Movies

Johnny Depp just suffered a gigantic miscalculation ... he lost his libel lawsuit in the UK in which he tried to clear his name against allegations he abused his ex, Amber Heard, and this could have a seismic impact on his career.

The A-list actor got shot down in his claim against The Sun, one of its editors and its publisher, News Group Newspapers, for an article it published in 2018 where they flat-out called him a "wife-beater" referring to his marriage to Amber Heard in the mid-2010s.

The headline at the time read, "Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?"

Depp filed suit, and multiple sources connected to Depp felt this was an enormous mistake because his career had been on the ropes during the Amber Heard divorce and once it was over it looked like he would get through it okay. For whatever reason, Depp lawyered up and filed the case, which again put allegations of wife-beating squarely on the table.

So, the case went to trial this year, with Amber Heard as The Sun's star witness, and she laid out her claims Depp physically abused her during their marriage. Apparently, she was convincing.

The judge who presided over the case tossed out Depp's claim after ruling that 12 of 14 claims of domestic abuse against Depp were "substantially true." In other words, the judge found evidence of spousal abuse.

Heard's legal team praised the decision, while Depp's lawyers vowed to appeal ... claiming the judge completely overlooked contradictory evidence. Of course, their turbulent relationship was well-documented ... including the infamous finger-tip incident, among other private moments -- which were secretly recorded -- that showed him raging at Amber.

Fact is ... this isn't Depp's only defamation case involving allegations of wife-beating -- he's still got a second case here in the U.S. against his ex-wife. He's suing her after she claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse -- without naming him -- in a WaPo column.

Actor Eddie Hassell -- most famous from NBC's "Surface" -- has died after being shot ... TMZ has learned.

Eddie's rep tells us he was killed early Sunday morning somewhere in Texas over what appears to be a carjacking. His team is working on getting more information, but they confirm he has, in fact, died.

While he didn't have too many leading roles in movies or TV shows, he acted in quite a number of them over the years. He's perhaps best known for playing Phil Nance in "Surface" for a bunch of episodes. He also starred as Eddie Suarez in "Devious Maids" for a bit.

Other acting credits include a role in "The Kids Are All Right," "Family Weekend," "'Til Death," and other cameos in a ton of other series and flicks like "2012," "Longmire," "Jobs," "Bones," "Southland," "Warrior Road," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Bomb City," and other projects.

Besides being an actor, Eddie was an avid surfer and skater -- he was also a published author, having written, "Someone Should Tell You: Startling Revelations and Truths to Help You Understand and Improve Your Life."

He was 30 years old.

Sean Connery, the first and widely-regarded best James Bond ever ... has died.

Sean's wife says he died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family. No cause of death was disclosed.

Connery became an enormous star in 1962 with the release of "Dr. No," but not without difficulty. James Bond creator Ian Fleming felt he was unrefined and wanted someone suave like Cary Grant. Fleming relented and ultimately said it was a great choice.

Sean starred in 7 Bond films between '62 and '83. Among the films -- "From Russia with Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," "You Only Live Twice," "Diamonds are Forever," and "Never Say Never Again."

Connery had a hard time shaking the Bond character, but was ultimately successful .... branching out and ultimately winning an Oscar playing an Irish cop in "The Untouchables." He also won 2 Bafta awards and 3 Golden Globes. He was knighted by the Queen in 2000.

When Sean was shooting "Never Say Never Again," he took martial arts classes and got into it with the instructor who then broke his wrist. Sean didn't get it treated for years ... not knowing it was really broken. The instructor -- Steven Seagal.

Among Sean's other films ... "The Hunt for Red October," "Indiana Jones" "The Last Crusade" and "The Rock."

Most fans give Sean the title of best 007 ever ... at least in the polls. And, speaking of polls, he also holds a Sexiest Man Alive crown. He also once finished third in the Mr. Universe contest back in 1953.

Fun fact ... Sean wore a toupee in "Goldfinger" because his hair had started to thin.

Sean's survived by his second wife, Micheline Roquebrune, and his son, Jason Connery. There will be a private funeral, followed by a memorial once COVID ends.

Kendall Jenner's here to get you in the mood (to vote) just before the election -- and she's doing it with a '90s throwback that's sure to get your mouth watering ... again, all to vote.

The supermodel debuted her Halloween costume Saturday on the 'Gram, showing that she got all dolled up as Pamela Anderson from her 1996 B-film, 'Barb Wire' ... in which Pammy plays a futuristic badass boss babe/mercenary who takes the law into her own hands.

