World’s most interesting man, Jonathan Goldsmith, has new role
The most interesting man in the world is helping a Vermont-based company raise money to fight cancer in dogs.
Jonathan Goldsmith is a Manchester, Vt., resident made famous by his role in the Dos Equis beer commercials. But he’s also a dog lover hoping to raise funds for the Denver-based Morris Animal Foundation, which promotes veterinary research for companion animals, horses and wildlife.
Goldsmith made an online commercial with his Anatolian shepherd, Willy, as part of a campaign by the Manchester-based Orvis Co., which is known for its outdoor apparel and fly fishing but also has a dog catalog.
Goldsmith says he lost a dog to cancer and is glad to support a good cause.
Couric’s ‘Fed Up’ plays at Sundance
Along with her soon-to-end daytime talk show, fall engagement and recent move from TV to the Web as Yahoo’s global anchor, Katie Couric also made a documentary shown at Sundance.
“Fed Up” premiered Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival. Couric produced and narrates the documentary, which explores the epidemic of childhood obesity and its not-so-obvious causes.
The 57-year-old said documentaries “are replacing journalism in some cases” because budget cuts and a taste for quick news bites means “nobody invests the time to really investigate some of the biggest social issues.” She said her documentary goes beyond the headlines to show the causes and costs of obesity in the United States.
Couric also plans to dig into social issues and talk with cultural leaders in her new gig at Yahoo.
Mirren a Hasty Pudding award winner
Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren has been named woman of the year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals.
The 68-year-old Mirren won the 2007 best actress Oscar for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen” and has been nominated on three other occasions. She has also appeared in “The Age of Consent, “Gosford Park” and “The Madness of King George.”
Hasty Pudding Theatricals is the nation’s oldest undergraduate drama troupe. Its awards are presented annually to performers who have made a lasting and impressive contribution to entertainment. The man of the year will be named at a later date.
Mirren will be honored with a parade and roast and given her ceremonial pudding pot at Harvard on Jan. 30.
Birthday bunch
Actress Ann Wedgeworth (“Evening Shade”) is 80. Singer Mac Davis is 72. Actress Jill Eikenberry is 67. Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean is 64. Actor Robby Benson is 58. Actress Geena Davis is 58. Drummer Mark Trojanowski of Sister Hazel is 44. DJ Chris Kilmore of Incubus is 41. Singer Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) of the Spice Girls is 38.