Australian tennis star weds longtime girlfriend



Australian tennis star weds longtime girlfriend
SYDNEY, Australia -- Australian tennis star Patrick Rafter married his longtime girlfriend Lara Feltham at a resort in Fiji, according to a report. Quoting a staff member at Fiji's Musket Cove Island Resort, the Australian Associated Press said Rafter, 31, and former model Feltham married Saturday afternoon at a private home on the exclusive island.
About 50 guests attended the secret ceremony, said the staff member, whose name was not reported.
The couple met in 1997 at a charity event in Sydney and have a 20-month-old son, Joshua, who flew out to Fiji with Rafter on Friday for the ceremony. The 593-acre resort is on Malolo Lailai Island, 9 miles west of Fiji's third largest city, Nadi.
A two-time U.S. Open champion, Rafter retired in late 2002.
Ken Russell honoredat Istanbul film festival
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Pirouetting and moving to the rhythm of a swing band, British film director Ken Russell received the Istanbul film festival's special honor award.
The festival's award for best international film went to Taiwanese director Tsai Ming Lian for "Goodbye, Dragon Inn," and Turkish director Ahmet Ulucay grabbed the "Golden Tulip" in the best Turkish movie category for "Boats out of Watermelon Rinds."
The festival honored Russell in the "Tribute to the Masters" category, saying he was responsible for some of the best films of the 20th century. Six of Russell's films, including "Women in Love," "Tommy" and "Valentino" were screened in movie theaters during the festival. "I am delighted to be here on two counts," said the 76-year old British director, wearing a sparkly shirt and jacket as he accepted the prize Sunday. "It is a great honor to be receiving an award from the most swinging film festival, and this is the greatest swing band on the planet," he said, pointing to the musicians as he continued to dance.
Don Johnson files forbankruptcy to save ranch
ASPEN, Colo. -- Actor Don Johnson has filed for bankruptcy to protect his Pitkin County ranch from being sold at auction, according to a published report.
Timber Doodle Glade Equity Venture LLC, a company controlled by the former "Miami Vice" star, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 14 in Denver Bankruptcy Court, the Rocky Mountain News reported in weekend editions.
Johnson's bankruptcy lawyer, Lee Kutner, said Friday that Doodle Glade is one of two entities that hold title to the Woody Creek property that Johnson bought from Aspen socialite Terry Butler in 1987.
The bankruptcy filing follows a Pitkin County lawsuit brought by City National Bank of Los Angeles in March, asking the court to allow the ranch to be auctioned to collect $930,000 Johnson owes the bank.
A judge in Los Angeles County ruled in September that Johnson owed the bank $921,891, and owes $21,891 in attorney fees.
Johnson's publicist, Elliot Mintz, said the actor is refinancing the ranch and the bankruptcy filing will stave off creditors until Johnson can get the financing he needs.
Notable deaths
NEW YORK -- Thomas Corbally, a businessman and New York socialite with ties to the rich and famous, died April 15 of complications from heart disease, his wife said. He was 83.
Corbally had long been associated with Kroll Associates, a security consulting firm. He counted as friends a number of Hollywood stars, business leaders and such international luminaries as Mother Teresa, Sir Jimmy Goldsmith of Britain and King Hussein of Jordan.
During World War II, he served as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services. He also carried out several U.S. espionage assignments after the war, his wife and friends said.
Corbally was an informant in a prostitution scandal that led to the resignation of British war minister John Profumo in 1963. The scandal rattled the British government to its foundations and contributed to the defeat of the Conservatives in the 1964 elections.
Today's birthdays
Actress-comedian Carol Burnett is 71. Rhythm and blues singer Maurice Williams is 66. Songwriter-musician Duane Eddy is 66. Singer Bobby Rydell is 62. Actress Claudine Auger is 62. Rock musician Gary Wright is 61. Actor Giancarlo Esposito is 46. Rock musician Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) is 44. Actress Joan Chen is 43. Rock musician Chris Mars is 43. Actor-singer Michael Damian is 42. Actor Jet Li is 41. Rock musician Jimmy Stafford (Train) is 40. Actor-comedian Kevin James is 39. Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste is 37. Country musician Joe Caverlee (Yankee Grey) is 36. Rapper T-Boz (TLC) is 34. Country musician Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flats) is 33. Country musician Michael Jeffers (Pinmonkey) is 32. Rock musician Jose Pasillas (Incubus) is 28. Actor Tom Welling is 27. Actress Jordana Brewster is 24. Actress Marnette Patterson is 24. Actor A aron Weeks is 18.
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