Entertainment in brief
Rockwell painting owned by Debbie Reynolds to be auctioned
LOS ANGELES — A Norman Rockwell painting of Benjamin Franklin owned by Debbie Reynolds will be among the items offered at an auction of the actress’ possessions in October.
Profiles in History says the painting featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post in 1926 will be among 1,500 items that belonged to Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher that will go on sale on Oct. 7 and 8. The painting, which shows Franklin signing the Declaration of Independence, has been on loan to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, since December 2015.
The auction house says the piece of art is expected to fetch more than $2 million.
The work was created for a Saturday Evening Post issue celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
UK financial watchdog hires The Terminator for ad campaign
LONDON — The Terminator is back to give financial advice.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is helping Britain’s financial regulator urge consumers to file claims if they were improperly sold payment protection insurance on loans and credit cards.
Schwarzenegger appears in a Financial Conduct Authority ad publicizing the Aug. 29, 2019 deadline to make the claims. An animatronic model of The Terminator’s head rolls around a grocery store on tank tracks warning customers to “Make a decision! Do it now.”
Authorities estimate 64 million PPI policies were sold along with credit cards, store cards and mortgages between the 1990s and 2010. The contracts were supposed to cover payments for people who couldn’t make them, but the FCA says they were often sold improperly. Some 27 billion pounds ($35 billion) has already been repaid.
Houston native Beyonce planning to aid those hurt by Harvey
NEW YORK — Beyonce says she’s working with her charity to assist those in her hometown affected by Tropical Storm Harvey.
The Houston native says in a statement to The Houston Chronicle late Monday that “my heart goes out to my hometown, Houston, and I remain in constant prayer for those affected.”
Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and the original members of Destiny’s Child who left the group, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, formed as teenagers in Houston.
Harvey made landfall four days ago as the fiercest hurricane to hit the U.S. in 13 years.
Beyonce said she’s praying “for the rescuers who have been so brave and determined.” The singer said she is working closely with her organization BeyGOOD and her pastor to find ways to help those affected.