Peter Robbins
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BirthDate BirthPlace |
08/09/1956
Encino, CA |
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Unhappy Hour: 'American Idol' Makes a Devastating Change, Gatsby's Mistake & More Pop Culture Headaches
May 11, 2013 11:08am ESTEvery week, Hollywood gives us something to whine about, and the week of May 6 was no different. We could make a drinking game out of this week, but that would be too dangerous. Instead, we'll stick to the usual formula: varying levels of alcoholic respite depending on how bothersome the week's issues are. Is your biggest complaint this week a flimsy one? How about a light cocktail to take the edge off? Got a real bone to pick with a celeb or entertainment entity this week? Go ahead, grab a drink that'll put hair on your chest. Here are the week's entertainment stories that are forcing us to seek a bubbly or boozy refuge. And maybe an idea or two about how you should wash them down. Lighten Up With a Mint Julep Randy Jackson is leaving American Idol, further cementing the show's descent into pop culture past. We actually love Anne Hathaway's loud blonde 'do. She stepped out with her new locks at the Met Gala on Monday. We're jealous we didn't come up with this Ryan Gosling Meme. But we're pretty proud of finding it. Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend is hotter than we are, at least according to the Maxim Hot 100. We have mixed feelings about the public's reaction to Charles Ramsey. Especially this auto-tune of his heroic interview: Wash This Week Down With a Gin Gimlet Amanda Bynes is following in Lindsey Lohan's footsteps again. This time, by getting out of her deserved punishments. The Great Gatsby movie is missing some very important scenes from the book. And it would have been so much better if it wasn't. Twitter doesn't seem to think much of Elisha Cuthbert. They deemed her expression at her boyfriend's hockey game a b***h face. We beg to differ. The sexiest vampire couple ever, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder of The Vampire Diaries (sorry, Robsten) has broken up. Perhaps Somerhalder has moved on to his true love: Grumpy cat. Hit the Harder Stuff With a Bourbon Highball Abercrombie & Fitch doesn't want fat customers. Or says the CEO, in a recently revealed (and reviled) statement. Charlie Brown goes to rehab. Or, the voice actor who played Charlie Brown goes to rehab, but it still hurts, right in the childhood memories. We lost too many wonderful Hollywood faces this week, like Bryan Forbes, Jeanne Cooper, Ottavio Missoni, and of course, film legend Ray Harryhausen. Follow Kelsea on Twitter @KelseaStahler From Our Partners:What Happened to 33 Child Stars (Celebuzz)40 Most Revealing See-Through Red Carpet Looks (Vh1)
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Good Grief! Charlie Brown Voice Actor Peter Robbins Sentenced to Rehab
May 09, 2013 2:56pm ESTCharlie Brown has been placed in time out. Peter Robbins, the actor who voiced Charlie Brown in the Peanuts films like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! and A Charlie Brown Christmas, has been sentenced to go to rehab for stalking his ex-girlfriend, the San Diego County District Attorney tells Hollywood.com. "The defendant, Mr. Robbins, was sentenced yesterday to five years probation and 365 days in custody by Superior Court Judge Dwayne Moring," the DA says. But because "Mr. Robbins has already served 110 days in custody and has ‘good time’ credits for 110 for a total of 220 days credit, the court ordered that the balance of the 365 days is stayed pending successful completion of a residential rehabilitation program." Put simply, he has to spend the remainder of his sentence in rehab. Robbins — who plead guilty last month to threatening and stalking his ex-girlfriend and her plastic surgeon — has to spend at least eight months at a residential treatment center, the court mandated. He also was ordered to pay $15,081.90 "in restitution to the victim he stalked" and he's ordered to away from her for 10 years. This story makes us feel more down than Charlie Brown in this classic clip: Follow Lindsey on Twitter @LDiMat More:Charlie Brown Actor Pleads Not GuiltyCharlie Brown Actor ArrestedKate Moss: Naked and Beautiful From Our Partners:What Happened to 33 Child Stars (Celebuzz)40 Most Revealing See-Through Red Carpet Looks (Vh1)
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Charlie Brown voice actor sent to rehab
May 08, 2013 10:15pm ESTVoice actor Peter Robbins avoided further jail time on Wednesday (08May13) as he was sent to rehab for stalking a former lover and her cosmetic surgeon. The 56-year-old Peanuts star, who was the original voice of Charlie Brown on TV, was sentenced to a year behind bars, but was then released to a drug treatment centre, where he will carry out the rest of his punishment. Robbins, who has been in jail for four months already, will spend the next eight months in rehab receiving professional help for alcoholism and an addiction to prescription medication, but faces four years behind bars if he violates his probation. Quoting the beloved kids' cartoon, Superior Court Judge Dwayne Morning told the former child star, "Don't be a blockhead." According to the Associated Press, Robbins was placed on five years' probation and was also ordered to pay $15,000 (£9,700) in restitution to the doctor who performed a breast augmentation on his ex-girlfriend Shawna Kern.
