50 hottest man of hollywood 2013

The Hollywood Reporter Relaunches Back-Issue Store

The Hollywood Reporter has relaunched shop.hollywoodreporter.com, a one-click way to buy issues of the magazine dating back to its 2010 relaunch as a weekly publication.

The site, which also allows users to subscribe as well as purchase two editions of the Hollywood Creative Directory, features an easy-to-use search function.

The issue of THR that's currently on newsstands is available to purchase for $5.99. Older issues and collector's issues cost $10.99.

The site launched Tuesday.

Dwight Howard Leaves L.A. Lakers: Hollywood Reacts

Despite a Lakers billboard campaign encouraging Dwight Howard to stay with the franchise, the center has chosen the Houston Rockets as his next destination, USA Today first reported.

Howard confirmed the news Friday evening, tweeting:

"I've decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets. I feel its the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I'm looking forward to a great season. I want to thank the fans in Los Angeles and wish them the best."

Chalk it up as a win for Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who reportedly made the first pitch to Howard after free agency began on July 1 and even enlisted Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons to make a video selling the team to the all-star center on Friday.

VIDEO: Jim Parsons Enlisted by Houston Rockets to Pitch Dwight Howard

USA Today reports Howard will earn $88 million for four seasons. Late Friday, Howard changed his Twitter avatar to one of him wearing a Rockets uniform. In the hours before the official announcement, conflicting reports emerged, with some saying Howard was fully committed to the Rockets, while others -- including ESPN -- cited a source saying the player was "50-50" on whether he would stay with the Lakers or go to Houston.

"We have been informed of Dwight's decision to not return to the Lakers. Naturally we're disappointed," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. "However, we will now move forward in a different direction with the future of the franchise and, as always, will do our best to build the best team possible, one our great Lakers fans will be proud to support. To Dwight, we thank him for his time and consideration, and for his efforts with us last season. We wish him the best of luck on the remainder of his NBA career."

Lakers star Kobe Bryant responded to the announcement by posting a photo of himself and teammate Pau Gasol on Instagram, along with the words "#vamos #juntos #lakercorazon #vino."

Howard had a tumultuous run in Los Angeles, with the Lakers struggling over the course of the season, eventually sneaking into the playoffs as the seventh seed only to be swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

George Lucas' Wedding Party: Hollywood Heads to Chicago

George Lucas and new bride Mellody Hobson, who officially tied the knot on June 22 at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, Calif., brought Hollywood to the Windy City on Friday to celebrate their nuptials.

Hollywood guests are expected to descend upon Hobson’s hometown of Chicago for the festivities, which will find the city’s lakeside Promontory Point closed to the public on Saturday. Asked if he's going to the wedding, producer Sid Ganis, former senior VP of Lucasfilm, tells THR, "'THE wedding?' Think of what you just said -- there are about four billion weddings in June, and you're asking if I'm going to 'THE wedding.' Yes! We worked together for seven years, and we're kind of still working together."

"He's a good old guy," Ganis says. "I'm happy that he's getting married, this kind of wandering guy, who, you know, has been in and out of relationships ever since he split with his wife Marcia." Mr. Lucas divorced Marcia Lucas, an Oscar-winning editor of Star Wars, in 1983. "And here he is, happy. I'm amazed at how great they are together and how cool she is. I have never seen him so happy. I know he's got a lot of money now, but even beyond that, he's a happy person." Ganis says he hasn't prepared his toast yet. "No. Please! No pressure."

PHOTOS: When You Wish Upon a Death Star: The Surprising Symmetry of 'Star Wars' and Disney

According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, the reception is being overseen by New York party planner Van Wyck & Van Wyck, who has previously organized soirees for the likes of Sean Combs, Alicia Keys, Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama. Guests staying at the Chicago Peninsula Hotel found a gift bag awaiting them filled with some of the couple's "favorite local flavors" -- chocolate cookies from Carol's Cookies, popcorn from Garrett Popcorn, Marshall Field's Original Frango Mints — and Skywalker Ranch hats, T-shirts and a tote.

The Tribune report also criticizes the “circus” surrounding the event, pointing to the Promontory Point tunnel’s fresh paint job (a favor for Hobson?) and the park's field-house bathrooms being closed to the public, which runs afoul of established park district policy.

At the center of Promontory Point, a huge tent has already been erected along with a stage, which is set for a two-hour performance by Prince (who was recently invited to join the film Academy) and his 22-piece band on Saturday evening.

Last weekend, Bill Moyers officiated a ceremony for the new Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, while Ron Howard, Oprah Winfrey, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg looked on. The couple announced their engagement in January.

Follow me on Twitter @sajilpl

Supreme Court's Gay Marriage Decisions: Hollywood Reacts

The Supreme Court today declared that a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts federal benefits for gay couples, is unconstitutional. Entertainment industry insiders, including openly gay celebrities, spoke out to The Hollywood Reporter about today's big decision.

