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Lisa Kudrow and the world remember the late Friends star, Teri Garr, after the tragic news of her death. The comedic actress passed away at the age of 79 in Los Angeles this Tuesday after her 20-year battle with multiple sclerosis. She was surrounded by family and close friends, her publicist confirmed.

Credits: Lisa Kudrow and Teri Garr in Friends / NBC

The late star notably hid her sickness for a couple of years after her diagnosis in 1999, but after three years, she came forward and shared her story to raise awareness for others who also suffer from the same illness.

Lisa Kudrow Pays Tribute to Friends Costar Teri Garr

In an exclusive interview with People, fellow Friends star Lisa Kudrow paid her respect for the late Teri Garr whom she worked with in the hit sitcom series.

Teri Garr was a comedic acting genius who was and is a huge influence...

Teri Garr, the comic actress and singer who brought her buoyant personality to “Young Frankenstein” and was Oscar-nominated for “Tootsie,” died on Tuesday in Los Angeles after a long battle with Ms. She was 79.

An influential performer to comedians including Tina Fey, Garr was a familiar face in dozens of TV shows and films of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. The actress revealed in 2002 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and she suffered an aneurysm in 2006.

After starting her career as a dancer, Garr first gained attention as Inga, the saucy assistant in Mel Brooks’ 1974 “Young Frankenstein,” who greeted Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein with the memorable “Vould you like to have a roll in ze hay?”

On “Friends,” she played Phoebe Abbot in three episodes in 1997 and 1998.

In Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Garr was the wife of Richard Dreyfuss’ character. She...

Exclusive: Josh Safdie’s A24 ping pong prodigy feature Marty Supreme has added The King of Comedy actress and comedienne Sandra Bernhard.

Bernhard will be playing a neighbor and friend of Fran Drescher in a cameo role. Bernard joins a cast that also includes Timothée Chalamet in the title role, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, The Creator; Odessa A’zion, Penn Jillette, Kevin O’Leary a.k.a Mr. Wonderful and Abel Ferrara. The original screenplay was written by Safdie and Ronald Bronstein.

Marty Supreme is based loosely on Marty Reisman’s life, who was a force to be reckoned with in 1950s Ping Pong culture. Known for his unconventional style, he won two U.S. Men’s Singles Championships in 1958 and 1960 and more than 20 international and national titles.

Bernhard recently wrapped Percy Jackson and The Olympians for Disney+ and was seen onscreen this year in Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution for Netflix and in...

Once upon a time in late night television, it was customary for talk shows to fill up their couches as the evening's episode progressed. The first guest would do their segment and then move down a spot on the adjacent couch, making room for the next guest to yap with Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett or whoever. What with the barnacle presence of sidekick Ed McMahon, Carson's couch could get especially crowded some nights. Sometimes this got tense (like the time Burt Reynolds inexplicably went after "Double Dare" host Mark Summers on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"); sometimes it was chaotic comedy bliss (which is what happens when you ask Carson to rein in the irrepressible duo of Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters); and sometimes it was just plain surreal.

This tradition started to fade out of fashion in the 1980s when "Late Night with David Letterman" introduced its one-guest-at-a-time approach.

New details have emerged in the death of legendary fitness guru Richard Simmons.

Police had responded to a call from Simmons’ housekeeper on the morning of July 13 — one day after his 76th birthday. Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene, and no foul play was suspected.

More from TVLinePhil Donahue, Legendary Talk Show Host, Dead at 88John Aprea, Another World and Full House Vet, Dead at 83America's Got Talent Contestant Perry Kurtz Dead at 73

On Aug. 21, a spokesperson for the Simmons family told People.com that, per the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, Simmons’ death has been determined to be accidental,...

The phenomenally talented Emma Watson who became synonymous with the Harry Potter franchise didn’t succeed out of the blue. Initially harboring a passion for acting through school plays, Watson prepared herself for the franchise by spending consecutive hours going over her audition and perfecting it.

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | image: Warner Bros.

However, surprisingly, her first screen test was perhaps the only time she watched herself perform, for Emma Watson wasn’t comfortable with seeing herself on screen. Like many Hollywood actors including Johnny Depp, Watson claimed to be nervous to watch her performance on screen. But then one Harry Potter star offered her some sound advice that helped her overcome her fear.

Maggie Smith’s Golden Advice Helped Emma Watson in the Long Run

Emma Watson‘s rise to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise initially...

