For Jennifer Aniston, what began as a conversation celebrating Jim Curtis’ new book turned into something far more personal. 

The actress stepped onto a New York stage this week not only as a moderator but as someone willing to share a vulnerable side of herself in front of a packed audience. 

As the couple’s romance continues to attract attention, the evening offered a rare glimpse into the challenges, fears, and personal growth both Aniston and Curtis say have shaped their lives.

The event at Kaufmann Concert Hall at 92NY Residence was intended to spotlight Jim Curtis’ new book, “The Book of Possibility,” but Jennifer Aniston ended up making headlines herself. 

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During a fan Q&A following their onstage discussion, the actress was asked to share “one possibility” she was choosing in her own life. Her answer surprised many in attendance.

According to the Daily Mail, Aniston revealed that she was “choosing to overcome a very deep, deep fear of public speaking.” 

The confession carried added significance given that she had just spent the evening interviewing Curtis before a full theater audience.

The 57-year-old also opened up about how she managed pressure when stressful situations arose. Asked about her approach, she replied, “I think I’m doing really well. Deep breaths and meditation.”

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She later elaborated on the technique that helped keep her grounded, adding, “Truly. It is five deep, deep breaths. Focus. Take a moment.”

Aniston’s Boyfriend Opens Up About Life-Changing Diagnosis

While Jennifer Aniston spoke about fear, Curtis used the conversation to reflect on a battle that dramatically altered the course of his own life.

The author recalled being in his early twenties when doctors discovered lesions on his spinal cord, a diagnosis that resulted in partial paralysis and chronic nerve damage. 

Rather than focusing solely on the medical setback, Curtis discussed the mindset he developed while learning to live with the condition.

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“I’m not saying here that if the doctor tells you to do something, you should get up and leave,” he explained, adding, “What I’m saying is you don’t have to live as the victim. You don’t have to live in your suffering. It can become your power.”

He said his philosophy for navigating hardship centers on one principle: learning to “accept it and love it.”

Jennifer Aniston Watches As Jim Curtis Shares Personal Insecurities

One of the evening’s most candid moments came when Curtis discussed the emotional toll his condition had on his self-image.

The wellness coach admitted that for years he struggled to tell people the truth about why he walked with a limp. Instead, he often created an alternative explanation.

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“I would say I got into a motorcycle accident,” Curtis admitted. He explained that the story stemmed from feelings of embarrassment about his diagnosis. 

“I was so shameful that I had a medical condition. I was broken in some way. I thought the motorcycle accident was at least a little macho,” the 50-year-old shared.

According to Curtis, it took more than two decades of self-work to change that mindset. Over 25 years, he said he learned to “overcome” those insecurities through “self-acceptance and self-love.”

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Aniston’s Boyfriend Shares Rare Details About Their Relationship

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Before Jennifer Aniston stepped onstage with Curtis to discuss “The Book of Possibility” and reveal her fear of public speaking, Curtis had already begun pulling back the curtain on their relationship. 

Just days before the New York event, he appeared on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show,” where he gave one of his most candid interviews yet about dating the actress. 

As The Blast shared, Curtis didn’t hesitate to praise her when asked about Aniston. “My experience of her is so grounded and so open and caring and kind and loving,” he said. 

He also spoke warmly about the actress’s famously tight-knit circle of friends, describing them as “this group of best friends that are like family.” 

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One of the interview’s most notable moments came when Curtis admitted how welcomed he feels within that circle. 

“I feel incredibly blessed to be part of and welcomed into that family,” he noted, later calling it “such a beautiful community and group of people.” 

Jennifer Aniston’s Romance Was Already Becoming More Public

Even before Jim Curtis’ podcast appearance, signs were emerging that Aniston was entering a new chapter in her relationship. 

Page Six reported that the actress was becoming noticeably more open about her romance with Curtis, a significant shift for someone who has historically kept her relationships out of the spotlight. 

According to sources who spoke with the outlet, Aniston and Curtis were “still very, very happy” after more than a year together. 

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Insiders pointed to a level of emotional security that Aniston had reportedly struggled to find in previous relationships. 

One source claimed, “This relationship is succeeding on so many levels because it’s got things that Jen’s never had before.” Another added that “she never ever questions where she stands with him — he has zero hesitation about letting her know that he is crazy about her and is totally devoted.”

Theo James is reacting to the rumors that Meghan Markle could potentially be his costar on The Gentlemen.

“Yes, Fergie is joining. She’ll be playing my love interest,” the actor, 41, joked about the casting rumors, referring to royal family member Sarah Ferguson in an interview with Town & Country published on Wednesday, September 2.

Jokes aside, James added that he believes that the rumors about the Duchess of Sussex, 45, being cast in The Gentlemen season 3 were “mainly a lot of hot air.”

“At the moment, we’re just trying to get as many eyes on season two, and then season three will happen soon,” he told the outlet. “But in terms of story, we have the overarching ambition of where we’re going to go. We’re going to expand the world, go to different countries. But in terms of the minutiae, I mean, it’s still very much up in the air.”

Rumors swirled last month that Meghan was in talks to join the cast of the Guy Ritchie series amid news of her and Prince Harry’s return to the United Kingdom. The Gentlemen appeared to be a perfect fit for Meghan to make her return to acting as the Netflix series films in the U.K.

However, it has since been reported by Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, that the former royal’s offer had been withdrawn due to backlash.

Days later, a Netflix executive cryptically responded to the rumors about Meghan’s involvement in the show.

“All bets are off,” Manda Levin, Netflix’s scripted chief in the U.K., said at the Edinburgh TV Festival on August 26, when asked about the rumors about Suits alum joining the series.

