Maggie Smith, scene-stealing actor famed for Harry Potter and ‘Downton Abbey,’ dies at 89

Maggie Smith, scene-stealing actor famed for Harry Potter and ‘Downton Abbey,’ dies at 89

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Maggie Smith, the masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “ Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Friday. She was … Read more

Bianca Leigh Talks ‘Oh, Mary!’ And Working With Cole Escola

Bianca Leigh Talks ‘Oh, Mary!’ And Working With Cole Escola

As one of the stars of “Oh, Mary!” on Broadway, Bianca Leigh is thrilled to be performing to sold-out crowds and garnering some of the best reviews of her career. Still, she’s aware it could very well be a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience that never happens again. “It’s a funny feeling, saying that this is as good … Read more

James Earl Jones, acclaimed actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93

James Earl Jones, acclaimed actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93

NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen — eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader — has died. He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died … Read more

Luca Guadagnino and Daniel Craig present ‘Queer’ to Venice Film Festival

Luca Guadagnino and Daniel Craig present ‘Queer’ to Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy — VENICE, Italy (AP) — Venice Film Festival regular Luca Guadagnino is back on the Lido to debut his new Daniel Craig film “Queer” on Tuesday night. A festival favorite, Guadagnino had to forgo a splashy red carpet premiere for the sexy tennis drama “Challengers” last year, when the studio delayed its release … Read more

Q&A: Ian McKellen is his own harshest critic as he discusses his stage fall and new thriller

Q&A: Ian McKellen is his own harshest critic as he discusses his stage fall and new thriller

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Ian McKellen is listening to his inner critic. It’s beating him up for not finishing out his latest theater role after he fell off the stage during a June performance of “Player Kings” and spent three nights in the hospital. “Emotionally, I feel guilty and ashamed, you know, quite irrational … Read more

Q&A: Ian McKellen is his own harshest critic as he discusses his stage fall and new thriller

Q&A: Ian McKellen is his own harshest critic as he discusses his stage fall and new thriller

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Ian McKellen is listening to his inner critic. It’s beating him up for not finishing out his latest theater role after he fell off the stage during a June performance of “Player Kings” and spent three nights in the hospital. “Emotionally, I feel guilty and ashamed, you know, quite irrational … Read more

‘Deadpool’ and ‘Alien’ top charts again as ‘Blink Twice’ sees quiet opening

‘Deadpool’ and ‘Alien’ top charts again as ‘Blink Twice’ sees quiet opening

LOS ANGELES — In a sleepy summer weekend at the box office, holdovers reigned supreme as newcomers landed without a splash. “Deadpool & Wolverine” reclaimed first place at the North American box office in its fifth weekend with $18.3 million. Its cumulative international earnings now sit at over $1.2 billion. The Walt Disney Co., which … Read more

The lead actors are revealed for the Broadway-bound dramatic sea musical ‘Swept Away’

The lead actors are revealed for the Broadway-bound dramatic sea musical ‘Swept Away’

NEW YORK — The four stars who helped shape the new musical “Swept Away” — John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe and Wayne Duvall — will steer the nautical tale to the commercial waves of Broadway. The tale about four men stranded in the Atlantic Ocean after a 19th-century shipwreck features songs from … Read more

Alyssa Milano to make her Broadway debut in the razzle-dazzle musical ‘Chicago’ this fall

Alyssa Milano to make her Broadway debut in the razzle-dazzle musical ‘Chicago’ this fall

NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — Alyssa Milano hopes to charm audiences when she makes her Broadway debut this fall in the musical “Chicago,” adding her celebrity to a show that skewers celebrity culture. “The beauty of theater is that you get to try new things every night,” she tells The Associated Press. “That’s … Read more

On Broadway, two stars of ‘Aladdin’ trace their roles all the way to middle school

On Broadway, two stars of ‘Aladdin’ trace their roles all the way to middle school

NEW YORK — Some years ago, when Sonya Balsara and Adi Roy were in middle school, they were cast in kiddie versions of the musical “Aladdin.” Little did they know it would be very good preparation — for the same roles on Broadway. More than a decade after hitting their marks in the show as … Read more