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Charlie Brown voice actor pleads guilty in threat case
April 11, 2013 10:01am ESTVoice actor Peter Robbins has appeared in court to admit threatening and stalking his former lover and a cosmetic surgeon. The 56 year old, who voiced the character of Charlie Brown in the original Peanuts TV series, was charged with making criminal threats and stalking following a bitter dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Shawna Kern, and the doctor who performed a breast augmentation on her. Robbins is said to have turned nasty after the couple split, and demanded a refund on the money he paid for the operation. He appeared in court in January (13) to deny the charges, but during a hearing in San Diego, California on Wednesday (10Apr13), he changed his plea to guilty. Robbins is due in court for sentencing next month (May13) and faces up to three years in prison.
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Good Grief! Charlie Brown Voice Actor Charged with Stalking: 6 NSFW Moments in Kids’ TV
January 24, 2013 10:13am ESTTalk about having the proverbial football pulled out from under your childhood dreams. CNN reports that Peter Robbins, the actor who as a kid lent his voice to Charlie Brown in the perennial holiday classics A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), has been arrested on 12 felony charges of allegedly stalking his ex-girlfriend. The former child performer, now 56, pleaded not guilty on Jan. 23, but if he's convicted he could face up to nine years in prison. Quite frankly, no one should be surprised by this. Any 11-year-old who's concerned as much about the over-commercialism of American culture as Charlie Brown is bound to have issues as an adult. The funny thing is, inappropriate behavior associated with kids TV cartoons usually is confined to the cartoons themselves. (I know what you're thinking, and Pee-wee's Playhouse was live action!) The Charlie Brown specials were not only wholesome but outright vanilla compared to these six wildly inappropriate moments in children's TV. Let's hope the voice actors involved, let alone the kids who watched these borderline NSFW clips, have gotten the therapy they need. 6. Rocko's Modern Life: You Milk Cows, Not Bulls Rocko's bovine pal Heffer already had some major identity confusion. For one, he's a steer who was raised by wolves. For another, his name is a play on "heifer," referring to a female cow, even though he's a male. This fluid concept of Heffer's gender reaches its climax, and quite possibly so does Heffer, when he's hooked up to an electrical milking machine. Again, he is a male cow. So since he doesn't possess an udder, to what exactly was this device hooked up? 5. Batman: The Animated Series: "Rev Up Your Harley" Being a supervillain is so stressful. There's all that lurking and hiding in secret lairs, all that brainpower devoted to hatching elaborate schemes. You're bound to neglect your girlfriend, as the Joker's moll Harley Quinn discovered. Looking for a little "action," but not of the criminal kind, Harley asks the Joker, "Don't you want to rev up your Harley? Vroom! Vroom!" 4. Bugs Bunny Is In Drag...A Lot Not that there's anything inherently wrong with dressing in drag, but when you do it as often as Bugs does, and more often than not to inspire bestial lust in the heart of a stuttering, backwoods hunter, there may be cause for concern. 3. Animaniacs: Finger Prints or Finger Prince? This is either the most subtle double entendre in a kids cartoon ever or the most blatant single entendre. I can't decide which. Watch it a few times and let it sink in. I mean...not in that way...just, whatever. 2. The Magic Schoolbus Kids Learn How Little Salmon Are Made It's questionable for young kids to be learning about the fertilization of salmon eggs. More questionable for said fertilization to be visualized. But it's downright bonkers to have the kids be miniaturized and trapped inside the eggs over which the male salmon have done their business. 1. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Whatever This Is... Wow. And Jerry Falwell got upset about Tinky Winky? Follow Christian Blauvelt on Twitter @Ctblauvelt [Photo Credit: Peanuts] More: Elmo Performer Kevin Clash Resigns from 'Sesame Street' From Our Partners: Celebs as Kids: Guess Who? (Celebuzz) Craziest Celebrity Swimsuits Ever (Celebuzz)
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Charlie Brown voice actor pleads not guilty to making threats
January 24, 2013 6:15am ESTThe 56 year old, who is best known for voicing animated Peanuts character Charlie Brown, is said to have paid for the enhancement procedure and demanded his money back from the surgeon after the couple split. He faces two counts of stalking and 10 counts of criminal threats, and entered a not guilty plea in San Diego Superior Court in California on Wednesday (23Jan13). According to Reuters, Robbins is currently behind bars with bail set at $550,000 (£344,000), and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 22 March (13). The voice artist was arrested by border security officers in San Diego after a background check turned up an active warrant for his arrest.