News of Meghan’s potential involvement came before The Gentlemen season 2 premiere on Netflix. Ahead of its premiere, the streamer revealed the show was renewed for season 3.

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Related: Everything Meghan Markle Has Said About a Potential Acting Return

Meghan Markle quit acting ahead of her 2018 royal wedding to Prince Harry and before the pair relocated to the United States. Now that the couple are preparing to return to England, is an acting comeback in Meghan’s future? After securing a handful of TV and film roles, Meghan notably starred as paralegal-turned-attorney Rachel Zane […]

“Ambition can’t be tamed. The Gentlemen Season 2, starring Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, premieres NEXT THURSDAY,” Netflix wrote via its official X account in August. “As for Season 3? Consider it official.”

The Gentlemen follows James’ character Eddie as he makes the unexpected transition from duke to drug baron after inheriting a weed empire. Eddie ultimately partners with a criminal dynasty that has its own agenda. After establishing his criminal enterprise in the inaugural season, season 2 will follow Eddie as he expands on an international level. The Gentlemen season 2 will premiere on Thursday, September 3.

“You still want the humor, but this season we wanted to take some of the wins of season one, but also learn from some of the things that we didn’t quite get to do on season one, which was push the characters into a bit more depth, give them moral quandaries that they can have regrets about and that can have lasting ramifications upon them,” James said of what to expect in season 2. “And also with my character, soften him, see him make mistakes and fall in love and be betrayed and everything in between, to evolve the show as much as we can.”

The Shards put effort into carefully — but accurately — portraying the fictionalized version of Bret Easton Ellis‘ sexual assault on screen.

During the Wednesday, September 2, episode of the FX show, Bret (Igby Rigney) is blackmailed with a tape that reveals he previously met up with girlfriend Debbie’s (Hayes Warner) dad, Terry (Wes Bentley), in a hotel room. As Bret narrated the memory, he acknowledged that his view of the situation has changed as he has gotten older.

“Wes was very specific and very active in the conversation,” Rigney, 23, exclusively told Us about how the cast and creative team approached the sensitive scene. “And I knew [cocreator] Ryan [Murphy] wanted that scene specifically to be treated with respect because it is unfortunately a situation that can and has happened and is very terrible for a young person to be placed in that particular situation.”

He continued: “We wanted to be really careful and just make sure that it wasn’t gratuitous or sexualized in any manner.”

Executive producer Brad Simpson offered more insight into the conversations that took place.

“It’s a big part of the book. It’s a big part of the character Bret’s experience, and I think it was a big part of an experience especially [for] gay men of a certain generation,” he told Us. “[In many cases] their first sexual experiences were either forced on them or were available to them were older men.”

Simpson pointed out how the show followed the troubling dynamic between Bret and Terry, adding, “Bret has been groomed all season by Terry — clearly — even though he doesn’t see it as grooming. People at that time looked at it differently. Like, if it happened to you, you looked at it differently. There wasn’t the sort of language of, ‘You’ve been assaulted’ for teen boys with older gay men. But it was important to Ryan that we depict it and we depict it with sensitivity but also with accuracy to remain true to the book.”

He added: “What he came up with I think hopefully threads the line in a way that works. We see Bret enter the Beverly Hills Hotel and we see him enter Terry’s room and we see what led up to it. Then we were in the bathroom with him making a decision to go in and also in the aftermath of that.”

The series pulled heavily from real-life author Ellis’ book of the same name.

“We really used a lot of the words from the book. A lot of the words he uses describe what happened instead of showing. It’s pretty graphic in the book, and we stayed pretty graphic because we thought that was important,” Simpson continued. “We adjusted some language to give the future Bret — the narrator — more self awareness over what this really was. Because I think the character in real time back in the 1980s, our character in the show is not seeing it as an assault. He’s seeing it as something he has to endure.”

The writing team wanted to balance how past Bret saw the incident with the way his adult self would describe the traumatic moment.

“Put your most intense stuff up-front, but we wanted the audience to be able to be prepared and be on Bret’s side. So hopefully, we handled it in the right way,” Simpson shared with Us. “There was never a conversation about not having it in. It was about knowing how to do it correctly, and nobody felt like we could actually show the sex act between this older man and this teenage boy on screen. We knew we couldn’t do that, but how do we get the graphicness of what happened to this character? And we decided going back to Bret’s words was the most effective way.”

The Shards, which airs Wednesdays, is an adaptation based on Ellis’ fictionalized memoir about his high school years. The 2023 release was Ellis’ first in 13 years and has a disclaimer stating that all the major players in The Shards are fictional — apart from the narrator.

Ellis, 62, previously addressed how he wrote about an incident where the book version of him was taken advantage of by a Hollywood producer.

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“Gay men are different. Sorry, the gay world is different,” he said on a 2023 episode of his podcast when asked about the mentions of the dynamic in the book. “I didn’t really want to do it, but no negative feelings about it except that I didn’t get an agent and I didn’t get my script made.”

The Shards airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on FX.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

There’s a fallacy that anything recognized by the Academy Awards is the equivalent of “eating your vegetables.” Over the Oscars’ nearly 100-year history, this has never been true. Sure, the crop of Best Picture winners features its fair share of banal, forgettable historical biopics and turgid dramas, and the term “Oscar bait” exists for a reason. However, some of the most crowd-pleasing and entertaining movies of all time have been rightfully crowned Best Picture by the Academy. Voters understand that making the viewer feel alive and actively involved is a film’s most powerful trait, and these 8 honorees of the Oscars’ top prize are the finest examples of appealing to the masses while retaining their artistic merit.

