News

Damien Thomas, the British actor perhaps best known for his turn as the vampire Count Karnstein opposite Peter Cushing in the Hammer Films horror classic Twins of Evil, has died. He was 83.

Thomas died April 18 at Salisbury Hospice in Wilshire England, and had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy, daughter Phoebe Court-Thomas told The Hollywood Reporter.

In high-profile miniseries, Thomas played the Portuguese priest Father Alvito alongside Richard Chamberlain in 1980’s Shogun at NBC, and he was the unsettling Richard Mason in a 1983 BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre, starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton.

Thomas also portrayed a ruthless first mate in Roman Polanski’s Pirates (1986), starring Walter Matthau. When the film bombed at the box office, he blamed himself and said the experience shattered his confidence, he recalled in 2013.

However, when he saw the movie again years later, he “realized it wasn’t me at all. Actually, I’m not so awful in it.

Actor Richard Chamberlain, known in part for his starring role in the original Shogun TV series, has passed away. He was 90 years old.

Per CNN, Chamberlain's publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed that the actor died in Hawaii due to complications following a stroke. His passing happened just one day before he would have turned 91. Chamberlain's passing was further addressed by his longtime partner, Martin Rabbett.

“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us,” Rabbett said. “How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul.”

Boll's statement confirming Chamberlain's death noted that he was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Beverly Hills with his parents and brother, Bill. Before getting into his acting career, he earned a bachelor's degree in arts from Pomona College. He then pursued the United States Army, serving 16 months in...

Denzel Washington is clarifying the origins of his acclaimed career.

The 70 year-old actor, who is currently playing the titular role in Othello on Broadway, said in a recent interview that he considers himself to be primarily a stage actor.

“I’m a stage actor who does film, it’s not the other way around. I did stage first. I learned how to act on stage, not on film,” he told CBS’ Sunday Morning when asked about the string of movie stars who are currently starring in Broadway productions.

Keep reading to find out more…

Denzel also shut down the label of a “Hollywood actor” considering his slew of roles in major blockbuster hits.

“I’m from Mt. Vernon [New York], so I’m a Mt. Vernon actor. I don’t know what ‘Hollywood’ means. That’s something — I know it’s a place,” he said.

He then explained his definition of the...

Richard Chamberlain, the three-time Golden Globe-winning actor known for his work on “Dr. Kildare,” “The Thorn Birds” and 1980’s “Shōgun,” has died. He was 90.

The star died from complications following a stroke late Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, TheWrap has learned.

“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now,” his partner Martin Rabbett said in a statement. “He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”

Chamberlain earned three Golden Globes across six nominations from throughout his career. He was also nominated for four Emmy Awards and appeared on Broadway and in film.

Born on March 31, 1934, in Los Angeles, Chamberlain grew up in Beverly Hills with aspirations of being an artist. After graduating from Pomona College and enlisting in the U.S. Army,...

Sad news in the land of Hollywood, as legend Richard Chamberlain, known for his work in miniseries like ‘Shogun’ and ‘The Thorn Birds’, has passed away at the age of 90. According to his rep, he died in Hawaii on Saturday, March 29, due to complications from a stroke.

Richard Chamberlain’s Road To Acting

While he was best known for his work on television, Chamberlain enjoyed a dynamic career that included roles on Broadway and in films.

He grew up in Beverly Hills and wanted to be an artist; however, once he attended Pomona College, he switched shifts and became interested in drama, leading him to his acting career.

Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea, returning to Los Angeles to study acting. He began his career with a number of guest appearances on shows, with the first one being on ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ in 1959.

His “break...

Veteran actor Clive Revill, who voiced Emperor Palpatine in the second Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back, has died. He was 94. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Revill passed away on Tuesday, March 11, at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, after a battle with dementia, per his daughter, Kate Revill. Born on April 18 1930, in Wellington, New Zealand, Revill trained initially to be an accountant before deciding to pursue a career in acting. He made his stage debut in 1950 in a production of Twelfth Night before moving to London to study acting at the Old Vic Theatre. Revill appeared in several Shakespeare productions, including Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest. He made his Broadway debut in 1952, playing Sam Weller in The Pickwick Papers. He also played Fagin in Oliver!, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. Revill also received a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a...

Denzel Washington's name is equivalent to cinematic quality. His presence can completely change a film and instantly improve it. Naturally, everyone thinks of him as a movie star and a Hollywood legend. However, don't expect the star of films like Man on Fire and Malcolm X to agree with you. Per Washington's latest claims, he doesn't think of himself as a Hollywood actor at all. In fact, he doesn't even know what you would mean by that.

