Movies

William Goldman -- the screenwriter who made tumbling down a hill romantic in the classic "The Princess Bride" -- has died.

Goldman, who also won Oscars for writing "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "All the President's Men," died Thursday night in his Manhattan home following complications from colon cancer and pneumonia, this according to multiple outlets.

He was surrounded by family and friends. Goldman's health had been deteriorating as of late but had worsened over the summer.

Goldman's hit 'Princess Bride' featured a star-studded cast that included Robin Wright, Billy Crystal and Andre the Giant. No doubt Goldman will be best remembered for concocting a battle of wits with a Sicilian, and imagining Westley the stable boy growing up into the Dread Pirate Roberts (spoiler alert) in the '80s ... however, his career stretched across decades.

The Oscar-winning screenwriter began his career as a novelist before writing his first screenplay in 1965. Goldman paired up with Robert Redford in 1969 for the western classic 'Butch Cassidy' ... earning Goldman an Academy Award for best original screenplay in 1970.

They paired up again a few years later for the political thriller ... earning him again another Academy Award in 1977 for best original screenplay. Goldman also wrote "Marathon Man," "The Stepford Wives," "Chaplin" and "A Bridge Too Far," and had a hand in "A Few Good Men" and "Indecent Proposal"

He was 87.

RIP

Sorry, Mike Trout ... Matt Damon says voters got it right -- Mookie Betts WAS the AL MVP!!!

"That's great," Matt says ... "Good for him. He deserves it!"

Of course ... Mookie went head-to-head with Trout and the Indians' Jose Ramirez for the award -- but dominated the voting thoroughly, winning in a near-unanimous decision.

Damon tells TMZ Sports that's the way it shoulda been ... and he ain't wrong -- Betts batted .346 this season with 32 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

BTW ... it's not like Mookie was in much need of the confidence booster -- dude just won the World Series, had a new baby girl AND nabbed a Silver Slugger Award last week.

Verne Troyer's estate is getting a harsh reminder about the high cost of medical care, because it just got a hefty bill for his final days in an L.A. hospital.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Valley Presbyterian Hospital slapped Verne's estate with a $364,797.05 invoice for his nearly three week hospitalization. Verne eventually died there from alcohol abuse.

It might sound like a move straight outta Dr. Evil's playbook ... the fact is, creditors have a limited amount of time to file claims after someone dies. We've seen this happen with Michael Jackson and several other celebs.

We broke the story ... the 'Austin Powers' star was rushed to a hospital after cops got a call Verne was extremely upset, drunk and suicidal. He was placed on life support, and remained in the hospital until he died.

Forget a freakin' piggy bank ... Jacob Tremblay needs a team of accountants 'cause the little kid is making SERIOUS CHEDDAR with his next movie.

The 12-year-old scored a whopping $900k to star in "Good Boys" ... this according to his minors contract obtained by TMZ. The flick's an R-rated comedy produced by Seth Rogen about four boys who skip school and embark on a crazy adventure. Think "Superbad" meets "Sausage Factory."

The kid's been on a real tear ever since he entered Hollywood just a few years ago. As we first reported ... Jacob scored a $100k deal to play a part in the sequel to "The Shining." That movie's tentatively titled "Doctor Sleep" and its star-studded cast includes Ewan McGregor.

Jack Black was in full rock god mode Tuesday night in Chicago during a Tenacious D set -- which served as the perfect setting for a "School of Rock" reunion with one his "students."

Professional drummer Kevin Clark -- who played Freddy, aka Spazzy McGee in 'SoR' -- tells TMZ ... he got in touch with Jack when he heard TD was playing a gig in town, and that Jack made sure he was given tickets and backstage access at the Riviera Theatre.

Perhaps, unsurprisingly, the reunion made for some epic nostalgia ... almost like it was 2003 all over again. We're told Jack and Kevin hadn't seen each other in a while.

Fun fact: Kevin hasn't acted since starring in the film, and says he only got the role at the time 'cause he could actually play the drums. Freddy plays in his own band now -- Dreadwolf -- and gave Jack one their custom shirts, which he threw on immediately.

BTW ... the actress who played Katie -- the bassist in the film, Rebecca Brown, attended Jack's TD show Wednesday night.

Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick are a happy, loving couple these days ... and they can thank Jim Carrey for that -- so says the ex-NASCAR driver herself.

Danica was delivering a motivational speech in North Dakota on Wednesday ... and afterward, she fielded some questions about her relationship with the Packers star QB.

One of the questions ... what was Aaron Rodgers' first line that got you to (eventually) go on a date with him?

That's when D.P. said the future Hall of Famer went straight to the "Dumb and Dumber" quote well to catch her attention.

"He was at the bar, puttin' out the vibe -- 'Dumb and Dumber,' you know?" Danica says.

"And, I remember he was doing movie lines! And, people that love movie lines, LOVE movie lines. So, I think we had a dialogue in movie lines, and I was like, 'This guy is really funny!'"

Danica says that all went down at the ESPYs back in 2012 ... and it helped lay the foundation for their future relationship, 'cause they kept in touch until they got serious about a year ago.

As for the actual first date ... Danica wasn't spillin' many beans there, but did say, "We were cooped up. We were cooped up. We weren't out in public."

In other words .... touchdown, Rodgers?!?!

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is floatin' our boats with a new lineup for 2018 ... including, at least one, on a half shell!

The "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" will make its debut at the 92nd annual parade next week in NYC along with a score of others -- like a new Kinder Chocolate Factory float. There's also a new giant and colorful elephant which has a pretty cool feature ... it shoots confetti outta its trunk.

Don't worry, the oldies but goodies like Tom the Turkey are still there. Tom's been in the game since 1971 (ride or die) ... and for the first time ever he'll be self-propelled.

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.