Robert pattinson

Philanthropist Robert F. Smith delivered a life-changing commencement speech Sunday at Morehouse College in Atlanta . The billionaire businessman, who received an honorary degree from the historically black school, surprised the nearly 400 graduating seniors by announcing his family would provide a grant to pay off student debt for the entire Class of 2019. “On behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we’re gonna put a little fuel in your bus,” Smith said in a video posted on social media. “This is my class,” he added, “and I know my class will pay this forward.” [Video Above] The gift to the private, all-male school is said to be worth about $40 million. It comes in addition to a $1.5 million donation Smith gave Morehouse earlier this year for scholarships and a new park. Some students told the Atlanta Journal Constitution they were graduating with around $90,000 in debt. Smith is a Cornell grad, and has an MBA … [Read more...] about Billionaire ‘Intruder’ Producer Robert F. Smith Vows To Pay Off Morehouse Grads’ Student Debt

Robert J. Ross , the former SVP East Coast Operations for CBS Broadcasting, died June 19. He was at the network from October 1998 until his retirement in 2017. Ross was responsible for the conversion of the CBS Television Network Broadcast Origination Center (BOC) to HD and the construction of the Media Distribution Center (MDC) that provided HD distribution for the CBS and CW networks, as well as video-on-demand; the rebuild of the network’s satellite distribution system; the conversion from videotape to file-based digital distribution for both domestic and international syndication; the restoration of the Ed Sullivan Theater for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert; and the design and construction of key production areas for CBS Sports, the CBS Evening News , and CBS This Morning. Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery “The CBS family was saddened to learn of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Robert Ross,” according to a network … [Read more...] about Robert J. Ross Dies: Former Head Of East Coast Operations At CBS

Robert Katz, a film and television producer best known for Gettysburg, Selena, and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, died June 22 at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys following a long battle with lung cancer. He was 79 years old and his death was confirmed by his family. Katz was born February 7,1943 in Los Angeles, where he grew up, graduated high school, and attended college. Katz served in the US Marines as a jet fighter pilot. In the mid 1960s, he was detailed to Israel, where he helped to train the Israeli Air Force. Following his honorable discharge, he was a bush pilot in Africa, traveling with documentary film crews. This inspired him to become a filmmaker, producing more than 70 documentaries for French and American television about the wars of liberation in Africa, accompanying the independence forces in what is now Zimbabwe, as well as neighboring countries. He was a founder of a medical education company, Medcom, Inc., which he successfully took … [Read more...] about Robert A. Katz Dies: Oscar And Emmy-Nominated Producer On ‘Introducing Dorothy Dandridge’ And Films ‘Gettysburg’ And ‘Selena’ Was 79

Gallery Launch Gallery 305Pics Robert Griffin III went straight from the altar to the beach with his new wife for a little volleyball ... and a major love tap. Newlyweds RGIII and Grete Sadeiko hit up Miami Beach Sunday, a day after tying the knot in town. They seemed to be kickin' ass as a team on the sand ... Grete was showing off a lot of ass, too, which didn't go unnoticed by her NFL star hubby. This is RG's second marriage. Grete gave birth to their daughter last summer -- he's got another kid with his ex-wife, Rebecca Liddicoat . They finalized their divorce last year. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. The ceremony was super romantic, with RG3 and Grete sharing a dance to Ed Sheeran 's "Perfect." Griffin was decked out in a light blue tux, and Grete went with a traditional bride's dress. He shouted out his spouse afterward, calling her his hero all along. Waiting for your permission to load the … [Read more...] about Robert Griffin III and Wife Play Volleyball in Miami After Getting Married

Most of the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 looks pretty normal right now: Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Jack Harlow’s “First Class,” Future’s “Wait For U” (feat. Drake and Tems), Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.” But when you get to Number Five, you’ve entered the Upside Down — there’s Kate Bush ’s utterly perfect 1985 single “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” way higher than it ever got on the U.S. charts in its first run, during Ronald Reagan’s second term. And in her native U.K., “Running Up That Hill” has actually returned to Number One. It’s all, of course, due to the song becoming a key plot point in the new Stranger Things , where it literally saves the life of Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink, also the star of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” short film ). In the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now , Rob Sheffield joins host Brian Hiatt to talk about “Running Up That Hill,” why Kate Bush is primed for a generational rediscovery à la Joni Mitchell, the history of old … [Read more...] about How ‘Stranger Things’ Made Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ a Gen-Z Hit