The following are some of their reactions:

Glee, American Horror Story and The New Normal creator Ryan Murphy:

"Today is a historic day made all the more meaningful by the fact that my marriage to my husband, David, will now not only be recognized by my home state of California, but federally as well, as it always should have been. Many have suggested that Hollywood, and particularly television, has helped move the country forward on the issue of marriage equality. If that is true, and my work played even a small part in that, I am humbled and reminded of the power of entertainment to enlighten as well as entertain."

Singer and Broadway composer   Cyndi Lauper:

"History has been made today and justice has prevailed. To all of you who have been waiting on the sidelines for years, for lifetimes, it's a huge day. I am so, so happy for you.

"The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of loving and committed gay couples, and the so-called Defense of Marriage Act has been ruled unconstitutional. Not only that, but California's Proposition 8 was struck down, restoring marriage equality to the state of California.

"Both of these decisions not only impact the lives of gay couples, but of gay and transgender youth who struggle to find acceptance from their family and friends. Every step closer we get to equality ensures that these kids have the futures that they deserve and are entitled to.

"Thank you so much to the inspiring plaintiffs, attorneys and everyone across the country who have worked so hard for so many years. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we keep working for full equality for all and to bring the freedom to marry for gay couples to the 37 states that still remain."

Rocker Melissa Etheridge:

"'Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the general progress of the human mind.' -- Thomas Jefferson

"Let's hear it for the general progress of the human mind. With a beautiful sweep of sweet justice's blind hand we move forward. We correct the laws made hastily out of fear.

"I look forward to exercising my American civil liberties and getting fully, completely and legally married this year to my true love of over three years, Linda Wallem.

"Once again our constitution stands strong. All men, and women, and everything in between are created equal."

Oscar-winning Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black:

"We stand on the shoulders of so many who gave their hearts, their stories, their names and their lives to see this day realized. I'll be celebrating them tonight … but tomorrow it's back to work to ensure our promise of full federal equality applies to all Americans regardless of what state they live in."

Hollywood power lawyer Steve Warren:

"Today was so rewarding from so many standpoints," says Warren, who says he couldn't sleep last night and was up at 5 a.m. awaiting the decision. "Even though it didn't go the full way, it wound up going so far. It's such an embracing decision, that gay people are equal people. It's just a great day. I've been getting calls all morning from people in the industry. My speech has had more impact than I would have ever expected. When I saw the decision, I got chills and had tears coming down from my face. It was like, 'Holy cow, things have changed.' I know the four plaintiffs. I'm texting them this morning. These are the Rosa Parks. These are the people who go down in history."

My So-Called Life star Wilson Cruz: 

"At long last, the legal marriages of countless gay and lesbian couples will be afforded the same federal recognition and protections as any other. Today is a cornerstone for justice and equality -- when our nation once again moved closer to recognizing and celebrating all LGBT Americans for their contributions to our great country.

"The Court also denied standing in Hollingsworth v. Perry, which challenged the constitutionality of California's anti-gay Proposition 8, or Prop. 8, a statewide ban on marriage equality. The decision will restore marriage equality in California.

"A majority of Americans, and now the highest court in the land, agree that it's wrong to strip loving and committed gay and lesbian couples of the fundamental opportunity to marry the person you love. Today, we stand in solidarity with millions of Californians, who can finally say 'I do' to the person they love."

Pop icon   Madonna:

"What a way to start my day!! I'm wearing a smile from ear to ear. There is a G-D! Justice is served. Hallelujah !!"

Scandal star Guillermo Diaz

"Finally! Everything is as it should be. Today has been an enormous victory for marriage equality. When you have to fight for something it makes you cherish it all that much more."

Bravo exec and Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen:

"I'm just thrilled. I never thought that I would see this day, really, and it's just a huge victory. I'm a little speechless because it came from the highest court, and it's huge."

Precious director Lee Daniels:

"It's a sad day for the gay men who are trying to save their money. But in all seriousness, this day is as important as the day African-Americans were given the right to vote. I'm proud to be an American."

Rock of Ages director Adam Shankman:

"I never thought in my lifetime I would see anything like this happen. I had settled into subconsciously believing that I would always be viewed as separate and unequal. I have never felt so grateful, and so happy. I look forward to the rest of my married life with my fiancé, and soon to be husband, Frank Meli."

Chef Cat Cora:

"My wife and I are overjoyed with emotion and tears of gratitude that this day has finally arrived. Not only will we and our children be treated as equals in this great country, but all gays and lesbians will be rightfully treated with equality as Americans. Our highest court has determined that we are all constitutionally equal, but more importantly, that we are all part of humanity and should be treated with love, respect, and compassion."

