Patrick Swayze Hospitalized for Pneumonia
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Movies, Television,
UPDATE: Swayze is now out of the hospital and back at home.
Just days after the broadcast of his Barbara Walters interview, Patrick Swayze was unfortunately absent at a press gathering for his new show.
At today’s event before the Television Critics Association, A&E execs informed the audience that The Beast star was being treated for pneumonia. “Patrick Swayze has checked himself into the hospital. However, he asked us specifically to go forward with today’s panel. We wish him the very best with his recovery,” president Abbe Raven stated.
Swayze, 56, announced last March that he had been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. Despite his status, the actor has already outlived many tabloid timelines and was able to complete a whole season of his new series.
The season premiere of The Beast debuts Thursday, Jan. 15 at 10 p.m. on A&E.
Read More 
| People
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Family Tragedy for John Travolta and Kelly Preston
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Movies,
UPDATE #2: A family source has reported that a “seizure disorder” was the cause of death.
UPDATE: You can read the statement issued by the family here.
The new year has unfortunately started off tragically for John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston.
According to Michael Ossi, a lawyer for the family, the 16-year-old son of the Hairspray star died today after suffering a seizure. The family had been at their vacation home in the Bahamas when the incident occurred.
Jett, the couple’s eldest child, had suffered from a history of seizures. His parents have stated that his developmental disability had been linked to Kawasaki disease. Coincidentally, the inflammatory disorder which can lead to heart attacks just got some media attention last week. The son of Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell was recently diagnosed with an atypical form of the disease. (Baylee has since been released from the hospital.)
John and Kelly, married since 1991, also have an 8-year-old daughter named Ella Bleu.
Read More | Reuters
Saying Good-Bye to Eartha Kitt
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Movies, Music, Television, Obituaries,
Iconic actress Eartha Kitt passed away this past Christmas Day at the age of 81. In her lifetime, she was a singer, a movie star, a famed TV villain and one of the sexiest women ever to grace the screen.
The former Catwoman suffered from colon cancer, but even in her advanced age she remained active in many film and TV projects.
Kitt’s career began on the stage in the 1940s, where she made an impression with her acting talent and strong vocals. She went on to recording and TV fame in the 1950s. She began appearing movies as early as 1948, but didn’t become a household name until she landed the role of Catwoman in TV’s Batman. Kitt played the beautiful villain in 1968, and was called the “most exciting woman in the world” by actor/director Orson Welles.
She appeared on the stage, where she got her start, as recently as 2005 in The Junfan Project. Kitt regularly voiced the character of Yzma for Disney’s The Emperor’s New School, and appeared in the 2007 movie And Then Came Love. The Tony-nominated singer is perhaps best known in the music industry for recording the Christmas hit “Santa Baby.”
Read More | MSNBC
Jeremy Piven Blames Sushi for Broadway Cancellation
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories:
Some celebrities blame vertigo for their absences, others chalk it up to simple “exhaustion.” But up until now, I doubt anyone has pleaded guilty to an overconsumption of sushi.
After missing several performances of Speed-the-Plow earlier this week (that’s the same play Madonna once starred in), Entourage star Jeremy Piven has abruptly left the Broadway production. A high level of mercury is apparently the reason for the Piven’s medical leave.
A twice-a-day sushi meal and a regular intake of Chinese herbs are believed to be the factors behind Jeremy’s illness. A high level of mercury can apparently lead to cause cardiac arrest, kidney failure, even psychiatric problems
After hearing skeptical comments about Jeremy’s excuse (playwright David Mamet joked that his Piven was “leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer”), the actor’s physician came to his defense. According to Dr. Carlon Colker, the 43-year-old had been feeling ill for some time. When Colker discovered that Piven had a mercury level “almost six times the upper limit of normal and allowable,” he warned the producers back on December 10.
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Read More | Variety
Michael Jackson is deathly ill, says InTouch Magazine
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Music, Breaking News, Rumors,
While Michael Jackson is typically the punchlines of all sorts of jokes, he is now in a very serious condition, if InTouch sources are to be believed. The magazine is reporting that Michael Jackson is suffering from the rare genetic disease Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
award-winning investigative journalist Ian Halperin tells In Touch that he believes that the King of Pop is fighting for is life. “Michael has a very severe lung condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency,” Halperin, a New York Times best-selling author, tells In Touch exclusively. “He’s had it for years but it’s gotten worse. He needs a lung transplant but may be too weak to go through with it. He also has emphysema and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, which his doctors have had a lot of trouble stopping. It’s the bleeding that is the most problematic part. It could kill him.
