Sunday, January 5, 2003
Coroner: Strummer died in his sleep
Singer-guitarist Joe Strummer of the Clash died in his sleep of a heart attack, a British coroner has ruled. Unlike the deaths of many of his rock predecessors, Strummer's death wasn't related to drug use, Michael Rose said after conducting the autopsy last week.
Strummer, who cowrote some of the Clash's most politically charged anthems, including "London Calling," died Dec. 22 at age 50 at his home.
His family and friends gathered in rainy west London Monday to pay their respects, Britain's SkyNews reported. Strummer is survived by his wife, Lucy, and three daughters.
Baltimore's mayorbanks on 'Hairspray'
Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley is hopeful that the Broadway musical "Hairspray" -- based on John Waters' 1988 film portraying 1960s Baltimore -- will draw tourists to the city. In a full-page ad for the show in Playbill in New York, Waters says, "See the city that inspired the show."
Sutherland's gratefulfor the success of '24'
Kiefer Sutherland's career has been reinvigorated by Fox's hit show "24" and he knows it.
"Right now, my life revolves around this show," Sutherland tells TV Guide. "When something like '24' happens, you bow your head and say thank you."
Sutherland, who received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of government antiterrorism agent Jack Bauer, said he spends as many as 16 hours per day, five days a week on the set of the show, now in its second season.
Friends say Sutherland has always been a hard worker, even when he had a wild image as a younger actor.
"When we did 'Lost Boys,' Kiefer had a 6 a.m. makeup call," said director Joel Schumacher, who has worked with Sutherland on four films. "He'd party until 4, drive to Warner Bros., park his car next to the security guard's gate and ask the guard to wake him at 6."
Exhibit to tellAli's story
Fans of "the greatest" fighter will soon be able to see an exhibit being built in his honor. The exhibit at the Muhammad Ali Center will tell the story of the boxer, from childhood to heavyweight champion to globe-trotting humanitarian. The center is expected to open in Louisville, Ky., Ali's birthplace, next year.
Ali's wife, Lonnie, said the preliminary work "blew Muhammad's socks right off." The exhibit deals with Ali's turbulent days in the 1960s when he joined the Nation of Islam and refused induction into the Army during the Vietnam War.
Julianne Moore to wed
Julianne Moore, 42, star of "The Hours" and "Far From Heaven," finally has a ring on her finger after 61/2 years of living in unwedded bliss with director Bart Freundlich, 32, and bearing him two children (Caleb, 5, and Liv, 9 months), reports People. No date has been set for the nuptials.
Today's birthdays
Sun Records founder Sam Phillips is 80. Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale is 75. Actor Robert Duvall is 72. Football Hall-of-Fame coach Chuck Noll is 71. King Juan Carlos of Spain is 65. Talk-show host Charlie Rose is 61. Actress-director Diane Keaton is 57. Actor Ted Lange is 56. Rhythm-and-blues musician George "Funky" Brown (Kool and the Gang) is 54. Rock musician Chris Stein (Blondie) is 53. Actress Pamela Sue Martin is 50. Actor Clancy Brown is 44. Singer Iris Dement is 42. Rock musician Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson) is 37. Actress Heather Paige Kent is 34. Rock singer Marilyn Manson is 34."