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By United Press International
Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a cast member in the sci-fi thriller "Watchmen" attends the premiere of the film at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on March 2, 2009. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)
1 of 2 | Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a cast member in the sci-fi thriller "Watchmen" attends the premiere of the film at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on March 2, 2009. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen) | License Photo

The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...

LEONA HELMSLEY: Leona Helmsley's Maltese, Trouble, has died after several years in Florida as one of the world's richest dogs, the pet's caretaker said.

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A spokeswoman for Carl Lekic, general manager of the Helmsley Sandcastle hotel in Sarasota, said Trouble had been cremated, the New York Daily News reported. Sources told the newspaper that Trouble, 12, had become blind and suffered from other ailments when she died in December.

Trouble became notorious after Helmsley's death. Helmsley, who disinherited two grandchildren, left $12 million for the dog's care.

A judge later reduced the amount to $2 million. Lekic said he could supply the needed care for $100,000 a year, with most of the money going for round-the-clock security because of threats to harm the pooch.

Eileen Sullivan, the Lekic spokeswoman, said Trouble's trust fund reverts to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

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Helmsley did not get her way on having Trouble's ashes interred in her mausoleum in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Westchester County in New York.

A cemetery trustee said there is a firm no pets rule.


OLGA KURYLENKO: Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Olga Kurylenko are to head up the cast of "Magic City," a drama series set in 1950s Miami Beach, Starz said.

Co-starring Jessica Marais, Steven Strait, Christian Cooke, Elena Satine, Kelly Lynch, Danny Huston,

Michael Rispoli, Seymour Cassel and Yul Vazquez, the 10-episode series is to pemiere in early 2012.

Production on the 1-hour show began in Miami this week, the cable network said.

In the series, Morgan portrays Ike Evans, "the cool, visionary force behind Miami Beach's newest hotel and a man with dangerous secrets," Starz said.

Kurylenko plays Ike's wife Vera, a former showgirl deeply loyal to her husband and family, and Huston plays Ben Diamond, Miami's most dangerous mobster, the network said.


CHRISTIE BRINKLEY: U.S. model Christie Brinkley is set to reprise her role as Roxie Hart this summer when she makes her London stage debut in "Chicago," the show's producers said.

Brinkley is booked to perform a 4-week engagement at Cambridge Theatre in the West End from July 11 through Aug. 6.

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"Christie's Broadway debut in 'Chicago' this spring has been nothing short of phenomenal," producer Barry Weissler said in a statement Thursday. "Her commitment, dedication and passion for conquering new experiences have served her well throughout her career, and her Broadway stage debut is proof positive of that. Our New York audiences are going crazy for her night after night, and I'm thrilled to announce that she will be sharing her remarkable performance with our West End audiences for four weeks this summer."

Amra-Faye Wright, who has starred opposite Brinkley throughout her 11-week run on Broadway, is set to appear alongside Brinkley in the British production in the role of murderess Roxie's rival prison mate, Velma Kelly.


EVA LA RUE: Actress Eva La Rue is to reprise her role of Dr. Maria Santos Grey on the U.S. daytime drama series "All My Children," ABC said Thursday.

La Rue will appear this summer in several episodes of the soap opera, which began in 1970 and will wrap up its final season in September.

The actress played the role of Grey from 1993 to 1997 and again from 2002 to 2005. She last guest-starred on the show in 2010.

"From the very beginning, Maria Santos Grey stole the hearts of viewers, and is best known for her fairytale romance with Edmund Grey [played by John Callahan,]" the network said in a news release. "Together the super-couple struggled to build a family of their own while La Rue's character endured many ups-and-downs."

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La Rue currently appears weekly on "CSI Miami." She is to return to "All My Children" July 19, ABC said.

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