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Actor JEREMY PIVEN has hit back at the producers of New York play SPEED-THE-PLOUGH after theatre bosses filed an official complaint over his departure from the show.
The Entourage star abruptly quit the David Mamet play in December (08) just seven weeks after making his Broadway debut, claiming he was forced to withdraw on doctor’s orders as he had fallen ill with mercury poisoning.
The producers of the play have filed a complaint with Actors’ Equity, the union which represents theatre actors, meaning the star could face an investigation over his withdrawal.
Producer Jeffrey Richards says, "The producers of Speed-the-plow have officially filed a grievance with Actors’ Equity re: Jeremy Piven’s departure.
A date for these proceedings is to be determined." But a representative for Piven has slammed theatre bosses’ decision to approach the union, insisting he had a legitimate reason for leaving the show.
His publicist, Samantha Mast, tells TMZ, "The claims made by the producers of Speed-the-Plow are absurd and outrageous. Mr. Piven’s serious medical condition has been well documented by multiple physicians. He withdrew from the play due to medical necessity on the advice of his doctors, after he was hospitalised and warned by his physicians that enforced rest was necessary in order to avoid serious medical problems, including a heart attack." William H. Macy took over Piven’s role of an ambitious Hollywood producer in the production on Tuesday (13Jan09).

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BROTHERS & SISTERS star RACHEL GRIFFITHS is pregnant with her third child.
The Australian actress, 40, is expecting another baby with her artist husband Andrew Taylor.
A representative for Griffiths confirmed the news to People.com.
The couple already has two children, son Banjo Patrick, five, and daughter Adelaide Rose, three.
Griffiths wed Taylor in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia, in 2002.

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PATRICK SWAYZE has returned home after spending a week in hospital battling pneumonia.
The Dirty Dancer star - who is suffering from pancreatic cancer - checked himself in to a Californian medical centre last week (09Jan09) after seeking help for a persistent cough.
But following several days under the close watch of doctors, the actor has now been deemed well enough to go home.
Swayze’s representative, Annett Wolf, confirmed the news to People.com, saying, "I am happy to announce that Patrick Swayze is home after a brief hospitalisation for pneumonia."

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Former SWEET SENSATIONS star LEROY SMITH has been found dead at his Manchester, England, home.
The body of the Jamaican keyboardist, 56, was discovered in his apartment in Longsight, Manchester, above the takeaway food shop owned by the star.
It is believed Smith died of natural causes brought on by a bout of bronchopneumonia.
The British soul band scored an international hit in 1974 with Sad Sweet Dreamer.

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Former SPANDAU BALLET stars GARY and MARTIN KEMP are in mourning following the death of both their parents - who died within hours of each other.
The brothers’ father Frank, 79, suffered a heart attack earlier this month (Jan09) and was pronounced dead in hospital in Bournemouth, England.
The pair’s mother, Eileen, 77, who was admitted to the same medical facility for a heart bypass operation, passed away just 48 hours later. They had been married for 55 years.
A joint funeral for the couple is planned for next week (beg18Jan09).

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A father and son duo accused of attacking former BAY CITY ROLLERS star LES McKEOWN have been cleared of all charges following a mix-up with police evidence.
Ian and Darren Young, 59 and 22 respectively, were accused of assaulting the 53-year-old former heart-throb in an east London pub in March 2007.
They were also facing charges of allegedly hurling racial abuse at McKeown’s Japanese wife, Keiko.
The duo claim they acted in self defence after the musician attacked them with a wrench.
But the trial at London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court collapsed this week (beg11Jan09) after it was revealed that key pieces of evidence, the wrench which was said to have been used in the incident and a blood-splattered jacket, were accidentally destroyed by police.
Detectives claim the pieces were not properly marked as trial evidence and were disposed of in accordance with storage rules.
Judge Nicholas Huskinson claimed the prosecution’s case was "full of contradictions" after key witnesses backed the Youngs’ story and after the evidence mishap was revealed, he instructed the jury to return not guilty verdicts to all charges.
He told the court, "It’s not for the defence to have to prove they were acting in self-defence. It’s for the prosecution to make the jury sure that the defendants were not acting in self-defence."

