. Among the supporters is his wife, Melissa Gilbert, who wrote an emotional letter to the judge, saying, “Please, please, take care of my sweet husband. As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart. I am relying on you to protect him for me.”Prosecutors argue that Busfield poses a “serious and ongoing danger not only to the named victims, but any child in his proximity.” They also criticized the timing of his voluntary surrender, stating, “Despite knowing on Friday afternoon that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, the Defendant did not immediately surrender to law enforcement. Instead, he delayed for approximately five days, traveling from New York to New Mexico to avoid the extradition process.”Busfield’s defense team presented evidence of his character and community support, noting that he passed a polygraph test. They argued, “The overwhelming evidence of character and community support, and the absence of any reliable proof of dangerousness – the State cannot meet its burden of clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release will reasonably protect the community. The Constitution requires release under appropriate conditions.”The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, will feature 13 witnesses called by Busfield’s attorneys, including five who worked on “The Cleaning Lady,” filmed in Albuquerque.

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

    Actor and director Timothy Busfield is facing a detention hearing in New Mexico to determine whether he will remain in custody or be released until his trial on charges of sexual misconduct involving two child actors.

    Video above: What was expected from Timothy Busfield’s detention hearing

    Since his arrest, Busfield has received substantial support, with more than 70 people advocating for his release. Among the supporters is his wife, Melissa Gilbert, who wrote an emotional letter to the judge, saying, “Please, please, take care of my sweet husband. As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart. I am relying on you to protect him for me.”

    Prosecutors argue that Busfield poses a “serious and ongoing danger not only to the named victims, but any child in his proximity.” They also criticized the timing of his voluntary surrender, stating, “Despite knowing on Friday afternoon that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, the Defendant did not immediately surrender to law enforcement. Instead, he delayed for approximately five days, traveling from New York to New Mexico to avoid the extradition process.”

    Busfield’s defense team presented evidence of his character and community support, noting that he passed a polygraph test. They argued, “The overwhelming evidence of character and community support, and the absence of any reliable proof of dangerousness – the State cannot meet its burden of clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release will reasonably protect the community. The Constitution requires release under appropriate conditions.”

    The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, will feature 13 witnesses called by Busfield’s attorneys, including five who worked on “The Cleaning Lady,” filmed in Albuquerque.

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  • Timothy Busfield faces new sex abuse accusation as he appears in court

    Timothy Busfield made a first appearance in New Mexico court Wednesday as prosecutors detailed a new sexual abuse accusation against the Emmy-winning actor.

    Busfield, 68, has been charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and a single count of child abuse for allegedly inappropriately touching two child actors while he worked as a director and executive producer on the Fox drama “The Cleaning Lady,” filmed in Albuquerque. He was held without bond pending a hearing on a motion for pretrial detention.

    In that motion, prosecutors argued Busfield should be jailed pending trial due to what they called “a sustained pattern of predatory conduct” that they said dated to at least 1994. That year, a 17-year-old extra on the film “Little Big League” accused Busfield of sexually assaulting her in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court that was later settled privately, the motion states.

    Most recently, a man named Colin Swift reported to law enforcement on Tuesday that, years ago, Busfield sexually abused Swift’s then-16-year-old daughter during an audition at B Street Theatre in Sacramento, the motion states. Swift alleged that Busfield begged the family to not report the abuse to law enforcement if he received therapy, and they initially agreed, the filing states.

    No charges have been filed against Busfield in connection with that incident.

    Busfield founded B Street Theatre as a touring company called Theatre for Children Inc. in 1986, according to its website. Although he is listed as an emeritus board member, he has not participated in the organization since 2001, and the incident recently reported to police is alleged to have taken place there about 25 years ago, according to a statement from B Street Theatre. The theater has retained legal counsel to conduct an internal investigation, the statement said.

    Prosecutors allege Busfield’s conduct “reflects a calculated pattern of grooming, lack of boundaries, and exploitation of professional authority to gain access to minors,” according to the motion for pretrial detention. Witnesses have said they fear retaliation and career harm for speaking out against him, demonstrating “how individuals in positions of power are able to silence victims and witnesses, allowing abuse to persist unchecked,” they wrote.

    A representative for Busfield could not be reached Wednesday. His attorney Stanton “Larry” Stein previously said in a statement that the actor is innocent and “determined to clear his name.” He also referenced an affidavit in which Busfield suggested to investigators that the child actors’ mother might have sought “revenge” on the director for “not bringing her kids back for the final season.”

    The actor, known for his work on television series “The West Wing” and “Thirtysomething,” turned himself in Tuesday, which prosecutors allege was five days after he knew a judge had issued a warrant for his arrest. During that time, Busfield traveled from New York to New Mexico to avoid the extradition process and surrender at a convenient time, the motion alleges.

    He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, where he remained Wednesday.

    Busfield is accused of inappropriately touching the two child actors, who are brothers, on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” according to an affidavit. Their mother reported the abuse took place from November 2022 to spring 2024, according to the complaint. Police launched an investigation in November 2024 after being notified of the alleged abuse by a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital.

    According to prosecutors, “Cleaning Lady” producer Warner Bros. conducted an investigation into Busfield’s behavior in February 2025 after the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists hotline fielded an anonymous complaint that the director entered a trailer on the set and kissed a 6-year-old boy on the face while he was getting a haircut. Another caller to the hotline claimed that, in September 2024, Busfield asked a parent to wait outside and took a minor — one of the alleged victims in the New Mexico case — behind closed doors for an audition at the Cinelease Studios office in Albuquerque, according to the motion.

    A third-party investigator retained by Warner Bros., however, found no evidence that Busfield had been alone with the brothers on set or engaged in other inappropriate conduct, according to a statement from the investigator released by Stein, Busfield’s attorney. But the investigator failed to speak with one of the victims and his parents, as well as key witnesses, prosecutors allege in the motion.

    Warner Bros. Television said in a statement that it takes all misconduct allegations seriously and has cooperated with law enforcement by expediting the sharing of the report by its third-party investigator, which it could have withheld as privileged. The studio has a clear non-retaliation policy to ensure employees feel comfortable reporting concerns, the statement said. “Our top priority is the health and safety of our cast and crew across all productions,” it said.

    Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, was also accused of battery in March 2012 by a 28-year-old woman who said he sexually assaulted her in a Los Angeles movie theater, but prosecutors declined to file charges due to “slim evidence,” according to the motion for pretrial detention.

    The hearing on the motion, during which a judge will decide whether Busfield remains in jail, will be scheduled in 2nd Judicial District Court in Albuquerque within the next five business days, said Camille Cordova, a public information officer for the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

    Before he surrendered, Busfield recorded a video at his attorney’s office in which he denied the allegations. “I’m gonna confront these lies,” he said in the video published by TMZ, “they’re horrible.”

    Prosecutors called the move “troubling” and said it demonstrated “a willingness to prioritize personal narrative control and public relations” over complying with court processes.

    Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.

    Alex Wigglesworth

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  • Actor T.K. Carter dies at 69

    Veteran comedian, actor and Southern California native T.K. Carter has died. He was 69.

    Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived at the actor’s Duarte home Friday evening after receiving a call about an unresponsive male, the Associated Press reported. He was declared dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected, though officials have not yet released a cause of death.

    Born Thomas Kent Carter in New York City, Carter was raised in the San Gabriel Valley, according to IMDb.

    After several small roles in 1970s sitcoms, including “Good Times,” “The Waltons” and “The Jeffersons,” he found his breakthrough role in the 1982 horror movie “The Thing” as the chef Nauls.

    He went on to play teacher Mike Fulton in “Punky Brewster” and Clarence Hull in “The Sinbad Show,” among a host of other film and television credits through the 1980s and ‘90s.

    In later decades of his career, he took on consulting roles in addition to on-screen appearances.

    He worked with Chris Tucker as a dialect coach on the 1998 film “Rush Hour,” and was brought on to the set of the 1996 movie “Space Jam” to help the film’s star, Michael Jordan, learn lines and feel more comfortable in front of the camera.

    “T.K. was a terrific actor, and I wanted him to help Michael with his dialogue,” director Joe Pytka told The Times in 2020.

    While Carter was best known for his comedic work, describing himself in his Instagram bio as a writer and performer “born to act and make you laugh,” he also took on more serious roles.

    He starred in the 2000 HBO miniseries “The Corner,” a drama in which he played Gary McCullough, a west Baltimore father struggling with addiction.

    “I just totally felt for Gary,” Carter told The Times. “I’ve had drug problems and cocaine addiction. I lost my father to a drug-related death. I’ve lost a lot of friends. I was fortunate to come out on the other side and get my life together. But I haven’t forgotten. I kept Gary with me all the time. I slept Gary. I breathed Gary.”