The Laugh Factory is getting serious about expansion.

The iconic comedy brand, headquartered on L.A.’s Sunset Strip and owned by Jamie Masada, has hired two senior leaders in a push toward major growth that includes the establishment of Laugh Factory Entertainment, a new division that will spearhead development of television shows, films, streaming content, social media initiatives, podcasts, web series and live events. David Fuhrer is now on board, serving as president, while John Weiser has been appointed head of entertainment to oversee the new division.

The blueprints also call for “significant upgrades” to the location at 8001 Sunset Blvd., as well as launching additional clubs across the globe following satellite locations in Chicago, Long Beach, California, San Diego, Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada.

Per his LinkedIn bio, Fuhrer joined Laugh Factory in April. He is known as an inventor and entrepreneur with a focus on the global toy industry,...

The world bid farewell to Richard Simmons, the exuberant fitness guru who inspired millions to embrace a healthier lifestyle, when he passed away on July 13, 2024. Simmons was 76 years old. Known for his boundless energy, colorful personality, and unwavering dedication to fitness, Simmons leaves behind a legacy of health, wellness, and positivity. Simmons immediate cause of death is not known at this time, but he was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his home by his housekeeper. Early speculations lead investigators to believe that Simmons may have suffered a fall leading to his death, but no foul play is suspected.

Early Life and Journey to Fitness Fame

Milton Teagle “Richard” Simmons was born on July 12, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Struggling with obesity in his youth, Simmons reached a peak weight of 268 pounds. His personal battle with weight inspired him to adopt a healthier lifestyle, eventually losing over 100 pounds. This transformative journey...

Richard Simmons, the energetic, frizzy-haired TV personality and fitness coach who made exercise accessible to millions and then became reclusive in recent years, has died. He was 76.

Simmons died at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday, one day after his birthday. A representative confirmed Simmons’ death to ABC News.

On Friday, Simmons posted a message on social media thanking his fans for the birthday wishes.

“Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!” Simmons wrote. “I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.”

In early 2017, the “Missing Richard Simmons” podcast, produced by a former friend, delved into his life and career history and tried to discover why he had completely retreated from the public view after living most of his life in the public eye. The podcast covered the stories that had circulated questioning whether he was...

Ruth Westheimer, who brought frank talk about sex into America’s living rooms for the first time as radio and television talk show host Dr. Ruth, has died. She was 96.

Westheimer died on Friday at her home in New York City, a spokesperson told the New York Times.

The diminutive educator with a thick German accent was known for dispensing explicit, down-to-earth advice on matters that weren’t previously discussed on-air.

Westheimer hosted at least five shows on Lifetime and other cable stations from 1984 to 1993, and wrote dozens of books on sex.

The college professor was already in her 50s when she started her radio show on New York radio station Wyny in 1980. She later said that being middle-aged probably helped her be accepted as an expert rather than a sex object, as discussing erotic pleasure was largely taboo on radio and television before her show.

Debuting as a 15-minute segment at midnight on Saturdays,...

Ruth Westheimer, the diminutive guru of the American sexual revolution whose straightforward, matter-of-fact way of discussing the facts of life led to an illustrious career as a radio talk-show host, television personality, author and advice expert, has died. She was 96.

Westheimer died Friday at her home in New York City, spokesman Pierre Lehu told The New York Times.

She escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s and was profiled by The Hollywood Reporter in January 2016 as one of the entertainment industry’s last survivors of the Holocaust.

For more than three decades, when the subject turned to sex, Dr. Ruth (as she was known to her legion of fans) was the go-to person. People magazine included her on its 1998 list of the Most Intriguing People of the Century. In Playboy’s 55th anniversary issue in 2009, she landed the No. 13 spot on its list of the most important people in sex from the past 55 years.

In Sean Evans’ view, if Hot Ones was just about generating viral clips of celebs eating hot wings from hell, the show would have lost its appeal a while ago. Why it’s lasted for 24 seasons, he says, is the meaningful conversations that go hand-in-hand with the eating, a format inspired by classic shows like Late Night With David Letterman and The Conan O’Brien Show.

Those shows were also Primetime Emmy winners, which is now in the realm of possibility for Evans, whose YouTube show is finally eligible for contention for a coveted trophy (for outstanding talk show), along with Rhett and Link’s Good Mythical Morning (for outstanding shortform comedy, drama or variety series); the two shows were allowed to compete shortly after YouTube CEO Neal Mohan wrote an impassioned op-ed for The Hollywood Reporter making the case for their inclusion.