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Shamed pop star GARY GLITTER has abandoned his legal battle to avoid signing Britain’s Sex Offenders Register.
The singer - real name Paul Gadd - was released from a Vietnam prison in August (08) after serving nearly three years for sexually assaulting two girls aged nine and 11.
Gadd was ordered to sign the country’s Sex Offenders Register when he arrived back in his native U.K., which allows authorities to keep track of his movements. Offenders are forced to disclose any plans to move house, change their name or travel abroad.
Gaad objected to signing the list, lodging a legal bid to keep his freedom, with his next hearing in the case due to take place on 19 February (09).
But now lawyers for the disgraced star have withdrawn the objection in a letter to Harrow Crown Court, with his attorneys claiming he would not get a fair hearing because of the media interest in the case.
Gaad will now have to sign the register and keep his details registered with court officials for life.

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HEATH LEDGER had a miserable time on the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN set - because director ANG LEE treated the late star like an "alienated prop", according to the film’s producer JAMES SCHAMUS.
In an Entertainment Weekly magazine tribute piece - marking the first anniversary of Ledger’s death - Schamus and British filmmaker Terry Gilliam both recall how difficult the acclaimed film was for the Aussie, who played gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar.
Gilliam recalls his The Brothers Grimm star calling him from the set and revealing he was far from happy.
He says, "He felt alone and isolated. I think it was his sense of not getting the kind of warm support we gave him on Grimm." But Gilliam adds, "Whatever it did, it produced an extraordinary performance." And Schamus explains, "During casting, rehearsals, and pre-production, Ang (Lee) is like the warm, wise, cuddly daddy bear. The minute he yells ‘Action’ on the first shot, the actors become alienated props he kind of puts up with…
It’s tough on actors.
"He doesn’t yell at people or humiliate them, but it’s a very tough space.
Heath had very difficult days. You could really feel the pain he was going through."

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Late actor HEATH LEDGER was film bosses’ first choice to play SPIDER-MAN, according to the dead star’s longtime agent.
In a U.S. magazine tribute to mark the first anniversary of Ledger’s death (22Jan08), CAA agent Steve Alexander reveals Ledger was among those considered for the blockbuster role before Tobey Maguire stepped up to play the comic book web slinger.
Alexander tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "Sony asked me to come over and read the script for Spider-Man. It was going to be a really cool tentpole movie.
"But as soon as I said ‘Spider-Man’ Heath said, ‘It’s not for me. I would be taking someone else’s dream away.’" Maguire has gone on to taste blockbuster glory with three Spider-Man movies, while Ledger had to wait for his comic book moment - he played The Joker in Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight, for which he won a Golden Globe last weekend (11Jan09).
He is hotly tipped to follow that with an Oscar next month (22Feb09).

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Oscar winner MIRA SORVINO needed dental work after wrapping up new TV mini-series THE LAST TEMPLAR because she broke five teeth on the set.
The actress plays a female Indiana Jones in the upcoming TV event, and insisted on doing her own stunts for action sequences and fight scenes.
But it wasn’t either of those that left her with smashed teeth - she was hit by a boat hook during a storm scene, after she was blinded by a wave.
She explains, "We were supposed to be on the Turkish sea in a storm to end all storms. A big wave came and washed my contacts out of my eyes, and a hook got caught, and it slams into my face and breaks five of my teeth." But, despite the pain and the blood, The Mighty Aphrodite star agreed to complete the film in Morocco - and that included a messy kissing scene with co-star Scott Foley.
Sorvino adds, "They run with the make-up, and our wonderful producer decides, right now, Scott Foley and I should have a kiss to end all kisses.
"They painted my mouth a dark blood (colour)… and we have this kiss."

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MARIAH CAREY will sing HERO for BARACK OBAMA when the President-elect is sworn in as America’s 44th leader on Tuesday (20Jan09).
The pop star will follow Beyonce at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. and admits her hit is the perfect song for Obama.
She says, "It’s fitting for him. It’s appropriate." As Carey prepares for her big night by relaxing with husband Nick Cannon at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, she admits she’s "nervous" about her performance, adding "I’m glad to be American." Leonardo DiCaprio is also expected to jet in from the London premiere of Revolutionary Road for the ball, and soul legends Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin are also expected to be a part of the big night.

