The latest news on today's hottest celebrities ...
KATY PERRY: Pop star Katy Perry and comedian Russell Brand informed Los Angeles Superior Court they have reached a settlement in their divorce, documents show.
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Katy Perry performs at the Direct TV Super Saturday Night concert in Indianapolis on February 4, 2012. UPI Photo | License Photo
Perry and Brand married in October 2010 and filed for divorce in December 2011.
People.com said the couple filed the paperwork Tuesday, stating they have reached a settlement regarding the distribution of their property.
Perry also requested to legally restore her maiden name to Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, People.com said.
HUGH LAURIE: April's eighth season finale of "House, M.D." will be the U.S. medical drama's last episode, the show's producers said Wednesday.
"After much deliberation, the producers of 'House, M.D.' have decided that this season of the show, the eighth, should be the last. By April this year they will have completed 177 episodes, which is about 175 more than anyone expected back in 2004," producers Laurie, David Shore and Katie Jacobs said in a statement issued to Us Weekly. "If the show lives on somewhere, with somebody, as a fond memory, then that is a precious feat, of which we will always be proud."
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The Emmy Award-winning series stars Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps and Robert Sean Leonard.
ANGELINA JOLIE: Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie will be a presenter at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, telecast producers said Wednesday.
Jolie won her Oscar in 2000 for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Girl, Interrupted." She also received a nomination in 2008 for her lead performance in "Changeling." Her other film credits include "Kung Fu Panda 2," "The Tourist," "Salt," "Wanted," "A Mighty Heart," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "Taking Lives" and "The Bone Collector."
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 are to be presented Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.
BILLY CONNOLLY: Scottish actor Billy Connolly has signed on to play dwarf warrior Dain Ironfoot in Peter Jackson's two-part "The Hobbit" project, the director said Wednesday.
"We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connolly, the Big Yin himself," Jackson said in a statement issued to The Hollywood Reporter. "With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of 'The Hobbit' is now complete. We can't wait to see him on the battlefield!"
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"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is set for release Dec. 14, while "The Hobbit: There and Back Again" will open in theaters Dec. 13, 2013.
The movies are prequels to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which also were directed by Jackson and were based on fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The ensemble of "The Hobbit" movies includes Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis.