8

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

Image via A24

Find another Best Picture winner that features the multiverse, butt plugs, hot dog fingers, and a conversation between rocks. Spoiler alert: you can’t. Everything Everywhere All at Once remains an anomaly among the crop of previous BP winners, and it set the trend for future unconventional movies to be taken seriously as awards contenders. The directing pair of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert being Oscar darlings was shocking, but when you look at the final product they produced in 2022, it’s understandable why voters flooded them with awards. It’s just so fun to watch, after all.

A film that won a whopping three acting awards, including for Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, and Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once sneaks up on you in surprising ways. Sincere at its most archaic, touching at its most silly, and expertly crafted at its most amateurish, the Daniels’ action/sci-fi/comedy/family drama captured the world by storm upon release, unlike any other strange and exotic arthouse experience churned out by A24. With the directors throwing everything and the kitchen sink at you, it’s easy to grasp on to something invigorating or rollicking.

Between its martial arts-inspired action and the romantic yearning of Wong Kar-wai, EEAAO is an active moviegoing extravaganza that makes the screen feel alive. With all its easter eggs, minor details, and other bells and whistles on the screen, the film rewards frequent re-watches. It doesn’t take a lot of encouragement to get a viewer to strap along for the Daniels’ multiversal odyssey. When watching EEAAO, you get the feeling of being transported not only to a new world, but to a whole new language of expressing cinematic ideas. That sure is exciting.

7

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Image via Orion Pictures

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A movie like The Silence of the Lambs, an adaptation of Thomas Harris‘ same-named horror-thriller about abductions and serial murders, not only winning Best Picture but also sweeping all five major categories, seemed impossible. However, Jonathan Demme‘s box office smash-hit and critical darling defied the odds in 1991, winning Oscars for its director and two stars, Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. The film’s craft was so undeniable that the Oscars had to get over their bias against genre movies.

Demme, a versatile, journeyman director with a personal touch, unlocked his full potential with The Silence of the Lambs. Despite its lurid source material, the film is shockingly tender and understated as an intimate melodrama about the perverse human dynamics between opposite sides of the law. Demme’s signature close-up shots lend sympathy to these psychologically warped serial killers and imbue terror into Clarice, one of modern cinema’s most iconic female protagonists. With just roughly 15 minutes of screen time, Hopkins permanently shaped culture’s vision of cunning, slick, and fiendish serial killers.

While its artful nature is a thing of beauty, The Silence of the Lambs certainly doesn’t sell short as a genre film. A quintessential case of a “B-movie with A-movie ideas,” Demme unleashes his chops from working under the Roger Corman school with his execution of chilling suspense sequences and shocking horror flourishes. The emotional dread and palpable terror shared by all parties in the movie explain how such a grisly film could win Best Picture, as the film is just as interested in breaking down the psychology of sociopaths as it is in exploiting their danger. The Silence of the Lambs offers everything you want in a movie.

6

‘West Side Story’ (1961)

Image via United Artists

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When you think of Hollywood musicals, West Side Story is one of the first things that is likely to pop into your head. Every song, number, studio backlot set, and image is seared into the heart of American culture. While it began as a stage musical by Arthur Laurents, West Side Story became firmly cemented in the lexicon with Robert Wise‘s big-screen adaptation in 1961, which earned a whopping 10 Oscars and has endured as a landmark of movie musicals. Despite its age, the film hasn’t lost an ounce of its joyous entertainment value.

On the stage, West Side Story was already special, so it was a no-brainer for United Artists to re-use and reunite the previous collaborators, such as choreographer Jerome Robbins (who also co-directed the film), composer Leonard Bernstein, and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. As a result, the movie adaptation of the stage play was perhaps even more magical, giving this modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet a revamped energy thanks to the wonderful display of Technicolor and old-school romanticism. While Steven Spielberg‘s 2021 remake gives it a run for its money, there is still nothing as striking as Wise’s foundational film.

Ripe with flashy showbiz vigor, whimsical tonality, and aching heartbreak, West Side Story works on you in multiple ways, hitting every nerve simultaneously. Wise, whose origins as an editor made for some of the most seamless choreography ever portrayed in film, conducts a dazzling symphony that turns harsh subjects such as race and class divides into popular grandeur. Capturing the essence of New York City through a theatrical re-creation of the gritty streets, West Side Story upends the masculine urges of gang warfare with this exhilarating song-and-dance show. Most impressive of all, the film remains an unimpeachable work despite the less-than-stellar lead performances by Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, both of whom are outmatched by their all-star supporting co-stars, notably Oscar winners George Chakiris and Rita Moreno.

5

‘Titanic’ (1997)

James Cameron shouting, “I’m the king of the world!” after receiving Best Director at the Oscars was understandably met with some groans, but it’s hard to deny that self-proclamation. Everyone doubted him, but he came out of Titanic as the king of the box office in 1997, and the monumental romantic epic went on to win a record-tying 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Nitpick and sneer at it all you want, but Titanic is an undisputed masterpiece of major blockbuster filmmaking that wins over the most cynical viewers.

For months, extending past its 1997 release and awards run in 1998, the world had Titanic fever. From the swooning romance between Leonardo DiCaprio‘s Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater to the grand sinking sequence, everyone had to have an opinion on the film. No one will argue that Cameron’s writing isn’t hokey and broad, or that its characters aren’t confined to rigid cultural stereotypes, but anyone who does argue that the film’s emotional impact and narrative construction doesn’t pay out like a slot machine is delusional.

