Funeral Mass for Mays to be in McKees Rocks

Funeral Mass for Mays to be in McKees Rocks

MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. — The funeral for television product pitchman Billy Mays will be Friday in the Pittsburgh suburb where he was born and raised.

The funeral Mass for Mays will be 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Church in McKees Rocks.

Mays was found dead by his wife in their Tampa, Fla., condominium Sunday. A medical examiner says he likely died from a heart attack, though test results are pending that could confirm that.

Ticked over ‘Bruno’ photos

LOS ANGELES — The chief of the nation’s second-largest school district is fuming over comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s magazine photo shoot with high school football players.

Los Angeles Superintendent Ramon Cortines isn’t amused by the GQ magazine photos shot at Birmingham High School that feature the “Borat” star in his new incarnation as gay Australian fashionista “Bruno.”

The GQ cover story features pictures of Cohen wearing shoulder pads, tight red shorts, an athletic cup and little else as he poses with football players at the school in the San Fernando Valley.

Kristofferson will be honored as a music icon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kris Kristofferson will be honored by BMI as a music icon during the music licensing organization’s country awards in November.

BMI announced the selection Tuesday.

Kristofferson’s classic songs include “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” He’s also an actor who has appeared in movies such as “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and the “Blade” trilogy.

Kristofferson will be saluted in an all-star musical tribute in Nashville on Nov. 10.

Academy invites stars to join exclusive club

LOS ANGELES — Hugh Jackman, Seth Rogen, Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle have been invited into the exclusive Hollywood club that votes on the Academy Awards.

Others among the 134 people asked to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences include recent acting nominees Amy Ryan, Melissa Leo, Casey Affleck and Viola Davis.

Michelle Williams, former girlfriend of 2008 supporting-actor winner Heath Ledger, also has been invited into the academy. Williams co-starred with Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain,” earning a supporting-actress nomination for the film.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Olivia de Havilland is 93. Actor Jamie Farr is 75. Actress Karen Black is 70. Dancer Twyla Tharp is 68. Singer Deborah Harry of Blondie is 64. Singer Fred Schneider of The B-52’s is 58. Singer Victor Willis of the Village People is 58. Actor Dan Aykroyd is 57. Actress Pamela Anderson is 42. Rapper Missy Elliott is 38. Actress Liv Tyler is 32. Actress Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”) is 27.