Fencing great Bob Anderson dead at 89
LONDON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Former Olympic fencer and Hollywood fight choreographer Bob Anderson has died, the British Academy of Fencing said. He was 89.
The New York Times confirmed his Sunday death in West Sussex, England, but did not list a cause.
"It is true to say that nearly 100 percent of fencing in Britain today is directly or indirectly attributable to the work of this man," the academy said in a statement Monday.
Anderson coached numerous stars in some of their most famous swashbuckling roles. Among those with whom he worked were Errol Flynn, Sean Connery, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Antonio Banderas, Ryan O'Neal, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt and Chris O'Donnell. He also did masked villain Darth Vader's fight scenes on-screen in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, the Times said.
He is survived by his wife, Pearl, three children and several grandchildren.
Murder investigated at queen's estate
NORFOLK, England, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Police in Britain say they have opened a murder investigation following the discovery of a woman's body on Queen Elizabeth's rural estate in eastern England.
Detective Chief Inspector Jes Fry of the Norfolk Constabulary said officers were examining cold cases across the country for possible connections to the remains found on the queen's Sandringham Estate, the BBC reported Tuesday.
The estate is about 3 miles from the Sandringham House, where the queen is spending the holidays, on the 20,000-acre royal retreat.
"We are at the very early stages of the investigation and it could be a complex inquiry," Fry said. "The body had been there for some time.
"The circumstances suggest this is a murder case and we are looking at missing persons reports and cold cases, both locally and nationwide."
The BBC said forensic science experts were conducting a detailed search of the area.
Investigators said a dog walker made the discovery New Year's Day on the grounds of the estate, The Daily Telegraph reported.
"The remains were found by a member of the public who reported the incident to police on Sunday, Jan. 1, shortly after 4 p.m.," the Norfolk Constabulary said in a statement. "The area has been sealed off and a detailed search is currently being carried out."
A police spokesman said the queen and her husband were told of the find Monday.
The royal family has had an eventful Christmas season. Prince Philip spent the holiday in a hospital after suffering a heart attack and undergoing surgery.
In October, a tree surgeon discovered the body of a U.S. national, Robert James Moore, on an island in St. James Park near Buckingham Palace in London.
Moore, who was apparently obsessed with the queen, set up a camp there and may have been dead for as long as three years.
'Tattoo' sequel still in the works
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Sony Pictures says it has begun developing the sequel to its English-language version of the Swedish phenomenon "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
The movie was based on the first in the late author Stieg Larsson's trilogy of crime novels, which also includes "The Girl Who Played With Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest." All three blockbuster books were previously adapted as Swedish-language films.
David Fincher's critically acclaimed, English-language version, starring Rooney Mara as heroine Lisbeth Salander, is in theaters now.
EW.com said some film-industry watchers have been speculating about whether Sony would make a sequel based on "Fire" since "Dragon Tattoo" has made only about $60 million at the U.S. box office since its Dec. 20 release.
But Sony is laying the rumors to rest.
"['Dragon Tattoo'] continues to do strong business and nothing has changed with respect to development of the next book," a studio representative told EW.com.
The entertainment news Web site said the sequel is expected to again star Mara when it hits theaters in late 2013.
Fincher has not yet decided whether he will return as director, the report said.
Carnie Wilson pledges weight loss in 2012
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. pop singer Carnie Wilson says she hopes to lose the weight she gained after kicking drugs and alcohol, and giving birth to two daughters.
TVGuide.com said the 43-year-old Wilson Phillips singer lost 150 pounds thanks to gastric bypass surgery in 1999, but has since gained much of it back.
The television news Web site did not say what Wilson's current or target weights are.
"I've had so much stress in the last year so it's really a struggle," Wilson told Fox News.
"I'm definitely up in weight. I'm looking forward to getting an exercise routine again. It's like a daily decision," she said. "I can't smoke a joint. I can't have a glass of wine because I want 10 joints and 10 glasses of wine. ... That's my obsessive-compulsive and addictive behavior. I've really struggled since I've become sober. How do I balance that? How can I relax and not overeat? Because I have a lot of pressure in my life."
Wilson, who can be seen on Tuesday's edition of TV's "Wife Swap," is married to record producer Rob Bonfiglio and has two daughters -- Lola, 6, and Luciana, 2.
