Movies

Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus ... TMZ has confirmed.

Sources tell us that the incarcerated former movie mogul has, indeed, been confirmed as one of two inmates at the Wende Correctional Facility in New York to have the viral infection. He was moved to the prison recently after being taken to Rikers Island following his rape and sexual assault conviction earlier this month.

It's unclear when exactly Weinstein might've contracted the virus, but we're told he's been in isolation since he was taken to Rikers a few weeks back. Our sources also say he hasn't had contact with his family or lawyers since the diagnosis.

The reality -- Weinstein is among the most at risk for serious symptoms.

Weinstein has looked incredibly frail of late, making appearances in court with the help of a walker and aides. He's also been hospitalized in New York a couple different times over the past month or so -- complaining of chest pains and receiving cardiac treatment.

Weinstein might just be the tip of the iceberg in NYC and NY State prisons -- at least 19 inmates in NYC prisons and 12 employees have coronavirus, the NYC Dept. of Corrections announced Saturday. It's unclear what might be happening at a state-wide level.

A rep for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision -- which currently has custody and supervises Weinstein -- tells TMZ ... "With each confirmed case, DOCCS worked with the Department of Health to identify any potentially exposed individuals in order to provide notifications and to stop the spread of the virus."

Idris Elba contracting the coronavirus meant several members of his movie crew had to quarantine like he did, but they're pissed about how producers handled the crisis.

As we reported, Idris revealed Monday he tested positive for COVID-19, but actually went into isolation on March 13 when he discovered he'd been in contact with someone who had the virus -- possibly Justin Trudeau's wife -- during a March 4 event in London.

The bigger problem, though -- the actor spent the next several days after that event in Sante Fe, New Mexico rehearsing with his costars and crew members for the upcoming Netflix flick, "The Harder They Fall."

So, if Idris really did contract it in London ... he would've unwittingly exposed some people on set. Sources close to production tell TMZ ... filming was halted last Friday, and the crew was told it was due to growing fears over the pandemic. We're told there was no mention Idris was getting tested.

As for why they're concerned -- we're told Idris had some direct contact with members of the stunt team during rehearsals ... part of which took place in a small cabin.

Yet, our sources say nobody was informed them Idris tested positive until the actor revealed it himself on March 16.

That same day, we're told some of the crew traveled home -- possibly exposing even more people -- but other crew members chose to stay and self-quarantine ... and they're still there. Idris is also still self-quarantining at a house on location, while the crew remains at a hotel in Santa Fe.

No one's peeved about the housing situation ... it's more the lack of communication about potential risks following the news about Idris' positive test.

We're told, as of Friday, no one who worked on the film has been tested, and many people feel more should be done to protect them or give them some peace of mind.

Of course, the shortage of COVID-19 tests has been a major issue nationwide, but if that's the case ... our sources say production or higher-ups at Netflix should be conveying that, but so far they've been silent.

Linda Fairstein, the woman who helped prosecute the now-vindicated Central Park 5, is suing Netflix and director Ava DuVernay over her portrayal in "When They See Us."

Fairstein filed the federal suit Wednesday, saying she fired off a warning to DuVernay before her series was released. Fairstein says she was concerned she would be portrayed in a false and defamatory manner. She says it fell on deaf ears because Ava's only response was Linda had no right to object before seeing the series.

Once it came out in June 2019, Fairstein says every episode in which she appears portrayed her as a "racist, unethical villain who is determined to jail innocent children of color at any cost."

In the suit, obtained by TMZ, Fairstein objects to nearly every single aspect of the case ... as it's portrayed in the series. She denies taking any of the following actions: unlawfully interrogating unaccompanied minors, calling for a roundup of "young black" thugs, manipulating the timeline to pin the jogger's rape on the Central Park 5, referring to people of color as animals, directing NYPD detectives to coerce confessions, and suppressing DNA evidence.

If you've seen the critically acclaimed series, you know that's the entire plot. So, Fairstein is claiming it's ALL a lie, as far as her role in the case.

