'Some Like It Hot' star Tony Curtis dies
HENDERSON, Nev., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Tony Curtis, best known for his cross-dressing role in the classic film "Some Like It Hot," died in his Nevada home at age 85, a family spokesman said.
Preston Ahearn, Curtis's business manager, said Curtis passed away overnight while sleeping next to his wife in their home in Henderson near Las Vegas, ABC News reported Thursday.
Curtis, whose health had been failing for several years, was hospitalized in July after suffering an asthma attack, family members said.
A box office idol in the 1950s and 1960s, he earned an Oscar nomination for his role in "The Defiant Ones" opposite Sidney Poitier. However, he said he thought his performance as serial killer Albert DeSalvo in "The Boston Strangler" was the finest of his career, The Guardian said.
Curtis was probably best known as a mobster-fleeing musician hiding out in an all-female orchestra in Billy Wilder's screwball comedy, "Some Like It Hot" with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe.
Curtis made more than 140 films and made frequent television appearances.
While appearing on the London stage in 2008, Curtis was asked by a member of the audience what he would like on his tombstone, The Guardian said. "Nobody's perfect," he replied, quoting the final line from "Some Like It Hot."
Born Bernard Schwartz June 3, 1925, in New York, Curtis joined the Marine Corps in World War II. He adopted the name Tony Curtis when he began his acting career in 1949.
Curtis was married six times, including to actress Janet Leigh, with whom he had two children, one being actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
He married his current wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis, in 1998.
Comedian Greg Giraldo dead at 44
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Comedian Greg Giraldo died Wednesday after suffering a drug overdose last weekend in New Jersey, Comedy Central confirmed. He was 44.
Giraldo had been hospitalized since Saturday after he was found unconscious in a hotel room from an accidental overdose of prescription pills, media reports said.
"The tragic news of Greg's passing hits us very, very hard. Greg has been a close member of the Comedy Central family for years, injecting his energy and wicked sense of humor into countless projects. The comedy community lost a brother today. Our thoughts are with his family," the network said in a statement issued to The Hollywood Reporter.
Giraldo, a native of Queens, N.Y., was best known for his appearances on Comedy Central's roasts and on "The Howard Stern Show." He also was a judge on TV's "Last Comic Standing."
The Hollywood Reporter said he is survived by four children.
'Star Wars' films to be re-released in 3D
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The six "Star Wars" feature films are to be re-released in theaters in 3D, starting in 2012 with "The Phantom Menace," The Hollywood Reporter said.
The iconic franchise's creator, George Lucas, had been waiting for more theaters to be capable of showing films in 3D before he re-released the movies.
He is now satisfied with the number of 3D screens available, FOX News said.
Word of the films' impending re-release comes as several companies have introduced 3D-capable televisions, which could mean the "Star Wars" flicks would be sold in yet another format -- 3D DVD -- after their 3D theatrical runs, FOX News added.
Report: Oprah to interview Mel's ex Oksana
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- "The Oprah Winfrey Show" beat out "60 Minutes" to be the first U.S. program to interview actor Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend, a source told UsMagazine.com.
Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva dated Gibson for about a year and has an infant daughter with him.
The couple broke up several months ago and audio clips purported to be of Gibson threatening Grigorieva and using racist language have since been leaked on the Internet.
Additionally, Grigorieva has claimed Gibson was physically abusive to her, while Gibson has alleged she tried to extort money from him.
UsMagazine.com said Winfrey is set to interview Grigorieva about her relationship with Gibson during the current final season of "Oprah."
However, a representative for Harpo, Winfrey's production company, told the magazine it isn't ready to make an announcement about the possible booking at this time.
