Entertainment

Sam Neill, ‘Jurassic Park’ actor, dies at 78

Sam Neill died Sunday. He was 78 years old. He was 78.
His family posted on Instagram that “Sam passed away surrounded by his loved ones and with dignity, which has been his hallmark throughout his life.” The loss of Sam was unexpected and sudden, but blessed that he did not have cancer.
Neill revealed in April, that after living with cancer for five years, he had achieved remission thanks to a newly developed cancer treatment. Neill was diagnosed with stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma angioimmunoblastic lymphoma. This is a rare, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After chemotherapy failed, Neill used his remission as an opportunity to spread the word about CAR T cell therapy. This treatment genetically modifies cells in order to combat cancer. In Sydney, Australia, he died.
In 2023, while promoting “Did You Ever Tell Me This?” on his New Zealand Farm, he said to the Guardian that, although he was not afraid of dying, it would be a pain. Because I would really enjoy another decade, or even two. All these terraces have been built, there are olive and cypress trees, and we want to live to see them mature. My lovely grandchildren are also there. The book was written to distract him from his problems. He had never heard about his condition before, but he wrote that “this serious illness is –.”
Neill was a local New Zealander who didn’t like the celebrity glitz. In between postings promoting both his work in entertainment and his winery Two Paddocks on Instagram, he would share pictures of the eggs that he had collected from his ‘chooks’, which is slang used for chickens. He also mused about farm animals – many named after actor friends like Helena Bonham Carter, the cow.
He said, “I have 99 problems and being unhappy isn’t one of them,” in an Instagram video shared by Denizen Magazine last year.
Neill was born in Northern Ireland in 1947 on the kitchen table of his family as the midwife chased away pigs. He emigrated from New Zealand when he was 7. He is a New Zealander born Nigel Neill. However, he told interviewers that he began to use the name Sam as there were so many Nigels in his school. He took on the role of “Sleeping Dogs”, the first New Zealand feature film in over a decade, after college.
In addition to “Plenty”, he also co-starred with Meryl in the film “A Cry in the Dark,” about an Australian dingo that kills a newborn baby. In addition to his work in film, he has also appeared on TV in such shows as “Peaky Blinders”, “The Tudors”, and “Apples Never Fall”. He won an Emmy nomination for the title role of Merlin in NBC’s 1998 miniseries, and narrated 2017’s Wild New Zealand. In 2022, he received a knighthood in New Zealand and was appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991. In 2009 he was offered the title “sir”, but declined it, calling the honour “too great” according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
In a recent post to X, Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand called Neill “one of New Zealand’s greatest cultural exports”. He began his career when the film industry was nil in New Zealand. He took New Zealand’s stories around the globe for more than 50 years and his talent helped to make our film industries what they are today.
Neill achieved his highest fame in 1993, when he played a grumpy but thoughtful paleontologist who was summoned to a cloned island with dinosaurs. The actor co-starred with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum. Grant was able to survive the terrifying events that occurred when the animals at the theme park got loose. However, he did not return in 1997 for “The Lost World: Jurassic Park II”. Grant returned for “Jurassic World: Dominion”, in 2022, and the third episode of 2001.
“People say that they wish Alan Grant could rescue them right now,” Neill said to Forbes when discussing the movie “Dominion.” Neill also called the character “an old, comfortable pair of shoes” and revealed that the cast sang along with Goldblum on the piano during the breaks.
Dern, who played Ellie Sattler in “Jurassic Park”, a botanist with a love-hate relationship with Grant in “Jurassic Park,” referred to Neill’s role in a comment about the death of her lifelong friend: “He demonstrated loyalty, protection, and love with the driest wit.” My dream leading man was wrapped in a gentleman who lived up to his name. “I will love you for ever, Dr. Alan Grant.”
In many tributes, his wry sense of humor and gentlemanly manner were mentioned. Cillian Murphy described him as “one of kindest and most gentle people and also one of the best actors.” Nicole Kidman said that Neill took her as his protégé when she was 18, and they remained friends throughout their lives.
In an Instagram video, Australian comic Magda, after whom Neill had named a goose on his farm in honor of her, revealed that they spoke not long ago, and he seemed “really content with life”.
He was a rare individual. A warm, talented, beautiful and classy human being. A really lovely man. “I’m very sorry for everyone who loved him, and there are many of us,” Szubanksi said. Szubanksi is in remission after a cancer diagnosis.
Colin Trevorrow, director of “Dominion”, said Neill’s calmness, love of wine and the confidence he gave his characters was a strength. You don’t get the chance to meet a legendary person every day.
Neill’s four children and his eight grandchildren survive him.

