Kid Rock ends engagement to fiancée Audrey Berry 7 years after…

He’s an “American Bad Ass” — and now, he’s reportedly single.

Kid Rock and his longtime love, Audrey Berry, have ended their seven-year engagement, Us Weekly reported on Friday.

Rock, 54, broke up with Berry, a source told the outlet. A second insider confirmed but claimed the conservative rocker and his ex broke it off late last year — adding the “Bawitdaba” singer is on the prowl.

“He is venturing into the dating pool,” the source said.

Neither the musician nor Berry has addressed the breakup rumors.

The Post reached out to Rock’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.

The news of the alleged split comes after Rock appeared to be getting flirty with Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert at an event.

The pair were seen smiling and chatting at an inaugural event in Washington, D.C., for President Donald Trump before witnesses told Page Six that they left in a cab together at 2:30 a.m.

It’s unclear where they went after that — and it is plausible that it was two platonic friends sharing a ride.

Rock performed a slew of hits at Trump’s victory rally on January 19 at Capital One Arena, and Boebert, 38, was said to have enjoyed his performance.

“Lauren was totally transfixed by the rock star, yapping away, doing a little dance, and clapping like she was front row at his concert — basically giving Kid Rock all the hype he needed,” TMZ reported.

Rock and Berry were first linked in 2011. He reportedly popped the question in April 2017 but rarely spoke about their relationship.

“This is somebody who is not a celebrity. It can really be a tough thing to deal with,” the rocker told Piers Morgan in 2011. “I’m thinking of somebody else, trying not to be so selfish.”

The reported exes both hail from Detroit.

In 2021, Rock name-dropped his then-fiancée while discussing his life.

“Every day I pinch myself. I give many, many thanks. I do give a lot of attribution to the hard work that I’ve put in, but at the end of the day, I’ve been a very lucky person,” he told Hook & Barrel at the time. “My fiancée, Audrey, says I have a golden horseshoe up my a-. I don’t take anything for granted, and I think that’s because it took me so long in the trenches to make it, and I worked so hard, but there’s no question I give thanks every day to the position I’m in.”

Rock has made headlines recently after throwing a tantrum and storming off a stage in Nashville because the crowd didn’t react the way he wanted them to.

“F-k them. F-k them. Hey, hey, stop,” he said in one video on social media. “If you ain’t gonna clap, we ain’t gonna sing. That’s how it’s gonna go.”

Before marching offstage, the “Cowboy” hitmaker told the audience, “You know what, f-k y’all. You ain’t gonna clap, I’m gone.”

Before Berry, Rock was famously married to Pamela Anderson, 57, but it wasn’t smooth sailing.

Their on-again, off-again relationship was a whirlwind that took place over five years. It included an engagement, a breakup, a reconciliation, only a four-month marriage and a divorce.

First linked in 2001, Rock and Anderson got engaged in April 2002 and called it off the following year.

Reconciling in July 2006, the pair said “I do” later that month. They divorced in November 2006, with Anderson later claiming he called her a “whore” for her “Borat” cameo.

‘1923’ Season 2: Release Date and Time on Paramount Plus

Yellowstone season 5 recently finished airing, but if you don’t mind pivoting to earlier in the Dutton timeline, Yellowstone prequel 1923 is saddling up for season 2.

1923 follows a new Dutton family generation after fellow spinoff 1883, time-warping viewers to the early 20th century. Season 2 will once again star Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as ranchers Jacob and Cara Dutton and will see a harsh winter and adversaries pose a threat to the Dutton legacy, according to a synopsis. The second installment will also focus on Spencer Dutton’s journey home and Alexandra’s efforts to find Spencer.

If you never miss a Taylor Sheridan creation on Paramount Plus (or Peacock), here’s how to watch the first episode of 1923 season 2.

Paramount Plus is the only way to watch season 2. In the US, the first episode will be available to stream at 12 a.m. ET on Feb. 23 (Feb. 22 at 9  p.m. PT), according to Paramount Plus. Following the premiere, new installments will drop one each week on Sundays.

If you don’t currently have Paramount Plus and want to get it to stream the new season, the Essential plan will run you $8 per month or $60 per year. You can also opt for the Paramount Plus With Showtime plan, which costs $13 per month or $120 per year.

George Armitage, ‘Grosse Pointe Blank’ and ‘Miami Blues’ Director, Dies at 83

George Armitage, who directed, wrote and produced films including “Grosse Pointe Blank” and “Miami Blues,” died Saturday in Playa del Rey, his son Brent confirmed. He was 83.

Raised in Hartford, Conn., Armitage started out in the 20th Century Fox mailroom before becoming associate producer on the long-running series “Peyton Place” in the 1960s. He met Roger Corman on the Fox lot and moved into feature films, writing the Corman-produced 1970 comedy “Gas! – Or – It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.”

