Los Angeles-local Anna Jacoby-Heron was only a teenager when she landed the role of the artsy daughter, Jory Emhoff -- who loses her stepbrother, Clark, and stepmom to an unknown virus -- in Steven Soderbergh's 2011 thriller, "Contagion" ... which has been one of the go-to binge movies during self-isolation.
Anna Jacoby-Heron shared the screen with an A-list cast including Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne ... and of course, Matt Damon as her on-screen father, Mitch.
Since the new-found popularity of the movie, some of the stars from the flic have gotten together to produce a coronavirus PSA.
Anna can more recently be spotted on shows like "Stranger Things" and "The First."
Tiffany Haddish has the cure for your self-quarantine blues -- laughter ... specifically, about penis size!!! Hey, she says it's working for her.
Tiff made a surprise appearance on UMC.tv's #LaughsOnLockdown -- yes, that's where we are now ... stand-up comedy shows on Instagram live. Comedians Aida Rodriguez and Gary "G. Thang" Johnson were hosting this weekend when Tiffany jumped on to reveal what she's been up to in isolation.
We'll let her detail her, ummm ... activities, but let's just say it's all helped her appreciate male genitalia of all sizes.
By the way, Tiff and Aida go way back ... Rodriguez was featured on Haddish's 'They Ready' stand-up special on Netflix last year.
Quarantine: When musicians make new music ... and comedians write new material. Silver linings, folks. Get some!!!
Of all the crazy storylines on the Netflix docuseries, "Tiger King," none are more captivating than what happened to Carole Baskin's husband ... and law enforcement's asking for help in cracking the case.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister says the disappearance of Jack "Don" Lewis -- Baskin's hubby who was last seen on August 18, 1997 -- is still an active cold case ... and he's hoping "Tiger King" fans can help him solve it.
The Tampa-area sheriff says with all the attention surrounding Don's case ... "I figured it was time to use the popularity of the show to see if anyone wanted to come forward with new leads."
For those who don't know ... Lewis was declared legally dead 5 years after his disappearance, but nobody has ever been charged in his death or has any clue of his whereabouts.
People have theories, though ... especially "Tiger King" star and Baskin's #1 enemy, Joe Exotic, who believes she killed her husband and possibly fed him to her tigers. Baskin has denied having anything to do with Don's disappearance or death.
Nevertheless, Sheriff Chronister's asking "Tiger King" enthusiasts to spread the word to see if it leads to any new information that can finally crack the cold case.
Actor Matthew Faber -- who starred in a number of cult classic films in the '90s -- has died ... TMZ has learned.
Faber was found deceased Saturday inside his Van Nuys, CA apartment -- this after his family hadn't heard from him in some days and asked the landlord to his building to open up his unit ... according to Matt's brother, Mark. His death appears to be natural, we're told.
Mark tells TMZ, "A beautiful man. Incredibly talented. Wise beyond his years, quick-witted. Abundantly aware. He could really pay attention more than most. He had such incredible focus and ability to sustain concentration -- brilliant man, very aware, very smart."
Matt is perhaps best known for his roles as Mark Weiner in 1995's 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' and its 2004 sequel 'Palindromes.' He also starred in 'Natural Born Killers,' 'Hard Luck,' 'The Pallbearer,' 'Ride with the Devil,' 'Sue,' and several other mid-to-late '90s flicks.
Ben Stein braved the outdoors Friday to make a trek to the market ... and the image is gripping.
Ben's 75, so he's in the high-risk group. He looked frail as he hit up Pavillions supermarket in Los Angeles ... with an assist from a nurse.
The "Ferris Bueller" teacher walked slowly as he entered the store ... without protective gear.
It's a snapshot that tells a story of the frightening times we're in, where going to the grocery store becomes a scary proposition.
BTW ... in case you didn't know, Ben's had a storied career, from speechwriter for Presidents Nixon and Ford, to starring in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and "Win Ben Stein's Money."
"Juwanna Mann" star Miguel A. Nunez Jr. really didn't want to pay for hundreds of dollars of groceries ... at least according to cops, who say he gave himself the ole five-finger discount.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the actor was checking out at an L.A. Ralphs supermarket this week when his credit card got declined, so he just took his groceries in his cart and walked right out the front door without paying.
Pretty bold move ... allegedly.
Our sources say Miguel returned to the same Ralphs a few days later, but he wasn't allowed inside and cops were called. We're told Miguel was placed under citizen's arrest, and when LAPD showed up, police cited him for misdemeanor shoplifting and he was sent on his merry way.
Cops arrested Miguel but didn't take him into the station ... they gave him a ticket and he was on his way. During the pandemic, L.A. cops are not booking and jailing people for minor offenses. Cops still call it an arrest.
Miguel's spinning a different tale ... he tells us he was in a long line to check out -- ya gotta stay 6-feet away from folks because of coronavirus -- and he got tired of waiting and bounced with his items, but intended to return another day to pay.