Entertainment

A friendship worth killing for

Prime Video’s Ride Or Die, created by British multihyphenate Tessa Coates, is the best alternative for a cowardly world that won’t give Hannah Waddingham 007 status. The genre-bending series, created by British actress Tessa Coates stars Waddingham in a role as an assassin woman who is approaching 50 years old and has never experienced anything else. The pairing of this character and Octavia’s best friend looks to be the beginning of another action comedy about two friends who believe they know each other well, until one is forced into revealing that she is an assassin. The team of Coates Waddingham and Spencer produces something much more intriguing.
Ride or Die is a comedy with a twist. The premise of the film, however, is based on the world that Waddingham’s character Judith has built for herself through having Judith’s civilian friend, Debbie, as her bestie. The show does not stop there. It explains why the two women are so similar. Judith’s friendship with Debbie is the only thing that has ever brought her true love. Debbie is in an unbalanced marriage to a useless politician, who cannot even tie his shoe without Debbie. The two main characters are constantly challenging each other, even when they don’t want to be challenged.
The ensemble of Ride Or Die deserves a lot of the credit for its success. The focus of the show initially seems to be on Judith’s and Debbie’s adventures, but as the plot unfolds the two learn that they have many more people in their corner than they thought. Calam Lynch, Ed Skrein and other minor characters are unexpected highlights. They add depth to the archetypes of spy fiction that would otherwise be one-dimensional.

Entertainment

‘Little House On The Prairie’ Adaptation Has Modest Opening On Netflix

Little House on the Prairie has a modest debut after its weekend arrival on Netflix. Netflix’s adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books debuted as the No. The English TV chart for the week ending July 6, with 6.4 millions views, was ranked No. 3.
Little House on the Prairie’s performance in its four-day debut is better than Netflix’s recent original The Boroughs which achieved 5.6M during the same time period. Although it’s not a great start for this anticipated remake of an American classic, the show has plenty of room to grow. It just debuted on July 9th.
I Will Find You by Harlan Coben is a tough competitor for Netflix’s television lineup. I Will Find You has risen to the top of the English TV chart for the fourth week in a row, adding another 11.5M viewers. This puts the series over 85M in less than 30 days. It is a contender to be included on the Top 10 Most Popular English Series List, which previously featured another Harlan Coben adaption, Fool Me Once.
I Will Find You needs 65 days to reach His & Hers 98.2M view counts over the 91 day initial period Netflix sets as its standard for all-time list.
The second place in the TV ranking for this past week went to the show Worst Neighbor Ever, with 8.2M views.
Enola Holmes 3 topped the English-language weekly list with an extra 12M viewers. Shipwrecked Nightmare at Sea debuted at No. Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea launched in the No. 2 position on the list, with 9M views. Voicemails for Isabelle landed the No. 3 spot, with 8.6M views. The third spot is Voicemails for Isabelle, with 8,6M views.

Entertainment

Eminem’s ex-wife, Kim Scott, rushed to hospital 2 months after DUI arrest

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Kim Scott, Eminem’s former wife, fainted at her Michigan residence over the weekend. She was taken to hospital.
According to a Chesterfield Fire/EMS Report obtained by TMZ on Tuesday, the 51-year old suffered from a “hemorrhage” or “laceration” leading to uncontrolled and heavy bleeding at 8 p.m. Saturday local time.
The video released by the publication showed Scott appearing unconscious.
Watch the full video at TMZ
Scott’s current condition has not been disclosed. She was taken to McLaren Macomb Hospital.
Her recent health problems come at a time when she is dealing with legal troubles stemming her arrest for DUI on May 14, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.
A police officer at the time claimed she hit a car parked, noting there were no reported injuries.
Scott was also allegedly staggering and blowing nearly three times legal limits, which resulted in a blood alcohol level of.204%, far above the legal limit for the state, 0.08%.
She also admitted that she had consumed alcohol a few days prior, according to her police report.
According to the publication, Scott was willing to cooperate with police officers when he was arrested.
Scott spent a brief time in Macomb County Jail where, with her pixie cut and mugshot, she was almost unrecognizable.
Page Six reported exclusively that a warrant for Scott’s arrest was issued in June after she did not show up at a DUI hearing.
TMZ reports that the warrants have been dismissed.
Scott previously was married to Eminem, born Marshall Mathers from 1999-2001. In 2006, the exes briefly remarried, but split up after Eminem, who is 53 years old, filed for divorce.
Three of their ex-partners have children: Hailie, Jade (30), Alaina (33), and Stevie (24).
Scott has a son, Parker. She welcomed him after her divorce from “Lose Yourself’s” singer.

