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LOST IN SPACE actor BOB MAY has died of congestive heart failure, aged 69.
May, who played The Robot in the sci-fi TV series, died on Sunday (18Jan09) morning at the Lancaster Community Hospital in California, reports TMZ.com.
According to the his spokesperson, the actor, who suffered a stroke late last year (08), was taken to the hospital on Friday (16Jan09).
The grandson of vaudeville comedian Chic Johnson, May began his TV career as a stuntman, counting 1955 series Cheyenne and 1963 film The Nutty Professor among his credits.
May starred in the futuristic series from 1965 until 1968, and continued working in entertainment as a stage performer, director and public speaker.
In one of his more recent roles, May appeared on screen playing a clown in comedian Jerry Lewis’ 1980 film Hardly Working.
His other credits include The Time Tunnel, The Patsy, Stagecoach and The New Interns during the height of his fame in the 1960s.
A list of May’s known survivors had not been released as WENN went to press.
(JMA/WNWCZM/CL) WENN - BREAKING NEWS - 18 JANUARY 2009 ————————————————————————–

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HEATH LEDGER was in talks to play JANE FONDA’s ex-husband, activist TOM HAYDEN, in a movie about the Chicago 7 when he died from an accidental drug overdose last year (22Jan08).
The late star’s longtime agent Steve Alexander has revealed Ledger was scheduled to meet with moviemaker Steven Spielberg on the day after his death to discuss the film.
Alexander tells Entertainment Weekly magazine his client and the director were hoping "to explore the idea of playing Tom Hayden".
Hayden and six other activists were charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to protests that took place at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

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HEATH LEDGER was an eccentric who was high on life, according to the late actor’s best pal, WES BENTLEY.
The two young stars struck up a firm friendship after working together on the film Four Feathers - and fellow actor Bentley admits he never understood many of the tragic star’s bizarre flights of fancy.
Bentley tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "He liked to go to Vegas dressed snazzy. He’d walk the streets of Vegas and never really have a plan, dressed up in a pink blazer and a tie.
"He liked to get a boat and travel to the Greek islands.
"Some people think he’d party too much and take drugs. It was young energy.
He was high off life."

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Singer KATY PERRY was left red-faced when a vote-counting error meant she was wrongly announced as the winner of Best International Song award at the NRJ Music Awards - when the award was intended for RIHANNA.
The singer went on stage at the event in Cannes, France on Saturday night (17Jan09) to collect the prize for her hit I Kissed a Girl from Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, thanking the audience and telling them it was her first award.
But just 90 minutes later the mistake was revealed when the ceremony’s French host, Nikos Alliagas, had to announce the blunder to the audience.
He explained, "We are terribly sorry, but we made a mistake. It wasn’t Katy Perry who was supposed to pick up the Best International Song, but Rihanna with Disturbia. We hope Rihanna and Katy Perry won’t be too upset and we apologise for all the fans who voted for them. The wrong name was put in the envelope.
We’re really terribly sorry. Katy Perry will have to give her (award) to Rihanna." Luckily Perry didn’t leave the ceremony empty-handed, as she legitimately scooped the Best International Album prize and was allowed to hold on to it.
Umbrella hitmaker Rihanna was unable to attend the ceremony, where Enrique Iglesias, the Pussycat Dolls and the Jonas Brothers also picked up awards.

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Singer LILY ALLEN was so devastated after miscarrying her first child she checked into a psychiatric clinic last year (08).
The pop star fell pregnant in late 2007 with her now ex-boyfriend - Chemical Brothers DJ Ed Simmons - but lost the baby in January 2008.
Allen sunk into a deep depression after her loss - and turned to professionals at a U.K. facility to help her come to terms with the tragedy.
She says, "(I was in a) nuthouse. Psychiatric clinic. I stayed there for three weeks. I was really depressed because of the miscarriage and I’d kind of lost the plot a bit. It was quite a nasty time." But the star insists the clinic put her on the road to recovery, adding: "It was quite nice being in there. No one could get to me; no one knew I was there." And the 23-year-old, who split from millionaire art dealer Jay Jopling earlier this month (Jan09), still dreams of becoming a mother: "I want to take them to school and make breakfast and packed lunches."

