2012
By Joseph Martinez -
Less than a week before it opens wide in the U.S., "Dark Shadows" held its star studded Hollywood premiere on Monday, May 7, 2012. Taking place at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the special screening event was attended by it's cast members including Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jackie Earle Haley and Chloe Grace Moretz. The attendees walked down a black carpet and several of them, including Depp, met the crowd of fans lining Hollywood Bloulevard before the screening, graciously signing autographs and posing for pictures.
Other guests included Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper (who plays himself in the film), Peter Fonda, along with original TV "Dark Shadows" actors Lara Parker (Angelique), David Selby (Quentin Collins) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans).
Fashion stand-outs included Michelle Pfeiffer as she dazzled on the carpet wearing a short burnished gold Lanvin dress and necklace by designer sister-in-law Rona Pfeiffer. Bella Heathcote chose a a tiered white dress featuring a frilled shoulder and delicate vintage-style fabric while Chloe Grace Moretz donned a shimmering blue Stella McCartney short dress.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Depp took time to honor Jonathan Frid, the Canadian actor originally behind the cloak, and whose death Friday April 13 at the age of 87 came just weeks ahead of the film’s premiere. “His elegance and grace was an inspiration then and will continue to remain one forever more,”. Depp added, “When I had the honor to finally meet him … [he] generously passed the torch of Barnabas.” Johnny Depp met Frid on the film’s set, where the original Barnabas Collins and four of his Dark Shadows TV series costars shot cameos. (Photo © 2012 Joe Martinez / PictureLux)
View more celebrity photos of Johnny Depp at PictureLuximages.com
2012
John Cusack honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
By Joseph Martinez -
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce welcomed actor John Cusack to the Hollywood Walk of Fame as he received his star on Tuesday, April 24th at 11:30 a.m. in front of Larry Edmunds Bookshop and reunited him with old co-stars like Dan Aykroyd, Jack Black, Billy Bob Thorton, and of course his sister Joan Cusack.
Why place the
star in front of a bookshop? In his latest role, Cusack stars as the
infamous author Edgar Allen Poe in Relativity’s upcoming thriller "The
Raven" set for release In theatres April 27th, the macabre and lurid
tales of Poe are vividly brought to life and death, when a madman begins
committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works.
Why
John Cusack? Well, why not. With an impressive body of work spanning
the course of nearly three decades, Cusack has evolved into one of
Hollywood’s most accomplished and respected actors of his generation,
garnering both critical acclaim as well as prestigious accolades for his
dramatic and comedic roles.
Cusack’s list of film credits
stretches all the way to the early 1980's and includes such titles as:
Igor, which he lent his voice-talent; Joshua Seftel’s War, Inc., James
C. Strouse’s Grace is Gone, Menno Meyjes’ Martian Child, Mikael
Håfström’s 1408, Harold Ramis’ The Ice Harvest, Gary Fleder’s Runaway
Jury, James Mangold’s Identity, Mennoy Meyjes’ Max, Tim Robbins’ Cradle
Will Rock, Mike Newell’s Pushing Tin, Peter Chelsom’s Serendipity,
Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line, Simon West’s Con Air, Clint
Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Harold Becker’s City
Hall, Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway and Shadows and Fog, Joe
Roth’s America’s Sweethearts, Alan Parker’s The Road to Wellville,
Herbert Ross’ True Colors, James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News and Rob
Reiner’s Stand By Me and also lent his voice in the full-length animated
feature film Anastasia.
Cusack first gained the attention of
audiences by starring in a number of 1980s film classics such as The
Sure Thing, Say Anything, Sixteen Candles and Better Off Dead. The actor
shed his teen-heartthrob image by next starring in a wide range of
dramas, thrillers and comedies including The Grifters, Eight Men Out,
Being John Malkovich, Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, which he
was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor
in a Comedy or Musical.
On the small screen, Cusack starred in
HBO’s telefilm “The Jack Bull,” a traditional Western written by his
father Dick Cusack. He also served as executive producer on the film.
