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Mumbi Maina Talks ‘The Matrix,’ African Accents In Hollywood

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Mumbi Maina

Mumbi Maina knows just how far a dream can take you.

The actress reached an international audience through the Netflix series “Sense8,” before later reuniting with the Wachowskis’ creative world for “The Matrix Resurrections.”

In this exclusive interview with The Blast, Mumbi speaks about how those experiences changed both her life and her understanding of what was possible as an artist. She also gets candid about Hollywood’s portrayal of Africa, recalling one bizarre encounter involving a supposedly “Kenyan” accent.

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Mumbi Maina credits her international work on “Sense8” and “The Matrix Resurrections” with transforming both her career and her understanding of what was possible as an artist. In our conversation, she said the projects had “shifted the trajectory” of her life “in the most wonderful and fulfilling ways.”

Mumbi broke into the global spotlight with the Netflix show in 2017, before later joining “The Matrix Resurrections,” reuniting her with filmmakers and cast members from the sci-fi series.

In a 2023 interview with TRACE, Mumbi recalled receiving an email about a mysterious project called “Ice Cream” during the COVID-19 lockdown. With several “Sense8” cast members involved, she initially thought it was a documentary series being made while production on “The Matrix” remained paused.

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Then came another email making the connection clear. “I was done, finished,” Mumbi recalled, describing tears, prayers and jumping around the house. She kept the news largely secret for months, telling only her lawyer-manager while waiting for her German visa.

Mumbi Would Be ‘Ecstatic’ To Return To ‘The Matrix’

Mumbi Maina
Instagram | @modanphotography

Stepping into productions of that caliber expanded Mumbi’s creative outlook and exposed her to a level in the industry she had long dreamed of experiencing firsthand. “I could never have properly understood how eye-opening and inspiring being in those environments would be,” she told us.

Just as important was the way she was treated once she got there. The actor recalled being met with “grace, kindness and professionalism,” adding that she felt valued for her work and presence. The experience also reinforced her belief in the wider impact art can have and showed her the value of working alongside people deeply invested in their craft.

That influence has stayed with her. We asked Mumbi whether she saw potential for more stories in the world of “The Matrix” beyond “Resurrections,” and whether she would return to the universe if offered the chance.

“Yes,” she replied. “That’s the thing about art. Just like the human experience, there’s always room to evolve. If [‘The Matrix’] did continue, I’d be ecstatic to return to that world!”

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The Actress Weighs In On Questions Around African Storytelling In Hollywood

Mumbi’s experience navigating both African and Hollywood productions also gave us an opening to ask how she feels African stories and characters are being represented on the global stage.

The conversation about Hollywood’s handling of African stories has found new life with “Children of Blood and Bone,” particularly in its use of accents. The upcoming film, based on Tomi Adeyemi’s eponymous debut novel, has faced criticism well before its release.

To start, the casting of Amandla Stenberg and Thuso Mbedu drew complaints of colorism, and Adeyemi later said she had distanced herself from the film.

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Reaction to the trailer has also been mixed. Reddit users criticized everything from the performances and costumes to the production, with several saying it felt disconnected from its Nigerian inspiration.

Mumbi Maina Recalls Producers Searching For A ‘Kenyan’ Accent

Mumbi Maina
Instagram | @tobbinator

For Mumbi, it brings back memories of one particularly puzzling experience of her own. A few years ago, producers approached her about a voice-acting role after seeing her work on “Sense8.” She was cast, recorded the part, and thought everything had gone smoothly.

Then, through a friend who had no idea she had already landed the role, Mumbi discovered the production was looking for someone with a “Kenyan” accent. “We genuinely all scratched our heads at that because… what is a Kenyan accent?” Mumbi tells The Blast.

The actress was born and raised in Kenya and has lived there all her life. Even so, she says fellow Kenyans have occasionally told her that she has an accent. “I just talk how I talk,” Mumbi says. “And that raises a bigger question for me: who is the authority on what an African should sound like?”

Mumbi Maina Wants African Film To Follow The Afrobeats Blueprint

Mumbi Maina
Instagram | @makeup_by_wairimu

What made the experience even stranger was that the producers already knew exactly what she sounded like before casting her. Mumbi suspects they may have been searching for the generic “African” accent Hollywood audiences have heard for decades.

“I think that’s where the conversation becomes disheartening,” she says. “The narratives that are pushed about Africa aren’t always true to home.”

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That doesn’t necessarily mean only Africans can tell African stories, in Mumbi’s view. For her, the bigger issue is how those stories are handled.

“I don’t know if it matters so much who is telling the story as much as how the story is being told, who is included in the process, and whether there is a genuine understanding of the people and culture it comes from,” she explains.

Mumbi ultimately wants African film to follow a path similar to Afrobeats, reaching audiences worldwide without losing the identity that made it resonate in the first place.

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Johnny Ringo Actor Reveals How Kurt Russell Officially Saved ‘Tombstone’ After On-Set Disaster [Exclusive]

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Tombstone had absolutely everything going for it. It had one of the best Western casts ever assembled, some of the most quotable dialogue the genre has ever produced — courtesy of the soon-to-be former writer-director Kevin Jarre — and a gorgeous landscape. Behind the scenes, it was a wagon wreck. Jarre was fired after several weeks of filming, leaving the production facing the unenviable task of somehow getting an ambitious Western back on track. According to Michael Biehn, who starred as Johnny Ringo, Kurt Russell deserves an enormous amount of credit for making sure Tombstone survived that upheaval.