“I’m a traditionalist. I grew up...

To break through an algorithmically generated streaming landscape, John Mulaney decided to do something different. And people noticed. It was a six-part talk show for Netflix, premiering May 3 and ending May 10, called John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA. The live format and unrehearsed, offbeat interactions produced something TV hadn’t seen in a while — something bracingly alive with chaotic (and comedic) possibility. It hearkened the earliest days of Late Night With David Letterman, just with a food delivery droid called Saymo in place of Larry “Bud” Melman. Mulaney, 41, checked in with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about the show’s inspirations, how it came together and his plans for future hosting gigs.

Hi, John. Are you in L.A. today?

I’m in New York, actually.

Is New York still home for you?

It’s not, no. California is.

So you’re just summering in the Hamptons or something like that?...

Chicago – I have a new appreciation for Al Roker. Already acknowledged as a famous weatherman and TV host, the “Today Show” staple can add raucous comedian to his resume, as indicated by his hosting duties at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival’s Summer Gala on June 1st, 2024. He killed, as they say.

Albert Lincoln Roker was born in Queens, and got his B.A. in Communications from the State University of New York in Oswego. His first weatherman gig was in Syracuse, New York, while in college and he started his main career in Washington, D.C. After stops in Cleveland and local affiliate in New York City, he found himself substituting at the national level on NBC, first with the Sunrise show and then with the “Today Show.”

Al Roker at the 2024 60th Ciff Summer Gala

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

With his...

In 1972, Burt Sugarman came to NBC with an idea: What if, instead of going off the air when Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show ended, they aired a late-night music series, aimed at younger viewers? NBC turned him down three times, so he ended up buying time on the network himself to prove there was an audience for late night TV after The Tonight Show.

Needlesstosay, he was right. The show he created, Burt Sugarman’s The Midnight Special, went on to air on NBC Friday nights for nearly a decade, welcoming the top music acts and comedians of the time. And in short order, NBC, seeing that there was indeed an appetite for more late night TV beyond just The Tonight Show, launched a pair of new late-night entries on other nights of the week–Saturday Night Live and The Tomorrow Show (which would ultimately be replaced by Late Night With David Letterman...

Forty years ago today, late-night TV lost one of its most influential players—and perhaps its most polarizing.

Andy Kaufman, who passed away on May 16, 1984, became a prominent figure in comedy thanks to appearances on programs like Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, and Fridays.

Often described as a performance artist, an anti-comic, and a prankster, Kaufman aimed not to make audiences laugh, but to make them question. While he would ultimately become something of a household name when his“Foreign Man” character was worked into the sitcom Taxi, Kaufman only took the role to enable his more eccentric comedy acts, put-ons, and performance art experiments—which often took place in late night.

Intent on committing to the bit, Kaufman didn’t have as many TV shows eager to embrace him as the most successful traditional comics did.

Continue reading Late Night Legend Andy Kaufman Died 40 Years Ago Today at LateNighter.

Jerry Foley, the longtime director of David Letterman’s late night talk shows, has died. He was 68.

Foley died Sunday at Albany Medical Center in New York after a skiing accident in Vermont, TV producer Kim Reynolds, who began her career at Late Show With David Letterman alongside Foley, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The lifelong New Yorker was born in 1956 and raised in Staten Island. He served as the director and supervising producer of Letterman’s late night talk shows for 25 years — a control room feat considering Foley had to track and capture the host’s perpetual and unpredictable comedy antics.

“Your primary responsibility is not to get in the way. Don’t smother it. Don’t miss it,” Foley told DGA Quarterly in 2009 of capturing Letterman and his guests performing onstage, cutting back and forth between the smirking or mugging host and a guest or widening to two-shots — or...

Jerry Foley, the Late Show with David Letterman director who helmed close to 4,000 hours of late-night television and was nominated for two dozen Emmys, has died. He was 68. He’s understood to have died last week as a result of ski accident.

He worked with Letterman for more than 25 years, having started as technical director of NBC’s Late Night with David Letterman before moving to CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman. He succeeded Hal Gurnee as director of the show in 1995 and helmed the late-night series until it ended in 2015.

Foley received 21 Emmy nominations as well as nine DGA Award nominations.