Kendall captioned the pic with a go-to line of Barb from the movie ... "don't call me babe," while adding her own 2020 spin to it in an effort to encourage folks to hit the polls Tuesday, writing ... "happy halloween! GO VOTE!!!" She also tagged the photog, Amber Asaly.

Instead of Pam/Barb's signature Desert Eagle pistol, Kendall was rockin' "VOTE" flags in its place ... hitting the point home about GOTV. This is right on brand for her, especially of late -- Kendall's really been pushing this and spreading awareness about early voting.

At the beginning of October, she shared a message on IG about early voting starting up in several states, writing ... "did you know that in some states you can early vote???" She added, "you don’t have to wait till November 3rd (that’s also my bday and all i want is for you to vote, pleaseeee and thanks) this is the most important election of our lives! early vote if you can!!! i know i’m going to!"

Great message, no doubt -- and as for the costume ... it's practically flawless. We only say that because as great as Kendall looks, she lacks a certain ... um, Pam-ness, let's call it, that only the '90s-version PA could bring out in all its glory. Solid effort though, we'll give her that.

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost's wedding announcement on the Meals on Wheels Instagram account paid big time ... for the org, which saw an influx of donations.

A rep for the meal delivery program tells TMZ ... the org saw approximately $10k in donations in the 24 hours after the Meals on Wheels IG account broke the happy news earlier this week. The rep says the online donations came directly from the link it posted on its IG profile.

The org's social media team also had reason to celebrate -- the Scarlett and Colin post had nearly 10 times more "likes" than their previous top post. If nothing else, the Scarlett and Colin news brought people to the MoW page that otherwise might not have ever visited, which, TBH, is unfortunate because the folks over there do a tremendous job feeding the needy.

It's easy to see why Scarlett and Colin chose to let Meals on Wheels break the story ... they've been longtime supporters of the org. The rep tells us the couple had been looking for creative ways to address senior hunger and isolation, especially as the pandemic is disproportionately impacting the population it serves.

The rep added, "We are grateful that they chose to share their wedding spotlight with vulnerable older adults across the country, illuminating their critical needs and what Meals on Wheels is doing to ensure no senior is forgotten."

Duly noted!!!

The only thing this Michael Myers is cutting is a rug ... and he got the kid across the street to accept his challenge for a scary good dance-off.

Some neighbors are just cooler than others ... and a guy who dresses up like the notorious killer from the 'Halloween' slasher franchise, cranks up some spooky music and gets a block party going definitely fits the bill.

Decked out in full costume with the creepy white mask and hair -- and equipped with a fake knife -- this dude goes toe-to-toe with his young counterpart ... jigging, lassoing and flossing to the beat.

Hard to say who won, but since Michael may have just escaped from a mental health facility ... we'll give him the edge.

Regardless, they shook hands afterward like the true champs they are.

Los Angeles native Grant Cramer gained fame in the '80s after he landed the role of the hunky Mike Tobacco -- who helps save the small town of Crescent Cove from the wacky antics of alien jesters -- in the 1988 cult creep flick "Killer Klowns From Outer Space."

Grant Cramer shared the big screen with a few other notable actors including John Allen Nelson as the shield-wielding, Deputy Dave Hanson ... and of course Suzanne Snyder as Mike's girlfriend, Debbie Stone.

Grant Cramer can also be spotted playing the womanizing dreamboat, Scotty, in "Hardbodies."

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost are now a married couple ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... Scarlett and Colin tied the knot over the weekend in Palisades, NY. She's familiar with the area ... Scarlett bought an iconic 4-bedroom crib there for $4 million back in 2018.

The couple made the announcement through Meals on Wheels America ... the org said the wedding was held with close family members and loved ones and that all CDC guidelines were followed.

As we've reported ... the actress and 'SNL' vet got engaged back in May 2019 after 2 years of dating. ScarJo and Colin have been going strong since spring 2017 ... right after she made a guest appearance on the season finale of 'SNL.'

Fun fact about the house ScarJo bought ... it was designed by the same man commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to redesign the West Wing of the White House, including the Oval Office, back in the 1930s.

This is Scarlett's third marriage. She was previously married to Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2011 before tying the knot with journalist Romain Dauriac. They share a child together. This is Colin's first time going down the aisle.

