Soap star apologizes for quitting 25 years ago

Soap star apologizes
for quitting 25 years ago

NEW YORK — In case anyone is still carrying a grudge from 1982, Genie Francis would like her fans to know she’s sorry. The actress played Laura on the ABC daytime soap opera “General Hospital,” and her fairy-tale wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) riveted 30 million viewers in 1981 and landed the couple on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Now Francis is apologizing for suddenly quitting the show the following year. “I’m sorry for leaving you so abruptly, for not taking into account the feelings of the people who helped Laura truly take on a life of her own,” the 45-year-old actress said in a statement Thursday from the Hallmark Channel. “It was the decision of a young, impetuous girl, and the woman she has become asks for your forgiveness.” Earlier this year, Francis won her first Daytime Emmy for supporting actress in a drama series. She had returned briefly to “General Hospital” as Laura, a role she began playing at age 14. Francis said filming “The Note,” a movie about reconciliation, prompted her to examine her past choices and apologize. “The Note” premieres today on the Hallmark Channel.

China is keeping out
Will Smith’s ‘I Am Legend’

HONG KONG — Will Smith’s new sci-fi thriller, “I Am Legend,” is hitting movie theaters across Asia later this month — but not in China. The delay in the film’s approval comes amid a report that China has issued a temporary ban on American movies to boost the country’s domestic film industry — a move the country’s regulator has denied. “We struggled very, very hard to try to get it to work out, but there are only a certain amount of foreign films that are allowed in,” Smith told reporters in Hong Kong on Friday. Smith said he had met with China Film Group’s chairman, Han Sanping, and is working with him to secure a release date for “I Am Legend.” Smith said he has discussed other movie projects with Han and mentioned that he’s exploring the idea of a remake of “The Karate Kid,” possibly set in Hong Kong or Beijing. “I am Legend” has already received a green light for release in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

Gary Collins gets jail
for drunking driving

LOS ANGELES — Gary Collins has been sentenced to four days in jail after he pleaded no contest to charges in a drunken driving case. Collins was arrested in an October crash in Sherman Oaks that involved an 89-year-old motorist. The actor-TV host wasn’t found at fault in the collision, but officers said they smelled alcohol on his breath. Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Rebecca Omens instructed Collins, 69, to surrender by Jan. 10 to start serving his sentence. She also ordered Collins to serve four years’ probation upon his release, pay a $500 fine, perform 100 hours of community service, enroll in an 18-month alcohol education program and attend 26 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. A court clerk said Collins was sentenced immediately after pleading no contest Thursday to two counts in the crash. During his long TV career, Collins has made appearances on series such as “JAG,” “Yes, Dear” and “The Young and the Restless,” as well as on “The New Hollywood Squares.” He hosted the “Hour Magazine” talk show in the 1980s.

Elton John receives
rare honor from Maori

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Elton John has received a specially made bird-feather cloak for his many visits to Maori communities. “It’s the Maori equivalent to an Academy Award” and means the 60-year-old British singer is an honored member of the Ngati Te Whiti sub-tribe, group chairman Peter Love said Friday in a statement. The cloak was “gifted as recognition of the enjoyment Sir Elton John’s music has given to Maori over the years and his loyal continuance to return to Aotearoa to entertain,” he said. Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand. John was given the Korowai cloak at a concert Thursday night. He played before 15,000 people in the regional city of New Plymouth, the traditional home of the Ngati Te Whiti, Love said. The cloak’s presentation “is significant as it’s rarely given,” Love said.

Today’s birthdays

Actor-director Maximilian Schell is 77. Actor David Carradine is 71. Flutist James Galway is 68. Singer Jerry Butler is 68. Pop musician Bobby Elliott (The Hollies) is 65. Rock singer-musician Gregg Allman is 60. Reggae singer Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals) is 59. Actress Kim Basinger is 54. Rock musician Phil Collen (Def Leppard) is 50. Country singer Marty Raybon is 48. Actress Teri Hatcher is 43. Rapper Bushwick Bill (The Geto Boys) is 41. Singer Sinead O’Connor is 41. Actor Dominic Monaghan is 31. Actor Ian Somerhalder is 29.