    As news of the actor’s passing spread, friends and colleagues took to social media with tributes.

    “As a young kid, I looked up to T. K. because seeing an African American actor starring in a major film meant a lot to me. I always felt he was headed for stardom,” entrepreneur Shavar Ross posted on X. “I want to send my heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and everyone who loved and admired his work. He will always be remembered and respected.”

    Corinne Purtill

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  • South Korean movie star Ahn Sung-ki dies at 74

    Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korean cinema’s biggest stars whose prolific 60-year career and positive, gentle public image earned him the nickname “The Nation’s Actor,” died Monday. He was 74.The death of Ahn, who had been had blood cancer for years, was announced by his agency, the Artist Company, and the Seoul-based Soonchunhyang University Hospital.”We feel deep sorrow at the sudden, sad news, pray for the eternal rest of the deceased and offer our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family members,” the Artist Company said in a statement. Born to a filmmaker in the southeastern city of Daegu in 1952, Ahn made his debut as a child actor in the movie “The Twilight Train” in 1957. He subsequently appeared in about 70 movies as a child actor before he left the film industry to live an ordinary life. In 1970, Ahn entered Seoul’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies as a Vietnamese major. Ahn said he graduated with top honors but failed to land jobs at big companies, who likely saw his Vietnamese major largely useless after a communist victory in the Vietnam War in 1975.After spending a few years unemployed, Ahn returned to the film industry in 1977 believing he could still excel in acting. In 1980, he rose to fame for his lead role in Lee Jang-ho’s “Good, Windy Days,” a hit coming-of-age movie about the struggle of working-class men from rural areas during the country’s rapid rise. Ahn won the best new actor award in the prestigious Grand Bell Awards, the Korean version of the Academy Awards.He later starred in a series of highly successful and critically acclaimed movies, sweeping best actor awards and becoming arguably the country’s most popular actor in much of the 1980-90s.Some of his memorable roles included a Buddhist monk in 1981’s “Mandara,” a beggar in 1984’s “Whale Hunting,” a Vietnam War veteran-turned-novelist in 1992’s “White Badge,” a corrupt police officer in 1993’s “Two Cops,” a murderer in 1999’s “No Where To Hide,” a special forces trainer in 2003’s “Silmido” and a devoted celebrity manager in 2006’s “Radio Star.”Ahn had collected dozens of trophies in major movie awards in South Korea, including winning the Grand Bell Awards for best actor five times, an achievement no other South Korean actors have matched yet. Ahn built up an image as a humble, trustworthy and family-oriented celebrity who avoided major scandals and maintained a quiet, stable personal life. Past public surveys chose Ahn as South Korea’s most beloved actor and deserving of the nickname “The Nation’s Actor.” Ahn said he earlier felt confined with his “The Nation’s Actor” labeling but eventually thought that led him down the right path. In recent years, local media has given other stars similar honorable nicknames, but Ahn was apparently the first South Korean actor who was dubbed as “The Nation’s Actor.” “I felt I should do something that could match that title. But I think that has eventually guided me on a good direction,” Ahn said in an interview with Yonhap news agency in 2023.In media interviews, Ahn couldn’t choose what his favorite movie was, but said that his role as a dedicated, hardworking manger for a washed-up rock singer played by Park Jung-hoon resembled himself in real life the most. Ahn was also known for his reluctance to do love scenes. He said said he was too shy to act romantic scenes and sometimes asked directors to skip steamy scenes if they were only meant to add spice to movies.”I don’t do well on acting like looking at someone who I don’t love with loving eyes and kissing really romantically. I feel shy and can’t express such emotions well,” Ahn said in an interview with the Shindonga magazine in 2007. “Simply, I’m clumsy on that. So I couldn’t star in such movies a lot. But ultimately, that was a right choice for me.”Ahn is survived by his wife and their two sons. A mourning station at a Seoul hospital was to run until Friday.

    SEOUL, South Korea —

    Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korean cinema’s biggest stars whose prolific 60-year career and positive, gentle public image earned him the nickname “The Nation’s Actor,” died Monday. He was 74.

    The death of Ahn, who had been had blood cancer for years, was announced by his agency, the Artist Company, and the Seoul-based Soonchunhyang University Hospital.

    “We feel deep sorrow at the sudden, sad news, pray for the eternal rest of the deceased and offer our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family members,” the Artist Company said in a statement.

    Born to a filmmaker in the southeastern city of Daegu in 1952, Ahn made his debut as a child actor in the movie “The Twilight Train” in 1957. He subsequently appeared in about 70 movies as a child actor before he left the film industry to live an ordinary life.

    In 1970, Ahn entered Seoul’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies as a Vietnamese major. Ahn said he graduated with top honors but failed to land jobs at big companies, who likely saw his Vietnamese major largely useless after a communist victory in the Vietnam War in 1975.

    After spending a few years unemployed, Ahn returned to the film industry in 1977 believing he could still excel in acting. In 1980, he rose to fame for his lead role in Lee Jang-ho’s “Good, Windy Days,” a hit coming-of-age movie about the struggle of working-class men from rural areas during the country’s rapid rise. Ahn won the best new actor award in the prestigious Grand Bell Awards, the Korean version of the Academy Awards.

    He later starred in a series of highly successful and critically acclaimed movies, sweeping best actor awards and becoming arguably the country’s most popular actor in much of the 1980-90s.

    Some of his memorable roles included a Buddhist monk in 1981’s “Mandara,” a beggar in 1984’s “Whale Hunting,” a Vietnam War veteran-turned-novelist in 1992’s “White Badge,” a corrupt police officer in 1993’s “Two Cops,” a murderer in 1999’s “No Where To Hide,” a special forces trainer in 2003’s “Silmido” and a devoted celebrity manager in 2006’s “Radio Star.”

    KIN CHEUNG

    FILE – South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki attends an event as part of the 11th Pusan International Film Festival in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 13, 2006.

    Ahn had collected dozens of trophies in major movie awards in South Korea, including winning the Grand Bell Awards for best actor five times, an achievement no other South Korean actors have matched yet.

    Ahn built up an image as a humble, trustworthy and family-oriented celebrity who avoided major scandals and maintained a quiet, stable personal life. Past public surveys chose Ahn as South Korea’s most beloved actor and deserving of the nickname “The Nation’s Actor.”

    Ahn said he earlier felt confined with his “The Nation’s Actor” labeling but eventually thought that led him down the right path. In recent years, local media has given other stars similar honorable nicknames, but Ahn was apparently the first South Korean actor who was dubbed as “The Nation’s Actor.”

    “I felt I should do something that could match that title. But I think that has eventually guided me on a good direction,” Ahn said in an interview with Yonhap news agency in 2023.

    In media interviews, Ahn couldn’t choose what his favorite movie was, but said that his role as a dedicated, hardworking manger for a washed-up rock singer played by Park Jung-hoon resembled himself in real life the most.

    Ahn was also known for his reluctance to do love scenes. He said said he was too shy to act romantic scenes and sometimes asked directors to skip steamy scenes if they were only meant to add spice to movies.

    “I don’t do well on acting like looking at someone who I don’t love with loving eyes and kissing really romantically. I feel shy and can’t express such emotions well,” Ahn said in an interview with the Shindonga magazine in 2007. “Simply, I’m clumsy on that. So I couldn’t star in such movies a lot. But ultimately, that was a right choice for me.”

    Ahn is survived by his wife and their two sons. A mourning station at a Seoul hospital was to run until Friday.

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  • 2026 PREVIEW: These are the rising New York stars of stage and screen to watch this new year – amNewYork

    As New York City continues its relentless march of cultural innovation, a new wave of artists, comedians, and performers is set to emerge in 2026.

    From budding comedians to established visual artists, these are the creatives and projects New Yorkers should keep on their radar this year. 

    A 2026 preview

    Corey Bonalewicz

    Corey Bonalewicz, known by his stage name, Corey B., stands out by crafting comedy that he says resonates with the modern New Yorker’s fast-paced, skeptical and discerning sensibility. His humor often reflects the chaos of urban life—family, relationships, parenting—and the authenticity that New Yorkers crave.

    “I bridge the gap between digital and live comedy in a way that feels seamless and intentional. I didn’t just “go viral”—I built a community,” he told amNewYork. “I’m a storyteller first, a comedian second, and a performer always—whether I’m on a stage in NYC or reaching millions on their phones.”

