Actor confesses fear

Actor confesses fear
BERLIN -- Tobey Maguire admitted a fear of heights as he brought summer blockbuster "Spider-Man 2" to Berlin for its European premiere.
"Standing on the edge of a building, looking over the edge -- it's so horrible. I hate it," Maguire said Tuesday ahead of the screening. Still, he said, he had no problem swinging over streets on a crane or a rope.
In "Spider-Man 2," Maguire reprises his role as Marvel Comics' young Peter Parker, transformed by a mutant spider's bite into a superhero. Alfred Molina joins the cast as Spider-Man's new nemesis, Doc Ock, a villain encased in a tentacled suit.
"Spider-Man 2" opens Thursday in Germany.
Olsen twins ad pulled
NEW YORK -- Out of "sensitivity to their current situation," the "got milk?" magazine ads featuring twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been retracted.
Mary-Kate recently entered a treatment program for what her publicist called a "health-related issue." People and Us Weekly magazines have reported the 18-year-old actress has an eating disorder.
Ashley recently canceled a trip to Australia to promote the twins' new film, "New York Minute," to be with her sister.
Hugh Williams, a director with the Milk Processor Education Program, told The Associated Press on Tuesday the ads were pulled out of "sensitivity to their current situation."
'Star Trek' actor is ill
SEATTLE -- James M. Doohan, the actor who played Scotty on the '60s "Star Trek" TV series, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, his agent confirmed Tuesday.
Doohan, 84, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's "within the last couple months," agent Steven Stevens told The Associated Press.
He said Doohan is in the beginning stages of the disease, a progressive neurological disorder that afflicted former President Reagan, who died June 5.
Doohan, who lives in the Seattle suburb of Redmond, also has suffered for some time with Parkinson's disease, diabetes and fibrosis, the latter a result of chemical exposure during World War II when he was a soldier in the Canadian military, Stevens said.
Kirk Douglas' son dies
NEW YORK -- Oscar-winning actor Kirk Douglas' youngest son, who battled drug and alcohol problems for years, was found dead Tuesday inside an apartment building, police said.
Eric Douglas, 46, was discovered after someone flagged down a passing police car. There were no signs of foul play, police said. An autopsy was planned.
Eric Douglas was an aspiring actor and comedian, but he never found the success of his father or of his Academy Award-winning sibling, Michael Douglas. He had a short-lived acting career in the 1980s and early '90s, playing supporting roles in movies such as "Delta Force 3: The Killing Game."
He also appeared in an episode of the HBO program "Tales From the Crypt" opposite his father, who earned an Emmy nomination for his role on the show.
In recent years, the youngest of Kirk Douglas' four sons drew attention more for his problems than for any performances. In a 2000 interview, he said he spent eight days in a coma after a pill overdose a year earlier.
Today's birthdays
Composer Gian Carlo Menotti is 93. Fashion designer Pierre Cardin is 82. Musician-conductor Doc Severinsen is 77. Rock star Ringo Starr is 64. Singer-musician Warren Entner (The Grass Roots) is 60. Actor Joe Spano is 58. Country singer Linda Williams is 57. Actress Shelley Duvall is 55. Rock musician Mark White (Spin Doctors) is 42. Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard is 41. Rhythm and blues musician Ricky Kinchen (Mint Condition) is 38. Actress Jorja Fox is 36. Actress Cree Summer is 35. Actor Troy Garity is 31. Olympic silver-bronze medal figure skater Michelle Kwan is 24. Country singer Gabbie Nolen is 22.