People: Morgan released from rehab facility
Former “Saturday Night Live” star Tracy Morgan has been released from a rehabilitation facility as he heals from serious injuries he suffered in a car crash that left a fellow comedian dead, his spokesman said Saturday.
The former “30 Rock” star suffered a broken leg and broken ribs when the limousine van he was riding in was hit from behind June 7 by a Wal-Mart truck on the New Jersey Turnpike. The wreck killed 62-year-old comedian James McNair, who went by the name Jimmy Mack. Comedian Ardley Fuqua and another passenger, Jeffrey Millea, were injured.
On Thursday, lawyers for Morgan filed a lawsuit against Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, claiming the retailer was negligent when a driver of one of its tractor-trailers rammed into Morgan’s limousine van. The complaint claims the retail giant should have known that its driver had been awake for over 24 hours and that his commute of 700 miles from his home in Georgia to work in Delaware was “unreasonable.” It also alleges the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
Morgan’s lawsuit seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages.
Shakira scored a family at World Cup
Preparing to perform at her third World Cup, pop star Shakira says she thanks football for changing her life. Shakira says she “will never forget that I met the love of my life at the World Cup.”
She and Spain defender Gerard Pique met when promoting her 2010 World Cup anthem, “Waka Waka – Time for Africa,” and the couple have an 18-month-old son.
Speaking ahead of today’s closing ceremony concert, Shakira says “if it wasn’t for the World Cup my son Milan would not be here.”
Tambor’s latest role a real change-up
Having marked his 70th birthday last week, Jeffrey Tambor is celebrating what he calls his most “transformative” role. The veteran actor plays a man who, late in life, acts on his long-suppressed need to be a woman.
The new transgender drama-comedy, “Transparent,” premieres in late September with all 10 episodes of its first season on Amazon Prime Instant Video. Tambor, well-known from comedies “Arrested Development” and “The Larry Sanders Show,” here has the dramatic challenge of portraying a man at a life-changing moment as he breaks the news to his adult children.
“This is all I ever wanted to do,” said Tambor, summing up his role for reporters at a Saturday session of the summer TV critics’ tour. “I’m overwhelmed and having the time of my life.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Patrick Stewart is 74. Actor Robert Forster is 73. Actor Harrison Ford is 72. Singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) is 72. Actor-comedian Cheech Marin is 68. Actress Didi Conn is 63. Actor-director Cameron Crowe is 57. Actor Kenny Johnson is 51. Rock musician Will Champion (Coldplay) is 36.