Movies

Al Sharpton counts Stan Lee as a pioneer at the height of the civil rights movement ... and one need not look further than Black Panther.

We got the Reverend on Capitol Hill Tuesday and wanted to get his take on the legendary Marvel Universe creator's death. TMZ broke the story ... Stan died Monday morning after he was rushed to the hospital. He was 95.

Al says Stan wasn't late to the game when it came to inclusion in Hollywood. Stan -- no stranger to tackling politically sensitive issues in his comic books -- created the Black Panther character in 1966, the first black superhero.

Stan Lee and his daughter, J.C. Lee, were working on a brand new superhero before he died, and she's vowing to push forward with the project.

J.C. was on Tuesday's "TMZ Live" to talk about her father's legacy, and revealed they have a new hero named Dirt Man in the works. J.C. created the character, but she says Stan worked with her on developing him ... right up until his last weekend.

As for what Dirt Man's powers are, or his origin story -- J.C. would only say "it's very interesting." However, she did tell us whether you'll see him in comics or on the big screen.

She got choked up discussing Stan's love for the fans ... something she says started many, many decades ago. J.C. has a specific plan that will keep her dad's legacy going.

As we first reported, Stan died Monday after he was rushed to a hospital from his Hollywood Hills home.

Stan Lee was smiling and cheerful during what would be his final sit-down with the man he trusted to run Marvel Comics.

This is the last known pic of Stan, taken on Saturday, as Stan smiled next to his protege, comic book writer Roy Thomas. Just 2 days before Stan died, we're told he was in good spirits during the visit.

Roy's manager, John Cimino, tells us Roy and Stan talked for about 30 minutes and, surprise ... they discussed comics and superheroes. John tells us Stan's last words before he and Roy left were ... "God bless. Take care of my boy, Roy."

Roy released a statement about his last moments with Stan, noting the Marvel legend "lacked much of the old Stan Lee energy" most people had come to know him by. He also says Stan seemed enthusiastic about future Marvel movie cameos if he could do them without being too much of a burden. Roy called Stan "one of the most important mythmakers of the 20th century."

Alexa Nisenson's barely 12 years old but she's already got a very full piggy bank ... thanks to a fat check from her work on "Fear the Walking Dead."

The kid actress -- who played Charlie in season 4 -- earned $30,000 for appearing in 5 episodes. If she crosses her fingers, things could be looking up in 2019. According to her minors contract, obtained by TMZ, Alexa could earn another $25k if she is picked up for season 5. AMC recently just picked it up for a fifth season.

Alexa's no stranger to Hollywood. She appeared in Ice Cube's "Fist Fight," starring Charlie Day and Tracy Morgan, and lent her voice in the kids' TV series "Summer Camp Island" but 'FTWD' is her most prominent role yet. That is until "Orphan Horse" is released next week. She stars alongside Jon Voight.

Kristaps Porzingis can't play basketball right now ... but that doesn't mean he ain't havin' fun -- 'cause the Knicks superstar just hit up an NYC party with Ivan Drago!!!

Dolph Lundgren was out at Mr. Chow Tribeca -- celebrating the upcoming release of "Creed II" -- so the Unicorn put his ACL rehab on hold and popped by to join the party.

Why?? We're told Kristaps -- whose nickname used to be "Young Drago" -- is a HUGE fan of the 'Rocky' villain, and always wanted to meet him.

The first interaction between the two at the Haute Living and Zenith Watches bash was pretty great ... K.P. towered over the 6-foot-5 actor -- and, at one point, Dolph just had to ask, "How tall are you, man?!"

Of course ... Kristaps measures in at 7-foot-3 -- only about a foot and a half taller than Drago's most famous opponent, Sylvester Stallone.

So ... it all begs the question -- WHO YA GOT IN THIS FIGHT?!

10:01 AM PT -- Weinstein's attorney, Benjamin Brafman, "It is our understanding that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office carefully reviewed Ms. De la Huerta's claims of sexual assault by Mr Weinstein many months ago and made a conscious decision to reject her as a complainant for obvious reasons."

He continues, "We also believe that her newly minted version of events including her new California claims are equally preposterous and unfortunately, the product of an unstable personality with a vivid imagination."

Paz de la Huerta is suing Harvey Weinstein for 2 alleged sexual assaults she says went down in 2010.