Outfest Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer:

"Last summer, I met [DOMA plaintiff] Edie [Windsor] in person at NewFest [the New York City LGBT film festival] when she was honored with the NewFest Achievement Award. But, I first "met" Edie in the award-winning documentary Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement (the Outfest 2009 Audience Award winner directed by Greta Olafsdottie and Sunsan Muska), a film that chronicles the wedding of Edie and Thea after 42 years of a magnificent love. I was struck by two things in Edie's acceptance speech at NewFest. First, she talked about the courage that the documentary gave her to take her case to the Supreme Court and second, that the documentary was used as evidence in her case to support her life-long love and commitment to Thea. Overturning DOMA is a testament not only to the courage of one woman, but also to the power to change people, change culture and change the law through story and moving image.

MSNBC Live host Thomas Roberts:

"I feel my marriage has the equal respect it always deserved and I feel validated by my country. Most of all, I am extremely proud.

"It was epic! It was a moment in American history I was literally born to cover. My mom called me right after the show to say how proud she was and I was 'perfect.' I spoke to my husband a short time later and he said it best: 'Great show!' When you organically have President Obama end up in your hour with reaction to a SCOTUS ruling in favor of LGBT equality -- it is a great show!"

Follow me on Twitter @sajilpl

Same-Sex Marriage Law Could Mean Wedding Bells for Straight Hollywood Couples

Wedding bells may be ringing for more than just gay Hollywood in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Prop 8, legalizing same-sex marriage in the state of California.

Kristen Bell marked the occasion by asking her fiancé (and father of her baby girl) Dax Shepard to finally tie the knot after four years of betrothal.

STORY: Supreme Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban: Hollywood Reacts

"@daxshepard1 will you marry me? Xo," wrote Bell, to which her future husband replied, "F--- yes!!!"

See, Bell and Shepard said that they wouldn't make their union official until their gay friends could do the same.

"Once it's official and everybody stops appealing it the minute before it passes, we'll get married," the House of Lies star said on Larry King Now in August 2012.

But the future Mr. and Mrs. Shepard are hardly alone. They join several other straight Hollywood couples -- and singles -- who have made similar pacts.

In 2006, longtime partners Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie made clear that they would not tie the knot until all couples could, with the actor telling Esquire that "Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able." And while Pitt did put a ring on it in 2012, the duo has yet to make it down the aisle.

Q&A: What the Supreme Court's Prop 8 Ruling Means for California

Sarah Silverman made her stance known via Twitter back in 2010, slamming those straight couples who wed prior to marriage equality.

"Just a suggestion: Boycott marriage until it's legal 4 everyone," she wrote. "If u marry in this climate u are against equal rights."

Charlize Theron has said that she opposes the institution of marriage as a whole, but expressed disdain for the government dictating that decision for others.

"It's a divine right, and when government starts to tell us who can love and what is good love… I do have a problem with that," she told Piers Morgan in 2011. "I do have a problem with the fact that our government hasn't stepped up enough to make this federal, to make [gay marriage] legal."

Jason Mraz popped the question to Tristan Prettyman in 2010, but told Us Weekly that they weren't quite ready to follow through.

"The wedding would be nice for our family, our friends, our community -- our moms especially -- and so it puts us in the fight. We can't get married until [gay] marriage is legal and equal… I think giving people the right to marry will be a huge movement in civil rights," he said. However, the duo has since called off their engagement.

But not every star in favor of marriage-for-all has stuck to their guns. Natalie Portman, Howard Stern and Jodie Sweetin have all, at one time or another, said they'd swear off the nuptials until same-sex couples had the same rights.

Their statuses: Married, married and separated (from her third husband), respectively.

Follow me on Twitter @sajilpl

Beyond 'The Hobbit': Why Hollywood is Staying in New Zealand

Special effects for the upcoming "Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" were once again handled by Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital, in Wellington.This story first appeared in the July 19 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

When Peter Jackson unveiled the first installment of his The Lord of the Rings franchise in 2001, the question at the time was whether the director's native New Zealand could maintain the momentum of LOTR and continue to lure big-budget shoots. Twelve years later, Hollywood's Kiwi love affair shows no signs of slowing. Four reasons why:

1. IT'S MORE THAN JUST MIDDLE-EARTH

If being home to LOTR was the mantra of the first decade of the 21st century, now projects like Jane Campion's moody mystery Top of the Lake are moving in, delving deep into places like Lake Wakatipu, which is surrounded by foreboding mountains. Says Lake co-star David Wenham: "Jane wrote scenes with specific locations in mind. Even though it's extremely beautiful, it's ominous as well. I'm slightly claustrophobic, and I wanted to escape. In this series, this environment does enclose."

PHOTOS: The Hard Road to 'The Hobbit'

2. THE CAN-DO KIWI SPIRIT

New Zealanders are famous for a "nothing is a problem" view of life. "When you work in America and a bit in England, there's an awful lot of people going, 'Oh that's not my department, I can't do that,' " says director Peter Webber, who spent more than a year making the Tommy Lee Jones starrer Emperor in Auckland and Wellington. "I didn't find any of that here at all. The lack of hierarchy is very down-to-earth."

