For a band with such a sunny disposition, The Beach Boys have their fair share of dark history. It is far from unusual for musicians to harbor secrets and regrets – the life of a rock star grants access to all sorts of debauchery. That being said, there are some things that are so shocking and life-altering that they can never be hidden away – no matter how badly one may want to. For The Beach Boys, the most terrifying skeleton in their proverbial closet takes the form of an unlikely connection to the most well-known cult in American history.

It is unlikely that any of the band members thought they would record a song written by cult leader and murder convict Charles Manson. In fact, many claimed they had no idea it was he who penned “Never Learn Not To Love,” the B-side for their 1986 single “Bluebirds Over the Mountain.” To be fair, Manson was never given writing credit (more on that later). So, how did the bubbly pop/rock kings of California get involved with Manson?

Charles Manson and The Family

Image via Netflix

First, a quick refresher on Charles Manson. In 1967, he was released from a twelve-year stint in prison. Soon after, he formed the infamous Manson Family. For a while, the cult lived nomadically, drifting across California in a gutted school bus. Eventually, they established a commune at the abandoned Spahn Movie Ranch: a 55 acre plot formerly used to film Western movies. Most of the people in Manson’s cult were vulnerable young people (predominantly women) who were drawn to the hippie lifestyle. Manson used his charisma to manipulate his followers – they saw him as a magnanimous guru who would lead them to happiness and enlightenment. Unfortunately, the only thing the Family accomplished was at least nine slayings (and potentially many more), most notably the Tate-LaBianca murders.

An Unfortunate Chance Interaction

Image via everettcollection

Advertisement

One fateful afternoon in 1968, The Beach Boys’ drummer Dennis Wilson picked up two women hitchhiking in Malibu. He dropped them off at their destination and continued his drive home. About a week later, Wilson spotted the same two girls and gave them a ride once again. This time, he brought them back to his house. There, the women told him of their guru, a man they affectionately referred to as “Charlie.”

Soon after, Wilson returned home to find a school bus parked in his driveway. A small man was standing beside it. Initially startled by the arrival of this bizarre little stranger, Wilson approached with caution. Eventually, he (incorrectly) decided his uninvited visitor was not a threat to him, and invited him and his bus full of companions into his Sunset Boulevard home. Wilson had no way of knowing he had reached the point of no return.

Dennis Wilson Opens His Home to The Manson Family

Image via Public Domain

Advertisement

Manson and the Family would remain in Dennis Wilson’s home for the better part of five months. While for many it is difficult to imagine welcoming twenty-odd strangers into their home indefinitely, it’s important to remember that these were different times. In the late ’60s — specifically in California and especially within artistic communities — there was a widespread belief in free love and communal living. There was also an increase in spirituality and psychedelic drug use. Pair all that with party boy Dennis Wilson fresh from a divorce, and the situation seems a bit less outrageous.

For a while, things were going fairly well in the commandeered Wilson household (relatively speaking). Manson was generous with his drugs, women, and spiritual knowledge – and Wilson bankrolled the entire operation. The motley crew had reached a delicate equilibrium. It is important to note that this all took place before the Family’s heinous crimes, back when Manson was surely off-putting but not outwardly violent. Had Wilson known what was to come, he likely would have made some very different decisions.

All told, Wilson would spend one hundred thousand dollars on the Manson Family. He bought all of their food, clothing, and medicine throughout their time with him. However, money and housing were not the only things Manson wanted from Dennis Wilson. He had an ulterior motive – Manson dreamed of being a rock star, and he wanted Wilson to use his connections in the industry to make this dream into reality.

Manson’s Failed Attempt at Superstardom

Image via American International Pictures

Initially, Wilson obliged. He introduced Manson to a variety of producers and musicians, including Neil Young and Terry Melcher (producer for The Byrds.) Some of these people saw a sort of diamond-in-the-rough quality about Manson and his music, maybe a glimmer of potential beneath his unsettling exterior. Most were just plain freaked out. Manson had a tendency to threaten violence when things weren’t going his way, which (understandably) made many of Wilson’s industry contacts hesitant to work with him. These, shall we say, differences of opinion caused the first cracks in Manson and Wilson’s short-lived friendship.

The unlikely pair would soon part ways, but not before Manson wrote a song specifically for The Beach Boys. It was called “Cease to Exist,” and Wilson immediately saw its potential. Allegedly, he paid Manson “about a hundred thousand dollars worth of stuff” in lieu of crediting him on the song. While this exchange is largely disputed, and it is unclear whether this was in reference to the same hundred thousand he spent on the Family’s cost of living, the outcome was the same: Dennis took the writing credit for himself. He showed the song to the rest of the band, who agreed that it was worth recording after a few alterations. They changed the title to “Never Learn Not to Love” and switched up the lyrics, then recorded the song in their private studio. Manson was present, but he did not contribute to the recording.

The End of an Unlikely Friendship

Image via Disney +

When Manson heard the changes to his song, he was infuriated. He tasked the Family with destroying some of Wilson’s property and even left a bullet in his bed. It is safe to say this was the end of Dennis Wilson and Charles Manson’s friendship, and it was clear they could no longer all live together harmoniously. Wilson had been growing tired of cohabitating with the cult since long before the fallout from the song. His hospitality had run out. Instead of the Family moving out, Wilson abandoned his own home (it was a rental and the lease was nearly up) and let the landlord deal with Manson and his followers.

In 1970, while on trial for nine murders, Charles Manson released an album called Lie: The Love and Terror Cult. On this album, he included his version of “Cease to Exist.” The album only sold about three hundred copies, most likely purchased by deluded fans of Manson and his family. Once again, Manson’s attempt at becoming a rock star failed spectacularly.

It is important to acknowledge that there are a lot of conflicting accounts of this unbelievable tale. While Charles Manson and Dennis Wilson’s relationship is well-documented, many disagree on the details. The timeline is messy — whether this is due to copious drug use or an affliction to the truth, we may never know. One thing is undeniably true: it was not all surf, sand, and school spirit for Dennis Wilson and the rest of The Beach Boys.