Although the film is about a tragic disaster where over 1,000 passengers and crew members died, Titanic became a cultural juggernaut thanks to Cameron’s humanity, operatic romance, and personal strokes of triumph, most prominently seen with the redemption arc of the present-day Rose (Gloria Stuart). Its three-hour runtime flies by as fast as the titular ship’s propellers, and the film is filled to the brim with enough iconic quotes, scenes, and images to keep your imagination flowing constantly. Cited as the finest example of a four-quadrant movie, Titanic offers everything. Whether you’re looking for a fateful romance, period costume drama, historical epic, or action extravaganza, Cameron sampled all genres to create something truly indelible.

4

‘Casablanca’ (1942)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Arguably the most quotable movie in Hollywood history, Casablanca may seem like a staid relic of the classic studio system for younger audiences. However, anyone who thinks they can skip this towering achievement in filmmaking will regret ever holding that thought after watching it. Directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Casablanca embodies the wonder, imagination, and breathless entertainment value of old Hollywood, and it’s time for modern viewers to embrace its enduring power over 80 years since its release.

While many iconic classics have been snubbed for the Best Picture prize, Casablanca was perhaps the ultimate “no-brainer” decision for the Academy in 1943. Set on the periphery of World War II at a titular nightclub, run by a cynical expat and former political activist, the film established the arc of the misanthrope-turned-saint. Bogart’s screen persona was born the minute we first see Rick Blaine’s hangdog, downbeat expression, and his relationship with his lost lover, Ilsa Lund, played by the luminous and transcendent Bergman. A story about an estranged romance and the stakes of WWII, Casablanca is a miraculous stroke of filmmaking.

On paper, something as dialogue-heavy and restricted as Casablanca shouldn’t be such an enthralling viewing experience, but what it lacks in traditional thrills is made up for by its scintillating writing. From a narrative construction perspective, the film flows with incredible ease, taking the viewer along the ride as we come to learn the emotional backdrop of Rick’s disillusionment and Ilsa’s agonizing conflict. Of course, the film’s script is famous for its vast array of legendary line readings, from “Here’s looking at you, kid” to “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.” While not a traditional noir, Casablanca‘s moody atmosphere and gorgeous visual language create a sense of endless intrigue surrounding this lavish but bleak world.

3

‘The Departed’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Yes, this is a make-up award, and it’s ridiculous that it took this long for Martin Scorsese to win an Oscar, but these facts do not call for any disrespect thrown at The Departed‘s name. The film, which earned the renowned director his long-awaited Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture, acted as a “greatest hits” album for his entire career while also pushing his relentless energy and dramatic propulsion to new heights. For what it’s worth, it’s also one of his most addictively entertaining efforts to date, and that says a lot by Scorsese’s standards.

During the casting process, Scorsese wasn’t kidding around, as he assembled an all-star lineup featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, and Jack Nicholson. The flashiness of his cast is matched by the operatic and maximalist scope of The Departed, a frantic, vulgar, and deliriously manic Boston-set gangster saga based on the Hong Kong crime drama Infernal Affairs. Tackling the American Dream, Irish guilt, family heritage, loyalty, and the blurred lines between cop and criminal, The Departed didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it excited critics and audiences to profound degrees.

Despite its grit and bloodshed, The Departed is undoubtedly one of the funniest movies not just in Scorsese’s career, but of any movie in the last 20 years. The film is just as much a tribute to classic Warner Bros. gangster pictures as it is to the Boston accent and loudmouthed, hard-nosed Irish-American culture. Every crass insult and passionate interjection will leave you howling, even when the comedy is pitch-black and relates to gruesome acts of violence. Along with the humor, The Departed moves at such a relentless pace, jumping from one wild scene to another without hesitation. One hour will zip past you, and it will feel like 10 minutes as this gripping story unfolds and characters flirt with death.

2

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

Image via Universal Pictures

The rare Best Picture winner in the modern age to be both a blockbuster and a triumphant critical success, Oppenheimer was the culmination of everything Christopher Nolan was building towards. After years of industry-changing milestones with hits like The Dark Knight and Inception, our greatest living blockbuster auteur was officially crowned as the Steven Spielberg of his time with Oppenheimer, a film that turns what should’ve been a “homework” movie into a visceral, propulsive, and devastating feat of cinema.

With Nolan’s The Odyssey currently dominating the culture, it’s clear that Nolan is losing relevance any time soon, but until this year’s Oscars, Oppenheimer, which won seven Academy Awards, including wins for Nolan, Robert Downey Jr., and Cillian Murphy, is his defining magnum opus. The film is a historical biopic on the surface, but Nolan’s probing examination of the titular physicist’s complex mind and deconstruction of his notorious legacy in American history make it a fervent psychological voyage unlike any other cradle-to-grave saga.

Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding the film’s focal point, the development and weaponization of a nuclear bomb that was eventually dropped on Japan to end World War II, Oppenheimer has become an instant re-watchable classic. This is all thanks to Nolan’s effortless skills as a director of escalating suspense and tension, best displayed in the showstopping Trinity Test. Oppenheimer is Nolan’s most extraordinary directorial and screenwriting effort simply due to the fact that most of the “action” consists of people talking in rooms, but these security clearance hearings and Senate confirmation trials burst off the screen, aided by the staggering visual opulence of the IMAX cinematography.

1

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Image via Neon

The film that defied all the odds. Not only did an international/foreign language film win the coveted Best Picture prize in 2020 (perhaps the world’s last piece of good news before the pandemic), but Parasite proved to be a sensation that birthed an entire generation of cinephiles. The social satire/psychological thriller was the culmination of Bong Joon-ho‘s entire career. If Memories of Murder and The Host didn’t do so already, Parasite showed that Bong operates at an entertainment level unmatched by his contemporaries. Once and for all, the film got all skeptics to realize that subtitles weren’t a hindrance to fun.