In addition to The Late Show, he directed all 72 episodes of Live on Letterman, and also worked on The Alec Baldwin Show, Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet To Come and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons: A Life on Stage.

Watch Foley’s favorite moments from...

Sad news to report. Jerry Foley, longtime director of The Late Show With David Letterman died suddenly late last week. He’s said to have been on a ski trip when he passed.

Foley began his career in broadcasting as a cameraman before being hired by NBC in 1980 as a graphics technician. In 1990, he was promoted to the role of technical director on NBC’s Late Night with David Letterman. He followed the late-night host to CBS, where he succeeded Hal Gurnee as the director of Late Show With David Letterman in 1995. He continued in that role until Letterman retired in 2015.

Foley directed over 3900 hours of late night television, earning a whopping 21 Emmy nominations–a record for a single person working on a talk show or variety series.

Foley’s death was announced by The Letterman Podcast Sunday.

Continue reading Longtime David Letterman Director Jerry Foley Dies at 68 at LateNighter.

The comedy world—heck, the whole world—mourns the passing of Richard Lewis, whose death was announced yesterday. The 76-year-old comic was a mainstay on the circuit since the mid-1970s. Though he has several comedy specials and movie appearances under his belt (plus the early 1990s sitcom “Anything But Love” opposite Jamie Lee Curtis) his most widely-seen work was surely as Larry David’s bickering foil on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Lewis’s amplified version of himself appeared in the first regular series episode in 2000 (recall that “Curb” began as a one-off special in 1999), and can be currently seen in the 12th season, which is now airing.

Lewis was nominated for a SAG Award in 2006, for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series. His special “The I’m Exhausted Concert” was nominated for a Cable Ace Award in 1989.

After news of Lewis’s death was made known Wednesday, David released a...

Richard Lewis, the wild, eccentric, ultra-neurotic stand-up comedian and comic actor who most recently served as a semi-regular alongside Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” is dead. He was 76. Lewis suffered a fatal heart attack Tuesday night less than a year after announcing in April 2023 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from performing stand-up comedy. Lewis’ death was confirmed by his publicist Jeff Abraham, who noted, “His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for the love, friendship and support and asks everyone for privacy at this time.”

He appeared this month on the 12th and final season of “Curb” after begging off of the show in its 11th season while recovering from a series of surgeries. But he wound up shooting a scene in an episode that year, anyway.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2024: In Memoriam Gallery

A beloved and respected comedian known to be the kind...

Richard Lewis, one of the most influential stand-up comedians of his era and Larry David's hilariously neurotic best friend on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," has died at the age of 76. The official cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

Lewis belonged to a class of comedians who turned joke-telling into a confessional art form. His contemporaries were Richard Belzer, Elayne Boosler, Robert Klein, and Jerry Seinfeld. Lewis got belly laughs out of failed relationships, depression, anxiety, and addiction. He was reliably, identifiably miserable, which was a balm for anyone in his audience who happened to be struggling because, no matter how awful his life seemed to be, he was always back on stage the next night or bantering with David Letterman a week month later after recounting his latest crisis.

He was a neurotic's neurotic, and, therefore, an essential part of our lives. If he could laugh off life's absurd tortures,...

Richard Lewis, a stand-up comic who achieved fame in the 1980s by turning his neuroses into comedy gold and later experienced a renaissance in recent years thanks to Curb Your Enthusiasm, died on Tuesday at the age of 76. The cause of death was a heart attack, his publicist, Jeff Abraham, confirmed to Rolling Stone.

Last April, Lewis revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “I’m under a doctor’s care, and everything is cool,” he said at the time. “I love my wife, I love my little puppy dog,...

Longtime stand-up comedian Richard Lewis, who had a memorable co-starring role alongside Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm, has died at the age of 76.

“Richard Lewis passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles last night after suffering a heart attack,” his publicist Jeff Abraham said in a statement to TVLine. “His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship and support and asks for privacy at this time.”

More from TVLineCSI: NY Vet Gary Sinise Celebrates Life of His Son Mac, Dead at 33Chris Gauthier, of Once Upon a Time and Eureka, Dead at 48Kenneth Mitchell,...

Just hours after it was announced that Pauly Shore would play Richard Simmons in an upcoming biopic, the reclusive fitness guru has spoken out against the film.

“Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read,” Simmons wrote on Facebook. “I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful. Thank you for all your love and support.”