Cusack
will also be seen next in Lee Daniels’ The Paperboy and has recently
starred in Hot Tub Time Machine, which he also produced as well as
Roland Emmerich’s 2012. Later this year, Cusack will star opposite
Nicolas Cage in Frozen Ground. (© 2012 Joe Martinez / PictureLux )
John Cusack Trivia per IMDB.com:
- Turned down Woody Harrelson's role in Indecent Proposal (1993).
- Turned down Bill Paxton's role in Apollo 13 (1995).
- On free time likes to go "Helecopter Snowboarding" and kick-boxing with stunt coordinator Benny Urquidez. Has a black belt in kick-boxing.
- Sister Joan Cusack appeared in 10 of his movies.
- Is Irish-American. The name Cusack is not Slavic as many may believe. It is a Norman name, brought to Ireland when the Normans invaded in 1169. "Cussac" is a city in South Central France.
- Member of the "Brat Pack", the name for the actors who tended to star in teen movies of the 80's. Others include Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Demi Moore, Charlie Sheen and Diane Lane.
- Was originally the actor chosen to play John Bender in the The Breakfast Club (1985). At the last minute, things changed and Judd Nelson ended up in the role.
View more celebrity photos of John Cusack at PictureLuximages.com
2012
By Joseph Martinez -
Actress Kim Novak, a huge box-office draw
of the 1950s, was immortalized on Hollywood Boulevard when she sank
her hands, feet and unintentionally, knuckles as she steadied herself
while getting up, into a block of wet cement in the forecourt of
Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday, April 14, 2012.
Veteran
Hollywood Stars, Debbie Reynolds, Connie Stevens and Lainie Kazan were
in attendance lending their support to Kim for this coveted Hollywood
honor. Letters of congratulations from Nicole Kidman and Renee
Zellweger were read, as they could not be present at the ceremony.
The
star of 'Picnic' and 'Vertigo', revealed to an audience at the TCM
Classic Film Festival on Friday that she regrets having had to leave
Hollywood because of her bipolar disorder. "I'm bipolar," she said,
"but there's medicine you can take for this now. I was not diagnosed
until much later. I go through more of the depression than the mania
part." Novak, now 79, said that even though studios tried turn her into
a "beach girl, I needed something complicated because I was
complicated." Eventually the emotional pressures of the industry became
too much for her and she moved to Big Sur to paint, a decision, she
now says, she often second-guesses. (photo by © 2012 Joe
Martinez/PictureLux)
Kim Novak Trivia per IMDB.com:
Raises horses and llamas in Oregon and California
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#92) in 1995
For
a scene in Picnic (1955) in which she had to cry, she asked director
Joshua Logan to pinch her black and blue off screen, telling him, "I can
only cry when I'm hurt."
Turned down the female lead in
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), The Hustler (1961) and Animal House
(1978) among others because she was focusing her time on personal
activities.
She did agree to change her first name from Marilyn to Kim, as the public associated her given name with Marilyn Monroe.
She
arrived in Hollywood as The Lavendar Girl. When she became a star at
Columbia Pictures, the studio had her blonde hair tinted with lavender
highlights.
View more celebrity photos from this event at PictureLuximages.com
2012
Malcolm McDowell honored in Hollywood
By Joseph Martinez -
Malcolm McDowell, star of Stanley
Kubrick's classic "A Clockwork Orange", was honored with the 2,465th
star, outside Hollywood Boulevard's British pub The Pig n' Whistle, on
Friday March 16, 2012. He posed with his wife Kelley and their son
Beckett, as the plaque was unveiled to the media and well-wishing fans
from around the country.
Among the ceremony's highlights were
Gary Oldman heartfelt speech that paid tribute to his friend Malcolm
McDowell, hailing the star for inspiring him to take up acting. The
Harry Potter star revealed, "It was like the lights went on in my life,
in much the same way that John Lennon saw Elvis on screen and said
'That's a good job, I'd like to do that for a living'. I saw Malcolm in
this film and I thought, 'This is what I want to do'."