In keeping with Bong’s house style, Parasite is a mishmash of tones and genres, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they laugh at the vanity of the rich Park family, ponder the fate of the parasitic Kim family, and watch in awe as this social clash unfolds to shocking degrees in this film about South Korean culture and economics. Despite seeming like an insular subject for Western audiences, Parasite‘s infectious narrative construction and deft tonal balance were transfixing for mainstream audiences with little experience engaging with international cinema.

Bong’s control of the frame is legendary, and we’re hard-pressed to find a director with more precise control of their own movie than the South Korean auteur, who walked away from the Oscar ceremony with additional awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director. This sense of complete artistic virtuosity was palpable to any viewer without a Letterboxd, as the director’s use of expert blocking, camera shifting, and music cues captures the feeling of a third act in a comic book movie. Not to mention, Parasite is simply hilarious and invigorating, and its genre exceptionalism complements its deep thematic commentary.

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Parasite

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Release Date

May 30, 2019

Runtime

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133 minutes

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• 
• 

  Lee Sun-kyun

  Park Dong-ik

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Jennifer Aniston honored the late Dolly Parton during a rare public appearance with her boyfriend, Jim Curtis.

The death of the late country music icon at 80 came up during Aniston, 57, and her beau’s panel at The 92nd Street Y in New York City on Wednesday, September 2, to promote Curtis’ new book, The Book of Possibility. While the format of the panel revolved around Aniston interviewing Curtis, 50, on stage, she also answered a few questions from the audience.

When a fan asked for the “best advice” she could give, Aniston shared some wisdom from a “dear friend of all of ours, Miss Dolly Parton.”

“It’s real. … We’re all in post-Parton, aren’t we?” she declared. “One of her many, many, many, many incredible quotes, and they’re endless, endless, endless, she would say, ‘I chased a few rainbows and I caught some.’ I would say, go chase your dreams and go catch some rainbows. You’ll catch a few. [Dolly] did that, for sure.”

Related: Miley Cyrus and More Stars Mourn Dolly Parton After Her Death at 80

Hollywood is in mourning following the death of country music icon and actress Dolly Parton. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel […]

The world has spent the last week in mourning following an announcement on August 25 that the legendary singer had died.

“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee,” a statement from Parton’s rep read. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family.”

The statement continued, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

While a cause of death was not initially made public, Parton’s representative later confirmed that she’d had a “brief battle with cancer.”

Tributes from Parton’s family and friends — including 9 to 5 costar Jane Fonda, goddaughter Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift — have poured in from across the world.

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On Friday, August 28, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee introduced plans to rename Nashville International Airport in Parton’s honor. The renaming proposal has the support of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority while Parton’s family has agreed to continue conversations about the tribute, per the governor’s office.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Loved Ones Visit Cemetery With Flowers 3 Days After Her Death

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Dolly Parton’s loved ones gathered at her burial site in Nashville three days after the singer’s death. Parton’s closest relatives, including her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, were spotted arriving at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on Friday, August 28, as seen in photos obtained by Page Six. Seaver reportedly coordinated […]

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Gov. Lee, 66, said in a statement on Friday, August 28. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”

Parton’s team has also confirmed that she was working on numerous projects — Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum and the SongTeller Hotel— prior to her death, thus ensuring that her legacy will continue far into the future.

It’s been two years since Guy Ritchie‘s Netflix series, The Gentlemen, first hit our streaming screens, and its sophomore return is making an even bigger splash than Season 1. Based on his 2019 film of the same title, The Gentlemen follows the story of Edward Horniman (Theo James), 13th Duke of Halstead, former Army captain and newly minted gangster, as he navigates the world of drugs and crime upon returning to his family estate. While Season 1 focused on bringing Eddie into this new world as an aristocrat-turned-criminal, Season 2 pushes the character into deeper and darker waters. The new season brings in the Italian mafia, Peruvian cartels, the British House of Lords, and a sprinkling of mysticism and myth we’ve never seen before. It’s a tonal shift away from the comedy that was so evident in Season 1, but the move is for the better as The Gentlemen transforms and evolves into something completely new.

‘The Gentlemen’ Expands Its World of Crime in Season 2

If Season 1 of The Gentlemen was about easing us into the world of crime alongside Eddie, then Season 2 is about his quiet rise into becoming a kingpin in his own right. The season starts with the reveal that Eddie is trying to secure a seat in the House of Lords in an attempt to derail a bill set to decriminalize marijuana. At the same time, he’s expanded Bobby Glass’ (Ray Winstone) empire into Italy, bringing in more money and creating more weed farms. Of course, any criminal expansion into Italy will inevitably bring its own baggage, and both Eddie and Susie (Kaya Scodelario) have to face off against the mafia’s El Capo dei Capi (the boss of bosses), Marco Moretti (Sergio Castellitto).

While Season 1 of The Gentlemen stuck to the blueprint of Ritchie’s film, Season 2 expands in all directions in the vein of his more sober crime drama, MobLand. Expanding into the international world of criminals means that whatever equilibrium was found after Season 1 has been undone. It’s clear that while Susie and Eddie might be able to keep their cool in London, leaving the safe confines of England means they are navigating more dangerous territory. While some shows struggle when the cast expands and the story with it, Ritchie has rooted The Gentlemen in a way that makes its evolution feel organic. This is still a story about class differences, about crime and morality, about power and ownership. We’re just seeing it on a grander scale. New players are added to the game and the season itself has bigger action scenes, more explosions, and devastating betrayals that will keep viewers on their toes.

