Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Cruise movie extras
hurt during filming
BERLIN — Several extras were injured when they fell out of a truck during the filming of “Valkyrie,” which stars Tom Cruise as Germany’s most famous anti-Hitler plotter.
The accident happened Sunday evening while scenes were being shot around the Finance Ministry in Berlin, which was once the Nazis’ aviation ministry.
United Artists said 10 extras briefly required medical attention after falling off the truck, which the studio said was traveling at less than 10 mph when wooden slats gave way — sending them off the side.
“No one suffered anything more serious than cuts and bruises, though one of the extras was kept in the hospital overnight for observation,” said a statement Monday from United Artists.
Police said a bolt on a side panel of the truck apparently came loose as the vehicle turned a corner.
DeNiro double take
HONOLULU — Traveling allowed Robert De Niro to celebrate his birthday twice. De Niro first turned 64 in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday where he attended the grand opening of his latest Nobu restaurant. Then he caught a private jet over the international dateline and had another birthday Friday in Hawaii.
While many his age are thinking about retirement, the Hollywood star seems as busy as ever with his film career and Japanese restaurant chain, which is quickly expanding internationally.
“I have time,” he said on his birthday, sitting in one of the private rooms at his swank Nobu Waikiki restaurant, which opened in May.
Nobu Waikiki, located in the Waikiki Parc Hotel, and Nobu Melbourne are his 18th and 19th, respectively, in the chain, with additional restaurants planned for San Diego and West Hollywood, Calif.
De Niro’s latest film is “Stardust.”
Pavarotti still hospitalized
MODENA, Italy — Luciano Pavarotti will remain hospitalized for several more days to have further tests related to his pancreatic cancer, Modena Polyclinic said Monday.
The 71-year-old tenor was admitted to the hospital Aug. 8 because of a high fever. The hospital statement said that even though the fever is gone, Pavarotti’s stay was extended for “the opportunity to conduct further tests related to” the cancer. The opera star had surgery for the cancer in July 2006 in a New York hospital.
Pete Doherty arrested
LONDON — Police arrested Pete Doherty on Monday in east London on suspicion of drug possession. A police spokesman confirmed a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs and was in custody at an east London police station. Because of police force rules, he could not name the suspect.
Earlier this month, a judge warned Doherty, lead singer of Babyshambles, that he must prove his desire to quit drugs or face a jail sentence for other drug offenses.
Doherty, 28, has admitted possessing crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis and ketamine, as well as committing two driving offenses.
Doherty, best known as on-off boyfriend of model Kate Moss, has been undergoing drug treatment under court order because of previous convictions.
Today’s birthdays
Actor-director Melvin Van Peebles is 75. Singer Kenny Rogers is 69. Actor Clarence Williams III is 68. Rock ’n’ roll musician James Burton is 68. Singer Harold Reid (The Statler Brothers) is 68. Singer Jackie DeShannon is 63. Actress Patty McCormack is 62. TV anchorman Harry Smith is 56. Country musician Nick Kane is 53. Actress Kim Cattrall is 51. Actress Carrie-Anne Moss is 37. Rock musician Liam Howlett (Prodigy) is 36. Actress Alicia Witt is 32. Singer Kelis is 28. Singer Melissa Schuman is 23. Actor Cody Kasch (“Desperate Housewives”) is 20. Actress Hayden Panettiere is 18.