3. CAMERON LOVES THE PEACE AND QUIET

He may have reached the depths of the ocean floor this year, but James Cameron has his feet firmly planted in New Zealand. He spent 2011 and 2012 purchasing farmland just north of Wellington, which he calls his own Pandora. The committed vegan wants to establish a sustainable, organic farm where he can also write his Avatar sequels. "I'm actually over here writing because I need some peace and quiet," he said at the premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey last year. "Unfortunately, it's distracting because it's so beautiful."

4. THERE'S WINE!

A benefit of all the shooting in NZ: Actor Sam Neill and director Roger Donaldson have pioneered the local entertainment industry's move into winemaking. The New Zealand residents set up the Two Paddocks label in Central Otago, initially to produce a wine for family and friends. Says Neill: "We started in 1993 with modest ambitions. Central Otago is not only my favorite corner of the world, we now know it has the right climate and soils to produce world-class pinot noirs."

 

Hollywood Reacts to Blackhawks' Dramatic Stanley Cup Win

The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup Monday night, beating the Boston Bruins 3-2, after scoring two goals in 17 seconds at the end of Game 6.

It was an exciting end to the NHL championship and Hollywood's hockey fans took notice.

Here's a sampling of what celebs were tweeting after the big game:

HAWKS WIN! Holy shit, what a dramatic finish! Hats off to an awesome @NHLBruins team but the @NHLBlackhawks get to raise Lord Stanley's Cup!

— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) June 25, 2013

Did you hear what happened after the #Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last night!! Here's the story!! .http://t.co/67pyn8aCHI

— Colin Quinn (@iamcolinquinn) June 25, 2013

S/O to Rocky and @DannyWirtz on the Stanley Cup Go BLACKHAWKS!! pic.twitter.com/4YhF08ZcIF

— Diddy (@iamdiddy) June 25, 2013

AAHH, what a finish for the Blackhawks. Congrats! Didn’t they show great heart in that comeback effort? Great series.

— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) June 25, 2013

No gloating but yay Blackhawks. That was a crazy fun game.

— Patrick Stump (@PatrickStump) June 25, 2013

Congrats to 88pkane and the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup #WhatAFeeling #NothingLikeIt http://t.co/BhnU75LcsA

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 25, 2013

Now that's one dramatic comeback! I still can't believe it. Congrats to #Blackhawks for bringing the Cup back to Chicago.

— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) June 25, 2013

CHICAGO BABY!!! #BLACKHAWKS #UNBELIEVABLE

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) June 25, 2013

Another championship for Chicago! Congrats BlackHawks 2013 Stanley Cup champs!

— COMMON (@common) June 25, 2013

One for the ages. One of the most stunning turnarounds in any potential clinch game in sports history. #Blackhawks

— Richard Roeper (@richardroeper) June 25, 2013

Congratulations to the Champion Chicago Blackhawks for the amazing comeback in a matter of less than 2 minutes!!!!

— Michael Strahan (@michaelstrahan) June 25, 2013

 

Hollywood Scoffs at Google Box Office Prediction Tool

This story first appeared in the June 21 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

Movie marketers increasingly have grown nervous in the past few weeks. Tracking -- the prerelease surveys of audience interest in movies -- has failed to predict the disappointing opening of After Earth or the surprisingly strong bows of Now You See Me and The Purge.

Amid all the anxiety, Google jumped into the breach June 6, claiming that by measuring search volume and other factors such as franchise status and the time of year, it can predict a movie's opening weekend. "In the seven-day window prior to a film's release date, if a film receives 250,000 search queries more than a similar film, the film with more queries is likely to perform up to $4.3 million better during opening weekend," wrote Andrea Chen, Google's principal industry analyst. "When looking at search ad click volume, if a film has 20,000 more paid clicks than a similar film, it is expected to bring in up to $7.5 million more during opening weekend."

PHOTOS: Hollywood Dynasties: Top 14 Movies Featuring Stars and Their Kids

So far, Hollywood isn't floored by that revelation. "It's kind of a big duh," says one studio marketing exec. "Still, given the scale of all the data points available to Google, we have to pay attention to whatever they can show us."

While Google refuses to offer dollar predictions for specific films, it claims it can make predictions with 92 percent accuracy. It further reported that four weeks before a movie opens -- before the main ad buys kick in -- measuring searches for a film's trailer can result in a box-office prediction that is 94 percent accurate.

Google doesn't plan, however, to start charging studios for such information the way other tracking services such as NGR and MarketCast do. "We're going to offer this as a courtesy to our clients," says Reggie Panaligan, Google's senior analytic lead. That doesn't mean that if a film is underperforming, Google will use its findings to encourage clients to buy more search ads. "We are not suggesting causation," he adds. "You can't really buy search query volume. That's organic; it comes from things like trailers, billboards. If a studio is unhappy about what we are predicting, we won't say search is the missing element."