Washington spoke to CBS News about his latest stage play, a modern rendering of William Shakespeare's classic, Othello. During the conversation, he revealed that he sees himself as more of a stage actor than a film actor, and says that the term "Hollywood actor" doesn’t mean the same to him as it does to everyone else:

"What's the definition of a Hollywood actor? Myself, I'm from Mt. Vernon, so I'm a 'Mt.

There’s no denying Denzel Washington’s magnetism. He carries himself with a swaggering authority enhanced by the natural gravitas of his voice. The two-time Oscar winner is the principal reason audiences are shelling out upwards of $900 to see Kenny Leon’s frustratingly underpowered revival of Othello on Broadway. Playing the Venetian general often disparagingly referred to as “the Moor,” Washington emanates the steely charisma of a man who has risen above casual racism by virtue of his military prowess. But there’s little evidence of a driving force behind his performance, which is symptomatic of the production overall.

Staged on a stately set of distressed classical grandeur designed by Derek McLane, this stylish but shallow modern-dress Othello is set in “The Near Future,” as an opening projection informs us. But that’s as close to an overarching concept as Leon gets.

Among the productions strengths is Jake Gyllenhaal’s seething Iago,...

Morgan Freeman paid a special tribute to Gene Hackman Sunday night at the Oscars, calling the late actor a “giant” and a “dear friend.”

“This week our community lost a giant and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” said Freeman.

The 95-year-old actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Feb. 26. An investigation into the cause of their deaths, and that of one of their dogs, is ongoing.

“I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion.’ Like everyone ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work,” Freeman continued. Hackman won his second Oscar for playing the villain who kills Freeman’s character in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 western.

Freeman recalled Hackman telling him, “‘I don’t think about legacy.

Quick LinksMarlon Brando Is a Hollywood LegendThe Godfather Was Brando's Greatest WorkOn the Waterfront Was Similarly ExtraordinaryOn the Waterfront Still Holds Up Today

Gangster movies have long held sway over audiences. Just as stories about Robin Hood filled people's minds in medieval times, these tales eventually evolved into stories of organized crime. Bonnie and Clyde thrilled people living during the Great Depression, and Al Capone became a giant after Prohibition. The idea of everyday people turning to crime for a myriad of reasons has always been compelling. After all, crime always lurks just outside of reach for many people. Gangsters, who control crime itself, are just as salient as the idea of becoming a king.

Hollywood, of course, was quick to capitalize on the idea of gangsters. The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912) was a silent film that saw a man fighting back against gangsters who stole his wallet. 1927's Underworld...

When Tamara Tunie signed on as the matriarch of CBS’s upcoming soap opera Beyond the Gates, there was a celebration and a sigh of relief from TV fans. This is because she’s a known and respected name in daytime and primetime. Her stellar reputation comes from her years playing attorney Jessica Griffin on the late great soap opera As the World Turns. Then there’s her 20-plus years of primetime success starring as Dr. Melinda Warner on Law & Order: Tunie is a multitalented performer who can pretty much do anything—television, film, theater, in front of the camera, and behind the scenes.

The Early Days

The Pittsburgh native graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Her alma mater presented her with an Alumni Achievement Award in 2022. “As a student, I had only hoped that I would be able to support myself as an actor,...

Quick Links Marlon Brando's Early Career and Last Gig The Marlon Brando Film Would Never Be Released

Critics and film historians alike widely consider Marlon Brando to be one of the greatest American actors of the 20th century. His filmography proves that with A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, Julius Caesar, Apocalypse Now, and The Godfather, among numerous others. Brando died at age 80 in 2004, and you might be wondering about his final completed film. Was it a gritty gangster flick? Hardcore war piece? Or some other deep, dramatic picture? But if you said cheap, animated Spider-Man ripoff featuring Brando voicing an old lady that was never even released, you'd be absolutely right.

Yes, Marlon Brando's last movie role on this Earth was in the animated Big Bug Man. Set for a release in the mid-2000s, the movie was shelved and has never seen the light of day.

Marlon Brando transformed into all different kinds of people on the big screen. He was a dockworker in On the Waterfront, Shakespeare’s Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, and a temperamental and abusive drunk in A Streetcar Named Desire. But it was while he was preparing to become the mafia boss Vito Corleone in The Godfather that he decided to try a new role based in the real world: the founder of an ecological island resort in Tahiti. Playing pretend for so long gave him an edge of boundless confidence...

Othello, one of the greatest tragedy tales by William Shakespeare, is all set to return to the stages once again through Broadway. Set in Venice and Cyprus, it is widely regarded among the mastermind author’s major tragedies as it brings about the titular Moorish military commander’s story as he is manipulated by his ensign, Iago, into suspecting his wife Desdemona of infidelity.

