NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Iraq War vet named Rose Parade marshal

PASADENA, Calif.

The grand marshal for Pasadena’s 123rd Tournament of Roses is a certain crowd pleaser.

Leading the Jan. 2 procession of floats will be J.R. Martinez, the “Dancing With the Stars” contestant, “All My Children” daytime soap opera star and Iraq War veteran seriously burned when his Humvee hit a land mine,

He will also toss the coin before kickoff of the 98th Rose Bowl Game in honor of all wounded military personnel.

Oscar producer Gilbert Cates dies

LOS ANGELES

Producer and director Gilbert Cates, who oversaw a record 14 Academy Awards ceremonies and founded the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, has died. He was 77.

The Geffen Playhouse said Cates died Monday. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Cates founded the School of Theater, Film and Television at UCLA and was its dean from 1990 to 1998. He twice served as president of the Directors Guild of America and was on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Cates last produced the Oscar telecast in 2008, when the ceremony was almost sidelined by the Writers Guild strike.

‘Dancing’ stars are dropping weight

LOS ANGELES

Even though Ricki Lake consistently earns high scores on “Dancing With the Stars,” she’s still a loser.

The 43-year-old TV personality has dropped more than 20 pounds since the show’s 13th season began in September. So has fellow contestant Nancy Grace. The prosecutor-turned-TV personality says she’s shed 23 pounds.

Grace has been showing more skin as she shrinks, and she said she’d be thrilled to dance in a leotard if she makes it to the finals on the ABC show.

Alicia Keys to donate instruments to school

NEW YORK

Alicia Keys is heading back to high school.

The Grammy-winning singer will visit the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan on Tuesday and donate music instruments to its students.

Keys says her alma mater is underfunded and oversubscribed.

She will also launch an online contest where people can share how they would use $1,000 “to make the world a better place.” It is part of the global campaign, “World of Betters.”

The contest ends Dec. 15.

Vindicator wire reports