AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Houston rapper BeatKing, whose booming voice and eccentric songs brought him fame in nightclubs and on social media, has died, his manager said Friday. He was 39.
The rapper, whose name was Justin Riley, died Thursday after fainting during a recording session, Tasha Felder told The Associated Press. Felder, his manager, said Riley was taken to a hospital and that he had a pulmonary embolism.
“His daughters were with him the entire time,” Felder said. “It is truly sad, we loved him so much.”
BeatKing, whose club music anthems earned him the name Club Godzilla, achieved his biggest hit in 2020 when his song “Then Leave” went viral on social media and peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. He also scored hits with the songs “Crush” and “Thick.” His final album, “Never Leave Houston on a Sunday,” was released last month.
He was known for humorous, raunchy lyrics and broke through the Houston music scene in 2010 with “Kings of the Club,” reaching Houston’s younger generation not as familiar with the city’s famous slowed music style from The Screwed Up Click and Swisha House.
As a rapper or producer, BeatKing collaborated with major artists including 2 Chainz, Bun B, T-Pain and Ludacris. Although BeatKing didn’t achieve the national prominence of fellow Houstonians such as Travis Scott and Megan Thee Stallion, he found fame throughout the South among fans who admired his sound and authenticity to Houston.
“My condolences @clubgozilla,” 2 Chainz wrote on social media. “God Bless your soul and family.”
“Just a great spirited person,” Bun B said in a tribute to the rapper on Instagram.
Fans on social media recalled BeatKing’s dominance over the club scene in the 2010s. He formed an image for himself by wearing black T-shirts with phrases such as “I unfollow back” and “Stop moving to Houston.”
He is survived by two daughters and his partner.
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Hamilton reported from New York.
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Lathan is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The world of reality TV is in mourning as Hailey Merkt, a former contestant on The Bachelor, has tragically passed away at the age of 31.
The heartbreaking news was shared on Hailey’s Instagram page, revealing that she had lost her brave battle with leukemia.
Hailey first captured the hearts of viewers during Season 21 of The Bachelor, where she competed for the affections of Nick Viall.
On Tuesday, her social media account was updated with a poignant message, marking the first post in over two months. The post revealed the sad news of her passing and paid tribute to her incredible strength and courage during her illness.
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“It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,” the statement began.
It described her as facing her battle with “unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness,” and praised her determination and will to live, which surpassed all expectations set by her doctors. Hailey chose to spend her final moments surrounded by loved ones, embracing life with no regrets.
Haley died at only 31 years of age
“She will forever be remembered as anything but boring, always hysterically funny, and as someone who lived fully in the present moment,” the statement continued.
It highlighted her vibrant spirit and zest for life, which left a lasting impression on all who knew her. “Her beautiful spirit has touched countless lives,” the post added, emphasizing the profound impact she had on those around her.
Haley appeared on Season 21 of The Bachelor, where she competed for the affections of Nick Viall
The post also expressed gratitude to Hailey’s fans and supporters who had contributed to a GoFundMe account set up to assist with her medical expenses. The account remains open for those who wish to continue supporting her legacy.
Hailey’s passing has been met with an outpouring of love and tributes from her fellow Bachelor contestants. Danielle Maltby, who also competed on Season 21, shared a heartfelt message:
Hailey’s passing has been met with an outpouring of love and tributes from her fellow Bachelor contestants.
“I count myself so lucky to know your laugh and grateful to have met and loved the realest, warmest, most beautiful soul in the weirdest of places. Forever grateful for your friendship there and in the real world…. What a force my girl, rest easy. So much love to all your people.”
Raven Gates, another contestant from the same season, expressed her sorrow, writing, “Oh my gosh!!! I’m so so sad to hear this. I was so hoping for her recovery. Rest easy, Hailey, you’ll never be forgotten.”
Dominique Alexis, who was also part of Hailey’s Bachelor journey, added her condolences: “My love, I hope you are in the most beautiful peaceful place. I can’t imagine that I won’t see you again but I’ll cherish every memory together. Love you.”
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The music community, specifically fans of gospel music, are mourning the tragic loss of some of their own.
On Friday afternoon, three members of The Nelons, a Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame quartet, were killed in a plane crash in Wyoming.
In a statement, family member Autumn Nelon Streetman, whose parents and sister were victims of the crash, and who is pregnant with a baby son, shared: “As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber and brother-in-law, Nathan, as well as our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry and Melissa Haynie were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday,” adding: “Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark.”
“We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days.”
Three of the four Nelon family members died in the plane crash
Who was in the plane crash?
The three members of The Nelons killed were co-founder Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Nelon Clark, and their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler.
There were a total of seven passengers, none of whom survived; in addition to the three Nelon family members, the other passengers included pilot Larry Haynie, his wife Melissa Haynie, assistant of the band and family friend Melodi Hodges, and Amber’s husband, Nathan Kistler.
Larry was piloting a single engine turboprop Pilatus PC-12/47E, and the crash happened at around 1pm local time in Campbell County, Wyoming, near Gillette. They were on their way to Alaska to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise.
A team of investigators was set to visit the site by Saturday. The National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Keith Holloway said: “The aircraft is in a remote location and once they gain access, they will begin documenting the scene, examining the aircraft,” after which it will be recovered and “taken to a secure facility for further evaluation.”
He further shared that while a preliminary report on the crash is expected in about a month, a complete report with the probable cause of the crash could take up to two years to finalize. After Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven other people, died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California in January 2020, it wasn’t until February of the following year that an investigation came to an end, which found the pilot at fault for the crash after he flew into clouds in violation of federal rules.
Autumn is expecting her first baby, a boy, in December
Who were The Nelons?
The Nelons were a Grammy-nominated gospel group, who were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016. Jason, Kelly, Autumn and Amber comprised the group, Amber now being the only surviving member of the band.
They had over 50 upcoming scheduled concerts and performances, through January of next year, the nearest being a performance on Sunday, August 4 in Carrollton, Georgia.
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Shannen Doherty’s doctor and close friend is commending the actress for being a fighter up until the very end of her life.
“Things turned much more difficult in the last couple of weeks, and that’s when it became clear that it was heading in a different direction,” oncologist Dr. Lawrence D. Piro said in an interview with People published on Monday, July 15. “We continued to fight while putting in more support and we just kept loving and hoping and supporting.”