Of course, as famous as it is, there have been innumerable other iterations of this play over the years. Multiple different star-studded actors have joined the cast of the same, and given epic performances that they continue to be renowned for. And now that Broadway is reviving the saga, a cast of critically applauded actors has once again united to give the performance of a lifetime.

Othello revival on Broadway. | Credits: @othellobway / Ig.

This time around, some of the major names connected to the cast are Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal,...

Douglass Fake, founder of leading movie soundtrack label Intrada and producer of more than 700 albums of movie and TV music, died Saturday at a Richmond, Calif., hospital after a long illness. He was 72.

Fake’s many credits include the first complete restoration of Leonard Bernstein’s “On the Waterfront,” a lavish 5-cd release of Elmer Bernstein’s “The Ten Commandments” and the debut of several Henry Mancini scores including “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” previously only available in abridged pop recordings.

Among the label’s best sellers were expansions of previously incomplete recordings of such classics as John Williams’ “Jaws,” Alan Silvestri’s “Back to the Future” and Jerry Goldsmith’s “Alien.” Fake also supervised the re-recording of a dozen albums of classic film music including Bernard Herrmann’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much” and Miklos Rozsa’s “Ivanhoe,” “Spellbound” and “Julius Caesar.”

A longtime film-music fan, Fake launched Intrada Records...

One of the greatest aspects about the work of William Shakespeare is that his most famous historical, romantic, comedic, and tragic plays can be endlessly re-interpreted by different generations, each of which may offer a fresh perspective on the material. Although the stories themselves are timeless, a change of location, time period, style, or aesthetic can make these iconic works of fiction appeal to a new generation of viewers who are learning about them for the first time. Certain plays like Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet, and Henry V have been adapted to the big screen multiple times, but the first major modern screen adaptation of The Merchant of Venice wasnt made until 2004.

June 4, 2024 – Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley, beloved James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and Star Wars universe luminary Mark Hamill form the ultimate vocal rogues’ gallery in Mofac Animation’s upcoming The King of Kings, an animated family film inspired by a little-known short story by Charles Dickens depicting the life and times of Jesus Christ.

Kingsley voices High Priest Caiaphas, who presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. Hamill takes on the role of King Herod, who, according to the Gospel of Matthew, ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus as an infant. And Brosnan gives animated life to Pontius Pilate, who ultimately ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. The triumvirate of villainous voices further enhances the A-list cast behind the faith-based animated film, which also includes Academy Award & Emmy Award winners Kenneth Branagh (Belfast) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Golden Globe...

Billy Zane's transformation into Marlon Brando in Waltzing with Brando is remarkably uncanny. Zane's images from the biopic reveal the dedication of the production team and Zane's striking resemblance to the legendary Hollywood star. Zane acknowledges Brando's activism and foresight, highlighting the actor's significant contributions to civil rights, Indigenous rights, and the environment.

Titanic and Tombstone star Billy Zane stuns as Marlon Brando in new images from the upcoming biopic Waltzing with Brando. Taking to social media to share these new images, as well as an update on the project, Zanes likeness to the Hollywood icon and star of The Godfather is uncanny, and will no doubt have you looking twice. You can check the astounding image below...

Alongside the images, Zane shared the following caption; "2nd Batch of pics from [Waltzing with Brando] burning a hole in my archive. Had to share now the cats out of the bag.

Showtown American Pictures and Cannon Fire Productions announce Candyman (2021) actor Michael Hargrove will join actress Avaryana Rose in a Tale of Murder, Resurrection and Revenge in Bitter Souls. Directed by Tom Ryan of ‘Return To The Theatre Of Terror.’

Some of Michael Hargrove’s notable work includes the role of Sherman Fields in the hit MonkeyPaw Production’s Candyman feature. Michael has also been honored with the Black Theatre Alliance’s Sidney Poitier Award in 2002 as Best Leading Actor in a Play for his role in “Will He Bop, Will He Drop” at Chicago’s National Pastime Theater.

Michael has also appeared in such National Pastime Theater productions as “Red Dog Moon,” David Rabe’s “The Orphan,” “Yuba City,” Kafka’s “The Trial,” “Servant of the People!! The Rise and Fall of Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Party,” “Possessed,” Kesey’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Shakespeare...

by Chad Kennerk

K.J. Relth-Miller, Director of Film Programs.