Miguel says he tried to pay for his $200 worth of groceries when he returned, but claims the store manager told him no and that he wasn't special.
Guess Juwanna Mann just doesn't have pull these days.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilsonare no longer castaways ... the couple's back in L.A. and they could not look happier.
Tom and Rita were spotted in their Range Rover on Friday moments after landing at Van Nuys Airport. The couple grinned ear-to-ear ... and it's easy to see why after spending more than 2 weeks in self-isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Just a few days ago, Tom and Rita gave the world a health update and said they were feeling much better. Tom also took the opportunity to remind everyone that sheltering at home is an incredibly effective tool to combat the fast-spreading COVID-19.
As we reported ... Tom and Rita were in Australia filming an Elvis Presley movie when they contracted the disease. They were the first A-listers to test positive for coronavirus.
At the time, Tom's reps told us he and Rita got tested for the deadly virus after feeling like they had a cold. They also felt extra tired and had some body aches. Rita also had some chills that came and went, as well as, slight fevers.
Shortly before their diagnosis, Tom and Rita were spotted touring the famous Bondi Beach in Australia. It was quite possibly the last time they were out before being forced into quarantine.
Now that they're back in California, they'll also have to comply with "shelter at home" orders -- but guessing they'd prefer being cooped up on their home turf rather than a hotel down under.
Palm Springs-native Alana Austin was only 19 years old when she landed the role of the girly cheerleader turned dirt bike bad boy, Andi Carson -- who poses as her brother and takes to the track while her brother is injured -- in the classic sibling-swapping 2001 Disney TV movie, "Motocrossed."
Alana Austin was helped out along the wild ride by her on-screen mom and confidant, Geneva, played by Mary-Margaret Humes, her biker brother, Andrew, played by Trever O'Brien ... and of course, the fierce French rival on two wheels, Rene Cartier, played by Michael Cunio.
Cara Delevingneis the proud new foster parent of an adorable little puppy ... and she's already bringing the pooch on her essential coronavirus errands!!!
The "Suicide Squad" star and her girlfriend, Ashley Benson, hit up Erewhon Market in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon ... stocking up on some quarantine food and showing off their furry friend.
Cara says she's fostering two dogs during coronavirus quarantine, Bowie and Hendrix ... and Ashley carried one over her shoulder as they ventured into the store.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
As we reported ... more and more people are adopting and fostering pets during the coronavirus pandemic, giving the adorable animals some much-needed companionship and love, and more importantly, a home.
Cara and Ashley definitely seem to be loving their new pups ... and she's encouraging other folks to follow her lead.
Puppies certainly make grocery store runs a helluva lot cuter!!!
3:17 PM PT -- Madonna, who was also a big part of "Desperately Seeking Susan" just posted a heartfelt tribute to the actor, saying, "Another reminder that this virus is no joke."
UPDATE
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Mark Blum, famous for starring in "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "Crocodile Dundee" ... has died as a result of complications from the coronavirus.
Mark, who also starred as Mr. Mooney in the hit series, "You," and acted on Broadway, was a true working actor.
Blum played Gary Glass in 1985's 'DSS' ... and he played Richard Mason in 1986's "Crocodile Dundee."
The veteran character actor was well known within the NYC theater community ... Mark appeared on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Lost In Yonkers" plus Gore Vidal's "The Best Man," and many more. He also won an Obie Award for his work in the Playwrights Horizons production of an Albert Innaurto play, "Gus and Al."
The rapidly spreading novel coronavirus has already led to more than 19,600 deaths across the globe, including several celebrities ... COVID-19 is also believed to have killed American playwright Terrence McNally, Italian actress Lucia Bosè and celeb chefFloyd Cardoz.
Idris Elba is on the mend in his bout with coronavirus ... and pretty soon he could be immune to the disease, so he says.
The actor gave his fans a huge health update and said his doctor told him that after quarantine "we will be immune for a certain time since our antibodies fought this." Idris says he and wife, Sabrina, are still under quarantine and feel okay, with no changes.
As we reported ... Idris tested positive not long ago and said he wasn't experiencing ANY symptoms. He told fans the day he got tested after he had body aches and a headache.
As for his claim that he'll be immune to COVID-19 -- that's a fact, according to the experts.
The FDA, earlier this week, approved the use of plasma from patients who've recovered patients to treat some of the more severe cases. New York became the first state to begin such testing.
And, even if the antibody protection is short-lasting ... experts reportedly say those who get infected a second time with coronavirus will likely have a milder case than the first time.
Meghan Markle's officially back in Hollywood ... she's making her Disney debut nearly a year after Prince Harry lobbied the Mouse House's head honcho.
