ACTOR PROMOTES SCHOOL'S FINANCIAL AID

Actor promotesschool's financial aid
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Actor Sean Patrick Thomas is hoping to help out students at the University of Virginia, his alma mater, by appearing in advertisements for a new financial aid program.
Thomas, 33, graduated from the university in 1992 and benefited from need-based financial aid. Now he is appearing with current financial aid recipients in a series of television and radio announcements about the "Access UVa" program.
Thomas portrayed Jimmy James in "Barbershop" and its sequel, "Barbershop 2: Back in Business," and received critical acclaim for his role in "Save the Last Dance."
The ads feature the theme: "If you've got the brains, but not the bucks, the door's open. Access UVa makes it happen." The video spot will first air Thursday night during halftime of ESPN's national broadcast of Virginia's home football game against Clemson.
Access UVa is part of the university's plan to make its education available to those who might not consider applying to the school for financial reasons.
Mel Gibson obtainsorder against stalker
MALIBU, Calif. -- Mel Gibson obtained a temporary restraining order against a man who allegedly showed up at his estate and the chapel he attends, demanding they pray together.
Zack Sinclair, 34, was arrested Sept. 20 for investigation of disorderly conduct and loitering and remained jailed Friday on $5,000 bail pending a court hearing Wednesday. The restraining order was issued a day after his arrest, and bars him from coming within 150 yards of Gibson, his wife or their seven children. He also cannot contact the actor. Sinclair allegedly went to the gate of Gibson's estate twice in September and asked to pray with the actor. He was first ordered away and then detained.
The American way isn't for film star
HONG KONG -- Chow Yun-Fat says he can't stand the American way of life and has no plans to pursue U.S. permanent resident status. "I can't stand talking English every day or the lifestyle there ... not to mention the food," the Hong Kong-born film star was quoted as saying in Friday's editions of Chinese-language newspaper The Sun. "I only go to America for work. When I finish work, I leave immediately. I won't stay one day longer."
Chow rose to fame in Hong Kong with gangster movies including "A Better Tomorrow" before moving to Hollywood, where he has starred in films such as "The Replacement Killers" and "Anna and the King."
He couldn't be contacted for comment Friday, a National Day holiday in Hong Kong.
Columnist has surgeryafter fall in hotel room
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Political columnist Robert Novak broke his hip while in the Miami area for the first presidential debate and was recovering from surgery in a hospital, a newspaper reported Saturday.
The 73-year-old conservative pundit fell early Friday in a hotel bathroom and underwent partial hip replacement surgery that afternoon, The Washington Post reported. Novak aide Kathleen Connolly said the injury would not slow him down. "Are you kidding?" she told the paper. "He intends to write his column for the weekend and asked me to cancel Monday's events, but not Tuesday's."
Nurses confirmed Novak was at Doctor's Hospital in Coral Gables on Saturday, but directed all inquiries to the public relations department of CNN, where Novak is one of the hosts of "Crossfire."
Today's birthdays
Author Gore Vidal is 79. Singer Alan O'Day is 64. Rock 'n' roll star Chubby Checker is 63. Actor Alan Rachins is 62. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., is 61. Magician Roy Horn is 60. Singer Lindsey Buckingham is 55. Jazz musician Ronnie Laws is 54. Blues singer Keb' Mo' is 53. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield is 53. Actor Hart Bochner is 48. Actor Peter Frechette is 48. Actor Jack Wagner is 45. Rock musician Tommy Lee is 42. Actor Clive Owen is 40. Actress Janel Moloney is 35. Singer Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) is 35. Pop singer Kevin Richardson (Backstreet Boys) is 33. Actress Keiko Agena is 31. Actress Neve Campbell is 31. Singer India.Arie is 29. Actress Alanna Ubach is 29. Actor Seann William Scott is 28. Actress Shannyn Sossamon is 26. Actor Erik Von Detten is 22. Actress Ashlee Simpson is 20.
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