Come on, now, who’s not afraid of the grim reaper?
Elizabeth Taylor is in good spirits despite suffering from congestive heart failure, her publicist says. Taylor, 72, tells W magazine that she has the cardiac condition that results in fatigue, shortness of breath, fluid buildup and other symptoms.
The two-time Oscar winner (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” “Butterfield 8”) also said she has scoliosis that has twisted her spine, resulting in constant pain.
“My body’s a real mess,” said Taylor. “If you look at it in the mirror, it’s just completely convex and concave.”
Despite Taylor’s health problems, her spokeswoman said she was coping well and remained cheerful.
Taylor has lived through two life-threatening bouts with pneumonia, one requiring a tracheotomy; back fractures; two hip replacements and a brain tumor, among other health ailments.
She told W she is not afraid to die.
“Really I’m not, because I’ve been there,” Taylor said.
He still worships at Crow’s feet
A love-struck fan who ardently pursued singer Sheryl Crow for 15 months – contacting her sister and father and visiting her backstage after a concert – was acquitted Tuesday of stalking her.
Ambrose Kappos, 38, faced up to seven years in prison if convicted of burglary and stalking charges.
He said two unhappy marriages, an infatuation with Crow and other emotional difficulties created the “perfect storm” psychologically and caused his behavior.
Kappos added he was “still looking for love … if I can find a really good woman who can stir my emotions the way Ms. Crow did.”
Teller, meanwhile, renewed his vows of silence
Magician Penn Jillette married his longtime girlfriend during an impromptu ceremony at a Las Vegas wedding chapel last month.
Jillette, 49, the speaking half of the Penn & Teller duo, tied the knot with Emily Zolten, a 38-year-old television producer.
The couple, who’ve been dating about two years, didn’t take a honeymoon. “Penn has to get back to work,” his spokesman said.
Oh, Alexander, you were great
This just in: While being followed by an ABC camera crew for the taping of Barbara Walters‘ upcoming “Ten Most Fascinating People of 2004” special, Paris Hilton (one of those Top 10) was spied hooking up with none other than the second most oversexed pretty face in the cosmos: Colin Farrell.
Plus the Jessica Simpson paper clip
And speaking of Paris Hilton, a stapler autographed by her is leading the bidding in a “Staplers of the Stars” online charity auction conducted by office supply retailer Staples.
Hilton’s stapler was fetching $1,005, followed by Donald Trump and Katie Couric, whose signed staplers are each going for $800.
Among the more than 140 other participating celebrities are Ringo Starr, Kobe Bryant, Bill Gates, Rudy Guiliani and Cher.
The birthday bunch
Actress Julie Harris is 79. Actress Cathy Lee Crosby is 60. Actor Dan Butler (“Frasier”) is 50. News anchor Stone Phillips is 50. Actor Dennis Christopher (“Breaking Away,” “Chariots of Fire”) is 49. Actor Steven Bauer is 48. Bassist Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) is 36. Actress Lucy Liu is 36. Actress Rena Sofer (“Just Shoot Me”) is 36. Rapper Treach (Naughty By Nature) is 34. Singer Nelly Furtado is 26. Singer Britney Spears is 23.