Hollywood is still grappling with the unexpected loss of one of the industry’s most beloved stars, Hayden Panettiere. The iconic actress, who began her career at age 1 and spent most of the ’90s in major roles, died at 36. The details of her passing are still unknown, but that’s not stopping her fans and other celebrities, like Viola Davis, from paying their respects.

Davis, 61, praised Panettiere with a touching and heartwarming Instagram tribute, calling the 36-year-old an “amazing talent” and “so gifted.” She said that she and her husband, Julius, “loved” working with Panettiere, calling her “an old, wise soul with such a deep heart.”

Panettiere and Davis worked together in the 2016 film “Custody.” In the film, Davis plays a judge presiding over a case involving a mother who lost custody of her children. Panettiere played the mother’s lawyer.

David said in her tribute that she wished she had been able to spend more time with Panettiere over the last few years because she had a “burning curiosity about who you were becoming.”

She finished, “I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name.”

Advertisement

Hayden Panettiere Dead At Age 36

A previous report from The Blast states that Panettiere died at age 36. A representative from her team spoke with the media late on August 16 to share the heartbreaking news.

“She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” they said.

Panettiere had a career spanning three decades, starring in some of the industry’s biggest productions, including “Remember the Titans,” “Bring It On,” “Nashville,” “Scream,” and many more.

Bethany Joy Lenz Remembers Hayden Panettiere

In addition to Davis, “One Tree Hill” actress Bethany Joy Lenz also remembered Panettiere with a moving post. The pair worked together in the ’90s on “Guiding Light.”

Lenz said she was “crushed” by the devastating news, adding that she’s known Panettiere since she was 9 or 10.

“Her intelligence was astonishing,” Lenz shared. “She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera.”

Advertisement

Like many others, Lenz said she was struggling to process the news of her death, adding, “I don’t understand how this is real.” She added, “Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? It’s too young and there’s still so much more life.”

Panettiere Was Found Unresponsive

The details surrounding Panettiere’s sudden passing haven’t been released yet; however, an official shared some information with PEOPLE.

At 1:50 PM on Sunday, August 16, South Carolina police and an EMS worker responded to a call about an “unresponsive female.”

Upon arrival, officials administered medical assistance; however, Panettiere was later announced dead at the scene.

The case is currently under investigation, and a spokesperson from the Greenville Police Department in South Carolina said there are no indications “of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”

Advertisement

Panettiere Lived A Hard Life

Months before her death, Panettiere released a memoir, “This is Me,” and spoke openly about her struggles not only with postpartum depression, but with addiction as well.

The actress detailed turning to alcohol after the birth of her only child, Kaya, in 2014, later causing her to enter a rehabilitation facility for treatment.

In her book, Panettiere also opened up about her estranged relationship with her mother, Lesley Vogel, who allegedly forced her into the world of acting as a child.

Advertisement

“I think it’s the way I was raised,” Panettiere said in a past interview. “I was groomed. I was like a little soldier and I always have been. No was never an option. It was just, ‘Here are your scenes, here’s your dialogue, memorize it, hit the marks, do what your director tells you to do.’ I took my marching orders.”

Hayden Panettiere’s death is taking another unsettling turn as investigators work to piece together what happened during the actress’ final hours. 

The 36-year-old actress died suddenly at her South Carolina home, leaving her loved ones and fans searching for answers. 

Now, a newly surfaced detail from the emergency response is adding another layer to the circumstances surrounding her death, even as authorities have yet to establish exactly what caused the actress to die.

4

According to 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six, the emergency call involved an “unidentified female” who was in “cardiac arrest.” Within minutes, dispatchers reported that “CPR [was] in progress” as first responders attempted to save the woman’s life.

Law enforcement sources revealed that Hayden Panettiere’s friend called 911 at 1:51 p.m. Emergency responders arrived at her apartment complex and attempted resuscitation using “advanced cardiac life support” and chest compressions. Despite those efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.

The dispatch audio reportedly referenced an “overdose.” However, her official cause of death has not yet been established. The Greenville County coroner is expected to perform an autopsy on Monday, which could provide additional information about what happened.

Meanwhile, questions have also emerged over who made the emergency call and whether Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was present when the tragedy unfolded. 

Hickerson was first linked to Panettiere in 2018 and recently admitted to “abusing her.” According to reports, he flew from Los Angeles to South Carolina with the “Heroes” alum on Saturday, just one day before emergency responders were called to her home.

Panettiere’s Final Instagram Post Takes On New Meaning After Her Death

As questions continue to surround Hayden Panettiere’s final hours, attention has also turned to one of the last public glimpses she gave of her life. 

Just three weeks before her death, the actress shared a playful black-and-white photograph on Instagram that showed a markedly lighter side of her. 

Advertisement

Panettiere posted the image on July 27, appearing to wink and stick out her tongue while photographer and director Randall Slavin wrapped an arm around her. 

She captioned the photograph, “Good times and good friends @randallslavin.” Slavin later shared the photograph on his own Instagram Stories after news of Panettiere’s passing broke. 

Alongside the image, he wrote, “Peace be with you, H,” while setting the tribute to Olivia Dean’s “Dive.” The post has since become one of the final pieces of Panettiere’s public life available to fans. 

Her representative confirmed her death on August 16, describing her as “an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.” 

Advertisement

Hayden Panettiere Said She Had ‘A Lot More Life To Live’ Before Her Death

4

Only months before Panettiere died, she was speaking about her future with a sense of possibility that now feels especially heartbreaking. 

During a May interview, the “Heroes” actress discussed her recovery and the changes she had made in her life while promoting “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” 

Panettiere spoke candidly about the difficult experiences that had shaped her, but her focus was not solely on what had already happened. 

According to The Sun, she also talked about what she believed was still ahead of her. During the conversation, the 36-year-old said she felt like she had “a lot more life to live.” 

