Spencer Baumgarten Dies: Longtime Motion Picture Agent Was 62

George Maharis, the Route 66 actor that left the series during the height of its popularity, died on Wednesday, May 24. He was 94.

A grandma who choked to death while eating cheese on toast was ‘not adequately monitored’ by care home staff in line with the care plan, a coroner has ruled.

Samantha Weinstein, a Canadian actor who appeared in the 2013 remake of Stephen King’s Carrie starring Chloë Grace Moretz, died May 14 at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto after being diagnosed in 2021 with a rare form of ovarian cancer. She was 28.

Sophia Scorziello editor The 2023 Motion Picture Association Awards will honor director Gina Prince-Bythewood, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Mexico City Gov. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for their distinct impact on the film, television and streaming industry. The second annual MPA awards are set to take place in June at the MPA Headquarters in Washington. “The 2023 MPA Awards recognize three individuals whose valuable contributions have enabled our global industry to continue to flourish,” said Charles Rivkin, MPA chairman and CEO. “Each of this year’s honorees is working in their own way to ensure the success of the global creative economy, protect creators and build a more inclusive pipeline for storytellers. It is because of them, and many others, that the industry continues to deliver the films and TV shows loved by audiences everywhere.”

Ray Stevenson, a veteran actor whose dozens of film and TV credits include RRR, the Thor and Divergent films, Vikings and Star Wars animated series, died Sunday in Italy. He was 58. His reps at Independent Talent confirmed the news but did not provide details.

Gareth Edwards hasn’t directed a film in seven years. There could be a number of reasons why, but unfortunately for him, his last film, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” was shrouded in controversy as it was heavily reported that Edwards was effectively replaced midway through production by Tony Gilroy because the former’s first cut of the film was a mess.

Charna Flam The Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences has launched an Academy Originals podcast, “The Art of the Documentary.” The new podcast is hosted by Oscar-nominee and “Crip Camp” documentarian Jim LeBrecht. The six-episode season will include LeBrecht sitting down with documentary filmmakers, as they reveal to the host and the audience their filmmaking processes. “The Art of the Documentary,” will chronicle “how a filmmaker approaches their subject and how they engage with it,” according to the press release. The podcast will highlight how the various documentarians work to find new filmmaking approaches, all in an effort to tell their stories in innovative ways. LeBrecht and guests will discuss how they achieve special access and how far they’ll go to get their story — even if that means taking dangerous risks.

Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews looked like a couple in love as they walked the red carpet at the BAFTAs, co-ordinating their look in black outfits. While there today, 14 May, they spoke to OK! about their plans to renew their wedding vows, five years on from tying the knot, and the recent controversy surrounding the April wedding of Spencer's best pal, Jamie Laing to Sophie Habboo. There was a bit of tension between the two couples last month, after Spencer and Vogue weren't invited to Jamie and Sophie's courthouse wedding, which they then spoke out about.

The CW has been busy north of the border.

K.J. Yossman Writers have staged a protest outside the Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) European headquarters in solidarity with the WGA. A number of writers including Jennifer Davidson, the chair of Writers Guild of Ireland, and “Blasts From the Past” writer and director Hugh Farley participated in the protest in Brussels on Thursday evening, where it is understood the MPAA were holding a “social event for industry reps and friends,” according to a source. “What else are you going to do when you’re in Brussels with a bunch of writers guilds?!” Davidson tweeted along with photos and videos of the gathering.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announced its summer programming will include a new concert film series, public events, education programs and conversations with Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter and 14-time Oscar-nominee Diane Warren. The events begin on June 1 with a screening of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn’s “Desk Set,” followed by a post-screening Q&A with Claire L. Evans and Elizabeth Youle. On June 8, the screening series “A New Wave of K-Cinema: Korean Women Directors” will commence, followed by the June 10 concert film series, “Summer of Music: Concert Films 1959–2020.” The concert film series will kick off with a screening of “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” and conclude on August 23, with “Metallica: Through the Never in 3D” screening.

This is news that has come as a shock to many. Begho Ukueberuwa, an executive and former agent, died May 9. He was just 27. His exact cause of death has not been confirmed, but he apparently collapsed while trying to run a half-marathon.

Terence Hardiman, who terrified a generation of children with his performance in CBBC’s The Demon Headmaster, has died aged 86.

"Grey's Anatomy" alum Isaiah Washington has alleged that there was "rampant" drug use and "swingers parties" during his time on the hit ABC show. The 59-year-old actor made the accusations against his former castmates and the show's producers in a tweet he posted on Friday. "Hmmm…I wonder if I should tweet about the rampant alcohol and drugs used amongst my fellow cast mates and Producers of Grey’s Anatomy and all of the swingers parties that took place?" Washington wrote along with a photo of himself on the show.

After two massively successful installments in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” film franchise, James Gunn was ready to work on the third. Then he got fired, went to DC to make “The Suicide Squad,” was rehired to work on ‘Guardians,’ and released a Christmas special, and now, years later, we’re here to finally see how the filmmaker wanted his franchise to end.

Kerry Washington is hitting the red carpet!

William Earl Variety will return in-person with its TV FYC Fest on June 7 in L.A., featuring HBO/Max Chief Casey Bloys, Kerry Washington, Elle Fanning, Janelle James, Gina Rodriguez and Weird Al Yankovic. Fanning (“The Great”), James (“Abbott Elementary”), Rodriguez (“Not Dead Yet”) and Washington (“UnPrisoned”) will participate in a roundtable celebrating Disney’s TV female comedy standouts. Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content will offer his vision for TV storytelling with Cynthia Littleton, co-editor-in-chief of Variety, in what will be his first interview following the series finale episode of “Succession.”

“Nothing in any future I see can replace the communal theatrical experience,” emphasized Lionsgate Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson at the top of Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation, which closed out the 2023 Las Vegas confab this afternoon.

Rapper MoneySign Suede has died after he was stabbed in a shower at a California prison, authorities and his attorney said. Jaime Brugada Valdez, 22, of Huntington Park, was found in the shower area of the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad shortly before 10 p.m.Tuesday, according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Denzel Washington is stepping into some familiar shoes for his new project. The 68-year-old reprises his role as the justice-driven Robert McCall for “The Equalizer 3”, the final entry in the film adaptation of the ’80s television series of the same name.