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DONALD SUTHERLAND owes his big ears for his movie break because he’s convinced he would have missed out on a speaking part in THE DIRTY DOZEN if he hadn’t stood out from the crowd of extras.
That lucky break led to producer INGO PREMINGER spotting Sutherland in the film and insisting the young Canadian actor won top billing in dark war comedy M*A*S*H - and the rest, as they say, is history.
The 71-year-old movie great recalls, "I had one line in The Dirty Dozen, which was, ‘Number two sir.’ We were rehearsing and we all had been given our script. I still have it.
"CLINT WALKER refused to say a line because it went against his Native American heritage. We all had our heads shaved for the film and I had pretty big ears and I was looking down at the script and BOB ALDRIDGE, the director, said, ‘You, with the big ears, you do it.’ It changed my life.
"Ingo Preminger, the producer of M*A*S*H, saw that scene, where I stick my tongue out, and offered me the role of HAWKEYE PIERCE in M*A*S*H. and I got top billing - over Elliott Gould." But Sutherland regrets not paying Aldridge back for giving him his big break.
He explains, "Bob asked me to do a war picture after M*A*S*H and I turned him down. I should’ve done the picture whether I wanted to or not. I owed him. I didn’t pay my debt and I regret it. I think about that."

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BYRON MORROW, a veteran character actor in television and films whose distinguished look often led him to be cast as a top military officer, police chief or judge died on 11 May (06). He was 94.
The actor died at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, his family announced last week (ends03SEP06). Morrow was born in Chicago, Illinois and his early career included stints as a model, puppeteer and radio announcer.
He briefly played semi-professional basketball in a US Midwest barnstorming league that included the original Harlem Globetrotters.
Morrow moved to Hollywood in the late 1930s and appeared in nearly two dozen major movies including JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN.
He also appeared in numerous television series, including episodes of STAR TREK, DRAGNET, DALLAS, PERRY MASON, GET SMART and VEGAS.

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DIANE LANE once auditioned for a part in the film YENTL - which would have seen her kissing with her future mother-in-law BARBRA STREISAND.
The UNFAITHFUL star auditioned for the part in 1983, with husband JOSH BROLIN’s step-mom. Brolin’s father JAMES has been married to Streisand since 1998.
She explains, "I auditioned for Yentl. She’s got an audition tape somewhere of me. AMY IRVING got the job. It’s OK, we’re still friends." In the film, Streisand plays a Jewish girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to be able to enter religious training.
Lane’s character in the film would have been required to kiss Streisand on screen.
She adds, "It would have been interesting to make out with her. Can you imagine?"

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Comedian JERRY LEWIS’ annual Labor Day telethon for muscular dystrophy raised a record $61 million (£34 million) in contributions and pledges over the US holiday weekend (ends04SEP06).
The telethon returned to Las Vegas, Nevada after 12 years in Los Angeles. Last year’s telethon (05) raised $54.9 (£30.5 million), a portion of which went to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts on the US Gulf Coast.

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The diamond industry will take out full-page advertisements in major newspapers in the US on Wednesday (06SEP06) to help combat any negative publicity from LEONARDO DiCAPRIO’s new movie BLOOD DIAMOND.
Although the film won’t be released until 15 December (06), the industry is already going on the offensive announcing a new website detailing what’s been done to put a stop to "conflict diamonds".
The smuggled gems have been used to support brutal dictators and human atrocities in various African countries in the past.
In the film, DiCaprio plays a mercenary gun smuggler who takes up with a diamond buyer during the violent 1999 civil war in Sierra Leone.
World Diamond Council chair ELI IZHAKOFF said the film represents the way things previously were in Sierra Leone and other countries, but that the industry has worked hard since then to eradicate the problem, including supporting the Kimberly Process, whereby rough diamonds are tracked and certified.
He says, "We want to make sure that when people go to buy diamonds, they do it happily, assured that the diamonds they are buying aren’t tainted."