Panettiere had been increasingly open about her struggles with addiction, postpartum depression and mental health, particularly while discussing her memoir. Yet she described herself as being in a different place and thinking about the possibilities that remained. 

Advertisement

Panettiere’s Daughter Kaya Remained Central To Her Life

4

Hayden Panettiere’s relationship with her daughter, Kaya, was another part of her life that she spoke about with striking honesty during the months before her death. 

The Hollywood star shared Kaya with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, and she had previously made the difficult decision to give him full custody while she was dealing with addiction and recovery. 

Despite living apart from her daughter, however, Panettiere consistently maintained that their relationship remained deeply important to her. 

In her memoir, she described their bond as “incredibly strong” and wrote about how painful it was not to have Kaya living under the same roof. 

“Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life,” she explained per PEOPLE. 

Advertisement

Panettiere also made clear that she did not want Kaya’s childhood to become part of the public spectacle surrounding her own life. 

“She didn’t ask to be born into the limelight or my chaos, and she didn’t get to choose her parents,” the doting mom wrote, adding. “I want her to have every choice that I didn’t, including the ability to live a private life.” 

Hayden Panettiere Hoped Her Story Would ‘Leave The World A Better Place’

4

The memoir that became one of Panettiere’s most revealing projects was also tied to the actress’ belief that speaking honestly about her struggles could have an impact beyond her own life. 

While promoting “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” Panettiere recalled hearing from people who had connected with her openness about mental health and felt encouraged to confront their own struggles. 

“So many people have come up to me within the industry and outside of the industry and shared their stories with me and said, ‘Because you’ve talked about your mental health, it gave me the courage to be honest about mine and get myself help, and you saved my life,’” she said during a May 26 book event in Los Angeles. 

Advertisement

For Panettiere, those reactions made the vulnerability involved in writing the memoir feel worthwhile. “And I was like, this is worth it,” she revealed. “I can hopefully leave the world a better place than I found it,” she added. “The strength is in our vulnerability.” 

That outlook was also reflected in the way she described her life in the memoir. Rather than seeing her addiction, grief, postpartum depression and other painful experiences as the final definition of who she was, Panettiere viewed them as part of an ongoing process of change.

There’s something comforting about a political thriller, isn’t there? It tells us all we think we believe about politicians and turns it up to 11, and that’s probably why we feast on them. Well, this one has been getting better year over year, and four acting icons are about to bring us the latest season of Netflix’s finest thriller in the past decade.

Netflix has just dropped the first trailer for the fourth season of The Diplomat, which will officially premiere on October 15, 2026. All eight episodes will drop at once, mercifully. And now, we’ve got our first look at the madness about to unfold on Kate Wyler. The official synopsis states:

In Season Four of The Diplomat, two marriages threaten to eat each other alive. One catastrophic moment shatters the fragile peace Kate Wyler brokered between the US and UK, as well as the crumbling marriage she’s trying to save. While she fights to stem the bleeding, President Grace Penn and VP Hal Wyler’s conspiracy to steal Russia’s most powerful weapon hurtles the United States toward war. Kate and Todd, at best an uneasy pair, unite to stop the Grace-Hal alliance from upending the balance of power abroad and at home.

So yeah, the stakes are massive, but ultimately the fate of everything rests on these two massively dysfunctional marriages over anything else which, again, speaks directly to how we actually see politicians. Great, isn’t it? We particularly enjoy the line about how the two marriages are “threatening to eat each other alive.” That isn’t ominous for the rest of us in the slightest.

Who Stars in ‘The Diplomat’?

The series stars Keri Russell (The Americans) returns as Ambassador Kate Wyler, Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle) plays Vice President Hal Wyler, Allison Janney (The West Wing) returns as President Grace Penn, and Bradley Whitford (Get Out) is back as Todd Penn. The wider cast includes Ato Essandoh (Jason Bourne), Ali Ahn (Agatha All Along), Nana Mensah (The Chair) and Rory Kinnear (No Time to Die). Series creator Debora Cahn returns as showrunner and executive producer.

All eight episodes of The Diplomat Season 4 premiere on Netflix on October 15, 2026.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

2023 – 2023-00-00

Network

Advertisement

Netflix

Showrunner

Debora Cahn

Advertisement

Directors

Alex Graves, Andrew Bernstein, Simon Cellan Jones, Tucker Gates

Advertisement

Writers

Peter Noah

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Taylor Swift recently tied the knot with her NFL beau, Travis Kelce, in a grand wedding held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Now, with the power couple down from the highs of their wedding and settling back into reality, sources have shared insight into the singer’s plans to start a family with the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end.

According to an insider, Taylor Swift is hoping to begin motherhood along with her close pal, Selena Gomez, with the pair also reportedly hoping to be godmothers to each other’s kids.

5

Swift and Gomez have been great friends for almost twenty years now, supporting each other from their younger years through their rise into stardom.

Now, a source has shared that the close bond shared by the two singers has translated into plans to walk down the path of motherhood together.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, an insider claimed, “Taylor and Selena have agreed they want to have their babies as close time-wise to each other as possible so they can bring them up together.”

“They’ve essentially made a pact that they will be godmother to each other’s children,” the source added.

The alleged pact by Swift is said to be “a huge slap in the face to Blake Lively,” whose four kids were known to be her godchildren, until her recent fallout with the actress after being dragged into a legal battle.

Taylor Swift Is ‘Very Confident’ In Her Friendship With Selena Gomez

5

Regarding the “Style” singer’s alleged plans to someday be the godmother to Gomez’s kids, a source stressed that it “wouldn’t be done to shade” Lively.

The insider stressed that Swift has a lot of confidence in her strong bond with the Rare Beauty founder, and knows that they would always be there for each other when they begin their motherhood journeys.

“Taylor is very confident in her friendship with Selena and doesn’t worry about having any falling out,” the source said.

They added, “If Selena has kids, Taylor knows for a fact that she would be close to them all forever.”

