AP Entertainment

Entertainment:

OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR WILLIAM HURT DIES, WAS IN “THE BIG CHILL,” “BODY HEAT”
NEW YORK (AP) – A veteran actor who was nominated four times for an Oscar – and won once – has died. William Hurt died yesterday at age 71. His son says in a statement his dad died of natural causes; he’d been diagnosed with prostate cancer that spread to the bone in 2018. Hurt was one of the top leading men in the 1980s, starring in “Broadcast News,” “Body Heat” and “The Big Chill.” His Oscar win came for the 1985 movie, “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

WILLIAM HURT’S OFF-SCREEN HISTORY
NEW YORK (AP) – As talented as an actor that William Hurt was, he often made headlines for his private life. He starred with Marlee Matlin in the 1986 movie, “Children of a Lesser God” – and their on-screen romance was replicated in real life. Before that, he earned notoriety for taking up with Sandra Jennings while married to Mary Beth Hurt. That led to the end of his marriage – and to a lawsuit by Jennings, who lost a bid to gain common-law wife status. Later, Matlin wrote in a 2009 memoir that Hurt physically and emotionally abused her during their relationship. Hurt also spent time in and out of drug and alcohol rehab – and had a reputation as a difficult actor to work with.

JOURNALIST BRENT RENAUD DIES COVERING WAR IN UKRAINE
UNDATED (AP) – A U.S. journalist has been killed covering the war in Ukraine. Brent Renaud is being remembered as a fearless filmmaker who went to some of the most dangerous places on earth to chronicle warfare. He was killed yesterday when Russian forces opened fire on his vehicle. At the time Renaud was gathering material for a report about refugees fleeing Ukraine. The State Department has condemned attacks on news reporters and others covering the Ukraine invasion.

TRACI BRAXTON OF REALITY TV, MUSIC FAME, DIES
NEW YORK (AP) – A member of Toni Braxton’s family has died. Traci Braxton died Saturday at age 50, after fighting cancer of the esophagus. Like many of her siblings and their significant others, Traci Braxton was on the reality TV series “Braxton Family Values.” Musically, she was part of the singing group The Braxtons” – and dropped two albums as a solo act.

“DUNE,’ “POWER OF THE DOG,” WILL SMITH WIN AT BAFTA AWARDS
LONDON (AP) – We’re getting closer to the Oscars – and as more awards are being given out, some favorites for the Academy Awards are coming to the fore. At the British Academy Film Awards, best picture goes to “The Power of the Dog,” which is up for an Oscar. Another Oscar hopeful, the sci-fi movie “Dune” won five BAFTAs. Among Oscar nominees claiming individual prizes at the BAFTAs are Jane Campion, named best director for “Dog” and “Will Smith,” who won best actor for “King William.” The BAFTAs were held in person yesterday, after last year’s event was mostly done online because of the pandemic.

BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARDS – LIST
LONDON (AP) – Winners of the 2022 British Academy Film Awards, announced Sunday:
Film – “The Power of the Dog”
British Film – “Belfast”
Director – Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
Actor – Will Smith, “King Richard”
Actress – Joanna Scanlan, “After Love”
Supporting Actor — Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
Supporting Actress — Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”
Rising Star — Lashana Lynch
British Debut – Director Jeymes Samuel for “The Harder They Fall”
Original Screenplay – Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”
Adapted Screenplay – Sian Heder, “CODA”
Film Not in the English Language – “Drive My Car”
Musical Score – Hans Zimmer, “Dune”
Cinematography – Greig Fraser, “Dune”
Editing – “No Time to Die”
Production Design – “Dune”
Costume Design – “Cruella”
Sound – “Dune”
Casting – “West Side Story”
Visual Effects – “Dune”
Makeup and Hair – “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Animated Film – “Encanto”
British Short Film – “The Black Cop”
British Short Animation – “Do Not Feed the Pigeons”
Documentary – “Summer of Soul”

“THE BATMAN” REPEATS AS NATION’S TOP MOVIE
NEW YORK (AP) – “The Batman” continues to be a beacon at the box office. It is the nation’s top movie for the second straight weekend, taking in $66 million in ticket sales this time around. The movie, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz, lost only about half its debut ticket sales. Overall Batman’s domestic total is $238.5 million. It has made the roughly the same amount overseas.