Paul Rudd's showing his appreciation to Brooklyn residents braving the rain and chilly weather to stand in a long line to vote ... by providing a sweet pick-me-up.

The 'Ant-Man' star was handing out cookies to voters Thursday morning in NYC, telling each person, "Thank you for coming out and voting."

It appeared Paul was accompanied by a cookie-man with a backpack who was supplying him with the treats to disperse as they made their way down the line. It's COVID-safe generosity ... Paul and crew were wearing face masks and gloves.

Brian Rosenworcel, the drummer and cofounder of the band Guster, is the guy who recorded Rudd doing his good deed as he was waiting to vote himself.

As we've reported ... several other celebs have found their own unique ways to encourage Americans to exercise their right to vote in 2020. There was Lizzo's red, white and blue-themed music vid, Lil Dicky's nude breakdown of the 2 presidential candidates ... and of course, a lot more stars stripping down to raise awareness of proper mail-in ballot procedure.

English actress Veronica Cartwright was only 13 years old when she was cast as the birthday girl Cathy Brenner -- who narrowly escapes the throngs of ferocious fowl in the small town of Bodega Bay -- in Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1963 horror film, "The Birds."

Cartwright shared the silver screen with Rod Taylor as the protective older brother, Mitch Brenner, Jessica Tandy as the unfriendly mother, Lydia Brenner ... and of course, Tippi Hedren as the famous socialite with a bad reputation, Melanie Daniels.

Cartwright went on to star in a long list of TV shows and movies including other fright films and spooky shows like "The Twilight Zone," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "Alien."

Colin Kaepernick has found his younger self ... with "The Get Down" star Jaden Michael landing the role of teen Kap in the upcoming Netflix series based on the QB's early life.

Kap and Emmy winner Ava DuVernay have teamed up to create a 6-episode limited series based on the QB/social activist's early experiences  ... titled "Colin In Black & White."

The project just announced it has added 17-year-old Michael -- a rising star in Hollywood -- to play the role of Kap in his high school days in Turlock, CA.

You may have seen Michael's work in the past -- he's starred in projects like Todd Haynes' "Wonderstruck" and Lorne Michaels' "Vampires Vs. The Bronx."

The show will focus on Kap's childhood -- growing up as a black man in an adopted white family, and how his life shaped him to become one of the most important activists of our time ... as well as an NFL quarterback.

32-year-old Kap (the real one) will also be personally involved in the project as the narrator.

Kaepernick tweeted about the news ... saying, "I never thought I would be casting a young me in a show about my life. I can’t wait for the world to see @ItsJadenMichael be an all-star on @netflix"

Next up for LeBron James after an NBA championship? The Lakers superstar is partnering with CNN to create a documentary that he hopes will shed new light on the 1921 Tulsa race massacre.

LBJ's SpringHill Company announced this week it's in the process of making "Dreamland: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street" -- a project it hopes educates millions on a 100-year-old tragedy.

FYI -- in May and June 1921 ... a race war was kicked off in Tulsa, Okla. after a 19-year-old Black man was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old white woman in an elevator.

When Black men went to defend the man after some in the city wanted him lynched -- an ensuing altercation with white people ignited a massive race war.

Reportedly, mobs of white people launched an attack on Black people in the city ... murdering dozens, causing millions of dollars in property damage, and displacing hundreds from their homes.

Many historians believe the massacre has since been underreported and even covered up ... and Bron and his company's reps are now hoping to change that with their new documentary.

"We cannot move forward until we acknowledge our past and this is about honoring a prosperous, booming Black community, one of many, that was brought to an end because of hate," SpringHill’s chief content officer Jamal Henderson said.

"We are bringing this documentary together with a diverse crew, including local Tulsans, and making it our mission to uplift voices and people while creating impactful content."

Added CNN Worldwide rep Amy Entelis, "CNN Films could not be more proud to partner with The SpringHill Company for this long-overdue recognition of the tragedy of what happened in Greenwood, and to contribute to the reconciliation that comes with the acknowledgment of history."

The late Chadwick Boseman put his John Hancock on a copy of the first "Black Panther" comic -- which has skyrocketed in value, and is primed to fetch a pretty penny at auction.

Nate D. Sanders Auctions is putting the rare autographed book up for grabs on Oct. 29, with the opening bid starting at $8,000 -- but it's expected, we're told, to reach anywhere in the ballpark of $25k when it's all said and done.