    Bonalewicz is known for seamlessly bridging the gap between digital virality and live performance. His social media presence is built on storytelling grounded in truth, timing and perspective. Corey emphasizes community-building throughout his work, ensuring his comedy isn’t just fleeting but enduring.

    “My comedy and energy blends observational humor with real-life storytelling that reflects modern New York: family, relationships, parenting, life and the chaos that comes with all of it. New Yorkers don’t need more noise—they want authenticity, and that’s what I bring every time,” he said. 

    The new year promises a substantial year for Corey as he continues touring nationally, expanding his NYC stand-up shows and developing longer-form projects, including stand-up specials and scripted comedy. His goal is to craft work that outlasts fleeting trends, resonating with audiences in the long term.

    “The end goal isn’t just to be successful—it’s to create comedy that has longevity, evolve into film and television, and build something meaningful that outlives algorithms,” he said. 

    Casey Balsham 

    woman with long hair and a beige shirt

    Casey Balsham’s sharp wit and relatable humor about womanhood, parenthood and the messiness of life make her a must-watch in 2026. Her viral joke “Childbirth = Women’s Super Bowl” has over 10 million views, making her a voice for millennial women navigating the chaos.

    Balsham unapologetically champions the female experience. Her honesty and humor create a space where women—and anyone who relates—feel seen and heard.

    “I want to scream about the things women go through and what it feels like right now to be a woman.  I want to be the voice of the millennial girlie. The 40-something who has no savings account, smokes the occasional cigarette, and doesn’t quite have it figured out yet. I want to be a beacon of light to the messy mommies who definitely allow screen time and sugar and are too tired to gentle parent,” Balsham told amNewYork. “I will stand out to them because I am them and them is me.”

    Her stand-up offers laughs and healing, often drawing from her own IVF journey, which she explores in her solo show *Inconceivable* which will hit City Winery in March.

    Casey’s path to comedy was unconventional—she admits she got into stand-up after a night of cheap wine and a dare in college. Her goal? To keep doing what she loves, making enough money to enjoy good wine and gigs on her terms. 

    Annabelle Dinda

    Annabelle Dinda is a singer-songwriter based in New York whose catchy, emotionally honest songs have taken TikTok by storm. Her viral hit “The Hand” captured millions of viewers and established her as a fresh voice in the music scene. Dinda’s music combines vulnerable lyrics with good melodies, making her a favorite among Gen Z audiences.

    Dinda’s ability to craft relatable, heartfelt songs that resonate with younger audiences has already gained her a dedicated fanbase. As she continues to develop her sound and release new material, her influence is makes her one of the city’s most promising emerging artists. In 2026, look out for more of Dinda’s work, which promises to showcase her evolving artistry beyond TikTok clips.

    TaTa Sherise

    woman with dark hair and multi-colored shirt

    TaTa Sherise’s raw, high-energy comedy reflects her lived experience as a Black woman navigating life in New York. Sherise’s comedy is rooted in her authenticity.

    Her physicality and theatricality, combined with her ability to tackle uncomfortable truths humorously, make her performances unforgettable. She’s known for her role as the first Black woman to win Philly’s Phunniest and her appearances on “The Drew Barrymore Show” and Facebook’s “Mastery of Comedy.”

    “I bring heart, resilience, and humor shaped by real life. My storytelling cuts across cultures and backgrounds, and my comedy finds common ground in a city where everyone comes from somewhere else,” she said. “I tell stories people recognize themselves in. If I can make New Yorkers laugh, I can make anyone laugh.” 

    Sherise announces she’ll be filming new roles in 2026, including a lead in an independent film and a project debuting on Netflix. She’s also launching digital series like “Big Girl Small World”, documenting her weight loss journey with humor. 

    “I say the things people are thinking, including the uncomfortable things, with intention and a touch of shock value—without alienating the room. No group is off-limits, but my comedy brings people together rather than pushing them apart,” she told amNewYork. 

    Though her comedy was born from personal hardship — loss, heartbreak, and resilience — Sherise aims to become a household name, creating work that not only makes people laugh but also helps them see their own strength reflected on stage.

     Stephen Brower 

    smiling man wearing a blue shirt

    Stephen Brower’s versatility as a Broadway actor and comedian makes him a true Renaissance figure. His recent appearance in “Lempicka” and starring roles in touring productions showcase his range and his social media presence, with over 400K followers, amplifies his influence.

    Brower’s background in musical theater combined with his stand-up comedy creates a unique blend of performance styles. His online content is sharp, funny, and relatable, making him a multi-platform star.

    This year, Stephen will star in more stage productions and expand his digital footprint with new comedy videos and sketches.

    Walter Masterson

    man wearing glasses and a suit

    Walter Masterson’s satirical man-on-the-street interviews and viral videos have made him an influential voice in political satire and social commentary. His appearances at SXSW and features in The Wall Street Journal underscore his relevance. His fearless approach—questioning power and exposing truths—resonates in a city like New York, where satire is part of the fabric of political discourse.

    Alaire Thomas

    woman wearing white shirt

    With over 2 million followers across platforms, Alaire Thomas’ comedic insights into her life, relationships, and social observations make her a rising star in the NYC scene.

    “I bring people into my world through my stories, making them feel like they’re living the moment with me,” they told amNewYork. “I’m not just delivering jokes, I’m performing experiences, full of personality and movement, so audiences connect emotionally as well as laugh. My enthusiasm is contagious, and I use it to turn everyday observations into something relatable, memorable, and fun.”

    Her debut comedy tour is highly anticipated, and her relatable, heartfelt humor promises to connect with diverse audiences.

    ‘Proof’ with Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle

    Broadway’s “Proof” is making a triumphant return with a fresh cast led by Emmy Winner Ayo Edebiri and Golden Globe Winner Don Cheadle. Directed by Tony winner Thomas Kail, this revival reimagines the Pulitzer-winning story of brilliance, inheritance, and self-discovery. Edebiri’s portrayal of Catherine, the brilliant daughter of a mathematician, explores the weight of legacy and the struggle for independence, while Cheadle’s role as her father adds depth and gravitas. The show has garnered rave reviews for its emotional power and stellar performances. It’s poised to be a highlight of the theater season.

    Jada Camille

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  • Mohammad Bakri, renowned and controversial Palestinian actor and filmmaker, dies at 72

    Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian director and actor who sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew, has died, his family announced. He was 72.Related video above: Remembering those we lost in 2025Bakri was best known for “Jenin, Jenin,” a 2003 documentary he directed about an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city the previous year during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. The film, focusing on the heavy destruction and heartbreak of its Palestinian residents, was banned by Israel.Bakri also acted in the 2025 film “All That’s Left of You,” a drama about a Palestinian family over more than 76 years, alongside his sons, Adam and Saleh Bakri, who are also actors. The film has been shortlisted by the Academy Awards for the best international feature film.Over the years, he made several films that spanned the spectrum of Palestinian experiences. He also acted in Hebrew, including at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv, and appeared in a number of famous Israeli films in the 1980s and 1990s. He studied at Tel Aviv University.Bakri, who was born in northern Israel and held Israeli citizenship, dabbled in both film and theater. His best-known one-man show from 1986, “The Pessoptimist,” based on the writings of Palestinian author Emile Habiby, focused on the intricacies and emotions of someone who has both Israeli and Palestinian identities.During the 1980s, Bakri played characters in mainstream Israeli films that humanized the Palestinian identity, including “Beyond the Walls,” a seminal film about incarcerated Israelis and Palestinians, said Raya Morag, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who specializes in cinema and trauma.“He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, and allowing someone Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society,” she said.“He was a very brave person, and he was brave by standing to his ideals, choosing not to be conformist in any way, and paying the price in both societies,” said Morag.Bakri faced some pushback within Palestinian society for his cooperation with Israelis. After “Jenin, Jenin,” he was plagued by almost two decades of court cases in Israel, where the film was seen as unbalanced and inciting.In 2022, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a ban on the documentary, saying it defamed Israeli soldiers, and ordered Bakri to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to an Israeli military officer for defamation.“Jenin, Jenin” was a turning point in Bakri’s career. In Israel, he became a polarizing figure, and he never worked with mainstream Israeli cinema again, Morag said. “He was loyal to himself despite all the pressures from inside and outside,” she added. “He was a firm voice that did not change during the years.”Local media quoted Bakri’s family as saying he died Wednesday after suffering from heart and lung problems. His cousin, Rafic, told the Arabic news site Al-Jarmaq that Bakri was a tenacious advocate of the Palestinians who used his works to express support for his people.“I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” he said, using Mohammad Bakri’s nickname.___AP correspondent Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

    TEL AVIV, Israel —

    Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian director and actor who sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew, has died, his family announced. He was 72.

