Movies

An artist who defaced several works of famed graffiti artist Banksy has been charged with the crime of vandalism -- which is pretty incredible since Banksy's collection is itself an act of vandalism.

David William Noll has been charged with FELONY vandalism. According to the criminal complaint -- obtained by TMZ -- Noll defaced 2 of Banksy's most famous works -- Girl on Swing and Peeing Dog.

The L.A. County D.A. filed FOUR separate vandalism charges, because Noll allegedly defaced both works and 5 days later went back and used paint remover on the walls. Max penalty -- 5 years in prison.

Noll could end up on L.A.'s stupidest criminals list ... because he recorded himself painting over Banksy's art, and then posted it on YouTube. The LAPD got a search warrant to get his info from YouTube, and then nabbed the 35-year-old at his mom's house in Modesto.

We asked the D.A. why they didn't also charge Banksy, since he too was a vandal ... and a bragger at that.

The D.A. says the only way they will prosecute for vandalism is if the property owner complains -- and Banksy got lucky ... no one complained about his art ... but they definitely weren't into Noll's handiwork.

According to the LAPD police report ... the company that owns the Girl On Swing building -- a jeweler called Tarina Tarantino -- believes Banksy's work increased the value of the property by $650,000.

Jordan Belfort's creditors are baffled that the real-life Wolf of Wall Street can still afford to live it up in a SoCal beachfront home -- despite owing nearly $100 million to his bilked investors -- and now, one New York creditor is calling BS ... chasing Jordan's ass down in California.

LR Credit previously obtained a judgment against Belfort in New York for $27,597 stemming from unpaid retail purchases Belfort made during his heyday -- but Belfort fled to ritzy Manhattan Beach, CA ... where he reportedly rents a $4 million mansion.

By moving to Cali, Belfort escaped LR Credit's judgment against him -- but only temporarily.

The collection agency just filed new legal docs to make their NY judgment enforceable in Cali ... meaning Belfort's back in its crosshairs.

With Belfort's ENDLESS list of other creditors, however, LR may have to wait in line.

Former NASCAR driver Leilani Munter WILL be taking her "Blackfish" car to Talladega, TMZ has learned -- all thanks to an incredibly generous donation from "Simpsons" co-creator Sam Simon.

As we reported, Leilani had desperately been trying to raise money to pay for the $115,000 fee to enter the car for a big race at an ARCA event at Talladega Superspeedway on May 3rd. As of our last story, she had raised only $7,500.

But that all changed last week -- Leilani appeared on Simon's radio show to talk about her car and orca-related activism ... and Simon was so moved, Leilani tells us, he donated the balance of her entrance fee immediately after the show ... $107,500.

We're told Simon visited Taiji in February (the place where "The Cove" was shot) and has become an outspoken advocate for the humane treatment of orcas. Leilani tells us, she plans to win the race on behalf of orcas around the world suffering in captivity.

Sam -- who has terminal colon cancer -- has vowed to give away his fortune before he dies ... specifically toward animal rights and feeding the hungry.

As if giving the world "The Simpsons" wasn't enough.

Sam Worthington played the celebrity card when he was arrested for allegedly attacking a photog ... asking the cop, "Have you seen the movie, 'Avatar?'" ... this according to the photog's lawyer.

Photographer Sheng Li was in court this AM ... he's also charged with assault as well as harassment. Sheng's lawyer, Mark Heller, painted his client as the victim of a boorish star, who assaulted his client and then tried robbing him by grabbing his camera and attempting to steal it.

Worthington was not in court ... his case is being handled separately.

It's unclear what Heller is trying to do here -- because if his client really did assault Worthington, it doesn't matter if Worthington tried playing the celeb card.

But the always entertaining Heller knows how to put on a show.

Gerard Butler looks ready to do battle with Xerxes again, flashing his buff bod on Sydney's Bondi Beach yesterday.

THIS ... IS ... Atkins? Jenny Craig? More gym, less lunch?

Zac Efron doesn't have any problems with drugs ... at least that's what Zac Efron thinks, according to his friends -- who say anyone telling him otherwise is quickly 86'ed.

TMZ has learned the actor's friends are scared to broach the subject of Zac's sobriety ... because not only will they be ignored -- but they say anyone who makes an attempt is cut from Efron's life.

We're told Zac refuses to believe he's on a destructive path ... and one of his friends tells us they think he could become the next Cory Monteith if he doesn't get help.

As we previously reported ... Zac's friends say he never went to a real rehab facility last year. Instead, they say he received private therapy at a friends house.