Still, other competitors are asking, where's the beef? "Tell us how a movie is going to perform," says Ben Carlson, president of Fizziology, which measures chatter on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to offer its own predictions. "I may be a bit of a purist, but I'd prefer that my advertising and my research not have a direct relationship."

Twitter: @sajilpl

NBA Showdown: Why Hollywood Is Thrilled There's a Game 7

Brad Pitt's zombie epic World War Z begins rolling out in theaters at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 20 -- in the midst of the NBA showdown between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.

So why is Paramount rejoicing, instead of being consumed with worry over people refusing to leave the vicinity of a television in order to hit the multiplex?

PHOTOS: 'Night of the Living Dead' to 'World War Z': The Evolution of Zombie Films

Studio insiders were actually hoping there would be a Game 7, which caps one of the most dramatic tournament championships in NBA history, with each team scoring an alternate win. Thursday's game is guaranteed to deliver millions of eyeballs for two Paramount World War Z television spots, particularly among the male set.

Tuesday's Game 6, in which the Miami Heat -- and its star player, LeBron James -- staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to grab a 103-100 overtime win, drew an average of 20.6 million viewers and earned an 8.5 rating in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic.

Paramount even held back advertising that World War Z is opening Thursday at 8 p.m. -- the new midnight -- in anticipation that the NBA Finals could be drawn out. The studio co-financed the $190 million tentpole with Skydance Productions.

PHOTOS: 'Monsters University' Premiere: A Frightening Good Time

Paramount isn't the only studio taking advantage of the game. Disney and Pixar also will air sports for Monsters University, which likewise opens this weekend. And there's sure to be spots from upcoming tentpoles such as Pacific Rim, White House Down and The Lone Ranger.

Twitter: @sajilpl

Celebrity Wife Swap: Bristol Palin Bonds With Joan Rivers, Lives Melissa Rivers' Hollywood Life

Melissa Rivers and Bristol Palin switched lives in the season premiere of Celebrity Wife Swap. Credit: ABC/Rick Rowell; ABC/Matt Hage

Bristol Palin was very much a fish out of water during the season premiere of Celebrity Wife Swap on Sunday, June 23. The single mother -- to son Tripp, 4 -- left her humble Wasilla, Alaskan abode for a more upscale, fast-paced lifestyle in Hollywood when she swapped lives with red carpet veteran Melissa Rivers.

Since both Bristol and Melissa are single mothers (divorced from John Endicott, Melissa is raising 12-year-old son Cooper by herself), Willow Palin (Bristol's 18-year-old sister) and Joan Rivers (Melissa's 80-year-old mom) subbed in as the respective households' caregiver.

PHOTOS: Bristol on DWTS

Both women had quite an adjustment to make -- the Rivers' lavish Tinseltown lifestyle was a far cry from Bristol's more conservative, simple small-town life.

Ultimately, however, the exchange wasn't quite as explosive as viewers might have imagined, though there were definitely some unexpectedly emotional moments.

At the final roundtable at the end of the episode, Rivers matriarch Joan teared up as she admitted that she'd wrongly pre-judged Bristol because of her political beliefs.

PHOTOS: President Obama's A-list pals

"I learned nobody should judge anybody from where they come, or who they're related to, good or bad," she said, wiping away tears as she addressed Bristol. "You are your own person. And … I adore you. I just think you're great. I just had the best time with you. I think you're terrific."

The feelings were mutual. In an interview with Fox News prior to the season premiere, Bristol admitted that she, too, learned a lot from the notoriously outspoken comedienne and Fashion Police host.

"I think Joan is just awesome," she said. "I think at the end of the day, her family is the most important thing to her, just like with me -- my family is the most important thing to me."

PHOTOS: When exes attack

While the legendary comic was forging bonds with 22-year-old Bristol, her daughter Melissa, 45, was busy trying to rein in Bristol's son.

And, ultimately, Melissa was able to give Bristol some valuable parenting advice. "She's a single mom to a boy as well, so there were some good things that she got to tell me -- some secrets on how to discipline and hoe to raise a boy by yourself," Bristol told Fox News.

PHOTOS: A look back at Bristol and Levi

Bristol and her former flame (and Tripp's father) Levi Johnston had a huge falling out when they broke up in 2010. He has since Sunny Oglesby, the mother of his second child.

"I think that no matter what type of background you have, you are trying to raise a boy, you know?" she continued. "There's a lot of things that you can have in common."

 

Murder Suspect in Hollywood Stabbing Had Lengthy Arrest Record

The man accused of stabbing a woman to death near Hollywood and Highland had a lengthy criminal record and a history of mental illness.                                 

Dustin James Kinnear, a homeless man known as an aggressive panhandler on Hollywood Boulevard, was arrested at least 46 times during the past eight years, The Los Angeles Times reports.

