Category Archives: Hollyworld-Inside the biz of showbiz

Actor’s Actor James Gandolfini Dies at 51 While on Vacation in Italy

James Gandolfini from Westwood NJ
James Gandolfini
from Westwood NJ

James Gandolfini the talented actor who became an Icon playing  Tony Soprano in the HBO hit series The Soprano’s died in  Italy  today of an apparent heart attack  He was 51 years old.

Born James J. Gandolfini Jr. on September 18, 1961 in Westwood, New Jersey  Gandolfini became best known for his  role as the troubled, family tormented  Don in the Soprano’s.

Gandolfini had an impressive body of work as an actor dating back to 1987 when he first  played an  orderly in a movie entitled Shock, Shock, Shock.

He debuted on Broadway in  “A Street Car Named Desire in the 1992 revival with actors Jessica Lange and Alex Baldwin.

Gandolfini’s breakthrough role was that of Virgil the gay hitman in Tony Scott’s True Romance (1993)

He since went on to a illustrious career and starred in movies : Angie (1994) Get Shorty (1995) The Last Castle (2001) The Mexican (2001) All the King’s Men (2006) 12 Angry Men (TV movie 1999) and other memorable movies and plays.

Tributes on twitter from famous celebrities all seem to have a common message about Gandolfini that he was a good guy and a marvelous talent that will be sorely missed.

In a interview with James Lipton on Bravo TV’s Actor Studio, Gandolfini  when asked by Lipton  ” What do you want to hear God say when you get to the pearly gates?” Gandolfini answered “Take over for a while , I’ll be right back.”

James Gandolfini leaves a wife- Amanda Lin  and  a one year old son, and a son Michael from a previous marriage .

 

 

65th Tony Awards- River View Observer was there!






Actress Tammy Blanchard at the 65th Tony Awards
Actress Tammy Blanchard at the 65th Tony Awards

On Sunday June 12th the 65th Annual Tony Awards were held at the Beacon Theater and our Photographer Steve Mack was there to capture all the excitement.
Hudson County Nominee Tammy Blanchard arrived at the Red Carpet as did Al Puccino, Christie Brinkley, Lynn Redgrave, Kelsey Grammer, Brooke Shields, John Legusiamo, and others.

See all the photo’s by Steveamack.com

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Elizabeth Taylor passes away at 79

Elizabeth Taylor, beautiful, talented two time Academy Award winner has died at 79 years old of congestive heart failure.
Ms. Taylor was pronounced dead at L.A.’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with her children by her side. Her son Michael Wilding best summed up his mother’s life by saying, “My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love. Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world.”

The sultry, talented actress had made over 60 films, was married eight times (twice to Richard Burton) and had 4 children.
In her later years she championed the cause to find a cure for AIDs.
She became Michael Jackson’s closet friend, and although personal trajedy and health issues plagued her most of her adult life she carried her self with dignity and strength.
She was part of an era of hollywood that produced many showbiz icons like Frank Sinatra, Henry Fonda, Rosalind Russel, Marilyn Monroe,
Rock Hudson,Cary Grant and others.
Below is a tribute by Turner Classic Television narrated by Paul Neuman on the extraordinary career and acting ability of Elizabeth Taylor.


Source Gossip Cop, You Tube, River View Observer Staff writer

Actress Tammy Blanchard at the December 2nd Premiere of “RABBIT HOLE”at Paris Theater in NYC


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Premiere Rabbit Hole NY

 
Actress Tammy Blanchard  seen here in a Yahoo.com news photo at the premiere Dec. 2nd for the Nicole Kidman film production of David Lindsay Albaire’s play Rabbit Hole. Ms. Blanchard plays “Izzie” in the film.

Ms. Blanchard can be seen next in How to Succeed in Business Without Out Really Trying on Broadway with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe in March 2011. 

She has also finished filming “Union Square with Mira Sorvino due out in 2012 and two other films.

The premire for Rabbit Hole was held at the Paris Theater in NYC

Source: Yahoo.com news

Nicole Kidman Movie “Rabbit Hole” Cast at Press Conference at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival

River View Observer- “Rabbit Hole”

Hudson County Actress Tammy Blanchard Co-Stars Along side Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and Diane Wiest in Nicole Kidman’s “Rabbit Hole.”