Speaking exclusively with Collider while promoting Onslaught, Biehn opened up on the madness behind the scenes and explained that a huge chunk of the movie, as well as extensive pre-production, had already happened by the time he was dismissed from his position. For his part, Biehn was pretty open about his opinion as to why Jarre was deposed.

“Kevin, who created it, did all the pre-production on it — the wardrobe and everything. Pre-production is really setting up the entire movie as far as what the movie is going to look like. They shot with Kevin for four weeks, and then they fired him. I know why, because he wanted his way or the highway, and he was not very collaborative. He had Kurt there, he had William Fraker, the DP, who was an Academy Award winner, and he had a bunch of great actors around him. He just didn’t listen to anybody.”

The problem was enormous. Biehn says Jarre’s original screenplay ran 142 pages, which he estimates would have resulted in a roughly two-and-a-half-hour movie. After Jarre’s dismissal, Russell worked alongside writer and producer Jim Jacks, to determine what the movie absolutely needed and what could be sacrificed. The result was a brutal weekend of cuts:

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“Kurt was responsible, and they brought in a writer. Over the weekend, they cut about 40 pages out of that script, so everybody lost a lot. The Cowboys always felt we got the raw end of that deal as far as some of the stuff that got cut out, because you never see the Cowboys unless they’re around the Earps, and that’s not the way it was in the script at all. They had a whole different life that they lived away from Tombstone. When I say life, two or three scenes.”



















































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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz
Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive?
The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars

Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

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🏜️Dune

🚀Star Wars

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01

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do?
The first instinct is often the truest one.





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02

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely?
What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.





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03

What kind of threat keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.





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04

How do you deal with authority you don’t trust?
Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.





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05

Which environment could you actually endure long-term?
Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.





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06

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart?
The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.





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07

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all?
Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.





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08

What would actually make survival worth it?
Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix

You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.

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  • You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
  • You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
  • You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
  • The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.


The Wasteland

Mad Max

The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.

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  • You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
  • You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
  • You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
  • In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.


Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner

You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

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  • You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
  • In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
  • You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
  • In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.


Arrakis

Dune

Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

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  • Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
  • You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
  • Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
  • In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.


A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

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  • You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
  • You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
  • You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
  • In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.

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Kurt Russell Saved ‘Tombstone’

Biehn explained that Russell then worked with the team to effectively rebuild the movie around the material they could realistically shoot. “Kurt is a very special human being, too. Kurt had to work with a writer, work with a producer named Jim Jacks at the time, and they had to cobble that together. They had to ask themselves, ‘What do we really need here, and what can go?’ So he cut a lot of that out.”

And Biehn is unequivocal about the importance of Russell’s contribution to the movie that ultimately reached cinemas:

“It’s because of Kurt Russell. He made the decisions of what stayed and what went. The love story between him and Dana Delany was really, really trimmed down. If I was him, I would’ve been pulling my hair out a little bit by the time he wrapped that thing.”

Russell’s involvement shouldn’t be confused with actually editing the finished film, however. Biehn stressed that Russell departed almost immediately after production to make Stargate and wasn’t involved in cutting the completed footage. His role was in helping slash and reshape the screenplay during production so Tombstone could actually be finished.

Whatever happened behind the scenes, it worked. Biehn noted that Tombstone wasn’t initially greeted as a classic — he remembers major reviews barely mentioning Johnny Ringo at all — but its reputation grew enormously through home viewing. Today, he says it’s “very rare” for him to encounter someone who isn’t in love with the movie.

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Onslaught is in theaters on September 4. Tombstone is streaming now on Disney+.


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Release Date
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December 25, 1993

Runtime

130 minutes

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Director

George P. Cosmatos

Writers
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Kevin Jarre

Producers

Bob Misiorowski, James Jacks, Sean Daniel

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Busy Philipps Diagnosed With Brain Tumor, Had 2 Surgeries

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Dawson’s Creek alum Busy Philipps is opening up about her recovery after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“I’m grateful that I’m alive,” Philipps, 47, told People in an interview published Wednesday, August 26, revealing that a Prenuvo full-body scan in February confirmed the presence of a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare slow-growing tumor.

Philipps, who didn’t have any obvious symptoms in advance, said that she thought about canceling her scan since it was scheduled one day after her former Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek died from stage III colorectal cancer.

“‘Should I cancel it?’” Philipps recalled asking her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, who responded, “Maybe it’s the best thing you could do for your friend this morning. Go get that scan.”

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After the Prenuvo scan confirmed the presence of a tumor, Philipps was admittedly “hyperventilating” while still “trying to breathe.”

Immediately, the actress was focused on consoling her two daughters. (Philipps and Silverstein, 55, are the parents of Birdie, 17, and Cricket, 13.)

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“[Birdie] was kind of beside herself and really, really scared and overwhelmed with emotion,” the Girls5Eva alum recalled of her eldest child. “I just kept saying to her, ‘Birdie, you’re just not in the movie where your mom dies your senior year of high school. That’s just not the movie that you’re in. I promise you.’”

