Julia Louis-Dreyfus reveals cancer diagnosis
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the actress announced on social media Thursday.
The Veep star recently won the Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy for the sixth time in a row.
“One in eight women get breast cancer,” Louis-Dreyfus wrote.
“Today, I’m the one. The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality.”
Louis-Dreyfus’s publicist said no further details about her condition would be provided at this time, adding that the actress “is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and well wishes.”
Though best known for Veep, in which she plays U.S. vice-president Selina Meyer, Louis-Dreyfus has also received wide praise as a comedian and producer. She also starred in Seinfeld and was a Saturday Night Live cast member.
Over her career, Louis-Dreyfus has won eight prime-time Emmys for acting and three for her role as a producer on Veep. She now holds the record for most Emmys won by a single actress for the same role. Star staff, wire services
Tickets on sale for Come From Away
Tickets go on sale Monday for the return to Toronto of celebrated Canadian musical Come From Away.
The last time the musical was here, in winter 2016, it sold out its run in the second week and Mirvish Productions added box seats and standing room spots to meet the demand.
It went on to a triumphant run on Broadway, where it’s still playing, having won a Tony Award (for director Christopher Ashley), five Outer Critics Circle Awards, three Drama Desk Awards, four Helen Hayes Awards and four Dora Awards in Toronto.
The musical, by Canadian couple David Hein and Irene Sankoff, is about what happened in Gander, N.L., when 6,579 passengers and crew on 38 planes were diverted there after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
A nearly all-Canadian cast will begin performances of the show at the Royal Alexandra Theatre Feb. 13, 2018.
Eliza-Jane Scott, a musical theatre vet also known for TV roles, including Degrassi: The Next Generation, will play the lead role of pilot Beverley Bass.
Tickets go on sale Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. in person at the Royal Alexandra box office, 260 King St. W., with the first 100 people in line getting a Broadway cast CD and a chance to win a trip for two to St. John’s, N.L. Phone and web sales start at 10 a.m. at mirvish.com, 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333. Debra Yeo
Pam and Shannon say so long, Hef
Canadian Playboy models Pamela Anderson and Shannon Tweed paid tribute to the magazine’s founder, Hugh Hefner, on Thursday.
The legendary media mogul died Wednesday night at the age of 91.
In an Instagram video, Anderson tearfully said goodbye, calling Hefner the most important person in her life outside of her family.
Tweed posted a photo on Instagram of a younger Hefner, writing that he changed the world.
Ladysmith, B.C., native Anderson rose to fame after being the magazine’s Playmate of the Month in1990. St. John’s, N.L., native Tweed was Playmate of the Year in 1982 and briefly dated Hefner before meeting Kiss frontman Gene Simmons. The Canadian Press
Police officer shoots at movie ‘robber’
Indiana State Police are investigating after an officer in the city of Crawfordsville fired a gunshot at a movie actor portraying a bank robber. No one was hurt. Crawfordsville police were responding to a report of a possible robbery at Backstep Brewing Co. on Tuesday evening.
Actor Jim Duff was wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun while leaving the brewery with his back to the officers. Police told him to drop the gun, and fired and missed when he turned toward them. Duff dropped the gun, pulled off his mask and told officers they were on a movie set.
Police say the production company and the brewery didn’t notify them or other businesses before filming. The Associated Press
Keeping up with Kardashians’ feuds
The legal beefing between Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna isn’t over. In a new lawsuit, Kardashian and sister Kylie Jenner accuse Chyna of assault, battery and extortion.
The siblings filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday accusing Chyna of being a “ruthless” and drunken “money-hungry, shameless pseudo-celebrity” who beat him up regularly and became pregnant with their 10-month-old baby Dream as a means to “extort” his mega-rich family of reality-TV stars.
The suit charges Chyna with assault and battery causing physical injuries, and says Chyna caused at least $100,000 (U.S.) in physical damages to the home that Jenner owns.
The siblings are seeking unspecified general and punitive damages. USA Today
Cast announced for new CBC comedy
CBC has revealed the names of the other actors getting in the ring with Joel Thomas Hynes in his first TV starring role.
The author, musician, filmmaker and playwright has the lead in Little Dog, about a boxer looking for redemption after he walked out in the middle of a championship bout.
Caribbean-born Canadian actor Dwain Murphy ( Mohawk Girls, Splinter Cell: Blacklist) will play welterweight champion Rico “Havoc” St. George, against whom Tommy “Little Dog” Ross (Hynes) has a chance for a rematch.
Also joining the cast are Irish actress Ger Ryan, Vancouver’s Katharine Isabelle, Newfoundlanders Stephen Oliver Oates, Andy Jones and Mary Walsh, Edmonton’s Patricia Isaac and Briton Julia Chan.
The half-hour series is in production in Newfoundland for a winter 2018 debut. Debra Yeo