Disney announced Thursday it's releasing a new movie "narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex." Yup, that's how Disney's marketing Meghan. She'll narrate "Disneynature's Elephant." Natalie Portman's also narrating "Dolphin Reef." The films drop April 3 on Disney Plus.
Two new movies, two unforgettable journeys. Start streaming Disneynature’s Elephant, narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, and Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef, narrated by Natalie Portman, on April 3, only on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/N0yW0e7Lv6
Gotta give Prince Harry the assist on this one ... 'cause you'll recall there was a July 2019 video that started resurfacing in January, just days after Harry and Meghan announced the bombshell that they're stepping down as Royals.
In the video, you can see Harry chit-chatting with the former head of Disney, Bob Iger, at the "Lion King" premiere in London. You can hear Harry say, "You know she does voice-overs?" Iger responds with surprise, "Oh really? Ah ..."
You can hear Iger say he didn't know that before Harry responds Meghan is "really interested." Moments later, you clearly hear someone say, "We'd love to try." Well, looks like Harry's bidding worked.
It's unclear how much Meghan's getting paid for this gig. But, one thing we know ... she agreed to do voice-over work for Disney in return for a donation to a charity she supports ... Elephants Without Borders.
James Gunn is wiping his butt with Michael Rooker's face ... literally.
The "Guardians of The Galaxy" director says the nationwide scramble for toilet paper due to the coronavirus pandemic has forced him to go deep into his reserve stash ... and he's finally using some custom TP he originally got as a gag gift for his frenemy.
James says he bought a bunch of toilet paper rolls with Michael's face on them as a joke a couple Christmases ago, and even though he put them in all the bathrooms of his house, he never thought he'd see the day they would actually be put to use.
But, desperate times call for desperate measures.
As you know ... James and Michael worked alongside each other during the 'Guardians' movies, and they often gave each other loads of crap, but in a fun kinda way.
Now, James is using Michael's mug to clean up his own crap. It's the circle of life, or something like that.
Georgia-born actor Harrison Page may be best known for his role as the surly supervisor, Captain Trunk -- who kept Detective Dori Doreau (played by Anne-Marie Martin) and Inspector Sledge Hammer (played by David Rasche) in line -- on the '80s ABC cop comedy, "Sledge Hammer!"
Harrison Page has an impressively long line of credits including Quade on "Kojak," Chief Robinson on "CPO Sharkey," George Boone on "Supertrain," John Fox on "Hillstreet Blues," Hamilton Storm on "Gimme A Break!," Max Logan on "Benson" ... and of course Joshua on the 1990 street fighter film, "Lionheart," across Jean-Claude Van Damme.
6:23 PM PT -- James Taylor is also cutting a huge check ... he and his wife are donating $1 million to Massachusetts General Hospital to support the medical center in its fight against the virus.
UPDATE
The singer's donation will support the development of in-house testing for COVID-19, expand telemedicine, purchase protective equipment and establish a coronavirus hotline for patients.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is putting his money where his heart his -- dropping a small fortune to help get crucial supplies to doctors and scientists battling the virus.
The ex-Gov of California shared the news Tuesday, telling his followers he'd donated a million bucks to a GoFundMe account called Frontline Responders Fund -- which is run by an organization called Flexport. They specialize in transporting must-have equipment to different causes around the world ... right now, all their efforts are focused on the coronavirus.
Arnold says, "I never believed in sitting on the couch and complaining about how bad things are, I always believed we should all do our part to make things better." He continued, "This is a simple way to protect our real action heroes on the frontlines in our hospitals, and I’m proud to be part of it."
He also encouraged everyone to follow in his footsteps by giving whatever you can "to support these heroes."
As for how exactly the money -- a whopping $3.2 million so far -- is going to be used ... Flexport breaks it down on the GFM page. They say it's a 4-step process: manufacturers make the stuff, trucks take it to airports and ports, cargo planes and ships transport it where it needs to go and then trucks deliver supplies to hospitals and anywhere else they're needed. Delivered items include masks, gloves, surgical gowns and thermometers.
All of that loading and unloading ain't cheap, and Flexport supports and finances companies directly involved in the endeavor. Arnold just made it a whole lot more affordable!
It's been nearly 2 weeks since Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson stunned the world into accepting coronavirus is no joke by revealing they'd tested positive, but the good news is they're finally feeling better ... and Tom's offering some encouragement.
Hanks says it has been 2 weeks since they first experienced symptoms of COVID-19 -- fever, body aches, some chills for Rita -- and they've gotten past them.
As we reported ... the couple went into self-isolation right away, and Tom's touting the process as the right way to beat the coronavirus, because it works.
He says ... "You don't give it to anyone - You don't get it from anyone. Common sense, no?"
Tom adds this is going to take a while and we are going to have to "give up some comforts" for the greater good, but if we do ... "this, too, shall pass."
Take awhile is right ... on Sunday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said we can expect the coronavirus quarantine to last up to 12 weeks.
