Christian Brando, the eldest son of the late legendary actor Marlon Brando, died this morning at 1:47 a.m. at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. On Monday, Christian's attorney Benjamin Brin announced that the actor was hospitalized with pneumonia. "The prognosis is for a complete recovery," Brin said, "He's going to be OK." Christian was 49 years old.
Christian Brando was born May 11, 1958 as the result of an affair between his father and actress Anna Kashfi. Christian pled guilty to manslaughter in 1990 for killing his sister's boyfriend Dag Drollet.
In 2001, actor Robert Blake claimed that Christian was involved in the murder of his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley. Bonnie had been dating Robert Blake and Christian when she became pregnant and initially claimed Christian to be the father until a DNA test later proved the father to be Robert. Robert was charged with her murder and acquitted, then was later found liable in a civil case.
Christian dabbled in acting, and had small roles in Yentl and I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! but never achieved the level of fame as his Academy Award winning actor father.
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Hayden Panettiere will lead a rally against a resumption of commercial whaling at 1 p.m. this Sunday, January 27, in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The event kicks off a whirlwind trip to the Nation’s Capital for Hayden, who will later speak with policymakers and students to encourage increased whale protection.
The 18-year-old Heroes star is a spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! campaign, which is calling on the United States to stand up for whales at the International Whaling Commission and take diplomatic and economic action against whaling countries. After the rally, she will speak at Georgetown University. On Monday, she will meet with representatives from the embassies of Japan, Norway and Iceland to question their outdated whaling practices.
“Whales face increasing threats from climate change, ship strikes, entanglement in nets, and chemical and noise pollution, yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill them in increasing numbers,” Hayden said. “I am looking forward to talking with officials who actually make and carry out our policies, as well as fellow young people who will be voting in the upcoming election—I want our voice to be heard.”
On Tuesday, Hayden will speak at a 1 p.m. press conference hosted by House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Chair Nick Rahall (D-WV). She will be joined by Rahall and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in urging the US Government to reinstate its former leadership role protecting whales from commercial slaughter. An evening reception with Members of Congress and their staff is the final stop on her trip.
JOIN HAYDEN AND SAY “NO” TO COMMERCIAL WHALING!
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New parents Nicole Richie and Joel Madden head to her manager/talent agent Benny Medina’s house to celebrate his 40th birthday in Los Angeles on Friday.
Looks like Nicole is already back in shape, showing off her post-pregnancy body in a black hip-hugging dress.
Grandfather Lionel Richie, 58, was also seen at the party with his girlfriend.
Earlier in the day, Joel, 28, and Nicole, 26, were spotted stocking up on nursing supplies at The Pump Station earlier in the day.
Daughter Harlow Madden turned two-weeks-old yesterday.
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MARY-Kate Olsen obviously moves on quickly - just days after being the first person called upon the discovery of her "friend" Heath Ledger's body, the actress has been spotted steaming up the dance floor and hooking up with a mystery fella.
Olsen, now back in New York after spending the week in Los Angeles, reportedly gyrated sexily at a hip downtown club before kissing a male friend in her entourage.
The New York Daily News today revealed the night of frantic partying came just hours before Olsen made a brief public statement about Ledger.
Released by her publicist, the statement was the first word from Olsen since the Australian-born actor's death. In its entirety it reads:
"Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family."
It's also been a tough week for masseuse Diane Wolozin. First she found Ledger’s body - then she had to handle the controversy surrounding her three phone calls to Olsen before she rang for an ambulance.
Now she could face charges. The New York Education Department notified the NYPD yesterday that she does not have a license to practice in New York.
Under state law, anyone not authorized to practice a licensed profession could be charged with a felony.
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Britney Spears may have dumped Adnan Ghalib, but he won't get off the stage. The pap says Britney could be the next Princess Diana and he is her Dodi Fayed. Adnan, like Lady Di's last lover, is of Arab descent and fears that the paparazzi hounding his true love could lead to a tragic end.
Britney's latest ex is spilling the details of his relationship with the popwreck (via Showbizspy) and admits he was falling in love with Brit Brit and wanted to marry the stumbling star. The papo insists that her behavior is completely normal (including her newly adopted British accent) and that people want to see a scandal and not the "fairytale happy endings."
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Mel Gibson has called Heath Ledger's death this week a "tragic loss." But in recent years, Gibson had distanced himself from the risk-taking actor, it's been claimed.
Gibson turned cold toward Ledger after the Aussie star ignored his advice not to play a gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain," according to private investigator Paul Barresi.
Ledger and Gibson had grown close while filming "The Patriot," in which Ledger played Gibson's son.
"Ledger asked Gibson whether he should take the role of Ennis Del Mar in 'Brokeback,'" Barresi says a "major Hollywood producer" told him. "Gibson strongly counseled against it. The role apparently ran counter to Gibson's morality. And he felt that it would ruin Heath's career."
"When Gibson parted ways with Heath, it broke his heart," contends Barresi.
Of course, the role ended up winning Ledger critical cheers and an Oscar nomination. Speaking with London's Evening Standard in 2006, he said he took it because "it was kind of a reaction against the comparison that I'm the new Mel Gibson."
Gibson was accused of gay-bashing because of a scene in "Braveheart," in which a homosexual character is thrown out of a window. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) branded Gibson as homophobic after a December 1991 interview in which he told Spanish newspaper El País: "[Gays] take it up the a-." Gesturing toward his posterior, he added, "This is only for taking a s-."
