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Family: Ruffalo's funeral to be private

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A private funeral for Los Angeles hairstylist Scott Ruffalo is being planned, a representative for his film star brother Mark has announced.

Scott Ruffalo died Monday at the age of 39, a week after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. A female suspect in the shooting, who turned herself in to Beverly Hills police after a warrant was issued for her arrest, reportedly has claimed Ruffalo was a regular drug user who was injured while playing the dangerous game of chance, Russian roulette, in his condo.

"Mark Ruffalo and his family deeply appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support during this most difficult time of the passing of Scott Ruffalo, beloved son, brother and husband. The funeral service will be private. A memorial fund has been established in Scott Ruffalo's name," Mark Ruffalo's publicist said in a statement issued on behalf of the family to TMZ.

The representative said donations may be sent to the Scott Ruffalo Family Fund, c/o Altman Greenfield & Selvaggi, CPAs, 200 Park Avenue South, 8th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10003.

Scott Ruffalo is survived by his wife and stepdaughter.

Braxton has benign tumor removed

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. recording artist and former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Toni Braxton says she recently had a benign tumor removed from her breast.

Braxton, 41, told Us Weekly she underwent the operation the week before the "Dancing" finale Nov. 25. She and her professional dance partner Alex Mazo had been eliminated from the show in October.

The mother of two young sons said the lump was discovered during a routine checkup in August, but doctors told her she could go ahead and compete on "Dancing." When a follow-up visit revealed the tumor had grown they decided to remove it.

"I was worried about what they would find, but it was benign," the entertainer told the magazine. "We have family history. My grandmother on my dad's side died of breast cancer, and I have aunts on both sides that have breast cancer ... I was very fortunate. Cancer knows no race, no creed, no color."

O'Brien thrilled about new Leno show

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. television personality Conan O'Brien says he is thrilled Jay Leno has agreed to stay with NBC after O'Brien takes his place as host of "The Tonight Show."

O'Brien made a deal with the network to take over as host of the late-night talk show next June before Leno was ready to retire.

NBC announced Tuesday that Leno would be starting up a new prime-time comedy/talk show on the network next fall.

Speaking on his own "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" show Tuesday night, O'Brien said: "I've had many people calling me today saying: 'What is all this? What's happening?'

"Jay Leno is going to be going in at 10 on NBC," he explained. "I've known about this for a while. I've talked a lot about this with Jay. I am thrilled. I am absolutely thrilled that Jay is staying at NBC. He has been my lead-in on this program for 16 seasons. He is a fantastic lead-in. He is a huge part of my success. I am indebted to Jay Leno. And I love the idea that that relationship is going to continue. He is going to be my lead-in continuing, I hope, for a long, long time. So congratulations to Jay Leno. This is a happy ending. ... Also, I've talked it over with my producer, and that means I can keep doing my Jay Leno impression."

Oprah mad at self for weighing 200 lbs.

CHICAGO, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. media titan and talk show diva Oprah Winfrey says in an upcoming article in her O magazine that she is upset she has let her weight balloon to 200 pounds.

The Chicago Tribune said she writes in the article she weighed 160 pounds in 2006.

"I'm mad at myself," Winfrey is quoted as saying in the piece, which is slated to run in the January issue of O. "I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, 'How did I let this happen again?'"

Admitting she feels like a "fat cow," Winfrey, 54, insisted, however, that her latest plans to lose weight are because she wants to be fit and healthy, not necessarily thin.