People: Actor, playwright Shepard fails sobriety test

Actor and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard was arrested Monday on suspicion of drunken driving after a Santa Fe, New Mexico, restaurant’s security complained about a possibly intoxicated driver.

The 71-year-old Shepard told a police officer that he had two tequila drinks and was planning to drive home, Santa Fe police Lt. Andrea Dobyns said Tuesday. “Our officer could smell alcohol on his breath, and he had bloodshot, watery eyes,” she said.

Shepard was arrested on a charge of aggravated driving while intoxicated outside La Choza restaurant in downtown.

The restaurant’s security called police about 7:45 p.m. Monday concerned about an intoxicated driver, Dobyns said. The man was trying to leave in the pickup, but the vehicle’s emergency brake was engaged.

Shepard declined to take a breath test, but he did perform a field sobriety test, which he failed, Dobyns said.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Shepard had an attorney. Santa Fe jail records show that Shepard was released Tuesday afternoon after posting bail.

Shepard won the Pulitzer Prize in 1979 for his play “Buried Child.” His film credits include “Country,” “Baby Boom,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Thunderheart,” “Black Hawk Down,” “The Notebook” and “Walker Payne.”

Monday’s arrest appears to be Shepard’s second on charges of drunken driving. In January 2009, he was arrested on charges of speeding and drunken driving in the central Illinois town of Normal. Shepard was driving 16 mph over the 30 mph speed limit, police said. A breath test then indicated his blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit.

Shepard pleaded guilty and was fined $600 and court costs and placed on 24 months of supervision. He also had to finish an alcohol treatment program and perform 100 hours of community service.

Lock of Mozart’s hair on auction block

Music lovers have the chance to own a strand of history.

Auctioneer Sotheby’s is selling a lock of hair from the head of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, resting in a gilt locket.

Taking composers’ hair as keepsakes was common in the 18th and 19th centuries.

After Mozart died in 1791 at age 35, his widow gave the hair to the mother of German composer Karl Anschutz. It was acquired by the late British composer Arthur Sommervell and is being sold by his family.

The hair is up for auction Thursday with an estimated price of $15,400 to $18,450.

The sale also includes a lock of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hair and an invitation to his 1827 funeral, together valued at $3,100 to $4,600.

The birthday bunch

Actor Christopher Lee is 93. Actress Lee Meriwether is 80. Musician Ramsey Lewis is 80. Singer Bruce Cockburn is 70. Actor Richard Schiff (“The West Wing”) is 60. Actress Peri Gilpin is 54. Actor Todd Bridges (“Diff’rent Strokes”) is 50. Actor Paul Bettany (“A Beautiful Mind”) is 44. Rapper Andre 3000 (Outkast) is 40. Rapper Jadakiss is 40. Actor Chris Colfer (“Glee”) is 25.