When the interviewer recalled that Gibson had expressed fear that people would think he is gay because he's an actor, Gibson answered, "Do I sound like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them? I think not."
Asked about GLAAD's criticism, he told Playboy: "I'll apologize when hell freezes over. They can f- off."
Later, though, Gibson joined GLAAD in hosting lesbian and gay filmmakers for a seminar.
Gibson's rep called the story "a complete crock of s-." Ledger's rep had no comment by deadline. Gibson also said of Ledger this week: "I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off."
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Cheryl Cole yesterday kicked cheating husband Ashley out of their home.
The devastated Girls Aloud singer is said to be "seriously considering" ending their 18-month marriage over his boozy fling with a hairdresser.
Tearful Ashley, 27, begged to stay but she sent the Chelsea star packing telling him she needs "time to think". A friend said: "She is angry."
Friends of Cheryl say she is absolutely devastated by husband Ashley's cheating - and feels utterly betrayed because they have been making plans to start a family.
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One friend said: "Cheryl is in total shock. She thought she had found the man of her dreams in Ashley. But now those dreams have been crushed.
"The worst thing about it all was that it was totally unexpected. She is angry, but mostly stunned by his betrayal.
"No one can believe Ashley has done this to Cheryl. Everyone thought their relationship was rock solid and are as shocked as Cheryl is. It is a horrible, horrible mess."
Chelsea and England star Ashley bedded single mum Aimee Walton before Christmas at a friend's flat after meeting her at a West End nightclub while drunkenly celebrating a Premiership victory.
But stunned Cheryl, 24, only learned of his infidelity on Thursday after Aimee, a 22-year-old blonde hairdresser, sold her sordid story. The Girls Aloud singer spent a sleepless night rowing with the 27-year-old defender at their £3.5 million home in Oxshott, Surrey.
Finally she ordered him to temporarily move out of the house - saying she "needed some time" to think about the future of their 18-month marriage.
Cheryl's sense of betrayal has been fuelled by the fact that she and Ashley have recently been discussing trying for a baby next year.
Her friend added: "Cheryl needs to make some difficult decisions about her future.
"She's got some serious thinking to do. She has always been very outspoken on the subject of infidelity.
"Now she has to decide whether she wants to stay with Ashley or end their marriage.
She has been through a lot of bad relationships in the past where the men have treated her badly.
"She had no idea this news was about to break and she is utterly devastated.
"She has always been happy for him to go out with his mates and other footballers.
"She never worried about what he was getting up to as she had total faith in him, 100 per cent trust."
Cheryl and Ashley were at home together when they learned that Aimee was cashing in on her drunken romp. Ashley broke down in tears as furious Cheryl ripped into him.
The friend said: "Ashley was crying and begging for her forgiveness and promised her it was a one-off. Cheryl was crying too. But it is difficult to see where they go from here."
Ashley was late for football training yesterday - turning up at 11.30, a full hour after teammates Frank Lampard and John Terry . He had left home looking tired and sheepish but still wearing his diamond-encrusted platinum wedding ring.
The former Arsenal left-back later prepared to head to the North West for today's televised FA Cup clash against Wigan.
Cheryl was consoled yesterday by mum Joan, who was already on a visit from the family's home in Byker, Newcastle. She is expected to stay with Cheryl over the weekend. Girls Aloud band members Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh also phoned to comfort her.
Cheryl has been taking a break from her Girls Aloud duties over Christmas and is due to begin work again next week.
Aimee, from Morden, South London, has boasted of having "wild sex" with Ashley after they met in the club.
She told how he downed vodka cocktails then threw up on the car journey to his mate's flat in Friern Barnet, North London.
Aimee claimed he slapped her so hard his wedding ring marked her bottom - then threw up again as they had sex.
Aimee said the £90,000-a-week star told her Cheryl "would not mind" him cheating as long as he kept it secret.
But Cheryl's brother Gary, 17, claimed Ashley would not have slept with Aimee - because she was too ugly. When he was shown her photo yesterday, he asked: "Is that who he's supposed to have sh****d? She looks like a bewer to me."
Bewer is Geordie slang for an unattractive girl who looks old beyond her years.
Gary added: "Mam is in London visiting Cheryl at the moment. She will make sure she's OK.
"I don't know about this story, I don't believe he would do that to Cheryl. I am sure they will be fine.
"I've met Ashley loads of times and I think he is a really canny lad."
Neighbours of Aimee yesterday described her as a "WAG wannabe" who would do anything to achieve fame.
They also said she was a fanatical Chelsea supporter who loved to swan about in designer labels.
Alison Bridger, 45, said: "She acts just like a footballer's wife.
"I'm not surprised she has got herself a Chelsea player, she's a big fan."
Alison told how Aimee adopted a party-mad lifestyle after dumping her boyfriend, a soldier who served in Iraq.
The couple lived together in a house for army personnel and had a young son Rhys before splitting.
Alison added: "After they split up she became a party animal. She was a neighbour from hell.
"Most of her friends are also WAG wannabes - she acts like she's Posh Spice. She's always wearing Gucci or Prada."
Ashley and Cheryl married in 2004 - two years after they met while both living in the apartment block where Ashley bedded Aimee, They couple were paid £1.5million by OK! magazine for the rights to cover their wedding.
Cheryl has often spoken in glowing terms of her relationship with Ashley.
She recently said: "We are really, really happy. We spend every minute together.
"He is not into showbiz parties or flashy restaurants, he just likes staying home with me.
"He is just an amazing, genuine man. I really want a baby and so does Ashley."
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