Tom Hanks returning to Cleveland for benefit

Tom Hanks returning to Cleveland for benefit

CLEVELAND — Tom Hanks has never forgotten the Cleveland theater company that gave him his start as an actor and will come back for a fall fundraiser.

The Academy Award winner will do a show called “Tom Hanks at the Hanna” on Oct. 12 at downtown’s historic Hanna Theatre, home of the Great Lakes Theater Festival.

It was called the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival when Hanks was hired in 1977 for his first acting job, paying $45 a week. He would put in three summers with the Great Lakes, where he got his Actors’ Equity card.

The star returned for benefits in 1991 and 1993. Top seats for the upcoming event are $250 and include dinner with the actor, whose two Oscars are for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.” Proceeds will go toward the Hanna’s restoration.

Chris Brown says he still loves Rihanna

LOS ANGELES — Chris Brown says he doesn’t remember savagely beating Rihanna and claims he still loves his former girlfriend.

In his first public interviews on the subject, the R&B singer told People magazine and CNN’s Larry King that his feelings haven’t changed for Rihanna since the February beating that left her bloody and bruised.

“I never fell out of love with her,” Brown told People. “That just wouldn’t go away.”

Brown told King in an interview scheduled to air Wednesday night that he is still in shock about his actions. Brown’s mother, Joyce Hawkins, accompanied her son during both interviews.

“When I look at it now, it’s just like, wow, like, I can’t believe that that actually happened,” Brown told King.

Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault in June, and last week was sentenced to five years’ probation, a year of domestic- violence counseling and six months of community labor. He will serve his sentence in his home state of Virginia.

A judge also ordered Brown, 20, and Rihanna, 21, to stay away from each other.

A police affidavit and probation report detail the beating, which included Brown hitting, biting and choking Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty. The attack occurred in a car after the couple attended a pre-Grammy Awards party.

Surgeon expects complete recovery for Robertson

RICHMOND, Va. — Pat Robertson’s lead surgeon says he expects the 79-year-old religious broadcaster to make a full recovery from surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat.

Robertson is back at home in Virginia Beach after his release last week from a hospital in North Carolina. He ultimately will be fitted with a heart monitor.

Dr. Andy C. Kiser said Robertson underwent the 10-hour surgical procedure at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, N.C., to repair an atrial fibrillation.

In a separate but related procedure, doctors also removed an abnormally enlarged left appendage on Robertson’s heart. They believe the growth contributed to Robertson’s atrial fibrillation.

Robertson is founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Today’s birthdays

Comedian-actress Lily Tomlin is 70. Singer Archie Bell of Archie Bell and the Drells is 65. Singer Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees is 63. Talk show host Dr. Phil is 59. Singer Gloria Estefan is 52. Singer-guitarist Grant Lee Phillips (“Gilmore Girls”) is 46. DJ Spigg Nice of Lost Boyz is 39. Actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira (“Desperate Housewives”) is 38.