The "Boardwalk Empire" star has previously gone public with the accusations, but she's now filed a lawsuit. In the docs, she recounts meeting Weinstein at an NYC movie premiere on Dec. 7, 2010. She claims he offered a ride home to her apartment, and insisted on coming in because he didn't want to discuss business in her very public lobby.

According to the suit, once Weinstein got upstairs he threatened her career if she didn't have sex with him -- and then raped Paz.

She claims the 2nd incident went down on Dec. 23, 2010 ... when Weinstein called her to say he'd be waiting outside her building when she got home. In the suit, Paz says she decided to confront him, and drank heavily on the way home ... out of fear and depression.

The drinking is important because Paz says she was too wasted to consent to sex. She says when she got home and confronted him in the lobby, Weinstein "hushed her" and insisted on speaking in private ... in her apartment. Once inside ... she says he "again forced himself on [her] by performing unconsented vaginal intercourse through overpowering physical force."

Paz says they saw each other again in 2011 in his Four Seasons hotel room in Bev Hills. In the suit, which her attorney Aaron Filler says he filed Monday, Paz says Weinstein opened his robe and exposed himself as soon as she entered. She claims he invited her to have a threesome with another naked woman in the room, but rejected him and left the room.

Paz believes Weinstein retaliated by getting her fired from "Boardwalk Empire" -- and estimates his actions have cost her $55 million in earnings over her career.

She's suing him for assault, sexual battery and emotional distress. She's also going after the now-defunct TWC and the Four Seasons.

Gerard Butler says he's heartbroken for Californians who've lost their homes -- and, in many cases, their lives -- during the wildfires ... and he's asking for help as folks begin to rebuild.

The "300" star stopped off on the side of the road Monday near his now burned-out Malibu home and opened up about the painful experience of rummaging through the ashes of his community. He choked up a bit as he talked about how much other people -- especially in Northern Cali -- have lost.

As we reported ... Gerard found his home in ashes this weekend after returning to Malibu. He now says only half of his house is burnt, unlike many neighbors who've lost their entire properties. The silver lining ... he says he's going to rebuild, and hopes others will too.

Gerard also gives an important plug for the GoFundMe page launched to help the wildfire victims.

Stan Lee was supposed to deliver one of the most memorable lines in "Spider-Man 2," according to Donnell Rawlings ... who ended up replacing the late Marvel legend.

We got Don at LAX soon after we broke the news that Stan had passed away, and he had a hilarious story for us about his cameo in the original "Spider-Man" sequel. In case you've forgotten, Donnell briefly shows up when Tobey Maguire goes swinging with pizzas in hand.

According to Donnell, Stan was set to drop the classic line ... but, apparently, he'd fallen ill during filming and Don got tapped instead. He even reenacts the "Oscar-worthy" scene for our camera guy, and does a pretty good job at recapturing the magic.

BTW, Stan did end up making a cameo in 'SM2,' but it was a non-speaking part. He was notorious for showing up in the Marvel movies ... someway, somehow.

Like we first told you ... Stan was rushed to Cedars-Sinai by ambulance from his Hollywood Hills home early Monday morning, and he died at the hospital.

He was 95.

Stan Lee, the man responsible for much of the Marvel Universe, has died ... Stan's daughter tells TMZ.

We're told an ambulance rushed to Lee's Hollywood Hills home early Monday morning and he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. We're told that's where he died.

Lee had suffered several illnesses over the last year or so -- he had a bout of pneumonia and vision issues.

Stan started Marvel with Jack Kirby in 1961 with The Fantastic Four. He went on to create Spider-Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Iron Man and The Avengers.

Stan made cameo appearances in many of the Marvel movies.

Lee had a rocky relationship with Marvel once the company went full-tilt Hollywood. He sued the company in 2002 for royalties he said he was owed for the first "Spider-Man" movie. Three years later he settled the case for $10 million.

"Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" is the latest installment of the film's franchise and will be released next month.

Lee is survived by his daughter, J.C. His wife of 69 years, Joan, died in 2017.

J.C. tells TMZ, "My father loved all of his fans. He was the greatest, most decent man."

Lee was 95.

RIP

Lady Gaga is putting her heart and soul into helping people driven from their homes by the California wildfires -- and she delivered an emotional speech to evacuees.

Gaga, who herself was forced to flee her Malibu home, showed up Sunday evening at a Red Cross shelter at Pacific Palisades High School, and told the displaced crowd, "I extend my love ... I know we do not know each other, but I love you. This is an emergency, but you are not alone."

She encouraged everyone to take advantage of mental health counselors on the premises, and to "share your stories and talk to each other during this time."

