Hollywood headlines: A week in review
British actor Richard Griffiths, best known for playing muggle Uncle Vernon Dursley in the “Harry Potter” movies, died Thursday at University Hospital in Coventry, England, from complications following heart surgery, his agent, Simon Beresford, told the Associated Press. He was 65. Large in body and presence, Griffiths appeared in character roles in dozens of films and TV shows, but made his biggest mark as the boy wizard’s grumpy uncle. Full story: Richard Griffiths, Uncle Vernon in ‘Harry Potter’ movies, has died | PHOTOS: Richard Griffiths 1947-2013 (Max Nash / AFP / Getty Images)
Chris Brown resets his image, Kirsten Dunst talks about kissing Brad Pitt, and Bryan Cranston loses his script in this week’s Hollywood headlines.
As Justin Bieber looks forward to a string of concert dates in Europe, he’d better have his eyes in the rear-view mirror as well: The sheriff’s department back home is investigating him for an assault that allegedly happened Tuesday morning in his neighborhood. “The neighbor has complained Mr. Bieber spit on him and made some threats,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore told L.A. Now on Wednesday. “Mr. Bieber’s people say that it did not happen. Obviously, our detectives will determine what happened and take appropriate action.”
Full story: Justin Bieber accused of spitting on neighbor during altercation (Tobias Hase / EPA)
Ashley Judd announced Wednesday that she would not be running for Senate next year against Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). “After serious and thorough contemplation, I realize that my responsibilities & energy at this time need to be focused on my family,” she said on Twitter as part of a series of tweets explaining her decision and thanking her supporters. “Regretfully, I am currently unable to consider a campaign for the Senate.” In late January, Judd and husband Dario Franchitti announced their intent to end their marriage after more than 11 years. They have no children together. She’s daughter of singer Naomi Judd and half-sister of singer Wynonna, who is currently on “Dancing With the Stars.” Rumors that Ashley Judd would run had been swirling for a while, and Judd as recently as last week was telling folks that her mother couldn’t wait to turn her Tennessee garage into campaign headquarters.
Full story: Ashley Judd says she’s not running for Senate after all (Jordan Strauss / Invision)
Dionne Warwick has filed for bankruptcy. The “Walk On By” singer owes more than $10.7 million in taxes and fees to the Internal Revenue Service and the state of California, according to Reuters. She filed her petition on March 21 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey, the state where she was born, started her career and lives. The debt accrued because of “negligent and gross financial mismanagement,” her representative, Kevin Sasaki, said.
Full story: Dionne Warwick files for bankruptcy in New Jersey | WALK OF FAME: Find Dionne Warwick’s star (Joel Ryan / Invision )
Hayden Panettiere and boxer Wladimir Klitschko are reportedly engaged, but shhh! It’s a secret. “Very few people know, and she isn’t wearing her ring publicly yet,” a source told Us Weekly, which reported the news Wednesday. The mag reported that the couple might wed this summer. The “Nashville” starlet, 23, and Ukrainian heavyweight, 37, have yet to publicly confirm their relationship, let alone their engagement, despite being seen together packing in the PDA. The two were super-cuddly at a Miami Heat game in Florida, where he lives, over the weekend.
Full story: Hayden Panettiere reportedly engaged to boxer Wladimir Klitschko | PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
Well here’s a bouncing bundle of news: NBC’s Jenna Wolfe and Stephanie Gosk are expecting a baby girl. By the way, they’re also coming out as a couple of three years now, and they’re engaged. We hardly know what kind of congratulations to send, other than, “All of the above.” Weekend “Today” show anchor Wolfe brought her spirited self to the weekday “Today” show Wednesday to announce the baby news -- she’s five months along, due Aug. 27.
Full story: NBC’s Jenna Wolfe, Stephanie Gosk expecting, engaged, out. Whew! | PHOTOS: Gay celebrities: Who’s out? (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)
As “Breaking Bad” gears up for its final season, a wayward script allegedly stolen from star Bryan Cranston’s car has potentially jeopardized the secrecy shrouding the finale of the Emmy-winning AMC series. Xavier McAfee, 29, has been accused of unlawfully entering Cranston’s Audi in New Mexico last December, allegedly lifting the script and other items from the car. He faces a burglary charge and was released on bail Monday, according to CNN. So we ask ourselves, what would Cranston’s Walter White, a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, do in a situation like this? Probably not what the actor himself did: Call the police.
Full story: ‘Breaking Bad’: The case of Bryan Cranston’s missing script | RECAP: Previously on ‘Breaking Bad’ ... (Ursula Coyote / Associated Press)