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Charlie Brown voice actor arrested
January 23, 2013 9:15am ESTThe 56 year old, who is best known for voicing animated Peanuts character Charlie Brown, was taken into custody at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the early hours of Monday morning (21Jan13) after a background check turned up an active warrant for his arrest. The star is facing a total of five felony charges, including one count of stalking and another for making a threat to cause death or great bodily injury. He is being held on $550,000 (£343,750) bond and is due to be arraigned on Wednesday (23Jan13), according to local publication San Diego Union Tribune.
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Review of the Year
December 31, 2011 4:00am ESTJanuary The new year began with wedding bells for many couples including singer Shania Twain, who married her fiance Frederic Thiebaud in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, while country star Kellie Pickler and actress Valerie Bertinelli also walked down the aisle on 1 January. The new year brought baby news for a number of celebrity couples - Orlando Bloom and his wife Miranda Kerr became first-time parents with the birth of their son Flynn. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem also welcomed a son, and Owen Wilson became a father just days after he announced his girlfriend's pregnancy. Nicole Kidman also hit headlines when she and her husband Keith Urban revealed they welcomed a daughter called Faith via a surrogate mother over the holidays. There was also pregnancy news for actress Kate Hudson, who announced she was expecting a baby with Muse rocker Matt Bellamy, as well as Marion Cotillard, Jewel, Selma Blair and Victoria Beckham, who confirmed she was pregnant with her fourth child. However, the first few weeks of 2011 also brought a slew of celebrity splits - Keira Knightley ended her longtime romance with actor Rupert Friend, Shakira parted ways with Antonio de la Rua, her boyfriend of more than 10 years, and Mila Kunis and Macaulay Culkin separated after eight years together. Many stars saw in the new year by addressing their personal problems, and a number of famous faces went in and out of rehab in the first few weeks of 2011. Lindsay Lohan and Demi Lovato both ended long treatment stints in January, while David Arquette, Backstreet Boys star A.J. McLean and his bandmate Nick Carter's younger brother Aaron all enrolled in programs. Troubled actor Charlie Sheen also admitted himself to a clinic just weeks after he was hospitalised to treat a hernia, and he later admitted he turned to booze to blot out the pain of the medical condition. Sheen’s rehab stint forced TV bosses to shut down production on his show Two and a Half Men. Another colourful character to hit the headlines in January was British funnyman Ricky Gervais, who managed to cause controversy during his stint as Golden Globes host. The comedian was condemned by organisers for poking fun at celebrity guests including Robert Downey, Jr., Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks during the glitzy prizegiving. The month held good news for veteran actor Michael Douglas as he was given the all-clear after a gruelling battle with throat cancer. His wife Catherine Zeta-Jones subsequently admitted she cried tears of joy when doctors told the couple the actor had beaten the disease. Poison rocker Bret Michaels also overcame a health crisis after undergoing successful surgery to close a hole in his heart. January also saw the loss of a number of great stars including Oscar-winning James Bond theme composer John Barry, and Scottish musician Gerry Rafferty, who passed away after suffering liver failure. The world of Hollywood was again plunged into mourning following the death of British actor Pete Postlethwaite, who died at the age of 64. February As awards season got into full swing, The King's Speech was the toast of Hollywood after scooping four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for the movie's star, Colin Firth, and Best Director for Tom Hooper, while Natalie Portman fought back tears as she walked away with the Best Actress honour for her role as a tormented ballet dancer in Black Swan. It was a different story at the Independent Spirit Awards, where Black Swan trounced its rivals, picking up four honours including Best Director for Darren Aronofsky. In the world of music, Lady Gaga's incredible rise continued as she picked up three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, but her achievements were overshadowed by country trio Lady Antebellum, who scored five accolades, and the shock win for Canadian rockers Arcade