Hollywood Today

Actor Marvin Kaplan, a diner patron on 'Alice,' dead at 89

NEW YORK (AP) — Veteran actor Marvin Kaplan has died at 89.

Best known for his recurring role on the long-running sitcom "Alice," Kaplan died Friday in Burbank, California, where he resided, said John Gallogly, executive director of Theatre West, with which Kaplan was associated.

Besides his portrayal on "Alice" of Henry, a telephone linesman and frequent patron of Mel's Diner, Kaplan voiced the character Choo-Choo in the 1960s cartoon series "Top Cat."

More recently, he made several appearances on the Ted Danson comedy "Becker."

Other credits include the 1963 film "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and the 1965 Blake Edwards comedy "The Great Race."

The New York native also was a regular on the sitcom "Meet Millie," which first aired on radio and was also seen on television from 1952-55.

Billionaire Richard Branson survives bike crash

LONDON (AP) — Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson said Friday he thought he was going to die after flying head first off his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands.

The Virgin Group boss hit a hump in the road on Virgin Gorda, one of the islands in the Caribbean, catapulting him into the road. The 66-year-old posted pictures of his bloodied face on social media on Friday, showing the gruesome injuries that included a cracked cheek, torn ligaments and severe cuts.

"My life was literally flashing before my eyes," he wrote. "I really thought I was going to die. I went flying head-first towards the concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact, and I was wearing a helmet that saved my life."

Branson traveled to Miami to receive medical treatment. He said he was really lucky to have not suffered more serious injuries.

"My biggest hardship is having to drink tea out of a straw," he said.

Branson was training for September's Virgin Strive Challenge, an event in which participants hike, cycle, swim and run from the base of the Matterhorn in the Alps to the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily.

Branson still hopes to take part in the charity event.

"My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward," he said.

Handsome cop upstages rock stars in Northern Ireland

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Fans in Northern Ireland are keenly awaiting a Belfast music festival featuring Avicii and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But the build up to Friday's event has been dominated by a policeman offering safety advice for the event.

Though rarely receiving more than a few dozen responses to online posts, Police Service Northern Ireland got more than 3,000 when police officer Bobby Singleton advised revelers on how to behave responsibly at the concert.

Singleton, who bears a passing resemblance to the U.S. actor Ben Afleck, earned the hashtag #OfficerHotStuff from admirers, but did not appear in subsequent safety posts.

Singleton responded on Twitter: "My colleagues are ensuring I'm kept well grounded."

Welcome to the fourth grade: Teacher's rap targets students

SKOKIE, Ill. (AP) — A new teacher who made a music video to welcome his students has become a bit of a star with his fourth-graders.

Dwayne Reed's video was posted on YouTube this week and has already been viewed more than a half-million times and earned him an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America."

The 25-year-old Reed just began teaching at Stenson Elementary School in the Chicago suburb of Skokie.