‘Boston Legal’ actor dies in SUV crash in Wisconsin

February 3, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

DODGEVILLE, Wis. — An actor who appeared on the TV show “Boston Legal” has been killed in an SUV crash in Wisconsin. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Department says Justin Mentell was killed when his SUV went down an embankment off Highway 39 near Blanchardville and hit two trees. The crash was reported around 8:30 a.m. Monday.

The sheriff’s department says the 27-year-old from Waukegan, Ill., wasn’t wearing a seat belt. Mentell portrayed attorney Garrett Wells on “Boston Legal” from 2005 to 2006.

Producer of ‘Jaws,’ ‘Sting’ dies at home at age 93

NEW YORK — David Brown, a theater and film producer who brought hits such as “Jaws” and “The Sting” to the big screen, has died. He was 93. The Hearst Corporation says he died Monday at his Manhattan home after a long illness.

Brown was the husband of longtime Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown. The magazine is owned by Hearst. He came to Hollywood in 1953 and remained active into the 21st century. He was nominated for the best picture Oscar four times, for “Jaws,” “The Verdict,” “A Few Good Men,” and “Chocolat.” He also earned a spot in pop-culture history for encouraging his wife to write her groundbreaking 1962 book, “Sex and the Single Girl.” That led to her fabled career at Cosmopolitan magazine.

Usher, Keys, Shakira will perform at All-Star game

NEW YORK — No Valentine’s Day date this year? How about spending the evening with Usher, Alicia Keys and Shakira? The Grammy winners are all set to perform during the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 14. The game will air live at 8 p.m. on TNT.

Source: Jackson’s doctor to be charged in court

LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors plan to charge Michael Jackson’s doctor with manslaughter rather than take the case to a grand jury, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Prosecutors will file a criminal complaint against Dr. Conrad Murray, who practices in Houston, instead of taking the case before a grand jury, which is done in private, the official said.

The person is not authorized to speak publicly about the case and only spoke on condition of anonymity.will premiere this month during coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on NBC, according to a release from promoter AEG Live.

Jackson died June 25 from an anesthetic overdose. Murray maintains nothing he gave Jackson should have killed him.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Dennis Edwards (The Temptations) is 67. Singer Melanie is 63. Actress Morgan Fairchild is 60. Actor Nathan Lane is 54. Actress Michele Greene (“L.A. Law”) is 48. Rapper Sean Kingston is 28.