Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Almost official: Judgesigns Pitt-Aniston papers
LOS ANGELES -- A judge has signed off on the divorce of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, but under California law, the former golden couple's split won't be official until Oct. 2, according to court records obtained Monday. The divorce papers were filed Aug. 19 in Los Angeles Superior Court after being signed earlier by retired Judge Jill S. Robbins. Aniston and Pitt had sought Robbins to handle their breakup privately. Pitt and Aniston separated in January after 41/2 years of marriage. Aniston filed for divorce in March, citing irreconcilable differences. Since their split, Pitt has been linked to Angelina Jolie, his "Mr. & amp; Mrs. Smith" co-star. They have not commented publicly on their relationship. In an interview in Vanity Fair, Aniston said she still loved Pitt but was getting on with her life. "The sad thing, for me, is the way it's been reduced to a Hollywood cliche -- or maybe it's just a human cliche," she told the magazine.
Trying to avoid paparazzi,actress gets into accident
LOS ANGELES -- Scarlett Johansson was involved in an accident last week trying to duck photographers who had tracked her to a Disneyland parking lot, her publicist said. The actress wasn't hurt in the accident in Anaheim, according to Marcel Pariseau. Police said they were aware of what happened but did not have details. Johansson, 20, was with two friends when she noticed four sports utility vehicles following her on Interstate 5 after she left her Hollywood home, Pariseau said. Johansson, 20, paid the $10 fee to enter a lot at the amusement park when she tried to get away from the vehicles and swerved, clipping the right side of car carrying a woman and her two daughters, Pariseau said. "[The] four SUVs surrounded the accident," Pariseau said. "She saw one photographer come out of his car and start snapping away." Arnold Cousart, co-owner of JFX Direct photo agency, acknowledged that two of his photographers had been following Johansson for four days and had tracked her to Disneyland, along with at least one other photographer from a rival agency. But he said that his photographers had nothing to do with the collision.
Singer's boyfriend missing
The Coast Guard is looking for Olivia Newton-John's longtime beau, Patrick Kim McDermott, who on June 30 left San Pedro, Calif., for an overnight fishing trip and has not returned. The Coast Guard, which is handling this as a missing-person case, said McDermott's family contacted them when he failed to show for a July 6 event. The 48-year-old cameraman was last seen on his fishing boat, which reportedly came back to port the next day still containing his personal items. Newton-John, 56, who has dated McDermott for nine years, on Monday urged anyone with information to contact authorities. "I'm hopeful that my treasured friend is safe and well, and I'm grateful to the officials who are working so hard to find Patrick, whom I love very much," she said.
Notable deaths
Robert A. Moog, whose self-named synthesizers turned electric currents into sound, revolutionizing music in the 1960s and opening the wave that became electronica, died Sunday. He was 71.
Myron Weinblatt, a former president of NBC Entertainment who was among the first network executives to move into cable television, as president of Showtime in 1980, has died. He was 76.
Today's birthdays
Former education secretary Shirley Hufstedler is 80. Actor Kenny Baker ("Star Wars") is 71. Composer-musician Mason Williams is 67. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marshall Thompson (The Chi-Lites) is 63. Rock musician Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) is 60. Actor Joe Regalbuto is 56. Actor-writer Stephen Fry is 48. Actor Steve Guttenberg is 47. Baseball star Cal Ripken Jr. is 45. Talk-show host Craig Kilborn is 43. Rock singer John Bush is 42. Actress Marlee Matlin is 40. Country singer Kristyn Osborn (SheDaisy) is 35. Actor-comedian Dave Chappelle is 32. Actor Carmine Giovinazzo is 32. Actor Chad Michael Murray is 24. Actor Rupert Grint ("Harry Potter" films) is 17.