Mercedes LeAnza, Lead Creative Producer at Amazon Studios, Dies at 40

Ashley Nissenberg, a partner at the Los Angeles-based entertainment law firm Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich and Gellman since 2016, has died, her firm said today. She was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer in nearly a year ago.

British actor Dennis Waterman, who starred in the TV shows Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks, has died at 74. No immediate information the cause was available.

In touch with nature — and herself. Amy Smart may be best known for starring in hit movies like Just Friends and The Butterfly Effect — and on fan favorite TV shows, including Felicity, Scrubs, Shameless and more — but she’s also incredibly attuned to the environment.

Jessica Biel and Melanie Lynskey pose for a few pictures together ahead of their interview at SiriusXM Studios in Los Angeles on Thursday (May 5).

UPDATED with host, performer set: Holly Robinson Peete was tapped to host the 47th annual Gracie Awards at its in-person ceremony May 24 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Singer-songwriter Christina Perri will perform during the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation’s ceremony, which honors exemplary programming created by, for and about women in radio, TV, cable and interactive media.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentJan Motjo’s Beta Group is making a bold bet on Spain, both its content and market, launching Beta Fiction Spain, a TV-movie production house which will also offer production services in Spain and run a theatrical distribution operation.The new entity will be headed by two of the best-known and reputable film-TV execs in Spain: Mercedes Gamero, the former head of Atresmedia Cine, the film production-acquisition arm of Atresmedia Cine, and one of the most powerful movie producers in Spain; and Pablo Nogueroles, the former SVP at Warner Bros. Pictures International España.

Regine, who claimed to have invented the term “discotheque” as she ran a nightclub empire that stretched from Paris to Los Angeles, has died. She passed on Sunday at age 92, according to her granddaughter. No cause was given.

Joanna Barnes, a longtime film and television actress who appeared in both versions of the classic comedy The Parent Trap, died Friday at her home in The Sea Ranch, California. She was 89 and succumbed to what was described as a lengthy illness by friend Sally Jackson.

Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.

Randy Rand, the founding bassist for Autograph, which had a hair-metal hit with “Turn Up the Radio” in the mid-1980s, has died. The news was posting on the band’s social media pages, but no details were given.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorCynthia Albritton, a.k.a. Cynthia Plaster Caster, the legendary artist and “recovering groupie” renowned for the plaster casts she took of many top musicians’ erect penises and other body parts, has died after a long illness, her rep confirms to Variety. She was 74.Her collection included Jimi Hendrix, Wayne Kramer of MC5, Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks, Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys as well as female breasts from the likes of Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, Sally Timms of the Mekons, Peaches, Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many others.

Patrick Carlin, author, actor, podcaster, comedy writer and brother of stand-up legend George Carlin, has died. He was 90.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation today announced the winners of the 47th Annual Gracie Awards, honoring exemplary programming created by, for and about women in radio, television, cable and interactive media.