Fire in the prestigious Album of the Year category for their disc The Suburbs. Across the pond at the Brit Awards in London, Arcade Fire were again bathed in glory when they were handed the International Group and International Album honours, while newcomer Tinie Tempah crowned a triumphant 12 months by taking home the British Breakthrough Act and British Single titles. Rihanna was named Best International Female solo star, and Justin Bieber was named the International Breakthrough Act of the year. Away from the red carpet, it was a bleak month for My Name Is Earl actress Jaime Pressly, who was charged with driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, who was underwent an operation to remove a growth from her foot, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who was hospitalised with a flesh-eating bug, and Dame Judi Dench, who broke two of her toes on the set of her new movie J. Edgar. There were also woes for Rihanna, whose raunchy promo film for single S&M provoked outrage around the world and was banned in 11 countries, actress Eliza Dushku, who broke a finger on holiday, and fashion king John Galliano, who was suspended and later sacked by Christian Dior after he was filmed launching an anti-Semitic rant at stunned drinkers in a bar in Paris, France. Rock duo the White Stripes stunned the music world when they announced they were splitting up after 14 years, and Lady Gaga's much-hyped new single Born This Way was unveiled to a barrage of accusations she had ripped off Madonna's classic Express Yourself. But there was good news for older music fans, as '60s icons The Monkees announced they were reuniting for a U.K. tour. Loved up celebrity couples Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, and Anna Friel and Rhys Ifans, both confirmed their engagements, and there were wedding bells for Kelsey Grammer - who married for the fourth time - and Mark Ronson and Katherine Jenkins, who both announced their respective engagements. Among the stars hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet this month were Christina Applegate, who gave birth to a daughter, magician David Blaine, who became a first-time father to a baby girl, reggae star Zac Marley, rocker Rod Stewart, Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon, and No Doubt star Tom Dumont. Jude Law continued his unlucky-in-love streak when he split - yet again - from Sienna Miller, Iron Man star Terrence Howard was hit with divorce papers, Olivia Wilde split from her husband after eight years, and celebrity couple Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz announced their marriage was over. The world of showbiz bid farewell to guitar legend Gary Moore, who died aged 58, blues legend Eddie Kirkland died in a car crash at the age of 88, Seinfeld star Len Lesser succumbed to pneumonia aged 88, and The Dukes of Hazzard actress Peggy Rea, who passed away at the age of 89. March Tinseltown lost one of its brightest lights in March after movie icon Dame Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79. Tributes from the world of showbiz poured in for the Cleopatra legend, with Sir Elton John, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli leading the heartfelt remembrances. The acting great was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where her dear friend Michael Jackson was also laid to rest in 2009. March was also marked by controversy as a host of famous faces found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Pop star Christina Aguilera was arrested for drunkenness in West Hollywood, while Boardwalk Empire beauty Pas de la Huerta was also apprehended after a bar fight in New York City. Jackass daredevil Steve-O was taken into custody in Canada on an outstanding warrant, and rapper Rick Ross got caught smoking marijuana in a Louisiana hotel room. But it was Charlie Sheen who really gave fans something to talk about after he was fired from Two and a Half Men following months of public feuding with writer/creator Chuck Lorre. Days later, cops raided Sheen's Los Angeles home to investigate a tip that the troubled star was in violation of a court order by keeping a gun in the house. March also brought one of the year's most devastating tragedies as Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which then created an enormous tidal wave. More than 15,000 people perished in the disaster and Slash, Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas and the Foo Fighters were among the big-name acts who staged gigs to raise money for victims, while actresses Sandra Bullock and Demi Lovato also donated $1 million (£625,000) each to boost relief efforts. Back in Hollywood, there was plenty of heartache as Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel ended their romance, Renee Zellweger called it quits with Bradley Cooper and Twilight beauty Ashley Greene split from Joe Jonas. But love was most definitely in the air for Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, who married showbiz agent Jim Toth in a romantic ceremony at her California home. Canadian crooner Michael Buble also wed stunning supermodel Luisana Lopilato in a civil ceremony in her native Argentina. Celebrations were in order for former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who announced she and husband Stephen Belafonte were expecting their first child together. Actors Robert De Niro and Mel Gibson became proud grandfathers in March, while Elizabeth Banks also became a first-time mother to a baby boy, born via surrogate. Emily Deschanel confirmed she was expecting her first child with actor husband David Hornsby, while Cruel Intentions star Ryan Phillippe also had baby news after the tabloids reported that his ex-girlfriend, actress Alexis Knapp, was pregnant. There was a health scare on the cards for tennis ace Serena Williams after she was hospitalised with a blood clot in her lungs, while fears for Zsa Zsa Gabor's wellbeing mounted when she began coughing up blood and suffered circulation problems in her left leg. There was a close call for actor David Arquette after he was in a head-on car crash in Los Angeles, and Glee star Lea Michele was also involved in a smash when her car was struck by a drunk driver. Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean had a lucky escape after he was shot in the hand during a visit to his native Haiti, while James Taylor suffered a broken leg in a skiing accident in Utah. Courtroom battles loomed for Britney Spears, who was hit with a $10 million (£6.25 million) lawsuit over a perfume deal, and Jay-Z was accused of trademark infringement over the logo for Roc Nation. Even clean-cut teen pop sensation Justin Bieber found himself named in court papers after a songwriting duo sued over claims they hadn't received royalties for his hit song One Less Lonely Girl. April There were births, marriages and bust-ups galore as Spring sprung in April (11), but only one subject was on everyone's lips - the royal wedding. Celebs and commoners alike got carried away in the buzz of the big day on 29 April, when brunette beauty Kate Middleton walked down the aisle with her very own Prince Charming, William. Who would design the dress? Who would be invited? Would best man Harry fall for bridesmaid Pippa? But all questions fell by the wayside on the morning of the magical day, as Britain and two billion viewers across the world came to a standstill to watch the future Queen of England step out of her Rolls-Royce wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen lace gown to huge cheers from the crowd. The pair wed in front of 1,900 quests, including Queen Elizabeth II, the entire royal family, and even showbiz royalty Victoria and David Beckham, and left London's Westminster Abbey to great fanfare as the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But Kate didn't hog all the limelight - who can forget the backing support of her sister Pippa, hailed Her Royal Hotness thanks to that figure-hugging dress and her much-discussed derriere? The wedding was of fairytale proportions, one even our favourite celebs couldn't compete with - but that didn’t stop them from trying! Canadian crooner Michael Buble was one of the biggest stars to walk down the aisle in April (11) - his second set of nuptials to stunning fiancee Luisana Lopilato following their original wedding day in March (11). Controversial couple LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian also wed in a private ceremony in Malibu, which was a surprise for guests - they thought they were there for the pair's engagement party! Funnyman Rob Schneider also joined the marriage club, exchanging vows with fiancee Patricia Azarcoya Arce over the Easter Weekend. The marriage mood of the month gave many stars ideas; the likes of Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy, and Tom Fletcher and his longtime girlfriend became engaged. Despite love being in the air, some unions were destined to end - Elizabeth Hurley started divorce proceedings against her millionaire husband Arun Nayar, while Christina Aguilera's five-year marriage to Jordan Bratman was declared officially over. After marriage must come babies, and April was awash with stars welcoming newborns. Superstar Mariah Carey welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe, and in true diva style, gave birth to them on her fourth wedding anniversary to Nick Cannon. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and Black Eyed Peas rapper Taboo both welcomed their third sons, while Jane Krakowski, Kevin James, Toni Collette and Drea De Matteo all also became parents to baby boys. Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal was an exception to the rule - he became the proud father of a baby girl. But with ups, there must be downs - and nobody does scandal like the stars. Teen sensation Demi Lovato stunned her legions of loyal fans by opening up about the emotional issues which landed her in rehab earlier in the year, revealing she was battling an eating disorder and cut herself at her lowest moments. Charlie Sheen continued his madcap ways by embarking on a comedy tour following his sacking from Two and a Half Men - only to get booed offstage on his first night, with critics calling his stand-up debut an "epic failure". Bond fans mourned April as the month Sir Sean Connery announced he was retiring from public appearances after he failed to show up to a charity event in New York. Lindsay Lohan was back in trouble - and in court - when a judge decided she'd had enough of the actress' antics and sentenced her to 120 days behind bars for violating her probation. Nicolas Cage hit the headlines when he was arrested on domestic violence charges following a street bust-up with his wife in New Orleans, and Vince Neil was also in hot water for domestic violence - his ex-girlfriend accused him of jabbing a finger at her during an argument. However, the biggest shock came when Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones checked into a mental health facility to overcome her bipolar disorder. The stint in the clinic came after a tough year for the Oscar-winner following husband Michael Douglas' cancer battle. April was a sad month for actor Tim Robbins, who tragically lost his father, Gil, and his mother, Mary, within days of each other. The punk world was left in mourning when X-Ray Spex legend Poly Styrene lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53, while British actress Elisabeth Sladen, Dr Who's longest running sidekick, also passed away after a fight with the disease. May May was a shocking month as Hollywood tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger split from his wife of 25 years Maria Shriver, only to reveal later on in the month he had fathered a lovechild with their housekeeper 13 years earlier. Although the scandal rocked Hollywood, he wasn't the only one heading for splitsville - Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller became officially divorced, as did actress Neve Campbell and James Bond star George Lazenby. Lady Gaga also split from boyfriend Luc Carl, while Hayden Panettiere ended her romance with her boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko. Girls Aloud beauty Nadine Coyle also became single after calling off her engagement to American footballer Jason Bell. But it wasn't all doom and gloom - Beatles legend Sir Paul Mccartney announced he was engaged to marry for the third time, to American Nancy Shevell, while director Sophia Coppolla and reality star Kim Kardashian also announced plans to walk down the aisle. As for marriages, Marie Osmond remarried her first husband Stephen Craig, 29 years after they first exchanged vows and in the same wedding dress. Wedding bells also rang for Kings Of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and Victoria's Secret supermodel Lily Aldridge, while country king and queen Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert also became man and wife in Texas. New romances between Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge, as well as Nick Jonas and Australian pop star Delta Goodrem also came to light. It was a baby boom month, with many stars becoming parents for the first time. Rockers Bryan Adams and Matthew Followill, actors David Schwimmer and Mike Myers, and actresses Alicia Silverstone, Marion Cotillard and Lost's Evangeline Lilly all became first-time parents. Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton welcomed her second son. French first lady Carla Bruni and actress Bryce Dallas Howard were also celebrating pregnancies. But it was a sad month for British actress Kelly Brook, who suffered a miscarriage. Other sad news in May came when Grease actor Jeff Conaway passed away at the age of 60, sending Hollywood into mourning. Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper died two days before his 77th birthday and Superman star Jackie Cooper also died, aged 88. The month started with the shock news that al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been shot dead in Pakistan. Other stars facing struggles included Sean Kingston, who was involved in a horrific jet-ski crash, while veteran actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was also hospitalised with pneumonia-type symptoms and fell into a coma. It was also a controversial month for Lindsay Lohan, who started a 120-day jail term in the comfort of her own home for parole violation. British rocker Pete Doherty was also jailed for six months for cocaine possession. Other stars facing woes included Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Friends star Matthew Perry and boxer/singer Oscar De La Hoya, who were all submitted in to rehab programs. It was an embarrassing month for British singer Cheryl Cole, who was hired, then fired to sit on the judging panel of America's The X Factor. In music news for the month, Silverchair announced they were to split, Rod Stewart announced a Las Vegas residency, while it was a big movie month as the Cannes Film Festival in France also kicked off. While Brad Pitt was hailed at the glitzy event, with his film Tree Of Life winning the coveted Palme d'Or prize for Best Film, it was a bad experience for director Lars Von Trier, who was banned from the festival for controversial statements he made about Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during the festivities. June As summer blossomed, June marked a baby boom in Hollywood. Pop star Pink became a first-time mum at the beginning of the month when she welcomed little Willow, while drummer Adrian Young added to the No Doubt family with daughter Magnolia. Natalie Portman became a yummy mummy to son Aleph, actress Tia Mowry also welcomed a little boy, and model/actress Devon Aoki was another addition to the first-time mum club with the arrival of Hunter. Denise Richards made headlines when she announced she'd adopted a baby, Eloise, into her brood, while Meat Loaf became a grandfather when his daughter Pearl Aday gave birth to a baby boy. Lindsay Price and Nia Long also announced their pregnancies in June, as did Lily Allen - whose baby news went public on the same day she married partner Sam Cooper. Lily's wedding wasn't the only one at the start of summer - Rachel Weisz married actor Daniel Craig following a whirlwind romance and Noel Gallagher put his wild ways behind him after exchanging vows with longterm partner Sara MacDonald. However, the month was marred by a string of high-profile splits - David Duchovny and Tea Leoni separated just two years after reconciling following the actor's sex addiction admission, Jack White parted ways with model/singer wife Karen Elson after six years of marriage, and Hugh Hefner was dumped by fiancee Crystal Harris - just days before their planned wedding. Elizabeth Hurley's divorce from Arun Nayar was granted, and George Clooney split from Elisabetta Canalis. There were health dramas aplenty - pop princesses Selena Gomez and Jennifer Hudson were hospitalised within days of each other. Both stars were forced to pull performances, and getwellselena even became a top trending topic on Twitter.com as fans rallied to support the Disney idol. Gomez later revealed she was malnourished and feeling exhausted, while Hudson was diagnosed with a severe bout of food poisoning. The music world was left reeling when legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who had worked with Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga, died from complications stemming from a major stroke. The rocker led the tributes to his pal, declaring, "His loss is immeasurable and we are honoured and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years." TV fans were also left in mourning following the passing of Columbo star Peter Falk at the age of 83, while legendary TV cowboy James Arness also died. In other June news, the vampires from Twilight overpowered the magical Harry Potter kids at the MTV Movie Awards, taking home five golden popcorn prizes to their film franchise rival cast's one. The CMT Awards took place in Nashville, Tennessee just days later and newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert dominated the ceremony - picking up three of the nine top honours between them. But it was a bad month for their country music rival Trace Adkins when his Tennessee home was destroyed by fire. The month was special for U2 when they headlined Britain's iconic Glastonbury festival after a year-long wait - they were forced to pull out of the event in 2010 after frontman Bono underwent surgery on his back. In a spooky echo of U2's concert drama, pop star Jessie J was forced to axe several summer shows after undergoing emergency surgery on her broken foot – but still fulfilled her duties at Glastonbury, performing while perched on a red and gold throne.
