Month: July 2024

Fitness guru Richard Simmons died at the age of 76 over the weekend. TMZ was first to report the news on Saturday, July 13. The outlet, citing the Los Angeles Police Department, stated that authorities responded to Simmons’ home after a 911 call from his housekeeper, where they found Simmons had died.

Simmons’ longtime publicist, Tom Estey, confirmed to PEOPLE that the fitness coach died at his Los Angeles home one day after celebrating his 76th birthday.  Said Estey:  “The world has truly lost an angel.”  Simmons’ brother, Lenny Simmons, also confirmed the death in a statement. “I don’t want people to be sad about my brother. I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives. We are in shock. Please respect the family at this difficult time,” he said. According to ABC News, the fitness guru appeared to have died of natural causes and no foul play is suspected.

An overweight child born raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Simmons – born Milton Teagle Simmons to vaudeville performer parents — moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s. He educated himself on all he could about nutrition, and in 1975 opened a health food store/exercise studio, Ruffage and Anatomy Asylum. The studio became a hit with celebrities, and Simmons lived a life in the spotlight from then on.  He released five bestselling books, producing more than 50 workout videos and hosting weight loss cruises, while teaching classes at his Slimmons studio in Beverly Hills and appearing on talk shows and speaking tours.Simmons made regular TV appearances on talk shows including the “Late Show with David Letterman” and the “Rosie O’Donnell Show.” He also had a regular role on the soap opera “General Hospital” and made guest appearances as himself on shows such as “Arrested Development” and “The Larry Sanders Show.” He also hosted his own talk and fitness show, “The Richard Simmons Show,” from 1980-1984, which won four Daytime Emmy Awards.

The fitness guru  had not been seen in public since 2014, when he made the decision to retreat from the public eye; Simmons made his last public appearance in January of that year, and taught his final class at his famed Slimmons studio that February (Slimmons officially closed in November 2016).  However, Simmons was a regular poster on his social media platforms in the past months, with his last posts coming as recently as Saturday morning local time to let his followers fans know he appreciated their birthday well-wishes. Simmons wrote on Friday, July 13: “Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday. Love, Richard”

Simmons also had just spoken to PEOPLE about his plans to celebrate his 76th birthday, in a story published on Friday. He said he planned to blow out a few candles for the occasion: “But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian,” he said, before admitting that he would try “maybe one Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie.” Simmons added that he felt good to turn 76: “I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day. I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people.”

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Multiple outlets confirmed that actress Shannen Doherty died on Saturday, July 13, after a years-long battle with cancer. Doherty was 53 years old.

Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane said in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”

Doherty, perhaps best known for her role as Brenda Walsh on the 90s series Beverly Hills, 90210, was first diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2015, later revealing in April 2017 that she had gone into remission. By 2019, however, Doherty shared the news that her cancer had returned, telling Good Morning America at the time: . “It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that — I’m stage IV. So my cancer came back. And that’s why I’m here. I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.”  She later announced her diagnosis of metastatic stage 4 cancer, with Doherty telling PEOPLE in November 2023 that it had by then spread to her bones. She said: “I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better. I’m just not — I’m not done.  

Shortly thereafter, Doherty revealed via Instagram that her cancer had spread to her brain, captioning a video of herself tearfully undergoing treatment: “January 12, the first round of radiation took place. My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life. That fear … The turmoil … the timing of it all … This is what cancer can look like.”  Amid her cancer battle, Doherty and her ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko split after 11 years of marriage in April 2023.

Doherty began her career as a child actress on Little House on the Prairie before moving on to roles in Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Our House, and the 1988 dark comedy Heathers. She rose to fame as Brenda Walsh on the original Beverly Hills, 90210, which premiered in October 1990, leaving the show after the fourth season in 1994.  She was later cast in the series Charmed as Prue Halliwell, before leaving the show at the end of the third season in 2001. Doherty ventured into reality television with the short-lived Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty and as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. In 2019, she signed on to join the TV reboot of Beverly Hills, 90210, once again playing an adult version of her character.

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Actress Shelley Duvall has passed away at the age of 75. Duvall’s partner, Dan Gilroy, confirmed that she died in her sleep on July 9 due to complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, Texas. Gilroy said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly: “Just like the birds she cared for and loved from the time they were babies, I feel her flying free, no suffering, lots of joy. My wonderful life partner of 34 years. So hard to say goodbye. I’m sitting here with her now, dreading the moment they come to take her away.”

Gilroy, who was involved with Duvall since 1989, also shared a statement via The Hollywood Reporter: “My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley.” Duvall’s official cause of death was not disclosed.