His rap sheet includes seven arrests for assault with a deadly weapon. He has been in and out of mental health treatment facilities since he was five and had lived on the streets of Hollywood since 2008, according to his mother. He left his native Tucson, Ariz., after he received a court order to undergo mental health treatment.

“I always knew I would get a call about him being dead or doing something awful,” April Pena, his mother and a Tucson police detective, told The Times. “Our family is beside itself. We are really sick because we know he’s taken a life. We think of him as the young person we once knew. But I’ve called the police on him many times.”

On June 18, Kinnear and another homeless man were together near the Hollywood & Highland  entertainment complex and were approached by Christine Calderon, 23, and a co-worker. She used her cell phone to take a picture of the men, who were with a sign reading "F--- You. Give me a dollar please” with a smiley face. When one of the men asked her to pay $1 for taking the picture, she refused.

Two men then allegedly held Calderon’s co-worker against a wall while Kinnear allegedly stabbed her. He has since plead not guilty to murder. LAist posted a picture of the suspect allegedly taken before the fatal incident.

Police officials and local prosecutors told The Times they had sought the maximum penalties for Kinnear’s previous crimes, though some said his case shows that offenders with mental health issues often fall through the cracks.

Kinnear’s other arrests include a November 2010 charge for attacking a Subway restaurant security guard with a broomstick and threatening to kill him. He plead guilty to assault with a great bodily injury and was incarcerated for several months before being released on probation. He broke his probation several weeks later for misdemeanor charges including public defecation and failing to appear in court.

He went on to be charged for allegedly using brass knuckles and a knife to assault his girlfriend, and in a separate incident for allegedly assaulting another homeless person. Both cases were dropped because the victims did not show up to court.

In 2011, his public defender Marya Shahriary explained to a judge: “We have a young man who is bipolar, paranoid schizophrenic and epileptic. Before this problem, he was described taking clonopin and dilantin,”

Before the murder, filmmaker Chadwick Davis interviewed the suspect as part of a documentary about the homeless. In the video (seen below) Kinnear says, “Hollywood is a full of nothing but a trendy bunch of [expletive deleted] stuck-up yuppies. That’s it, that’s all they are.”

In an interview with CBS Los Angeles, Davis said the men clearly did not want to be homeless.

“They all could have been on their last string of hope, of life, of desperation.”

 

Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise Celebrate Jerry Bruckheimer's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

From left: Johnny Depp, Jerry Bruckheimer and Tom Cruise

Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise were the epitome of Hollywood celebrity in their matching aviators and open-collar button-downs at Monday's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring Jerry Bruckheimer.

The duo came out to support the producer, whose credits include Depp's upcoming The Lone Ranger (opens July 3) and Pirates of the Caribbean films and Cruise's Top Gun, among numerous other movies.

PHOTOS: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Through the Years

"Without Jerry, there would be no Pirates, there would be no Captain Jack," Depp said during the ceremony, as quoted by KABC-TV Los Angeles. "Without Jerry, there would be no Lone Ranger, there would be no reinvigorated Tonto. So I have a lot to thank him for. The man is a legend to me, a legend to us all, hence this congregation to celebrate him for his long-deserved star on the Walk of Fame."

Depp plays Tonto in Lone Ranger, which also stars Armie Hammer in the title role as well as Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson andHelena Bonham Carter. Gore Verbinski directed the movie from Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

PHOTOS: 'The Lone Ranger' Character Posters Send Johnny Depp to Wild West

Bruckheimer received the 2,501st star on the Walk of Fame. His credits also include Beverly Hills Cop, Bad Boys, The Rock, Con Air, Enemy of the State andNational Treasure.
On the TV side, his credits include CBS' CSI franchise and The Amazing Race.

 

Gary David Goldberg's Death: Hollywood Mourns 'Family Ties' Creator

TV industry insiders are taking to Twitter to mourn the death of Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg, who passed away Sunday at 68.

Goldberg died from brain cancer at his home in Montecito, Calif.

Goldberg re-teamed with Michael J. Fox on Spin City and co-created the critically acclaimed Brooklyn Bridge. He also wrote and directed Dad, starring Jack Lemmon, and the Diane Lane-John Cusack romantic comedy Must Love Dogs.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2013

The Brooklyn native also wrote episodes of The Bob Newhart Show and M*A*S*H in an illustrious career in which he collected seven Emmy nominations and two wins.

Goldberg's series credits famously ended with a photo of his beloved black Labrador retriever in front of the Louvre in Paris and Goldberg saying, “Sit, Ubu, sit! Good dog,” followed by a bark.

Among those paying tribute:

Everyone has a mentor (or two hopefully) that touches his/her life. Gary Goldberg passed away today. Wish I had thanked him more.

— Bill Lawrence (@VDOOZER) June 24, 2013

Lawrence was recruited by Goldberg to create Spin City.