The West End hit musical Back to the Future will, as widely expected, get a Broadway staging in 2023, producers confirmed in a tweet today. “Synchronize Your Watches — The Future’s coming to Broadway in 2023!!!,” the tweet, which includes a brief teaser clip, says. Production details, including casting and dates, were not announced. The musical, based on the 1985 hit film that starred Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, features music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Bob Gale, adapted from the original screenplay by Robert Zemeckis and Gale. The West End production, which opened in 2021, stars Olly Dobson in the Fox role of Marty McFly, and Roger Bart as Emmett “Doc” Brown, played in the film by Lloyd. Back to the Future was named Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards. Check out the teaser below. Synchronize Your Watches — The Future's coming to Broadway in 2023!!! Sign up to be the first to buy tickets! … [Read more...] about ‘Back To The Future’ Musical Confirms Broadway 2023 Opening

James Rado , who along with his friend and writing partner Gerome Ragni created Broadway ’s seminal Age of Aquarius musical Hair , died peacefully Tuesday evening of cardio respiratory arrest in New York City, surrounded by family. He was 90. His death was announced by his longtime friend, publicist Merle Frimark. Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery Rado and Ragni, who died in 1991, wrote the book and lyrics to the landmark musical (full title: Hair – The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical ), with music composed by Galt MacDermot, who died in 2018. In addition to its hugely influential insertion of a ’60s counterculture sensibility into Broadway’s mainstream, the musical contributed a score of songs that would become radio hits (often in cover versions) and stage musical standards: “Aquarius,” “Let The Sunshine In,” “Hair,” “Ain’t Got No/I Got Life,”  “Good Morning Starshine,” “Easy To Be Hard,” among others. In addition to co-creating the … [Read more...] about James Rado Dies: ‘Hair’ Co-Creator & Star Of Broadway’s Groundbreaking Rock Musical Was 90

Outfest has announced the complete lineup for its 40th-anniversary Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival , which will take place from July 14-24 at multiple locations throughout Los Angeles. More than 200 films, representing 29 countries, will screen as part of this year’s lineup. 42 will make their world premieres, including the doc Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story from Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films and Pulse Films; the UK feature Phea , starring Sherika Sherard; Mercedes Kane’s Art and Pep ; and Scout Durwood’s Youtopia. Outfest Los Angeles’ Episodics section will also feature a host of world premieres, including advanced looks at at Shudder’s forthcoming docuseries Queer for Fear ; the comedy special Queer Riot, headlined by Margaret Cho; and writer-producer Des Moran’s series halfsies , as well as a free sneak peek screening of the upcoming Prime Video series A League of Their Own , starring Abbi Jacobson. The fest’s Platinum section, … [Read more...] about Outfest Rounds Out Lineup For Its 40th Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival

“There is nothing else to do for them except to them make them comfortable.” So says Vera Farmiga ’s Dr. Anna Pou in the first trailer for Apple TV’s Hurricane Katrina drama Five Days At Memorial . Written by EPs Oscar winner John Ridley and Emmy winner Carlton Cuse, the limited series chronicles the impact of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath on a New Orleans hospital. In the five days following the storm, thousands were trapped inside Memorial Medical Center. When the floodwaters rose, power failed and heat soared, exhausted caregivers at the hospital were forced to make decisions that would follow them for years to come. In addition to Farmiga, Robert Pine, Cherry Jones, Julie Ann Emery, Cornelius Smith Jr., Adepero Oduye, Molly Hager, Michael Gaston and W. Earl Brown also star in the series from ABC Signature based on Sheri Fink’s nonfiction book. Five Days At Memorial is executive produced and written by Cuse and Ridley, and directed by Cuse, Ridley and … [Read more...] about ‘Five Days At Memorial’ Teaser Trailer: Vera Farmiga Stars In Apple’s Hurricane Katrina Drama

The Shubert Foundation has awarded a record $37.6 million in unrestricted grants to not-for-profit theaters, dance companies, academic theater training programs, and related service agencies, and in addition has made two $1 million gifts to create endowed scholarships for theater students at Spelman College and Morehouse College , two of the most prominent HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). The grants and gifts were announced by the Foundation today. The $37.6 million figure tops last year’s record-setting $32.1 million by $5.5 million. “We are delighted to increase both our funding and the number of our grantees this year,” said Diana Phillips, President of The Shubert Foundation, in a statement. “While it has been exciting to see life return to the performing arts, Covid has dealt a terrible blow and there remains enormous need everywhere.” Established in 1945 by theater impresarios Lee and J.J. Shubert to honor their brother Sam, the … [Read more...] about Shubert Foundation Awards Record $37.6M In Grants To Non-Profit Arts, $2M For HBCU Scholarships