Will Smith Resurfaces After Oscars Slap ... All Smiles in Mumbai!!!

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ALL SMILES FOR FANS

Will Smith resurfaced after that slap, but far, far away from Hollywood.

Will touched down at a private airport in Mumbai, India, and it was clear the paparazzi in India knew he was coming. They shouted out his name as he arrived at his hotel, and he was more than happy to give the paps, along with some serious fans, a wave and a smile.

No idea why he's there -- whether it's business or pleasure, but he didn't look the worse for wear ... posing with someone who looks like the pilot at the hotel.

He even stopped for a few fans who desperately wanted a selfie with the actor.

Will hasn't said anything publicly since his apology after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars ... a slap that earned him a 10-year suspension from Academy events, including the Oscars.

Several of his movie projects have been put on ice in the wake of the slap. It's unclear if they'll be canceled altogether or whether the movie companies are just waiting for all the hubbub to die down before things get reset.

Stay tuned ...

Jennifer Garner Gives Back For Her 50th Birthday ... Hosts Food Drive At Her Home

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Jennifer Garner spent her birthday giving back to the community ... hosting a food drive at her house instead of throwing a traditional party.

The 50-year-old actress was all smiles Sunday as she turned her house into a drop-off spot for food ... boyfriend John Miller and her 16-year-old Violet helped her out.

The "13 Going On 30" star had her hands full of boxes but got the job done.

Big turnout ... among the group was Adam Scott, offering a helping hand while wishing his friend a happy birthday.

Two people that were MIA were ex-hubby Ben Affleck and his fiancee ... J Lo.

Ben and Jen hosted a food drive last Thanksgiving, working with Rise Against Hunger by turning his Pacific Palisades home into a food drive staging area.

Ben and Jen were unloading huge sacks of rice ... Ben was slinging 2 back over his shoulders at a time, while J Lo did it all in heels.

Happy birthday Jen ... Garner!

'The Shining' Jack's Axe Hitting The Auction Block ... Should Fetch $100,000!!!

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There's a famous piece of horror movie history going up for sale ... the axe from the Stanley Kubrick masterpiece "The Shining" ... but you're gonna need some crazy deep pockets.

The axe is remembered for the scenes towards the end of the film, including the one where Jack Nicholson's character uses it to break through a wooden door ... leading up to his famous line, "Here's Johnny!!!"

The Kubrick film, based on the Stephen King novel, also features Nicholson's character, Jack Torrance, carrying the axe with him into the maze at the end of the film as he trudges through the snow to find his son, Danny.

Oh and don't forget the moment where Jack uses the axe to kill Scatman Crothers' character, Dick Hallorann, striking him in the chest in the bowels of the haunted hotel.

The axe is going up for sale through Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction house ... and we're told the prop is expected to fetch at least $100,000.

The auction house says the axe prop is still in very good condition and it's displayed in a shadow box frame, along with some photos of it in action in the movie.

Bidding begins April 20.

Wyatt Russell Sells Studio City Home For $2.9Mil

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Actor Wyatt Russell has just sealed the deal and unloaded his Studio City home.

Wyatt, the son of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, sold his Spanish home for just under $2.9M ... making quite a big profit since snagging it, back in 2019.

The hockey player turned actor and his actress wife, Meredith Hagner, purchased the pad for just under $1.7M ... 6 months before they got hitched.

The 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom pad is full of color and charm. It has cool features ... including a pink arched gate, beamed ceilings and 3 fireplaces.

And, of course, an abundance of light!

If you step outdoors, there's a pool and spa, veggie garden and covered outdoor dining ... so, lots for the next resident to enjoy.

The Hollywood couple won't be too far away, either. They reportedly scooped up a slightly bigger home in Santa Monica for $5.4 million earlier this year ... after welcoming their first child last March.

Rob Kallick and Laura Martinez of Compass held the listing.

Seth Rogen to Jack in the Box Your Pineapple Express Shake Ad Not Related to Our Flick!!!

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Jack in the Box is getting ready for 4/20 with a little help from a strain of weed that Seth Rogen made famous -- but they don't seem to have run it by him ... 'cause he's pissed.

Seth fired away Sunday after JITB published an ad earlier in the week promoting a new milkshake they're rolling out ahead of Wednesday's herb-filled holiday ... in which they explicitly dub their beverage as Pineapple Express shakes.

The ad also touts their love of "trees" ... and their pricing's at $4.20. So yeah, they're all in on the toke joke -- something the fast food chain has leaned into hard in recent years.

Anyway, Seth responded to their digital commercial, writing ... "This has nothing to do with the movie Pineapple Express. We had nothing to do with this and weren’t asked if we wanted our film associated with this."

He adds, "And obviously if we did a tie in, it would have to be to promote those bizarre f***ing diarrhea inducing taco things they sell."

Of course, Seth is referring to his 2008 cult comedy classic of the same name -- which (fun fact) actually spurred the real-life weed strain ... at least according to Seth and co. Apparently, it didn't exist before they came along with their made-up bud ... so they do seem to have a claim to it, at least colloquially.

On the legal end, it's unclear if Seth has "Pineapple Express" trademarked or copyrighted. The fact he isn't demanding they yank the ad is kinda telling -- ya gotta figure if he really didn't want the name associated with Jack in the Box, he'd invoke different verbiage.

At any rate, Seth clearly wants to create some distance between their campaign and his flick. Jack himself has yet to respond ... interesting, since they're very "online" as a brand.

Josh Brolin I Almost Played (Older) Batman ... Snyder Went with Affleck

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WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN

Josh Brolin just made comic fanboys' brains explode -- he says he was almost set to play the Dark Knight once upon a time ... that is, until the director went with Ben Affleck instead.

The veteran actor -- who's already got a couple superhero/villain roles under his belt now as Thanos ('Avengers') and Cable ("Deadpool 2") -- made the revelation this week on MTV's "Happy Sad Confused" podcast ... when they asked him about losing the role of Batman.

Brolin confirmed ... yes, Zack Snyder had, in fact, approached him as he was ramping up for 'Batman v Superman' -- and it sounds like JB was onboard and fully willing to do it.

But, as he explains, it was Snyder who decided to go with BA in the end -- which is a bummer (for some fans) because Brolin would've been more true to the version of Batman depicted in the flick ... namely, the older version from "The Dark Knight Returns" (the comic).

This is in the weeds, but Snyder kinda mashed up storylines for his 2016 movie -- including the one where Batman fights Superman -- and decided to employ a younger Batsy, plus ditch much of that comic storyline, including the fact Superman was a government pawn.

You can tell Brolin was excited by the prospect of donning the cape and cowl ... and even shouts out George Clooney for his turn on the character, no matter how panned it was.

Here's the good news ... Brolin might actually get a second bite at the apple here -- assuming anyone at the newly merged Discovery-Warner is listening. Lots of changes are on the horizon ... including Discovery honchos reportedly wanting to overhaul the DCEU.

That entails revisiting and revitalizing staple characters (like Superman) and perhaps further down the line ... maybe Batman again too. Robert Pattinson seems to be in the driver's seat for now -- but if Discovery wants to take another swing at 'TDR,' Brolin might be their man.

Like we said, Brolin's got the resume to back him on the Marvel front ... so, time will tell if DC wants to bring him in the fold eventually. FWIW, he seems totally game -- so why not!

Gilbert Gottfried Working Weeks Before Death ... Hilarious to the End

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Gilbert Gottfried was hard at work just a few weeks before his death -- and we've got video of one of his final on-screen appearances ... where he looks as spirited as ever.

The President of HollywoodOffices, Brad Folb, tells TMZ ... his company hired GG March 16 for a Cameo-styled ad through a company called Memmo -- which allows you to book celebs for any type of shout-out you might want.

In this case, HO was in the market for a personalized message from a "know-it-all" star who would be instantly recognizable -- and they quickly landed on Gilbert. Seeing how his voice is one of the most famous in La La Land ... they thought he'd be great.