A short film titled “The Court Jester,” which also stars Shore as Simmons, will premiere at Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 19 and then on YouTube. The short film, directed by Jake Lewis, is unrelated to the biopic, which is produced by Warner Bros. subsidiary The Wolper Organization.

In a statement to Variety, The Wolper Organization said,...

Pauly Shore is getting ready to sweat to the oldies, as the actor and comedian will play fitness icon Richard Simmons in a new biopic.

The film is currently in development at Warner Bros. subsidiary The Wolper Organization, with additional casting underway.

Responding to the news, the reclusive Simmons disavowed the project, posting on social media that he has never “given my permission for this movie.”

The biopic follows an unrelated short film about Simmons from director and writer Jake Lewis. That film, titled “The Court Jester,” will premiere at Sundance on Jan. 19 and also stars Shore as Simmons, as well as Tamra Brown as Ellen DeGeneres and Jesse Heiman as David, a television producer who lost 160 pounds thanks to Simmons, and who tracked his weight-loss journey on the blog “Keep It Up David!” After premiering in Park City, “The Court Jester” will immediately be available worldwide on YouTube.

“I...

Brian McConnachie, the Emmy-winning writer with the offbeat sense of humor who worked on Sctv Network and Saturday Night Live and appeared in Caddyshack and several films for Woody Allen, has died. He was 81.

McConnachie died Friday of complications from Parkinson’s disease in Venice, Florida, Michael Gerber, editor and publisher of The American Bystander, told The Hollywood Reporter. The duo relaunched the humor magazine in 2015 after McConnachie — an original staff member at National Lampoon — originally got it going in 1981.

“Every day, on every page, he has been our North Star,” Gerber said in a statement. “From his days at National Lampoon, Brian was ‘every comedy writer’s favorite comedy writer,’ crafting an unmistakable one-of-a-kind laid-back eccentricity that inspired generations.

“He is the only person I know who wrote for the Holy Trinity of Seventies Comedy — National Lampoon, SNL and Sctv. This speaks to not only his writing talent, but...

Even non-Trekkies likely know the "Star Trek" episode "Arena". That's the episode wherein Captain Kirk (William Shatner) is chosen by a godlike alien species to go to Vasquez Rocks in California -- I mean a distant alien world called Cestus III -- to fight a lizard-like alien called a Gorn. The Gorn captain was voiced by Ted Cassidy and played by stunt performers Bobby Clark, Gary Combs, and Bill Blackburn. The fight between Kirk and the Gorn is notoriously cheesy, with the two performers making awkward and slow movements that are about as thrilling as watching two people wrestle with shopping carts at their local grocery store. 

In order to best the Gorn in combat, Kirk must employ some long-forgotten geological knowledge, creating flash powder and explosions from compounds in the local rocks. He constructs a rudimentary mortar cannon out of a bamboo shoot and manages to blast his foe...

David Letterman returned to his old stomping grounds on Monday night, dropping by CBS’ The Late Show for the first time since Stephen Colbert took over as host in 2015.

In a clip released by CBS prior to the broadcast (11:35/10:35c), Colbert announces Letterman’s arrival by borrowing one of his most famous lines: “My guest tonight certainly needs no introduction. Please welcome back to the Ed Sullivan Theater, Mr. David Letterman!”

More from TVLine<em>Daily Show</em> Poll: Who Should Take Over as Host of Comedy Central’s Late-Night Series? Cast Your Vote!Emma Stone to Join <em>SNL</em> 5-Timers...

“People used to say I had my finger on the pulse,” Paul Simon tells Alex Gibney early in his artfully composed documentary, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon. “I just have my finger out there and the pulse is running under it.” Either way, few people have had as central a role in American pop music and culture as Simon. Gibney, best-known for exposes including The Inventor, about Elizabeth Holmes’ tech-company fraud, and Going Clear, on Scientology, turns out to be the ideal director to explore Simon’s long, varied run.

Simon invited Gibney into his home studio in Wimberly, Texas, where the cameras watch him tinker with the sound on his latest album, Seven Psalms (released in May) and talk about his career, inspirations, aging and what the loss of hearing in his left ear has meant. With that album as an anchor, the film mostly flashes back and forth in time,...

Jimmy Buffett, who died Friday, was remembered today by his famous friends as the quintessential songwriter, an artist whose work ran deeper than the popular images of lazy days on the beach.

