UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

Cornish and Foster win WFCC awards

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Abbie Cornish and Ben Foster were named the best actress and actor of 2009 by the Women Film Critics Circle in New York Wednesday.

Cornish won the award for her work in the film "Bright Star," while Foster picked up the prize for his performance in "The Messenger."

Sidibe Gabourey was declared 2009's best young actress for her debut in "Precious" and Meryl Streep garnered the title of best comedic actress for her portrayal of culinary icon Julia Child in Nora Ephron's "Julie & Julia," a comedy that was also recognized by the WFCC for showing the best equality of the sexes and for being the best movie by a woman.

Tying for the distinction of being the year's best movie about women were "Coco Before Chanel" and "My One and Only."

"Sunshine Cleaning" screenwriter Megan Holley won the honor of being named best woman storyteller, "Seraphine" was declared the best foreign film by or about women and "Up" earned the gong for best family film.

The WFCC's list of 2009 films that showed the best female images included "American Violet," "Amreeka," "The Baader Meinhof Complex," "Inglourious Basterds," "Lemon Tree," "The Messenger," "My Sister's Keeper" and "Sweet Crude."

The TV movie "Grey Gardens" was named the best theatrically unreleased movie by or about women and Anika Noni Rose's portrayal of the character Tiana in "The Princess and the Frog" won the award for best animated female.

Tyler Perry's mother dead at 64

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. actor, writer, director and producer Tyler Perry announced Wednesday his mother, Willie Maxine Perry, has died at the age of 64.

The 40-year-old filmmaker confirmed his mother's death on his Web site and thanked his fans for their prayers, but did not offer any details about the woman's death, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Perry has said his mother, a former pre-school teacher, was the inspiration for his iconic Madea character.

In addition to his hit "Madea" films, Perry is also known for his popular TV series "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns."

Man loses 239 lbs., wins 'Biggest Loser'

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 10 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma man lost 239 pounds and won the top prize of $250,000 on the Season 8 finale of TV's "The Biggest Loser," NBC said Wednesday.

Danny Cahill, a 40-year-old land surveyor, musician and father of two from Broken Arrow, Okla., was declared the show's winner Tuesday night.

He started the show several months ago at 430 pounds and ended weighing in at 191 pounds, breaking the record for the most weight lost by any contestant in the history of the show, the network said.

Rudy Pauls from Brooklyn, Conn., was the runner-up. He began the show at 442 pounds and weighed 208 pounds at the finale.

The winner of this season's $100,000 "at home" prize among eliminated contestants went to Rebecca Meyer, a 25-year-old student and nanny from Des Moines, Iowa. She started the show weighing 279 pounds and ended at 140 pounds.

The finale also featured Antoine Dove surprising his fellow previously eliminated contestant Alexandra White with a marriage proposal, which she accepted.

Bundchen gives birth to a boy

BOSTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen has given birth to a boy, her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, confirmed Wednesday.

Usmagazine.com said Brady described the child's birth as "a wonderful experience in my life."

He also said his wife and his as-yet-unnamed son are in good health.

This is the first child for the couple, who married last February.

Brady also has a 2-year-old son from a prior relationship.