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Rocker JEFF BECK has ruled out a JEFF BECK GROUP reunion with ROD STEWART and RON WOOD - because he thinks reformation of bands is a bad idea.
As his former bandmates plan a Faces reunion, the guitar great insists he won’t be following suit.
He says, "Reformation of bands is never my idea of a good idea. Leave well enough alone, especially 35 years after it happened.
"It usually indicates there isn’t anything else happening in someone else’s career, otherwise you wouldn’t entertain it - let’s face it. We weren’t together in the heyday of money. We were playing small clubs and dives and broke up just before Woodstock, so we never had any big money gigs." But he isn’t ruling out a low-key get together: "It would be fun if we did it in private to see if it would sound any good, but leave it well enough alone and remember it for being groundbreaking at the time." And Stewart tells Rolling Stone magazine he’s given up on bring the Jeff Beck Group back together.
He says, "Woody was playing bass and I was singing and it sounded f**king brilliant. We did Rock My Plimsoul and I Ain’t Superstitious, and everybody was glued to it. But Jeff phoned me up two days before the show and said he didn’t want to do it. He cancelled. I’ve given up trying to reunite the Jeff Beck Group."

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BRITNEY SPEARS was the big winner at the NRJ Music Awards, scooping two gongs at the prestigious ceremony in Cannes, France.
The Toxic hitmaker, who wasn’t in attendance for Saturday’s (17Jan09) prizegiving, was honoured with the Best International Female Artist accolade as well as a Best Video prize for her hit single Womanizer.
Enrique Iglesias was stunned after he was named Best International Male Artist, telling the crowd he wasn’t the deserving winner: "I feel like Akon should have gotten this award
. It’s a great honour for me to receive it." The Pussycat Dolls scooped the Best International Group, beating off competition from rockers Coldplay.
But the British group’s frontman Chris Martin wasn’t left empty-handed - he took home a statuette to celebrate his band’s 10th anniversary.
Delivering his acceptance speech in almost perfect French, the star said: "I’m sorry but my French is like an old car - it’s very slow and very boring to listen to." Explaining his bandmates’ absence, he joked: "I came here alone as my bandmates are on the beach, probably eating ice cream at the moment!" The main winners are as follows: Best International Male Artist: Enrique Iglesias Best French Male Artist: Christophe Mae Best French Group/Duet: Cleopatre Best French New Artist: Zaho Best International Song: Rihanna - Disturbia Best International Album: Katy Perry - One Of The Boys Best International Female Artist: Britney Spears Best International Group/Duet: Pussycat Dolls Best International New Artist: The Jonas Brothers Best Video: Britney Spears - Womanizer

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SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE star DEV PATEL is trying not to let his whirlwind rise to fame inflate his ego after Hollywood’s biggest stars lavished him with praise at this year’s (09) Golden Globe Awards.
Patel, 18, has been nominated for a string of illustrious film prizes for his performance in the hit movie - his first film role - and has even been tipped to take home a coveted Best Actor Oscar at the ceremony next month (Feb09).
But it wasn’t until he received a wave of compliments from A-list stars at the Golden Globes last week (11Jan09) that he realised how famous he has become.
Patel says, "It’s been like a whirlwind. I was taken straight from the airport in my jeans to a posh tea party. I was still holding my passport when I got introduced to Clint Eastwood. I was embarrassed because I felt a bit smelly! "When we got to the Golden Globes it was completely full-on. Demi Moore came up to me on the red carpet. Then Drew Barrymore took me to one side for a 10-minute chat.
"Later, Alec Baldwin said some amazing things. Sting came over and said he loved the film and gave me a lovely hug. Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio shook my hand.
"Even P Diddy recognised me! How mental is that! I’m just some lad from Harrow (in London)!"

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MICKEY ROURKE’s ex-wife has blasted the actor’s hardman reputation by detailing a list of his secret phobias and branding him the most "thin-skinned" man she ever met.
Rourke, who won a Golden Globe last week (11Jan09) for his role in The Wrestler, earned a name for himself as a hellraiser after countless run-ins with police and hot-headed rows with movie executives over the years.
But his former spouse, actress Debra Feur, insists there is actually a neurotic wallflower behind his tough guy image.
Recalling their first meeting on the set of the 1980 film Hardcase, Feur says, "I thought he was absolutely mad. And he was socially inept. He would stare at me, then quickly look away. He didn’t know what to say - even though he was older, he was like a shy child." And after the pair married in 1981, Feur quickly learned Rourke was riddled with fears.
She adds: "He is the most thin-skinned, over-sensitive person I have ever met. When we met he was like a little abused dog. He was so vulnerable.
"He hated flying and he wouldn’t go in the ocean because he was afraid there’d be sharks. He was so nervous. Despite taking up polo, he’s even terrified of horses. He made his name playing sex symbols and fighters but he’d make a much better Woody Allen character. He’s so phobic." Rourke and Feur divorced in 1990.