All images courtesy the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The Academy’s annual ceremony is just one aspect of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ overall examination and recognition of film. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the largest museum in the United States devoted to the art, science, and artists behind the magic of the movies. Through exhibitions, curated film series and extensive programming, the Academy Museum celebrates and captures the stories behind the art of moviemaking. The museum’s David Geffen and Ted Mann theatres present a year-round robust calendar of screenings, film series, member programs, panel discussions, and more. Through retrospectives and thematic film series, the artistic and cultural contributions of those in front of and behind the camera are illuminated and explored.

One of the great actors of the 20th century, Marlon Brando studied...

On what would be his 100th birthday, Marlon Brando remains synonymous not with acting, but great acting — even if this ranked list of all his performances represents what may be the most wildly uneven filmography for any talent of his caliber. But that’s the power of Brando: A handful of his performances are so great and influential they shook up the art of acting forever. Even among his lesser performances, there’s compelling work deserving of rediscovery.

In order to best exemplify what made him such a singular onscreen presence, we ranked all 39 of his films (and one TV appearance), reflecting a spectrum as wide as the man’s broad shoulders. Based on the quality of Brando’s performances rather than the overall films themselves, there are some placements that may surprise you; for example, as great as Brando is in “The Godfather,” it’s still just the fourth-best...

Everyone remembers their first time. That is the first time they saw Marlon Brando.

For the late Mike Nichols, seeing Brando on Broadway in 1947 in his seminal turn as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams‘ “A Streetcar Named Desire,” was the catalyst that lead to his career in the arts which saw him become a rare Egot winner. The teenage Nichols and his then girlfriend’s mother were given tickets for the second night of the Elia Kazan-directed production. “There had never been anything like it, I know that by now,” Nichols recalled in a 2010 L.A. Times interview. It was, to this day, the only thing onstage that I had ever seen that was 100% real and 100% poetic. Lucy and I weren’t exactly theater buffs, but we couldn’t get up at the intermission. We were just so stunned. Your heart was pounding. It was a major experience.”

Susan L.

Get ready for an intriguing journey into the life of one of history’s most iconic figures in the upcoming episode of “Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator” titled “Veni Vidi Vici,” airing at 9:00 Pm on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, on PBS.

In this captivating installment, viewers will witness events that threaten to disrupt Caesar’s carefully laid plans, leaving him feeling isolated and vulnerable. As external pressures mount and challenges arise, Caesar finds himself pushed into a corner, forced to make a decision that will have far-reaching consequences for the Republic.

Through compelling storytelling and historical insights, this episode delves deep into the complexities of power, ambition, and the human condition. Audiences will be captivated as they witness Caesar’s struggles and triumphs, gaining a deeper understanding of the man behind the legend.

Don’t miss “Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator” as it continues to unravel...

Acting streaks are rare; even the best actors have disappointments in their careers. A fantastic streak can completely change an actor's career, like Matthew McConaughey's stellar 2013-2014 run. A strong streak can make an actor legendary, like Marlon Brando's amazing string of critically acclaimed movies.

Even the greatest actors sometimes star in a few bad movies, so it's rare for an actor to put together a long winning streak. Making two brilliant movies back-to-back is hard enough, and stringing together multiple hits requires a bit of luck. Sometimes it's as much about selecting the right projects as it is about delivering great performances. For example, Brad Pitt had the beginnings of a great streak after Fight Club and Snatch but his next movie, The Mexican, was a complete disappointment. This doesn't diminish his talents as an actor. It just shows how rare great acting streaks are.

A good...

Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington are joining forces and heading to the stage.

The duo are set to star in a production of Othello, which is heading to Broadway next year.

Read more about Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington’s project…

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Denzel will play the titular character while Jake brings Iago to life. Kenny Leon has signed on to direct.

Neither actor is a Broadway novice. Denzel made his debut back in 1988 in a play called Checkmates. He’s even starred in another Shakespeare project – 2005′s Julius Caesar.

Meanwhile, Jake made his Broadway debut with 2014′s Constellations. His most recent starring role was 2019′s Sunday in the Park with George.

We will update you as we learn more about the project. It is currently expected to premiere in the spring of 2025.

Before that, Jake will take over Prime Video with his new movie Road House.

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal will star in a 2025 Broadway revival of William Shakespeare’s Othello, producer Brian Anthony Moreland announced today.

The production, to be directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon, will open in Spring 2025 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced.

Washington will portray the title character, while Gyllenhaal will play ‘Iago’.

Few other details were provided in Moreland’s brief announcement today.

Neither Washington nor Gyllenhaal are strangers to Broadway. Washington most recently starred in the 2018 revival of The Iceman Cometh (earning a Tony nomination), and starred as Walter Lee Younger in the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun. In 2010, he appeared in (and won a Tony for) Fences, and in 2005 he played Marcus Brutus in Julius Caesar. His Broadway debut came in 1988 with Checkmates.