Fairstein says after "When They See Us" was released her career as a prolific crime author was destroyed. Her publisher and agents dropped her, she lost speaking appearances and was forced to resign from the boards of several non-profit organizations.

Fairstein is suing Netflix, DuVernay and her co-writer, Attica Locke, for defamation. She wants a public apology, removal of the scenes she calls false, and a disclaimer added that labels the series as a dramatization and NOT a true story. She also wants damages.

Lyle Waggoner -- known for his roles on hit TV shows in the '60s and '70s, and as the founder of Star Waggons -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to his family tell TMZ ... the former actor died peacefully at his home Tuesday morning after a battling an illness. He was surrounded by his wife and sons.

Lyle's career took off in the mid-'60s after landing a guest role on "Gunsmoke." He was in the running for the title role on the iconic "Batman" TV series ... but lost out to Adam West.

Waggoner didn't let it stop him, though, and soon afterward he began a 7-year stint on "The Carol Burnett Show," playing various characters on the legendary sketch comedy and variety show.

He'd go on to star in "Wonder Woman" starting in 1975, playing both Steve Trevor and Steve Trevor Jr. over 3 seasons of the show.

On top of acting, Lyle was also a major heartthrob and became the first male seminude centerfold for Playgirl magazine in 1973.

Waggoner appeared in several TV movies and small films in the '70s and '80s, often cast as the hunk.

Around the same time, Lyle was busy founding Star Waggons ... the company known for its customized trailers used in the entertainment biz.

He was 84.

RIP

Stuart Whitman, a staple of '60s, '70s and '80s is dead.

Whitman died Monday morning at his home in Montecito, CA. A longtime friend tells TMZ Whitman was in and out of the hospital recently due to skin cancer that seeped into his bloodstream. He was surrounded by family at the time of his death.

Whitman starred in a number of dramas, but he was most famous for his westerns ... especially with John Wayne. Their 1961 film, "The Comancheros," was a classic.

Stuart's son, Justin, tells us, "Old Hollywood lost another one of its true stars. Stuart Whitman was known for his rugged roles and handsome charm. We were proud of him for his tv, film roles and his Oscar nomination, but what we will really remember is his exuberant love of his family and friends."

In all Whitman has more than 150 credits to his name. He was retried for awhile ... his last credit is the TV movie, "The President's Man" which starred Chuck Norris back in 2000.

Whiteman was married 3 times.

He served in the Army during WWII and was a pretty accomplished boxer.

He received an Oscar nom for Best Actor for his work in "The Mark." He's been married to his third wife since 1993. He had 4 kids with his first wife, and 1 child with his second.

Stuart was 92.

Oklahoma-born actor Ryan Merriman was still a teenager when he landed the role of the  basketball-loving leprechaun, Kyle Johnson -- who has to hunt down his lucky gold coin to restore order to his Irish family -- in the 2001 Disney channel original movie, "The Luck Of The Irish."

Merriman was cast alongside other notable actors including Glenndon Chatman as the b-ball best friend, Russell Holoway ... and Timothy Omundson as the leprechaun villain, Seamus McTiernan.

Ryan Merriman can more recently be spotted on TV shows like "Pretty Little Liars," "Hawaii Five-0," "Ballers" and "Smallville."

Idris Elba got back his coronavirus test, and it ain't good news.

The actor says he's contracted COVID-19, and he's placed himself in self-quarantine. Actually, Idris says he's been on lockdown since Friday. What's interesting about his case is he says he wasn't experiencing ANY symptoms.

Idris says, "I got tested because I realized I was exposed to someone who had also tested positive." He says he's quarantining for now with his wife, Sabrina ... although she hasn't been tested.

He added, "There are people out there who aren't showing symptoms and that can easily spread it ... this is real."

You'll recall, when Tom Hanks announced last week he and Rita Wilson had tested positive ... he said they at least had some indication -- body aches and other common cold-like symptoms.

No such warnings for Idris ... but he says, so far, he and Sabrina are feeling okay. Fingers crossed.

