People: Harrison Ford likely grounded after plane crash
Insurance carriers that underwrite the entertainment industry may ground actor Harrison Ford from flying after his vintage airplane experienced engine trouble and crash-landed on a Venice, California, golf course.
Ford, who was hospitalized with moderately serious injuries, was not working on a film production when the accident happened Thursday. The actor best known for his roles in the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” films recently wrapped filming on “Star Wars: Episode VII” in the United Kingdom.
Nonetheless, underwriters are likely to closely scrutinize his flying hobby before agreeing to insure his next movie, insurance brokers and safety experts said.
“It will be stipulated in bold, black ink that he won’t be able to fly while he’s on the set,” said Angela Plasschaert, Los Angeles-based risk management consultant who works with film producers and insurance companies. “There wouldn’t be a sane person on the planet that would want to write that policy.”
Insurers have good reason to be cautious. Over the years, there have been some hefty insurance payouts over accidents involving actors.
Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” was delayed three weeks in August 2012 when Robert Downey Jr. broke his ankle. The insurance settlement was reportedly more than $10 million.
The death of actor Paul Walker in a car accident in Southern California last year delayed production of “Fast & Furious 7.” Fireman’s Fund would not comment on its payout, but industry insiders said the payout was at least $70 million.
Exercise saving grace for Madonna
Exercising regularly has been like a prayer answered for Madonna: The singer says thanks to staying active, she didn’t suffer much after falling during her performance at the Brit Awards.
“If I wasn’t in good shape – tuck and roll,” the singer, laughing, said during an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday night. “I attribute a lot of the fact that I came out all right because I’m in good shape.”
The 56-year-old tumbled last week during a live performance after her dancers tugged at her flowing cape, dragging her down three steps. She got up after being yanked and continued her performance of “Living for Love.”
On Thursday, she said she was doing OK.
Madonna said she’s switched up her workout routines over the years to “keep things interesting, shock my body.”
“I still do a lot of dance cardio. I started doing yoga again. I do interval training, metabolic interval training … jumping ropes; something called body art,” she said. “It has to change. You get bored doing the same thing over and over again.”
The birthday bunch
TV personality Willard Scott is 81. Actor Daniel J. Travanti is 75. Actor John Heard is 69. Rock singer Peter Wolf is 69. Actor Bryan Cranston is 59. Singer-actress Taylor Dayne is 53. Comedian Wanda Sykes is 51. Actress Rachel Weisz is 44. Actress Jenna Fischer is 41. Actress Laura Prepon is 35.