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'CSI' star arrested on drug charges

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., April 30 (UPI) -- Police say they arrested TV actor Gary Dourdan for alleged drug possession in Palm Springs, Calif., this week.

Dourdan, who is one of the stars of the long-running crime drama "CSI," was arrested early Monday after police found him apparently sleeping in a car, People.com quoted the Palm Springs Police Department as saying in a statement.

The 41-year-old actor was allegedly in possession of suspected cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and prescription pills at the time of his arrest. An officer investigating the incident said the actor seemed "disoriented" and possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs, People.com said.

The "CSI" star reportedly posted $5,000 bail and was released after five hours in police custody.

People.com said it couldn't immediately reach a representative for the actor for a comment regarding his arrest.

Dourdan is due to be arraigned May 28.

EW.com earlier this month reported Dourdan is planning to leave "CSI." The report said the decision was a mutual one made by the actor and CBS/Paramount, the studio that produces the show for CBS.

Board-breaking man wants 'Oprah' spot

CHICAGO, April 30 (UPI) -- The father of a 10-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis said he is campaigning for a chance to discuss the illness on the Chicago-based "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Alabama native Ronald Werstler has spent a week breaking wood with his hands outside of Harpo Studios in Chicago in a bid to get TV titan Oprah Winfrey to invite him on her show, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.

Werstler, a karate expert, has spent 18 months smashing boards to raise money for treatment for and research into the genetic disease, the newspaper said.

However, a Harpo representative told the Sun-Times Tuesday, "There are no plans at this moment to feature him on the show."

"(Oprah's) security ran me off the other day 'cause I didn't have this $100 permit," said Werstler, an Alabama native.

"I'm just trying to get Oprah Winfrey's attention to help me," he said. "I'm tired of breaking boards."

McKellen to return as Gandalf in 'Hobbit'

LONDON, April 30 (UPI) -- British actor Ian McKellen said he will reprise his "Lord of the Rings" role of Gandalf the wizard in two upcoming big-screen adaptations of "The Hobbit."

"Yes, it's true," McKellen told Empire magazine. "It's not a part that you turn down. I loved playing Gandalf."

Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is to direct the "Hobbit" films, which lead up to Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The new movies are to be released in 2010 and 2011, the BBC said.

The "Lord of the Rings" movies and one of the "Hobbit" films are based on the fantasy novels of author J.R.R. Tolkien.

The second "Hobbit" flick will be an original story set in the 60 years between the ending of the "Hobbit" book and the beginning of the "Rings" trilogy, the BBC said.

"I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role," McKellen told Empire.

"As to how it's going to work over two films and what going to happen on screen, well Guillermo has not got down to working out the major details yet -- I can tell you it's going to be amazing though."

Hudson tops People's 'most beautiful' list

LOS ANGELES, April 30 (UPI) -- Hollywood actress Kate Hudson has topped People magazine's "100 Most Beautiful People" list.

Hudson, 29, has starred in the films "Almost Famous," "Le Divorce," "Raising Helen," "The Skeleton Key" and "You, Me and Dupree."

She is the divorced mother of a 4-year-old boy.

"I was a tomboy," Hudson told People magazine. "I had three brothers. I was the girl with the dress on that always came back in the house filthy with scrapes and bruises. But I was always very girly. I had to be able to twirl so that my underwear showed."