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Emmy award wining actress Tammy Blanchard (2nd from left) pictured here at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival press confrence  at the Hyatt Regency on September 14, 2010 in Toronto, Canada. Ms. Blanchard a Hudson County resident   co-stars in the movie  “Rabbit Hole.” Standing to the right of Ms. Blanchard is writer David Lindsay-Abaire, also to her left is  actor Miles Teller, actor Aaron Eckhart, actress Nicole Kidman and director John Cameron Mitchell 

September 13, 2010 – Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America)

Source: Zimbio

PJ LEONARD AT THE PREMIER OF THE FALLEN FAITHFUL

pjpremiere1Pictured above is PJ Leonard Executive Producer on The Fallen Faithful at the premier of the movie on Monday June 21st, 2010 at the Archlight Theater in Los Angeles California. The fiilm was released throught Leonard’s production company

The Other Side of the River Productions.

The Fallen Faithful is Leonard’s second movie  he has produced and his largest film undertaking to date.

The Fallen Faithful Hollywood Premiere Monday June 21st -Jersey City’s PJ Leonard Executive Producer

pj-lenoardI have known PJ Leonard for over 25 years. I have seen him in good times and in bad. I am so happy to see him where he is today. On Monday PJ Leonard who now resides in downtown Jersey City will be in Los Angeles at the Arclight Theater for the premiere of  The Fallen Faithful a film that Lenoard was Executive Producer on and produced through  his production company “Other Side of the River Productions.” 

 

the-fallen-faithfulThe Fallen Faithful is Leonards’ second feature length film having also made: “The Immaculate Conception” and  also adding in 2007 and 2008   two short films to his credits: The Hit and Waiting.

The Fallen Faithful stars Sonny Marinelli, who  has appeared in many high profile television productions including  recurring roles on ER, NYPD Blue, and most recently Raising the Bar. The movie also stars Tony Award -nominated actor Obba  Babatunde’ and Mark Margolis.   Obba Babatunde’ and Mark Margolis are faces everyone recognizes instantly having both been in hundreds of televison productions and movies. Margolis in Scarface with Al Pacino for one. Continue reading The Fallen Faithful Hollywood Premiere Monday June 21st -Jersey City’s PJ Leonard Executive Producer

Indie Cover Story -Indie Filmmakers Head to the ‘Burbs

hoboken-internation-film-festivalHoboken International Film Festival Shines Kliegs on Teaneck!

By Sally Deering

 First Cannes, then Sundance, now Teaneck? Yes folks, Cedar Lane Cinemas in Teaneck rolls out the red carpet for the fifth annual Hoboken International Film Festival, which used to be held in Hoboken, but because of some snafu, will now wow film-lovers a few miles north of Sinatra’s hometown.cedar-lane-marquee_2010

The indie film fest promises to be a feast for the eyes, 115 feature-length films, documentaries, shorts and TV pilots presented on the silver screen with in-person appearances by Oscar-winning movie stars, Emmy-winning TV stars and the writers and directors who nurtured their films from their first baby-steps. Continue reading Indie Cover Story -Indie Filmmakers Head to the ‘Burbs

ACTRESS TAMMY BLANCHARD STARS IN LIFETIME NETWORKS “AMISH GRACE” MARCH 28 AT 8PM

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Actress Tammy Blanchard best known for her Emmy Award wining role as a young Judy Garland in CBS’s 2001 mega docu-drama Life with Judy Garland:Me and My Shadows, will appear in “Amish Grace,” a Lifetime LMN drama Sunday, March 28, at 8pm.

Based on a True Story and Book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver- Zercher.

When a gunman killed five Amish children and injured five others in a Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting in October of 2006, the world media attention rapidly turned from the tragic events to the extraordinary forgiveness demonstrated by the Amish community.

Ms. Blanchard stars as Amy Roberts the wife of Charles Carl Roberts the shooter at Nickle Back. Also appearing with Ms. Blanchard in Amish Grace; Kimberly Williams Paisley, and Matt Letscher.

Read more about Ms. Blanchard’s acting career next month in our River View Observer Celebrity Cover Interview with this talented New Jersey actress.

Hudson County’s Artie Lange Stabs Self According to Hoboken Police Department

artie-langeArtie Lange  makes us laugh every day on the Howard Sterns’ Sirus Radio show with his on air antics, but it seems some sad, and obviously emotional off air antics has the talened comedian and actor seriously trying to hurt himself.

Hoboken police  have confirmed that Lange apparently stabbed himself nine times last Saturday morning leaving knife wounds to his stomach at his luxury condo in Hoboken, New Jersey. A reason has not been given for Mr. Lange stabbing himself, but according to neighbors; Lange, has had some problems that has resulted in some stays at Rehab clinics.

Continue reading Hudson County’s Artie Lange Stabs Self According to Hoboken Police Department