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Movie great DONALD SUTHERLAND is hoping his new role as a Parkinson’s Disease sufferer will earn him an Oscar nomination because he’s sick of being ignored by the Academy.
The M*A*S*H star’s lack of acting gold is beginning to cost him film roles and now he’s desperate to at least get a mention when the Academy Awards nominations are announced.
He explains, "Right before my new film (AURORA BOREALIS) I was depressed about a film that I didn’t get. The producer said he wanted somebody with an Academy Award.
"They couldn’t actually find someone so they came back and said, ‘OK you can do it,’ and then five hours later they found someone with an Academy Award and so they gave it to them.
"Something about that just depressed me and depression can feed upon itself and accelerate itself and I indulged myself in it." Playing Parkinson’s Disease sufferer RONALD SHORTER in Aurora Borealis was a stretch for the 71-year-old actor, but he had his own father’s battle with the illness as a research tool.
Sutherland admits recalling his father’s struggle, which came as the actor’s mother battle with dementia, was tough.
He states, "I remember my wife was nursing my son Angus at the time - he is now 23 - and my father was muttering in the corner somewhere.
"We were talking to him and my mother was just in a chair and she turned to my wife’s breast, so she had really returned to some kind of infancy. I think my wife would’ve nursed her if my father hadn’t been there."

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ROSIE O’DONNELL kicked off her first day on US talk show THE VIEW by interviewing old friend JESSICA SIMPSON and giving away a luxury cruise to every member of the audience.
O’Donnell walked onstage arm-in-arm with TV veteran BARBARA WALTERS this morning (05SEP06), announcing to the crowd, "Like it or not, here I am!" She received a standing ovation from the studio audience as she took her seat alongside co-hosts including Walters, JOY BEHAR and ELISABETH HASSELBECK.
O’Donnell pointed out that a large floral arrangement at the foot of the stage was a special gift from "very nice guy" TOM CRUISE.
During the show’s regular Hot Topic segment, Walters denied reports she had been upset by O’Donnell’s online comments as reported in Newsweek magazine saying, "I have never read a blog." O’Donnell apologised, saying she’d never write about the show again without first running her messages past Walters.
She explained, "When I read it I just started laughing. Because it’s like ‘Barbara Walters is furious after reading Rosie’s blog.’ "I’m like, ‘She doesn’t know how to open Internet Explorer! What are they talking about? Read my blog?’ "It was really just about my feelings. I was saying that I felt powerless and that I was a little scared to come on The View and that it’s a new chapter in my life.
"I was just being dramatic and emotional." She also pointed out that she no longer has "the haircut that scared America," a short chop with shaved sides.
O’Donnell added her hair is "going to be long from now on. And I’m taking my medicines, so everything’s going to be fine".

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Movie star EMILIO ESTEVEZ made Labor Day yesterday (04SEP06) in America extra special by becoming engaged.
The BREAKFAST CLUB star proposed to journalist SONJA MAGDEVSKI over the US public holiday weekend and broke the news this morning (05SEP06) at the Venice Film Festival in Italy, where he is promoting his new movie BOBBY.
Estevez, who was previously married to ’80s pop star PAULA ABDUL, says, "I’m just so excited to start this next chapter in my life."

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Cult rocker SUFJAN STEVENS has become the latest star to package up an album of Christmas tunes.
The singer/songwriter has spent one week every year of the past five recording an EP of Christmas songs as a gift for family and friends.
These tracks will now be released as a festive compilation, called simply SONGS OF CHRISTMAS.
Funk superstar BOOTSY COLLINS, WYNONNA JUDD and AIMEE MANN are among the other stars releasing Christmas-themed albums this year (06).

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MOTORHEAD frontman IAN ‘LEMMY’ KILMISTER is set to prove to fans he’s healthy after beating an infection that prompted doctors in Los Angeles to advise foot amputation by releasing two albums at the same time.
The British rocker, 60, will release Motorhead’s 23rd album, KISS OF DEATH, and the debut from his rockabilly trio HEAD CAT, called FOOL’S PARADISE.
Kilmister admits his amputation scare and other recent health problems made him realise he’d have to speed up the recording process and realise more achievements.
He tells Billboard.com, "As long as I can walk around and move my arms and legs, I’ll be around. If I have to stop, then I’ll stop. Until then, you’ll be seeing me."

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Former UTOPIA rocker KASIM SULTON has dropped out of THE CARS reunion project to reunite with MEAT LOAF on tour.
The bass player joined ex-bandmate TODD RUNDGREN when The Cars hit the road as THE NEW CARS with BLONDIE earlier this year (06). That tour stalled in June (06) when the guitarist was injured in a tourbus crash.
And, now the group is preparing to return to the road, Sulton will instead tour with Meat Loaf on his Bat Out Of Hell III tour.
The bass player appeared on Meat Loaf’s first BAT OUT OF HELL album and has regularly toured with the rocker.
A replacement for Sulton has been hired but has yet to be announced.

