newsmakers

newsmakers

Film director Blake Edwards dies

LOS ANGELES

Blake Edwards, the director and writer known for clever dialogue, poignance and occasional belly-laugh sight gags in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “10” and the “Pink Panther” farces, is dead at age 88.

Edwards died from complications of pneumonia late Wednesday at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, said publicist Gene Schwam.

Blake’s wife, Julie Andrews, and other family members were at his side.

He had been hospitalized for about two weeks.

“He was the most unique man I have ever known — and he was my mate,” Andrews said in a statement Thursday. “He will be missed beyond words, and will forever be in my heart.”

Edwards had knee problems, had undergone unsuccessful procedures and was “pretty much confined to a wheelchair for the last year-and-a-half or two,” Schwam said. That may have contributed to his condition, he added.

At the time of his death, Edwards was working on two Broadway musicals, one based on the “Pink Panther” movies. The other, “Big Rosemary,” was to be an original comedy set during Prohibition, Schwam said.

Mariah Carey is having twins

NEW YORK

Mariah Carey is going to be a mom twice over. Nick Cannon announced on his radio show Thursday that his wife is expecting twins. Said Cannon on New York’s 92.3 station: “I haven’t even told my wife I’m doing this, so I’m probably gonna get yelled at for not getting permission. ... We are having twins!”

Cannon said two VIPs did get the scoop: President Barack Obama and wife Michelle. Carey told the first couple during a taping of a “Christmas in Washington” show.

Mel Gibson’s film is due in March

LOS ANGELES

Mel Gibson’s next movie finally has a release date. Distributor Summit Entertainment announced Wednesday that Gibson’s comic drama “The Beaver” will open in limited release next March 23 and expand to more theaters April 8.

The film has been in limbo amid Gibson’s custody battle with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, who claims he physically abused her.

Vindicator wire services