Tony Award-winning British actor Joan Plowright, widow of Laurence Olivier, dies at 95
LONDON (AP) -- Award-winning British stage actor Joan Plowright, the widow of Laurence Olivier, has died. She was 95. In a statement Friday, her family said Plowright died the previous day, surrounded by her loved ones. "She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire," the family said. Plowright appeared in plays by John Osborne, Shelagh Delaney and Arnold Wesker. The new, rough-hewn, working-class actors like Albert Finney, Alan Bates and Anthony Hopkins were her peers.
Beyoncé at the Grammys: A timeline of the most-awarded artist's historic run
NEW YORK (AP) -- Give Beyoncé a record and she'll break it. She leads the 2025 Grammy Award nominations with 11, which brings her career total to 99. She holds the record for most wins and most nominations at the award show. Her career at the Grammys began in 2000. Her first nominations and wins were with her girl group Destiny's Child. Over the years she's performed and won across genres. Will "Cowboy Carter," which tied Michael Jackson's "Thriller" for the most-nominated release, finally win Beyoncé in a trophy in the elusive record or album of the year categories in 2025?
Muhammad Ali's wife honors legacy of the late boxing legend with new audio series 'Ali in Me'
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The late Muhammad Ali's wife is set to honor his legacy with a new audio series, featuring a lineup of special guests that includes popular figures from Will Smith to Mike Tyson. Lonnie Ali and the legendary boxer's close friend, John Ramsey, will host a new audio series "Ali in Me" debuting Jan. 23 on Audible. The project's announcement came on Friday, the boxer's 83rd birthday. The eight-part series will delve into Muhammad Ali's lasting impact beyond the boxing ring through his own words in never-before-heard audio and explore his commitment to fighting injustice. Guests also include Billy Crystal, Common, Killer Mike and Muhammad's daughter Laila Ali. Muhammad Ali died at age 74 in 2016.
CNN found guilty in Florida trial of libeling Navy veteran in Afghan story
A jury in Panama City, Florida on Friday found CNN guilty of defaming a U.S. Navy veteran in a 2021 story about people paid to rescue endangered Afghans following the Taliban takeover of the country. The jury reached the verdict following more than eight hours of deliberation in a trial that took less than two weeks. The jury is next being asked to decide what CNN wil be compelled to pay Zachary Young, who blamed CNN for destroying his business by mentioning him in a story about a "black market" of smuggling Afghans out for high fees.
Voice of America is required by law to report the news accurately. Could Donald Trump change that?
LONDON (AP) -- It's called the Voice of America. The storied news outlet has promised "the truth" since it first broadcast stories about democracy into Nazi Germany during World War II. Now, it's the taxpayer-funded voice of a nation in which a majority of voters chose incoming president Donald Trump, a man famous for insisting the truth is what he says it is. But that would conflict with Voice of America's charter, which requires it by law to provide accurate and comprehensive reporting that reflects all of America. It also could breach the cherished "firewall" protecting VOA's journalism from political influence. Experts warn there's wiggle room in VOA's charter. The outlet has an audience of 354 million people and broadcasts in 49 languages.
David Lynch, visionary filmmaker behind 'Twin Peaks' and 'Mulholland Drive,' dies at 78
David Lynch has died at 78. The filmmaker was celebrated for his uniquely dark vision in such movies as "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive" and the TV series "Twin Peaks." His family announced the death in a Facebook post on Thursday. The cause of death and location was not immediately available, but Lynch had been public about the effect emphysema had had on his life. Lynch was a onetime artist who broke through in the 1970s with the surreal "Eraserhead" and rarely failed to startle and inspire audiences and peers in the following decades.
Justin Baldoni sues Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for $400M in new step in 'It Ends With Us' fight
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "It Ends With Us" actor and director Justin Baldoni has sued his co-star Blake Lively and her husband, "Deadpool" actor Ryan Reynolds, for defamation. Baldoni's suit seeks at least $400 million for damages that include lost future income. The lawsuit filed in federal court in New York on Thursday is the latest legal fallout from the dark romantic drama. It comes about two weeks after Lively sued Baldoni and several others tied to the romantic drama on Tuesday, alleging harassment and a coordinated campaign to attack her reputation for coming forward about her treatment on the set. Baldoni says Lively's allegations of harassment and retaliation are completely false.
Movie Review: Cameron Diaz is 'Back in Action' with Jamie Foxx as glam spies turned dorky parents
Matt and Emily used to be glamorous secret agents. Then she got pregnant, and now they're undercover suburban parents trying to get along with teenage kids. Soon, the past comes calling and the whole family is pulled "Back in Action," as the movie title suggests. Cameron Diaz, also back in action after a decade-long break, brings her welcome easy charm as Emily and has nice chemistry with Jamie Foxx as Matt, but that doesn't mean their dialogue is either funny or logical, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck in her review. The movie starts streaming Friday on Netflix.
Donald Trump vows to help 'troubled' Hollywood with Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone
NEW YORK (AP) -- Donald Trump wants to make Hollywood "bigger, better and stronger" and has chosen Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to help. On Wednesday, the President-elect wrote on his social media site that the three actors would be his eyes and ears to the moviemaking town as special ambassadors. "It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!" Trump wrote. U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and, in the past week, the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Remembering David Lynch's musical legacy: 10 songs to go beyond the films
NEW YORK (AP) -- The loss of singular talent and visionary filmmaker David Lynch is not only felt in the world of cinema, but music, where he had inextricable influence on multiple generations of artists. He composed music for many of his films, collaborated with others, directed music videos, released albums and inspired legions of creatives. You know his films. Now learn about his musical legacy with this playlist. It features everything from Flying Lotus and Moby to Angelo Badalamenti's "Twin Peaks" theme and "In Heaven" from his first film, "Eraserhead."