‘The Gentlemen’s Season 2 Cast Shines, but Eddie and Susie’s Relationship Is Peak

At the core of The Gentlemen Season 2 is the partnership between Eddie and Susie. Although both characters get their own love interests in the season — Eddie falls for Bella (Benedetta Porcaroli), an Italian countess, and Susie reconnects with an old flame named Joe (Tyler Conti) — the chemistry between James and Scodelario still sizzles. Amidst tragedy and backstabbings, their palpable connection is the beating heart of the show and one of the few authentic relationships in a world full of dodgy characters. They still quip back and forth as old married couples do, but they also share rare moments of vulnerability that add extra spice to their charged conversations. It helps that everyone else seems to think that Susie and Eddie are destined for each other, even if they continue to insist it’s all professional.

Season 2 also gives returning characters a chance to shine, specifically Winstone’s Bobby, whose character takes a curiously superstitious turn that adds an element of whimsy and mystery to the story. Vinnie Jones‘ Geoff is once again one of the best parts of the show, and Jones gets a fantastic action sequence in the latter part of the season that shows the man can be deadly as well as considerate. His quiet romance with Joely Richardson‘s Lady Sabrina is something that I can never get enough of, and we can only hope that at the end of all of this they’ll just get to spend some quiet time in an English garden together.

Among Season 2’s new additions, Porcaroli’s Bella is a veritable angel. She is sweet and beautiful, and her passionate and empathetic performance plays well off of James’ more stoic and restrained Eddie. Hugh Bonneville, as the complicated Lord Hawthorne, is a perfect fit to balance the series’ comedy elements alongside its more serious dramatic moments. Castellitto nearly falls into the realm of stereotype as a literal Italian godfather to Bella and a mobster, but his scenes with James give him the type of depth that saves him from being a caricature. Similarly, Benjamin Clementine‘s Nanny, husband to Charlotte (Jasmine Blackborow) and new father to their son Tarquin, nearly slots into the mold of clueless in-law who has no idea about the Horniman family’s illicit dealings. Yet Season 2 delivers just enough twists to show that there’s more beneath the surface than just an honorable soldier who happens to be the king’s equerry.

Season 2 of ‘The Gentlemen’ Delivers a More Evolved Guy Ritchie Story

Image via Netflix

One of the most surprising things about The Gentlemen‘s sophomore season is the fact that the show is fully leaning into a side of Ritchie that we rarely get to see in his gangster stories. There’s a new introduction of mythology and mysticism that adds just the right notes of weirdness. Both Bobby and Stanley Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito) lean into this, with Bobby seeing a mythical Bannick (a spirit who lives in a sauna) and Mr. Johnston being linked to the mysticism of the origin of England and its ties to Eddie. On the surface, it’s a little bizarre and out of left field, especially considering how grounded Season 1 is, but as the show digs deeper into the themes of power, class, and Eddie’s obsession with taking back his family’s land, these elements help to crystallize Ritchie’s overall vision.

This quirky new element comes in place of the comedy that was far more apparent in Season 1. There are no travelers camping out at the duke’s estate, no men in chicken suits dancing for their lives. Although Ritchie directs three of the eight episodes, his typical slick and fast-paced style is far more subdued and slots in comfortably alongside Eran Creevy‘s four episodes and Nick Rowland‘s solo contribution. Comedic relief characters like Freddy (Daniel Ings) and Jimmy (Michael Vu) take more of a backseat this go around, which is unfortunate because they were both highlights in Season 1. Ultimately, it seems like Ritchie, who co-wrote every episode of Season 2 alongside Matthew Read, is dialing into something darker and even sinister for Eddie. As The Gentlemen sheds some of its flash, it’s replaced with a far more thoughtful and philosophical story, one that will carry it through to what is sure to be another outstanding season.

The Gentlemen Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

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Release Date

2024 – 2026-00-00

Network

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Netflix

Directors

David Caffrey, Guy Ritchie, Eran Creevy, Nima Nourizadeh

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Writers

Stuart Carolan, Guy Ritchie, Matthew Read, Billy Mason Wood, Haleema Mirza

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Pros & Cons

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• The Gentlemen delves deeper into the core themes of the series in a philosophical way.
• Theo James and Kaya Scodelario have palpable chemistry that drives the season.
• The grander scale of Season 2 allows for a natural expansion of the story that feels organic.

Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial went home without a verdict on Wednesday (September 2), following a fifth day of deliberations. Twice, the jury said they couldn’t agree whether the Massachusetts mother is criminally responsible for killing her three young children.

RELATED: Massachusetts Mother Posted About Postpartum Depression Before Reportedly Killing Her Kids

Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, doesn’t deny strangling her three children in their home in 2023. But her attorney argues that postpartum psychosis led to her actions, while prosecutors say she knew what she was doing.

Before The Lindsay Clancy Jury Went Home & What Happens Next

As reported by The Associated Press, Judge William Sullivan told the jury to keep deliberating on Wednesday when they said for a second straight day that they couldn’t agree on a verdict. Clancy, meanwhile, stared at the jury without expression as Judge Sullivan informed the courtroom that the jurors were at an impasse. Sullivan told the jurors not to abandon their own convictions just to reach a verdict. Instead, he urged them to seriously consider opposing views and, if appropriate, reassess their positions.

No one knows, the judge said, that another jury would be “more intelligent, more impartial or more competent to decide it than you are.”

Afterward, Judge Sullivan sent them back out. The jury first said they were struggling to reach a unanimous decision Tuesday morning. They had resumed deliberations Wednesday after the judge questioned jurors one by one following the arrest of a woman on Tuesday who was accused of filming them as they left the courthouse. Judge Sullivan opened Wednesday’s proceedings with a warning to the courtroom about following his orders against filming, following, contacting, or tampering with jurors. Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer told The Associated Press that the judge called jurors up one by one to ask them if there was anything they saw that would affect their ability to be impartial.

