People: He gave her a ‘Ghost’ chance
Whoopi Goldberg says Patrick Swayze – newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – is the reason she won an Oscar for “Ghost.”
Goldberg, who co-starred with Swayze in the 1990 film, earned a best supporting actress trophy for her portrayal of a psychic.
She said on Thursday’s “The View” that Swayze persuaded director Jerry Zucker to cast her in the film amid “some resistance.”
According to Goldberg, Swayze said: “I’m not making this movie unless you put Whoopi Goldberg in there.”
Swayze, 55, has been undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, his representative said Wednesday.
While the disease is considered deadly, Swayze’s doctor says that he’s “optimistic,” adding: “Patrick has a very limited amount of disease, and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far.”
Swayze most recently starred as an unorthodox FBI agent in a TV pilot, “The Beast,” which the A&E network is considering picking up as a series.
If so, he hopes to continue to be involved, his spokesman says.
She’s doing just swimmingly
Being Britney Spears‘ father is a paying gig.
In an order extending his conservatorship over his troubled daughter’s affairs, a judge Wednesday ordered that James Spears receive $2,500 in weekly compensation and authorized him to lease a car.
One of her newly structured activities is teaching children at a Hollywood dance studio.
“I like Britney,” 5-year-old Elissa Bouganim said. “Today, first we were dancing slow, and then faster and faster. … Then we did the fish-move and lots of other fun things.”
Hey, he stole her heart
Chinese actress Bai Ling, charged with petty theft for taking a pack of batteries and two Star magazines from a Los Angeles International Airport store last month, has pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and paid $700 in fines.
She called it an “innocent mistake,” and said she was having an “emotionally crazy” day because she broke up with her boyfriend right before Valentine’s Day.
I spy on my little Sly …
Sylvester Stallone, Chris Rock and Garry Shandling were on the witness list as private investigator Anthony Pellicano‘s wiretapping trial began Thursday.
Prosecutors claim Pellicano was the architect of a criminal enterprise that spied on Hollywood’s rich and famous, with clients paying “a premium fee to discredit, and in some cases destroy, their adversaries.”
Quoteworthy
Singer Enrique Iglesias, 32, on his plans to retire earlier than his famous father. Julio: “In my father’s case, I think he’s going to die onstage, and I respect that very much. In my case, in 15 years I’ll probably look ridiculous singing ‘Bailamos’ (‘Let’s Dance’).”
The birthday bunch
TV personality Willard Scott is 74. Actor Daniel J. Travanti is 68. Actor John Heard is 62. Actor Bryan Cranston is 52. Actor Bill Brochtrup (“NYPD Blue”) is 45. Comedian Wanda Sykes is 44. Singer Taylor Dayne is 43. Actress Rachel Weisz is 37. Actress Jenna Fischer is 34. Actress Laura Prepon is 28.