    Related video above: Remembering those we lost in 2025

    Bakri was best known for “Jenin, Jenin,” a 2003 documentary he directed about an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city the previous year during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. The film, focusing on the heavy destruction and heartbreak of its Palestinian residents, was banned by Israel.

    Bakri also acted in the 2025 film “All That’s Left of You,” a drama about a Palestinian family over more than 76 years, alongside his sons, Adam and Saleh Bakri, who are also actors. The film has been shortlisted by the Academy Awards for the best international feature film.

    Over the years, he made several films that spanned the spectrum of Palestinian experiences. He also acted in Hebrew, including at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv, and appeared in a number of famous Israeli films in the 1980s and 1990s. He studied at Tel Aviv University.

    Bakri, who was born in northern Israel and held Israeli citizenship, dabbled in both film and theater. His best-known one-man show from 1986, “The Pessoptimist,” based on the writings of Palestinian author Emile Habiby, focused on the intricacies and emotions of someone who has both Israeli and Palestinian identities.

    During the 1980s, Bakri played characters in mainstream Israeli films that humanized the Palestinian identity, including “Beyond the Walls,” a seminal film about incarcerated Israelis and Palestinians, said Raya Morag, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who specializes in cinema and trauma.

    “He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, and allowing someone Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society,” she said.

    “He was a very brave person, and he was brave by standing to his ideals, choosing not to be conformist in any way, and paying the price in both societies,” said Morag.

    Bakri faced some pushback within Palestinian society for his cooperation with Israelis. After “Jenin, Jenin,” he was plagued by almost two decades of court cases in Israel, where the film was seen as unbalanced and inciting.

    In 2022, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a ban on the documentary, saying it defamed Israeli soldiers, and ordered Bakri to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to an Israeli military officer for defamation.

    “Jenin, Jenin” was a turning point in Bakri’s career. In Israel, he became a polarizing figure, and he never worked with mainstream Israeli cinema again, Morag said. “He was loyal to himself despite all the pressures from inside and outside,” she added. “He was a firm voice that did not change during the years.”

    Local media quoted Bakri’s family as saying he died Wednesday after suffering from heart and lung problems. His cousin, Rafic, told the Arabic news site Al-Jarmaq that Bakri was a tenacious advocate of the Palestinians who used his works to express support for his people.

    “I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” he said, using Mohammad Bakri’s nickname.

    ___

    AP correspondent Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

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  • Ronald Reagan biographer, legendary California journalist Lou Cannon dies

    For the record:

    2:49 p.m. Dec. 20, 2025An earlier version of this story included a photo caption that identified journalist Sander Vanocur as Lou Cannon.

    Journalist and author Lou Cannon, who was widely considered the nation’s leading authority on the life and career of President Reagan, died Friday in a Santa Barbara hospice. He was 92.

    His death was caused by complications from a stroke, his son Carl M. Cannon told the Washington Post, where his father served for years as a White House correspondent.

    The elder Cannon covered Reagan’s two-term presidency in the 1980s, but his relationship with the enigmatic Republican leader went back to the 1960s, when Reagan moved from acting to politics.

    Cannon interviewed Reagan more than 50 times and wrote five books about him, but still struggled to understand what made Reagan who he was.

    “The more I wrote,” Cannon told the Reno Gazette-Journal in 2001, “the more I felt I didn’t know.”

    Cannon was born in New York City and raised in Reno, Nev., where he attended the University of Nevada in Reno and later San Francisco State College.

    After service in the U.S. Army, he became a reporter covering Reagan’s first years as governor of California for the San Jose Mercury News. In 1972, Cannon began working for the Washington Post as a political reporter.

    Cannon recalled first encountering Reagan in 1965 while assigned to cover a lunch event for reporters and lobbyists and being surprised by Reagan’s command of the room when he spoke.

    Reagan was beginning his campaign for governor by proving he could answer questions and “was not just an actor reading a script.” At the time, the word actor was “a synonym for airhead. Well, Reagan was no airhead,” Cannon said in a 2008 interview at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum.

    To Cannon’s surprise, the reporters and lobbyists mobbed Reagan after the event was over to get his autograph. Cannon introduced himself.

    “I remember those steely eyes of his. I thought he had this great face, but his eyes are tough,” Cannon said. “His eyes are really something.”

    On the phone later, Cannon’s editor asked him what he thought of Reagan. He replied, “I don’t know anything, but if I were running this thing, why would anybody want to run against somebody that everybody knows and everybody likes? Why would you want him to be your opponent?

    “I predicted that Reagan was going to be president, but I didn’t have any idea he was going to be governor,” Cannon said. “I was just so struck by the fact that he impacted on people as, not like he was a politician, but like he was this celebrity, force of nature that people wanted to rub up against. It was like seeing Kennedy again. They wanted the aura, the sun.”

    In 1966, Reagan was elected governor by a margin of nearly 1 million votes and Cannon found himself “writing about Ronald Reagan every day.”

    Reagan’s political opponents in California and Washington consistently underestimated him, assuming the former actor could be easily beaten at the ballot box, Cannon said. Reagan ran for president unsuccessfully twice, but had the will to keep trying until he won — twice.

    “Reagan was tough, and he was determined, and you couldn’t talk him out of doing what he wanted to do,” Cannon said. “Nancy couldn’t talk him out of what he wanted to do, for god’s sakes. And certainly no advisor could or no other candidate. Ronald Reagan wanted to be president of the United States.”

    Cannon’s first book on the president, “Reagan,” was published in 1982. In 1991 he published “President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime,” which is regarded as a comprehensive biography of the 40th president.

    Cannon also authored a book about the LAPD and the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, in addition to chronicling a range of tales over the years, including the federal bust of a 1970s heroin kingpin in Las Vegas.

    Mr. Cannon’s first marriage, to Virginia Oprian, who helped him research his early books, ended in divorce. In 1985, he wed Mary Shinkwin, the Washington Post said. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children.

    Roger Vincent

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  • Peter Greene, character actor known for role as the iconic villain in ‘Pulp Fiction,’ has died

    Peter Greene, character actor known for role as the iconic villain in ‘Pulp Fiction,’ has died

    Updated: 9:38 AM EST Dec 13, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Peter Greene, a character actor best known for his role as the iconic villain Zed in “Pulp Fiction,” has died. He was 60.He died in his home in New York City, his manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed on Friday. His cause of death was not immediately released.”He was just a terrific guy,” said Edwards. “Arguably one of the greatest character actors on the planet; Has worked with everybody.”Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene landed some of his first leading roles in “Laws of Gravity” in 1992 and “Clean, Shaven” in 1993, according to IMDb.In 1994, he played the memorable villain in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” That same year, he played another leading villain opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in “The Mask.”Greene was working on two projects when he died, including a documentary about the federal government’s withdrawal of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Edwards.”We’ve been friends for over a decade,” said Edwards. “Just the nicest man.”

    NEW YORK —

    Peter Greene, a character actor best known for his role as the iconic villain Zed in “Pulp Fiction,” has died. He was 60.

    He died in his home in New York City, his manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed on Friday. His cause of death was not immediately released.

    “He was just a terrific guy,” said Edwards. “Arguably one of the greatest character actors on the planet; Has worked with everybody.”

    Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene landed some of his first leading roles in “Laws of Gravity” in 1992 and “Clean, Shaven” in 1993, according to IMDb.

    In 1994, he played the memorable villain in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” That same year, he played another leading villain opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in “The Mask.”

    Greene was working on two projects when he died, including a documentary about the federal government’s withdrawal of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Edwards.

    “We’ve been friends for over a decade,” said Edwards. “Just the nicest man.”

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  • One Lesson in Leadership from Robert Redford

    As an Academy Award winning director, actor, producer, and the founder of Sundance Film Festival, the late Robert Redford, 89, was undoubtedly an impressive individual. But what made him a great leader was his “generosity to incubating new talent,” according to Michelle Satter, the founding senior director of Artist Programs at the Sundance Institute, who worked with Redford for 44 years.

    Satter penned a homage to Redford’s leadership style in TIME Magazine, where she noted that despite his many talents, Redford was very “humble” and a “good listener.” At the beginning of their professional relationship, Satter admitted she struggled with being in the presence of someone so accomplished.

    “It felt like the most important person in the world was sitting next to me,” Satter wrote. “I would often wonder to myself, how could I just be me, authentically, around someone of that stature? But Bob was uniquely humble. I quickly discovered that he only wanted us to be ourselves, and be completely present.”