Piro helped care for Doherty when she first received her breast cancer diagnosis in 2015. While she went into remission in 2017, Doherty’s cancer returned in 2019 and she was later diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 cancer.
Prior to her July 2024 death, Shannen Doherty made a name for herself in film and television. The actress, born in Memphis in April 1971, started her career as a child star on Little House on the Prairie and went on to appear in the dark comedic film Heathers. Doherty’s fame continued to grow after […]
During their long friendship, Piro enjoyed experiencing vibrant dinner parties with the Charmed actress at her home. “She was an incredible, incredible chef,” the medical expert and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center doctor recalled. “It was very strange being in her home with her in a bed and not in the kitchen bringing out pizzas and cooking pasta. She loved cooking. She loved giving parties. She loved entertaining.”
According to Piro, what kept Doherty going “was a love for life and a desire to have more life. That was incredibly painful for her not to be able to do that.”
Amanda Edwards/WireImage
While many will remember Doherty for her various roles on the big and small screen — including Prue Halliwell on Charmed and Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210 — Piro believes his friend’s legacy will be one of treating others with kindness.
“This tremendous love for life was inspired by a love for people and a love for being treated well,” he said. “And I think that that grew out of being in the public eye from a very young age and feeling misunderstood most of her life. She would want us to live our lives as strongly as we can, committed to our convictions and to not allow others to label you or to misrepresent you and stop you from living your best life.”
For Shannen Doherty, it was important to be “as honest as possible” about her fight against cancer. The actress first battled breast cancer between March 2015 and April 2017, and she revealed in February 2020 that the illness had returned. “It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that — […]
Before Doherty’s death, the actress signed on as a cohost for iHeartRadio’s “The House of Halliwell: A Charmed Rewatch Podcast” alongside former costars Holly Marie Combs, Drew Fuller and Brian Krause.
According to iHeartRadio, some podcast episodes were filmed before Doherty’s death and will be released in the coming weeks.
“This show, this character, this podcast meant so much to Shannen. She couldn’t wait to share it with Charmed fans everywhere,” iHeartRadio revealed in a description for the Monday, July 15 episode. “We want to honor her memory and fulfill Shannen’s wishes by airing the first five episodes she recorded before her passing. She was passionate about this project and proud to have played Prue Halliwell. We hope these episodes offer some comfort for everyone who loved her.”
Sophie took to social media on Sunday, July 14, to share a throwback photo of her father goofing around with his former Beverly Hills, 90210 costar and onscreen love interest.
The Instagram Story showed a photo of Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh on the hit 1990s TV series, smiling as her pearl necklace is being bitten by Luke, who played Dylan McKay, who is standing behind her.
Sophie’s post was simply captioned with a white love heart emoji.
Sophie is also the daughter of Rachel “Minnie” Sharp, who married Luke in November 1993. The couple divorced in 2003 and shared joint custody of Sophie as well as her brother, Jack. Their father died in 2019 at the age of 52 after suffering from a fatal stroke.
Doherty died at the age of 53 following a long battle with cancer.
Sophie Perry’s tribute to Shannen Doherty (alongside Luke Perry)Courtesy of Sophie Perry/Instagram
At the time of Luke’s passing, Doherty told People of how much she had learned about Luke’s children over the years.
“Luke loved his family,” Doherty told the outlet in 2019. “He raved about his kids and how proud he was of them. He showed me videos of the [sic] often.”
Sophie’s Instagram post comes after a sea of Hollywood celebrities, including Doherty’s former 90210 costars, have reacted and paid tribute to the Charmed alum.
Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty and Luke PerryVinnie Zuffante/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Tori Spelling, who played Donna Martin on the TV series, shared via Instagram Stories on Sunday that she had not found “outward words yet,” while Jennie Garth, who played Kelly Taylor, shared a heartfelt note via Instagram that same day.
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“I am still processing my tremendous grief over the loss of my long time friend Shannen,” Garth, 52, wrote, sharing two throwback photos from the set of 90210. “The woman I have often described as one of the strongest people I have ever known. Our connection was real and honest. We were so often pitted against each other but none of that reflected the truth of our real relationship which was one built on mutual respect and admiration.”
For Shannen Doherty, it was important to be “as honest as possible” about her fight against cancer. The actress first battled breast cancer between March 2015 and April 2017, and she revealed in February 2020 that the illness had returned. “It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that — […]
Doherty’s publicist confirmed the news of her client’s death to Us Weekly one day after Doherty passed away.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” publicist Leslie Sloane told Us in a statement. “The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, just days before her death, Shannen released the latest episode of her podcast, Let’s Be Clear, revealing poignant moments from her life.
In a heartfelt January episode featuring her oncologist, Dr. Lawrence Piro, she shared the profound impact her desire to become a mother had on her decisions regarding her cancer treatment.
“Not only did I want a child for myself, but I wanted it for my husband. I wanted it for our marriage. I wanted him to have that part of himself fulfilled as well,” Shannen expressed, reflecting on her attempts to conceive with her then-husband, Kurt Iswarienko.
Shannen Doherty Talks About Her Challenges Over the Past Year
The couple, who tied the knot in 2011, faced the challenges of starting a family later in life and turned to IVF, with Shannen undergoing multiple rounds.
However, due to her ongoing health battles and the onset of menopause, Shannen eventually had to stop IVF.
Her relentless fight included a mastectomy in 2016, and after a brief remission in 2017, her cancer returned in 2019. By 2020, Shannen revealed she was battling metastatic stage 4 cancer, and in 2023, she disclosed that it had spread to her brain and bones.
Despite the relentless challenges, Shannen continued to hold onto hope. In early 2023, she and Kurt decided to part ways, and by November, she began to cautiously open her heart to the possibility of love again. “I don’t really know what it looks like,” Shannen told People.
In her latest podcast, Shannen talked about how she is preparing for death
“I have a best friend, a male best friend, who we joke that we’re married, and his two kids. We’ve had massive breakthroughs and we just love each other and hang out, and I kind of view them as my children.”
Discussing her enduring dream of motherhood, Shannen admitted, “God, I vacillate on it all the time. I think I would love nothing more than to be a mom. I always wanted it, and I think if I did it with my best friend or a partner, then I don’t know any amount of time… I look at kids who don’t have parents at all, and I think if I adopt a child or whatever it is, any amount of time is better than nothing. Maybe. I don’t know.”
Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty from the tv show Charmed
Holding onto hope, Shannen believed in the potential of clinical trials to improve her health. “I’m biding my time, and in the meantime, I’ve got my best friend’s kids, and my brother Sean’s seven kids. They’re all grown up, but that’s okay,” she shared.
Throughout her battle, Shannen continued to embrace life. In November 2023, she posted a video dancing with her friend Chris Cortazzo’s kids, capturing her zest for life.
On July 14, Chris paid tribute to her on Instagram, sharing a montage of their memories. “My beloved friend and heart. What memories and laughter we have shared through this journey. You were my protector, my best friend, and my divine wife. My heart is shattered. I love you forever, my sweet dear friend,” he wrote.
Shannen’s kindness extended to her close friend, Sarah Michelle Gellar. On an episode of Let’s Be Clear in February, Sarah recounted how Shannen had welcomed her children into her home during the pandemic. “You gave my children such a life in COVID, and I was really struggling with how to give them that freedom and that room to be kids and have adventures,” Sarah said. “And you opened your home to us in COVID in a way that I will for the rest of my life be grateful for.”
Determined to live fully, Shannen told People, “I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better. I’m just not — I’m not done.”
Her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed her passing on July 14 with a heavy heart. “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty… She lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Leslie stated. “The devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
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Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, “Titanic” and two “Avatar” films, has died. He was 63.
Landau’s family announced his death Saturday. No cause of death was given.
Landau’s partnership with Cameron led to three Oscar nominations and a best picture win for 1997’s “Titanic.” Together the pair account for some of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, including “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
Cameron, in a statement, remembered “a dear friend, and my closest collaborator of 31 years.” “A part of myself has been torn away,” said Cameron.
“His zany humor, personal magnetism, great generosity of spirit and fierce will have held the center of our Avatar universe for almost two decades,” said Cameron. “His legacy is not just the films he produced, but the personal example he set – indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique.”
Landau’s career began in the 1980s as a production manager, and he gradually rose through the ranks, serving as a co-producer on “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” and “Dick Tracy.”
He took on the producer role on “Titanic,” Cameron’s expensive epic about the infamous 1912 maritime disaster. The bet paid off: “Titanic” became the first movie to cross $1 billion in global box-office earnings and went on to win 11 Oscars, including best picture.
“I can’t act and I can’t compose and I can’t do visual effects, so I guess that’s why I’m producing.” Landau said while accepting the award with Cameron.
Their partnership continued, with Landau becoming a top executive at Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment. In 2009 the pair watched as “Avatar,” a sci-fi epic filmed and shown in theaters with groundbreaking 3D technology, surpassed the box-office success of “Titanic.” It remains the top-grossing film of all time.
Its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” is third on the list.
“Your wisdom and support shaped so many of us in ways we will always be grateful for,” Zoe Saldaña, one of the stars of the “Avatar” franchise, said in an emotional tribute on Instagram. “Your legacy will continue to inspire us and guide us in our journey.”
Landau has been a key player in the “Avatar” franchise, which saw frequent delays of the release of “The Way of Water.” Landau defended the sequel’s progress and Cameron’s ambitious plans to film multiple sequels at once to keep the franchise going.
“A lot has changed but a lot hasn’t,” Landau told The Associated Press in 2022, a few months ahead of the sequel’s release. “One of the things that has not changed is: Why do people turn to entertainment today? Just like they did when the first ‘Avatar’ was released, they do it to escape, to escape the world in which we live.”
“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to life on the big screen. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have left an indelible mark, and he will be profoundly missed. He was an iconic and successful producer yet an even better person and a true force of nature who inspired all around him,” Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment co-chairman, said in a statement.
Landau was named an executive vice president of feature movies at 20th Century Fox when he was 29, which led him to oversee major hits including “Home Alone” and its sequel, as well as “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “True Lies,” where he first started working closely with Cameron.
Landau was also influential in bringing the manga adaptation “Alita: Battle Angel” to the big screen in 2019. Cameron supported the project, but his “Avatar” commitments kept him from directing it. Instead, Landau worked with director Robert Rodriguez to get the film completed.
Born in New York on July 23, 1960, Landau was the son of film producers Ely and Edie Landau. The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, and Landau went on to graduate from the University of Southern California’s film school.
Ely Landau died in 1993. Edie Landau, the Oscar-nominated producer of films like “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Hopscotch” and “The Deadly Game,” died in 2022.
Jon Landau is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Julie; their sons, Jamie and Jodie; and two sisters and a brother.
Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, “Titanic” and two “Avatar” films, has died. He was 63.
Landau’s family announced his death Saturday. No cause of death was given.
Landau’s partnership with Cameron led to three Oscar nominations and a best picture win for 1997’s “Titanic.” Together the pair account for some of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, including “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
Cameron, in a statement, remembered “a dear friend, and my closest collaborator of 31 years.” “A part of myself has been torn away,” said Cameron.
“His zany humor, personal magnetism, great generosity of spirit and fierce will have held the center of our Avatar universe for almost two decades,” said Cameron. “His legacy is not just the films he produced, but the personal example he set – indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique.”
Landau’s career began in the 1980s as a production manager, and he gradually rose through the ranks, serving as a co-producer on “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” and “Dick Tracy.”
He took on the producer role on “Titanic,” Cameron’s expensive epic about the infamous 1912 maritime disaster. The bet paid off: “Titanic” became the first movie to cross $1 billion in global box-office earnings and went on to win 11 Oscars, including best picture.
“I can’t act and I can’t compose and I can’t do visual effects, so I guess that’s why I’m producing.” Landau said while accepting the award with Cameron.
Their partnership continued, with Landau becoming a top executive at Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment. In 2009 the pair watched as “Avatar,” a sci-fi epic filmed and shown in theaters with groundbreaking 3D technology, surpassed the box-office success of “Titanic.” It remains the top-grossing film of all time.
Its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” is third on the list.
“Your wisdom and support shaped so many of us in ways we will always be grateful for,” Zoe Saldaña, one of the stars of the “Avatar” franchise, said in an emotional tribute on Instagram. “Your legacy will continue to inspire us and guide us in our journey.”
Landau has been a key player in the “Avatar” franchise, which saw frequent delays of the release of “The Way of Water.” Landau defended the sequel’s progress and Cameron’s ambitious plans to film multiple sequels at once to keep the franchise going.
“A lot has changed but a lot hasn’t,” Landau told The Associated Press in 2022, a few months ahead of the sequel’s release. “One of the things that has not changed is: Why do people turn to entertainment today? Just like they did when the first ‘Avatar’ was released, they do it to escape, to escape the world in which we live.”
“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to life on the big screen. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have left an indelible mark, and he will be profoundly missed. He was an iconic and successful producer yet an even better person and a true force of nature who inspired all around him,” Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment co-chairman, said in a statement.
Landau was named an executive vice president of feature movies at 20th Century Fox when he was 29, which led him to oversee major hits including “Home Alone” and its sequel, as well as “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “True Lies,” where he first started working closely with Cameron.
Landau was also influential in bringing the manga adaptation “Alita: Battle Angel” to the big screen in 2019. Cameron supported the project, but his “Avatar” commitments kept him from directing it. Instead, Landau worked with director Robert Rodriguez to get the film completed.
Born in New York on July 23, 1960, Landau was the son of film producers Ely and Edie Landau. The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, and Landau went on to graduate from the University of Southern California’s film school.
Ely Landau died in 1993. Edie Landau, the Oscar-nominated producer of films like “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Hopscotch” and “The Deadly Game,” died in 2022.
Jon Landau is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Julie; their sons, Jamie and Jodie; and two sisters and a brother.
Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, “Titanic” and two “Avatar” films, has died. He was 63.
Landau’s family announced his death Saturday. No cause of death was given.
Landau’s partnership with Cameron led to three Oscar nominations and a best picture win for 1997’s “Titanic.” Together the pair account for some of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, including “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
Cameron, in a statement, remembered “a dear friend, and my closest collaborator of 31 years.” “A part of myself has been torn away,” said Cameron.
“His zany humor, personal magnetism, great generosity of spirit and fierce will have held the center of our Avatar universe for almost two decades,” said Cameron. “His legacy is not just the films he produced, but the personal example he set – indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique.”
Landau’s career began in the 1980s as a production manager, and he gradually rose through the ranks, serving as a co-producer on “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” and “Dick Tracy.”
He took on the producer role on “Titanic,” Cameron’s expensive epic about the infamous 1912 maritime disaster. The bet paid off: “Titanic” became the first movie to cross $1 billion in global box-office earnings and went on to win 11 Oscars, including best picture.
“I can’t act and I can’t compose and I can’t do visual effects, so I guess that’s why I’m producing.” Landau said while accepting the award with Cameron.
Their partnership continued, with Landau becoming a top executive at Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment. In 2009 the pair watched as “Avatar,” a sci-fi epic filmed and shown in theaters with groundbreaking 3D technology, surpassed the box-office success of “Titanic.” It remains the top-grossing film of all time.
Its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” is third on the list.
“Your wisdom and support shaped so many of us in ways we will always be grateful for,” Zoe Saldaña, one of the stars of the “Avatar” franchise, said in an emotional tribute on Instagram. “Your legacy will continue to inspire us and guide us in our journey.”
Landau has been a key player in the “Avatar” franchise, which saw frequent delays of the release of “The Way of Water.” Landau defended the sequel’s progress and Cameron’s ambitious plans to film multiple sequels at once to keep the franchise going.
“A lot has changed but a lot hasn’t,” Landau told The Associated Press in 2022, a few months ahead of the sequel’s release. “One of the things that has not changed is: Why do people turn to entertainment today? Just like they did when the first ‘Avatar’ was released, they do it to escape, to escape the world in which we live.”
“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to life on the big screen. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have left an indelible mark, and he will be profoundly missed. He was an iconic and successful producer yet an even better person and a true force of nature who inspired all around him,” Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment co-chairman, said in a statement.
Landau was named an executive vice president of feature movies at 20th Century Fox when he was 29, which led him to oversee major hits including “Home Alone” and its sequel, as well as “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “True Lies,” where he first started working closely with Cameron.
Landau was also influential in bringing the manga adaptation “Alita: Battle Angel” to the big screen in 2019. Cameron supported the project, but his “Avatar” commitments kept him from directing it. Instead, Landau worked with director Robert Rodriguez to get the film completed.
Born in New York on July 23, 1960, Landau was the son of film producers Ely and Edie Landau. The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, and Landau went on to graduate from the University of Southern California’s film school.
Ely Landau died in 1993. Edie Landau, the Oscar-nominated producer of films like “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Hopscotch” and “The Deadly Game,” died in 2022.
Jon Landau is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Julie; their sons, Jamie and Jodie; and two sisters and a brother.
Rodeo star Spencer Wright’s 3-year-old son, Levi, has died after suffering a severe brain injury last month.
Levi died on Sunday, June 2, after he was removed from life support, Mindy Sue Clark, a friend of the family’s, told People. “Levi was the absolute best little boy,” Clark said Monday, June 3. “It’s going to be tough navigating life without him.”
Hours before Levi’s death, his mother, Kallie Wright, shared a heartbreaking update on the condition of her son with husband Spencer.
“After several sleepless nights, lots of research, multiple conversations with the world’s best neurologists & millions of prayers we are here in the face of our biggest fear. Levi showed us just enough to buy us time for all of this,” Kallie captioned a video of herself and Levi via Facebook on Sunday. “We prayed those things were him defying odds & proving to us that he wanted to stay here but we see now he wanted to give us time to find peace with letting him go. I told you my baby was thoughtful & considerate, I truly believe he did that for us.”
Kallie went on to write that Levi “brought humanity across the nation” after being placed in critical condition for driving his toy tractor into a Utah river in late May. “Here soon I’ll climb into bed with my baby and hold him as he falls asleep for the last time on this earth,” she continued. “I find comfort in knowing he will be restored to the perfect little boy he was & have the ability to do all the things he loves! I know there are Angels up there waiting to hold him until I can again!”
Kallie concluded the emotional message by stating that her and Levi’s family “will miss him every second of every day down here but feel without unwavering doubt this is the best thing we can do for him.” She added: “We love you baby beans and I can’t wait till the day you can ‘work the ground’ with me again!”
Levi first entered the hospital following the accident. According to a May 21 statement from the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office, Levi “had driven a toy tractor into a river” and lost visual contact with his family. After the child was “quickly located,” he received “life saving measures” before being transferred to a local hospital.
The Wright family was unsure if Levi would make a full recovery since there was not “much change” in his condition as he continued to undergo medical care, per a May 22 social media update provided by Clark.
Rodeo star Spencer Wright and his wife, Kallie Wright, are the proud parents of three kids. The couple tied the knot in 2018, one year after which they became first-time parents with the birth of their daughter, Steeley. Their family continued to expand in 2021 when son Levi was born, followed by the arrival of […]
On Monday, Clark paid tribute to Levi on Facebook, writing, “I cannot even begin to explain how hard the last two weeks have been. From the moment my phone rang the night of his accident, to last night receiving the message that he had to go. I don’t want to focus on the bad or sad, even though it feels like someone ripped my heart out and squeezed it right in front of me. I want to focus on the many miracles we all got to bear witness to in those 12 days.”
Clark, who referred to herself as Levi’s “Aunt Mindy,” shared that the response she and the Wright family received has been “absolutely incredible” as strangers came together to send well wishes to Levi amid the tragedy.
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“Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people surrounded our best little buddy, lifted him up in prayer, and threw their loving arms around Levi and his family,” she continued. “We’ve never seen or experienced anything like it. I don’t know that we will ever be able to process it fully.”
Clark called Levi the “most perfect three year old there ever was. So perfect we didn’t get to keep him. This baby boy moved mountains the last 12 days. He brought so many people together. In a world so dark, we got to see light at the hands of a child. He’s everything his mom and dad could’ve wanted him to be.”
Golfer Harry Higgs paid tribute to the late Grayson Murray with an emotional call to arms.
After Higgs, 32, became the first player in history to win back-to-back Korn Ferry Tour tournaments in a playoff, he used his winner’s speech to discuss Murray, who died by suicide at the age of 30 on Saturday, May 25.
“I just have a message, so forgive me if things get a little deep,” Higgs told the assembled crowd at Knoxville, Tennessee’s Holston Hills Country Club on Sunday, May 26.
Hollywood mourned many celebrities in 2024. Speed Racer star Christian Oliver (born Christian Klepser) died at the age of 51 during a fatal plane crash on January 5. Oliver was traveling home from a Caribbean vacation with his two daughters — Madita and Annik, whom he shared with wife Jessica Klepser — on January 4. […]
“Last night, I didn’t sleep worth a darn. And I’m really good at sleeping,” Higgs joked before getting serious. “I kind of thought about this moment and how to maybe remember Grayson.”
Higgs said that, while he was thankful for his success on the links, “It’s just not that meaningful.”
“I would challenge everybody here — and I’m going to do this myself, as well — each day, say something nice to someone you love,” Higgs urged. “And also make it a point to say something nice to somebody you do not even know.”
The crowd, who until that point had been watching enraptured, began to clap.
“The world is difficult and only getting more difficult,” Higgs said. “I’ve been blessed with great parents and a great support system and I haven’t had, other than some frustrations at times, any battles mentally. But Lord knows how many people do and it’s only ever increasing.”
He continued, “Everybody here could be a difference. The difference. Brighten up somebody’s day. It could mean the world.”
After Murray’s passing, his parents Eric and Terry Murray, released a statement via the PGA.
Grayson MurrayAndrew Redington/Getty Images
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” the statement read. “It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It’s a nightmare.”
Late pro golfer Grayson Murray and fiancée Christiana Ritchie’s romance blossomed over their shared passion for faith. “I grew up going to church and my family [are] strong Christians. I think I neglected that part of my life for a while, and meeting my fiancée and how our lives kind of changed over the last […]
They continued, “We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support. Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.”
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Murray was also remembered by his decades-long coach and mentor Ted Kiegiel.
“I’m absolutely numb and crushed for the loss of Grayson. He was family,” Kiegiel shared via X on Sunday. “He was more than family … We were kindred spirits — sharing so many victorious ‘life’ moments, while suffering through the down turns that challenged his very essence.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
KTLA anchor Sam Rubin, who also a correspondent for British morning showThis Morning, had died at the age of 64.
Frank Buckley, announcing Sam’s death live on KTLA, broke down in tears as he shared the news with viewers. “Our hearts, as you can imagine, are broken. Quite simply, Sam was KTLA.” Frank said, praising his “warmth and charm”.
KTLA pays heartbreaking tribute to Sam Rubin
Hollywood pays tribute
Rita Wilson was among the first to share their tributes to the journalist who was a longtime feature on red carpets and known very well by many A-listers.
“Truly saddened to hear of the sudden passing of @samontv Sam Rubin Sam was the person you ALWAYS wanted to talk to on the red carpet. Sam was authentic, you felt the love he had for his job,” shared Rita with followers. “He certainly had a great wit, quick on his feet, kind while being funny yet never mean spirited. Whenever I saw him I looked forward to talking to him.”
“I feel like we grew up together. He was there to welcome us, ask about our projects while putting us at ease, making us feel as if we were talking to a friend,” she continued. “Sam, the red carpet won’t be the same without you. Our prayers and condolences to Leslie and Sam’s children. Rest in Peace. God bless you.”
Melanie Griffiths added: “Oh no! He was so wonderful and warm and kind,” while Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson commented: ” Oh nooooo!!”
Debbie Gibson also posted her own tribute, writing: “CHEERS to you Sam Rubin for so much heart and so many laughs in a world where that is so needed. Thank you for the love and support for our entertainment community over the years. Such a shock to hear this news. Love going out to Sam’s loved ones and @ktla_entertainment family.”
“Sam was THE entertainment reporting man! What a sad and sudden loss. He was a wonderful man who supported me so much throughout my career and I will miss him dearly. I am sending all my love to my @ktla5news family,” wrote Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Alyson Hannigan also shared her memories, captioning a post that read: “My heart is hurting for the loss of Sam Rubin. He had an ability to make me feel like I was his good friend both on and off camera. And today I feel like I lost a friend. RIP. You will be missed.”
KTLA’s emotional tribute
KTLA posted a touching tribute which read: “KTLA 5 is profoundly saddened to report the death of Sam Rubin. Sam was a giant in the local news industry and the entertainment world, and a fixture of Los Angeles morning television for decades.
“His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him. Sam was a loving husband and father: the roles he cherished the most. Our thoughts are with Sam’s family during this difficult time.”