Gyllenhaal has performed on Broadway in Sea Wall/A Life in 2019, Sunday in the Park With George in 2017, and Constellations in...

Italy’s Torino Film Festival will celebrate the centennial of Marlon Brando’s birth with a 24-title retrospective of films featuring the groundbreaking two-time Oscar winner, known for his naturalistic acting style and rebellious streak.

The Brando retro will be “the backbone” of the fest, according to its new artistic director, Italian actor/director Giulio Base. Accordingly, an image of Brando – photographed when he was shooting Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris” – is featured on the poster for the fest’s upcoming 42nd edition, which will run Nov. 22-30.

Torino is Italy’s preeminent event for young directors and indie cinema, and is where Matteo Garrone and Paolo Sorrentino screened their first works. The festival’s lineup will be announced at a later date.

“As an actor, Brando has always been my guiding star and I had been wondering for a while – since way before being appointed at Torino...

Stars: Scott Adkins, Waleed Elgadi, Tom Berenger, Meena Rayann, Michael Jai White, Aaron Toney | Written by Jamie Russell | Directed by James Nunn

Not only is One More Shot filmed with the illusion of being one long take like its predecessor 2021’s One Shot, it does something more important. It reunites director James Nunn and writer Jamie Russell with the previous film’s leads, Scott Adkins as Navy Seal Jake Harris and Waleed Elgadi as terrorist Amin Mansur.

Following the events of the first film, Harris is escorting Mansur back to the US where they plan to get him to reveal the whereabouts of a dirty bomb set to explode during the State of the Union Address, which the President, of course, refuses to postpone. For leverage, CIA Agent Marshall has brought Mansur’s pregnant wife Niesha to meet his plane. But they’re not the only ones there to meet the flight.

Historical epics have experienced periods of immense appeal and long stretches with little action, but many outstanding films in the genre have gone under the radar. Films like "Helen of Troy," "Julius Caesar," and "The New World" are examples of historical epics with strong narratives and exceptional performances that deserve more attention. "The Bounty," a 1984 remake of "Mutiny on the Bounty," is an entertaining classic with an impressive cast, including Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins, and features fantastic performances.

Historical epics like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia are some of the most celebrated films ever made, but there are many outstanding installments to the genre that have flown under the radar. Historical films have gone through periods of immense appeal and long stretches with little action. The 1950s and 1960s offered dozens of historical fiction films, such as Spartacus, Cleopatra, and Ben-Hur. Similarly, the 2000s saw an uptick in...

Every school has that certain teacher who is a bully, heartless and at times sadistic. Everyone must take their class, but no one finishes the course unscathed. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) of Alexander Payne’s acclaimed comedy-drama “The Holdovers” is one such instructor. Set in 1970, “The Holdovers” revolves around the by-the-books classics professor teaching at the same New England boarding school he had attended. Hunham is hated by his students, as well as his fellow teachers. And he’s also in hot water, after he failed one of the school’s largest donor’s son in his class. During the Christmas break, he is forced to supervise the “holdovers — -the students who for various reasons must stay on campus. He ends up sharing the holidays with one troubled student (Dominic Sessa) whose mother recently remarried; and the cafeteria administrator (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) grieving her only son’s death in the Vietnam War.

Khufiya turned out to be a complicated spy thriller. Vishal Bhardwaj was bang on the money with the humor and the satirical parts of the movie, but the rest of the film had scope for improvement. Despite its issues, Khufiya presented some interesting characters that got embroiled in espionage of a larger magnitude. This movie was about a senior intelligence officer betraying his agency and country and fleeing to America. Several characters in the film are now at it to locate this man and bring him back to make him face the Indian judicial system.

Spoilers Ahead

What Was Operation Brutus?

Jeevanathan, portrayed by the veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi, was in support of the work Krishna Mehra does right from the beginning of the film. Krishna was a ruthless and shrewd R&aw analyst who, by the looks of it, has been a part of the Bangladesh desk for a very long time.

The world of detective Charlie Chopra, based on characters created by Agatha Christie, is set to have a prolonged life in India as a franchise.

“Charlie Chopra & The Mystery Of Solang Valley,” based on Christie’s 1931 novel “The Sittaford Mystery,” was adapted as a series for Indian streamer SonyLIV by renowned filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj.

Set in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, northern India, the series follows the journey of Charlie Chopra and her quest to uncover a murder mystery alongside her sidekick Sitaram. Bhardwaj served as director and co-producer and co-screenwriter alongside Anjum Rajabali and Jyotsna Hariharan. The cast includes Wamiqa Gabbi, Priyanshu Painyuli, Naseeruddin Shah, Neena Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, Gulshan Grover, Lara Dutta, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Paoli Dam.

Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures produced with Priti Shahani’s Tusk Tale Films in association with Agatha Christie Limited. James Prichard, Basi Akpabio and Leo Dezoysa served as executive producers...

NCIS veteran David McCallum, also known for his Emmy-nominated role in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., died peacefully this morning of natural causes at New York Presbyterian Hospital, surrounded by family. He was 90, having celebrated his birthday less than a week ago.

A fan favorite, McCallum was the last remaining original cast member on CBS’ NCIS, in which he played Chief Medical Examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard, an eccentric but highly efficient investigator with a knack for psychological profiling, for two decades.

David McCallum as Medical Examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

“For over 20 years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world playing the wise, quirky, and sometimes enigmatic, Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard,” said NCIS executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North. “But as much as his fans may have loved him, those who worked side by side with David loved him that much more.

The 80th annual Venice Film Festival launches on the Lido on August 30. This edition features a slew of Oscar hopefuls including Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” David Fincher’s “The Killer,” Yorgas Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” and Michael Mann’s “Ferrari.” They’re all vying for the top prize, the Golden Lion.

Seventy years ago, there were four now-classics in competition: William Wyler’s “Roman Holiday,” for which Audrey Hepburn would win Oscar, John Huston’s “Moulin Rouge,” Samuel Fuller’s “Pickup on South Street” and Vincente Minnelli’s “The Bad and the Beautiful,” which had recently picked up five Oscars. But the Golden Lion didn’t roar at the 14th edition of the international film festival.

The jury headed by future Nobel Prize laureate in literature Eugenio Montale just couldn’t decide on the best of the fest because according to the New York Times “the quality...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 10 - "The Last Generation"Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) delivers a stirring speech in the final scene of Star Trek: Picard season 3, and his monologue has significance to both Jean-Luc and the actor Patrick Stewart. After saving his son Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) from the clutches of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) and saving the Earth once more, Picard celebrates with his trusted friends at Ten Forward. Enjoying one last drink before a game of poker, Picard toasts his friends by delivering Brutus' speech to Cassius from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 3.

Patrick Stewart has a long history of performing Shakespeare's works, winning two prestigious Olivier Awards for his roles in Antony and Cleopatra and Hamlet, respectively. This love of Shakespeare is shared by Jean-Luc Picard, who once told Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) that embracing the works of Shakespeare...

Chicago – While at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, there are shuttles between the film theaters, and often en route some prime networking takes place. On one such shuttle connection was Tara Bopp, a featured actor in the world premiere of the short film “Never Fuggedaboutit,” a sly take on two legendary media events.

The story takes place during the high anxiety of post-9/11 NYC, as a struggling post-production house … managed by the character that Tara Bopp portrays … is hired to remove a shot of the Twin Towers from the intro to a hit TV show. As tensions rise on how to go about this task, the final outcome becomes a surprising conflict between what you do and who you are. “Never Fuggedaboutit” had its World Premiere at SXSW and was written and directed by Dustin Waldman.

Actor/Singer/Dancer Tara Bopp

Photo credit: TaraBopp.com

Tara Bopp grew up performing.

April is the cruelest month, but evidently not for one-man shows starring Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes.

The “Schindler’s List” and “Harry Potter” star’s sister Sophie Fiennes directs a film version of “T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets,” the stage production he brought to London and throughout the UK back in 2021. During the lockdown, Fiennes committed to memory the “Wasteland” poet’s four epic poems written during World War II about man’s relationship to time and the divine. His performance, praised as “magnetic” by The Telegraph, was filmed at the end of his run.

IndieWire shares the exclusive trailer for the film version, opening April 28 at the IFC Center in New York City, courtesy of Kino Lorber. An expansion in theaters nationally will follow.

Fiennes’ filmed performance of Eliot’s masterworks is a co-production between The Bath Theatre Royal and Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Lone Star Productions, Amoeba Film and Lonely Dragon Films.

Art lovers rejoice. Marquee TV, a streaming platform for arts and culture, has announced new content partnerships that will make it possible for more people all over the globe to watch more top-notch artistic productions.

7-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month Marquee TV via amazon.com

On Monday, Marquee announced that the Washington Ballet and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment have joined the streamer as content partners, joining the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. These organizations present digital seasons — including world premieres — exclusively on the platform. Every single creative partner of Marquee TV has a devoted on-platform presence that will include unique performances.

A subscription to Marquee TV costs $8.99 per month or $89.99 annually, both after a seven-day free trial. You can sign up for the service directly, or through Prime Video Channels, which launched the service in March 2022.