RIP Gary David Goldberg. One of the greats in this business and in this world.

— Steve Levitan (@SteveLevitan) June 24, 2013

We have lost one of the greats, GARY DAVID GOLDBERG, gifted writer, dad, husband, family man and friend. We will miss his stories. R.I.P

— Frank Marshall (@LeDoctor) June 24, 2013

RIP Gary David Goldberg. The Keatons and the rest of us shed a tear. http://t.co/in0IAKqCoR

— Larry Salz (@larrysalz) June 24, 2013

"Family Ties" creator and "Spin City" co-creator Gary David Goldberg passed away yesterday. He will be missed. #RIP

— hulu (@hulu) June 24, 2013

RIP Gary David Goldberg. On Spin City he and @VDOOZER treated me amazingly and made me part of the family. Great, funny man.

— Mike Royce (@MikeRoyce) June 24, 2013

In Hallmark movies, 7 year old girls write Santa asking for future boyfriends. I wrote a letter at 7 to Gary David Goldberg asking for work.

— Jen Kirkman (@JenKirkman) December 25, 2012

Gary David Goldberg was a great man. I interned at "Spin City" in college. His generosity was legendary. Prayers to his family and friends.

— Mark Malkoff (@mmalkoff) June 24, 2013

 

Inside Audi's Push to Take Over Hollywood

Look to the Iron Man 3 premiere outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood in April. There's Robert Downey Jr. pulling up in a 2014 R8 Spyder he drove himself. Over there, it's Gwyneth Paltrow arriving in an A8L TDI clean diesel as are castmates Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce. There's Ben Kingsley pulling up in a A8L, Hayley Atwell arriving in a Q7 TDI and Chris Evans, Jon Favreau and Zachary Levi all in A8Ls. Audi had more than 40 chauffeur-driven cars on hand at the premiere, all part of its plan to take over Hollywood, or at least its driveways.

PHOTOS: How Audi Took Over Hollywood

Look at the parking queue for any recent high-profile Hollywood event -- the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar viewing party, the Women in Film pre-Emmys and Oscars receptions, the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball, an Art of Elysium Golden Globes event, the Motion Picture & TV Fund's Reel Stories, Real Lives fund­raiser and the brand's own Golden Globes and Emmy preparties -- and you'll see an armada of Audi sedans and SUVs, drivers idling, waiting to whisk away Diane Keaton, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Chastain, Michael Sheen, Joel McHale, Keira Knightley, Damian Lewis, Dustin Lance Black, Josh Lucas and Brian Grazer.

Audi has waged a full-frontal attack on the hearts, minds and wallets of Hollywood since 2006, displacing BMW and Mercedes-Benz as the Hollywood car du jour with a savvy combination of sponsorships, product placements and an expensive-to-maintain fleet of 35 VIP and 30 chauffeur-driven vehicles in Los Angeles and New York that, according to Audi, directly increase sales. "The entertainment community influences audiences around the world," says Audi of America president Scott Keogh via e-mail. "You can feel it when you speak to customers and dealers. They cite movies, TV shows and events that we have been involved with. It puts Audi in the conversation."

Audi's understated, form-follows-function designs also sync perfectly with Hollywood's post-recession aversion to unvarnished bling. "I wanted something that wasn't gaudy but comfortable and elegant," says Mauricio Umansky, CEO of high-end real estate firm The Agency. Adds Elektra Records president Jeff Castelaz, who drives an S5: "Audi has done an incredible job building rocket-fast cars that don't look ostentatious or lame. A friend who plays guitar in an arena rock band drives an A7. It looks tame, but when you get inside the car, it's like the cockpit of the space shuttle. But he can park it in Silver Lake and not look like the punch line of a joke on Entourage." Says Criminal Minds actor Shemar Moore, "When Iron Man came out and I saw the R8, I lost my mind. I said if and when CBS gives me a raise, I'm going to get one." Moore turned 40 and gave himself the car as a birthday present.

Other car companies reach out to the industry -- BMW, Ford and GM among them -- but Audi has been relentless. A beachhead was established during the 2009 awards season when Audi launched its first "influencer" program, designed to get Hollywood engaged with the brand and behind the wheel. Audi put in place an armada of 90 white Q7 TDI diesel SUVs to roam the streets of Los Angeles and New York and hosted a series of dinners and events in L.A., NYC and Aspen, where the chauffeur-driven vehicles ferried McHale, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Bloom, Lyor Cohen, Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg and Zac Efron.

PHOTOS: Behind the Wheels of Hollywood's Favorite Cars

Audi also created a loan program with the goal of reaching industry executives and celebrities. An industry source says some loans lasted a year or more. "They threw cars at pretty much anybody they deemed influential, oftentimes asking nothing explicit in return. They knew they needed to get people in their cars, people who hadn't driven an Audi. It was a really smart move. It was effective. People would walk away going, 'Oh my gosh. That is a really nice car.' "

Says Michael Patrick, Audi's manager of media and entertainment: "We look at a lot of different metrics and see a direct increase in sales from the loaner program by turning that dialogue into a test drive and that turning into a sale. It's also a great way to build word-of-mouth."