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A new movie which takes a behind the pages look at Vogue magazine is to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah this weekend (17Jan09).
Documentary The September Issue chronicles eight months inside the fashion bible’s offices, and has the blessing of the publication’s infamous editor Anna Wintour.
Director R.J. Cutler was given unlimited access to Wintour and her editorial and fashion team. He created the film from 300 hours of footage, and admits he’s delighted Wintour likes the finished result: "I’m thrilled she’s supporting the film, which is a reflection of how she feels about it." The documentary also features rare glimpses into Wintour’s personal life and guest appearances from top designers Karl Lagerfeld and Oscar de la Renta.

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Actor JERRY O’CONNELL has given American audiences their first peek at his newborn twin girls with actress REBECCA ROMIJN.
O’Connell was bursting with pride as a new dad during a stint as guest co-host on ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly on Friday morning (16Jan09) - just weeks after welcoming Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip into the world on 28 December (08).
Cooing over a set of photos of his grinning girls, he said, "I don’t want to be one of those guys who is like, ‘Look at my babies,’ (but) the second you have kids, you can’t help but be like, ‘I happen to have some photos of my children.’" And O’Connell admits being a first-time dad already has him tongue tied: "I really try to not speak in baby talk. I want them (twins) to be intelligent." He also raved about becoming a dad to twins: "These are my first kids and Rebecca’s first kids, and you can’t imagine just having one. It’s so much fun to have two of them. You throw them in the crib and they just play with each other."

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Newlyweds PORTIA DE ROSSI and ELLEN DE GENERES have become vegans - because they both love animals so much.
Former Ally McBeal star De Rossi reveals she and her wife went meat and dairy-free late last year (08) - and De Generes’ healthy diet choice is already paying off for her.
The actress explains, "We just made that shift in our lives. The benefit of it is weight loss. For her more than me. Her body responded to it very well. It is amazing.
"We are just both very happy. It feels like such a compassionate choice. We are such animal lovers, why stop short of cows and chickens? It didn’t make any sense." And De Rossi admits she and her wife have been working towards becoming vegans since their very first date.
She adds, "When Ellen and I first got together I was wearing fur and Ellen was wearing very expensive Italian calfskin leather. She was giving me a hard time about wearing the fur and I said, ‘Why is a fox any more important than a cow?’ "We took that idea and went all the way with it. We are doing what we can."

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Celebrated Russian conductor VERONIKA DUDAROVA has died, aged 92.
Dudarova led Moscow orchestras for 60 years after becoming a conductor at the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in 1947.
She was named chief conductor and artistic director in 1960.
In 1989, Dudarova retired from her post, and began leading the Symphony Orchestra of Russia.
A memorial service will be held in her honour on Monday (19Jan09) in the Moscow Conservatory.

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The actor who plays NOTORIOUS B.I.G.’s manager in the tragic rapper’s new biopic almost gave up the role - because he feared the film wouldn’t live up to expectations.
Actor Kevin Phillips plays Mark Pitch in the movie, Notorious, and admits he was on the verge of turning his back on the project - because he’s such a big fan of the slain rapper.
He tells WENN, "I did have some reservations for months before the actual offer
. I was first approached to play the role of Puffy (Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs)
. I didn’t think it made any sense to be involved in the project because I didn’t have Puffy’s walk." But Phillips cast away every reservation after meeting B.I.G.’s mother, Voletta Wallace, adding, "She was on the set everyday
. I don’t understand how she was there scene after scene
. It takes a strong woman to do that." And now he’s thrilled with the end result, and glad he didn’t walk away: "Being a part of this project was being a part of history, not just a payday, and that is what drew me to it."

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Newlywed pop and country star JEWEL has fuelled speculation she’s pregnant by starting work on an album of original lullabies.
The singer wed rodeo star TY MURRAY last year (Aug08) and admits she can’t wait to be a mum.
In a recent interview, Jewel said, "We want to start a family." And, talking of her 2009 plans, she revealed, "I hope to tour… and start a family."

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British glam rockers MOTT THE HOOPLE are to reunite to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary.
The All the Young Dudes hitmakers will perform two shows in London in October (09) to mark their 40th year.
The concerts will mark the first time the original line-up, consisting of Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen, Dale Griffin and Overend Watts, has performed together in 35 years.
Hunter says, "I can’t speak for the others, but I’m doing it just to see what it’s like."

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