Kenny Chesney, who had Buffett join him on a remake of Buffett’s “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season” on Chesney’s 2018 album, Songs for the Saints, posted a video Saturday morning. He remembered Buffett with a rendition from the beach in Key West, Florida, singing Buffett’s song A Pirate Looks at Forty” on Instagram.

“So goodbye Jimmy. Thanks for your friendship and the songs I will carry in my heart forever. Sail On Sailor...

Janeane Marie Garofalo is an American actress, comedian and former co-host on Air America Radio’s The Majority Report. She is best known for gracing the audience on stage with her unique mix of deadpan cynicism and sense of heartfelt conviction.

Janeane Garofalo Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education

Janeane Garofalo was born on September 28, 1964 (Janeane Garofalo age: 58) in Newton, New Jersey. Her mother, Joan Garofalo, was a secretary employed in the petrochemical industry, who died of cancer when Garofalo was 24 years old. Her father, Carmine Garofalo, is a former executive at Exxon.

Garofalo comes from Irish and Italian ancestry. She was raised in numerous places across the United States, including Madison, New Jersey; Ontario, California; and Houston, Texas. She graduated high school in Texas, but has publicly announced her distaste for growing up in Houston, primarily because of the great emphasis placed on prettiness and sports in high school,...

Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens died in July 2023, leaving behind an incredible legacy as a children’s entertainer. While the public generally has good memories of Reubens, he had a scandal in the early 1990s that rocked his career. So, what was Paul Reubens’ net worth when he died? Here’s what to know.

What was Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens’ net worth when he died?

Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens left behind a serious legacy and accrued a hefty net worth throughout his lifetime. Reubens’ net worth was reportedly $5 million when he died.

Fans of all ages know Pee-wee Herman. Reubens first introduced the character in 1978 while working with an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe known as The Groundlings. As for the name, “Pee-wee” came from the harmonica brand, and Reubens knew a boy named “Herman” growing up. Reubens created the character as a “bad comic,” as the actor himself had trouble remembering jokes.

Hollywood stars are reacting to the the news of Paul Reubens’ death. The late actor known for playing Pee-wee Herman on stage, television and film died Monday at age 70. His death was announced on his official Facebook page revealing that the actor had cancer for years, a diagnosis he had not shared publicly.

“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” a statement read. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”

A statement from Reubens was also shared with the announcement, in which the late actor said,...

Paul Reubens, who disappeared behind a tight gray suit and bright red bow tie to create and star as the awkward man-child Pee-wee Herman onstage, on a groundbreaking kids TV show and on the big screen, has died. He was 70.

His death in Los Angeles was announced Monday on his official Facebook page.

“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” a statement read. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”

Reubens created Pee-wee (named for a brand of harmonica he had when...

The music world is mourning the loss of an icon.

Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, best known for her song “Nothing Compares 2 U”, has passed away at age 56.

The Irish Times broke the sad news on Wednesday, sharing a statement from her family, which read, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

Read More: Sinéad O’Connor Dies: Jamie Lee Curtis, Sam Smith And More Celebs React To The Passing Of A Music Icon

Born in Dublin in 1966, O’Connor began her music career as a teenager in the ’80s, eventually forming the band Ton Ton Macoute with Colm Farrelly in 1984.

She was later signed to a record deal with Ensign Records and co-wrote and provided vocals on U2’s song “Heroine” for the film “Captive”.

O’Conner’s first album,...

Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has died at the age of 56. She was perhaps best known for her breakout hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which was written by Prince.

The Irish Times was the first to break the news of her passing. O’Connor’s family confirmed her death in a statement to Rte saying, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” A cause of death was not immediately clear as of publication.

O’Connor released her 1987 debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, when she was barely 20 years old. The second single, “Mandinka,” allowed her to cross over to the US, where she performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman, and she earned a subsequent Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

With her follow-up album,...

Tony Bennett has passed away at the age of 96. The legendary singer died in New York on July 21, his publicist Sylvia Weiner told the Associated Press. In 2021, his family revealed that he'd been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years earlier. Bennett released his final album, "Love For Sale," in 2021, a collaboration with Lady Gaga. He performed his final shows at Radio City Musical Hall in August 2021 with Gaga by his side.

Bennett was born Anthony Benedetto in 1926 in New York's Long Island City. Bennett served in the Army during World War II before diving headfirst into his musical career. He had his first major success in 1951 with the single "Because of You." His signature song was 1962's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Bennett rose to fame during that era, but his career began to flounder during the 1970s.