During his
acceptance speech, Malcolm McDowell told the crowd, "For a lad that
grew up in Liverpool (England), Hollywood was this notion of everything
that was incredible in the movies, and Hollywood has meant so much to
the rest of the world - we take it, because we live in LA, sort of for
granted."
The British pub that overlooks the star, The Pig n'
Whistle, has named a special drink in McDowell's honor called The
Clockwork Orange. (photos: © 2012 Joe Martinez / Picturelux)
Malcolm McDowell Trivia per IMDB.com:
- His first wife, Margot Bennett, was Keir Dullea's ex-wife. Keir was the main character in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), while McDowell was the main character in Kubrick's next film, A Clockwork Orange (1971).
- Has said that his favorite actor of all time is James Cagney.
- Has appeared in three different films involving time travel: Time After Time (1979), Star Trek: Generations (1994) and Just Visiting (2001).
- His performance as Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange (1971) was ranked 100 on the list of the "100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time".
- As he wanted to get into the SAG, he took his mother's maiden name McDowell because there was another British actor called Malcolm Taylor.
What to Watch:
- A Clockwork Orange, 1971
- Caligula, 1979
- Time After Time, 1979
- Star Trek: Generations, 1994
View more celebrity photos of Malcolm McDowell at PictureLuximages.com
2012
By Joseph Martinez -
Every year, on Oscar night, I look forward to coming to the “Night of One Hundred Stars” Awards Gala, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, to see my old friends. Well, they are not really my friends, but I like to think of them as such since I grew up watching many of them on television and at the movies.
I mean, who can forget stars like Richard Dreyfuss, in "American Graffiti" trying desperately to find that blonde in the Thunderbird…and how about Lou Ferrigno busting at the seams as he shape shifts into the extremely annoyed "Incredible Hulk" …or John Savage playing Russian roulette with the Vietcong in "The Deer Hunter"…and how about Tanya Roberts as one of the Angels in the 5th and final season of "Charlie’s Angels"… or former playmate Stella Stevens as Jerry Lewis' love interest in "The Nutty Professor", and in the music realm, Frankie Valli, voice of the number 1 hit “Grease” from the film of the same name, or ... well you get the idea. The list goes on and on and so do the fond memories.
In my mind, they are all my very dear friends... and the other night; I had the opportunity to see them all over again …sort of like re-runs, but this time through the unforgiving lens of time. Sure they are all getting just a bit older, and they aren’t exactly as I remember them, but who isn’t getting older. Although not in their Hollywood prime, they still have that Hollywood aura that many of the newer "celebrities" lack these days. So enjoy the photos and the fond memories of days gone by. On this one night, when things are aligned just right, magic happens and the Hollywood limelight emanates from these old friends one more time. (photo © 2012 Joe Martinez/PictureLux)
View more celebrity photos from this, and prior, "Night of 100 Stars" at PictureLuximages.com
2012
Reese Witherspoon, 'This Means War' Premiere
By Joseph Martinez -
Oscar-winning beauty, Reese Witherspoon, looked gorgeous in a cleavage-bearing Miu Miu, which she matched with some Christian Louboutin pumps at the Los Angeles Premiere of "This Mean's War" held at the Chinese Theater on February 8, 2012. With looks this hot, can you blame Tom Hardy and Chris Pine for fighting for her affections in the movie.
Joining Reese on the Red Carpet were Tom Hardy, Chris Pine, Angela Bassett, Chelsea Handler, Abigail Spencer, Laura Vandervoort, Monet Mazur, Krista B. Allen, among others.
Directed by McG, "This Means War" is an action spy comedy about two CIA agents (Hardy, Pine) who find themselves falling for the same woman (Witherspoon).
