You could say that he’s had a wild and crazy career
Steve Martin has played a singing King Tut, a ramblin’ guy with a dead woman trapped in his body, a con man and a family man. But beyond those colorful characters, he has become a respected writer and a comedy legend.
For his career achievements, Martin, 60, was honored Sunday with one of the nation’s top comedy awards – the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
“As did Charlie Chaplin, as did the Marx Brothers, as did Laurel and Hardy define their own times, Steve Martin defined ours,” Tom Hanks said during the Kennedy Center ceremony.
In addition to his “Saturday Night Live” TV appearances and roles in such films as “The Jerk,” “Roxanne” and “Parenthood,” Martin has written several novels and plays (including “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” now running at the Spokane Civic Theatre’s Studio Theatre).
He will star next year as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau in “The Pink Panther,” a role originally made famous by Peter Sellers.
Hit the road, ‘jackers
Rapper Cam’ron, recovering from a gunshot wound suffered in an apparent carjacking, said would-be thieves shouldn’t expect him to surrender his ride so easily.
He was wounded early Sunday when he refused to give up his Lamborghini after leaving a Washington, D.C., nightclub. When he tried to drive away, the gunman fired a shot that passed through both of his arms.
“I’m doing OK. It takes more than a botched carjacking to keep me down,” Cam’ron said Monday.
Britney’s baby already overexposed
Unathorized photos of Britney Spears‘ new baby have been pulled off the Internet after the pop singer and her record label threatened legal action.
The pictures of Spears’ first child with husband Kevin Federline – reportedly named Sean Preston Federline – allegedly were stolen. Spears reportedly has been negotiating to sell them to a magazine.
A message on the first site to post the photos says: “To Britney, Kevin, Sean, Jive Records, SonyBMG and anyone else I have affected by this, I am deeply sorry for any pain I have caused you.”
Let’s all egg her on
Celine Dion plans to have a second child – after she finishes her gig in Las Vegas, that is.
The 37-year-old Canadian-born singer told a French magazine that she will begin in vitro fertilization treatments in 2007 when her contract expires at Caesar’s Palace, where she started in 2003.
“I’m approaching 40 years old, and I have to tend to that,” she said.
Dion and her manager-husband, Rene Angelil, had their first child in 2001 through in vitro fertilization.
Wedding band on the run
Ben Okuly was ready to propose to his girlfriend, but first he needed Paul McCartney‘s approval.
At one of McCartney’s concerts in suburban Detroit last week, Okuly held up a sign that read: “CAN BEN ASK MELISSA TO MARRY HIM?”
“Well, go on, get down on your knees and ask her, Ben!” McCartney ordered. Okuly did, and she said yes.
“Well, that’s a first for me,” the former Beatle said, adding: “And I hope it’s a last for you, Ben.”
The birthday bunch
Actress Marion Ross (“Happy Days”) is 77. Singer Helen Reddy is 64. Singer Jon Anderson (Yes) is 61. Actress Nancy Cartwright (“The Simpsons”) is 48. Actor Michael Boatman (“Spin City”) is 41. Singer Speech (Arrested Development) is 37. Actor Adam Goldberg (“Saving Private Ryan”) is 35. Country singer Chely Wright is 35. Singer Ciara is 20.