Richard Harris is 'irreplaceable' - Potter producer
The producer of the Harry Potter movies hailed hell-raising Hollywood legend Richard Harris as "irreplaceable." "He will be greatly missed," David Heyman said of the flamboyant star who died of cancer on Friday at the age of 72.
( By PAUL MAJENDIE, Reuters, 10/26/2002 09:45 AM PDT)

Some theaters on alert after siege
Some London theaters are increasing security in reaction to the siege of a Moscow theater by Chechen rebels, while on Broadway additional measures also have been taken to ensure safety.
( MATT WOLF, Associated Press Writer, 10/25/2002 02:39 PM PDT)

Actor Richard Harris Dies at 72
Irish actor Richard Harris, who gained fame as the roistering star of such 1960s films as "This Sporting Life" and "Camelot" and reached a new generation of fans years later as the wise old wizard in two Harry Potter movies, died Friday night at a London hospital. He was 72.
( SUE LEEMAN, Associated Press Writer, 10/25/2002 02:23 PM PDT)

Nimoy photographs get warm reception
Spurned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, former "Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy and his provocative photography got a warm reception at a synagogue.
( The Associated Press, 10/25/2002 01:38 PM PDT)

AOL to build $483 million movie studio
Media titan AOL Time Warner Inc plans to invest $483 million to build an outdoor movie studio that is also expected to become a tourist attraction, the official Xinhua news agency said on Friday.
( Reuters, 10/25/2002 07:46 AM PDT)

Marc Anthony is back with wife
Latin pop singer Marc Anthony and his wife, former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, are back together, three months after they announced their separation.
( 10/25/2002 07:13 AM PDT)

Shakira Sweeps at MTV Latin Awards
Colombian superstar Shakira swept all five categories in which she was nominated, including artist of the year, at the first MTV Video Music Awards Latin America.
( RAFAEL PALACIO, Associated Press Writer, 10/24/2002 10:13 PM PDT)

E! TV picks up Anna Nicole again
She's big, she's brash, she's been a billionaire's wife -- and viewers can't seem to get enough of her although the critics wish she would go away. E! Entertainment Television said on Wednesday it has renewed its controversial reality series featuring former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith, for a second season.
( Reuters, 10/24/2002 01:45 PM PDT)

Broadway Lyricist Green Dies at 87
Adolph Green, a lyricist whose six-decade collaboration with Betty Comden helped create such joyous stage celebrations of New York as "On the Town" and "Wonderful Town" as well as the classic movie musical "Singin' in the Rain," has died. He was 87.
( MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Writer, 10/24/2002 09:58 AM PDT)

MTV readies first Latin Awards show
Colombian superstars Shakira and Juanes and Argentine pop singer Diego Torres led the nominations with five each at the first ever MTV Video Music Awards Latin America.
( 10/24/2002 09:48 AM PDT)

New NEA chief versed in criticism
Stepping outside the bounds of conservative ideology, the White House announced Wednesday that it will nominate Sonoma County poet and outspoken cultural critic Dana Gioia to head up the National Endowment for the Arts.
( BY PAMELA MCCLINTOCK, Reuters, 10/24/2002 04:44 AM PDT)

Nolte used 'date rape' drug?
Actor Nick Nolte was driving under the influence of the "date rape" drug GHB when he was arrested last month, dazed and drooling, behind the wheel of his automobile, prosecutors charged on Wednesday.
( Reuters, 10/24/2002 04:38 AM PDT)

Winona Ryder finally goes to court
Ten months after her ill-fated shopping spree, actress Winona Ryder is expected finally to get her day in court on Thursday in one of the most unusual and embarrassing cases of celebrity justice.
( BY JILL SERJEANT, Reuters, 10/24/2002 04:30 AM PDT)

Court reverses 'Jenny Jones' ruling
A Michigan appeals court threw out a jury's verdict against the "Jenny Jones Show," saying the program had no legal duty to protect a guest who was murdered.
( DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press Writer, 10/24/2002 04:20 AM PDT)

N.J. street renamed for Kevin Smith
A street has been renamed in honor of director Kevin Smith, a New Jersey native who is filming "Jersey Girl" in this southern New Jersey community.
( The Associated Press, 10/23/2002 11:27 PM PDT)

New Hill album sells 472,000 copies
Faith Hill has no reason to shed a tear - her new album, "Cry," debuted at No. 1.
( 10/23/2002 12:27 PM PDT)

Publicist Starts Jail Term in Crash
Publicist-to-the-stars Lizzie Grubman began serving a 60-day jail sentence Wednesday for backing her Mercedes SUV into a crowd of people outside a Hamptons nightclub in an incident that exposed class tensions in the Long Island resort community.
( FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press Writer, 10/23/2002 08:44 AM PDT)

Potter kids should quit after 3rd film
The young stars of the blockbuster Harry Potter films will probably call it quits after the third installment of the series, director Chris Columbus said on Tuesday.
( BY LARRY FINE, Reuters, 10/23/2002 05:09 AM PDT)

Osbournes could return in Nov.
The Ozzy Osbourne clan could return to MTV as early as November with the second season of their hit reality show.
( 10/23/2002 05:01 AM PDT)

Cobain's diary reveals tortured man
Kurt Cobain regretted using heroin to ease the pain of a stomach ailment but could not bring himself to stop, and talked of shooting himself, according to excerpts from the late Nirvana star's diaries.
( NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer, 10/23/2002 04:59 AM PDT)

Clooney cans agent over Italian villa
George Clooney has ditched his talent agent amid a furor over a finder's fee for a posh villa in Italy.
( BY CLAUDE BRODESSER AND MICHAEL FLEMING, Reuters, 10/23/2002 04:43 AM PDT)

Canadian Martel wins Booker Prize
Canadian author Yann Martel won Britain's most prestigious literary award, the Booker Prize, with his novel, "Life of Pi."
( 10/22/2002 05:26 PM PDT)

Nev. body ID'd as ex-'Rascals' star
An 87-year-old man found stabbed to death in the desert has been identified as a former child actor in the "Our Gang" film series.
( 10/22/2002 02:23 PM PDT)

2 ex-B'way execs charged with fraud
Former Broadway theater producers Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb were each charged Tuesday with 19 counts of fraud for allegedly doctoring financial statements of Livent Inc., which filed for bankruptcy.
( TOM COHEN, Associated Press Writer, 10/22/2002 10:57 AM PDT)

Restorers remove Bernini beauties' corsets
Restoration works in a Roman church have revealed two bare-breasted beauties designed by Bernini but hidden behind bronze "corsets" for more than 100 years, officials said on Tuesday.
( Reuters, 10/22/2002 10:04 AM PDT)

New Edition reunites for album, tour
New Edition, the first group to popularize the fusion of pop, R&B; and hip-hop known as "New Jack Swing" plans to release its first album in seven years early next year.
( Reuters, 10/22/2002 05:01 AM PDT)

Enron flick bumped from Nov. sweep
CBS has shredded plans to premiere its much-hyped Enron TV movie during the November sweep. The network last week issued a revised movie schedule listing the premiere of James Bond picture "The World is Not Enough" in the Nov. 3 slot, after announcing in September that "The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron" would air that Sunday.
( BY MELISSA GREGO, Reuters, 10/22/2002 04:59 AM PDT)

Germany honors author Gunter Grass
Germany honored Nobel-winning author Gunter Grass with the opening of a center exhibiting his work.
( The Associated Press, 10/22/2002 04:23 AM PDT)