The Hollywood Stars Have Spoken Openly About Their Close Bond

5

The bond between Swift and Gomez is a rare example of lifelong loyalty between two peers in the entertainment industry.

Swift has frequently commented on her bond with the actress, once noting that “longevity is something you really can find very precious and rare in friendships” after being asked about her close relationship with Gomez.

“There has always been this quality of sisterhood, and I don’t say that in a basic way,” Swift stated, per the Daily Mail. “I knew from when I met her, I would always have her back. In my life, I have the ability to forgive people who have hurt me. But I don’t know if I can forgive someone who hurts her.”

Gomez has also continuously expressed deep gratitude for Swift’s non-judgmental presence, crediting her for providing support that shaped her life and career.

“This person has never ever judged a single decision I’ve made,” she said during an Eras tour appearance. “She’s always met me where I’ve been. She’s encouraged me when I’ve had nothing to be encouraged about, and I don’t know if I would be as strong as I am if I didn’t have you and your family because you’ve changed my life.”

Selena Gomez Is Optimistic About Becoming A Mother

5

In a vulnerable 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, Gomez disclosed that she had to “grieve” the reality of not being able to safely carry a pregnancy.

“I thought it would happen the way it happens for everyone,” Gomez said at the time. “[But] I’m in a much better place with that. I find it a blessing that there are wonderful people willing to do surrogacy or adoption, which are both huge possibilities for me.”

The singer, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2013, remains deeply optimistic about her future family, stressing that no matter what her path to motherhood ultimately looks like, her unconditional love for her child is all that matters.

“I’m excited for what that journey will look like, but it’ll look a little different. At the end of the day, I don’t care. It’ll be mine. It’ll be my baby,” Gomez told the publication.

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Recently Flaunted Their Gold Wedding Bands

5

The report of Swift’s alleged baby plans comes after images of her stunning wedding ring, paired with her engagement ring, surfaced online.

The star was sighted with the jewelry pieces while attending her friends Oli Jacobs and Laura Sisk’s nuptials, which were held outside, Gloucestershire, England, on Saturday, August 15.

For the event, Swift donned a plunging navy dress with lace flower embroidery, which was beautifully complemented by her wavy bob and pearl necklace.

As for Kelce, he flaunted his own wedding band while arriving at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, with the stunning jewelry pulling attention among other gold accessories worn by the NFL star.

Hollywood is mourning the tragic loss of Hayden Panettiere at age 36.

The Heroes and Nashville alum’s representative confirmed to Us on Sunday, August 16, that the actress had died. Details surrounding Panettiere’s death were not immediately available.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”

Skip asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Related: Celebrity Deaths of 2026: New York Yankees Icon Tommy John, More

Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. In June, legendary music executive Clive Davis also died at age 94 following a hospitalization for an upper respiratory infection. The following month, G.R.L. member Lauren Bennett died at age 37, while Bonnie Tyler died at 75. Emergency!‘s Randolph Mantooth and Police […]

As news broke late Sunday, celebrities from around the world have expressed their grief and memories of the late actress.

Keep scrolling to see which stars have reacted:

David Arquette

“💔 I love you Hayden 🕊️,” Panettiere’s Scream 4 costar shared under Variety’s Instagram post regarding the actress’ death.

Melissa Barrera

The Scream VI actress wrote via her Instagram Stories, “Rest in peace sweet Hayden.”

Selma Blair

“I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone . Please. Please,” the actress commented on Panettiere’s final Instagram post shared before her death on July 27.

“I’m dying. Please be here,” she wrote in another comment.

“I love you whale tail my friend,” Blair wrote in a third comment.

Rosie O’Donnell

“Oh my god – heartbroken #hayden 😭,” O’Donnell wrote via Instagram alongside a picture of Panettiere.

Advertisement

Related: Hayden Panettiere’s Last Instagram Post Reflected on ‘Good Times’ Before Death

Hayden Panettiere reflected on “good times” in her final Instagram post shared prior to her death. “Good times and good friends @randallslavin ✨,” the Nashville alum captioned a black-and-white photo of herself with photographer and director Randall Slavin. The July 27 post captured Panettiere winking at the camera while Slavin, 56, wrapped his arm around […]

Bethany Joy Lenz

“There is nothing that posting pictures on the internet can do. I avoid it usually in moments like this. But I’m here with my head in my hands and I don’t know what else to do in aside from praying for her soul, which I have done and will continue,” the One Tree Hill alum shared in a lengthy Instagram tribute.

Lenz continued, “I’m crushed. I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen. She ran through the Screen Gem studio hallways at 222 E44th St. laughing and playing games in between blocking and camera rehearsals. Long, unruly curls trailing behind her.”

“She knew her lines and everyone else’s. Her intelligence was astonishing. She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera,” Lenz said. “And she’d sit with you for a great conversation, then giggle and go play. We’d connect on and off over the years, like the cousin in the family reunion who got famous and life moved her away — but I always felt such joy seeing her when we were lucky enough to cross paths. We’d make a pact to talk soon. Lunch. Dinner. Somewhere we could curl up into a corner — but we never quite made it happen. I mostly stayed up to date through mutual friends.”

“I don’t understand how this is real. Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she?” the actress wrote. “It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround [sic] by love. I’m sorry for every moment I didn’t reach out or check in. This can’t be real.”

“These are moments of how I knew you, in glimpses over 27 years. I don’t know how to process this. I am praying for you to know the peace of God now and always,” Lenz concluded.

Jay Shetty

“I can’t believe it. Our friendship had just begun and I was so moved by the conversation we shared earlier this year. My love and condolences to her family and fans 🙏🙏🙏,” the podcaster wrote under Variety’s Instagram post.

Greer Grammer

“Oh my god 😔 this is just absolutely devastating. I can’t believe it,” the actress commented on Variety’s Instagram post.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Viola Davis

“What an amazing talent you were….so gifted. Julius and I loved working with you….an old, wise soul with such a deep heart,” the Oscar winner said of her Architect and Custody costar via Instagram. “I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes.”

