Dave Robb, Veteran Hollywood Labor Reporter and Variety Alum, Dies at 74

Ethan Shanfeld In Hollywood, 2023 was a year defined by the “Barbenheimer” box office craze and the dual strikes that shut down the industry for months. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé dominated live music, and translated their blockbuster world tours into moviegoing events that bolstered the fall box office. Artificial intelligence became Hollywood’s next hot button issue, and the outbreak of violence in the Middle East divided the industry.

Jordan Moreau Lee Sun-kyun, a South Korean actor who starred in the Oscars’ 2020 best picture winner “Parasite,” died Wednesday morning, according to the Associated Press and the South Korean news agency Yonhap. He was 48. He was found dead in a car in a park in central Seoul, according to the AP.

Richard Franklin, known for his roles in ITV's Emmerdale and BBC's Doctor Who, has sadly passed away at the age of 87. He died peacefully in his sleep on Christmas Day. Liam Rudden shared the sad news on behalf of Richard's family, he said "It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Selma Archerd, an actress who was well known in Hollywood as the vivacious wife of longtime Variety columnist Army Archerd, has died. She was 98.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Ruth Seymour, a pioneering figure in public radio who led KCRW for many years until her retirement in 2010, died Friday in Santa Monica after a long illness. She was 88. After serving as program director at KPFK, Seymour joined KCRW in 1977 and was instrumental in transforming the station from a small college radio station to an influential national radio powerhouse.

spoonful of sugar when she was working with Dick Van Dyke during their “daunting” rehearsals for “Mary Poppins.”The iconic actress, 88, applauded the “Bye, Bye, Birdie” star, 98, in Thursday’s “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic CBS” special.The “Princess Diaries” actress happily recalled meeting Van Dyke during the shooting of the 1964 Disney musical. She divulged during the two-hour show how it was a hot, September day that she encountered the actor at practice sessions.The crew had built a stage outside the studio where they were filming.

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with the Paul King-directed and co-written Wonka. From Warner Bros, Village Roadshow and Heyday Films, the Timothée Chalamet starrer is also co-written by Simon Farnaby based on characters created by Roald Dahl.

Caroline Brew editor Josh Kramer, who worked as a film producer and financier and Amazon executive, died Nov. 27 in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 67.

Miranda Cosgrove is opening up about her experience with drugs and alcohol.

Pierce Brosnan is reminding us what true love looks like.

Meghan Markle's ties to the ongoing Royal race row will be "quickly forgotten" by Hollywood in the eyes of her career over in the US according to an expert as she continues to try and salvage the Sussex brand.

Longtime Deadline reporter Dave Robb has passed away at age 74. Considered the dean of the Hollywood labor beat, Robb was recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the brain stem.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Stan Rogow, a veteran writer, producer and music manager who was a key player in such series as “Lizzie McGuire” and “Fame” and the 1986 feature “Clan of the Cave Bear, died Dec. 7 at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 75.

O’Neal passed away on December 8 at the age of 82.His son, 56-year-old actor Patrick O’Neal, confirmed the news on his Instagram account Friday.“My dad passed away peacefully today,” he wrote. “As a human being, my father was as generous as they come. And the funniest person in any room.

Carmel Dagan Staff WriterOscar-nominated actor Ryan O’Neal, who came to prominence on TV’s “Peyton Place” and became a top star of the 1970s in films including “Love Story,” “What’s Up, Doc?,” “Paper Moon” and “Barry Lyndon,” died Friday, his son Patrick said on Instagram. He was 82.He was diagnosed with chronic leukemia in 2001 and with prostate cancer in 2012.“Ryan was a very generous man who has always been there to help his loved ones for decade upon decade,” said Patrick O’Neal’s post, “My dad was 82, and lived a kick ass life.

John Bleasdale Guest Contributor Andrew Garfield spoke to an audience rich in Spider-Man fans about his career at the Red Sea Film Festival Thursday, sitting alongside Saudi producer and Red Sea Film Foundation CEO Mohammed Al Turki. The two have known each other since Garfield starred in Ramin Bahrani’s 2014 drama “99 Homes,” which Al Turki produced. “I’m currently out of work,” Garfield quipped.

Andrew Garfield shared insights into his early days in Hollywood, experiences working on the Spider-Man franchise and thoughts about Red Sea International Festival Festival during his masterclass at the festival today. 

Ellise Shafer Benjamin Zephaniah, a British poet and actor who played the role of Jeremiah Jesus in “Peaky Blinders,” has died. He was 65.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Wang Jianlin, the Chinese billionaire who previously sought to buy a controlling position in Hollywood, is preparing to complete his imminent exit from the film industry. The troubled conglomerate is facing debt repayment pressure.Wanda Film, which remains China’s largest cinema operator, Wednesday said in a regulatory filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange that Wang and his Wanda Investment vehicle expect to sell their remaining stake 51% in the company to China Ruyi Holdings. Ruyi, which operates across film, TV and online games, counts games, social media and streaming giant Tencent among its largest shareholders.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Denny Laine, the British singer-guitarist best known for his work with Paul McCartney & Wings and the Moody Blues, has died after a long battle with interstitial lung disease, according to a social media post from his wife. He was 79.