As for Cricket, Philipps noted that her youngest daughter was much calmer about her diagnosis.

“Her reaction when I told her was like, ‘OK. You’re going to be fine?’ And I was like, ‘I’m totally going to be fine,’” Philipps said. “And she’s like, ‘OK.’”

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Philipps ultimately underwent a procedure in March, with doctors removing a 2.6-centimeter mass from her brain.

“It is considered malignant, but it has the best prognosis of all of the malignant gliomas,” Philipps’ neuro-oncologist, Dr. Alexandra Miller, told People. “It’s sort of defined as a cancerous tumor based on the ability of the tumor to regrow over time, rather than it looking very malignant under the microscope.”

Philipps’ procedure was successful, and she told the outlet that she “wasn’t in pain at all.” However, she faced a setback in April when she contracted staphylococcus on her incision and needed a follow-up surgery to debride and clear the wound.

While the actress’ surgery was successful, she will need to get regular scans to monitor a potential recurrence.

“What am I? The luckiest girl in the world?” she quipped.

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Beyond the Gates Early Spoilers Aug 31-Sept 4: Andre Reels in Shock & Nicole Spirals Wild!

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Beyond the Gates: Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) - Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix)

Beyond the Gates early spoilers for Aug 31-Sept 4, 2026 stun with Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) shaken to the core and unsure where to go from here. Plus, Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) freaks out and does not like what she is hearing.

We expect Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) to confront Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings). Dani’s trying to fix her marriage and Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones) is doing really scary things.

And as we always do on early edition day, we go over what’s happening the rest of this week and then we get into what is coming next week.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Heather’s Scary Obsession with Andre

So, let’s get right to it. Wednesday, August 26th on BTG. Now, we saw Heather ran out on Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) on Tuesday when Andre texted. And when Heather sees Andre at her hotel room door, she says, “I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away,” but he’s not there to give Heather what she wants.

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I expect Andre is going to tell Heather, “Stay away from me. Stay away from Dani. Just stay away.” We have Heather losing it and lashing out on Wednesday. And it may be Andre who gets the brunt of her anger. Also remember Heather told Joey that Andre was the best thing she’s had in her bed, but she didn’t tell Joey that it’s Dani’s husband that she’s chasing. However, I will say that must have been a really memorable encounter.

BTG Spoilers: Smitty on a Mission

Heather is also focused on Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning) who is not dropping this red market ring thing. He’s planning to go see former Garland Memorial Chief of Staff Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht) with more questions because Smitty is certain that Lia knows the identity of the Impaler and he is desperate to out that person. Of course, he thinks it’s a man. A roadblock pops up for Dani in her quest to find the answers she needs this week.

And I wonder if it’s Andre she’s questioning when he gets distracted because this week he’s with Dani and Andre gets a text from an unknown sender that says tick tock. That’s obviously from Heather who is not going to take no for an answer. Andre staring at his phone as Dani says his name trying to snap Andre out of it. So, Dani’s really worried that Andre might know about her ex sex in the elevator. But no, he is worried about the sex his ex is demanding.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Ted & Nicole Get Emotional

Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) has an emotional and serious conversation with Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix), and it may be about the two new loves in their lives. I’m wondering if Ted may ask Nicole why she didn’t choose Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley).

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We also have Mona Wilson (Karan Kendrick) hustling Joey again. This may be another game of cards between the church lady and the bad man. Mona took Joey last time if you remember. Carlton runs into somebody unexpected and I wonder if it is Nicole or someone else. Then Thursday, August 28th on Beyond the Gates, we’ve got Ted having a heart-to-heart with Andre.

and he asks his nephew, “Are you in trouble?” They chat at Ted’s office and Andre is looking really stressed. Also, this week, Ted is hiding something that Andre wants him to keep secret. So, we’ll see if Dani maybe comes up to Ted asking if he knows what’s going on with Andre.

BTG Spoilers: Tomas Eager to Get Rid of Naomi

Bill’s sickness puts Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) in an awkward spot at her dad’s office with Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) foaming at the mouth to get behind Bill’s desk and send Naomi out the door. But Bill has a proposition for Naomi, and it may be for her to take the reins while he’s recovering from his pacemaker surgery.

It sounds like Tomas doesn’t like what goes down because he then runs to Eva Thomas Richardson (Ambyr Michelle) looking for support. He really needs to talk to Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) about these things and Eva may advise him to do just that. She’s not happy to find Kat hanging out with Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) at Orphe Jeans this week and she makes a big show in front of Kat.

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Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Nicole Spars with Kat

We also have Nicole bickering with Kat on Thursday. We’ll see if it’s about what Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) warned Kat not to do. If you remember, Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Kat told Anita they want to name their new designer bag the Nikki as a tribute to Nicole, but she hates that nickname, especially since Leslie calls her that.

Izaiah is confiding in Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges), and I wonder if Isaiah is planning to get more serious with Eva soon. Then Friday, September 4th on Beyond the Gates, we’ve got Anita’s singing voice continuing to fail her after chemo. So, she has this opportunity she’s unsure about. She’s wavering about it. And this may have to do with her, Tracy Tyler (Maria Howell), and Sharon Winger’s (Bonita Brisker) plan to record Articulate songs for Devon’s label. But Anita may need to bow out, which would mean her friends may lose this big opportunity.

BTG Spoilers: Naomi Irks Hayley

Naomi is a thorn in Hayley’s side. We’ll see if Naomi drops in at the house again without calling, which of course Hayley hates. That same day, she is hustling her hubby Bill and may leave him with a big old poison drink before she takes off.

Hayley goes to meet with Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) at Uptown and Hayley is telling Randy, “With any luck, Bill will be dead by the time I get home.” Hayley’s laughing and lays her hand on Randy’s arm. What Hayley doesn’t know is Bill got suspicious and he followed her.

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And now, he has seen her with Randy and now thinks that she is legitimately having an affair. I’m still wondering why the mega dose of that toxin that Hayley put in Bill’s scotch didn’t affect him. I’m also wondering if Naomi may sip the drink that Hayley left Bill before she took off to Uptown.

Beyond the Gates: Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) - Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix)Beyond the Gates: Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) - Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix)
Beyond the Gates: Andre Richardson – Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson 

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Smitty Has Bad News

It looks like Smitty has disturbing news for Chelsea and Kat. Smitty doesn’t mean to, but it looks like he triggers some anxiety for both of them. And maybe this is something that he dug up abkat orout Allison Bailey (Brianna Roberts). We also have Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik) bringing disturbing news to Jacob. That may be about Allison. Maybe they found the cell phone in her cell or the box of crazy letters.

Or maybe something happened to Lia in prison because Heather’s talking about shutting down operations. And to me, that sounds like she’s telling Joey she’s tying off loose ends, maybe in a murderous way. Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) closes out this week on BTG in crisis mode. This may be about Dani’s marriage concerns or Bill and Hayley or even Anita’s voice crisis.

Then the week of August 31st through September 4th on Beyond the Gates, we’ve got Smitty wanting to go back to talk to Lia, which had Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried for his husband’s safety. I suspect that Heather might have Lia killed in prison because she may indeed know her identity. And Heather shutting down operations may mean Heather shutting down people’s lives.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Heather Keeps Hurling Threats at Andre

Andre is getting threats from Heather. And of course, he knows she’s a psycho, so he’s got to be worried about Dani. Plus, if his wife finds out Andre knew Heather all along and lied to her face, that’s going to be a big problem. Plus, Dani can sense that something’s off with Andre.

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And she’s not going to let up until she finds out what. And of course, Heather continues to lurk and scare Andre and try to blackmail him and leverage him and seduce him into her bed. Bill is on to Hayley and knows that she’s now a liar and a sneak, but he’s wrong about what she’s lying and sneaking about.

So, I’m curious to see if Bill confronts Hayley or if he goes to Joey about seeing her with Randy. We just saw Joey threaten Randy because Heather caught him stalking her. I don’t think Joey’s going to give Randy much more leeway before he does something to punish him.

Allison Still Plotting on BTG

Tomas continues to act out at the office and is putting himself at risk of Bill’s wrath. And crazy Allison is far from done and Chelsea is on edge about all of this. Joey wants Heather gone out of the DMV and he keeps pressuring her to leave town, but it looks like she is just cuckoo.

She is so obsessed with Andre and I don’t think Heather’s going to leave town until she has him back in her bed. But I don’t think Andre is going to give in because he loves Dani. I also wonder if Bill’s going to talk to Dani and start working on her knowing that his marriage is about to fall apart. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s laying groundwork for a reunion.

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Joseline Hernandez Opens Up To Bonnie Bella About Stripper Past

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Joseline Hernandez Sparks Reactions After Opening Up To 9-Year-Old Daughter Bonnie Bella About Her Past As A Stripper (WATCH)

Joseline Hernandez has sparked reactions after opening up to her 9-year-old daughter, Bonnie Bella, about her past as a stripper.

RELATED: Social Media Is Sharing Mixed Opinions After Eva Showed Off The Dress Mimi Faust Made Her Wear To Her 8th-Grade Dance

Joseline Hernandez Opens Up To 9-Year-Old Daughter Bonnie Bella About Past As A Stripper

On Tuesday, August 25, The Shade Room reposted a clip from Joseline Hernandez’s family reality show, ‘The Grandma Is The Baby.’ In the clip, the pair appeared to be sitting down at Hernandez’s maternity shoot — as she’s expecting her second child with her husband, Balistic Beats — and their conversation became very candid.

Hernandez told her daughter that she “started stripping at a very young age.” Then, she asked her if she knew what a stripper was. In turn, Bonnie Bella said that a stripper is a “person who dances naked.” Then, the clip cut to a confessional scene where Bella explained that her mom is “so honest” with her because she doesn’t want her to be surprised by any withheld information as she gets older.

Social Media Is Sharing Reactions To Stripper Conversation

Social media shared reactions to Joseline Hernandez’s transparent conversation with her 9-year-old daughter, Bonnie Bella, in TSR’s comment section.

