Sideshow: The 'meshugana' Curtis is mourned

Jamie Lee Curtis (right) with family members during the funeral of her father, Tony Curtis, in Las Vegas. The actress said what he passed on to her was his "desperate need for attention."
Jamie Lee Curtis (right) with family members during the funeral of her father, Tony Curtis, in Las Vegas. The actress said what he passed on to her was his "desperate need for attention."
Posted: October 05, 2010

More than 400 relatives, friends, and fans honored Hollywood legend Tony Curtis, 85, Monday at a crammed Las Vegas funeral chapel. Curtis, who died Wednesday in his Nevada home, was eulogized by his sixth and final wife, Jill Curtis, and his daughter Jamie Lee Curtis, who teared up as she referred to him as full of life and "a little meshugana," the Yiddish word for crazy. "All of us got something from him. I, of course, got his desperate need for attention," she quipped. California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger recalled Curtis was a beloved mentor who told him to ignore folks who mocked his accent: "Don't pay any attention to those guys. I heard the same thing." (Curtis had a distinctive Bronx accent.)

The chapel was decorated with seven paintings made by Curtis, and a short film tribute featured clips from his varied work, including the historical epic Spartacus and the TV show The Flintstones.

Delany: Boo for Botox

Dana Delany, 54, is no fan of Botox or plastic surgery. She tells Prevention mag her first Botox injection seven years ago "hit a nerve, and created a huge hematoma." Delany also reveals she struggled with eating disorders as a teen: "I binged. I starved. I was one step from anorexia - a piece of toast and an apple would be all I would eat in a day."

Dating, divorce & the bits in between

New Kids on the Block survivor Donnie Wahlberg, 41, has survived the divorce process: Court records in Simi Valley, Calif., show that Donnie and his wife of nine years, Kim Fey, have finalized their divorce. The couple, who have two sons, Xavier Alexander and Elijah Hendrix, reached an out-of-court settlement.

What better way to appeal to girlie-girl fans? Teen teen idol Justin Bieber, 16, took his young mum, Pattie Mallette, 34, as his date for his guitarist pal Dan Kanter's wedding Sunday in Toronto.

Speaking of cuddly Canadians, Freaks and Geeks' Seth Rogen, 28, is engaged to marry gf Lauren Miller, an anon source tells People. In a shocking revelation, the source says, "Seth is so excited," adding, "Lauren is such a sweet girl."

People also chats with Resident Evil: Afterlife babe Ali Larter, who was showered with girlie love Saturday at a baby shower in Lalaland. (Her baby with hub Hayes MacArthur is due in a couple of months.)

"It was an incredible day, and I just felt so lucky to be surrounded by so many dear friends and family," says Ali, whose guests included Amy Smart, Busy Philipps, and Nicole Sullivan.

Helen Mirren, still a heartbreaker

She may be 65, but Dame Helen Mirren still makes men's hearts glow in the dark - no matter their age, occupation, religion. That includes Dame Helen's young Tempest costar, Russell Brand.

"Confidence. Potency. Female energy. Roaring estrogen," Brand, 35, tells People when asked to describe Helen. "She's got that potency, doesn't she? . . . That's why she can play queens and leaders," says Brand, before going all space-cadet: "Women are, of course, powerful, feral creatures - the Earth being so female . . . If women get in tune to that energy, it'll destroy us all."

Sexy diet secrets of the sexy

Dying to know Helen Mirren's beauty secret? It's Nintendo's new Wii Fit Plus workout application, which she's being paid to endorse. "The Wii is fun, and it's infinitely varied. You can hula, jog, yoga, step, all in one session," Helen tells London's Daily Mail. "You need never get bored as every day you can tailor a new workout. . . . It's my new best friend." Dame Helen will star in Wii ads this holiday season.

Gervais, lover lose 40 pounds

Ricky Gervais is crowing that he and gf of 35 years Jane Fallon have lost a collective 40 pounds. Why did he go on a diet? "It wasn't so much about the weight. It was more that I was a fat, lazy, out-of-shape slob," Ricky tells People. He dropped his 20 pounds by jogging around his Hampstead Heath hood in London.

Diet the gossipers' way!

Lose weight without skimping on celeb news coverage! So says Online celeb gossiper and would-be celeb Perez Hilton (PerezHilton.com), who on Monday launched a sister site, FitPerez.com.

Hilton (born Mario Lavandeira) was inspired to start the site after losing 60 pounds over the last three years. The site will feature recipes, diet ideas, and workout tips, with pics, from your most beloved celebs.

The Roots to back up Obama

Philly hip-hop collective The Roots have an ever-growing and deserved reputation as the greatest backing band in the land. This Sunday, The Roots will have a fresh front man when they support President Obama at a rally in Germantown.

- Dan DeLuca

Today in EntBiz news

Scotland's greatest export since Scotch whiskey, Susan Boyle, is letting our nation down: She's canceled her live gig on Tuesday's Dancing With the Stars, says Access Hollywood. Her rep says the warbler has "a severe throat infection."

Nicki Minaj took home three prizes Saturday at the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, including Rookie of the Year and People's Champ. Drake, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys also won trophies. BET will air the kudosfest on Oct. 12.

Oprah tells Fortune mag she had a meeting with controversial TV gabfest babe Rosie O'Donnell before green-lighting Rosie's show on the Oprah Winfrey Network. "Rosie said, 'I know you're here to assess how crazy I am,' " says The Big O. "I said, 'Basically, yes. I'm doing a crazy check.' " Oprah warned Rosie "she had better behave" on OWN.

Die Hard helmer John McTiernan was sentenced Monday to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for lying during an investigation of Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano. The P.I. was convicted in '08 of wiretapping movie insiders for McTiernan and other clients.


This article contains information from Inquirer wire services and websites.

Contact "Sideshow" at sideshow@phillynews.com.

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