This continued impasse indicates there’s a growing chance of a hung jury and the trial ending without a resolution. That said, the jury will return again on Thursday for a sixth day of deliberations.

Mental Health Has Been A MAJOR Focus In The Trial

Lindsay Clancy’s livestreamed trial has generated intense interest, with reporters and spectators packing the courtroom. The case has also sparked deep public divisions over her culpability and the issues around maternal mental health after childbirth.

Jurors have heard testimony from relatives and doctors about how Clancy’s mental health declined in the months before the killings. Also, they’ve heard how her treatment included several medications and a short stay in a psychiatric hospital. However, medical experts hired by the prosecution and the defense reached sharply different conclusions about her psychiatric state when she killed Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy, ages 5, 3 and 8 months.

What Happens If There’s A Mistrial?

If jurors ultimately can’t agree on a verdict, the judge could declare a mistrial. Prosecutors would then have to decide whether to put Clancy on trial again, drop the charges or try to negotiate a plea deal with her lawyer.

If the jury decides Clancy was criminally responsible for her actions, it could convict her of either murder or manslaughter. If she is acquitted, a judge could still order her confined to a mental health facility if an evaluation determines that she poses a danger to the public.

After court ended Tuesday, Clancy’s attorney said it was a good sign that the jury kept working.

“The fact that they have not said that they’re done is very, very heartening,” Kevin Reddington said. “Obviously, they’re working very hard.”

What To Know About The Day Lindsay Clancy Killed Her 3 Kids

Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children with exercise bands in their home’s basement, then jumped from a second-floor window. She remains paralyzed from the waist down. Her lawyers say she heard a voice telling her to kill the children so she could end her own life. Additionally, they’ve argued the mother had bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness that can follow childbirth.

But, the prosecution argues she deliberately sent her then-husband on errands to get him out of the house that day. Also, prosecutors have questioned the seriousness of her suicide attempt.

Lindsay’s husband, Patrick Clancy, has said in interviews that he forgives his ex-wife, whom he views as ill rather than evil.

Associated Press writers Michael Casey and Dave Collins contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

NBA YoungBoy is getting his lil’ lady’s designer closet together from a young age! Recently, he and Jazlyn Mychelle‘s daughter, Love Alice Gaulden, celebrated her fifth birthday. Rather than unwrapping toys made for her age group, YB surprised his mini-me with at least two high-end bags. The gesture immediately sparked online chaos as fans debated whether the Chanel and Dior goodies were appropriate for the kiddie milestone.

RELATED: Whew! NBA YoungBoy Shares Cryptic Message About Family And Fans Are Mentioning Jazlyn Mychelle (PHOTOS)

NBA YoungBoy Spoils Daughter With Designer Purses

A circulating video, seemingly filmed by a voice similar to Jazlyn Mychelle’s, shows Love Alice wearing a blue princess dress with a pink sash. She then starts unwrapping a black Chanel box, only to pull out a small silver purse. After showing it off to her dad, she gave him a high-five and then opened her next box and dust bag. This time, she pulled out a light-yellow Dior bag and appeared just as excited. Ultimately, she and her dad embraced and the clip ended.

Social Media Reacts To Luxury Gifts

After The Shade Room reposted the clip on Instagram, nearly 2,000 reactions filled the comment section. Some folks praised his ability to provide on that level, while others discussed whether the gift is age appropriate. A few other made jokes about snatching the luxury goods for themselves.

@mz_classyjazzysassy commented, “I wish I was her TT she wouldn’t even know I had it until I brought it back 😂😂 oh yea you left your purse at TT house baybay😂😍😍.”

“He making sure she ain’t ever gotta worry bout no bags been there done that 😂 she goin be like boy a bag i don’t want no bag buy me a mansion 😭 it’s toys somewhere y’all just wait on it i guarantee it’s some toys we just seeing bags 🤝,” @casinodiamond wrote.

“And don’t get on here saying she wanted Barbie dolls! How yall know she didn’t get those too?? 👏👏❤️ also it’s not y’all’s daughter anyhow,” @inkd_by_omi added.

@kimfinelikeredwine said, “🥰I see no problem…Fathers are the first example for girls of how they should be treated by men and he has Chanel and Dior money so why not?? Lil Mama was especially pumped about that silver Chanel 🤣.” 

@m.yalfav added, “Lmao she don’t have to beg a ninja for one when you look on the bright side 🤷🏾‍♀️”

@princedre._ commented, “Big Paragraph Coming From Yaya Mayweather Soon😂”

@_therealjazzz said, “All I see if him being a present father and giving presents 🎁 😌🙌 And taking care of his fam.”

“Say what you want about him , he is a great dad &super gentle ! A lot of these “aggressive “ rapper really be so gentle and open minded and I wish yall give them alot more grace,” @theerealisis wrote.

“She probably wanted a tea cup set to go with her dress🫠,” @yellow_dymond said.

“she bouta leave that on the playground and they’re going to gag,” @shemarfrederick commented.

“He setting the bar high for his daughter and nobody caught he said thank you for being my daughter .. love to see fathers show that unconditional love 💕,” @stephy__202 added.

RELATED: Jania Meshell Asked For Baby Name Suggestions & Fans Threw NBA YoungBoy In The Mix (PHOTO)

The unstoppable force of Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued last weekend, finishing at the top of the domestic box office charts for a fifth weekend in a row. The return of Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker has powered past numerous box office records, beginning with the biggest opening weekend in domestic history and most recently becoming the second-highest-grossing film of all time in the U.S. Critically, the film is also a massive hit, earning a near-perfect audience rating of 98% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and being called “the best Spidey adventure in 20 years” by Collider’s Charlie Ridgley.

