People: Cooper heading to London with ‘Elephant Man’
Bradley Cooper is swapping Broadway for London’s West End. Producers announced Friday that a Cooper-led production of “The Elephant Man” will open in London in May.
The actor – a three-time Academy Award nominee, most recently for “American Sniper” – has won praise for his performance as John Merrick, an extremely disfigured but indomitable man who becomes a celebrity in Victorian London.
Bernard Pomerance’s play, based on a true story, has been frequently revived since its 1979 New York debut. John Hurt starred in David Lynch’s 1980 film adaptation. The current production also features Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola.
Ross to launch restored Kings Theatre
Brooklyn has a new, majestic performing arts theater that will kick off with a Diana Ross concert. The 1929 Loew’s Kings Theatre has been renamed Kings Theatre and is reopening after a $95 million restoration.
Ross is scheduled to perform at the 3,000-seat venue on Feb. 3. Future performances include Sarah McLachlan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Moscow Ballet and the musical “Annie.”
The ornate venue was one of five Loew’s wonder theaters built in New York and New Jersey. It steadily declined and closed in 1977. Work to restore the theater’s architectural splendor began in 2013.
Bitter divorce final for Collins, Grant
Veteran television actor Stephen Collins and his wife of nearly 30 years have finalized their divorce, an acrimonious breakup that revealed the former “7th Heaven” star had inappropriate contact with underage girls decades ago.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Convey on Friday approved a divorce judgment that ended Collins’ marriage to Faye Grant, who first disclosed molestation allegations against her estranged husband in court filings. Collins acknowledged he acted inappropriately with three underage girls in incidents that occurred between 1973 and 1994.
The revelation cost Collins several roles after audio of a 2012 therapy session in which he discussed the incidents was posted by celebrity website TMZ last year. Grant recorded the session but denies leaking the audio to the website.
The pair’s divorce judgment calls for all but two copies of the recording to be destroyed. Both copies will be retained for 10 years by an attorney. Collins or Grant can only use the recordings if they need to defend themselves from a civil or criminal case, the judgment states.
The birthday bunch
Cajun musician Doug Kershaw is 79. Singer-songwriter Ray Stevens is 76. Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond is 74. Singer Aaron Neville is 74. Actor Michael Ontkean is 69. Comedian Yakov Smirnoff is 64. Bandleader-musician Jools Holland is 57. Actress Nastassja Kinski is 56. Olympic gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton is 47. Blues/rock singer Beth Hart is 43. Actor Ed Helms is 41.