The singer suffered a near-fatal cocaine overdose in 1979, after which he turned his career around.

Tony Bennett, the treasured American storyteller, singer and showman whose joyful impact on the pop and jazz landscape spanned 70 years and stretched from Queens to San Francisco and all around the world, died Friday. He was 96.

Bennett died in his hometown of New York, his publicist Sylvia Weiner said. In February 2021, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years earlier, but he soldiered on, in the recording studio and on tour, rarely performing a song the same way twice.

He and Lady Gaga headlined two shows at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in August 2021, after which he announced he was canceling his fall tour.

On his Facebook page, it was noted Friday that Bennett was “still singing the other day at his piano, and his last song was ‘Because of You.'” That was his first No. 1 hit.

The recipient of 20 Grammy Awards...

Filmmaker Clay Tweel has signed on to direct a new documentary based on the life of comedian Andy Kaufman. Produced by Ross Dinerstein’s Campfire Studios, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Fifth Season, the film reps the first doc authorized by the Kaufman estate.

Fifth Season (“Being Mary Tyler Moore”) is fully financing the project, which will be overseen by Mary Lisio, executive vice president of non-scripted and documentary, and produced in partnership with the Andy Kaufman estate.

“I’ve always loved Andy because he was able to elicit such emotional reactions to his performances by using both the poignant and the absurd to keep his audience off balance. I hope we can honor his legacy in that way with our film,” Tweel said.

The film’s producers have access to Kaufman’s family, as well as archives and...

James Corden, host of “The Late Late Show” since 2015, spoke candidly from the stage of The Paley Center in Los Angeles on Sunday. The London-born 44-year-old comic and two producers on his CBS late-night show, Ben Winston and Rob Crabbe, took something of a victory lap as they wind down their tenure in the 12:30 time slot. They have 12 more episodes to shoot, and are planning some big names (and more carpool karaoke segments) for the grand finale.

Bryan Cranston (a good get!) hosted the panel, during which time Corden spoke about the uncertainty he feels about his future employment. “I haven’t felt this scared since I decided to take the show, to move here,” he said. “I haven’t felt on such unstable ground,” but added, “I have to embrace that fear.”

He intends to bring his family back to England and hopes to get back to live theater.

The latest class to enter the WWE Hall of Fame will be honored in a special ceremony prior to WrestleMania 39 on Friday, March 31 at 10 p.m. Et on Peacock. Among the Class of 2023 are legendary luchador Rey Mysterio Jr., Japanese wrestling trailblazer the Great Muta, comedian Andy Kaufman, and the illustrious and multi-talented Stacy Keibler. Fans of pro wrestling love hearing the fabled stories and seeing the raw emotion on display from the Hall of Fame inductors and inductees alike — and this year’s festivities will be no different. You can watch with a subscription to Peacock.

How to Watch 2023 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony When: Friday, March 31, 2023 at 10:00 Pm Edt Where: Peacock Stream: Watch with a subscription to Peacock. Sign Up$4.99+ / month peacocktv.com About 2023 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The 2023 Hall of Fame class features a wide variety of legendary talents across the world of pro wrestling.

Andy Kaufman is set to enter the WWE’s Class of 2023 Hall of Fame, TheWrap has learned.

So far, the inductees for WWE’s 2023 Hall of Fame include Great Muta and Rey Mysterio. Joining alongside them will be the entertainer and comedian who died of lung cancer in 1984.

Though her often referred to himself as a “anti-comedian,” Kaufman’s rise to fame started off in small comedy clubs, and eventually working his way to the set of “Saturday Night Live.”

In addition, to becoming well-known for his outrageous stunts, he made his stint in the professional wrestling arena when named himself the Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion because he would wrestle women, offering them $1,000 if they were able to pin him down.

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His antics led him...

Andy Kaufman is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2023, Variety has learned.

Kaufman will be inducted alongside this year’s fellow honorees that currently include Rey Mysterio and The Great Muta.

Kaufman is best known for his career on the stage and screen, most famously starring as Latka Gravas in the hit sitcom “Taxi” from 1978-1983. He made his mark on the world of professional wrestling, however, when he declared himself the Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion of the World, offering money to any woman who could pin him as part of his act. This famously led to a feud with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler in the Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis, Tn.

Despite Lawler and Kaufman being friends, they successfully convinced the audience they were bitter enemies. Kaufman claimed that Lawler broke his neck when Lawler performed a piledriver on him,...

Hey, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" fans. We're back with more good news for you guys. Tonight, March 15, 2023, the folks over at ABC will be serving up another new edition of your favorite late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live. That's right, guys, and we've got a preview of it to run by you. In tonight's new episode, you guys are going to see a former late night talk show host legend, and an actress show up to talk with Jimmy tonight. So, let's get into it. The first description for tonight's new, March 15, 2023 episode reveals that 75 year old American television host, comedian, writer and producer David Letterman is going to show up to talk with Jimmy at some point. David hosted late night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC and ending with the May 20, 2015, broadcast of the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS.

Rick Scheckman, who worked with David Letterman for more than 30 years, died Friday at Bellevue Hospital in New York, according to friend Leonard Maltin. He was 67 and reportedly had “multiple health issues.”

Scheckman joined “Late Night With David Letterman” in 1982, coming aboard just one month after the show’s premiere on NBC. He quickly caught the attention of staff, and was made a full-time employee with the title of film coordinator. He later moved to CBS with Letterman and worked on “The Late Show” with him, sometimes appearing as an actor in a sketch. He stayed until the show ended

Scheckman was known as a film collector and for his ability to find obscure film clips at a moment’s notice.

“If twenty minutes before tape time, the writers suddenly came up with a bit that required film of a monkey washing a cat, Shecky knew where to find it,...

Rick “Shecky” Scheckman, who for more than 30 years came up with oddball footage for David Letterman’s late-night programs while also finding his way on camera for wacky comedy bits, has died. He was 67.

Scheckman had “multiple health issues” and died early Friday morning at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, his friend Leonard Maltin told The Hollywood Reporter.

The Queens native was an avid film collector who had acquired obscure footage from decades and decades of celluloid that could be repurposed for commercials, TV shows and the like.

“This meant organizing and cataloging hundreds upon hundreds of 16mm reels and figuring out a way to provide quick access to individual shots,” Maltin noted in a blog post.

Scheckman joined Late Night With David Letterman in March 1982, a month after the show debuted on NBC. The writers called on Scheckman so often, he was given a full-time job as film coordinator.

“If 20 minutes before tape time,...

Viewers tuning into “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Friday got a rare treat when television bandleader Paul Shaffer and the World’s Most Dangerous Band — legendary for their longtime affiliation with David Letterman — replaced The Roots for one-night-only as the NBC late-night talk show’s house band.

With Questlove, Black Thought and the Roots off to Los Angeles to curate and play alongside LL Cool J, De La Soul, Ice-t, Missy Elliot and others for the 2023 Grammy Awards’ 50th year anniversary tribute to hip-hop, NBC and Fallon announced Shaffer’s return to late-night on Jan. 30.

“Paul Shaffer is one of the most important musical figures in late-night history,” Fallon said in a statement Monday. “From ‘SNL’ to Letterman, he’s done it all. I’m beyond honored and excited that they’re getting the band back together.”

Getting “the band back together” for one night meant Shaffer calling...

Thirty years after David Letterman and Paul Shaffer departed the NBC airwaves, the Late Night bandleader and his longtime backing band are returning to 30 Rock to sub in for the Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The one-night-only performance will take place February 3rd while the Roots are in Los Angeles to attend the Grammys.

“Paul Shaffer is one of the most important musical figures in late night history,” Fallon tells Rolling Stone. “From SNL to Letterman, he’s done it all. I’m beyond honored and excited...

The odds that “Jimmy Kimmel Live” would still be here, 20 years after its launch on Jan. 26, 2003, were astronomically low. The network hadn’t done a traditional late-night talk show since the short-lived “Into the Night With Rick Dees” in 1991, and the time slot’s previous inhabitant, “Politically Incorrect,” had been canceled due to declining ratings — and controversy over 9/11-related comments host Bill Maher had made.

Those early reviews were rough and the show struggled in its early months to book guests. And soon, Kimmel’s biggest backer at the network, then-abc chairman Lloyd Braun, was out the door.

But there was a glimmer of promise from the start: Early on, ABC execs said they were encouraged by the show’s first week national ratings, especially among young male viewers..

Among all of those hosts — Leno, Letterman, O’Brien, Kilborn — Kimmel is the only one left standing in late night, and...