Duvall starred in seven Robert Altman films – including McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), Thieves Like Us (1974), Nashville (1975), Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976), and 3 Women (1977). The latter saw Duvall receive the Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress.

She will be most remembered however for her role Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) alongside on-screen husband, Jack Nicholson. Duvall also had roles in 1977’s Annie Hall, 1980’s Popeye and 1998’ Casper Meets Wendy, among others. Duvall later turned her focus toward children’s television and served as the narrator, host, and executive producer of Faerie Tale Theatre from 1982-1987. She would also go on to create and present Tall Tales & Legends, an Emmy-nominated anthology series, as well as Nightmare Classics, Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.

Duvall moved from Hollywood to her native Texas in the mid-1990s, announcing her retirement in 2002 and later revealed struggles with her mental health. However, she recently returned to acting, and appeared in her final on-screen role in the movie The Forest Hills (2023).

Duvall is survived by her partner Gilroy, as well as her brothers Scott, Stewart, and Shane.

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ABC’s Good Morning America has revealed the lineup of its 2024 Summer Concert Series, kicking-off on Friday, July 19th and taking place from both GMA’s Times Square Studio, as well as NYC’s Central Park.   The morning program posted on its social media: “Our GMA Summer Concert Series is here! The hottest names in music are taking over Central Park and Times Square ”

This year’s lineup of performers across multiple music genres include Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown, Green Day and reggaeton artist Nicky Jam, in addition to country band Old Dominion, rapper and producer G-Eazy, country breakout star Megan Moroney, and the duo of Sofi Tukker.

Green Day will perform in Central Park on Friday, July 26th, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album Dookie and the 20th anniversary of their iconic smash hit “American Idiot.”

The performances set for Central Park will take place at Rumsey Playfield. For those interested in the shows in the park — which will be free and open to the public — information on how to attend is available on Good Morning America‘s website. The concerts held at the Times Square studio will not have a live audience.

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PEOPLE has exclusively confirmed that actress Olivia Munn, 44, and comedian John Mulaney, 41, were married in a simple, intimate ceremony at a friend’s home in New York state. News of the couple’s marriage also comes just days after Munn celebrated her 44th birthday, with her family by her side.

A source close to Mulaney shared that the couple, who are parents to their 2-year-old son Malcolm Hiệp, tied the knot with only their son and one witness in attendance. TODAY.com later revealed that “Law and Order” alum Sam Waterston officiated the ceremony (Waterston and Munn co-starred in the HBO series “The Newsroom”), and the witness to their marriage was Waterston’s wife.

Mulaney and Munn began dating in May 2021, following Mulaney’s split from his ex-wife, Anna Marie Tendler (Mulaney and Tendler marred in 2014). After news of their romance broke, previous quotes resurfaced from Munn in a 2015 conversation with HuffPost, stating she was a fan of her future husband: “We were at a wedding together and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, do you and your fiancée want to go have dinner or something and go hang out?’ At first it was cool, and then I kept going up to him at the wedding like, ‘So, you having fun?’ I was just so obsessed with hanging out with and talking with him.”

The news of Munn and Mulaney’s marriage also comes four months after the actress went public with her battle with breast cancer. Munn was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in 2023 after tests revealed she had luminal B — a fast-moving, aggressive cancer — in both breasts. Munn underwent a double mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery last fall, undergoing four surgeries over the span of 10 months, followed by a hysterectomy in April 2024.

During an interview with Vogue in May, Mulaney said of Munn: “Olivia and I have been through a lot of things together in the past couple years. Just side-by-side, supporting each other through anything. And as her guy, I felt both scared and protective. Even with Malcolm in her lap and me there holding her hand, she was going to be physically fighting this disease alone.”

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Formula 1 and Apple Original Films shared the teaser for the new Formula 1 racing movie starring Brad Pitt, titled “F1.”

The movie follows Pitt as former Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to the sport and partners with and mentors rookie teammate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) on the fictional APXGP team. Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Samson Kayo round out the cast for the racing film. Bardem portrays the team boss of APXGP.

Filming for “F1” has taken place at actual Formula 1 events, like last year’s British Grand Prix, the Rolex 24 at Daytona sportscar race this January and more. The film is written by Ehren Kruger and directed by Joseph Kosinski, with Pitt, Jerry Bruckheimer, Dede Gardner and Lewis Hamilton as producers.

Apple previously confirmed the official title and release date, later sharing the film teaser on X alongside a poster of Pitt in his racing gear: “This is F1. Starring Brad Pitt. In cinemas Summer 2025. #F1 #F1Movie”

‘F1’ opens in theaters June 25, 2025 internationally; and on June 27, 2025 in North America. The film will later stream on Apple TV+.

See the teaser for ‘F1’ – here.

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