Sam Rubin on This Morning in the UK
Sam was a correspondent for This Morning in the UK
This Morning, in the UK, also shared a tribute: “We have very heavy hearts this weekend with the news from Los Angeles that our Hollywood reporter Sam Rubin has died at the age of 64. Sam was an Emmy winning entertainment correspondent and presenter for Los Angeles’ No 1 morning show on KTLA, and regularly broadcast live into This Morning.
“He woke up Tinseltown every day for decades with his likeable charm and knowledgeable take on the movie world, he was on first name terms with the stars and became affectionately known as ‘Hollywood Sam’. We will miss him. There will be a tribute to Sam on Monday’s show, but in the meantime, we send our condolences to his wife Leslie, their four children and Sam’s colleagues at KTLA. “
Kathy Connell, SAG Awards Executive Producer, (L) and Sam Rubin, KTLA Entertainment Reporter, roll out the ceremonial red carpet in 2018
Sam suffered from a heart attack
TMZ was first to report the news, reporting that Sam had called in sick to work early on Friday May 10 before suffering a major heart attack at home. He was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead.
Sam had been an anchor on LA local channel KTLA since 1991, where he reported on awards shows and interviewed celebrities. He had won multiple Emmys.
Entertainment reporter Sam Rubin and actress Zooey Deschanel attend the Critics’ Choice Television Awards in 2011
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Paul Auster, known for The New York Trilogy — originally published as three separate novels: City of Glass, Ghosts, and The Locked Room — died on Tuesday, April 30 from lung cancer complications. He was 77. The news was confirmed by his friend and fellow author Jacki Lyden to the New York Times. Born and raised in New Jersey, Auster eventually became a prominent figure in the Brooklyn literary scene (though he was also quite popular in France). Auster graduated from Columbia University with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in comparative literature. He later lived in Paris, translating French literature for several years before returning to the United States. His decades-long career included a stream of novels, memoirs, story collections, plays, essays, and poems. He also wrote several screenplays, winning the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay for Wayne Wang’s 1995 film Smoke. His 2017 novel 4321 was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Auster’s work has been noted to include instances of chance and coincidence, which could be explained by his real-life experiences. When he was a teenager at a summer camp, he stood next to a boy who was killed by a bolt of lightning. Per NPR, he once reflected, “I think maybe that informs my work more than any book I have ever read.”
O.J. Simpson’s final days included saying goodbye to his loved ones before dying at home as he planned, according to his attorney Malcolm LaVergne.
And one of his last wishes was to have more time to spend with them, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“The only thing I heard him [say] at the end, he just wanted a couple more years,” LaVergne exclusively recalled to Us Weekly on Tuesday, April 16. “He wanted to see his oldest grandchild go to school. That would’ve been icing on the cake for him. But he never got there. But he had everything else.
“The thing that made O.J. the happiest at the end was that he was a grandfather and he got to see, spend time and play with his grandkids.”
O.J. Simpson originally rose to fame as a football standout. After winning the 1968 Heisman Trophy at the University of Southern California, he was selected by the Buffalo Bills as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 draft. Simpson retired from the NFL in 1979 after playing 11 seasons, pivoting his career to take […]
But at 76, those years he longed for were cut short.
“On April 5, the doctor said, ‘He’s not long for this world. It is finite,’” added LaVergne, about the end of Simpson’s life. “People started flying in from all over, friends, families.”
The lawyer, who’s also the executor of Simpson’s estate, remembered people from Florida, Colorado and Canada coming to “pay their final respects” before Simpson died on April 10 at the age of 76.
Ahead of his passing, Simpson was battling prostate cancer, but LaVergne told Us that he was only “quite ill” toward “the end” of his life. He “thought he had beaten it,” LaVergne said, noting that the illness returned and was ultimately responsible for the former NFL star’s death.
In the end, Simpson’s age played a factor in his inability to bounce back from other sicknesses. “He’s an older man, so treatments for cancer make you get sick in other ways,” the attorney explained. “He got pneumonia and then he couldn’t do the experimental or trial stuff.”
LaVergne told Us that Simpson eventually reached the point where he said, “I’m not going to die in a hospital. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’ll take my chances at home.” That’s when his attorney recalled his client entering “into a hospice plan and went home.”
Prior to his sudden downturn in early April, LaVergne said Simpson’s spirits were relatively high.
The attorney recalled his last “functional conversation” with Simpson, telling Us it took place before he left for England over Easter weekend in late March.
RICK MEYER/AFP via Getty Images It was the trial that captivated a nation. After O.J. Simpson — who died of prostate cancer on Wednesday, April 10 — was arrested and charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman in June 1994, Simpson’s subsequent trial played out on camera for […]
LaVergne said Simpson was “sitting on his couch drinking his beer, eating good,” adding that the disgraced athlete “didn’t seem like a man who was going to die to me soon.”
“He was just chilling on his couch watching TV,” LaVergne remembered of their March conversation, revealing he and Simpson chatted about “various topics.”
Once LaVergne returned to the U.S. after the Easter holiday, Simpson’s health had declined. “I went and saw him that Friday myself, and he could barely get any words out of his mouth. He could ask for water,” he said. “He could decide between whether he wanted to watch women’s tennis or golf. But he was just in bed. He was just resting comfortably.”
Simpson’s family confirmed via X on Thursday, April 11, that he’d died after a lengthy cancer battle. The news brought back to life Simpson’s controversial past, which includes the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
Simpson was accused of fatally stabbing Brown Simpson, who was 35 at the time, and Goldman, who was 25. While Simpson was arrested for the murders, he was acquitted of the charges in 1995 following an explosive and historic trial.
The former football star was later found guilty of wrongful death and battery against Goldman in a civil suit.
Simpson was later arrested in 2007 on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery. He was found guilty and sentenced to serve nine to 33 years in prison. Simpson was released on parole in December 2021 after serving the minimum sentence.
The late O.J. Simpson was father of five children, whom he shared with his two former spouses. The former athlete tied the knot with his first wife, Marguerite Whitley, in 1967. Prior to their 1979 split, the pair welcomed three kids together: Arnelle, Jason and Aaren. Simpson went on to wed Nicole Brown Simpson in […]
He is survived by kids Arnelle, Jason and Aaren, whom he shared with first wife Marguerite Whitley. Simpson also shared daughter Sydney and son Justin with late ex-wife Brown Simpson.
“The family’s always been private. The kids have always been private,” LaVergne told Us on Tuesday, adding that Simpson will be cremated and his family is planning a memorial. “They’ve stayed private, and their feelings and mixed bag of emotions are really the exact same as anyone else who loses a loved one to a long-term illness.”