Folb says they sent Gilbert instructions on what they were trying to communicate in the video -- namely, that you'd have to be a dummy not to rent office space from them -- but there was a no-rules rule in place for the guy ... so he could express that any way he saw fit.

Welp, Gil produced exactly that ... and did so with hilarious results. We're told the folks at HollywoodOffices were more than happy with what they got from him -- a gig that cost 'em about $1,300.

Seeing how a lot of their clients work in entertainment, Folb tells us he feels like Gilbert's ad was as good as it gets -- and, of course, it was so freakin' funny ... in true Gottfried fashion.

As you can see ... the dude looks and sounds like his old self, and surely seemed to be in high spirits -- which is why his passing was as shocking as it was. His family announced he'd died Tuesday after a long battle with a heart abnormality called Ventricular Tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy type II.

Gilbert was just 67.

RIP

Sam Elliott on 'Power of the Dog' Apologizes to LGBT Community ... Plus Cast, Esp Cumberbatch

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Sam Elliott is backing down from his harsh take on the Oscar-winning movie "The Power of the Dog" -- words many considered homophobic ... something that isn't lost on the guy.

The actor -- who's often cast as a cowboy type, and who apparently has some ties to the rancher community -- apologized for what he said about the flick back in February during an appearance on the 'WTF Podcast with Marc Maron,' where he went on the attack.

On Sunday, however, Sam was given a chance to clarify -- because, frankly, his train of thought was all over the place and hard to piece together. And yes, the guy issued a full mea culpa ... saying he didn't mean to hurt people, including those in the LGBT community.

While making an appearance at Deadline's Contenders TV event, where he was plugging his new show '1883,' Sam said he meant no harm ... and got pretty emotional as he recounted how many friends he has that were apparently offended by his remarks.

ICYMI ... Sam slammed 'POTD' for what he considered as a warped depiction of the American West -- bringing up the fact a lot of farmhands in the movie are portrayed shirtless like Chippendales dancers and seemingly taking issue with allusions to homosexuality.

He also didn't appreciate the fact director Jane Campion shot the film down in her native New Zealand and tried to pass it off as Montana ... so his diatribe was aimed all over.

Benedict Cumberbatch reacted to Sam's comments at the time, saying he found 'em to be "odd" -- which Sam made sure to acknowledge in his apology ... specifically saying sorry to the brilliant cast, but especially to Benedict -- who plays a closeted gay man in the film.

It's clear that Sam is quite sincere here ... and it would appear that people in the room -- including his '1883' castmates -- appreciated him owning up to his mistake. Good on him.

Danish Actor Mads Mikkelsen Yeah, Method Acting is 'BS' ... You're Either Good or Not

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There's a lot of actors these days who take their craft very, VERY seriously -- refusing to break character while on set ... a technique Mads Mikkelsen is calling absolutely absurd.

The Danish actor -- who most recently replaced Johnny Depp in 'Fantastic Beasts,' and who has a crap ton of other credits over the years -- let his honest opinions on method acting fly in an interview with GQ UK ... saying getting that into character for a role is "bull****."

In his sit-down with the mag, they say he was made aware of Lady Gaga reportedly continuing to act as Patrizia Reggiani in 'House of Gucci,' even when cameras weren't rolling. Ditto for 'Succession' star Jeremy Strong -- who's been reported to have taken things to uncomfortable extremes on different productions of his.

All the same ... Mads says he isn't impressed with the so-called commitment. While he does acknowledge he appropriately prepares for roles -- including learning a skill he might need to exhibit on camera -- he notes ... "But preparation, you can take into insanity."

He adds, "What if it’s a s*** film -- what do you think you achieved? Am I impressed that you didn’t drop character? You should have dropped it from the beginning! How do you prepare for a serial killer? You gonna spend two years checking it out?"

Mads essentially makes this distinction ... you're either a great actor, or you aren't -- and he believes that while Daniel Day-Lewis (the king of method) has, perhaps, pretentiously taken things too far in the past ... he also thinks the dude's just inherently fantastic at what he does, which is why it works. Not so much for the actual deep devotion to a role itself.

