Saint Laurent tops rich dead celeb list
NEW YORK, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent tops Forbes's 2009 list of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities.
He earned $350 million this year, the magazine said on its Web site.
Coming in at No. 2 is the musical theater writing team Rodgers & Hammerstein, which earned $235 million, followed by pop star Michael Jackson at No. 3 with $90 million, rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley at No. 4 with
$55 million and novelist J.R.R. Tolkien at No. 5 with $50 million.
Rounding out the top tier are "Peanuts" comic-strip creator Charles Schulz at No. 6 with $35 million,
singer-songwriter John Lennon at No. 7 with $15 million, children's book scribe Dr. Seuss at No. 8 with $15 million, scientist Albert Einstein at No. 9 with $10 million and author and television producer Michael Crichton at No. 10 with $9 million.
Windsor leaving 'EastEnders' next year
LONDON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Actress Barbara Windsor says she plans to leave the British soap opera "EastEnders" in 2010 after playing character Peggy Mitchell since 1994.
Windsor, 72, told the BBC she wants to spend more time with her husband.
"I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind. 'EastEnders' has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago," the actress told the British broadcaster. "I'm looking forward to the future and I suppose when all's said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man, as he's not getting any younger."
"Barbara has contributed so much to 'EastEnders' over the last 15 years, plus countless episodes, and countless amazing story lines. She has made the Mitchells the premiere family of British soap," added executive producer Diederick Santer. "I so much enjoy working with her -- catching up with the gossip, listening to her stories, talking about the show, benefiting from her advice, and most importantly reveling in her powerful, funny, passionate performances. All of us at 'EastEnders' -- and our audience -- are going to miss her hugely."
Windsor's agent, Barry Burnett, emphasized Windsor isn't giving up acting altogether, however.
"Oh, no, absolutely not. Can you imagine that? Anyone who knows Barbara knows what she's like," he told the BBC.
As of now, it is unclear how Windsor's character will be written off the show.
Lambert: Album cover was meant to be campy
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert says the cover for his debut album, "For Your Entertainment," was meant to be "campy" and "ridiculous."
Lambert appears on the cover wearing heavy makeup and sporting blue hair against a starry backdrop.
"Thank you to those who appreciate and understand that the album cover is deliberately campy. It's an homage to the past. It IS ridiculous," EW.com quoted Lambert as saying in a Twitter posting Wednesday. "For those that don't get it: oh well … Glad to have gotten your attention. Androgyny. Rock n Roll."
The album is due for release Nov. 23.
'Fireflies' top Billboard record chart
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Owl City's "Fireflies" is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart this week, Billboard.com reported Thursday.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Jason DeRulo's "Whatcha Say," followed by Jay Sean's "Down" at No. 3, Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." at No. 4 and Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West's "Run this Town" at No. 5.
Rounding out the top tier are Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" at No. 6, the Black Eyed Peas's "Meet Me Halfway" at No. 7, Britney Spears's "3" at No. 8, the Black Eyed Peas's "I Gotta Feeling" at No. 9 and Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams" at No. 10.
