Emmy award-winning actor Tom Skerritt has died aged 93 of natural causes, his family said in a statement. Skerritt was known for the television series Picket Fences and films including Alien and Top Gun. He won an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for Picket Fences in 1993. His first film role was a supporting part in the 1962 war film War Hunt, which also launched Robert Redford. Skerritt is survived by his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, and five children.
The cast of I Dream of Jeannie built sizeable property holdings, with several stars facing private struggles. Barbara Eden bought a Beverly Hills home in 1977 and later renovated it, and she still uses it as a private retreat. Larry Hagman invested heavily in real estate, including a large mountaintop compound in Ojai, California, which was sold in 2013 to the Church of Scientology. Bill Daily kept a modest life in Santa Fe, while Hayden Rorke shared his Studio City home with his partner for decades. Behind these holdings lay personal grief, addiction and illness.
Film critics have panned Digger, a new satire directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, calling it an insufferable slog and a misfire. However, audience scores on aggregator sites like Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes are significantly higher than critic scores, with many viewers defending the film. Academics suggest the negative reviews may be driven by a desire to see the film fail, as well as a trend of criticising high-budget Hollywood films. Some celebrities, including Ben Affleck and Anne Hathaway, have publicly defended the film, warning that its rejection could lead to less risk-taking by studios.
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Original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers cast members received little pay despite the show's huge commercial success. Austin St. John, Thuy Trang and Walter Emanuel Jones walked out of the series in 1994 after producers refused to raise their wages. Jones said the cast were treated poorly and that contracts were unfair. Creator Haim Saban built a fortune, with his estimated net worth put at $4.75bn. Several cast members later reported financial hardship or built their own careers outside the franchise.
Former Prison Break star Wentworth Miller has largely stepped away from mainstream Hollywood. The actor, now 54, has reportedly sold US$2.8 million in Los Angeles real estate. He came out as gay in 2013 and declined to attend a Russian film festival in protest of anti-LGBTQ+ laws. In 2021 he said he had been diagnosed with autism at 48. Miller has since focused on mental health advocacy, neurodiversity and creative projects, while still writing and acting occasionally.
Actor and director Mark Wahlberg says artificial intelligence has a place in filmmaking if it is used the right way. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, he said AI could help enhance the stadium setting in his upcoming Pete Rose biopic, in which he stars. He rejected the idea of generating a script with AI and making a film without real actors. Wahlberg also said he would be interested in an AI replica of his likeness carrying on his legacy, including in his animated series Ted, and that storytelling should remain central to filmmaking.
Actress Selma Blair has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault after an alleged violent incident on a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York. Police and a nurse were also allegedly assaulted after the plane landed at John F Kennedy International Airport. Her lawyer said she had allegedly missed medication for multiple sclerosis and had been working long hours on set. Her boyfriend, Andy Kiernan, asked followers to pray for her. Blair could face two to seven years in prison if convicted.
Actor Zachary Levi says he has moved from California to a ranch in Texas, citing a better fit with his values and the freedom to pursue his plans. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he said he no longer pays state income tax there. Levi has settled outside Austin in Bastrop County, where he is developing Wyldwood Studios, a film and lifestyle campus he describes as an alternative to Hollywood. The project is planned to combine soundstages, housing and wellness spaces, with the first two soundstages scheduled to open in 2027.
George Clooney is reportedly urging Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber to leave Los Angeles for good, according to insiders. The move follows the death of their son, Presley Gerber, 27, who was found dead at a Santa Monica rehab facility on September 26, just hours after checking in. Insiders say Clooney, who has lived in Europe for about two decades, believes a slower European lifestyle would give the couple privacy. Clooney has described the death as "the worst thing that could ever happen to a family". The family has asked for privacy while they grieve.
Actors who played Batman have built large property portfolios with their film earnings. George Clooney and his wife Amal own a portfolio worth about $US100 million, including Villa Oleander on Italy's Lake Como. Ben Affleck's property holdings grew after a $US400 million tech sale to Netflix. Christian Bale invested his Dark Knight trilogy earnings in Los Angeles real estate. Val Kilmer was forced to sell his New Mexico ranch at roughly half its asking price.
Paramount has completed its $US113 billion ($162 billion) takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, creating one of the world's biggest entertainment and media companies. The new company will be led by David Ellison, whose family has close ties with US President Donald Trump. The merger brings together major film, television, and news brands, including The Godfather, Top Gun, Harry Potter, Friends, and the DC universe. It also combines Paramount's Network 10 and Paramount+ with Warner Bros Discovery's HBO Max, serving Australian audiences.
Eva Marie Saint, the last star of Hollywood's Golden Age, has died at 102. Her career spanned eight decades, from stage performances in 1942 to her final film role in 2019. Saint won an Oscar for On the Waterfront in 1955 and an Emmy in 1990 for People Like Us. She also received awards for her work in television and animation, showcasing her versatility across various media.
Paramount Skydance has completed its $US110 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, creating a major entertainment company. The merger combines studios behind Mission: Impossible, Harry Potter, and DC Studios with networks like CBS, CNN, and HBO Max. CEO David Ellison says the deal aims to compete with industry giants and tech companies, while addressing challenges in the media landscape. The new company, Skydance, will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SKYD.
