Entertainment

Harry Potter veterans took to social media Thursday to mourn Michael Gambon, the actor who played Dumbledore in six Harry Potter films, who died at 82.

J.K. Rowling, the creator of the franchise, noted on X, formerly Twitter, “The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you’d told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I’d written, I’d have thought you were insane.”

“Michael was a wonderful man in additional to being an outstanding actor, and I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also [the miniseries] The Casual Vacancy,” she wrote. “My deepest condolences go to Michael’s family and everyone who loved him.”

In a statement to Variety, Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, noted that Michael “made the hours spent in front of a green screen together more memorable and joyous than they had any right to be.” He added, “I’m so sad to hear he has passed, but I am so grateful for the fact that I am one of the lucky people who got to work with him.”

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Potter films, called Gambon a “personal role model” of his, adding the star “captivated me as a kid.”

Bonnie Wright, who portrayed Ginny Weasley in the franchise, wrote that she “was forever in awe of Michael’s presence and performance.”

James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, posted a lengthy memory of his time in the films, both in front of and behind the camera, calling Gambon “on and off the camera, a legend.”

The official Harry Potter social media account said Gambon “brought immeasurable joy to Harry Potter fans from all over the world with his humour, kindness and grace.”

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While the writers strike is over, Strike Force Five rolls on, and on the eighth episode of their previously-recorded Strike Force Five podcast, Jimmy Fallon explained NBC wasn’t even considering him to host The Tonight Show.

With Seth Meyers acting as host, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Fallon described how they got their respective gigs.

Fallon says it was his former SNL boss Lorne Michaels who championed him for the job he took in 2014, following his exit from Saturday Night Live in 2004. “I was leaving SNL, and so Lorne goes, ‘Would you ever want to do it? A talk show?’ I go, ‘I don’t think so,'” said Fallon.

Instead, he offered, “Well, in six years, ask me, and if … I’m around, I’ll think about it.”

In that time, “I was hoping to just be like, you know, Bill Murray or Eddie Murphy or whatever, just leave Saturday Night Live and do movies.”

However, the films he made, Fever Pitch and Taxi, didn’t pan out at the box office, so the network went “cold” on him, he said.

His wife, Nancy Juvonen, urged him, “You have to take this job. You’re one of three human beings to ever do this: David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and you. And, if anything, you’re on a great list of people.”

Fallon continued, “So, I call Lorne, and I go, ‘I’m in. I’d love to do it.’ He goes, ‘Great. NBC doesn’t really want you,'” cracking up the other comics.

“I think Lorne said, ‘Look, I’ve worked with Jimmy. He’s a hard worker. He’s going to be great at this. Either you do this with Jimmy or I’m not involved,'” Fallon recalled. “He actually went to bat for me and changed my life.”

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The mentorship nonprofit Step Up, which focuses on female empowerment, announced its first list of 25 Mentors of the Year, and some Hollywood notables have made the cut, including actress/producers Mindy Kaling, Gabrielle Union and Reese Witherspoon.

“This new distinction is reserved for those who serve as role models in the community for defining and pursuing dreams of success demonstrated through their impactful work, journey, and character,” the organization touted in its announcement.

In its “Start Exploring” category, reserved for mentors who “inspire us to consider new ideas,” Kaling is among the honorees, along with actor and activist Jodie Turner-Smith, journalist and original star of The View Lisa Ling and Mellody Hobson, Ariel Investments president and co-CEO, who happens to be married to Star Wars creator George Lucas.

Witherspoon, a Step Up investor, is singled out in the organization’s “Build Skills” subheading, which recognizes “mentors [who] demonstrate how to grow our abilities.”

Joining Reese are tennis legend and entrepreneur Serena Williams and Dany Garcia, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson‘s producing partner.

Modern Family alumna Julie Bowen was given the nod in the “Cultivate Community” group of mentors, who “help us galvanize our networks.”

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Meghan Markle‘s former co-star Patrick J. Adams has taken to Instagram to atone for posting a photo of her on Monday, from back when they played lovers on Suits.

However, he wasn’t apologizing to the Duchess of Sussex — even though one in a series of the now-deleted behind-the-scenes pics of her could be seen as racy.

Instead, Adams says he was “incredibly sorry” for using social media to promote a past project, which is a no-no according to SAG-AFTRA strike rules.

“The last couple of days I foolishly and thoughtlessly let a trip down Suits memory lane distract me from the very real and ongoing fight everyone in @sagafstra continues to wage in its effort to win out membership realistic 21st Century compensation and protections,” said Adams, who played Mike Ross on the show.

He added, “So grateful to those who gently and swiftly course corrected me here and I look forward to continuing the fight in the days and weeks ahead.”

According to Page Six, one of the pics showed Markle, who played paralegal — and Mike’s eventual wife — Rachel Zane, lying upside down on the floor. She was dressed in a white blouse and brown skirt but had a bare foot raised in the air.

Markle and Adams remained close after she left the show in 2018 to marry Prince Harry. In fact, Adams and his Pretty Little Liars star wife, Troian Bellisario, were guests at the “runaway royals'” wedding.