Some of the upcoming programming from Marquee TV’s new...

Zia Mohyeddin, the British-Pakistani actor known for his parts in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Immaculate Conception’, and the stage version of ‘A Passage to India’, died on Monday in a Karachi hospital, ‘Variety’ reports. Mohyeddin, who was 91, was ill and on life support, his family said. His death was condoled by top members of Pakistan’s political establishment, including President Arif Ali, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and his predecessor, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan.

Mohyeddin was born in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), British India, in 1931. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in the early 1950s.

After theatre roles in ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’ and ‘Julius Caesar’, Mohyeddin in 1960 made his West End debut in ‘A Passage to India’, where he originated the role of Dr Aziz.

The actor featured in David Lean’s ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962), playing the role of Arab guide Tafas. Roles in...

Zia Mohyeddin, a British-Pakistani actor known for films “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Immaculate Conception” and the stage version of “A Passage to India,” died on Monday in Karachi. He was 91.

Mohyeddin was ill and was on life support in a Karachi hospital, his family said.

Mohyeddin was born in Lylallpur (now Faisalabad), British India, in 1931. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in the early 1950s. After theater roles in “Long Day’s Journey into Night” and “Julius Caesar,” Mohyeddin made his West End debut in “A Passage to India” in 1960, where he originated the role of Dr. Aziz.

The actor featured in David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962), playing the role of Arab guide Tafas. Roles in Alexander Mackendrick’s “Sammy Going South” (1963), Fred Zinnemann’s “Behold a Pale Horse” (1964), Basil Dearden’s “Khartoum” (1966), Ralph Thomas’ “Deadlier Than the Male” (1966), Tony Richardson’s “The Sailor from...

No more enjoyable conversation grudge match can be had than pitting James Dean against Marlon Brando in a Hollywood Heartthrob showdown. Which do prefer? The rough, raw honesty of Brando in László Benedek's "The Wild One," wherein he plays a humming, human motorcycle engine, tanked up on erotic, rebellious energy and living to subvert paradigms and dismiss 1950s squareness? Or the brooding, poetic angst of Dean in Nicholas Ray's "Rebel Without a Cause," a sensitive, mature soul -- even a little kooky -- who may sometimes let pride get the better of him, but who would be content to form his own blissful, star-gazing queer polycule with a pair of classmates. 

Each of the actors was also sexually open at a time when queerness was notoriously repressed and pilloried; remember when Rock Hudson and Liberace were "ladies men"? Commonly attributed to Dean is the quote "No, I'm not homosexual.

Mike Flanagan threw viewers a bit of a curveball with the second entry in his "Haunting" anthology series, 2020's "The Haunting of Bly Manor." Where the show's revered first outing, 2018's "The Haunting of Hill House," is horror through and through, its mostly well-received but slightly more divisive second entry is really a gothic romance that just happens to include literal ghosts. Yes, I'm using what you might call the "Crimson Peak" defense, but it applies here all the same.

Perhaps even more than "Hill House," "Bly Manor" plays fast and loose with its source material. Mainly a retelling of Henry James' classic 1898 gothic horror novella "The Turn of the Screw," the series adds elements from James' other works while also filling in the gaps in the romance between doomed lovers Peter Quint and Miss Jessel prior to the story's events. Interestingly, though, it wasn't the first off-shoot of James' novella to do this.

Click here to read the full article.

Mary Alice, the Tony- and Emmy-winning actress who starred in the original Broadway production of Fences, portrayed the mother of three singing daughters in Sparkle and appeared as The Oracle in The Matrix Revolutions, has died. She was 85.

Alice died Wednesday in her Manhattan apartment, an NYPD spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.

In 1990 films, Alice played Nurse Margaret opposite Robin Williams and Robert De Niro in Awakenings, directed by Penny Marshall; the family matriarch dealing with a disruptive guest (Danny Glover) in Charles Burnett’s To Sleep With Anger; and a woman whose son was struck by a car in the South Bronx in Brian De Palma’s The Bonfire of the Vanities.

The onetime Chicago schoolteacher received back-to-back Emmy nominations in 1992 and ’93 — winning in the second year — for her supporting turn as Marguerite Peck, whose child is murdered, on the Atlanta-set NBC legal drama I’ll Fly Away,...

A post-James Bond Daniel Craig and Oscar-nominee Ruth Negga currently are shaking things up on Broadway in the latest revival of “Macbeth,” Shakespeare’s tragedy of mayhem, power, murder and madness. The “Scottish play” has a reputation for being cursed because the Bard used real witches’ spells.