Eric Roberts likes being stuck at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, but there's one thing he's struggling to replace ... his morning gym routine!!!

The veteran actor joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" from the comfort of his own home, where's he's holed up for the next several weeks. Professionally, this is horrible timing for Eric ... we asked him about movie theaters shuttering within days of his new flick coming out.

"Inside The Rain" opened in theaters last week, and Eric told us it ain't great seeing empty theaters after pouring his blood, sweat and tears into a film.

The entertainment shutdown is also impacting his family because his stepson, singer Keaton Simons, was supposed to play Stagecoach. Obviously, that ain't happening until October.

Eric says all of his pending projects -- he has several dozen hanging in the balance -- are on hold for at least the next 2 months. In the meanwhile, he's settling in at home, and actually enjoying the break.

He says he's treating it like a staycation, but the toughest adjustment has been NOT going to the gym every morning. They've all been forced to close their doors in California.

Still, Eric gets it, and says he's being extra careful because he's a granddad.

One of James Bond's lovely ladies on-screen has come out in real-life to say she has coronavirus -- this just weeks after the latest flick was put on ice over it.

Actress Olga Kurylenko made the announcement Sunday, taking to Instagram to notify her fans of her current condition as well as the symptoms she's experiencing. She writes, "Locked up at home after having tested positive for Coronavirus."

Olga adds, "I’ve actually been ill for almost a week now. Fever and fatigue are my main symptoms. Take care of yourself and do take this seriously!" She went on to translate her message to Russian -- OK was born in the Ukraine, but has French citizenship as well.

In her IG post, you can see Olga snapped a pic from behind a glass window ... showing she's in isolation and presumed self-quarantine. Unclear where this was shot from, but her primary residence is said to be in France, which is under heavy restrictions right now as a nation -- very similar to much of the U.S. ... but not quite as bad as Italy yet.

If you've forgotten, Olga played Camille in 2008's "Quantum of Solace" opposite Daniel Craig -- the so-so sequel to 'Casino Royale' which rebooted the franchise in a big way. She was also in the 2013 film, “Oblivion,” with Tom Cruise ... and has been in several American flicks on top of those too.

Olga's announcement comes less than two weeks after MGM put the release of the new Bond movie, "No Time to Die," on hold as the world gets a grip on the coronavirus situation. It was originally slated to come out in April ... now, it's been pushed back to November. It's supposed to be Craig's last turn as Bond -- Lea Seydoux and Ana de Armas have been cast as the latest Bond girls.

Kurylenko is just the latest celebrity to announce a positive test for the novel coronavirus -- a handful of pro athletes have tested positive, and notably ... so has Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

Jennifer Lawrence got a rude awakening to cap off her weekend -- cops say a female intruder sauntered right into her crib ... and the way she did it was too damn easy.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a woman entered JLaw's L.A.-area home Sunday around 9:15 PM PT. We're told the woman was totally unexpected, but still ... went right through the front doors, which were NOT locked.

Even more frightening ... our sources say Jennifer was actually home at the time of the break-in -- unclear if her new hubby, Cooke Maroney, was there ... but JLaw's hired muscle certainly was.

We're told security on hand nabbed the 23-year-old woman before she could make contact with Jennifer. They called the police and the woman was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing. As for why she was there?

Brad Pitt's got one hell of an appetite ... for burgers and more friendly hangouts with gal pal Alia Shawkat.

The "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" star and Ali were spotted at In-N-Out in L.A. the day after they both also hit up a Thundercat show at The Wiltern. Brad, seen wearing the same hat he wore at the concert, used to be one party animal -- no word if he went animal style at the burger joint.

In any event ... here's hoping Brad's finally put an end to the whole In-N-Out vs. Shake Shack debate. But, one thing's for sure ... Brad and Alia really do enjoy each other's company.

As we reported ... Brad and Alia hanging out is nothing new for them. They've been going to concerts, comedy shows, museums and galleries together for months. As friends, that is.

Sources close to the Oscar winner told us Brad doesn't feel any need to get back on the dating scene right now. Until then ... more double-doubles!!!