Of course, more and more actors are all in on method lately -- especially Jared Leto, who infamously stayed in character for a number of roles ... including when he starred as the Joker in 'Suicide Squad,' for which he reportedly caught flak from castmates and crew.

Even as recently as his shoot on 'Morbius' -- a character depicted as a disabled doctor-turned-superhero who can't walk properly -- Leto is reported to have stayed in character by using crutches everywhere on set. But when time was of the essence and he had to whizz ... the guy apparently hopped into a wheelchair and rolled himself to the John.

Indeed, it seems Mads' point here is ... you can do all the character-y stuff you want -- but a good actor, perhaps, doesn't necessarily have endure what their character does to churn out a good performance.

Food for thought.

David Spade on Will Smith Who Cares About the Oscars Show??? Oh, And I Talked to Rock

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Will Smith won't be able to attend the Oscars for 10 years -- and while some think that's mega, David Spade is here to say, whoop-de-doo ... suggesting it's not a big deal at all.

We got the comedy legend -- and good pal of Chris Rock -- Friday at Avra in Bev Hills ... and of course, we had to get his take on Will's decade-long ban, which had just been handed down by the Academy hours earlier.

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TAKIN' NO DISRESPECT

Check it out ... David actually seems to be okay with the punishment -- saying the movie honchos had to do something, and this seems fitting. But, when we pressed on whether it was too harsh ... he scoffed.

In Dave's eyes ... not being able to attend the ceremony or vote for future flicks doesn't really come off as a major consequence -- and he says himself, "Who cares?"

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AFRAID TO BE ANGRY
Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

DS also reveals if he's spoken to Chris yet ... and indeed, he certainly has. He refuses to dish on what his buddy thinks, though, respecting the guy's confidence and privacy. As for what he thinks the Academy can do to make it up to CR -- he's got a hilarious response.

BTW, just to give you a sense of how close David is with Chris ... check out this podcast appearance the latter made on Spade's "Fly on the Wall" back in January, which he hosts with Dana Carvey. Chris told an interesting story about being bullied in childhood.

There've been other reactions to the 10-year ban as well ... including from 'Dodgeball' star Chris Williams, who says it's a stiff sentence -- but one that makes sense considering the conduct.

Just like David, CW also thinks Will is going to land on his feet in the long run ... and that he can get past this with some time and healing -- and the forgetfulness of society as the next big thing captures our attention.

We also asked if Williams thinks Smith's got another Oscar in him amid this 10-year ban -- and the guy says, hell yeah ... predicting he may actually win one after his final year.

Dude might not even have to wait that long -- as we've told you, Will is still eligible to be nominated and win Oscars even during this 10-year period ... he just can't go to the show.

Will Smith Academy Members Split on Ban ... Goldilocks POVs & Opinions

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Will Smith's 10-year ban from the Oscars has left many in the Academy with mixed feelings -- some think too harsh, others think too lenient ... and some think it's just right.

THR published several reactions from a handful of members -- none of whom are on the Board of Governors -- with many going on the record with how they feel about the decision doled out this week ... namely, making WS persona non grata at the ceremony for a decade.

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TAKIN' NO DISRESPECT

A good amount of these folks actually stuck up for Will, saying the punishment doesn't fit the crime -- including Stephen Potter of the Sound branch, Harry Shearer of the Actors branch and Beverly Walker of the Marketing/PR branch ... who all felt this was punitive.

Harry (famous from "The Simpsons") says, in part ... "If Will Smith, or any other A-list actor, had run on stage and simply pulled down his pants and defecated, I seriously doubt he'd/she'd be back on that stage in 10 years, or ever ... A decade-long ban seems oddly parental, as in, he'll have outgrown his slappin' phase by then."

Beverly was firmly in Will's corner, or rather ... very much so NOT in Chris's -- or any other comedian the Academy might hire as a host/presenter to roast the crowd.

She takes issue with "the Academy's longstanding habit of hiring comedian/hosts to march out and insult or make fun of the very people being celebrated," adding, "there have undoubtedly been some who would've liked to make some sort of protest" ... and finishing by saying, "What Rock said was egregious and he had to know it would not be appreciated."

