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Late actor HEATH LEDGER has joined ELVIS PRESLEY and JOHN LENNON on a list of celebrities who earned more after their death than when they were alive.
The Brokeback Mountain star died aged 28 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs last year (Jan08), shortly after he completed filming on Batman movie The Dark Knight, which smashed box office records when it was released in the summer (08).
Ledger earned an estimated $30.1 million (£21.8 million) from his estate last year (08) - and experts predict he could pull in a further $5 million (£3.6 million) this year (09) if he scoops the Best Supporting Actor gong at next month’s (Feb09) Academy Awards.
The money in Ledger’s estate, as well as any posthumous earnings, will go to his daughter with actress Michelle Williams, three-year-old Matilda.
Blue Suede Shoes hitmaker Presley is still at the top of the highest earners’ list, more than 31 years after his death in 1977, followed by Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz.
Ledger comes third in the rundown, followed by Albert Einstein and Beverly Hills 90210 creator Aaron Spelling in fourth and fifth places respectively.
Cartoonist Dr Seuss, former Beatles star John Lennon, artist Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, and actor Steve McQueen rounded out the top ten of stars who have earned more following their deaths.

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ALEC BALDWIN won more than a Screen Actors Guild award on Sunday (25Jan09) - MERYL STREEP has agreed to appear on his TV hit 30 ROCK.
Streep was delighted after winning a Best Actress nod for her role in Doubt and her good mood continued when Baldwin approached her about guest-starring on the U.S. comedy show, which won three gongs at the prizegiving.
And Baldwin, who scooped Best Actor in a Comedy Series for the show, didn’t have to do much to convince Streep to agree.
A source tells the New York Daily News, "Meryl was delighted with the idea of appearing on the show. She said yes immediately.�

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JENNIFER LOPEZ has blasted reports she is eyeing a move into theatre with a role in Broadway musical In The Heights.
New York gossip column PageSix has linked Lopez with a part in the show after she was seen in the audience twice last week - and enjoyed dinner with producer Meryl Poster on Friday (23Jan09).
But her representative has denied the actress is in talks to star in the musical, adding: "She loves the play but is not Broadway bound."

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The wife of R&B star USHER has turned down the chance to star in a hit reality TV show.
Tameka Foster, who married the singer in 2007, has confirmed she was asked to appear in the second season of America’s headline-grabbing series Real Housewives Of Atlanta.
The show follows the everyday lives of a group of affluent Georgia women.
But Raymond, who recently gave birth to the couple’s second child, insists she will not be taking part.
She tells Essence.com, "Although they (producers) approached me, and I was flattered by the offer, I will not be joining the Real Housewives cast."

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HARRY POTTER star DANIEL RADCLIFFE has hit out at the British monarchy, insisting the royal family epitomises what is "wrong" with the U.K.
The London-born star doesn’t understand his native country’s admiration for the reigning Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs because he doesn’t believe the upper classes should be celebrated.
And though he recognises he is above working class, he is adamant the royals should not be put on a pedestal.
He tells the Daily Beast website, "I am not a royalist. Not at all… I just donâ��t see the use of the monarchy - though Iâ��m (a) fierce patriot. Iâ��m proud proud proud of being English, but I think the monarchy symbolises a lot of what was wrong with the country. Not that theyâ��re doing anything wrong - but that symbol of class division is not something I particularly like - and I am a very upper-middle-class kid." And Radcliffe has weighed in on the Queen’s grandson Prince Harry’s recent race row, in which he was caught on camera referring to a Pakistani Army colleague as a "P*ki".
He adds: "I have nothing against the royals as people. Iâ��ve never met them. But in terms of that particular comment about Pakistanis, Prince Harry said a very stupid thing. He was probably very young at the time. I hope he has learned since not to say such a thing or at least learned not to be filmed saying it. The big deal to me was his wearing a Nazi uniform at that costume party." The young royal caused outrage last month in 2005 when he was photographed at a friend’s fancy dress party wearing a Nazi soldier uniform.

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DREW BARRYMORE became so immersed in the character of ‘LITTLE’ EDIE BEALE while she was preparing for TV miniseries GREY GARDENS, she lived as a recluse for six months.
The former socialite wildchild turned her back on friends, newspapers and technology in an effort to get into the mindset of former U.S. First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ odd cousin, who lived with her mother in a sprawling, rundown New York mansion.
She tells Eonline.com, "I promised the director I would (live in seclusion). I didn�t use email. I didn�t read a newspaper. I didn�t talk to a friend. I didn�t watch television. I didn�t make a phone call. I didn�t do anything.
"I used an old typewriter. I read her (Beale’s) journals. I listened to her music. Thatâ��s all I did. Nothing modern." Barrymore became so obsessed, she almost missed her producing partner Nancy Juvonen’s wedding: "I have never not talked to Nan in my life, but I didnâ��t speak to her for three months. She invited me to her wedding via a letter… addressed to Edie."