The film also stars comedienne Chelsea Handler, who is good friends with Witherspoon in real life. On Wednesday, Witherspoon posted a photo of herself and Handler on ReeseWitherspoon.com:
"Chelsea and I are feeling like Thelma and Louise. Sans headscarves and sunglasses," Witherspoon wrote."This Means War" arrives in theaters on Feb. 17, 2012. (photos: © 2012 Joe Martinez / Picturelux)
View more celebrity photos of Reese Witherspoon at PictureLuxImages.com
2012
Rachel McAdams Wows at 'The Vow' Premiere
By Joseph Martinez -
Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum teamed up on the red carpet and "wowed the crowd" at the Hollywood premiere of the romantic tearjerker, "The Vow", on Monday February 6, 2012. Held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the attractive onscreen couple posed alongside one another during the Media event while Channing then rendezvoused with his wife Jenna Dewan prior to the film's screening.
To go along with the film's release, Rachel decided to adopt a new 'do: she debuted these blunt bangs at the premiere.
McAdams wore a mint green Vivienne Westwood ruffle dress paired with Pomellato jewelry and beige Louboutin Pigalle pumps.
It's no secret that the film is a real tearjerker. The Stars reveal to the LA Times, just what movies cause them to get a little emotional.
"I cry at 'Finding Neverland,'" Tatum admitted."Oh, yeah. That's a sad one," McAdams agreed, adding that the film that always gets her is "'The Way We Were.'" "I mean, I woke my sister up [from crying so loud]. She was sleeping while I was watching it and woke up and was, like, 'What's wrong? What's going on here?'"
Other stars turning up to check out the Michael Sucsy directed romantic drama (and to walk the carpet of course) included E! realty stars sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, as well as Teresa Palmer and Bella Thorne. (photos: © 2012 Joe Martinez / Picturelux)
About the film:
Paige and Leo (Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) are a happy newlywed couple whose lives are changed by a car accident that puts Paige in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, Paige has no memory of Leo, a confusing relationship with her parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange), and an ex-fiancé (Scott Speedman) she may still have feelings for. Despite these complications, Leo endeavors to win her heart again and rebuild their marriage.
View more celebrity photos of Rachel McAdams at PictureLuxImages.com
2012
By Joseph Martinez -
The world premiere of Warner Brothers' Pictures "Joyful Noise" was
held last night, Monday January 9, 2012 at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in
Hollywood, CA.
All of the leads in the film including Queen
Latifah and Dolly Parton were present at the event ...and as you may have
guessed, this film is a musical with comedic overtones. Although the
"Queen" was present, it was Dolly who stole the show, and the headlines,
as this is her first non-cameo screen acting role in 20 years.
Parton
looked gorgeous in a cleavage-baring tight frock that she paired with a
cross necklace and bejeweled sandal heels. The 65-year-old songstress
finished off her look with hot pink polish on her nails. Latifah,
meanwhile, looked simple-but-chic in a green dress and a pair of brown
shoes.
Other names present at the premiere included Viveca A. Fox
and Paula Patton as well as the Cyrus clan including Billy Ray Cyrus,
Brandi Cyrus, Leticia and Noah. No Miley though, (Dolly's Goddaughter)
as she must have had prior commitments. (photos by © 2012 Joe Martinez /
PictureLux)
About The Film:
Oscar® nominees Queen Latifah
("Chicago," "Hairspray") and Dolly Parton ("Transamerica," "Steel
Magnolias," "Nine to Five") star in Alcon Entertainment's and Warner
Bros. Pictures' "Joyful Noise," a funny and inspirational story of
music, hope, love and renewal.
The small town of Pacashau,
Georgia, has fallen on hard times, but the people are counting on the
Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits by winning the National
Joyful Noise Competition. The choir has always known how to sing in
harmony, but the discord between its two leading ladies now threatens to
tear them apart. Their newly appointed director, Vi Rose Hill
(Latifah), stubbornly wants to stick with their tried-and-true
traditional style, while the fiery G.G. Sparrow (Parton) thinks
tried-and-true translates to tired-and-old.
The film is set to be released in U.S. theaters on January 13, 2012.
