Couple sues Simmons over alleged attack

Couple sues Simmons over alleged attack

LOS ANGELES — A couple who said they were assaulted by Gene Simmons sued the KISS bassist for unspecified damages Thursday, court records show.

Nathan Marlowe and his wife, Cynthia Manzo, said Simmons attacked them, threatened them and took their video camera at the upscale The Grove Mall on Saturday after they started filming the rocker.

The couple’s attorney, Matthew Nezhad, says a police report was filed. The couple sought a restraining order against Simmons on Wednesday, but that was denied.

Simmons has not been arrested and no charges have been filed.

According to the complaint and restraining order application, Marlowe asked Simmons for his view on monogamy, and Simmons responded by telling Marlowe to get his shot and leave. The filings state Simmons then lunged and attacked Marlowe, taking the video camera, then turned on Manzo when she tried to get the camera back.

A phone message seeking comment from Simmons’ entertainment attorney was not immediately returned.

The couple are seeking damages of more than $25,000 for civil claims of assault, battery and infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit was filed as a verified complaint, meaning Marlowe and Manzo signed it under penalty of perjury.

Billy Ray becomes his dad

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Billy Ray Cyrus prepared his whole life for the role of Daniel Burton in the Hallmark Channel movie “Christmas in Canaan.”

He started finding Polaroids of his dad from 1964. Cyrus says he thought that if he could just become his dad— if he could “be Ronald Ray Cyrus in 1964 — then that’s this guy. Just go be your dad.”

He says he eventually realized that he just grew in to his dad.

Cyrus plays a widowed father of three, living in Canaan, Texas, at the start of the civil-rights movement.

“Christmas in Canaan” is playing on the Hallmark Channel through the end of the month.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Donald Moffat (“Clear and Present Danger”) is 79. Actor Caroll Spinney (Big Bird on “Sesame Street”) is 76. Record producer Phil Spector is 70. “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 64. Humorist David Sedaris is 53. Drummer James Kottak of Scorpions is 47. Country drummer Brian Westrum of Sons of the Desert is 47. Drummer Lars Ulrich of Metallica is 46. Country singer Audrey Wiggins is 42. Guitarist J (White Zombie) is 42. Guitarist Peter Klett of Candlebox is 40. Singer James Mercer of The Shins is 39. Actor Jared Leto is 38. Singer Chris Daughtry is 30.