Few women in Hollywood tug at our heartstrings the way Michelle Williams does. The actress, who lost partner Heath Ledger nearly a year ago and is now left to raise her daughter on her own, doesn't ask for attention and seems to be one of the few genuinely good people left in the business. Her grief is tragic, and she still brings tears to our eyes when discussing her love:
Williams is jovial and chatty, until the conversation turns to Heath. You can see it's still difficult for her to talk about him, and she hasn't done so publicly until now. The first time Ledger's name comes up, she bursts into tears. 'It's so sad,' Williams says. When she's asked about how she's been doing in the past year, she's silent for a very long time. 'I guess it's always changing,' she says. There's another pause. 'What else can I say?' Her voice is breathy and fragile, and she takes a few gulps of air. 'I just wake up each day in a slightly different place—grief is like a moving river, so that's what I mean by "it's always changing."' She stops again. 'It's a strange thing to say'—her words unravel slowly, her eyes tear up—'because I'm at heart an optimistic person, but I would say in some ways it just gets worse. It's just that the more time that passes, the more you miss someone. In some ways it gets worse. That's what I would say.'
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We knew it was bound to happen: American Idol judge Paula Abdul inspired a woman, Paula Goodspeed, to sit outside Abdul's LA home in a parked car. Perfectly normal, no? Anyway, Goodspeed reportedly committed suicide last night in said vehicle.
And because TMZ thrives under situations that are part devastating, part exploitative, the Web site has already dug up everything about this woman, except her social security number. But don't worry, that's on its way.
Here's what the TMZ stalkers have come up with so far:
• The world's ugliest dog has passed on to the great kennel in the sky. [DListed]
• Tim Robbins had polling problems on election day, but they were all his own damn fault. [Yeeeah]
• Janet Jackson is way too busy canceling her tour to have children. [INO]
• Brooke Hogan: Still classy. [HT]
• Who in the hell invited Tyra Banks to the Glamour Women of the Year ceremony? [PS]
• Christina Aguilera has some really unfortunate-looking bangs. [ICYDK]
MICHAEL CRICHTON DEAD AT 66 "Michael Crichton, best known as the author of Jurassic Park and the creator of NBC's ER, has died. He was 66. In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, his family calls his death unexpected, but said he had been privately battling cancer."
OBAMA'S GRANDMOTHER DIES DAY BEFORE ELECTION "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's grandmother died of cancer, he said in a statement on Monday, a little more than a week after Obama interrupted the White House race to say goodbye to her in Hawaii."
It's been confirmed: "Sources say that police have told the Hudson family that the body found on Chicago's West Side is that of 7-year-old Julian King. … Law enforcement sources said that the boy was shot multiple times in the back of the vehicle."
What can we say about the Jennifer Hudson tragedy that hasn't already been written? Our thoughts are with the surviving family members, who seem to be getting more and more terrible news, the latest involving the discovery of a body believed to be Jennifer's 7-year-old nephew. Losing a mother, brother and nephew in such a violent and inexcusable act is unfathomable to most of us, so all we can hope is that justice will eventually be served.
After the jump are two videos: One featuring Jennifer talking about her family ties, complete with a clip of her mother standing by her side after her Oscar win in 2007 (starting around the 1:00 mark); the other showing her family at home in Chicago during her Oscar win. We'll keep you updated on any new developments, but until then, keep Jennifer's family in your thoughts. CONTINUED »
Hmm … How do we say this? Rupert, the adorable deer with whom we forced you all to fall in love (nine posts below), has died. The precious baby animal, measuring six inches tall and weighing only a pound and a half, was delivered via C-section after his mother was hit by a car. He wasn't even a week old.
Life isn't fair.
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House Peters Jr, the actor who originally played Mr Clean in a series of Proctor & Gamble ads in the 1950s and 60s, died yesterday of pneumonia at the age of 92. The New York Post, our city's finest publication, announced Peters' death thusly: "THE original Mr. Clean is now surrounded by dirt - for eternity."
David Letterman recently took time from trouncing all over the mavericky reputation of noted liar John McCain to earnestly beatify his recently deceased friend, Paul Newman. According to Letterman, who raced cars with Newman for years, the actor lived life in the best way possible: "He took care of other people."
Paul Newman, one of the few Hollywood players who was loved and respected by everyone, died of cancer Friday at his Connecticut home. He was 83.
Robert Forrester, vice chairman of Newman's Own Foundation, summed Paul's life up most eloquently:
Paul took advantage of what life offered him, and while personally reluctant to acknowledge that he was doing anything special, he forever changed the lives of many with his generosity, humor, and humanness. His legacy lives on in the charities he supported … for which he cared so much.
He will be truly missed.
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RIP "Terrence Howard is mourning the death of his mother, the Hustle & Flow star's rep tells People in a statement. 'Terrence Howard's mother, Anita Williams, has sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer,' the statement says."
Don LaFontaine, the man who lent his voice to over 5,000 movie trailers and television commercials, passed away yesterday in LA following complications due to a collapsed lung.
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Sometimes we are reminded that celebrities (we use this term loosely) are people, too, and are often fighting the same internal battles as the rest of us — and then Michael Lohan comes along and snaps us out of it. See, Mike's father died last night amid a family feud that's been playing out in the media over the last few days. You'd think the passing of a parent might put life into perspective, but for Michael it just sent him over the edge in his quest to burn ex-wife Dina at the cross. Naturally, he issued a statement to OK! within hours of his father's death:
My father just, literally, died in my arms. I notified all my kids and my lawyer notified Dina's attorney. Let's see if she has the decency and respect to bring my kids to the wake and funeral. THIS will show her true colors! Thus, not even a call. But that's par for the course with Dina! She didn't even send a card or visit when he was sick.
Really, there are no words.
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RIP YOUNG DRE "Dr. Dre’s son has reportedly died, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner. The body of Andre Young Jr. was found in his Woodland Hills home on Saturday morning, says a report in the Los Angeles Times. Andre Young Jr. was only 20."
Soul legend-cum-successful voice-actor Isaac Hayes died yesterday at his home in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 65.
Relatives found Hayes unconscious next to a still-running treadmill. No autopsy is planned.
Actor and comedian Bernie Mac died in a Chicago-area hospital today from complications due to pneumonia. He was 50 years old. Mac had been admitted to the hospital on August 1 but at the time was expected to make a full recovery, according to his rep. No other details were made available.
He will be missed.
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