Dolly Parton Trivia Per IMDB:
- One of 12 children; grew up in a 1-room cabin in Tennessee.
- Owner/namesake of Smokey Mountain area theme park, "Dollywood", located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA.
- Her late father Robert was one of 15 children, and her mother Avie (Owens) was one of 10 children.
- The world's first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, was named after Parton.
- Inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on February 4, 1969.
- Had such a miserable time during filming of Straight Talk (1992), that she effectively retired from big screen acting. All her work since has been television work or appearances as herself.
- Godmother of Miley Cyrus.
- Various tabloids have reported that her breast implants - which she has never disputed having - have increased her measurements to anywhere from 38CC to a high mark of 48DD
- Her Oscar nominated song "9 To 5" from Nine to Five (1980) was ranked #78 while her song writing contribution, "I Will Always Love You", from The Bodyguard (1992) came in at #65 on The American Film Institute's list of AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies (2004) (TV).
View more celebrity photos of Dolly Parton at PictureLux Imagesearch
2011
By Joseph Martinez -
A mile-long black carpet and an enormous disco ball set the stage on Hollywood Boulevard for the premiere of a movie with a giant celebrity ensemble cast Monday, December 5, 2011. "New Year's Eve" is the follow-up to director Gary Marshall's $216 million global hit "Valentine's Day," and was one of the year's biggest premieres in terms of star power.
Turning up at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to promote the upcoming holiday flick were cast members including Lea Michele, Ashton Kutcher, Zac Efron, Katherine Heigl, Hilary Swank, Ludacris, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alyssa Milano, Josh Duhamel (with Fergie), Sofia Vergara, Abigail Breslin, Ryan Seacrest to name a few.
Among the notable looks at the event: Fergie in a silver Monique Lhuillier dress, Michelle Pfeiffer in purple Dolce & Gabbana, Lea Michele in Valentino and Hilary Swank in sparkling blue Elie Saab.
Hollywood Notes:
- Ashton Kutcher came solo and snuck behind costar Lea Michele while she took pictures, to steal a kiss behind the ear.
- The cast of Glee — including included Cory Monteith, Kevin McHale, Harry Shum Jr., Chris Colfer, and Darren Criss — came to support Michele
- Fergie, dressed and blew kisses like Marilyn Monroe
- Abigail Breslin revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that this was her first on-screen kiss. “It was very professional. There were a lot of breath mints on set,” said Breslin. Breslin, who stars as a 15-year-old who wants to spend New Year’s Eve with her friends rather than her mother (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) also told THR that she and Parker spent most of their time talking about American Idol, a show they both love.
(photos: © 2011 Joe Martinez / Picturelux)
2011
By Joseph Martinez -
The latest 'Twilight' movie premiered Monday night, November 14, 2011, and eager fans camped out for days in anticipation of this event.
Nearly
1,000 fans camped out in a 'tent city' set up near the Nokia Theater in
downtown Los Angeles over the weekend. Many arrived as early as last
Thursday from all over the country and various parts of the world.
The
tents were removed Monday morning, but the fans received wrist bands to
return later in the day for the premiere of "The Twilight Saga:
Breaking Dawn Part 1," the fourth installment in the franchise starring
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.
As they
walked the red carpet at the Nokia Theater, the stars of the film spent a
much of the time thanking the fans who are fanatically devoted to the
books and films.
Stewart wore a long black and violet J. Mendel
column gown and Jimmy Choo pumps, while both Pattinson and Lautner
looked dapper in their suits. Newlywed Nikki Reed dazzled on the carpet,
as well as Peter Facinelli who plays the head of the Cullen vampire
clan. The stars of the film were joined by an army of other celebrities,
who looked as excited as the crowd to see the fourth film in the
vampire/werewolf drama.( photos and video © 2011 Joe Martinez /
Picturelux - All Rights Reserved)
The movie opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, Nov. 18.
View more celebrity photos of Kristen Stewart at PictureLux Imagesearch