It certainly has fallen afoul of the Tony Awards over the years. Negga was nominated but Craig was snubbed. Of the 11 previous stagings of “Macbeth” since the start of the Tony Awards, only the 2008 revival merited nominations for both stars (Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood). Glenda Jackson reaped a bid in 1988 while Christopher Plummer was left in the wings.

The first recorded production of the play in New York was way back in 1768 at the John Street Theatre, which had been built the year before. Though the closing date is unknown, the theater was demolished in 1897. Lewis Hallam, who is the only known cast member,...

Lev Mailer, former 11th vice president of the Screen Actors Guild, has died at 88. He died Feb. 24 of a bacterial infection at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Mailer, who served on SAG’s national board in the 1990s, chaired the Screen Actors Guild Conservatory for 10 years.

“He was a union man,” his wife Paula told Deadline. “He loved the Screen Actors Guild and he loved actors. He really cared that they were recognized and that they were given their fair share.”

A framed poster celebrating SAG’s 50th anniversary still hangs in their living room in Edina, Mn. “We had it in our townhouse in Studio City, and we brought it with us when we moved here in 2000,” Paula recalled. “He was very proud of SAG. He really believed in the union and in justice for actors. He was really driven about it. He thought it was a wonderful union.

Denzel Washington never went to Juilliard. His first exposure to William Shakespeare came a thousand feet down the street, at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, when he played Othello at 21.

“They wouldn’t let me in,” he joked on a recent Zoom call. “I didn’t know anything about theater acting, any of that, until I was introduced in the fall of 1975. I did a musical and found that I couldn’t sing. But I enjoyed being on the stage. The artistic director saw something in me.”

After his fall semester musical debut, the spring semester saw Washington tackle Eugene O’Neill’s “The Emperor Jones.” “I had no idea,” he said. “I did my homework and fell in love with the theater. I was green as a Southern tomato.” And in his senior year he starred in “Othello.” “I had never done any Shakespeare. I did have a couple classes.

Denzel Washington never went to Juilliard. His first exposure to William Shakespeare came a thousand feet down the street, at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, when he played Othello at 21.

“They wouldn’t let me in,” he joked on a recent Zoom call. “I didn’t know anything about theater acting, any of that, until I was introduced in the fall of 1975. I did a musical and found that I couldn’t sing. But I enjoyed being on the stage. The artistic director saw something in me.”

After his fall semester musical debut, the spring semester saw Washington tackle Eugene O’Neill’s “The Emperor Jones.” “I had no idea,” he said. “I did my homework and fell in love with the theater. I was green as a Southern tomato.” And in his senior year he starred in “Othello.” “I had never done any Shakespeare. I did have a couple classes.

In Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, the concept of time — and feeling like you’re running out of it — is central to the narrative. Corey Hawkins and Moses Ingram play Lord and Lady Macduff, the fertile young couple who represent all that has eluded the Macbeths — a bushel of children to continue their lineage and potential for upward mobility in their political future. They’re time incarnate.

In the pantheon of film adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Scottish play, the Apple and A24 production stands out, not only for its modern black-and-white cinematography, but the inclusion of a wide array of Black actors is another notable triumph.

Hawkins, Ingram and Sean Patrick Thomas discussed the production’s prominent diversity with Variety at the film’s L.A. premiere at the DGA Theatre earlier this month.

“When’s the last time you’ve seen it?...

MGM’s Orion Pictures’ film “Till,” starring Danielle Deadwyler, Whoopi Goldberg and Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till, has rounded out its cast.

Frankie Faison, Jayme Lawson, Tosin Cole, Kevin Carroll, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Douglas Thompson and Roger Guenveur Smith have boarded the project, directed by Chinonye Chukwu. “Till” is currently filming in Atlanta, with the full cast pictured above.

“Till” tells the story of Mamie Till-Mobley (Deadwyler), chronicling her decision to have an open casket at Emmett’s funeral and allowing Jet magazine to publish David Jackson’s funeral photos in order to ensure people everywhere saw the true horrors of her son’s murder. The decision from the grieving mother was a galvanizing moment that led to the creation of the civil rights movement. Goldberg is set to portray Till’s grandmother, Alma Carthan.

Chuwku also wrote the screenplay for the film, about a mother’s pursuit of justice,...

The film will be released to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s Folio in 2023.

Dominic Dromgoole, the former artistic director of London’s The Globe Theatre, will direct and produce Folio! Folio!, a feature comedy about the publication of the ground-breaking edition of Shakespeare’s works.

The film is aiming to shoot in summer 2022, produced by Marcus Coles’ UK company Folio 400 Productions. The company was founded to celebrate the 400th anniversary in 2023 of the publication of Shakespeare’s Folio – the first full collection of his plays, including the previously unpublished Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.