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Fred Ward, iconic character actor and star of films like “The Right Stuff,” “Tremors,” “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins,” “Miami Blues,” and “Henry & June,” has died. He passed away on Sunday, May 8, as confirmed by his representatives. The Golden Globe winner was also known for starring in Robert Altman films like “The Player” and “Short Cuts.”

Fred Ward is survived by his wife of 27 years, Marie-France Ward, and his son, Django Ward.

On screens since the early 1970s after serving in the U.S. Air Force and stints as an order cook, boxer, and a lumberjack in Alaska, Ward was known for his versatility in both comic and dramatic roles. He could play author Henry Miller in “Henry & June,” the world’s first Nc-17 movie, or a dirt bike rider in “Timerider: The Aventure of Lyle Swann.” But his first major role came in Clint Eastwood’s 1979 “Escape from Alcatraz...

Very sad news is coming in today for us to pass along as writer and filmmaker John Lafia has reportedly committed suicide at 63 years old. Known to horror fans for co-writing the very first Child's Play movie and directing the fan favorite sequel Child's Play 2, Lafia is credited as the person to coin the name Chucky for the movie's famous killer doll as well as coming up with the famous phrase, "Hi, I'm Chucky, wanna play?" The details of his reported suicide are not clear at this time, though the news was confirmed by Child's Play co-writer Don Mancini in a statement released by Lafia's family.

"We're devastated to hear of the passing of our friend John Lafia. He was a crucial part of the Chucky family from the very beginning," Mancini writes, also crediting the Lafia-helmed Child's Play 2 as the "consensus favorite film" among fans of the franchise.

The first half of the American Idol finale Tuesday drew more than 30 million fans to see last lap of the sing-off between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. The 8 p.m. edition of Idol drew 30.7 million viewers and 11.8 rating/33 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, which amounted to the highest marks ever for the first half of an Idol finale, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. At 9 p.m., Fox was still on fire with the sophomore season finale of House (25.8 million, 10.3/25). Idol's fearsome start left the competition in the dust. CBS was the closest competitor to Fox for the night with its 8-11 p.m. telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards (12 million, 3.5/9). ABC and NBC were pretty well pummeled with their made-for-TV movies. The second half of NBC's 10.5: Apocalypse disaster mini pulled in only about 6 million viewers and 2.3/6 in the key demo from 9-11 p.m.. ABC's three-hour Stephen King's Desperation was only a little better off with 7.5 million viewers and 2.5/7 in adults 18-49.

NEW YORK -- The two-hour Desperate Housewives season finale headlined an otherwise lackluster Sunday of viewing in the last throes of the May sweep. Housewives blew away the competition with an average of 24 million viewers and a 9.8 rating/23 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research. Housewives ran from 9-11 p.m. and grew from 22.7 million viewers and an 8.9/21 in the demo at 9 p.m. to 25 million viewers and a 10.5/25 at 10:30 p.m. Nothing else in the time period came within a country mile. NBC's recut movie 10.5: Apocalypse delivered 8.3 million viewers and a 2.6/6 from 9-11 p.m. (and only 7.2 million and a 1.9/5 in the first hour from 8-9 p.m.). CBS was in repeats from 9-11 p.m., first with CSI: Miami (10.7 million, 2.8/6) and then CSI: NY (11.3 million, 3.3/8). Fox did better in the demographic, with Family Guy averaging 7.9 million viewers and a 3.9/9.

LONDON -- Sky One bulked up its drama lineup Wednesday, announcing a two-year output deal with Hallmark Entertainment covering all TV rights to 15 miniseries including The Poseidon Adventure, Category 7: The End of the World and 10.5: Apocalypse. The deal, brokered by BSkyB head of acquisitions, drama and comedy David Smyth and production and distribution chief Joel Denton, also gives Sky One exclusive first-look rights to upcoming Hallmark fare. In a separate deal, Sky also has licensed the rights to FX Network's upcoming heist drama Thief in a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution. The show will air in 2006.