Others took aim at Academy leadership itself -- especially Prez David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson ... whom many felt had screwed the pooch by failing to respond in the moment.

Mitchell Block -- a doc-maker -- put it well ... "The board of governors should have reviewed why David Rubin and/or Dawn Hudson failed to have Will Smith immediately removed from the theater after he physically attacked one of the hosts." He adds, "Their poor judgment demonstrated an inability to lead and be proactive under pressure and respond to this behavior. I am deeply disappointed that the governors did not censure them."

And yet, even more came out swinging ... saying Will deserved more severe consequences, like criminal charges and maybe outright disqualification from all things Oscars, forever.

Steven Scott summed it up like this ... "I also am disappointed that Chris Rock and The Academy decided not to press charges for Will's attack. What message are we sending -- that when we're assaulted, it's best to just keep our 'composure' and not complain?"

He also addressed the whataboutism that has bubbled up -- with many drawing comparisons over what happened to Will with others who they feel have perhaps done worse.

To that, Scott says ... "Before someone tells me that other Hollywood A-listers have done awful things, yet kept their Oscars, none of them did their crimes live, on air, from the Academy home stage on our special night, in front of all the world to see."

He adds, "There is no precedent for Will's horrific physical and verbal assault, and the punishment should have been unprecedented as well. I am disgusted by my Academy's appallingly weak, amoral, kowtowing-to-an-A-lister response."

As you know ... Will is OK with the Academy's decision. And, while he can't attend Academy Awards ceremonies or official events for 10 years -- he can still be nominated for Oscars and even win Oscars ... they'll just have to mail him any would-be statuettes if that occurs.

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He also gets to keep his Oscar -- so all things considered, really not all that bad.

What'll be interesting to see is if his ban affects any votes for Oscar-worthy performances he churns out in 10 years' time ... and that may happen sooner than later. His "Emancipation" Apple film has gotten a lot of buzz, and it should be out in the next year or so.

Betty White Memorabilia Up For Auction Over 1,500 Unique Items!!!

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A huge collection of Betty White's personal items are going up for auction, with pieces spanning over her 8-decade career.

The items are going on the block in September, courtesy of Julien's Auctions in Bev Hills, and the treasure trove includes signed scripts, wedding bands and her popular outfits.

The collection will be displayed in various countries around the world before ending up at Julien's ... countries like Chile and Ireland. The collection will also make its way aboard the Queen Mary 2's Transatlantic Voyage.

The auction house says, "We are honored to work with her Estate in this exclusive presentation of these precious artifacts and personal mementos from her storied life and career which will be offered for the first time at auction to the public, museum curators and her legions of fans worldwide."

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BETTY'S FINAL MESSAGE

As you know, Betty was about to celebrate her 100th birthday when she died of a stroke on New Year's Eve 2021 at home in LA. After her passing, Betty's team released a pre-recorded video of the actress thanking her fans for all the money raised for animals through the #BettyWhiteChallenge.

Mark Wahlberg Bev Hills Estate for Sale ... For Nearly $90 Million

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Mark Wahlberg is getting out of Beverly Hills -- his massive estate there just hit the market ... and he is going to turn a HUGE profit considering what he first paid for it way back when.

The actor has listed his BH compound -- which includes a main mega-mansion with 12 bedrooms and 20 baths, plus a separate guest house -- for a whopping $87.5 million ... he first bought the land in 2009 for $8.25 mil and spent years building the home.

Overall, it's 30,500 square feet of living space ... covered in European limestone.

No matter what amount Mark settles for, he's obviously coming up big in the black ... we're talking tens of millions of dollars based on nothing but good old-fashioned real estate appreciation. Not bad!

As for the property itself ... it's literally Los Angeles luxury defined. It's got a full-blown library/study room, a waterfall pool, a grotto, tennis court, basketball court, a private spa, a 5,000-bottle wine cellar, a fully-equipped gym, a movie screening room -- and even separate quarters for any hired help, plus a media entry space!

There are other amenities that you should see for yourself ... seriously, this place rocks.