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He added: “They’re just grieving for their father. Of course, they have the added burden of knowing his fame.
“And I think it’s a time for them that at some point they just want to have O.J., their father, to themselves.”
GIORGIO Armani has paid tribute to fellow Italian fashion designer and “true artist
Cavalli, whose death was announced by his company on Friday, became renowned in the early 1970s for his animal prints and for a sexy style that remained his trademark throughout his long career.
In a post shared by the Armani account on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Armani said: “I cannot imagine a vision of fashion more distant from mine than that of Roberto Cavalli, yet I have always had enormous respect for him: Roberto was a true artist, wild and wonderful in his use of prints, capable of transforming fantasy into seductive clothes.
“I have learnt with great sadness of his passing: his Tuscan verve will be greatly missed.”
Brazilian model Adriana Lima said alongside a picture of her and Cavalli on X: “Unapologetic in style & spirit. We lost a legend today. Rest in Peace, @Roberto_Cavalli”.
A host of celebrities including Maya Jama attended the Roberto Cavalli Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear shoot in February.
Last month, Dune actress Zendaya wore Cavalli at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards.
She sported a grey fringed Roberto Cavalli gown from the spring/summer 2011 collection, with a deep-V neckline and an open back.
Her Cavalli outfit at the event tapped into the resurgence of the boho trend – recently seen during Paris Fashion Week.
Sex And The City’s famously fashion-first lead character Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, notably wore a Cavalli top in an episode of the series.
“We had that top for years in our wardrobe; I think we bought it at a sample sale,” Rebecca Weinberg, one of the SATC costume designers told InStyle last month during an interview about the show’s fashionable moments.
The fashion industry legend explained they would be calling the new arrival Giorgio, in tribute to his father who was shot by Nazis during the Second World War.
At the time, he told magazine Novella 2000: “Sandra is doing fine.
“The baby, who was born a week ago right here in Florence, is beautiful and it was really emotional to see him right after he was born.
“His name is Giorgio, like his grandfather, my father whom the Nazis shot in the Cavriglia massacre when I was four years old.”
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He has kids Robert, Rachele (left) and Daniele from his second marriageCredit: Rex
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The designer with his second wife and son RobinCredit: Rex
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his wife, Mila Mulroney, attend the David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala And Concert held at Mattamy Athletic Centre on September 26, 2015, in Toronto, CanadaCredit: George Pimentel/WireImage
Who is Brian Mulroney’s wife, Mila?
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney married his wife, Mila Mulroney, in 1973 when she was 19 and he was 34.
Born Milica Pivnički, she is the daughter of a Serbian-Canadian doctor.
While her husband campaigned to become prime minister, Mila remained a housewife.
This boosted her popularity among Canadians as many voters found her relatable.
Throughout Mulroney’s time as prime minister from 1984 to 1993, she campaigned for various children’s charities.
However, during this time she also received scrutiny for her lavish lifestyle and frequent shopping sprees.
What was Brian Mulroney’s cause of death?
Brian Mulroney died on February 29, 2024.
He was 84 years old at the time of his death.
At the time of publishing, no official cause of death has been revealed.
However, in 2023, Mulroney had undergone a heart procedure and received treatment for prostate cancer.
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Brian and Mila Mulroney married in 1973
Do Brian and Mila Mulroney have kids?
Brian Mulroney is survived by his wife and four children.
The couple had one daughter and three sons, Ben, Mark, and Nicolas Mulroney.
Brian and Mila Mulroney’s eldest, Caroline Mulroney, announced the former prime minister’s passing on X, formerly Twitter.
She said, “On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister.”
The tweet continued, “He died peacefully, surrounded by family.”
Speed Racer star Christian Oliver (born Christian Klepser) died at the age of 51 during a fatal plane crash on January 5. Oliver was traveling home from a Caribbean vacation with his two daughters — Madita and Annik, whom he shared with wife Jessica Klepser — on January 4. The aircraft had engine trouble and fell into the ocean. The plane’s pilot also died onboard in the accident.
In addition to being an actor, Oliver was also a realtor at Beverly Hills brokerage The Agency.
“Christian, Madita and Annik, you will be missed. May you rest in peace,” The Agency founder Mauricio Umansky wrote in a social media tribute. “My prayers are with you and your entire Agency family. You are a great friend, father, husband, actor and agent. You made us laugh, you care more than most. You are missed and loved.”
Four days later, news broke that The Cleaning Lady star Aden Canto had died at the age of 42.
“Adan had a depth of spirit that few truly knew. Those who glimpsed it were changed forever,” Canto’s rep said in a statement, revealing the actor privately battled appendiceal cancer. “He will be greatly missed by so many.”
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Canto is survived by his wife, Stephanie Canto, and their two children: Roman and Eve.
Keep scrolling to remember the stars who died in 2024:
Prior to his death, Angus Cloud made waves in Hollywood following his breakout role as Fezco on the hit series Euphoria.
After the 2019 premiere of the HBO drama, Cloud went on to star in the movies North Hollywood and The Line and wrapped filming on several other projects. He also brought his acting chops to music videos for Juice WRLD, Becky G and Karol G.
Cloud died in July 2023 at age 25. Us Weekly confirmed in September that Cloud’s cause of death was acute intoxication following an accidental overdose.
“It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways,” the star’s family said in a statement at the time.
Angus Cloud was mourned by his Euphoria costars following his tragic death. He was 25. “We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud,” the official Twitter page for Euphoria account shared on Monday, July 31. “He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend […]
Cloud’s family went on to state that they hope his passing will serve “as a reminder” to those struggling with mental health problems “that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence.”
Scroll below to learn more about Cloud’s upcoming projects.
Released in November 2023, Cloud stars as Sterling, a man who takes a convenience store hostage in an attempt to steal a $156 million lottery ticket. Directed by Dan Brown, the project also stars Sterling Beaumon, Jessica Garza and Jason O’Mara.
Cloud will appear in the upcoming drama starring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jack Champion, Jay Ellis, Dominique Thorne and Keir Gilchrist. Co-directed by Captain Marvel’s Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the movie will center around “four interconnected stories set in Oakland, California” and “will tell about the love of music, movies, people, places and memories beyond our knowable universe,” according to the film’s IMDb page.
