Hartnett hospitalized with stomach trouble

March 31, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

LOS ANGELES — Josh Hartnett’s publicist says the 30-year-old actor has been taken to a Los Angeles hospital with gastrointestinal problems.

Publicist Susan Patricola says Hartnett was transported by ambulance at 1:45 a.m. Monday to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

She says in a statement that he “is under observation but is resting comfortably.”

Patricola says Hartnett had a flare-up of a gastrointestinal issue that affected him while he was starring in an onstage production of “Rain Man” in London last year.

Matt Dillon pleads guilty to speeding, pays fine

CHELSEA, Vt. — Matt Dillon had his case dismissed after pleading guilty to speeding and paying an $828 fine.

The 44-year-old actor was stopped Dec. 30 on Interstate 91 while driving 106 mph in rural Northern Vermont. Because of the excessive speed, he was also charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Prosecutor Will Porter said Monday that Dillon agreed to plead guilty to speeding in exchange for having the negligent-operation charge dismissed Wednesday, which he said is common in such cases.

Dillon’s lawyer, Mark Kaplan, says the plea was a fair resolution for Dillon.

Today’s birthdays

March 31: Actress Peggy Rea (“Grace Under Fire”) is 88. Actor William Daniels (“St. Elsewhere”) is 82. Actor Richard Chamberlain is 75. Actress Shirley Jones is 75. Country singer-songwriter John D. Loudermilk is 75. Musician Herb Alpert is 74. Actor Christopher Walken is 66. Comedian Gabe Kaplan (“Welcome Back Kotter”) is 64. Actress Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”) is 61. Actor Ed Marinaro (“Hill Street Blues,” “Sisters”) is 59. Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC is 54. Actor Ewan McGregor is 38. Rapper Tony Yayo is 31.