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Rockers REM will reunite with former drummer BILL BERRY when the band is inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Atlanta on 16 September (06).
Berry quit the group due to health issues in 1997 and has only played publicly with his bandmates three times since.
He last performed with MICHAEL STIPE, PETER BUCK and MIKE MILLS in April (06) at a concert by Buck’s side project the MINUS 5 in Athens, Georgia.

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LATEST: SEXYBACK singer JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE has rubbished reports he is engaged to his longtime girlfriend CAMERON DIAZ.
The singer helped kick off the fourth season of US talk show THE ELLEN DeGENERES SHOW by performing in New York City’s Central Park, which was broadcast on Monday (04SEP06).
After the performance, DeGeneres brought up "the rumour that you and Cameron are engaged".
Timberlake tried to defer, asking the host how she could put him on the spot in front of the crowd of 10,000 people.
When DeGeneres asked him where things stood between the couple, he said of recent press reports, "Funny thing, one week we’re getting married, one week we’ve broken up.
"I can’t keep up with it." When DeGeneres persisted and asked if the couple were engaged Timberlake said, "We’re not engaged." He then added jokingly, "She hasn’t given me a ring. I’ve waited for her to get down on one knee and ask."

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ASHLEE SIMPSON has dumped her guitarist boyfriend BRAXTON OLITA and fallen for FALL OUT BOY bassist PETE WENTZ.
The 21-year-old was spotted kissing Wentz on Saturday night (02SEP06) in the VIP section of a New York City club. Simpson’s representative has confirmed to American publication Us Weekly that former couple have gone their separate ways saying, "(They) broke up about a week ago. They decided to take a break." A source close to Simpson says, "Ashlee has been telling everyone that she’s over Braxton," adding that Wentz recently dumped his girlfriend, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE star MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG in order to be with Simpson.
Simpson’s relationship with Olita had previously caused problems with her father JOE, who discouraged his daughter from moving in with the musician earlier this year (06). A source says, "He thought it was totally wrong, immoral and a bad decision.
It caused a major rift between her and Joe." Simpson seems to have wasted no time moving on with the SUGAR, WE’RE GOIN’ DOWN singer and was spotted drinking and straddling him in the VIP area.
The PIECES OF ME singer reportedly had to run to the bathroom later in the evening to throw-up as the club’s management blocked the bathroom to ensure her privacy.

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LATEST: Hip-hop mogul SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS and girlfriend KIM PORTER are expecting twins. The couple also have a son, CHRISTIAN, eight and Combs has another son with stylist MISA HYLTON-BRIM, JUSTIN, 12, who is the namesake for the rapper’s New York City restaurant Justin’s.
Combs’ representative confirms the news to American publication Us Weekly saying, "They’re thrilled!" Combs and former model Porter, who originally dated in the mid 1990s, renewed their relationship in 2003, after the rapper split from Latina singer/actress JENNIFER LOPEZ.

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LATEST: JESSICA SIMPSON has slammed tabloid reports she is dating singer JOHN MAYER and insists the two are just friends.
The 25-year-old star appeared on US talk show THE VIEW today (05SEP06), where she discussed the rumours surrounding her personal life.
Simpson appeared on the first day of the 10th season of the show as a favour to new co-host ROSIE O’DONNELL, who supported her when she was first starting out.
O’Donnell asked, "Is everything going good for you, you’re in a good place, you’re happy…’ Simpson replied, "I’m in a really good place…" O’Donnell then tried to get to the bottom of tabloid reports that she is dating Mayer, prodding her with, "You don’t want to say, but maybe?" Simpson sighed and shook her head saying, "I love it that she just goes right there….I’m actually not dating John Mayer." O’Donnell feigned shock saying, "You mean People magazine was wrong?" The American publication featured Simpson on the cover last week (ends03SEP06) with the headline, ‘I’m in love,’ referring to Simpson’s reported new relationship with Mayer.
She added, "And they put this quote saying that I’m in love! You know, he’s my friend, I’ve known him for a couple years."

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BEN AFFLECK watched 104 episodes of SUPERMAN - 52 in black and white and 52 in colour, to prepare for his role as SUPERMAN star GEORGE REEVES in the new film HOLLYWOODLAND.

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FABIAN COUSTEAU, the grandson of legendary oceanographer JACQUES COUSTEAU, was on STEVE IRWIN’s boat when the CROCODILE HUNTER was killed by a stingray off the coast of Australia yesterday (04SEP06). Cousteau attempted in vain to revive the beloved Aussie animal expert.

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