Like we said ... Mark's been soaking in this palace for well over a decade. Now, he seems ready to move -- because it's for sale and up for grabs. Whoever the new owner will be is someone that's gotta have deep pockets ... because this purchase is no walk in the park.

The house is listed by mega-realtor Kurt Rappaport.

Good luck, y'all!!!

'Mighty Ducks' Star Shaun Weiss New Acting Gig, Since Being Sober ... Art Imitates Life

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Shaun Weiss is back and better ... and now he'll be returning to the big screen ... 'cause the dude's just landed a role in a movie.

The 'Mighty Ducks' star tells TMZ ... he'll be in the film, "Jesus Revolution," starring Kelsey Grammer -- based on the true story of Lonnie Frisbee and the hippies he baptized in the '70s -- and the role is reflective of his own life.

Shaun tells us, someone from Lionsgate actually saw his sobriety story and wanted to offer him the role. He did a read for a director via zoom, and voila!

We're told, he plays a strung-out Vietnam vet who gets saved and sobers up. And, he's really gotten into the role ... even asking his dentist if he could temporarily take out the implants he just got, to look the part.

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Well, that wasn't possible but, either way, Shaun says the role has taken him back to his own life and being drugged out ... so much so, he says, playing the role is almost like experiencing a relapse.

As we previously reported, Shaun has struggled with drug addiction for many years ... even losing most of his teeth from drug abuse. He's since turned his life around, gotten a new set of pearly whites and has been sober for 2 years!

Talk about a comeback ...

Congrats Shaun!!

'Seinfeld' & 'Toy Story' Star Estelle Harris Dead at 93

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9:26 AM PT -- Two of Estelle's "Seinfeld" costars, Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, just took to Twitter and penned heartfelt tributes.

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Jason said, "One of my favorite people has passed - my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. I adore you, Estelle. Love to your family. Serenity now and always. #RIPEstelleHarris."

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UPDATE

JLD wrote, "RIP Estelle Harris. I love you. #serenitynow."

Estelle Harris, who brilliantly played George Costanza's mom, has died.

Estelle passed away Saturday at her home in Palm Desert, CA, just outside of Palm Springs.  Her son Glen says she died from natural causes, adding, "It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25."

Glen went on to say, "Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy, and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her."

Estelle played a loud, opinionated and confrontational mom who was quick to take on her hubby and George at the drop of a hat. Short story ... she was hysterical!

And, speaking of story ... Estelle played Mrs. Potato Head in the 3 most recent 'Toy Story' flicks. There's a lot more to her CV ... "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "Tarzan II," "The Pinocchio Shop," and tons of other voiceover work.

Estelle was a New Yorker by birth and got her big break on "Night Court."

She was married to Sy Harris from 1953 to 2021, when he died. She's survived by 3 kids -- Eric, Glen and Taryn, as well as 3 grandsons and a great-grandson.

Estelle was 93.

RIP

Originally Published -- 5:01 AM PT

Rosanna Arquette Smashes Into Back Of Delivery Truck ... Wrecks Her Tesla

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Actress Rosanna Arquette wrecked her car by crashing into the back of a UPS truck ... an accident that left her in real distress, according to law enforcement and witnesses.

We're told the 62-year-old was behind the wheel of her Tesla Tuesday at the Palisades Village shopping center in L.A. Witnesses say her car was parked about 10 feet behind the truck when it suddenly plowed into the back of the vehicle, causing her airbags to deploy.

Eyewitnesses say she got out of the car completely distraught, grabbing her hair while talking to passersby. We're told cops arrived on scene, but police declined to take a report and just helped the parties exchange info.

Rosanna was eventually driven away by estranged husband Todd Morgan, who arrived shortly after the crash. Witnesses say her Tesla was towed away and the UPS employee was able to continue their route with the truck.

As we reported, Morgan filed for divorce from Rosanna last month after 9 years of marriage. Todd, an investment banker, cited "irreconcilable differences.". Looks like he's still got her back though ... especially in times of stress.

We've reached out to Rosanna for comment ... so far, no word back.