But following this enormous success, what does the future look like for Holland as our friendly neighborhood Spidey? The man who followed in the modern footsteps of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield has undoubtedly defined the role for a whole new generation, but he can’t portray Peter Parker forever. Marvel Studios Producer and President Kevin Feige has admitted that “there are always plans” for more Holland Spider-Man, but that they won’t be anytime soon, adding, “Right now, he’s going to rest after that global tour. He and Zendaya are going to take a good and restful victory lap, which they very much deserve.”

So with the future of Spider-Man still unknown, former star Garfield has been asked to revisit his viral 2013 comments in which he wondered if Spider-Man could be gay. Reflecting on his interview 13 years later, Garfield has told EW, “It was an exercise in rebellion that I felt passionate about. I just still believe that anyone can be in that suit.” He continued:

“That’s the point of why it’s such a kind of universally beloved character, one of the greatly beloved characters in the history of fiction is because you don’t see skin color, you don’t see gender, you don’t see sexuality. Anyone can project themselves into that suit. I like the idea of a place where everyone is being honored and everyone is being included, and it was just a kind of act of saying, ‘Well, why not?’ And you’ll be telling on yourself if you have a strong opinion either way.”

The Plan for ‘Spider-Man’s Future Has Long Been in the Works

Whether or not Holland remains in the role is yet to be confirmed, although Brand New Day is seemingly setting up a new era for the actor in his Spidey suit. But the man himself has previously admitted that discussion over who will replace him in the role has been ongoing for some time. “There’s a whole plan that we have been working on for, I would say, since we finished Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Holland admitted in an appearance on a podcast, adding, “It’s laid out. It’s gonna change for sure, but I have a really clear vision to the passing on of the baton, and I think it’s really exciting.”

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now. Stay tuned to Collider for more box office updates.

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Release Date

July 29, 2026

Runtime

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145 minutes

Director

Destin Daniel Cretton

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Writers

Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers

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Producers

Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Amy Pascal, David Cain

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Fans are mourning the loss of beloved Disney star Carla Jeffrey. According of her management team, Carla reportedly passed away at the age of 33.

RELATED: Prayers Up! ‘Menace II Society’ & ‘The Players Club’ Actor Samuel Monroe Jr. Passes Away 

Details On The Passing Of Disney Actress Carla Jeffrey

On Wednesday, September 2, Alexander’s Talent Management shared an official statement on Carla Jeffrey’s Instagram page announcing that she died on Tuesday, September 1. The agency also reflected on Carla’s career, noting that she joined Alexander’s Talent Management at just 12 years old and went on to share her vibrant spirit with audiences throughout the ‘Zombies’ franchise and even during appearances on shows like Nickelodeon’s ‘iCarly.’  Additionally, Carla’s team noted that their hearts are with her family and asked that fans give them space and time to grieve her death. At this time details about Carla’s passing and her cause of death are unknown.

Carla’s Twin Brother Reacts To Her Passing

As tributes poured in for Carla Jeffrey, her twin brother, Carlon Jeffrey, also shared a heartfelt message honoring his sister. Carlon posted a sweet photo of Carla on his Instagram Story and then shared another post where he called her the “best sister” and said he hopes they continue growing closer in this lifetime and the next. Carlon also pursued acting, appearing in ‘A.N.T. Farm’ and ‘The Strange Thing About the Johnsons’ “You are the best sister a brother could ask for. I pray we continue to grow closer to one another along this journey. I got your back in this life and the next,” Carlon wrote.

Fans Mourn The Loss Of Carla Jeffrey

Once The Shade Room Teens shared the news of Carla’s passing, heartbroken fans flooded the comment section with reactions. Some said the news left them hurt and in disbelief, while others reflected on Carla’s memorable television roles.

Instagram user @thareallbratt.m wrote, “THIS CANT BE REAL💔💔💔💔” 

Instagram user @luvv.roro wrote, “Awe I remember that iCarly episode 😭 our childhood. May her soul rest in peace 🥹🙏🏾” 

While Instagram user @_ohthatsnyny wrote, “Is this how we’re starting September off 😢😭”

Then Instagram user @xo.tayviaa wrote, “What is going on? Too many people are dying.” 

Another Instagram user @iam.jadaaa wrote, “awwww i remember her character on iCarly.” 

Instagram user @damarionlollflex wrote, “bro no your lying 😢😢😢😢” 

Then another Instagram user @faithhdatt wrote, “OMM IM HURTTT 💔💔💔” 

While another Instagram user @wityourmomduh wrote, “IK YOU FREAKING LYINGGGHHHH IM NOT IN THE MOOOD TELLL THEM TO BRING HER BACK NOEWWWWWWW.” 

Finally, Instagram user @pr3ttyface._sydney wrote, “ARE U SERIOUSSSS!! ☹️☹️☹️☹️” 

More About Carla’s Career

Carla was reportedly born in Houston, Texas, and kicked off her acting career with a role in the 2006 film ‘Phat Girlz.’ She later appeared on Nickelodeon’s ‘iCarly’ in 2008 and played Keysha Black on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ In 2011, Carla popped up on Disney Channel’s ‘Good Luck Charlie’ before appearing on ‘Shake It Up’ the following year. Fans later came to know Carla for her roles in ‘Zombies 2’ and ‘Zombies 3’. She continued making her mark on the franchise by voicing Bree in several ‘Zombies’ re-animated shorts.

RELATED: Prayers Up! ‘Home Alone 2’ & ‘It’ Actor Tim Curry Passes Away At Age 80