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LINDSAY LOHAN’s representative has hit out at reports the star is battling an eating disorder, after snaps of the actress looking shockingly thin sparked fears for her health.
Photographs of the Mean Girls star on a shopping trip wearing a skin-tight vest which showed off her protruding ribs sent internet gossips into a spin, with many suggesting she is struggling with an eating disorder again.
Lohan admitted in a 2005 interview with U.S. magazine Vanity Fair that she had previously made herself sick in a bid to lose weight.
But the star’s publicist has denied she has returned to her calorie-counting ways, and insists the dramatic weight loss is down to stress.
The representative tells New York gossip column PageSix, "Lindsay is aware that she’s lost some weight due to stress, but we recently did a photo shoot and she ate two full meals."

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SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE star DEV PATEL had some apologising to do after the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night (25Jan09) - because an ill-advised toilet break left him having to charge to the stage at the Shrine Auditorium.
The British actor was relieving himself when Slumdog Millionaire’s cast was named the night’s Best Ensemble at the climax to the prizegiving, and Patel had to dash through the audience to join his co-stars.
He recalls, "I literally ran and I broke someone’s champagne glass on the way."

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Actress MARISKA HARGITAY kept her promise and returned to the set of LAW & ORDER: SVU just two weeks after suffering a collapsed lung.
The star injured herself during a sledge-riding accident, and caused filming of the hit U.S. crime series to cease for a week.
But she was determined not to hold up shooting for any longer than necessary, and was welcomed back onset on Monday (26Jan09).
A representative for the actress confirms, "She’s back at work." Due to the injury, Hargitay missed out on attending the glitzy Golden Globe awards earlier this month (11Jan09), where she was nominated for Best Actress in a Television Drama.

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GUS VAN SANT’s MILK has received another prestigious nod - the movie has been shortlisted for an Outstanding Film gong at the 20th annual Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards.
The biopic, which stars Sean Penn as assassinated American politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk, will compete with Brideshead Revisited, indie film Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, and Woody Allen’s comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona for the award.
In TV, Brothers & Sisters, The L Word, South of Nowhere, Torchwood and True Blood are all nominated in GLAAD’s Outstanding Drama Series category, while Desperate Housewives, Greek, Reaper, Skins and Ugly Betty will battle it out for TV’s Outstanding Comedy Series.
Former supermodel Tyra Banks is dominating this year’s (09) Outstanding Reality Show and Outstanding Talk Show Episodes categories.
She is nominated for the latest season of America’s Next Top Model, a show she hosts and executive produces, as well as an impressive three out of five nods for separate episodes of The Tyra Banks Show which dealt with gay issues.
Banks will also receive GLAAD’s Excellence in Media award.
The awards, which honor media representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, will take place at a series of dinners in New York on 28 March, Los Angeles’ Kodak Theater on 18 April, and San Francisco on 9 May (09).

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Officials at Hollywood union the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have fired their chief negotiator, blaming him for months of stalled contract talks with movie bosses.
Doug Allen, SAG’s National Executive Director, was in charge of bargaining with movie bosses in a bid to settle the disputes between Hollywood studios and TV networks over royalty payments.
The 120,000 cardholders have been without a film and prime-time TV contract since their old labour pact expired in June (08), after negotiations collapsed and the studios presented what they called their "final" offer.
A possible walkout of members has been discussed, but as yet SAG bosses have not set a date for the ballot to authorise industrial action.
Allen was sacked on Monday (26Jan09) for being too confrontational, and has been blasted by critics for being unwilling to compromise enough in the ongoing discussions.
In an email to staff, Allen says, "I am disappointed in the board’s decision. I wish Screen Actors Guild and its members success and I have been honored to serve them."

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Rapper BUN B will honour the memory of his late UGK bandmate PIMP C by naming their seventh and final album FOR LIFE.
Pimp C, real name Chad Butler, died in December 2007 after suffering from "medical complications".
The duo was working on a follow up to 2007’s Underground Kingz disc at the time of his death - and Bun B will release the project on 31 March (09).
And the rap star hopes fans will be happy with the final product.
He says, "This will be a good bookend to the legacy of myself and Pimp. And definitely take not just the group, but Pimp C, to true legend and iconic status. This album is not about who I wanna work with and what kind of beats I wanna do - this album is about what the people wanna hear, and that’s Bun and Pimp. And I wanna try to give that to them in the most purest sense."

