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By United Press International
Michael McKean performs with Spinal Tap on the Unwigged and Unplugged tour as the band celebrates their 25th anniversary of the film "This is Spinal Tap" at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach on May 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Michael Bush)
Michael McKean performs with Spinal Tap on the Unwigged and Unplugged tour as the band celebrates their 25th anniversary of the film "This is Spinal Tap" at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach on May 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Michael Bush) | License Photo

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

MICHAEL McKEAN: Actor Michael McKean, who was hit by a car while walking in New York this week, is maintaining a positive attitude, saying via Twitter he is a "lucky man."

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The New York Post reported McKean, 64, underwent surgery Wednesday after suffering a broken leg, bruises and lacerations in the mishap Tuesday afternoon.

Although McKean was forced to drop out of the Broadway revival of "Gore Vidal's The Best Man" due to his injuries, he was definitely looking on the bright side when he took to Twitter Wednesday night.

"Lucky man: best wife, great kids, awesome docs and nurses, priceless friends; a little overwhelmed by the sweet tweets," he wrote.

McKean's wife, actress Annette O'Toole, also expressed her gratitude online.

"Thank you dear people for your love and support. @MJMcKean and I so appreciative. He is getting great care. Spirits are good," she tweeted.

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McKean is best known for his work in the films "This Is Spinal Tap," "Best in Show" and "For Your Consideration," as well as TV's "Laverne & Shirley."

He and O'Toole were nominated for an Original Song Oscar in 2003 for "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from "A Mighty Wind."


EDDIE IZZARD: British actor and comedian Eddie Izzard says weather and health issues have forced him to take a break from his plan to run 27 marathons in 27 consecutive days.

Izzard, 50, started the endeavor as a tribute to anti-apartheid activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison. The star's attempt to retrace the geography of Mandela's life in South Africa is being filmed for a documentary, the BBC reported.

"I set out to run 27 marathons in 27 days as a tribute to Nelson Mandela and his 27 years spent in prison," Izzard wrote on Facebook Thursday.

"Having completed 4 marathons, unfortunately, I have had to put my attempt on hold due to unforeseen medical complications that have arisen due to a multitude of factors including severe terrain, humidity and altitude," he said. "But I wish to say that my attempt is not over and I will return to South Africa and run the 27 marathons and finish this story. I owe that to Nelson Mandela who has inspired the world to struggle and succeed no matter what obstacles are thrown at us."

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Izzard ran 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009 to raise money for Sport Relief, an offshoot of the charity Comic Relief, the BBC said.

The actor starred in the FX series "The Riches," as well as the films "Ocean's 12," "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" and "Valkyrie."


PAULY SHORE: American comedians Andy Dick and Pauly Shore say they are working on a sequel to their 1994 movie, "In the Army Now."

The pair made the announcement on the Internet program, "Andy Dick Live," which can be seen on FilmOn.TV.

"I've always said we should do 'In the Army Again,'" Dick said. "We should rescue Katy Perry from a USO show gone bad or something."

"We just need a script and someone to back the project and I'm in," Shore said.

FilmOn.TV Chief Executive Officer Alki David said, "I'll back it if both of you star in it."

Dick said a treatment is already written for the sequel and he and Shore will be penning the full script as soon as possible.


JON CRYER: U.S. actor Jon Cryer says Duckie, the quirky character he played in "Pretty in Pink," was not gay, despite his co-star's recent statements saying he was.

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Molly Ringwald recently told Out magazine she feels late writer-director John Hughes included gay characters in most of his 1980s film classics, even though it might not have been obvious.

In the 1986 teen romance "Pretty in Pink," Ringwald said, it was her character Andie's male best friend forever, Duckie, who was gay. The movie is about how Duckie competes with Andrew McCarthy's wealthy, popular Blane for Andie's affections.

"Duckie doesn't know he's gay," Ringwald told Out magazine. "I think he loves Andie in the way that [my gay best friend] always loved me. That [original ending, which had them together] fell so flat -- it bombed at all the screenings. I didn't realize it then -- I just knew that my character shouldn't end up with him, because we didn't have that sort of chemistry. If John was here now, and I could talk to him, I think that he would completely acknowledge that."

EW.com said Cryer doesn't agree with Ringwald's characterization of Duckie.

"I respectfully disagree. I want to stand up for all the slightly effeminate dorks that are actually heterosexual. Just cause the gaydar is going off, doesn't mean your instruments aren't faulty. I've had to live with that, and that's okay," he told Zap2it.com.

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