Davis added, “Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name….♥️🙏🏿🕊.”

JoJo

“This is such devastating news. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God,” the singer and former child actor shared via her Instagram Story.

Marvel Studios has finally started putting names and faces to its new generation of X-Men, and some of those names need considerably less explanation than others. Sadie Sink is Jean Grey, Kit Connor is Cyclops, Christopher Abbott is Charles Xavier, Maya Boyd is Storm, Samara Weaving is Emma Frost, and Inde Navarrette is Rogue. Then there is Adam Driver. Driver was one of the biggest surprises to come out of Marvel’s D23 presentation, particularly after years of speculation about when the Star Wars actor might finally make his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

His casting also immediately raised questions because Marvel did not introduce him with the instantly recognizable supervillain name fans might have expected. Instead, Driver revealed that he is playing Nathaniel Milbury. If that name does not immediately ring a bell, that is probably intentional. Nathaniel Milbury is hardly one of the most famous names in X-Men history, but it has a very important connection to one of the team’s greatest enemies. Marvel may be playing coy about exactly what Driver’s role in X-Men will look like, but Nathaniel Milbury has a very, very Sinister history.

Nathaniel Milbury Is One of Mister Sinister’s Many Names

Image via Marvel Entertainment

Nathaniel Milbury is an alias associated with Nathaniel Essex, better known to X-Men fans as Mister Sinister. Marvel’s own character history lists variations including Nathan Milbury and Mike Milbury among the many identities Essex has used over the years. That makes Marvel’s decision to introduce Driver as Milbury instead of simply announcing him as Mister Sinister especially interesting. Mister Sinister is one of the X-Men’s longest-running and most dangerous villains. Created by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri, the character made his full debut in 1987’s Uncanny X-Men #221, although his influence on the X-Men’s lives stretches much further back within Marvel continuity.

Born Nathaniel Essex in Victorian England, he was a scientist obsessed with evolution and genetics whose work eventually brought him into contact with Apocalypse. Essex’s experiments and transformation ultimately turned him into the virtually immortal geneticist the X-Men would come to know as Mister Sinister. That obsession with genetics is what makes Sinister particularly dangerous to the X-Men. He does not simply want mutants dead. He wants to understand, manipulate, clone, and ultimately control them. His experiments have made him a recurring nightmare for mutantkind, but Scott Summers and Jean Grey have been at the center of his plans for decades.

Sinister has a particular fascination with the Summers and Grey bloodlines, believing their genetics could produce an extraordinarily powerful mutant. His interference in their lives eventually led to one of the strangest chapters in X-Men history: Madelyne Pryor. Madelyne was created by Sinister as a clone of Jean Grey, and she later married Scott and gave birth to Nathan Summers, the mutant who would eventually become Cable. Marvel’s own history of the villain identifies Madelyne as one of Sinister’s creations and specifically highlights his experiments on Cyclops, Havok, and their bloodline. That history makes Driver’s casting particularly notable considering Jean Grey and Cyclops are already confirmed as central members of Marvel’s new X-Men lineup. If Nathaniel Milbury eventually reveals himself as the MCU’s Mister Sinister, Marvel already has two of the characters most closely connected to his comic-book obsession positioned right alongside him.

Is Adam Driver Actually Playing Mister Sinister?

Image via Marvel Comics

All signs certainly point in that direction, but Marvel’s wording is worth paying attention to. Driver specifically announced his character as Nathaniel Milbury, not Nathaniel Essex and not Mister Sinister. While the Milbury name has an established connection to Essex in the comics, that does not necessarily tell us exactly how Marvel Studios plans to adapt the character. The MCU has plenty of experience remixing comic-book identities, origins, and relationships, and X-Men gives Marvel an enormous mythology to reshape. Nathaniel Milbury could simply be an identity Essex is using before his true nature is exposed, allowing Driver’s character to initially operate without the X-Men realizing who they are dealing with. Marvel could also be borrowing the Milbury name while making larger changes to Sinister’s history.

What we do know is that Marvel did not pick the name Nathaniel Milbury out of nowhere. It is deeply connected to Mister Sinister, a villain whose comic history already intersects directly with several members of the MCU’s new X-Men. Even Marvel’s official character profile treats Milbury as part of Essex’s sprawling collection of identities. For now, Marvel appears perfectly happy to let audiences wonder exactly why Driver is Nathaniel Milbury instead of Mister Sinister. Considering the character he is connected to, though, being suspicious is probably a very good idea.

Advertisement

Release Date

May 5, 2028

Advertisement

Director

Jake Schreier

Writers

Advertisement

Joanna Calo, Lee Sung Jin, Michael Lesslie

Franchise(s)

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), X-Men

Advertisement

Advertisement

• 
• 

  Inde Navarrette

  Rogue / Anna Marie

• 

  Kit Connor

  Advertisement

  Scott Summers / Cyclops

• 

  Samara Weaving

  Emma Frost

  Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Ariana Grande’s latest London concert carried an emotional significance beyond the spectacle of another sold-out show. 

The pop star reunited with Cynthia Erivo, her “Wicked” co-star and close friend, for a pair of performances that revisited the partnership that defined several years of their careers. 

Their surprise appearance together came as Grande approaches the end of her Eternal Sunshine Tour and prepares to step away from public-facing work for a while, making the reunion feel especially timely.

Ariana Grande gave her London audience a surprise when Erivo joined her onstage at The O2 Arena on Sunday, bringing their “Wicked” partnership back into the spotlight. 

Advertisement

The pair performed two duets, beginning with the “Wicked” anthem “For Good,” a song that carries an especially personal connection for both women because its title is tattooed on each of their palms.

The performance then took an unexpected turn as Grande and Erivo sat down onstage and recreated Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand’s famous “Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again” medley from 1963. 

Fans captured the reunion from the audience, while Grande’s hairstylist Alyx Liu and Erivo’s longtime best friend Capri Hakeem also documented the moment.

The “God Is A Woman” singer later shared one of the clips on her Instagram Stories, tagging Erivo and adding heart and infinity emojis. 