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Scottish actor DOUGRAY SCOTT had a tough time filming one scene in his new TV mini-series THE DIPLOMAT - he had to photograph his real-life wife lying dead in a coffin.
Actress Claire Forlani plays the actor’s ex-wife in the series, and neither could imagine what type of torture the funeral scene would be - until the day came to shoot it.
Scott explains, "It was eerie. My character has to take a picture of his ex on his cellphone as she’s lying dead in a coffin.
"It was a little bit strange to see your own wife lying in a coffin. It’s not one of the most comfortable things. It was pretty surreal.
"And I don’t think she wanted to stay in that coffin very long, that’s for sure! At least it wasn’t a completely closed coffin. I think that would’ve freaked her out even more." It was the first time the real-life couple, who wed in 2007, had worked together, and Scott admits the shoot, though tough at times, was like an extended honeymoon.
He tells WENN, "It was a year after the wedding and it was great spending time together, especially when you’re on the other side of the world in Australia, where we shot the movie. It’s not easy to commute, so it was good.
"I’d never acted with her before and the good thing about acting with someone you know well is there is a sense of trust there already, which obviously is very good for filming. It can happen that married couples have no chemistry but there was an energy there between us.
"I’d love to work with her again. She is wonderful." The Diplomat debuts in America at the end of January (09).

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New York millionaire MICHAEL SAVAGE has offered to take the hero pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 to the Presidential Inauguration on Tuesday (20Jan09) as his guest.
Savage, a frequent flyer of US Airways, is still amazed by the heroism Capt.
Chesley B. Sullenberger, whose flying skills and bravery helped save the lives of 155 passengers and crew when he was forced to land on the Hudson River on Thursday (15Jan09) after a collision with a flock of geese.
A spokesman for Savage says, "The upcoming inauguration is a part of history, and there are hundreds of parties and events in which the pilot would be treated as a rock star for his dedication to the health, safety, and welfare of others."

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Four men are in hospital after they were stabbed at an afterparty for the film premiere of NOTORIOUS B.I.G. biopic NOTORIOUS, according to police.
A 21-year-old victim is in a critical condition at Brookdale Hospital in New York City after he was knifed several times on Saturday (17Jan09) at Brooklyn nightclub Djumbala.
Three other men wounded in the incident were in a stable condition as WENN went to press.
The party was promoted by the venue as the movie’s "official" afterparty but Fox Searchlight, the film’s distributor, maintains the event was not related.
Notorious B.I.G., real name Christopher Wallace, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997.
Police have not revealed any further information about the stabbings.

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Editing HEATH LEDGER’s final movie has been tough for director TERRY GILLIAM because he’s reminded every day of what a great actor the tragic star was.
The Aussie was shooting Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus when he died from an accidental drug overdose last year (22Jan08) - and now the British filmmaker has the tough task of piecing his great scenes together.
Gilliam says, "It’s like I work with Heath every day. He’s in fine shape, at least in the world I’m inhabiting at the moment.
"It just doesn’t make sense. Every day goes by and I think, ‘He’ll be back in a second.’"

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Retired actor JOAQUIN PHOENIX stunned partygoers at a Las Vegas club when he stepped to the stage to show off his newest endeavour - rapping.
The star, who announced his retirement from acting in October (08), performed three hip-hop tracks from his forthcoming album for a full house at nightclub LAVO in Sin City on Friday (16Jan09).
Phoenix, sporting a scraggly beard and long hair, bobbed along the catwalk, rapping while trying in vain to urge the crowd to dance.
After his set, he was left red-faced after he tripped and fell into the crowd as he attempted to step off the stage.
But despite his performance and the audience’s unenthused response, Phoenix insists he is passionate about pursuing a hip-hop career.
He tells People.com, "This is me saying this is who I am. This is my story.
After all the years of reading scripts and reading lines, this is my chance to do something straight from the heart and put it out there.
"When I was young I liked punk rock music but then I discovered rap. I love the storytelling aspect of hip-hop.
"Are there people out there who think I’m a joke? I’m sure there will be. Are there people who think it’s going to suck? Probably, but I can’t worry about that." The performance was reportedly filmed by Phoenix’s brother-in-law Casey Affleck for a forthcoming documentary tracking the star’s new career in music.