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For Your Consideration: Guillermo Del Toro's Mimic
August 25, 2011 8:11am ESTTomorrow sees the long overdue release of Troy Nixey’s Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, and while normally if a shot-and-in-the-can horror movie’s road to the big screen is as long winded as Dark’s, it means the movie is a stinker. However, Nixey’s film is an eerie, entertaining, spook house flick—with a premise that’s far more interesting than most of its “generic white family moves into the wrong big ‘ole house in the country” brethern. So in honor of the film finally opening, today’s For Your Consideration tips its digital hat to the man who shepherded the film (which is actually a remake of a ‘70s made-for-TV movie), from page to screen: Guillermo Del Toro. There’s plenty to choose from when it comes to this Mexican-born filmmaker, but his more readily loved films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone are fairly similar to Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (a young kid with a crappy home life deals with the supernatural), which is precisely why now is a perfect time to dive into one of his overlooked films: the 1997 creature feature, Mimic. Plus Mimic is on Netflix, which certainly makes narrowing down the choice a lot easier. Who Made It: Guillermo Del Toro directed from a script co-written with Matthew Robbins (the duo also wrote Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark) based off of a short story by Donald A. Wollheim. Who is In It: Mira Sorvino, Josh Brolin, Charles S. Dutton, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeremy Northam. What’s It About: Cockroaches have begun spreading a highly infectious and fatal disease around Manhattan. Children are dying left and right and the only immediate hope comes from a pair of entomologists (Sorvino and Northam) who decide to solve the problem by releasing a genetically-engineered, roach-killing insect into the wild. This “Judas Breed” does exactly what it’s supposed to and the children of NYC are safe once again. Until years later, of course, when the Judas Breed has evolved into a highly efficient man-killer. Why You Should Watch It: There are plenty of reasons to check out Mimic, but for the sake of this article and Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark on the immediate horizon, it’s worth your consideration solely because it’s unlike Del Toro’s other films. Sure, he’s still working with many of his now-familiar cinematic fetishes (intricate creature design, and dank, dark places hiding inhuman species), but he’s also working within the confines of the studio system. While this no doubt resulted in a slightly different film than Del Toro set out to make (his director’s cut finally hits DVD/Blu-ray this fall), I actually think that makes the film all the more interesting. There is no reason a B-level creature feature from Dimension Films should look this good. Hell, looking over the last 20 years of the studio’s history, Mimic is actually the best looking films they’ve ever made. The picture is layered with texture and depth and personality, giving every shot a lived-in, real world feel that you just never find in movies about killer insects. It’s this “We could have cut corners, but why would we?” attitude that elevates the entire film. On the surface, there’s nothing too inspired about its script or its cast, but when they come together under the charge of Del Toro, there’s an electric current that unites it all. Mimic isn’t just another B-movie creature feature, it never ironically indulges its roots, but instead it treats the material with the utmost sincerity. That’s what makes Del Toro such an interesting filmmaker to me; sure, he’s got a bold cinematic eye, and, sure, I like his macabre fairytale style. But more than anything, I appreciate that he doesn’t look down at his audience. His films aren’t saying, “This is what you want, isn’t it?” but rather, “This is what I’m going to offer, take it or leave it.” And though he didn’t direct Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, that’s definitely the deal that’s on the table. Some people won’t be into it, but if you’re willing to go on Mimic’s bizarre ride, I have a feeling you’ll be digging the Dark as well.
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Geoffrey Rush To Voice Tomar-Re In 'Green Lantern'
March 31, 2011 6:13am ESTHaving been to the set of Warner Bros. summer tent pole Green Lantern, I was aware of how producer Donald De Line and director Martin Campbell were aiming for the highest-caliber voice talent to bring linguistic life to a slew of the films CG-rendered characters, but I wouldn't have guessed that Geoffrey Rush would eventually sign up to lend his theatrical talents to the fan favorite Lantern Tomar-Re. Nevertheless, that's what The Hollywood Reporter is claiming today as the film nears completion and its June 17th release date. It'll make for a busy summer for the Oscar-winning actor and producer (who just took home a statue for shepherding The King's Speech), who reprises his beloved role as Captain Barbossa in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides a month before Green Lantern hits theaters. Though it seems a tad late in the game to be doing casting of any kind on a big-budget film like this, the source notes that bringing on vocal talent at the eleventh hour is commonplace in huge Hollywood productions like this $150 million superhero spectacle. For those not geeky enough to know about the DC Comics mythology, Tomar-Re was an extraterrestrial scientist before becoming a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps. After joining, one of his major responsibilities on the Corps' home planet Oa was to train new recruits, a job he'll perform in the film on Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan. With awkward avian features and a cool attitude, he's been one of the most well received secondary characters in Green Lantern's long history, so it's not only a joy to have him included in the film but a major coup to have an actor as great as Rush portraying him. Green Lantern also stars Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins, Angela Bassett and many more. Source: THR