Advertisement

Grande Revisits The Partnership That Defined Her ‘Wicked’ Era

3

For Ariana Grande, Erivo’s appearance also brought one of the most recognizable partnerships of her recent career back into focus. 

The pair’s connection stretches well beyond their performances, having spent much of 2022 through 2025 together filming Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical.

The films ultimately amassed $1.3 billion at the box office, while Grande and Erivo became central figures throughout the highly scrutinized promotional campaign. 

Their friendship was repeatedly visible during the emotional “Wicked” press tour, making their latest reunion feel like a return to a chapter that had consumed several years of their lives.

The pair graced the London stage with distinctly different looks. Erivo wore an embellished Erdem bra and panties over a white blouse, black kinky boots and a white trench coat selected by stylist Jason Bolden. 

Advertisement

On the other hand, Grande wore a cap-sleeved baby-doll dress with a voluminous skirt chosen by image architect Law Roach.

Ariana Grande Is Preparing To Leave The Spotlight On Her Own Terms

3

The emotional quality of Grande’s London appearance was heightened by what comes next for the singer. 

After the final stretch of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, the 33-year-old is preparing to take a deliberate step away from the public-facing side of her career.

As The Blast reported, her team explained that the upcoming break was connected to the relentless scrutiny that has accompanied her public life. 

“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” her team shared on August 2.

Advertisement

Grande And Erivo Shut Down Rumors Of A Falling-Out

Ariana Grande’s reunion with Cynthia Erivo at London’s O2 Arena offered an answer to the whispers that had surrounded their friendship long before they stepped onto the stage together. 

After years of being closely associated through “Wicked,” the pair had faced speculation that they were no longer as close once the film’s promotional whirlwind ended. 

Erivo, however, had already addressed those claims before joining Grande for their surprise performance. 

During a July interview with Dazed, the actress was asked about Grande’s upcoming album “Petal” and whether she had heard any of it. 

Advertisement

Rather than pretending to know more than she did, Erivo said she wanted to experience the project alongside everyone else. 

She said, “I’m still at ‘Hampstead’ Heath from the previous album, because that’s my favorite.” Erivo’s also revealed that she planned to attend Grande’s London show, which ultimately became the setting for their emotional reunion. 

Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo’s Friendship Was Once Questioned As A Publicity Move

3

Long before both women  reunited onstage in London, their friendship had already become a subject of intense public scrutiny. 

Because their bond became so visible during the “Wicked” press tour, some observers questioned whether the closeness between the two actresses was genuine or simply part of promoting the films. 

Erivo eventually addressed those doubts directly, insisting that the relationship extended beyond their professional partnership. 

Advertisement

“I think that people didn’t really believe that we were actually friends,” she told Variety, adding, “But that’s also because people don’t know me very well. If I’m a friend, then I’m a friend. If I’m not, then I’m not.” 

She also revealed that she and Grande texted almost every day. “It’s very interesting, watching what people’s perception is versus what the reality actually is,” Erivo added.

We watch television for an episodic escape from reality. Whether it’s self-contained stories or long arcs, each episode offers a more intimate narrative than you get with a film, because the characters have more time to ruminate. While we love TV shows for their storytelling, the truth is, they wouldn’t be as good as they are without extraordinary performances. And let’s just say, there have been hundreds of memorable performances throughout television history.

To be considered one of the greatest takes great curation. It’s not just about the awards or the critical praise. It takes a transformation. It requires the ability to make us believe they are who they say they are. They have to impact the greater genres beyond their performance. We have to instantly think of the role when we hear their name.

Narrowing this list to just 20 was nearly impossible, but the names that made it represent a great cross-section of types, times, and legacies. Though countless names could be swapped in, these 20 are among the most extraordinary performers of all time. From multi-award winners to groundbreaking artists, they represent 20 of the greatest television performances of all time.

20

Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore

‘Ozark’ (2017-2022)

Image via Netflix

Not every extraordinary performance in a series is found in the main characters. Sometimes it’s the supporting roles that lead to sheer brilliance, catapulting the performer into the spotlight. That’s what happened with Julia Garner on Ozark. For the entirety of the series run, Garner took on Ruth Langmore, the smart, tough young woman from a local Missouri Ozarks family who gets involved in money laundering and criminal operations with Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman). Evolving from a gritty kid trying to stay afloat to a profoundly changed adult, Garner’s arc as Ruth was the most profound of any character. You not only began to root for her, but when her unfortunate fate arrived, you were simply gutted. All thanks to Garner’s extraordinary care put into the character.

For a show where morality was always a moving target, Ruth was one who tried her best to do what was right for her and her ability to survive. In turn, Garner infused a mix of tough ferocity, intelligence, and raw emotional vulnerability. She found the rugged southern Appalachian swagger, yet it didn’t make her a trope. Ruth was a woman stuck between a toxic family legacy and her ambitions, which let her hit the high notes in her outbursts, but when Garner found those internal, pensive moments, they felt earned. She was always calculating, which made her highly relatable. Her performance won her three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019, 2020, and 2022, as well as a Golden Globe Award. She may not have started as a household name in Season 1, but she held her own and emerged as one of this generation’s greats.

19

Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag

‘Fleabag’ (2016-2019)

Image via Prime Video

They often say write what you know. Not always does that mean you get to play it, too. But for Phoebe Waller-Bridge, she did both. Bringing her one-woman show to life was not only a brilliant idea, but Fleabag showcased her strength as a writer and actress. On the gem of a show, Waller-Bridge plays the unnamed titular dry-witted and unfiltered young woman navigating life, love, and grief in London. She’s free-spirited and unfiltered, using the fourth wall to her advantage. She was never the most morally centered woman, but thanks to Waller-Bridge’s performance, we saw ourselves in Fleabag, who held up a mirror into our own souls. Fleabag was a woman who used her asides as a shield against her grief and reality. It’s something we wish we could do as well.