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Instagram user @shineovashade wrote, Bonnie bella look like she going be a scientist and cure cancer”

While Instagram user @1take_nesha added, Joseline a damn good mother! Despite her past and what she do! 👏”

Instagram user @theonlyautica wrote, She felt like it was time to tell HER daughter 🤷🏾‍♀️ she’s so smart!”

While Instagram user @bigsexyofficial added, One thing you can’t take way is Joseline is a GREAT MOMMY! This is my favorite version of her! I love seeing the soft mommy side❤️”

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Instagram user @mayaaafineassss wrote,She is a better parent than half the love and hip hop cast who talked bad about her 💯‼️”

While Instagram user @poeticc.justice__ added, She is really well spoken”

Instagram user @che.jere wrote, Bro she look exactly like Stevie wtf😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @obey_my_sweets added, And this is how you should talk to your f*****g children! Tell them what it IS and how it IS ….. so nobody else can come along and tell them other”

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More On Joseline Hernandez & Her 9-Year-Old Daughter Bonnie Bella

As The Shade Room previously reported, Joseline Hernandez is expecting her second child. This, with her husband, Balistic Beats. To note, Hernandez shares Bonnie Bella with her ex, Stevie J. Earlier this week, photos were shared from her recent maternity shoot.

“Our family is growing… and so is the LOVE! From a family of three to a FAMILY OF FOUR! 🍼💙 We’re so excited to welcome our newest blessing into the world and share this beautiful new chapter with all of you,” Hernandez wrote alongside photos of the shoot.

RELATED: Royal Reveal! Joseline Hernandez Breaks The Internet With Maternity Shoot As Fans Can’t Stop Talking About Bonnie Bella (PHOTOS)

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Arrive in UK Amid Move: Report

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly touched down in the U.K. amid news of their planned move.

BBC first reported that the couple were expected to arrive across the pond on Wednesday, August 26, with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told the outlet, “This is not something we would comment on.”

According to The Telegraph, the Sussexes landed at Birmingham Airport around lunchtime. (Us reached out for comment.)

News broke one week earlier that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, were relocating to the U.K. for an extended period of time, six years after stepping down from their senior royal roles. Their children will reportedly start school abroad in September.

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Related: What to Know About Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Move Back to England

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are heading back to Britain — kids in tow. Six years after stepping down as senior working royals and decamping to California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are relocating their family to the United Kingdom for an extended period. News broke of the move in August 2026, with multiple […]

The couple are expected to keep their home in Montecito, California, where they moved after their royal exit in 2020, and will maintain a vacation residence in Portugal.

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“Harry is not as happy in the U.S. as he is in the U.K.,” a source exclusively told Us, adding that the pair “aim to be somewhere outside of London,” rather than directly in the city.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Arrive in UK

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Jonathan Brady / POOL / AFP

According to the insider, “They are open to a new chapter.”

While the twosome are not likely to resume any official royal duties, Harry will be spending more time supporting U.K.-based charities and patronages. Meghan, meanwhile, will continue running her As Ever brand overseas.

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Related: Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s U.K. Move Change Their Royal Roles?

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to return to the United Kingdom, but will they resume their duties as senior working royals? News broke on Wednesday, August 19, that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, planned to move back to England in time for their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to start […]

“Harry still operates as if he were a member of the royal family when he evaluates opportunities,” the source told Us. “He’s seen royals who have left the royal family, like Sarah Ferguson, whose path he does not want to emulate. He wants to do things that are a right fit for him, but that can be very limiting. And, of course, they need to find ways to make money, so they are eager to find partnerships that are the right fit and fruitful for them.”

Us understands that King Charles III was informed of his son’s plans to return to the U.K. just days before the news made headlines. Tensions previously grew between Harry and his family — including brother Prince William — as he and Meghan left their positions as working royals.

Former royal butler Grant Harrold told Us that Harry’s move back to the U.K. isn’t likely to “completely heal” his relationship with William, 44.

“It will take a lot more than that,” Harrold said earlier this month. “Too much happened. It will be a situation where actions mean more than words. … I think they will be poker-faced and play happy families, but behind the scenes, it will take a lot more.”

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Tim Curry, ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and ‘IT’ Star, Dies at 80

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A Twisted and Hilarious Horror Comedy

There is something inherently unsettling about the overly cheerful world of children’s television. The colorful sets, catchy songs, talking objects and giant costumed characters are designed to make kids feel safe. Buddy takes all of that childhood comfort, twists it into something deeply disturbing and somehow manages to make the result as funny as it is horrifying.

Directed by Casper Kelly, the filmmaker behind the cult Adult Swim short Too Many Cooks, Buddy is exactly the kind of horror comedy that could have fallen apart almost immediately. A murderous orange unicorn from a 1990s-style children’s television show sounds like a great five-minute joke. Stretching that premise into a feature film is another story.

Somehow, Kelly makes it work.

The movie introduces audiences to It’s Buddy!, an impossibly upbeat children’s program hosted by Buddy, a towering orange unicorn voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. Buddy sings, dances and teaches his young friends important lessons, all while surrounded by the type of talking furniture, puppets and colorful characters that would have felt perfectly at home on television three decades ago.

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Then one of the children stops playing along.

That is when Buddy begins revealing what kind of movie it really is.

Buddy [credit: BoulderLight Pictures]

As Buddy’s cheerful personality becomes increasingly threatening, Freddy (Delaney Quinn) and the other children begin questioning the world around them. Their attempt to escape Buddy’s increasingly dangerous playground eventually leads beyond the familiar television set and into a much stranger world.

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Meanwhile, Cristin Milioti plays Grace, a mother in the real world who begins experiencing the disturbing feeling that someone is missing from her life, even though she cannot quite understand who that person might be.

It would be easy for Buddy to rely entirely on the joke of turning a Barney-like children’s character into a killer. Instead, Kelly keeps expanding the idea. The movie jumps between the television program, the outside world and increasingly bizarre environments that make it feel as though audiences are slowly discovering just how large Buddy’s nightmare actually is.

The production design is a huge part of why it works. It’s Buddy! genuinely looks like something pulled from a VHS tape sitting in a box since 1997. The cheap-looking sets, overly enthusiastic songs, goofy characters and dated television production aren’t merely background details. They are essential to the movie’s personality.

And once the violence begins, that artificial happiness makes everything happening on screen considerably more disturbing.

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Keegan-Michael Key is particularly effective as Buddy. He never needs to completely abandon the character’s upbeat children’s-host personality to become frightening. In fact, Buddy is often at his creepiest when he is desperately trying to maintain that smile and convince everyone that they are still having fun.

Buddy [credit: BoulderLight Pictures]

The supporting cast is equally game for the insanity. Patton Oswalt voices a talking backpack named Strappy, while Michael Shannon appears as the cowboy puppet Willie. Topher Grace also stars alongside Milioti, but it is young Delaney Quinn who gives the movie much of its heart as Freddy.

Most importantly, Buddy understands exactly what kind of movie it wants to be.

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This is not restrained horror. It is strange, bloody, absurd and intentionally ridiculous. Kelly throws children’s television, slasher horror, dark comedy and surrealism into the same blender and rarely seems interested in asking whether he has gone too far.

Buddy [credit: BoulderLight Pictures]

That commitment is what makes the movie so much fun.

Not every gag lands, and there are moments when Buddy threatens to stretch its central joke beyond its limits. But whenever the movie begins feeling comfortable, Kelly usually introduces another bizarre character, disturbing revelation or wonderfully ridiculous piece of violence to pull audiences back into Buddy’s world.

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There is also something surprisingly effective underneath all the blood and comedy. Buddy plays with the strange relationship adults have with the television shows they loved as children. Looking back, some of those programs were genuinely bizarre. Giant creatures demanded participation, characters stared directly into the camera waiting for children to answer them and everyone repeatedly insisted that viewers were their friends.

 

Buddy simply asks what happens when one of those characters actually means it.

The answer is one of the strangest horror comedies of the year.

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Buddy isn’t interested in reinventing horror. It just takes an incredibly fun idea and commits to it with enough creativity, nostalgia and unapologetic weirdness to make the whole thing work.

You may never look at a friendly children’s television mascot quite the same way again.

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Dolly Parton’s Publicist Reveals Cancer As Her Cause Of Death

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Dolly Parton cause of death cancer Beyoncé tribute King Charles 9 to 5 empire state building

As the world mourns the loss of the great Dolly Parton, her publicist revealed the beloved icon’s cause of death. Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, and tributes from celebs like Beyoncé and King Charles are pouring in.

RELATED: Beyoncé’s New Album Dropped! Peep All The Artists Featured On ‘Cowboy Carter’

Dolly Parton’s Publicist Reveals Cancer Was Her Cause Of Death

The world was saddened to hear of Parton’s death at age 80 on Tuesday. Her publicist Marcel Pariseau revealed that the ‘I Will Always Love You’ singer-songwriter died after “a brief battle with cancer.” Pariseau noted that Parton died in Nashville at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, per WCVB.

“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”

According to PEOPLE, Parton was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center four days before her death for kidney and autoimmune issues.

Beyoncé Shares Tribute To Dolly Parton

Parton wrote hundreds of songs, and many were covered by other artists, such as Whitney Houston’s cover of ‘I Will Always Love You.’ Beyoncé covered Parton’s hit song ‘Jolene‘ for her country album, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ and she shared a tribute to the late singer on her website following her death.

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“You were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself,” she wrote. “I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship. I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever. Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your joyful art. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully.”

Empire State Building Lights Up For Dolly As Celebs Pay Tribute

The Empire State Building also paid tribute to the legendary country artist and movie star. In addition to being an 11-time GRAMMY-Award-winning artist, Parton also starred in several films such as ‘Steal Magnolias,’ ‘9 to 5’ and ‘Rhinestone,’ and the Big Apple honored the actress with a tribute. A pink light show lit up the Empire State Building on Tuesday night. The “pink sparkle” was in honor of Parton’s 70-year career.

Other tributes poured in from Dionne Warwick, Keke Palmer, Kamala Harris, former president’s Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, Mick Jagger, Pink, Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ co-stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, Donatella Versace, Kelly Clarkson, Jeff Bezos and The Muppets, and countless others.

Former President Barack Obama noted Parton’s 11 GRAMMY Awards, commitment to child literacy and her assistance in accelerating COVID vaccine research.

