'Madea's Family Reunion' tops box office
HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- In its debut week, "Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion" grossed $30 million and topped the U.S. box office, estimated boxofficempojo.com, Sunday.
"Eight Below" made $16 million last week for a total box office of $45 million, "The Pink Panther" made $11 million for a total box office of $61 million and "Date Movie" made $9 million for a total box office of $34 million.
"Curious George" made $7 million for a total box office of $43 million, "Firewall" made $6 million for a total box office of $37 million, while "Final Destination 3" made $5 million for a total box office of $45 million.
In their premier week, "Doogal" grossed $3.6 million and "Running Scared" grossed $3 million.
"Freedomland" made $2.9 million for a total box office of $11 million.
French Cesar Awards handed out
PARIS, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The thriller "De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté (The Beat that My Heart Skipped)" won eight French Cesar Awards during the ceremony in Paris.
It was named best film and won best director for Jacques Audiard, while Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby" was named best foreign film, the BBC reported Sunday.
An honorary achievement Cesar was awarded to British actor Hugh Grant.
"I don't win a lot of prizes, especially at home," Grant said in French. "Thank you France."
Michel Bouquet was named best actor for playing the late President Francois Mitterrand in "Le Promeneur du champ de Mars (The Stroller in the Champs de Mars)," and Natalie Baye won the best actress award for "Le Petit lieutenant (The Little Lieutenant)."
The start of the ceremony was delayed for about 20 minutes by a demonstration by film workers, the BBC said. While 200 protesters demonstrated outside, a dozen activists seeking more rights for temporary employees rushed the stage.
Ventriloquist Rickie Layne dead at 81
TARZANA, Calif., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Ventriloquist Rickie Layne, who frequently appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" with his dummy Velvel, has died in California at age 81.
The former Borscht Belt comic and longtime resident of Northridge, Calif., died at Tarzana Hospital Feb. 11 of heart failure, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Nat King Cole discovered Layne and Velvel -- the opening act for his wife, Maria at Ciro's along the Sunset Strip in 1955 -- and cut an unusual deal with Ed Sullivan: Put him on his Sunday night variety show and if he bombed, Cole would appear, himself, at no charge, the Times said.
Layne's Sullivan debut was Jan. 1, 1956. He went on to appear on the popular variety show several dozen times, the newspaper said.
Layne went on to play the Copacabana in New York, the Chez Paree in Chicago, the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles and Caesars Palace, the Flamingo and the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.
Among his film credits was Disney's "The Shaggy D.A." He also appeared on TV's "Night Court" in 1986.
He received the International Ventriloquist Association's Askins Award for lifetime achievement in 2002.
His wife of 56 years died in 2002. He is survived by three daughters and four granddaughters.
Rhymes reported to be in Los Angeles
NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Rap superstar Busta Rhymes is in Los Angeles, reportedly "afraid" to return to New York, where his bodyguard was shot to death three weeks ago.
Rhymes has refused to talk to New York police as they try to solve the slaying of Israel Ramirez, 29, outside a Brooklyn studio where Rhymes was recording his video, "Touch It (Remix)."
Police believe Rhymes was standing nearby when the shooting occurred.
"He's in L.A. now ... and is afraid to come back to New York and get served with a subpoena," a high-ranking police source told the New York Daily News.
A spokeswoman for Rhymes refused to confirm his whereabouts, the newspaper said.
In addition to Rhymes, DMX, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige were believed to have been nearby when the shooting broke out, police have said.
The gunman may have been with a member of 50 Cent's G-Unit, Tony Yayo, who earlier argued with Rhymes' producer during the video shoot, investigators have said. However, none of the stars or alleged witnesses at the scene have agreed to police interviews.
Rhymes has not appeared in public since Ramirez's Feb. 9 wake, the newspaper said.