The reason ... other than Chadwick's signature, Stan Lee himself signed this variant of 'BP' #1, not to mention 'Black Panther' director Ryan Coogler. So, yeah, there's a trifecta thing happening here -- and with Chadwick's recent passing, and Stan's in 2018 ... the comic is worth even more now.

You might notice the cover is different from the OG cover of the first stand-alone "Black Panther" comic from 1976 -- from which this iteration is derived, but with a modern cover. It's also vastly changed from Black Panther's first appearance ever in Fantastic Four #52 ('66).

The one for sale is the Middle East Comic-Con variant -- which got its own art whipped up and featured Stan next to T'Challa. For those of you in the know ... It's been certified a 9.8 rating with the CGC Signature Series rating system. That means it's REALLY valuable.

Wendell Pierce might be singing the blues soon, because he's NOT been tapped to play B.B. King in an upcoming film as he's proclaimed ... according to King's estate anyway.

Pierce -- known for his roles on "The Wire" and "Treme" -- made his announcement Monday, saying ... "We are official. Preparation has begun on a film where I will be honored to play the great, BB King. Humbled."

Something doesn't add up though, because Vassal Benford -- chairman of B.B.'s estate -- tells TMZ ... they're furious Pierce announced he's the lead in the biopic. Benford claims Pierce has not been named by the estate or King's family members to play him, and in fact ... he says other actors are being considered, like Kenan Thompson.

Benford insists there's no official news about who's playing B.B. unless it comes from the estate, and he adds ... "I think Mr. Pierce misspoke."

To further muddy the waters ... Michael Zanetis -- producer and co-writer of the B.B project, which is titled "The Thrill is On" -- tells us King's estate has known about this film for years and has never had a problem with anything until now.

Zanetis claims Wendell has been under contract for the role of B.B. since 2009, and there's nobody better to play him. He adds that King's grandson, Eric Mitchell, has been an executive producer on this film since 2012 and fully supports the story.

Finally, he claims B.B. himself gave him his blessing to make the movie before he died in 2015.

So, it's even stranger Pierce tweeted out a clarification this week, saying ... "The Estate of BB King has requested I clarify the film THE THRILL IS ON is not a biopic in the traditional sense. It is a dramatized version of a real-life friendship story."

Zanetis confirms with us the film is a docudrama -- not a biopic.

Regardless, Zanetis claims the estate is trying to suppress him ... and tells us that goes against everything B.B. King stands for.

President Trump thinks Sacha Baron Cohen is an unfunny jerk who tried, but ultimately failed, to fool him years ago -- and to that, SBC says ... appreciate the plug, DT!!!

POTUS gave a harsh critique of Sacha and his work as Borat, especially as it pertains to the sequel that just came out this week. He told reporters on Air Force 1 that he didn't really know what the new fuss was all about -- it's about Rudy Giuliani, if he isn't aware -- but went on to say Sacha tried duping him a while back, but that he called out his whole act.

Trump reportedly said, "That's a phony guy and I don't find him funny." He also called him a "creep," and it appears Borat himself caught wind of the insult ... and promptly replied.

Sacha writes, "Donald—I appreciate the free publicity for Borat! I admit, I don’t find you funny either. But yet the whole world laughs at you." He also offers Trump a job while making a presumption about Election Day results.

What Trump's referring to when he says he caught Sacha in the act dates back to the mid-2000s, when SBC got Donald to agree to a sit-down interview with another popular character he plays ... Ali G. Ali tries pitching Trump on an ice cream invention, but Trump remains stoic throughout and eventually leaves the interview entirely. No gotchas, no scandal.

Trump has maintained over the years he saw right through Sacha's bit, which is why he cut the interview short and left abruptly. Sacha doesn't think that's entirely true, but in any case ... he's never been able to completely prank the guy -- unlike Trump's adviser, Rudy.

If you hadn't heard, Giuliani is one of Borat's "victims," if you will, in the new flick -- and is actually caught in what some might describe as a compromising situation with Sacha/Borat's sidekick, who's portraying a reporter.

After interviewing him, she invites him into her bedroom for a drink and removes his microphone and untucks his shirt. Then Rudy puts his hand down his pants, seemingly to tuck in his shirt, but Sacha's claimed it was more creepy.

For his part, Rudy has since claimed nothing inappropriate was going on and that he was just tucking in his shirt. Sacha and co. argue the opposite -- asking ... who knows where it would've gone if left uninterrupted?