Gaga's home has reportedly survived the flames, so far, but it's obvious the danger of the Woolsey fire is taking an emotional toll.

We're told she spent about 90 minutes at the shelter. She took photos, handed out gift cards, and even sang to a 98-year-old woman who'd been evacuated.

As Gaga put it, "Let's keep the faith, together."

There's no doubt her time and words were greatly appreciated, and effective in lifting spirits.

Here's Chris Pratt in 'Meet the Parents: Terminator Edition!!'

Yeah, NBD. Just breakfast with his GF, Katherine Schwarzenegger ... and her dad, Arnold. If it looks like Chris is breathing a deep sigh of relief -- you try sitting across a breakfast table from the ex-Governor slash Conan the Barbarian slash 7-time Mr. Olympia.

Chris and Katherine double dated Sunday morning in Santa Monica with Arnold and his GF, Heather Milligan.

Hard to get a read off Arnold's face about how the sit-down went, but what could go wrong, right? It's Chris freakin' Pratt ... everyone loves him, right?

Right after their meal, Chris and Kat headed to the chapel! Nothing for Ahnald to get antsy about -- they were just attending their usual Sunday services.

There's an online bidding war about to erupt, and "Dexter" fans will have the opportunity to take home Michael C. Hall's famous stalker getup from the psychological thriller ... if they have the cash.

The Dexter Morgan stalker ensemble from the hit Showtime series is hitting the auction block Dec. 1, with the online merchant, Prop Store, valuing it between $2,000 and $3,000.

For TV buffs with deeper pockets, there's an opportunity to bring home some historic "Star Trek" memorabilia ... because the costumes from American TV's first interracial kiss are also heading to auction.

The togas worn by William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols when they kissed on a 1968 episode of "Star Trek," the first interracial kiss on American TV, are valued between $60,000 and $80,000. Just be ready to outbid the Trekkies.

There are tons of other cool Hollywood memorabilia up for auction ... a bag of blue sky meth from "Breaking Bad" (valued at $3,000), Robin Williams' egg spaceship from "Mork & Mindy" ($30,000), Howard Stern's Fartman uniform from the 1992 MTV VMAs ($8,000), and Laura Palmer's red casket from the cult series "Twin Peaks" ($3,000).

Gerard Butler came home to find what many Californians are discovering in the middle of raging wildfires across the state -- his home has been burned to ashes.

The "300" star posted a devastating photo Sunday showing his Malibu home burnt to a crisp. He says this is what he came to find after being evacuated from the area -- like many other stars have already been -- and called it a "heartbreaking time" in the Golden State.

Gerard also filmed himself walking up to the rubble, some of which was still smoldering. He says half of his property is gone.

Fortunately, the actor's trying to stay positive about the loss, saying he was inspired by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters who are battling the flames. He thanked the Los Angeles Fire Department and asked his followers to support them if they could.

Camille Grammer also lost her home to the Woolsey fire, as have nearly 200 other homeowners in Southern California ... which could possibly get worse before weekend's end.

Billy Corben -- the acclaimed director behind "Cocaine Cowboys" and "The U" -- is about to debut his new film about Alex Rodriguez ... and warns the MLB star he ain't gonna like it.

The movie is called "Screwball" -- a no-holds-barred look at Alex's role in the Biogenesis scandal, when several players were accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

A-Rod was banned for the entire 2014 season after an MLB investigation.

Corben tells TMZ Sports he's spent years working on the documentary -- and was actually contacted by Alex at one point in the process.

But, A-Rod allegedly wanted Corben to only tell his side of the story and things just didn't work out.

"He pitched us the idea," Corben said ... "But, then kind of ghosted us over the course of 2014, and then he realized he didn't have to tell anybody anything."

The movie is loaded with shocking claims and stories that Corben insists are 100% true.

Gotta think A-Rod will have a bone to pick with some of it -- but we'll see how this whole thing plays out.

Jacob Tremblay's stock keeps rising 'cause he keeps landing big roles ... like his next one in the sequel to "The Shining."

The 12-year-old star child actor has scored a $100k deal to appear in the next movie based on Stephen King's work, tentatively titled "Doctor Sleep." It's slated to premiere in 2020 and it's got a star-studded cast that includes Ewan McGregor.

Jacob's not even a teenager and already he's landed some big roles in Hollywood ... most notably and recently his part in "Wonder" alongside Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. The flick was a monumental success ... earning more than $305 mil worldwide.