‘Laverne & Shirley’ actor Cindy Williams dies at 75
January 31, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Cindy Williams, who was among the most recognizable stars in America in the 1970s and 1980s for her role as Shirley opposite Penny Marshall's Laverne on the beloved sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," has died.
Medals, mementos from Colin Powell estate go up for auction
November 3, 2022 GMTALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Colin Powell's career spanned some of the most significant moments of the last 40 years so it's no surprise that an auction of items from his estate reflects that: gifts and medals from foreign dignitaries and presidents, photos of his swearing-in as secretary of state.
Bert Fields, legendary lawyer to A-list clients, dies at 93
August 8, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Bert Fields, for decades the go-to lawyer for Hollywood A-listers including Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson, George Lucas and the Beatles, and a character as colorful as many of his clients, has died at age 93.
Stars and royalty watch ABBA’s return in digital stage show
May 27, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — “ABBA Voyage” is certainly a trip.
Four decades after the Swedish pop supergroup last performed live, audiences can once again see ABBA onstage in an innovative digital concert where past and future collide.
‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: A guide to the new ‘Star Wars’ series
May 25, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — “Obi-Wan Kenobi” — now that’s a name casual “Star Wars” fans haven’t heard in a long time. The Jedi master gets his own moment in the suns with a new six-part Disney+ series starring Ewan McGregor.
George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy honored by Producer’s Guild
January 14, 2022 GMTGeorge Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy, stewards of the Star Wars universe and numerous other notable motion pictures, are being honored by the Producers Guild of America for their contributions to the film industry.
Martin Scorsese Institute to be established by NYU
December 14, 2021 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Martin Scorsese's alma mater, New York University, is establishing a film institute in his name after a gift from George Lucas and Mellody Hobson.
The formation of the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts was to be announced Tuesday by NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
ABBA back after 40 years with new album, virtual stage show
September 3, 2021 GMTLONDON (AP) — ABBA is releasing its first new music in four decades, along with a concert performance that will see the “Dancing Queen” quartet going entirely digital.
The forthcoming album “Voyage," to be released Nov.
Dave Prowse, actor who played Darth Vader, dies at 85
November 29, 2020 GMTLONDON (AP) — Dave Prowse, the British weightlifter-turned-actor who was the body, though not the voice, of arch-villain Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, has died...
Computer-graphics pioneers win tech’s Turing prize
March 18, 2020 GMTThe technology that animated movies like “Toy Story” and enabled a variety of special effects is the focus of this year’s Turing Award, the technology industry’s version of the Nobel Prize.
Patrick Hanrahan and Edwin Catmull won the prize for their contributions to 3-D computer graphics used in movies and video games.
Review: ‘Rise of Skywalker’ is a sour end to a grand saga
December 18, 2019 GMTNot much has caused a disturbance in the “Star Wars” galaxy quite like Rian Johnson’s “The Last Jedi,” an erratic but electric movie that, regardless of how you felt about it, was something worth arguing about...
Sid Haig, who acted in ’House of 1000 Corpses,” dies at 80
September 23, 2019 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Sid Haig, the bearded character actor best known as Captain Spaulding in the "House of 1000 Corpses" trilogy, has died...
Judge OKs suit aimed at halting Obama library in Chicago
February 20, 2019 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge gave the green light Tuesday to a parks-advocacy group's lawsuit that aims to stop for good the delayed construction of former President Barack Obama's $500 million presidential center in a Chicago park beside Lake Michigan...
In France, the Force is strong with lightsaber dueling
February 18, 2019 GMTBEAUMONT-SUR-OISE, France (AP) — Master Yoda, dust off his French, he must.
It's now easier than ever in France to act out "Star Wars" fantasies, because its fencing federation has borrowed from a galaxy far, far away and officially recognized lightsaber dueling as a competitive sport, granting the iconic weapon from George Lucas' saga the same status as the foil, epee and sabre, the traditional blades used at the Olympics...
Lawsuit means Chicago Obama library plan no sure thing
February 14, 2019 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — Odds may still favor the eventual construction of former President Barack Obama's $500 million museum and library in a public park along Chicago's lakeshore, but it's no longer a sure thing in the face of a formidable legal challenge by a parks advocacy group...
Archbishop of Omaha endorses new human sexuality curriculum
August 14, 2018 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The archbishop of Omaha has recommended a new sex education curriculum for Catholic schools that opposes homosexuality and same-sex marriage...
‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ is mostly just a ho-hum flick
June 2, 2018 GMTIn a galaxy far, far away... Maybe people still care about the Star Wars saga...
In 21st Century America, (Extreme Fanboys excepted) not so much.
Whether it is because the youth of today are more in tune with Marvel/DC Superheroes, or because nobody can do Star Wars like (a young) George Lucas, or (my theory) the fourth, fifth and sixth movies killed the franchise, the latest installment "Solo: A Star Wars Story" is absolutely average.
‘Star Wars’ creator’s museum buys Rockwell masterpiece
April 11, 2018 GMTPITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The Massachusetts museum that won a legal battle over its plan to sell dozens of works of art has sold a Norman Rockwell masterpiece to a Los Angeles museum founded by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, officials said Wednesday...
Review: ‘The Last Jedi’ an epic ‘Star Wars’ blockbuster
December 12, 2017 GMTNew and old, good and evil collide in the best 'Star Wars' movie since 'Empire Strikes Back'
Light and dark, good and evil. The struggle between these opposing forces has always been at the center of the "Star Wars" universe, and it provides the backbone for the excellent, epic eighth film in the series, "The Last Jedi."
Review: ‘The Last Jedi’ a welcome disturbance in the Force
December 12, 2017 GMTA welcome disturbance in the Force, Rian Johnson's "The Last Jedi" is, by wide measure, the trippiest, scrappiest and most rule-breaking "Star Wars" adventure yet...
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 14-20
May 9, 2017 GMTMay 14: Movie director-producer George Lucas is 73. Actress Meg Foster ("Cagney and Lacey") is 69...
Harrison Ford visit, Fisher tribute launch Star Wars event
April 13, 2017 GMTHow do you celebrate 40 years of "Star Wars" in 90 minutes?
With a surprise Harrison Ford appearance, a touching Carrie Fisher tribute, a John Williams performance and a fair amount of jokes about George Lucas' dialogue, of course...