Waller-Bridge played Fleabag with fearlessness. She didn’t care how she came off. Yes, Fleabag was messy, hypersexual, and often unlikable, but she was real. Having the advantage of writing her own material allowed Waller-Bridge to deliver it with great precision. Her comedic timing delivers devastating emotional truths disguised as casual jokes. Waller-Bridge used physical comedy in a completely different manner. It wasn’t falling over herself or anything of the like. Instead, she expressed humor through stiff posturing and the subtlety in her eyes and grin. All it took was a glance, and we laughed along with her. And yes. Sometimes at her. And yet, she used the same toolbox to portray total despair. Fleabag is a selfish, broken, and messy woman who never asks for sympathy. It’s what made us love her and her chaotic journey.

18

Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy

‘Succession’ (2018-2023)

Image via HBO

With the hard rule of selecting only one actor per project, it was difficult to choose which of the phenomenal actors would represent Succession. There are quite a few directions it could go— a character you loved to hate, an individual who showed the most growth, or someone who subverted expectations by the end. With such time removed since the final season, if there’s one performance that truly exemplifies the mission of the series on a rewatch, it’s Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy. He is an awful, awful individual, but through examining his entire arc from start to finish, Strong did some sensational work. Kendall was, and remains, the ambitious and troubled son of media mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox). His mission was to eventually succeed his father, constantly fighting to take over the family company, Waystar RoyCo. Through entitlement and delusion, the journey to the end was a wild ride.

Strong never played Kendall as a joke or a spoiled rich kid. He was, but he avoided the caricature. Instead, he played the weight of the world like a Shakespearean drama. He used his desire for ultimate power as an internalized mask for his deep pain, humiliation, and desperate craving for his father’s love. It may have been agonizing to watch Kendall believe the world was his, but knowing the burdens he carried made him Succession’s greatest tragic hero. Strong used immense physicality to show how easily a man can crumble. He vocalized his bravado, but Kendall’s moments of defeat came through a dipped chin and an insecure posture. Those micro-expressions provided Strong with a great wordless vocabulary. He moves effortlessly from cringe-inducing corporate hip-hop to towering tragic despair. Strong ensured you never wanted Kendall to win, but you hoped he’d be ok by the end.

17

Tatiana Maslany as Sarah Manning et all

‘Orphan Black’ (2013-2017)

Image via BBC America

Often, on high-concept science fiction shows, we remember the story and its twists and turns more so than the acting. Unless you’re Tatiana Maslany and play a bunch of clones, performance comes first. In a tour-de-force turn as more than a dozen clones, Orphan Black was all about its star’s capability of carrying the series. Her primary clone is Sarah Manning, a street-smart British orphan and petty criminal who triggers the main plot after witnessing the suicide of a lookalike. From there, every distinct clone has its own unique personality, accent, physicality, and emotional depth. From Alison Hendrix, a tightly wound, suburban soccer mom and-craft-enthusiast living in Canada, to Helena, a deeply troubled, socially isolated Ukrainian assassin raised in a convent, each individual has the Maslany DNA, pun intended.

For a series that could easily become confusing, Maslany ensures that her performance never hinders clarity. Her ability to balance the contrasting roles is utterly seamless. Even the meta-acting is top-tier! Maslany excels when one clone impersonates another while keeping subtle character traits intact. Her ability to juggle the characters remains a masterclass in performance. She even effortlessly acted opposite herself in multi-clone scenes using complex motion control and body doubles, maintaining absolute emotional continuity. For non-industry individuals, it may sound like it’s just part of the gig, but it could easily go astray. Not for Maslany. She doesn’t always receive praise in conversations with the very best; now she does. Very few could do what she did.

16

Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper

‘Twin Peaks’ (1990-1991; 2017)

Image via ABC

Long before the boom of the new golden age of television, we often considered the series as a whole before the individuals. But the truth is, had it not been for the grounded and exceptionally evolved performance of Kyle MacLachlan on Twin Peaks, it may have been harder to enter David Lynch’s groundbreaking series. MacLachlan ushered in a new generation of detectives on television. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper was the quirky protagonist who served as our entry point into the surreal story. He arrives in the titular town in order to investigate the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). With an earnest, boyish charm and eccentric intuition, MacLachlan seamlessly dropped Agent Cooper into Lynch’s scripts. From deadpan delivery to quite dramatic range as alternate versions of his character, MacLachlan made his character simply iconic.

With Lynchian synergy establishing how MacLachlan portrayed the part, the result was unlike any other detective audiences had ever seen. He had an innate ability to make the simple and mundane transcendent. MacLachlan’s sheer brilliance in the part was how he took a character with unbridled joy, rich empathy, and deep spiritual intuition to shatter brooding detectives known for machismo. Had he not been polite and emotionally open, the unraveling of Twin Peaks’ mystery would not have been the same. Agent Cooper was ingrained into that universe. Though there hasn’t been a sci-fi crime thriller that has come even close to Twin Peaks despite desperately trying, there have been many who have used MacLachlan’s traits to play their detectives. Thanks to Agent Cooper, treating victims and suspects with profound human dignity became an integral element of detective stories.

15

Jean Smart as Deborah Vance

‘Hacks’ (2021-2026)

Image via HBO Max 

There are points in the entertainment cycle when a show comes around that reminds the world that age is just a number. The Golden Girls shattered the glass ceiling when it came to the desire to watch women of a certain age lead a series. In 2021, that ceiling was shattered again, this time by reminding the industry that women of a certain age can still reign supreme. Jean Smart defied the odds in a slightly meta series by charming the pants off of everyone by doing what she does best: acting. On Hacks, as the legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, Smart blends sharp comedic timing with deep, broken vulnerability, using her extraordinary career to find Deborah’s lived-in authenticity. At the beginning of the series, she plays the slightly cantankerous woman forced to work alongside young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder). She then effortlessly pivots to a friend and confidant.

