NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Film, TV legend Garner dies at home at 86

LOS ANGELES

Actor James Garner, wisecracking star of TV’s “Maverick” who went on to a long career on both small and big screen, has died. He was 86.

He was found dead of natural causes at his Brentwood home Saturday evening, Los Angeles police officer Alonzo Iniquez said Sunday.

Officers responded to a call around 11 p.m. and confirmed Garner’s identity from family members, Iniquez told The Associated Press.

There was no immediate word on a specific cause of death. Garner had suffered a stroke in May 2008, just weeks after his 80th birthday.

Although he was adept at drama and action, Garner was best known for his witty, low-key style, especially with the TV series “Maverick” and “The Rockford Files.”

He was nominated for an Oscar for the 1985 “Murphy’s Romance.” He remained active well into his 70s.

Bartusiak, actress from ‘The Patriot,’ dies at 21

HOUSTON

Actress Skye McCole Bartusiak, who portrayed Mel Gibson’s young daughter in the 2000 film “The Patriot,” died in her Houston home, her mother said Sunday. She was 21.

Bartusiak’s mother, Helen Bartusiak, told The Associated Press the actress had been living in a garage apartment at her parents’ home. She said the actress’ boyfriend found her unresponsive on her bed Saturday.

Helen Bartusiak said she tried to resuscitate her daughter but could not. She said the actress had been healthy and did not drink or do drugs, and the family did not yet know a cause of death.

‘Apes’ outmuscles ‘The Purge’ at box office

NEW YORK

The summer box office continued to lack mojo, as the R-rated “Sex Tape” failed to turn on moviegoers over a weekend where “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” maintained its rule.

20th Century Fox’s science fiction sequel outmuscled a trio of new films to top the North American box office for the second-straight week with $36 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Its closest completion over the weekend was the home-invasion horror thriller “The Purge: Anarchy,” written and directed by James DeMoncaco.

Universal’s low-budget sequel to last year’s surprise hit, “The Purge,” opened with $28.4 million.

The Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz R-rated comedy failed to entice moviegoers or critics. “Sex Tape” took fourth place behind Disney’s “Planes: Fire & Rescue.” The animated sequel to 2013’s “Cars”-offshoot, “Planes,” opened with $18 million.

In fifth place, with $10 million, was “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”

Associated Press