    Evidently, Redford was aware of how nervous he made aspiring filmmakers, and other types of professionals trying to break into Hollywood. So how did he make these folks feel comfortable? He listened, Satter said. Perhaps business leaders can take a page out of Redford’s playbook to build the next generation of talent.

    “Watching him as a creative advisor guiding the emerging filmmakers was truly mesmerizing,” she said. “With an awareness of his own presence, he would intentionally start by listening and inspiring filmmakers to find their voice, their stories, and the confidence and skills they needed as directors and writers.”

    Kayla Webster

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  • Kurt Russell’s Most Memorable Movie Roles from Iconic to Underrated

    He’s easily one of the most prolific actors of our time, and the guy has never even been nominated for an Academy Award. He’s worked with directors including Quentin Tarantino, John Carpenter, Cameron Crowe, and Ron Howard.

    He’s a living legend and a master of his craft, and it’s time for us to give Kurt Russell his flowers.

    Kurt’s body of work spans six decades and multiple genres of film. He’s starred in some of the biggest action movies including Escape from New York and Big Trouble in Little China. He also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Peter Quill’s father Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. It’s safe to say there’s truly nothing he can’t do.

    Zach

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  • Stampede at a political rally for popular actor Vijay in southern India kills 36, injures 40

    A stampede at a rally for a popular Indian actor and politician in the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others, the state’s health minister said late Saturday.Related video above: US tariffs on Indian imports doubled in August, impacting businesses and consumersMa Subramanian told The Associated Press that the victims were dead by the time they were taken to a hospital and that the injured were stable. The dead included eight children, Subramanian said.The rally, which officials say was attended by tens of thousands of people, was being addressed by Vijay, one of Tamil Nadu’s most successful actors-turned-politicians in the district of Karur.Indian media reports, quoting local officials, said that as Vijay spoke to the surging crowd, a group of his supporters and fans fell while trying to get close to his bus, causing the stampede. Supporters had gathered at the political rally amid intensely hot temperatures and Vijay arrived hours late, officials said.”There was indiscipline” at the rally, Subramanian said, adding that an investigation had been ordered.Quoting officials, the Press Trust of India news agency reported that at least 30 people fainted while Vijay was addressing the rally from atop his campaign vehicle and were rushed in ambulances to area hospitals. He halted his speech mid-way when workers raised alarm after noticing that people were fainting and falling, it said, adding that as they were removed to hospitals, Vijay continued his speech.However, he ended his speech shortly after sensing an abnormal situation in a section of the huge gathering, the news agency said.Hours after the accident, Vijay offered his condolences.”My heart is shattered,” he posted on X. “I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.”Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “unfortunate incident” was “deeply saddening.””My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured,” he said on social media.In southern Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu, some film stars have larger-than-life status, rooted in the ancient Tamil culture of hero worship and image worship. Many have become politicians, and some have even been given divine status.In 2024, Vijay retired from acting and launched his own political party. It was unclear whether he plans to run for office in Tamil Nadu state.Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.

    NEW DELHI (AP) —

    A stampede at a rally for a popular Indian actor and politician in the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others, the state’s health minister said late Saturday.

    Related video above: US tariffs on Indian imports doubled in August, impacting businesses and consumers

    Ma Subramanian told The Associated Press that the victims were dead by the time they were taken to a hospital and that the injured were stable. The dead included eight children, Subramanian said.

    The rally, which officials say was attended by tens of thousands of people, was being addressed by Vijay, one of Tamil Nadu’s most successful actors-turned-politicians in the district of Karur.

    Indian media reports, quoting local officials, said that as Vijay spoke to the surging crowd, a group of his supporters and fans fell while trying to get close to his bus, causing the stampede. Supporters had gathered at the political rally amid intensely hot temperatures and Vijay arrived hours late, officials said.

    “There was indiscipline” at the rally, Subramanian said, adding that an investigation had been ordered.

    Quoting officials, the Press Trust of India news agency reported that at least 30 people fainted while Vijay was addressing the rally from atop his campaign vehicle and were rushed in ambulances to area hospitals. He halted his speech mid-way when workers raised alarm after noticing that people were fainting and falling, it said, adding that as they were removed to hospitals, Vijay continued his speech.

    However, he ended his speech shortly after sensing an abnormal situation in a section of the huge gathering, the news agency said.

    Hours after the accident, Vijay offered his condolences.

    “My heart is shattered,” he posted on X. “I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.”

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “unfortunate incident” was “deeply saddening.”

    “My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured,” he said on social media.

    In southern Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu, some film stars have larger-than-life status, rooted in the ancient Tamil culture of hero worship and image worship. Many have become politicians, and some have even been given divine status.

    In 2024, Vijay retired from acting and launched his own political party. It was unclear whether he plans to run for office in Tamil Nadu state.

    Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.

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  • Oscar-Winning Actor and Director Robert Redford Dead at 89 – KXL


    Acquired Through MGN Online on 01/17/2024

    PROVO, Utah (AP) – Robert Redford, the Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters, died Tuesday at 89.

    Redford died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved,” publicist Cindi Berger said in a statement. No cause of death was provided.

    After rising to stardom in the 1960s, Redford was one of the biggest stars of the ’70s with such films as “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men” and “The Way We Were,” capping that decade with the best director Oscar for 1980’s “Ordinary People,” which also won best picture in 1980. His wavy blond hair and boyish grin made him the most desired of leading men, but he worked hard to transcend his looks — whether through his political advocacy, his willingness to take on unglamorous roles or his dedication to providing a platform for low-budget movies.

    His roles ranged from Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward to a mountain man in “Jeremiah Johnson” to a double agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and his co-stars included Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. But his most famous screen partner was his old friend and fellow activist and practical joker Paul Newman, their films a variation of their warm, teasing relationship off screen. Redford played the wily outlaw opposite Newman in 1969’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” a box-office smash from which Redford’s Sundance Institute and festival got its name. He also teamed with Newman on 1973’s best picture Oscar winner, “The Sting,” which earned Redford a best-actor nomination as a young con artist in 1930s Chicago.

    Film roles after the ’70s became more sporadic as Redford concentrated on directing and producing, and his new role as patriarch of the independent-film movement in the 1980s and ’90s through his Sundance Institute. But he starred in 1985’s best picture champion “Out of Africa” and in 2013 received some of the best reviews of his career as a shipwrecked sailor in “All is Lost,” in which he was the film’s only performer. In 2018, he was praised again in what he called his farewell movie, “The Old Man and the Gun.”

    “I just figure that I’ve had a long career that I’m very pleased with. It’s been so long, ever since I was 21,” he told The Associated Press shortly before the film came out. “I figure now as I’m getting into my 80s, it’s maybe time to move toward retirement and spend more time with my wife and family.”

    More about:


    Noah Friedman

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  • 2025 Emmy Awards: See the full list of winners

    Discover the full list of Emmy 2025 winners, highlighting outstanding achievements in drama, comedy, limited series, reality, and talk shows. See below for a full list of nominees, with the winners in bold.Outstanding lead actor in a drama seriesSterling K. Brown, “Paradise”Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”Adam Scott, “Severance”Noah Wyle, “The Pitt”Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”Outstanding comedy series”Abbott Elementary””The Bear””Hacks””Nobody Wants This””Only Murders in the Building””Shrinking””The Studio””What We Do in the Shadows”Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or TV movieColin Farrell, “The Penguin”Stephen Graham, “Adolescence”Jake Gyllenhaal, “Presumed Innocent”Bryan Tyree Henry, “Dope Thief”Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”Outstanding talk series”Jimmy Kimmel Live!””The Daily Show””The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or TV movieCate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”Meghann Fahy, “Sirens”Rashia Jones, “Black Mirror”Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin”Michelle Williams, “Dying for Sex” Outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or TV movieErin Doherty, “Adolescence”Ruth Negga, “Presumed Innocent”Deirdre O’Connell, “The Penguin”Chloë Sevigny, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”Jenny Slate, “Dying for Sex”Christine Tremarco, “Adolescence”Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or TV movieJavier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”Bill Camp, “Presumed Innocent”Owen Cooper, “Adolescence”Rob Delaney, “Dying for Sex”Peter Sarsgaard, “Presumed Innocent”Ashley Walters, “Adolescent”Outstanding reality/competition series”The Traitors””RuPaul’s Drag Race””The Amazing Race””Survivor””Top Chef”Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy seriesIke Barinholtz, “The Sudio”Colman Domingo, “The Four Seasons”Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”Jeff Hiller, “Somebody Somewhere”Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”Michael Urie, “Shrinking”Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy seriesLiza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”Kathryn Hahn, “The Studio”Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”Catherine O’Hara, “The Studio”Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”Outstanding lead actress in a drama seriesKathy Bates, “Matlock”Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”Britt Lower, “Severance “Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”Outstanding supporting actor in a drama seriesZach Cherry, “Severance”Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus”Jason Isaacs, “The White Lotus”James Marsden, “Paradise”Sam Rockwell, “The White Lotus”Tramell Tillman, “Severance”John Turturro, “Severance”Outstanding supporting actress in a drama seriesPatricia Arquette, “Severance”Carrie Coon, “The White Lotus”Katherine LaNasa, “The Pitt”Julianne Nicholson, “Paradise”Parker Posey, “The White Lotus”Natasha Rothwell, “The White Lotus”Aimee Lou Wood, “The White Lotus”Outstanding lead actress in a comedy seriesUzo Aduba, “The Residence”Kristin Bell, “Nobody Wants This”Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”Jean Smart, “Hacks”Outstanding lead actor in a comedy seriesAdam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”Seth Rogen, “The Studio”Jason Segel, “Shrinking”Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”Outstanding drama series“Andor”“The Diplomat”“The Last of Us”“Paradise”“The Pitt”“Severance”“Slow Horses”“The White Lotus”Outstanding limited series”Adolescence””Black Mirror””Dying for Sex””Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story””The Penguin”