Needing a transplant, but being too weak to get one done, is never a good combination. Couple that with chronic bleeding, and there is cause for much concern. And, of course, there is more on the actual disease itself.
Click to continue reading Michael Jackson is deathly ill, says InTouch Magazine
Janet Jackson Cancels String of Concerts Due to Illness
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Music,
UPDATE: Janet’s tour will reportedly resume this Saturday.
An undisclosed illness has now caused Janet Jackson to cancel a total of 6 concert dates in less than two weeks.
Last Sunday, the singer fell suddenly ill during a sound check in Montreal. After a brief hospitalization, stops in Boston and Philadelphia were called off.
Although Janet was preparing to resume her tour on this weekend, Jackson’s doctor advised the 42-year-old to take more time to recuperate. In addition to Saturday’s gig in Greensboro, N.C., Sunday’s concert in Atlanta and Tuesday’s date in Fort Lauderdale were also postponed.
Click to continue reading Janet Jackson Cancels String of Concerts Due to Illness
E! Online
Christina Applegate Opens Up About Her Double Mastectomy
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Television,
Although it was only revealed a few weeks ago that Christina Applegate had been diagnosed with breast cancer, the actress now admits that she found out back in April.
In an exclusive interview on Good Morning America, the Samantha Who? star told Robin Roberts (also a breast cancer survivor) that her vigilance really paid off in in the end.
Because of her mother’s history with the same disease, Applegate knew it was important for her to begin mammograms at an early age. The 36-year-old had been receiving regular testing for approximately 6 years. Thanks to two MRIs conducted after a biopsy last year, the discovery was made.
Click to continue reading Christina Applegate Opens Up About Her Double Mastectomy
ABC News
Bernie Mac Dies at Age 50
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Movies, Television, Breaking News,
UPDATE: You can read what many of Bernie’s friends had to say about his passing here.
Comedian Bernie Mac, the Emmy-nominated actor from The Bernie Mac Show, passed away this morning after a battle with pneumonia. He was only 50-years-old.
This announcement is particular shocking given the news released just a few days ago. On Thursday, Mac’s rep said the performer - who had been hospitalized in Chicago since August 1 - was responding well to treatment and was expected to be discharged within weeks. That claim contradicted earlier reports that the Ocean’s Eleven star was in “very, very critical” condition.
Earlier today, publicist Danica Smith revealed the sad news:
“Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital. No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family’s privacy continues to be respected.”
Our thoughts go out to his family.
Entertainment Weekly
Morgan Freeman Seriously Injured
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Movies, Breaking News,
UPDATE: The actor, who is reportedly in good spirits now, is suffering from a broken shoulder, broken elbow and shoulder damage.
As they say, bad luck comes in threes.
First there was Heath Ledger’s death. Then there was Christian Bale’s arrest. Now we’re learning of a serious accident for The Dark Knight‘s Morgan Freeman.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the actor and one other passenger were involved in rollover accident late last night. A vehicle the Oscar winner was driving reportedly left the roadway and flipped several times. Although the circumstances are still being investigated, it is not believed that drugs or alcohol were in any way involved.
Freeman - who was was heard talking and joking at the scene - was flown to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis where the 71-year-old is listed in serious condition. No status has been given for the other patient who was also airlifted.
Associated Press
Conflicting Reports About Bernie Mac’s Health
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Movies, Television,
UPDATE: As of August 7, Bernie is reportedly in stable condition and “responding well to treatment.”
Bernie Mac, the former star of The Bernie Mac Show, has been hospitalized for several days now for a case of pneumonia. Unfortunately, reports on how the comedian is faring varies from source to source.
This weekend, a rep for the Ocean’s Eleven star denied reports that the star had passed away. Publicist Danica Smith claimed the 50-year-old was responding well to treatment and was expected to go home soon. But a post in yesterday’s Chicago Sun-Times tells an entirely different story. A source close to the family tells the newspaper that Mac (a.k.a. Bernard McCullough) is actually in “very, very critical” condition.
Back in 2004, production on Mac’s FOX series halted while he was being treated for sarcoidosis. The chronic disease, which he had been diagnosed with earlier in his life, can inflame tissues. Although his hospitalization at that time had pneumonia ties, Smith says her client’s current medical issue is not sarcoidosis-reated.
Whatever the story, we sincerely wish Bernie a speedy recovery.
Chicago Sun-Times