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Soul great BOOKER T. JONES has garaged his MGs for the DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS.
The Green Onions hitmaker has recruited the Drive-By Truckers as his backing band for an album of new instrumentals.
And rocker Neil Young plays lead guitar on the album, titled Potato Hole.
Booker T. and the MGs backed Young on his 2002 album Are You Passionate?.
The new album features covers of Tom Waits’ Get Behind the Mule and the Drive-By Truckers’ own Space City.

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COURTNEY LOVE has publicly thanked former FRIENDS star LISA KUDROW for taking on TV rehab comedy THE COMEBACK - because the show helped her through her own rehab experience.
The rocker once tried to thank Kudrow privately outside a Los Angeles store, but the actress thought Love was about to attack her.
She says, "She started to cringe because she saw me, and I think she thought I was coming to beat her up. She was cowering and I was like, ‘I just wanted to tell you, man, that f**king show is amazing.’" And now Love has gone public with her love of the flop show, which was cancelled after a brief run.
She tells Heeb magazine, "That’s what I watched in rehab. I would watch The Comeback, and I would watch (movie) Alexander over and over and over again."

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TWISTED SISTER rocker DEE SNIDER is heading back to the big screen to reprise his CAPTAIN HOWDY character in the sequel to 1998 cult horror movie STRANGELAND.
A Nightmare on Elm Street ghoul Robert Englund will also return for the new film, Strangeland: Disciple. Englund was a victim of Snider’s sick character in the first film.
Snider, who wrote and co-produced the original film, admits he set out to create the most disturbing movie.
He tells Blabbermouth.net, "At the time, I really wanted to re-invent the wheel of horror. Horror, traditionally, plays on people’s fears of being chased and dying. That’s totally played out.
"When you’re being chased, there’s the chance of escape. When you die, there’s peace. What’s much worse than being chased and dying is being helpless and suffering." In Strangeland, Snider played a sexual sadist who lures victims via the Internet, forcing them to submit to ancient tribal rituals.
The rocker claims his 10-year-old movie was the catalyst for modern torture films like the Saw movies and Hostel.
He adds, "If I am the father of torture films, I’ve got to come back like a sledgehammer to reclaim my crown." Strangeland: Disciple will start shooting later this year (09).

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Former CULTURE CLUB frontman BOY GEORGE is terrified he will die behind bars while locked up in one of London’s toughest prisons, according to a fellow inmate.
The singer - real name George O’Dowd - was convicted in December (08) of chaining Norwegian Audun Carlsen to a hook in a bedroom at his East London apartment in April 2007 after suspecting the escort of tampering with his computer.
O’Dowd, 47, was jailed for 15 months on Friday (16Jan09) after a judge at London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court described the incident as "gratuitous violence".
The fallen star was then taken to the court’s holding cell where he reportedly broke down in tears and confessed his fears to Richard Lyttle, who was being temporarily held on a driving charge.
Lyttle tells British newspaper the Sunday Mirror, "When I walked into the cell I saw this fat, bald bloke sitting in the corner crying like a baby. He was shaking like a leaf, a total wreck.
"He kept sobbing over and over, ‘I can"t go to jail - I’ll be killed.’ "He was crying about how he was just a fat old pop star that everyone was laughing at." Lyttle, later released on bail, warned the star he would be targeted by other convicts because of his celebrity: "He was shaking as he listened and kept asking what other inmates would make of him. I warned him that because of who he was and because he was gay, people would be out to beat him up.
"He said he felt all alone and wouldn’t be able to cope in prison. He was gutted, emotional and just all over the place." O’Dowd was reportedly moved into a hospital wing after arriving at London’s tough Pentonville Prison on Saturday (18Jan09) in a bid to separate him from the institution’s other 1,000-plus inmates.

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