Obamas pay tribute to the late Lena Horne
WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama says he and his wife, Michelle, were saddened to hear about the death of entertainer Lena Horne this week at the age of 92.
"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Lena Horne -- one of our nation's most cherished entertainers," Obama said in a statement issued Monday.
"Over the years, she warmed the hearts of countless Americans with her beautiful voice and dramatic performances on screen," the president added. "From the time her grandmother signed her up for an NAACP membership as a child, she worked tirelessly to further the cause of justice and equality. In 1940, she became the first African-American performer to tour with an all white band. And while entertaining soldiers during World War II, she refused to perform for segregated audiences -- a principled struggle she continued well after the troops returned home. Michelle and I offer our condolences to all those who knew and loved Lena, and we join all Americans in appreciating the joy she brought to our lives and the progress she forged for our country."
Turner Classic Movies separately announced it plans to pay tribute to the singer-actress by screening three of her most famous movies -- "The Duke is Tops," "Cabin in the Sky" and "Panama Hattie" -- on the evening of May 21.
"There was never anyone quite like Lena Horne as an entertainer, a presence or a trail-blazer," TCM host Robert Osborne said in a statement. "We've been shortchanged only by the limited number of worthwhile roles she was given to play in movies. But she certainly gave us 100 percent of her remarkable talent in those she did make. We're also very proud at Turner Classic Movies that she was one of our loyal TCM viewers."
Judge blocks Polanski case transcript bid
LOS ANGELES, May 11 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles judge has denied filmmaker Roman Polanski's bid to have transcripts from his child-sex case unsealed, court officials said.
The Los Angeles Times reported Polanski's legal team petitioned for access to documents containing the recent testimony of the now-retired prosecutor originally involved in his 1977 case.
The director's lawyers reportedly argued the papers are necessary for Polanski's extradition proceedings because they suggest Los Angeles prosecutors gave Swiss authorities false and incomplete information in their request to have him extradited.
However, the Times said Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza denied Polanski's bid Monday because the sealed testimony is intended only to be used if former Deputy Distrist Attorney Roger Gunson is unable to attend a hearing in the case should Polanski return to Los Angeles to be sentenced.
The 76-year-old Oscar winner has been under house arrest since December 2009 while he awaits a decision regarding whether he will be extradited to the United States in the decades-old case in which he was accused of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl. He was held in a Swiss jail for nearly two months before he posted bail and was placed under house arrest.
The filmmaker, who had been living in France but was in Switzerland to attend a film festival at the time of his arrest last year, has not traveled to the United States since he pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to having unlawful sex with a minor. He fled the United States before he could be sentenced.
Polanski's lawyers have alleged misconduct on the part of the Los Angeles criminal justice system at the time of the plea deal and are fighting extradition from Switzerland to the United States.
Barbara Walters set for heart surgery
NEW YORK, May 11 (UPI) -- Barbara Walters announced on Monday's edition of "The View" in New York she plans to undergo heart surgery later this week.
"You know how healthy I have been -- never missed a day's work. Later this week, I am going to have surgery to replace one faulty heart valve," Walters, 80, said on the daytime chat show.
"Lots of people have done this. I have known of this condition for a while now and my doctors and I have decided that this is the best time to do the surgery. Since the summer is coming up, I can take a nice vacation," the veteran broadcaster added. "Earlier this morning, I told my wonderful pals here, as I am now telling you, and it will be a surprise to many friends. But I thought it best not to talk about it too far in advance. I love you all."
Walters is a producer and co-host of "The View." The other co-hosts on the show are Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar.
Swayze's widow: We both wanted kids
LOS ANGELES, May 11 (UPI) -- Lisa Niemi admits she wishes she and her late husband, Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, had had children together.
Swayze died of pancreatic cancer eight months ago at the age of 57. He had been married to Niemi for 34 years.
"Both of us always wanted to have kids," Niemi told TV's "Access Hollywood" in an exclusive interview. "Just for whatever reason that's something that didn't happen and something that, you know, I have had regrets about. But some things, you just have to live with and be grateful for the things that you do have."
When asked of she still feels Swayze's presence, Niemi explained: "I have some chimes outside my bedroom and on a windless evening when I take the dogs out for their last walk, they ring. … So I like to believe that that's always him talking to me."
Swayze was famous for his work in the films "The Outsiders," "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost," as well as TV's "North & South" and "The Beast."