‘Abigail’
The horror comedy stars Cloud, Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens, Melissa Barrera, Kevin Durand, William Catlett and Giancarlo Esposito as a group of criminals who kidnap a young girl named Abigail (Alisha Weir) in order to collect a $50 million ransom. Upon discovering Abigail is actually a vampire, the group must work together to survive the night. The film, which hit theaters in April 2024, is helmed by Scream VI codirectors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
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‘Euphoria’
Though Euphoria season 3 was delayed until 2025 due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, Cloud was seemingly expected to return as Fezco for the series’ third installment. His character ended season 2 on a dire note, as Fezco’s adoptive younger brother, Ashtray (Javon Walton), was killed after he fought back against a SWAT team that infiltrated their house. Throughout the season, Fezco also developed a sweet romance with Maude Apatow’s Lexi Howard, though his brother’s death caused him to miss the premiere of her school play.
No details about how the series will handle Cloud’s death or Fezco’s fate have been revealed.
THE parents of a honeymoon Brit who died in a helicopter crash said he would have survived if it wasn’t for the “milk bottle” fuel tank.
Jonathan Udall was burned on 90 per cent of his body when the “flying bomb” spun out of control and caught fire after hitting rocks in the Grand Canyon.
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Jonathan’s parents believe he would have survived the crash if it wasn’t for the ‘milk bottle’ fuel tankCredit: pixel8000
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Jonathan’s father, Philip Udall, likened the helicopter to a ‘flying bomb’Credit: Sky News
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A 2021 report concluded strong tailwinds likely caused the 2018 crashCredit: AP
The 31-year-old, from Southampton, died after 12 days in hospital as a result of his burns, before new wife Ellie, 29, passed away a few days later.
Philip and Marlene Udall were awarded £78million in damages on Wednesday after suing for their son’s wrongful death.
A judge in Nevada ruled they should get £59million from France’s Airbus Helicopters SAS and £19million from operator Papillon Airways.
But Mr Udall’s parents are adamant that their son could have survived if it was not for the post-crash fire – caused by the helicopter’s fuel tank that they claim was prone to rupturing.
Speaking to Sky News, Philip Udall said: “There’s an issue with fuel tanks and helicopters in America – there’s a loophole in the law that allows helicopters to fly without a crash resistant fuel system.
“In other words, it’s basically a ‘flying bomb’ – those are our lawyer’s words.
“It’s a plastic container about as good as a milk bottle that you’ve got the fuel in.
“When the helicopter goes down, it just fractures and the fuel is out.”
Mr Udall adds that the issue with fuel tanks has been going on since 1994.
Alongside his wife, he aimed to highlight this during their legal battle.
The Udalls’ lawyer, Gary C Robb, said: “The family wanted to shine a spotlight on this . . . too many helicopters have this very unsafe, flimsy fuel tank.”
Mr Robb said the hard-plastic tanks were prone to rupture in hard landings, adding: “The fuel pours on to the passengers, then ignites. It’s just horrible.”
A 2021 report concluded strong tailwinds likely caused the crash.
Three of Jonathan’s pals were riding in the helicopter and also lost their lives as a result of the crash.
Becky Dobson, 27, Stuart Hill, 30, and Jason Hill, 32, all of West Sussex, died at the scene in 2018.
Pilot Scott Booth lost both legs. Jennifer Barham also survived.
Sinéad O’Connor’s official cause of death has been revealed.
The Southwark Coroners Court confirmed on Tuesday, January 9, that O’Connor died of natural causes, noting in a statement, “The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death.”
The Irish Times confirmed that the singer died on July 26, 2023, at the age of 56.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time,” O’Connor’s family wrote in a statement to RTE at the time.
O’Connor was best known for her rendition of Prince’s hit song “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which earned her nominations for Record of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form at the 1990 Grammys.
Sinead O’ConnorDavid Corio/Redferns
The musician experienced her fair share of ups and downs throughout her singing career. When she performed her now-famous rendition of Bob Marley’s “War” on Saturday Night Live in 1992 as an act of protest against the Catholic Church, she held up a picture of Pope John Paul II and tore the image to pieces, which led to a permanent ban from the show. Despite public criticism, O’Connor has since been praised by some for speaking out on important issues despite backlash.
Shortly before her death, O’Connor announced that she had moved back to London and was working on a new album that she planned to release in 2024.
Following her passing, many celebrities paid tribute to O’Connor in several different ways.
Pink and Brandi Carlile honored the late singer by performing “Nothing Compares 2 U” together during Pink’s concert in Ohio in July. “When I was a little girl … I used to go down to the Ocean City boardwalk with my 10 dollars and I would make a demo tape,” Pink told the audience at the time. “And it would always be either ‘Greatest Love of All’ by Whitney Houston or ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ by Sinéad O’Connor.”
Russell Crowe, for his part, recalled running into O’Connor while at a pub in Ireland.
“There under streetlights with mist on my breath, I met Sinéad. She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness,‘Oh, it’s you Russell.’ She came with us back to the table and sat in the cold and ordered a hot tea,” Crowe wrote in a lengthy Twitter thread one day after her death. “In a conversation without fences we roamed through the recent Dublin heatwave, local politics, American politics, the ongoing fight for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia, her warm memory of New Zealand, faith, music, movies and her brother the writer. I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine.”
Singer and songwriter Bob Geldof later told fans that he had been in touch with O’Connor shortly before her death, sharing that she was experiencing a wide range of emotions in her final days.
Sinéad O’Connor was a mother of four before her unexpected death in July 2023. The “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer first became a mother in June 1987 when she and then-husband John Reynolds welcomed their son, Jake. However, O’Connor claimed in her 2021 memoir, Rememberings, that her record label had pressured her to get an […]
“She was a very good friend of mine,” he told the audience at the Cavan Calling Festival in Cavan, Ireland, in July 2023. “Some of the texts [she sent] were laden with desperation and despair and sorrow and some were ecstatically happy. She was like that.”
Nearly a year prior to her passing, O’Connor lost her son, Shane, to suicide at the age of 17. “My beautiful son, Nevi’im Nesta Ali Shane O’Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God,” she tweeted at the time. “May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace.”
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O’Connor was later briefly hospitalized after sharing a series of since-deleted tweets about taking her own life.
O’Connor is survived by her three children: Jake, Roisin and Yeshua.
