Dennis Hopper files for divorce from his wife

Dennis Hopper files for divorce from his wife

LOS ANGELES — Court records show Dennis Hopper has filed for divorce from his wife of nearly 14 years. Hopper has been battling prostate cancer, and in October canceled all travel plans to focus on treatment. He filed for divorce Thursday in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences with his wife, Victoria Duffy. Hopper is seeking joint custody of the couple’s 6-year-old daughter, Galen. The 73-year-old actor-director also is offering to pay spousal support to Duffy.

The “Easy Rider” star last year finished shooting the second season of “Crash,” a TV version of the Oscar-winning 2004 film that airs on the Starz network. Hopper also has several film projects in the works.

Leno’s return is right move, NBC chief says

NEW YORK — NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker says Jay Leno’s return to late-night television is the right financial move. NBC is ending its prime-time “The Jay Leno Show” because of low ratings and affiliate station complaints. An exit deal with Conan O’Brien, which is expected this week, would clear the way for Leno to reclaim the slot occupied by “The Tonight Show,” which he hosted for 17 years.

In an interview Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal, Zucker says it isn’t surprising that O’Brien is disappointed that NBC wanted to move his show to a later time slot. But Zucker says it was surprising and disappointing “how nasty it turned.”

‘Spenser’ author dies

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Robert Parker, the author of the popular “Spenser” novels about a hard-nosed Boston private investigator, has died. He was 77. A spokeswoman for the Cambridge police department says an ambulance was sent to Parker’s home at about 11 a.m. Monday for reports of a sudden death. The spokeswoman, Alexa Manocchio, says the death was of “natural causes” and is not considered suspicious.

Parker wrote more than 50 novels, including 37 featuring Spenser. The character was the basis for the 1980s TV series “Spenser: For Hire,” starring Robert Urich.

Jay-Z to headline Coachella Valley festival

NEW YORK — Jay-Z will bring his “Empire State of Mind” to the West Coast for Coachella this year.

The Brooklyn-born rapper will headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which kicks off April 16 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif. Rock acts Muse and Gorillaz are set to headline April 17 and 18, respectively. The three-day festival — with more than 130 acts — also includes Thom Yorke, David Guetta, MGMT, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend and Wale.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Slim Whitman is 86. Comedian Arte Johnson is 81. Director David Lynch is 64. Guitarist Paul Stanley of Kiss is 58. TV host Bill Maher (“Politically Incorrect”) is 54. Actor Lorenzo Lamas is 52. Country singer John Michael Montgomery is 45. Actor Rainn Wilson is 44. Actor Skeet Ulrich is 40.