The push in Hollywood seems to be working. According to Loren Angelo, director of marketing at Audi of America, the brand went from selling 80,000 vehicles in 2008 to 139,000 last year and just completed its 28th consecutive month of sales increases. Through May, Audi sales in L.A. year-to-date stood at 5,205, up 20 percent from 2012.

Audi's Hollywood assault -- which no other automaker comes close to replicating in terms of size or commitment -- comes at a price. Audi often partly underwrites the cost of the events that showcase it cars. A leading Hollywood events planner says the pre-Golden Globes party thrown by and paid for by Audi each year at Cecconi's can cost upward of $200,000. (Audi also has sponsored events for The Hollywood Reporter.) According to the same events planner, Audi spends an estimated minimum of nearly $3 million a year on sponsorship fees: $150,000 for the AFI Film Fest, $75,000 on BAFTA tea events during Globe and Emmy weekends, $200,000 for John's Oscar party and about $25,000 for a Geffen Playhouse season sponsorship, to name a few. (Asked to comment, Patrick replied, "Audi does not disclose any financial figures for our national or regional programs.")

STORY: Bentley vs. Rolls Royce: Two New Super-Luxury Cars Tempt Hollywood

Audi has been just as aggressive in getting its cars into movies. Audi's placement in Iron Man 3 -- Downey's Tony Stark drives a custom Audi R8 e-tron and an A8L -- is typical. "While we didn't like seeing our cars destroyed, the last image of our car was Tony Stark getting a new car," says Arden Doss, CEO of Iconic Entertainment, which handles Audi's product placement.

The point of all of this marketing is as calculated as Iron Man's character arc: selling lots of cars. Last year, Audi announced it will spend $17 billion updating its vehicle lineup and manufacturing facilities and that it intends to become the world's leading luxury automaker by 2020. That's a lot of pipe to fill with product, and Audi will continue to look to Hollywood to help fill it.

"Look at what we did for The King's Speech," says Patrick. Audi hosted an event honoring the cast at the Chateau Marmont, sponsored the Oscar-night celebration, supported the film with a car-service program and helped to underwrite an Academy Awards campaign. "We couldn't have done that," he says, "without the trust and brand loyalty we've built in the industry."

?????

A4

SEDAN DU JOUR

Audi's volume leader and gateway to the brand. The A4 sits firmly in the entry-level luxury space and has supplanted the BMW 3 Series as the car of choice for young Hollywood. $32,500

A5

COUPE DE GRACE

With a recent refresh, the A5 is a sleek coupe with a seriously sexy interior that presents a sporty alternative to the Mercedes CLS. $37,850

Q5

CUTE UTE

Audi's flagship SUV packs a serious wallop with its three engine choices -- a turbocharged four-cylinder, a hybrid and a powerful V6 -- in a svelte package. $35,900

Lost Hollywood: Rare Pictures of Jane Fonda, Marilyn Monroe Set for Auction (Photos)

This story first appeared in the June 28 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

Milton Greene was the best photographer of women I ever knew," declared Richard Avedon. Marilyn Monroe agreed. After their first session together in 1953, she sent Greene two dozen roses and a note saying his pictures were the most beautiful of her she had ever seen. Over the next four years she would pose for him more than 50 times. Greene's skill lay in his unfussy approach (he used to say, "If you can't light it with one light, then you can't light it") and ability to establish an intimate rapport with his subjects. Monroe felt so comfortable with Greene and his wife that she moved into their Weston, Conn., home for a time.

Born in 1922, Greene apprenticed under Harper's Bazaar's Louise Dahl-Wolf but came into his own as a photographer for Life. He also was renowned for his fashion photography and was counted as an equal of such cutting-edge lensmen as Avedon and Irving Penn. Greene died of cancer in 1985 at age 63.

PHOTOS: Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand: The Lost Hollywood Photos of Milton Greene

Now an impressive chunk of Greene's work -- about 75,000 images -- is set to be auctioned by Profiles in History on July 27 for an anonymous collector who purchased the images from Polish investors who, in turn, gained control of a share of Greene's estate after a business deal with the family went bad. (Joshua Greene, who controls the rest of his father's works, made repeated attempts to restore the archive but was rebuffed by the collector.) Mostly Kodak Ektachrome slides, the images are being offered with copyright, something of a rarity. The sale includes more than 3,700 shots of Monroe; many never have been seen publicly.

While the artistic significance of Greene's work is clear, its monetary value is trickier to calculate. Profiles owner Joe Maddalena thinks the "once in a lifetime" collection could sell for more than $1 million, in line with some expert valuations of Greene's work.