The generational sparring between Deborah and Ava, as well as between Smart and Einbinder, kept the show vibrant and lively, but the emotional core lay in Smart’s journey as Deborah. The joy of Hacks was the freedom and fun Smart had brought Deborah to life. Between her shady, rapid-fire reads, ruthless witticism, and absurd demands, her core was a resilient woman who slowly had to come to terms with the changing scenery and bouts of loneliness. There was so much courage in her five-season run. She balanced laughs with tragedy, sometimes within a singular scene. She gave Deborah armor through her humor, which made her relatable. Hacks appealed to all television lovers, but those individuals who felt discouraged by their third act of life were given hope. Smart made Deborah an inspiration.

14

Michael K. Williams as Omar Little

‘The Wire’ (2002-2008)

Image via Nicole Rivelli / © HBO / Courtesy: Everett Collection

There are very few characters who have the power to reshape society’s opinions in the manner that Omar Little did. Michael K. Williams’ transcendent character on The Wire remains one of the most fascinating in television history. Omar Little is an anomaly. He is a notorious, openly gay stickup man who survived by robbing major drug dealers. Feared on the streets of Baltimore yet governed by a strict personal moral code, Omar was a threat before you even saw him coming. Known for his signature whistle, when you face him, be ready to lose. On the surface, Omar seemed like a terrifying threat, yet beneath the surface, he had a gentleness that made him endearing. He is a modern outlaw, but his personal code of not harming anyone who is not in the game sets him apart. His morality was human.

Omar was a self-made Robin Hood, operating by his own moral code in a chaotic, dangerous, amoral world. Ferociously independent and methodically calculated, Omar was feared yet revered. He was a gay man in a deeply homophobic, hypermasculine environment, yet he feared being the toughest, most dominant figure on the streets. Williams took great pride in his ability to redefine how Black characters were portrayed. His character defied traditional TV tropes of tough Black masculinity by letting raw emotion and sensitivity show through. And yet it didn’t undercut his gritty exterior. Williams injected real warmth into Omar’s soul, ensuring his tragic moments felt devastating instead of theatrical, using his distinct delivery and physical presence to craft a legend.

13

Jodie Comer as Villanelle

‘Killing Eve’ (2018-2022)

Sporting a blood-red Lanvin pantsuit and Gucci belt, Villanelle (Jodie Comer) plays with her silhouette as she plays with her victims

One of the most fascinating characters to appear on our screens in the 21st century is Villanelle from Killing Eve. As one half of the show’s game-and-mouse power couple, Villanelle was a cold-blooded psychopath who was the gift that kept on giving. Played with all the range Jodie Comer has, Villanelle allowed her to stretch her skills, turning a textbook villain into an iconic, nuanced masterpiece. Villanelle is a talented, high-end international assassin whose mutual, dangerous obsession with MI6 operative Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) carries the narrative. But it’s Comer’s ability to deliver the unexpected that made her a fascinating watch. She may not have been a master of disguise, but she surely was a chameleon.

Villanelle is very much the antagonist, but she has shades of jovial playfulness that make her endearing. Comer succeeds in high-camp comedy with her immense and effortless charisma. By making Villanelle a multi-layered individual, you were eager to see what she would do next. What might be the biggest shining light of Comer’s legacy as Villanelle is her accent work. In real life, Comer is a native “Scouser” from Liverpool. And yet, her ease in switching between Russian, French, Italian, and high-society British made her the dangerous assassin we love. Villanelle was a complex character, but Comer made it look anything but. She earned Primetime Emmy and BAFTA wins for her career-defining role.

12

Viola Davis as Annalise Keating

‘How to Get Away With Murder’ (2014-2020)

Image via ABC

After becoming a major star on the big screen, all it took was a Shonda Rhimes vehicle to bring Viola Davis to the small screen. The result was an exceptional performance for six twisted seasons. On How to Get Away with Murder, Davis took on Annalise Keating, a brilliant and complex criminal defense attorney and law professor. Alongside a group of ambitious law students to work at her firm, she leads them through a tangled web of murder plots and cover-ups that result in the demise of some of the closest people to her. Earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making history as the first Black woman to win in the category, Davis brought her powerhouse prowess that transformed a typical legal thriller protagonist into a deeply flawed and emotionally rich individual.

At a time when streaming series began to offer more complex narratives and characters, networks needed to do the same. Davis helped the mission by refusing to play Annalise as an idealized institution. She wasn’t just a teacher. She wasn’t just a professional. She was a real human with a messy personal life, at times unlikable, and carrying deep-seated traumas that seeped into every facet of her life. There was a vivacity to her character that was partially genuine and partially a facade. It all came to a head in the historic television moment when Annalise removed her wig, eyelashes, and makeup on screen before confronting her husband. It shattered the idealized image of a polished leading lady, proving that nuanced, real characters are what television audiences seek.

11

Ted Danson as Sam Malone

‘Cheers’ (1982-1993)

Image via NBC

Rarely does a television actor get a chance to dominate the small screen in the manner that Ted Danson has. Before The Good Place and Becker, it was Cheers, Danson’s definitive series. Playing Sam Malone, the charismatic owner and bartender of the titular Boston bar, Danson made Sam more than just a one-note, notorious ladies’ man. He was a man trying to move on from his glory days with a little help from his found family. In the first era of the show, Sam’s major plotline was his on-again, off-again romance with the sophisticated waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), but when his co-star departed the series, Sam was able to embark on new storylines, making him a well-rounded character on a multi-cam sitcom.

Danson blended supreme physical comedy with sharp wit and impeccable timing for a man with a fragile ego. And that’s where his charm shined through. Rather than play Sam as a man with ugly bravado and machismo, he played him as an athlete with a cool demeanor who didn’t give up after romantic failures. He was a charmer, but not overly egotistical. Danson was the glue for the entire ensemble. Cheers was the show that made us want to find our own bar where everyone knows our name. And we wished Danson’s Sam was pouring our drinks. Danson’s legacy on Cheers is profound. He earned a pair of Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards for his role, but most importantly, he appeared in 273 episodes of the sitcom.