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By United Press International
American producer Harvey Weinstein attends the "GQ Awards" at Royal Opera House in London on September 8, 2009. UPI/Rune Hellestad
American producer Harvey Weinstein attends the "GQ Awards" at Royal Opera House in London on September 8, 2009. UPI/Rune Hellestad | License Photo

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

HARVEY WEINSTEIN: French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he will present U.S. film producer Harvey Weinstein with the 2012 Legion d'Honneur for his contributions to cinema.

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Weinstein is the co-chairman of The Weinstein Co. Among the studio's recent offerings are the Oscar-winning films "The Artist" and "The Iron Lady."

Weinstein was nominated personally by Sarkozy and will be presented with the award in a ceremony in Paris.

"I am honored and humbled by this recognition from President Sarkozy and the people of France. All my life, I have loved and been inspired by French cinema," Weinstein said in a statement Friday. "I am still the young boy who walked 2 miles to The Mayfair movie theater in Flushing, N.Y., to see films by the greats -- Lelouch, Godard, Renoir and my personal favorite Francois Truffaut. They inspired me and led me to the place I am in today. I hope to continue my friendship with France and its filmmakers for many years to come."

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Past recipients include Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, Akira Kurosawa, Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Satyajit Ray and Steven Spielberg.

Nominated for the honor last July, Weinstein said he requested the distinction be kept private until now to avoid any conflict of interest with his awards season campaign for "The Artist," starring French actor Jean Dujardin and directed by French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius.

The movie, which won the Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director Oscars, also earned six Cesar awards in France.


TATUM O'NEAL: Tatum O'Neal's publicist said the U.S. actress is not in rehab to deal with a cocaine problem, contrary to a RadarOnline report saying she is.

O'Neal, 48, won an Oscar in 1974 for "Paper Moon." She was a cast member of TV's "Rescue Me" and co-starred with her father, actor Ryan O'Neal, in the reality show "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals" last year. She has long battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol, as has her younger half-brother Redmond O'Neal.

Because of her history of substance abuse, the actress is seeking help to manage her pain medication related to her ongoing back problems, The Inquisitr reported.

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"Tatum O'Neal has had back issues, had back surgery and went to a place that could supervise her use of prescribed pain killers until the pain had subsided," O'Neal's representative said in a statement issued to The Inquisitr. "She will always seek supervision when taking prescription medication that has addictive potential."

RadarOnline cited an unnamed source as saying O'Neal voluntarily checked into rehab because she suffered a relapse and had been using cocaine.


LEONARD NIMOY: Leonard Nimoy's voice will be featured in an upcoming episode of the U.S. sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," CBS said Friday.

"It's a dream come true for (character) Sheldon (Cooper) when he has a close encounter with his hero, Mr. Spock," a synopsis said.

Nimoy's voice will be heard as his iconic "Star Trek" character in the March 29 episode of the show.

"For this episode, we are delighted to hear his voice. We look forward to introducing Mr. Nimoy, body part by body part, over the course of many seasons to come," Executive Producer Bill Prady said in a statement.

Currently in its fifth season, "The Big Bang Theory" stars Jim Parsons as Cooper and Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter. The two are brilliant physicists whose lives are turned upside down when a free-spirited beauty, played by Kaley Cuoco, moves in next door.

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KALEY CUOCO: Hollywood actress Kaley Cuoco says she has ended her engagement to addiction specialist Josh Resnik.

The couple announced in October their intention to wed but did not say when the ceremony would take place.

Cuoco confirmed during an interview with "Entertainment Tonight" Friday she and Resnik had called off their plans.

Asked if she got any good ideas for her own special day by watching the wedding of her "Big Bang Theory" co-star Kunal Nayyar, Cuoco said: "I'm not engaged anymore, so no. But in general, yes. For my future wedding, yes!"

She did not offer any details regarding when she broke up with her fiance or what caused the split.

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