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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Hollywood Motto: ‘Celebrity, Heal Thyself’

Compiled By Staff Writer Dan Web

Hanging in Hollywood has its perils - paparazzi, snake-like agents, canceled series, jerks who don’t return your phone calls.

But there are real-life health perils, too. Just consider the following.

Jane Seymour, star of TV’s “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” has contracted dengue fever. She came down with the ailment, which causes severe joint pain, headache, rash and vomiting, while shooting “The Swiss Family Robinson” in Puerto Rico.

And Christian Slater, arrested last week after a brawl with his girlfriend, a bystander and police officers, has entered rehab. The 28-year-old actor admits bingeing on booze, heroin and cocaine. “He’s really embarrassed about what he’s done,” said Slater’s 14-year-old brother. “He told me the other day, ‘Ryan, I have to quit.”’

Loose talk

Barbara Billingsley, 74, on playing Aunt Martha in the film version of “Leave It to Beaver” (in the Orange County Register): “When I got the script, I immediately started circling all the lines for June, and then I remembered I’m not June anymore.”

Besides Virgo, her sign is ‘Happy Birthday’

Marlee Matlin turns 32 today.

Luckily, they weren’t invited to swim with the fishes

During a recent yacht tour of the remote Italian island of Filicudi, Robert De Niro, wife Grace Hightower and their entourage dined on Sicilian specialties. The menu included specialties of fresh tuna ravioli, wild fennel risotto, swordfish, tuna sausage, octopus with eggplant, and stuffed squid. All was accompanied by white wine.

We’re sure that they’re just good friends

Today’s Brit-royal item includes the news that Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed just jetted to St. Tropez, France. It’s the third holiday in the past five weeks for the glam duo, according to the London Daily Mail. By the way, Kelly Fisher, the woman who is suing al-Fayed because he allegedly jilted her, didn’t accompany them.

To be or not to be (an actress), that is the question

Joan Lunden, a talk-show host, apparently didn’t want to give up the role of newsy-caster. But the soon-to-be former “Good Morning America” co-host kept getting offers to act. So she’s taking lessons. “At first, I said, ‘Wait a second, I’m not an actress,”’ Lunden said. “But I owe it to myself when I’m getting these kinds of offers to not limit what I might be able to do in the future.

One question: Can’t we all just get along?

From the where-are-they-now files: Rodney King, he of the 1991 videotaped beating, has been sentenced to 90 days in Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail. His crime: spousal abuse.

Later, they operated to pull tongue from his cheek

Finally, this from White House deputy press secretary Barry Toiv: “Rumors that Barbra Streisand is going to marry Princess Di on Martha’s Vineyard this weekend have not been confirmed.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster