More than 130 actors oppose strike vote

More than 130 actors oppose strike vote

LOS ANGELES — Delivering a rebuke to the leadership of the Screen Actors Guild, more than 130 actors signed a letter urging their colleagues to reject a strike-authorization vote in January.

“We don’t think that an authorization can be looked at as merely a bargaining tool,” said the letter, signed by “Desperate Housewives” actress Eva Longoria Parker, “Spider-Man” star Tobey Maguire, and others. “It must be looked at as what it is — an agreement to strike if negotiations fail.”

“We do not believe in all good conscience that now is the time to be putting people out of work,” it said.

Other signatories included Tom Hanks, Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, Heather Graham and Edward Norton.

Falk has Alzheimer’s

LOS ANGELES — A court document filed by Peter Falk’s daughter says the Emmy-winning actor is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Catherine Falk is seeking a court’s approval for a conservatorship of her 81-year-old father, who she claims no longer recognizes people. A hearing has been scheduled for late January.

Falk is familiar to most audiences as the star of the television series “Columbo,” for which he won four Emmys.

He was also nominated twice for Academy Awards for movie roles in 1959 and 1960.

The petition filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court states Falk lives in Beverly Hills with his wife and recently had hip surgery and requires constant care.

Today’s birthdays

Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione is 78. Actor-comedian Eugene Levy is 62. Director-producer Peter Farrelly (“There’s Something About Mary,” “Dumb and Dumber”) is 52. Singer Sarah Dallin of Bananarama is 47. Actor Giovanni Ribisi is 34. Actress Milla Jovovich (“Zoolander,” “The Fifth Element”) is 33. Actor-singer Nat Wolff (“The Naked Brothers Band”) is 14.