    Discover the full list of Emmy 2025 winners, highlighting outstanding achievements in drama, comedy, limited series, reality, and talk shows.

    See below for a full list of nominees, with the winners in bold.

    Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

    Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”

    Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”

    Adam Scott, “Severance”

    Noah Wyle, “The Pitt”

    Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”

    Outstanding comedy series

    “Abbott Elementary”

    “The Bear”

    “Hacks”

    “Nobody Wants This”

    “Only Murders in the Building”

    “Shrinking”

    “The Studio”

    “What We Do in the Shadows”

    Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or TV movie

    Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”

    Stephen Graham, “Adolescence”

    Jake Gyllenhaal, “Presumed Innocent”

    Bryan Tyree Henry, “Dope Thief”

    Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

    Outstanding talk series

    “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
    “The Daily Show”
    “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”

    Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or TV movie

    Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”

    Meghann Fahy, “Sirens”

    Rashia Jones, “Black Mirror”

    Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin”

    Michelle Williams, “Dying for Sex”

    Outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or TV movie

    Erin Doherty, “Adolescence”

    Ruth Negga, “Presumed Innocent”

    Deirdre O’Connell, “The Penguin”

    Chloë Sevigny, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

    Jenny Slate, “Dying for Sex”

    Christine Tremarco, “Adolescence”

    Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or TV movie

    Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

    Bill Camp, “Presumed Innocent”

    Owen Cooper, “Adolescence”

    Rob Delaney, “Dying for Sex”

    Peter Sarsgaard, “Presumed Innocent”

    Ashley Walters, “Adolescent”

    Outstanding reality/competition series

    “The Traitors”
    “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
    “The Amazing Race”
    “Survivor”
    “Top Chef”

    Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

    Ike Barinholtz, “The Sudio”

    Colman Domingo, “The Four Seasons”

    Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”

    Jeff Hiller, “Somebody Somewhere”

    Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

    Michael Urie, “Shrinking”

    Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

    Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

    Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”

    Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”

    Kathryn Hahn, “The Studio”

    Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
    Catherine O’Hara, “The Studio”

    Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

    Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”

    Outstanding lead actress in a drama series

    Kathy Bates, “Matlock”

    Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”

    Britt Lower, “Severance “

    Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”

    Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”

    Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

    Zach Cherry, “Severance”

    Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus”

    Jason Isaacs, “The White Lotus”

    James Marsden, “Paradise”

    Sam Rockwell, “The White Lotus”

    Tramell Tillman, “Severance”

    John Turturro, “Severance”

    Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

    Patricia Arquette, “Severance”

    Carrie Coon, “The White Lotus”

    Katherine LaNasa, “The Pitt”

    Julianne Nicholson, “Paradise”

    Parker Posey, “The White Lotus”

    Natasha Rothwell, “The White Lotus”

    Aimee Lou Wood, “The White Lotus”

    Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series

    Uzo Aduba, “The Residence”

    Kristin Bell, “Nobody Wants This”

    Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

    Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

    Jean Smart, “Hacks”

    Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series

    Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”

    Seth Rogen, “The Studio”

    Jason Segel, “Shrinking”

    Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

    Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

    Outstanding drama series

    “Andor”

    “The Diplomat”

    “The Last of Us”

    “Paradise”

    “The Pitt”

    “Severance”

    “Slow Horses”

    “The White Lotus”

    Outstanding limited series

    “Adolescence”

    “Black Mirror”

    “Dying for Sex”

    “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

    “The Penguin”

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  • John Candy Doc Trailer Dropped, and Boy I Think My Allergies Are Kicking In

    Zach

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  • Burglars swipe more than $100,000 in luxury items from Tracee Ellis Ross’ home

    Burglars broke into the Los Angeles home of Tracee Ellis Ross over the weekend, stealing more than $100,000 in luxury items, according to a source close to the actor.

    The burglars broke through a glass door early Sunday and took jewelry and handbags, according to the source.

    Ross, 52, who is known for lead roles in television shows such as “Black-ish” and “Girlfriends,” was out of town at the time of the burglary.

    The Los Angeles Police Department could not immediately provide details on the break-in, but the department told NBC4 that three burglars broke into the home and that staff members reported it to the authorities.

    Police told the station they obtained footage from a home security camera, and that the investigation is ongoing.

    Ross, the daughter of Motown legend Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein, has won nine NAACP Image Awards throughout her acting career, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress: Television Series Musical or Comedy for her role on “Black-ish.”

    The break-in comes three weeks after four people were arrested in a series of burglaries that took place across Los Angeles, some of which targeted celebrities such as Brad Pitt.

    Pitt’s home in Los Feliz was broken into June 25 while the movie star was away promoting his film “F1: The Movie.” Police said three burglars scaled a fence and broke into the actor’s home through a window.

    In July, an intruder attempted to break into the home of Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto while the star pitcher was away with the team playing against the Cincinnati Reds.

    Ruben Vives

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  • ‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor sentenced to 1 year in prison for role in Capitol riot

    ‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor sentenced to 1 year in prison for role in Capitol riot

    An actor known for his roles in the television comedies “Bob’s Burgers” and “Arrested Development” was sentenced on Monday to one year in prison for his part in a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol nearly four years ago.Jay Johnston, 56, of Los Angeles, joined other rioters in a “heave ho” push against police officers guarding a tunnel entrance to the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Johnston also cracked jokes and interacted with other rioters as he used a cellphone to record the violence around him, prosecutors said.Johnston expressed regret that he “made it more difficult for the police to do their job” on Jan. 6. He said he never would have guessed that a riot would erupt that day.”That was because of my own ignorance, I believe,” he told U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. “If I had been more political, I could have seen that coming, perhaps.”The judge, who sentenced Johnston to one year and one day of imprisonment, allowed him to remain free after the hearing and report to prison at a date to be determined. Nichols said he recognizes that Johnston will miss out on caring for his 13-year-old autistic daughter while he is behind bars.”But his conduct on January 6th was quite problematic. Reprehensible, really,” the judge said.Johnston pleaded guilty in July to interfering with police officers during a civil disorder, a felony punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years.Prosecutors recommended an 18-month prison sentence for Johnston. Their sentencing memo includes a photograph of a smiling Johnston dressed as Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying Capitol rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman,” at a Halloween party roughly two years after the siege.”He thinks his participation in one of the most serious crimes against our democracy is a joke,” prosecutors wrote.Johnston played pizzeria owner Jimmy Pesto Sr. in “Bob’s Burgers,” a police officer in “Arrested Development” and a street-brawling newsman in the movie “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” Johnston also appeared on “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” an HBO sketch comedy series that starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross.Johnston, a Chicago native, moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue an acting career. After the riot, Johnston was fired by the creator of “Bob’s Burgers,” lost a role in a movie based on the show and has “essentially been blacklisted” in Hollywood, said defense attorney Stanley Woodward.”Instead, Mr. Johnston has worked as a handyman for the last two years — an obvious far cry from his actual expertise and livelihood in film and television,” Woodward wrote.Woodward accused the government of exaggerating Johnston’s riot participation “because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor.”Johnston attended then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on Jan. 6 before he marched to the Capitol. He used a metal bike rack to scale a stone wall to reach the Capitol’s West Plaza before making his way to the mouth of a tunnel entrance that police were guarding on the Lower West Terrace.”When he was under the archway, he turned and waved to other rioters, beckoning them to join him in fighting the police,” prosecutors wrote.Entering the tunnel, Johnston helped other rioters flush chemical irritants out of their eyes. Another rioter gave him a stolen police shield, which he handed up closer to the police line. Johnston then joined other rioters in a “heave ho” push against police in the tunnel, a collective effort that crushed an officer against a door frame, prosecutors said.Johnston recorded himself cracking a joke as rioters pushed an orange ladder toward police in the tunnel, saying, “We’re going to get those light bulbs fixed!”A day after the riot, in a text message to an acquaintance, Johnston acknowledged being at the Capitol on Jan. 6.”The news has presented it as an attack. It actually wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess,” Johnston wrote.FBI agents seized Johnston’s cellphone when they searched his California home in June 2021.More than 1,500 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Over 1,000 rioters have been convicted and sentenced. Roughly 650 of them received prison time ranging from a few days to 22 years.