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Iconic rocker DAVID BOWIE played the proud father at the premiere of sci-fi movie MOON at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday (23Jan09) - his son directed the film.
Duncan Jones, who changed his name from Zowie Bowie, previewed his first outing as a moviemaker at the revered Utah event, and invited his famous dad to give his seal of approval.
And the Ziggy Stardust legend couldn’t stop himself from glowing with pride - insisting he was impressed with his son’s craftsmanship.
He says, "It’s such a great movie. It’s hard to believe it’s his first. I’m so happy for him and proud as punch." The movie stars Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey and is produced by Bowie’s fellow rocker Sting’s wife Trudie Styler.

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Rapper FABOLOUS was left red-faced at a U.S. hot spot after his credit cards were declined, prompting a member of his posse to instigate a fight with staff, according to a new report.
The hip-hop star arrived at Eros World Tapas Bar in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday (24Jan09) with an entourage of 20 and prepared for a fun night by ordering an "excess of champagne and alcohol", reports the New York Post.
He was asked to put a credit card down to pay for the tab - but was left humiliated after each of his credit cards were denied.
A pal of the Diamonds hitmaker, in charge of sorting the bill, then stormed angrily outside the establishment - where he allegedly brawled with a security guard.
A source tells the New York Post, "By the fifth credit card, the entourage member designated to take care of his tab goes outside - only to start a fight with the outside bouncer. He tripped and fell, hitting his head on the concrete and started bleeding. The manager called an ambulance. But as soon as the entourage member also saw the police, he began running away, blood oozing down his face." But the incident wasn’t enough to deter Fabolous from having fun - he reportedly stayed and ordered champagne, paying in cash.

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Country music star CHUCK WICKS made more than $25,000 (£18,110) for good causes when he returned to his hometown to play a sold-out benefit concert.
The Stealing Cinderella singer took to the stage for a special one-off set for the residents of Smyrna, Delaware in a bid to give back to his community.
And Wicks, who is dating fellow country star Julianne Hough, has vowed to make the gig an annual event - after raking in a huge amount for the Smyrna-Clayton Boys & Girls Club.
He tells People.com, "I’m going back to the community that raised me. As long as people want to come out I’ll keep coming back."

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The mother of late rap producer J DILLA has yet to shed a tear for her son - almost three years after his death.
Former Slum Village beatmaker J Dilla, real name James Dewitt Yancey, passed away on 10 February 2006 after a three-year struggle with autoimmune disease lupus.
But his grieving mum, Maureen ‘Ma Dukes’ Yancey, admits she has not cried over her loss - she’s just happy he’s no longer in pain.
She tells Vibe magazine, "When he left, I had an awful void. I didn’t grieve like you always think you’d grieve. I always had a joy and the strength to help others to get through it. But… I haven’t cried yet.
"(When he passed) I rejoiced in the fact that he wasn’t sick anymore, and that he’d done what he came here to do. I do believe that. His purpose on earth was to come here and give us the music that he had in his heart and soul."

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Rap star SOULJA BOY has broken his silence about the night he and his friends were held at gunpoint during a robbery at his Georgia home last month (30Dec08).
The Crank That (Soulja Boy) hitmaker, real name DeAndre Ramone Way, and several of his pals were robbed at gunpoint after six men invaded his home over the New Year period.
Two men posted a short video online, taking responsibility for the crime and boasting of stalking the star at a release party for his new album iSouljaBoyTellem before following him to his residence.
And now Soulja Boy has opened up about the terrifying night and the moment he realised his life was in danger.
He says, �Basically I was at my crib and I had my album release party at my club that night. I got back to my house at around three in the morning and I was in the studio recording. So two of my homeboys was in the living room and me and Arab (a friend) we was in the studio recording. And somebody kicked in the door.
�One dude ran in put the AK (gun) to my homeboy head, put him on the floor. The other two ran in - my homeboy jumped in the other room - so the other two dudes ran back so I peeped in the door and they running through my house with Ks and pistols - so I ducked back.
"I really can�t dwell on what happened after that, but it was a messed up situation (and) I�m glad everyone made it out alive.� But the star is determined to move on from the incident and not to think about what could have happened.
He adds, �I really don�t want to dwell on the entire situation because of my career. My music is pointed towards the kids and I don�t wanna give them that bad image on what actually went down.�

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Music legend DAVID BOWIE has denied he plans to revive his ZIGGY STARDUST persona for U.S. music festival Coachella.
Rumours circulated in British tabloids suggested the star was gearing up to bring back his legendary flame-haired character during a headlining slot at the April (09) event in California.
A source told British tabloid the Daily Star, "Coachella tried to book Bowie last year and he refused, so they got Prince to headline instead. But there’s a very strong chance they will be able to persuade him this year." The reports added Bowie had been asked to perform his 1972 glam LP, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, in its entirety for the three-day gig.
But Bowie, who has been in semi-retirement since a minor heart scare in 2004, has denied he will play the popular event.
A representative for the singer tells NME.com he has "no plans to play".
Bowie killed off his Ziggy Stardust character in 1973, claiming it hindered his creativity.

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