Not only are folks paying tribute to the legend in the U.S., but they are doing so world-wide. The Royal Family honored the late country singer in London during the Changing of the Guard ceremony as the Band of the Coldstream Guards played the theme song from ‘9 to 5.’ A video of the tribute was shared on Instagram with the caption:

“Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many – including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always ❤️ you.”

RELATED: Oop! Yaya Mayweather Reacts To NBA YoungBoy’s Gift To Country Artist Jas Von (VIDEOS)

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Joey Bada$$’ Tristan Thompson Tweet Resurfaces

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Pot Calling The Kettle? Tweet Resurfaces Of Joey Bada$$ Calling Out Tristan Thompson For Cheating Amid His Split From Serayah

Amid his split from Serayah, an old tweet has resurfaced in which Joey Bada$$ called out Tristan Thompson for cheating.

RELATED: Whew! Fans Are Goin’ IN On Joey Bada$$ Following Serayah Alleging He “Repeatedly” Cheated On Her (VIDEO)

Old Tweet Resurfaces Of Joey Bada$$ Calling Out Tristan Thompson For Cheating

On Wednesday, August 26, The Shade Room reposted a resurfaced tweet shared by Joey Bada$$ on X, formerly known as Twitter. Furthermore, the tweet was shared on January 4, 2022.

“Tristian Thompson gotta stop being a sorry ass nigga. Tell Khloe you’re a fucking gyalist and you need more than one woman. Straight up. Whats so hard about being honest with our women fellas? Fuck this western bullshit. Relationships should be expansive and beneficial for all,” he wrote at the time.

Social Media Reacts To Joey Bada$$’s Resurfaced Tweet Amid His Split From Serayah

Social media users reacted to Joey Bada$$’s resurfaced tweet in TSR’s comment section.

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Instagram user @unorthodox.98 wrote, One thing the internet won’t let you do is forget 😭😂”

While Instagram user @melanin_monroe_93 added,Well well well if it isn’t the pot calling the kettle black 🌝”

Instagram user @evaheartless wrote,Immediate ick. He is no longer fine 😩”

While Instagram user @sheismoneyyyyy added, I’m telling you they will dig up ya great granny drawls for info 😂😂😂 tread on this internet”

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Instagram user @frizzy_andre wrote, MEN COMMENTING ON ANOTHER MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WILL FOREVER BE 🌽🏀 ACTIVITIES. He brought this on himself I guess, lol.”

While Instagram user @airjeff__ added, And that’s why you should always worry about yourself.”

Instagram user @itskardashhh wrote, Ppl on the internet can literally find out the hospital u was born at 😭😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @therealtmann added, Majority of ppl using social media are performative to cover up their ACTUAL image lol 🤷🏾‍♂️ this new to yall? Lmao”

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Instagram user @mycousinbruce wrote, One thing about a joke, it literally can write itself. 🙃”

While Instagram user @tonybaker added,This is why i take people’s judgemental comments in the comment section with a grain of salt. People sittin on high horses with dirty fingernails.”

More On Serayah’s Tweeting Claims

As The Shade Room previously reported, earlier this month, Serayah went online, exposing Joey Bada$$ for allegedly cheating on her “repeatedly” throughout their relationship. Additionally, she stated that she called off their engagement while sharing audio of Joey speaking to another female about their relationship.

Subsequently, Serayah showed off how one of her close friends surprised her with a cake and other pleasantries to celebrate her “release.”

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RELATED: Thank You, Next! Serayah’s Friend Gets Her A SPICY Custom Cake To Celebrate End Of Her Engagement To Joey Bada$$

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Howie Mandel ‘Almost Died’ From Self-Medicating During COVID

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Everything to Know About RHOSLC Alum Jen Shah's Legal Drama

America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel claims he “almost died” after self-medicating during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m medicated and I have a lot of therapy,” Mandel, 70, said on the Monday, August 24, episode of Hoda Kotb’s “Joy 101” podcast. “I have such a fear of those lows, because they’re incredibly painful and hard to navigate, so my life consists of trying to balance up here and manage the medication.”

Mandel, who has long been candid about his battles with anxiety and OCD, further opened up about how he managed his mental health during the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

“I’ve medicated myself, and I’m talking about prescription medication, I’m not self-medicating, though I did that during COVID, and I almost died,” he said. “So, I’m medicated. I’m surrounded by professionals.”

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According to Mandel, he particularly struggled getting to sleep during the COVID shutdown.

“I’m sober right now, but during the pandemic I couldn’t sleep because part of my rumination is …  I’m a germaphobe, and a pandemic? I live, like, I’m in a pandemic anyhow,” he quipped. “When there’s a real one, it was hard for me to handle. It was hard for a lot of people, but I wasn’t strong enough to handle it. I couldn’t sleep, so I started taking [marijuana-infused] gummies to go to sleep.”

In addition to THC-infused gummies, Mandel began smoking and drinking to “escape and make [himself] unconscious.”

“There were times when my wife couldn’t wake me up or she thought she was going to take me to the hospital,” the TV star recalled, referring to wife Terry Mandel. “There’s no middle ground with me. I don’t smoke or I haven’t had a beer, anything, I can’t do anything in moderation. It wasn’t healthy and it wasn’t good. It’s not an excuse, but it was really bad.”