Entertainment

Tennessee Is Courting Paramount

The Hollywood Reporter learned that Tennessee has courted David Ellison’s Paramount.
Stuart McWhorter, Deputy Governor of Tennessee and author of a July 2 letter addressed to Ellison, urged him to move the corporate headquarters for Paramount Studios amid the California-Tennessee rift over the $111 billion purchase by Warner Bros. Discovery.
The letter stated that “Our success stems from fiscal discipline, lower taxes, predictable government, and our steadfast belief in the role of government as a partner for private sector growth.” Companies that select Tennessee will find much more than just a friendly business environment. They’ll find an entire state dedicated to their success.
California had already signalled its intention to block the agreement when it sent out an invitation. Paramount had extended an “olive branch” prior to Monday’s filing by promising to make 30 films per annum with a 45 day theatrical window. This offer was rejected.
Ellison’s decision to leave California may not be the best, considering that Paramount moved out of New York in 2012. However, a trusted adviser tells THR “that everything is still on the table.”
The studio would be doing a great disservice to the production levels in California and Los Angeles where they are at historic lows if it reallocated a large chunk of their $30 billion budget to other regions such as New York, New Jersey or the U.K. Matlock, NCIS, and Tracker are among the studio’s productions that shoot in California.
Paramount’s spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of this letter, but had nothing else to say.
Paramount, if it moved, would be joining companies such as FedEx, HCA Healthcare, and Autozone.
McWhorter said, “As Paramount Skydance begins its next chapter in Tennessee, the state offers an attractive proposition. It is a place where technology and creativity converge and talent is nurtured and embraced.” We would be delighted to discuss our ideas on how Tennessee can help Paramount Skydance’s talented team and shape its future.
Ellison’s family has deep roots in Tennessee where he spent 11 years, from 2014 until 2025, living on and off. After Paramount failed in its bid to buy Skydance, Ellison sold his house.
Oracle’s plans to construct a huge campus in Nashville, headed by Ellison’s father, are also a major factor. Clay Magouyrk, the co-CEO of Oracle, also lives in Tennessee.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s move to Tennessee will be a welcome return to Tennessee. It used to have a huge office complex in Knoxville that was derived from the Scripps Network 2017 deal. The property was sold in 2023.
A coalition of twelve state attorneys general, led by California, sued Paramount on Monday to prevent its $111-billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Entertainment

Prince Harry, 41, Breaks Silence on His Rapidly Balding Head

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Prince Harry, age 41, breaks his silence on his rapidly balding head
The Duke also refused to accept his label “ginger”.
Male-pattern hair loss can affect even members of royalty.
Prince Harry (41), appeared in a podcast episode on July 13, where he discussed his thoughts unfiltered on hair loss. Jake Bhardwaj and Joe Marler were the co-hosts.
Joe Marler is a former English professional rugby player who hosts Joe Marler will See You Now along with co-host and comedian Jake Bhardwaj.
This episode started with an “intake questionaire,” which was structured as an interrogation with direct, concise questions.
Marler, 36, a retired English rugby star, was asked by Prince Harry to answer his first question in rapid fire: “What is your hair-care routine?”
The Duke of Sussex asked, “Are you talking …”?” He pointed to his head before pointing at his trousers.
Bhardwaj clarified that the question was about both “upstairs” and “downstairs”.
Harry gestured to his goatee, adding “and middle stairs.”
Harry explained, “I trim it every five or six days to keep it neat.”
He said, “Nothing is really happening at the top.” Otherwise, I don’t look.
The Duke of Sussex used to be known for his red curly hair, which was full and striking. However, his hair has lost its volume, at least in the top part, while the length of the neckline is getting thicker.
Prince William is still a step ahead of him.
The 44-year old Prince of Wales once had a head full of sandy blonde hair. William, now in his 40s, is nearly bald.
Marler then asked Harry: “What is the most common misconception about you?”
The royal replied, “I’m sure I am not ginger.”
“Hang on, hang on,” Merler pressed. People get it wrong?
Harry replied, “Yeah.” People think I am ginger but in reality I look more like sunset auburn.
Harry, who was deadpan, said, “I’m not sure why this is funny.” As Jake and the camera crew laughed, Harry said, “I’m not really sure what’s so funny about it.”
He said, “Unless, you want to call me ‘ginge’, you know I was bullied at school a lot, called carrot-top.”
Harry has passed on his “sunset auburn” hair to both of his children: Princess Lilibet (5 years old) and Prince Archie (7 years old).
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s wife of 8 years and a regular on the social media scene, regularly highlights Lilibet. Although the faces of both children are typically obscured, they are frequently visible in their sunset-auburn hair.
Harry has in the past attributed his hair color to Princess Diana, his mother who died.
In a 2023 edition of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert said: “I really thought that at the start of our relationship I would never be able to have children if this went the distance. The ginger gene wouldn’t stand up against my wife’s genetics.” But I was wrong.
Harry was surprised to learn that the genes of his mother outweighed those of his wife. He added: “The Spencer gene, or ginger gene, is extremely strong.”
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