    An actor known for his roles in the television comedies “Bob’s Burgers” and “Arrested Development” was sentenced on Monday to one year in prison for his part in a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol nearly four years ago.

    Jay Johnston, 56, of Los Angeles, joined other rioters in a “heave ho” push against police officers guarding a tunnel entrance to the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Johnston also cracked jokes and interacted with other rioters as he used a cellphone to record the violence around him, prosecutors said.

    Johnston expressed regret that he “made it more difficult for the police to do their job” on Jan. 6. He said he never would have guessed that a riot would erupt that day.

    “That was because of my own ignorance, I believe,” he told U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. “If I had been more political, I could have seen that coming, perhaps.”

    The judge, who sentenced Johnston to one year and one day of imprisonment, allowed him to remain free after the hearing and report to prison at a date to be determined. Nichols said he recognizes that Johnston will miss out on caring for his 13-year-old autistic daughter while he is behind bars.

    “But his conduct on January 6th was quite problematic. Reprehensible, really,” the judge said.

    Johnston pleaded guilty in July to interfering with police officers during a civil disorder, a felony punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years.

    Prosecutors recommended an 18-month prison sentence for Johnston. Their sentencing memo includes a photograph of a smiling Johnston dressed as Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying Capitol rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman,” at a Halloween party roughly two years after the siege.

    “He thinks his participation in one of the most serious crimes against our democracy is a joke,” prosecutors wrote.

    Johnston played pizzeria owner Jimmy Pesto Sr. in “Bob’s Burgers,” a police officer in “Arrested Development” and a street-brawling newsman in the movie “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” Johnston also appeared on “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” an HBO sketch comedy series that starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross.

    Johnston, a Chicago native, moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue an acting career. After the riot, Johnston was fired by the creator of “Bob’s Burgers,” lost a role in a movie based on the show and has “essentially been blacklisted” in Hollywood, said defense attorney Stanley Woodward.

    “Instead, Mr. Johnston has worked as a handyman for the last two years — an obvious far cry from his actual expertise and livelihood in film and television,” Woodward wrote.

    Woodward accused the government of exaggerating Johnston’s riot participation “because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor.”

    Johnston attended then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on Jan. 6 before he marched to the Capitol. He used a metal bike rack to scale a stone wall to reach the Capitol’s West Plaza before making his way to the mouth of a tunnel entrance that police were guarding on the Lower West Terrace.

    “When he was under the archway, he turned and waved to other rioters, beckoning them to join him in fighting the police,” prosecutors wrote.

    Entering the tunnel, Johnston helped other rioters flush chemical irritants out of their eyes. Another rioter gave him a stolen police shield, which he handed up closer to the police line. Johnston then joined other rioters in a “heave ho” push against police in the tunnel, a collective effort that crushed an officer against a door frame, prosecutors said.

    Johnston recorded himself cracking a joke as rioters pushed an orange ladder toward police in the tunnel, saying, “We’re going to get those light bulbs fixed!”

    A day after the riot, in a text message to an acquaintance, Johnston acknowledged being at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

    “The news has presented it as an attack. It actually wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess,” Johnston wrote.

    FBI agents seized Johnston’s cellphone when they searched his California home in June 2021.

    More than 1,500 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Over 1,000 rioters have been convicted and sentenced. Roughly 650 of them received prison time ranging from a few days to 22 years.

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  • Doctor who helped supply Matthew Perry with ketamine pleads guilty

    Doctor who helped supply Matthew Perry with ketamine pleads guilty

    One of two doctors charged with supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally distributing the surgical anesthetic.

    Dr. Mark Chavez is among three defendants who signed a plea deal and are facing lesser charges in Perry’s death, which federal prosecutors chalked up to a conspiracy by multiple individuals to provide the actor with the drug.

    The two other defendants who have entered into plea agreements are Perry’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and alleged drug dealer Erik Fleming.

    Two other defendants are not cooperating with prosecutors and face far more serious conspiracy charges.

    Jasveen Sangha, aka the “Ketamine Queen,” presented herself as “a celebrity drug dealer with high quality goods,” according to court documents. She’s accused of supplying Perry’s assistant with ketamine. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, referred to as “Dr. P,” allegedly injected the actor with the drug at his Pacific Palisades home. Both have pleaded not guilty and are set to be tried in March.

    During a brief appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Chavez was asked how he pleaded and replied, “Guilty, your honor.” He is due back for sentencing in April and could face up to 10 years in federal prison. As part of his plea, Chavez agreed to surrender his medical license. He is free on $50,000 bond.

    Perry, 54, was found dead in the hot tub of his Pacific Palisades home on Oct. 28. He died from “acute effects of ketamine,” according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. His death triggered a multiple-agency federal investigation.

    Prosecutors last month revealed charges against what U.S. Atty Martin Estrada dubbed a “broad underground criminal network” that supplied the actor.

    In late September, about a month before Perry’s death, prosecutors allege, Plasencia learned the actor was interested in obtaining ketamine, a legal medication commonly used as an anesthetic, according to charging documents in the case.

    Perry had taken the drug through his regular physician in an off-label treatment for depression. But abusers of the drug use it recreationally, drawn to its dissociative effects.

    After learning of Perry’s interest, Plasencia contacted Chavez, who previously operated a ketamine clinic, to obtain the drug to sell to the actor, authorities said. In text messages to Chavez, Plasencia discussed how much to charge Perry for the ketamine, stating, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Let’s find out,” according to court records. The doctors charged Perry $2,000 for a dose that cost Chavez $12, prosecutors allege.

    Chavez, as part of the plea agreement, admitted to diverting ketamine from his San Diego clinic to sell to Plasencia. Chavez admitted he lied to a drug distributor and submitted a prescription under the name of a former patient without their consent.

    Chavez transferred 22 vials of ketamine and nine ketamine lozenges, which were fraudulently obtained, to Plasencia for sale to Perry. Chavez “was fully aware that selling vials of ketamine to a patient for self-administration was illegal,” according to the plea agreement.

    Plasencia, although forbidden by the Drug Enforcement Administration from prescribing controlled substances, continues to practice medicine but must inform patients about the ongoing criminal case.

    Plasencia is facing one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation. If convicted, he faces 10 years for each ketamine-related charge and 20 years for each falsification charge.

    Richard Winton

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  • Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter and actor, dies at 88

    Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter and actor, dies at 88

    Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died.Video above: Remembering those we’ve lost in 2024Kristofferson died at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said in an email. He was 88.McFarland said Kristofferson died peacefully, surrounded by his family. No cause was given. He was 88.Starting in the late 1960s, the Brownsville, Texas native wrote such classics standards as “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “For the Good Times” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Kristofferson was a singer himself, but many of his songs were best known as performed by others, whether Ray Price crooning “For the Good Times” or Janis Joplin belting out “Me and Bobby McGee.”He also starred opposite Ellen Burstyn in director Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” starred opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 “A Star Is Born,” and acted alongside Wesley Snipes in Marvel’s “Blade” in 1998.Kristofferson, who could recite William Blake from memory, wove intricate folk music lyrics about loneliness and tender romance into popular country music. With his long hair and bell-bottomed slacks and counterculture songs influenced by Bob Dylan, he represented a new breed of country songwriters along with such peers as Willie Nelson, John Prine and Tom T. Hall.”There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Nelson said during a November 2009 award ceremony for Kristofferson held by BMI. “Everything he writes is a standard and we’re all just going to have to live with that.”As an actor, he played the leading man opposite Barbara Streisand and Ellen Burstyn, but also had a fondness for shoot-out Westerns and cowboy dramas.He was a Golden Gloves boxer and football player in college, received a master’s degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford in England and turned down an appointment to teach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, to pursue songwriting in Nashville. Hoping to break into the industry, he worked as a part-time janitor at Columbia Records’ Music Row studio in 1966 when Dylan recorded tracks for the seminal “Blonde on Blonde” double album.At times, the legend of Kristofferson was larger than real life. Cash liked to tell a mostly exaggerated story of how Kristofferson, a former U.S. Army pilot, landed a helicopter on Cash’s lawn to give him a tape of “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” with a beer in one hand. Over the years in interviews, Kristofferson said with all respect to Cash, while he did land a helicopter at Cash’s house, the Man in Black wasn’t even home at the time, the demo tape was a song that no one ever actually cut and he certainly couldn’t fly a helicopter holding a beer.In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press, he said he might not have had a career without Cash.”Shaking his hand when I was still in the Army backstage at the Grand Ole Opry was the moment I’d decided I’d come back,” Kristofferson said. “It was electric. He kind of took me under his wing before he cut any of my songs. He cut my first record that was record of the year. He put me on stage the first time.”One of his most recorded songs, “Me and Bobby McGee,” was written based on a recommendation from Monument Records founder Fred Foster. Foster had a song title in his head called “Me and Bobby McKee,” named after a female secretary in his building. Kristofferson said in an interview in the magazine, “Performing Songwriter,” that he was inspired to write the lyrics about a man and woman on the road together after watching the Frederico Fellini film, “La Strada.”Joplin, who had a close relationship with Kristofferson, changed the lyrics to make Bobby McGee a man and cut her version just days before she died in 1970 from a drug overdose. The recording became a posthumous No. 1 hit for Joplin.Hits that Kristofferson recorded include “Why Me,” “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do),” “Watch Closely Now,” “Desperados Waiting for a Train,” “A Song I’d Like to Sing” and “Jesus Was a Capricorn.”In 1973, he married fellow songwriter Rita Coolidge and together they had a successful duet career that earned them two Grammy awards. They divorced in 1980.He retired from performing and recording in 2021, making only occasional guest appearances on stage.

    Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died.

    Video above: Remembering those we’ve lost in 2024

    Kristofferson died at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said in an email. He was 88.

    McFarland said Kristofferson died peacefully, surrounded by his family. No cause was given. He was 88.

    Starting in the late 1960s, the Brownsville, Texas native wrote such classics standards as “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “For the Good Times” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Kristofferson was a singer himself, but many of his songs were best known as performed by others, whether Ray Price crooning “For the Good Times” or Janis Joplin belting out “Me and Bobby McGee.”

    He also starred opposite Ellen Burstyn in director Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” starred opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 “A Star Is Born,” and acted alongside Wesley Snipes in Marvel’s “Blade” in 1998.

    Kristofferson, who could recite William Blake from memory, wove intricate folk music lyrics about loneliness and tender romance into popular country music. With his long hair and bell-bottomed slacks and counterculture songs influenced by Bob Dylan, he represented a new breed of country songwriters along with such peers as Willie Nelson, John Prine and Tom T. Hall.

    “There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Nelson said during a November 2009 award ceremony for Kristofferson held by BMI. “Everything he writes is a standard and we’re all just going to have to live with that.”

    As an actor, he played the leading man opposite Barbara Streisand and Ellen Burstyn, but also had a fondness for shoot-out Westerns and cowboy dramas.

    He was a Golden Gloves boxer and football player in college, received a master’s degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford in England and turned down an appointment to teach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, to pursue songwriting in Nashville. Hoping to break into the industry, he worked as a part-time janitor at Columbia Records’ Music Row studio in 1966 when Dylan recorded tracks for the seminal “Blonde on Blonde” double album.

    At times, the legend of Kristofferson was larger than real life. Cash liked to tell a mostly exaggerated story of how Kristofferson, a former U.S. Army pilot, landed a helicopter on Cash’s lawn to give him a tape of “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” with a beer in one hand. Over the years in interviews, Kristofferson said with all respect to Cash, while he did land a helicopter at Cash’s house, the Man in Black wasn’t even home at the time, the demo tape was a song that no one ever actually cut and he certainly couldn’t fly a helicopter holding a beer.

    In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press, he said he might not have had a career without Cash.

    “Shaking his hand when I was still in the Army backstage at the Grand Ole Opry was the moment I’d decided I’d come back,” Kristofferson said. “It was electric. He kind of took me under his wing before he cut any of my songs. He cut my first record that was record of the year. He put me on stage the first time.”

    One of his most recorded songs, “Me and Bobby McGee,” was written based on a recommendation from Monument Records founder Fred Foster. Foster had a song title in his head called “Me and Bobby McKee,” named after a female secretary in his building. Kristofferson said in an interview in the magazine, “Performing Songwriter,” that he was inspired to write the lyrics about a man and woman on the road together after watching the Frederico Fellini film, “La Strada.”

    Joplin, who had a close relationship with Kristofferson, changed the lyrics to make Bobby McGee a man and cut her version just days before she died in 1970 from a drug overdose. The recording became a posthumous No. 1 hit for Joplin.

    Hits that Kristofferson recorded include “Why Me,” “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do),” “Watch Closely Now,” “Desperados Waiting for a Train,” “A Song I’d Like to Sing” and “Jesus Was a Capricorn.”

    In 1973, he married fellow songwriter Rita Coolidge and together they had a successful duet career that earned them two Grammy awards. They divorced in 1980.

    He retired from performing and recording in 2021, making only occasional guest appearances on stage.

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  • Brad Pitt Isn’t Messaging You On WhatsApp

    Brad Pitt Isn’t Messaging You On WhatsApp

    We see people get catfished all the time — there’s an entire reality series about it called Catfish: The TV Show starring Nev Schulman on MTV. There’s an episode where a man believes he’s truly in a relationship with Katy Perry…and now, we have two women in Spain who were scammed out of over $300,000 by none other than Fight Club’s own, Brad Pitt.

    Except, as you may have realized, it wasn’t the former husband of Angelina Jolie who was actually talking to these women. On September 25, five people were arrested for posing as Brad Pitt on WhatsApp and scamming two women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    Look, I get it. I, too, spend my days yearning for Harry Styles to slide into my DM’s. It’s just…I know that’s never going to happen. And if it does, it’s a fake account, of course. But, for some, they want to believe Brad Pitt (or any catfish celeb) is really speaking to them.

    CNN reported that scammers profiled the victims and contacted them through a Brad Pitt fansite. They claimed the actor wanted to work with them on projects. Individually, one victim lost $195,000 and the other lost $167,000. Sadly, police were only able to recover $95,000.

    It’s important to research before responding to or contacting a “celebrity” asking for money. Typically, legal professionals would handle such matters, and Brad Pitt likely doesn’t need your financial help.

    Jai Phillips

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  • Actor Mark Hamill Gets a Rise From Wieners Circle’s 3-Inch Trump Dogs

    Actor Mark Hamill Gets a Rise From Wieners Circle’s 3-Inch Trump Dogs

    The Democratic National Convention was obsessed with Chicago dogs last week with politicians and celebrities making social media posts and recording video segments from various street food stands. Over the weekend, Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill posted a photo of himself in front pointing to the Wieners Circle’s famous sign while making a hand gesture, referring to the hot dog’s stand’s DNC special mocking former President Donald Trump. The sign read: “Now Serving Trump Footlongs It’s 3 Inches.”

    Wieners Circle first offered the special back in 2016 as a response to Trump’s comments during a Republican debate. Hamill attended the DNC and was at a fan convention over the weekend in the suburbs. He’s been an outspoken critic of Trump. The post may have reminded fans of the Spaceballs, a parody of Star Wars in which galactic rivals Darth Helmet (Rick Moranis) and Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) debate the sizes of their “Schwartzes.”

    Now, if only the Wieners Circle could have served Hamill a Blue Milkshake.

    More hot dog shrinkage

    Speaking of hot dogs, news has spread about how a new investor at Portillo’s wants to shake things up. On Thursday, August 15, Engaged Capital disclosed it held a 10 percent stake in the company with a mission to “improve operations, optimize restaurant performance, increase margins and grow brand awareness as Portillo’s expands nationally.” Crain’s described this as the agenda of an activist investor writing Engaged wants Portillo’s to open smaller locations; a signature trait of the chain was large spaces with historical artifacts. The goal is to cut costs as the hot dog giant aims to open “at least 920 restaurants around the country in about 20 years,” according to Crain’s.

    Roti declares Chapter 11

    Chicago-based fast-casual chain Roti has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking investors or new owners to rescue its 20 locations scattered across Chicago, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C. Ownership hopes to keep the restaurants open during the process, according to Restaurant Business. The assembly-line chain was vaguely Mediterranean and has attempted to reinvent itself with new branding and tweaks to the menu over the years. The chain was founded in 2007.

    Ashok Selvam

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