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How Just Like Us in Howie Mandel


Related: How Just Like Us in Howie Mandel? We Put Him to the Test

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Amanda Edwards/Getty Images Howie Mandel proves he’s just like Us through his latest binge-watching picks. “The last thing I streamed was Baby Reindeer,” the America’s Got Talent judge, 68, exclusively shares in the newest issue of Us Weekly. “It’s amazing.” The series, which premiered back in April, was inspired by comedian Richard Gadd’s real-life experiences […]

Howie further gushed that Terry, 71, has been “like a hero” in supporting his mental health struggles.

“I don’t know how she does it. She got me to therapy through an ultimatum,” he stated. “My wife just went, ‘I can’t do this, this is really tiring, go talk to somebody.’ The ultimatum was, ‘Try to find some help, because I can’t do this anymore.’ She’s a hero because she put up with it and sent me to therapy.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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‘Home Alone 2’ Actor Passes Away At Age 80

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Tim Curry Home Alone 2 Scary Movie 2 Actor Passes Away Dies Cause Of Death Age 80

Roommates, Hollywood is once again saying goodbye to one of its memorable talents! ‘Home Alone 2’ and ‘Scary Movie 2’ actor Tim Curry has reportedly passed away. He was 80.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Nephew Of Dolly Parton Announces Her Death At Age 80 (VIDEO)

Tim Curry Dies At 80 Following Health Complications

TMZ was the first publication to exclusively report the death of Tim Curry. Sources reportedly told the publication that Curry had been experiencing serious health issues for over 10 years. He died on Tuesday (August 25) night at his home in Los Angeles. Local police allegedly didn’t suspect foul play after arriving at the actor’s residence at around 11:23 p.m. for a death investigation. Also, the LA Fire Department reportedly visited the home earlier that evening for “a medical emergency.” Officials later pronounced Tim Curry dead at the scene.

His cause of death has not been revealed. However, his memoir last year, revealed he was still unable to walk and wheelchair bound. In 2012, he had a massive stroke that resulted in brain surgery.

Tim Curry Home Alone 2 Scary Movie 2 Actor Passes Away Dies Cause Of Death Age 80Tim Curry Home Alone 2 Scary Movie 2 Actor Passes Away Dies Cause Of Death Age 80
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 04: Actor Tim Curry poses for a photo during Emerald City Comic Con at Washington State Convention Center on December 04, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)

Fans Mourn Actor’s Sudden Death 

On The Shade Room’s Instagram feed, more than 18,000 reactions flooded the comment section of the Tim Curry post within an hour. Fans recalled some of his best on-screen work, applauding his comedic skills and versatility. Others expressed shock at another entertainment icon dying during the same week as Dolly Parton and a week after Hayden Panettiere.

@thatgirljaycole commented, “AUGUST CHILL MAN WTF!!!!!!!”

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@__lashai added, “You know what I love god but lord please get the right ones😂😂😂😂😂.” 

“Bro what is happening?!” @shone_brianna said.

“Ffs first Dolly now Tim this is so sad 😢❤️,” @thattattooedchickgoldz commented.

@honeeyy.bee wrote, “Y’all do understand some of these famous people are OLD they lived their lives 💕hate to say it but we all will have to go. Just stay prayed up and do what’s right.”

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“Every time I open this app. this too much I’m logging off 😭🤦🏽‍♀️,” @therealtatted.hippie commented.

“got dam. august got the grim reaper on bankroll,” @prncesspopit_ added.

“ATP THROW THE WHOLE AUGUST AWAY,” @itsjustmarieeee said.

“Mannnn my childhood is damn near gone. Then they closing my elementary school . SMH,” @qveen_sha_sha added.

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“Not Dolly & Pennywise in the same week! I am goneeeeeee! 😩,” @seekproverbness commented.

“We’ve had enough. us millennials losing so many people,” @vibesofessence wrote.

“Bruhhhhhh Hayden, Dolly, and Tim and Tim on on my birthday I can’t!!! August, you’re killin us 🥺🥺🥺,” @pittsburgh_girl0826 said.

Recap Of Tim’s Legendary Resume

For more than 50 years, Tim Curry stacked his acting resume with roles that fans still bring up in conversation! Here’s a few memorable roles he has starred in over the years:

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  • (1975) Dr. Frank-N-Furter in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
  • (1982) Rooster Hannigan in ‘Annie’
  • (1985) Wadsworth in ‘Clue’
  • (1985) Darkness in ‘Legend’
  • (1990) Pennywise the Clown in ‘It’
  • (1992) Mr. Hector in ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’
  • (1993) Cardinal Richelieu in ‘The Three Musketeers’
  • (1996) Long John Silver in ‘Muppet Treasure Island’
  • (1998-2004) Voice of Nigel Thornberry in ‘The Wild Thornberrys’

 

@paworld007

Tim Curry’s Legendary Journey Through His Greatest Roles – From Rocky Horror to Iconic Voice Work! #timcurry #lifejourney #evolution #memories #history

♬ Forever Young – Alphaville

RELATED: Prayers Up! Montana Man Kills 8 Relatives, Including 4 Kids, At Sunday Dinner Before Setting Home On Fire

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