Nikki Reed ditched her wedding ring and tucked her head between her legs Saturday in Los Angeles ... just a day after announcing her divorce.

Reed hit up a yoga studio yesterday in Los Angeles and seemed to be in a pretty somber mood -- makes sense, her and "American Idol" star Paul McDonald just ended their marriage.

The couple says they're still working on an album together ... but they've been living separately for the past 6 months.

There is, a house ... in Florida ... and when he's there, Bill Murray loves singing cover songs.

The comedy legend took to the stage Friday night in St. Augustine at the Murray Bros. Caddyshack Restaurant ... and performed a rousing set of songs -- including "Gloria" by Van Morrison and "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals.

We're told Murray jammed out for around 45 minutes ... and in the video, the crowd was clearly stoked.

The man court staff believed was Johnny Depp when he got married on the courthouse steps says even though he's a newlywed, he'd still do the dirty with the real Johnny's real fiance.

Erez Peretz, was back on the streets of Hollywood -- where he makes his living impersonating Johnny -- one day after exchanging vows with his wife.

Fake Johnny says his wife isn't the jealous type ... and even though we didn't see her, she sounds like a babe. She works nearby on Hollywood Blvd. as a fake Playboy bunny.

In Hollywood, boob don't have a corner on fake.

Nick Prugo -- who masterminded the Bling Ring string of heists on L.A. celebs -- has just been sentenced to 160 days in jail for violating his parole.

TMZ broke the story ... Nick got dragged into a murder-for-hire case involving the skin care specialist to the stars, who allegedly solicited a former Detroit Lions' player to kill one of her competitors.

When the skin care lady was arrested, she dropped a dime on Nick, telling cops she was friends with him and he had left California in violation of his parole.

Nick served prison time for his role in the Bling Ring cases.

In the current case ... the judge mentioned that Nick may have also committed credit card fraud.

TMZ was flooded with emails and phone calls this morning tipping us off that Johnny Depp just married Amber Heard ... but now we know they were all fooled by a PHENOMENAL impersonator.

A guy who looks just like Jack Sparrow tied the knot yesterday at the Ventura County Courthouse. It was a real marriage ... not a hoax.

The guy was a DEAD RINGER for Depp (above) ... even dressed just like him. Everyone thought he was really Johnny ... and lots of Depp fans took pics with him.

Let's hope the wedding video comes out better than the "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels.

Frank Sivero -- known for playing pistol-packing mob guys in movies -- got pinched for real by L.A. cops for carrying a loaded weapon in public ... but the actor tells TMZ something's fishy.

Sivero was busted March 17 at his North Hollywood apartment building. He says he was escorting a lady friend out of the building just after 2 A.M. ... and happened to grab a jacket that had a gun in the pocket -- a .38 special he says he found a few years ago.

According to Sivero ... when they reached the lobby, cops were already there, waiting for him ... and he has no idea why. Frank says cops grabbed him, hauled him outside and searched him ... and that's when they found the gun.

Sivero -- who played Frankie Carbone in "Goodfellas" -- was taken to jail and released several days later. He was not taken to the freezer while in custody.

The silver lining ... all the inmates were big, big fans.

It's pretty much impossible not to laugh at this -- Arnold Schwarzenegger completely losing his crap while trying to do the Nae Nae on TV ... and then taking it up a notch ... with the Stanky Legg.

Arnold and Joe Manganiello just appeared on BET's "106 & Park" to promote their new movie together -- and hosts Bow Wow and Keshia put the guys' dance moves to the test.

James Van Der Beek thinks it would be sacrilegious if a new actor donned Harrison Ford's iconic fedora in a new Indiana Jones movie ... unless that actor was him.

Our photogs caught up with the "Friends With Better Lives" star in New York City yesterday ... where we asked him about the huge rumor that Bradley Cooper might be the next Indy.

Van Der Beek was dead set against the idea of anyone new taking the role, but when we asked if he would want to do it ... he hilariously deadpanned, "Absolutely. F*** Harrison Ford."

Rapper Saigon -- Turtle's hip hop phenom from "Entourage" -- isn't unhinged by the recent Poltergeisty accidents on the movie set ... he tells TMZ, a movie curse could actually be a good thing.

As we reported, Kevin Connolly broke his leg on set last week, Kevin Dillon broke his wrist shortly before filming, and a crew member's dog was run over by a car -- but Saigon believes all the weird coincidences will translate into BIG MONEY at the box office.