MATT DAMON AND WIFE WELCOME BABY GIRL

Matt Damon and wifewelcome baby girl
LOS ANGELES -- Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Bozan, are the parents of a baby girl, Isabella, their first child, the actor's publicist said Monday.
"Mother and baby -- everyone -- is wonderful, fine," publicist Jennifer Allen said. The baby was born Sunday in a Miami hospital, Allen said. No other details were released.
The couple were married Dec. 9 in New York City during a private ceremony attended by the bride's daughter, Alexa, then 7, from a previous marriage. It was the first marriage for Damon, 35.
Damon shared a best screenwriting Oscar with Ben Affleck for 1997's "Good Will Hunting." Both Damon and Affleck starred in the movie.
Damon's screen credits also include roles in "Saving Private Ryan," "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "Ocean's Eleven," "The Bourne Identity" and "Syriana." His upcoming films include "Ocean's Thirteen" and "The Bourne Ultimatum."
'Dead Zone' actor Hallappreciates early career
PASADENA, Calif. -- Anthony Michael Hall, who played the awkward geek in '80s teen movies "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club," says he doesn't try to forget his early career.
"To be part of some films that people have grown up with -- it's amazing," the 38-year-old Hall told reporters recently, according to AP Radio. "I'm often stunned by it. It's actually very humbling."
More than 20 years later, Hall has gone from geek to reluctant psychic as the star of USA's "The Dead Zone." The series' fifth season starts Sunday (10 p.m.).
He said the show cuts across many genres, even romantic comedy. "I mean, it's sci-fi to some, to others it's a supernatural drama or thriller," he said.
Hall said he's matured as an actor on "The Dead Zone," and appreciates connecting to a new group of fans. An elderly woman grabbed him once and said, "'I don't know if I should touch you, but I had to touch you,'" he recalled, laughing.
"I really get a lot of joy out of that."
Cleese plans to writea history of comedy
LONDON -- He gave the world the Ministry of Silly Walks and foul-tempered hotelier Basil Fawlty of TV's "Fawlty Towers." Now John Cleese wants to pass his comic skills on to a new generation.
Cleese, one of the founders of the comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus, said he plans to write a history of stage, film and TV comedy, from silent screen classics to the workplace sitcom "The Office."
"I'm too old to write new comedy," Cleese, 66, was quoted as saying Monday by The Times newspaper. "I can never do better than 'Fawlty Towers,' whatever I do. Now I very much want to teach young talent some rules of the game."
Cleese told the newspaper the book would range from "the greats of silent cinema to Ricky Gervais, who is the height of modern entertainment."
Today's birthdays
Magician Siegfried (Siegfried & amp; Roy) is 67. Actor Malcolm McDowell is 63. Actor Richard Thomas is 55. Actor Jonathan Hogan is 55. Actor Stellan Skarsgard is 55. Comedian Tim Allen is 53. Actress Ally Sheedy is 44. "The Early Show" co-host Hannah Storm is 44. Rock musician Paul deLisle (Smash Mouth) is 43. Singer David Gray is 38. Rhythm-and-blues singer Deniece Pearson (Five Star) is 38. Rock musician Soren Rasted (Aqua) is 37. Actor Jamie Walters is 37. Singer-musician Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) is 36. Country singer Susan Haynes is 34. Actor Steve-O ("Jackass") is 32. Actor Ethan Embry is 28. Actor Chris Evans is 25. Actress Sarah Schaub is 23. Singer Raz B is 21. Actress Kat Dennings is 20. Actress Ashley Olsen is 20. Actress Mary-Kate Olsen is 20.
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