The actor recently snarked at Suits‘ newfound streaming popularity by changing his Insta bio to read, “the guy from that show you’re watching on that app because that girl married that prince.”

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As reported, Real Time with Bill Maher returns on Max Friday night, September 29. HBO has just revealed who the first post-WGA strike guests will be.

Florida governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis will be featured in a one-on-one interview with the Emmy winner.

This week’s panel discussion will include Making Sense podcast host Sam Harris and columnist/Getting Hammered podcast co-host Mary Katharine Ham, author of the book End of Discussion: How The Left’s Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters and Makes America Less Free (and Fun).

Maher’s show has been dark since the WGA strikes began in May.

Real Time with Bill Maher airs at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and is available for streaming on Max.

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Jennifer Aniston bares her bod on the cover of the Muses issue of the biannual publication CR Fashion Book. On Instagram Wednesday, she gave her nearly 50 million followers a sneak peek at the October 3 release.

The 54-year-old former Friends star-turned Morning Show lead and producer displayed a series of black and white photos snapped by “the incredible” Zoey Grossman, thanking publisher Carine Roitfeld and Jen’s own “ridiculously talented hair and makeup team” of Chris McMillan and Georgie Eisdell.

Hair and makeup aside, Aniston deserves the lions share of credit: She bares her toned abs in one photo, in which she’s wearing a black bikini top and a skinny tie, while another has her squatting, wearing only heels and an oversized black suit jacket.

Aniston also shared a color video of her posing and then goofing around on set. The post got more than 900,000 likes in a matter of hours.

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For fans of Kingsman series director Matthew Vaughn, the wait is over: The trailer for his stylish, star-packed spy movie Argylle has arrived.

The Mandalorian episode director and Jurassic World series star Bryce Dallas Howard plays Elly Conway, a reclusive author of a bestselling series of espionage books featuring the debonair spy known as Argylle.

While her “idea of bliss is a night at home with her computer and her cat, Alfie,” according to Universal, she finds herself entangled in a real-life spy mission when the plot of her books “begin to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization.”

Elly learns this the hard way, when Oscar winner Sam Rockwell‘s Aiden saves her life aboard a train — and reveals himself to be a real-life spy.

“What you wrote in your new book actually happened, and you kicked a hornet’s nest you didn’t even know existed,” he tells her.

Soon the hunt for Elly is on. “I need all assets on her now,” Emmy winner Bryan Cranston says as the heavy. “I need her to write the next chapter.”

The trailer for the meta movie interplays between the exploits of Elly’s Argylle, played by Henry Cavill — a Bondian figure complete with a gun-toting femme fatale in recording artist and Barbie actress Dua Lipa — and those of the spy, the author and yes, her cat’s globe-trotting race against time.

The movie also stars John Cena, Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara, Vaughn’s Kingsman baddie Samuel L. Jackson, Oscar winner Ariana DeBose and comic and Deadpool 2 actor Rob Delaney.

Argylle will hit theaters on February 2, 2024, from Universal Pictures, before it streams on Apple TV+.

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After years on HBO, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is airing someplace new in 2023.

This year’s event will stream live from Brooklyn, New York, on Disney+ starting Friday, November 3, at 8 p.m. ET. A broadcast special featuring highlights from the show will premiere January 1, 2024, on ABC.

“This historic live stream on Disney+ and special on ABC is a testament to the diverse sounds and enduring power of rock and roll,” says John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “Over the last three decades, the annual live Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction has become music’s highest honor, celebrating the artists who’ve defined generations and changed music forever.”

The 2023 Rock Hall inductees include Rage Against the Machine, Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, George Michael and The Spinners. Additionally, Chaka Khan, Al Kooper and Bernie Taupin are being inducted with the Musical Excellence award, while DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will be honored in the Musical Influence category. The late Don Cornelius is the recipient of the industry Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Additionally, the Rock Hall has announced the first wave of performers for the 2023 ceremony, including Crow, Nelson, Elliott and Khan, as well as Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, St. Vincent and New Edition.

Disney is the parent company of ABC.

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Comedy Central’s The Daily Show will return after the WGA strike on October 16, ABC Audio has confirmed. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning show will continue for the rest of the year with guest hosts, which have yet to be announced. However, the network says a permanent host will be named in 2024…

Two-time Oscar winner Diane Wiest won’t be returning for season 3 of Taylor Sheridan‘s acclaimed Paramount+ crime drama Mayor of Kingstown, Deadline is reporting. Weist played Mariam McLusky in the series, the prison teacher mother to Jeremy Renner‘s Mike, and Taylor Handley‘s Kyle. The season 2 finale that dropped on March 19 saw her accidentally shot by the latter. According to the trade, her exit will be “story driven,” meaning it will likely have something to do with that shooting…

HBO has set January 14 for the premiere of True Detective‘s fourth season, officially titled True Detective: Night Country. Per the cabler, “When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro — played respectively by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis — will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.”

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Michael Gambon, the Irish actor who played Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films, has died at 82.

“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon, a statement from the award-winning actor’s family said.

“Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.”

The statement continued, “We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”

Gambon succeeded the late Richard Harris in the role of the charming wizard headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, after the latter passed away just before the opening of 2002’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Gambon’s run as Dumbledore began with 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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