He continued making films for Corman and his brother Gene Corman, moving into directing with “Private Duty Nurses.” The 1972 Blaxploitation film “Hit Man,” which he directed and co-wrote, starred Pam Grier and Bernie Casey. Next up was “Vigilante Force,” with Kris Kristofferson and Jan-Michael Vincent, and the TV movie “Hot Rod.”

“Kaplan, Demme, Dante, Arkush and me… We were making little 45 RPM rock ‘n’ roll movies. Same subject matter as early rock songs and same lack of respect until… This is what made us different even from Roger, who was half a generation ahead, a liberal but no rocker,” he told Film Comment in 2015.

Armitage’s next film as director, the 1990 comedic thriller “Miami Blues,” was based on a Charles Willeford novel. Starring Alec Baldwin and Fred Ward, it garnered attention for Jennifer Jason-Leigh’s performance. Also in 1990, Armitage co-wrote cop actioner “Last of the Finest.”

He was Emmy-nominated for co-writing the 1996 TV movie “The Late Shift,” the story of the rivalry between David Letterman and Jay Leno over who would succeed Johnny Carson.

Armitage next directed the well-received comedy “Grosse Pointe Blank,” starring Dan Aykroyd, John Cusack and Minnie Driver in the story of a professional assassin who is sent to the suburb where his high school reunion is taking place.

“With ‘Grosse Pointe Blank’ I shot three movies simultaneously. We shot the script as written, we shot a mildly understated version, and we shot a completely over-the-top version, which usually was what was used. We cast that movie — and I’ve cast most movies — by having the actors come in and read, then throwing the script out and saying: “Okay, let’s improvise.” That’s what I was comfortable with. I say to the actors: “You are creating the character. This is written, these are the parameters, this is the outline. Now you take this, make it your own, and bring me, bring me, bring me,” Armitage told Film Comment.

His final credit was the 2004 crime pic “The Big Bounce,” starring Owen Wilson and Morgan Freeman in a story co-written by Elmore Leonard.

He was a longtime member of the WGA, DGA and the Academy.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon, son Brent, a writer-producer, and grandchildren Caroline and Nick.

What Time Do NAACP Image Awards Begin? Where To Watch On TV And Stream

The 56th NAACP Image Awards, an annual celebration celebrating Black excellence in entertainment, sports, media and pop culture will take place Saturday night in Los Angeles.

This year’s celebration will honor various individuals with special honors and name the winners in several top categories. Per the NAACP, the purpose of the annual celebration is to “continue a tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to that purpose.”

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Excellence.” This year’s live telecast is being hosted by comedy star Deon Cole.

The nominees for the 56th NAACP Image Awards’ Entertainer of the Year honor are Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe. The film adaptation of playwright August Wilson’s legendary play The Piano Lesson leads the Motion Picture nominations with 14 nods, while the limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist leads the television category with nine nominations.

GloRilla leads all music nominees with six nods. Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and fellow actor Palmer (Password, One of Them Days) lead the individual nominees with four nominations each.

“We look forward to celebrating the brilliance of Black talent and creativity whose stories shape culture, ignite change, and inspire generations,” NAACP CEO and President Derrick Johnson said in a press release announcing this year’s nominees. “Through film, music, literature, and more, their voices weave a rich tapestry that honors our heritage, celebrates our identity, and proves that storytelling is a powerful force for driving true progress.”

The 56th NAACP Image Awards will air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in LA beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBS on broadcast television and BET and BET HER on cable. The ceremony will also stream live on Paramount+, Philo and FUBO. Each of the streaming services require a subscription.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris will be honored with the NAACP Chairman’s Award, while comedy icon Dave Chappelle will receive the organization’s President’s Award.

The legendary Wayans Family — Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. — will also be honored for their contributions to entertainment as inductees to the NAACP Hall of Fame. Jotaka Eaddy will also be honored with the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award.

Some of the winners for the 56th NAACP Images Awards were previously announced and are listed with the nominees competing at Saturday night’s ceremony below.

Outstanding Social Media Personality of the Year

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Luther: Never Too Much (Sony Music Entertainment/Sony Music Publishing/CNN Films)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture

Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz “Jackie Robinson” (Exhibit Treal Studios)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson (Netflix)

Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture

Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)

Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)

Samuel L. Jackson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)

Taraji P. Henson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

Outstanding Original Score for Television/Motion Picture

Star Wars: The Acolyte (Original Soundtrack) (Walt Disney Records)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)

Outstanding Performance By A Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie Or Limited-Series)

Leah Sava Jeffries — Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Joy Reid — The Reidout (MSNBC)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Cree Summer — Rugrats (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction /Documentary

The Prince of Death Row Records (YouTube TV)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Doechii (Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)

Outstanding Male Artist

Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Female Artist

Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)

“Hmmm” — Chris Brown feat. Davido (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

“Alright” — Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

“Alter Ego (ALTERnate Version)” — Doechii, JT (Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)

“Boy Bye” — Chlöe Bailey (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)

“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

“Yeah Glo!” — GloRilla (Collective Music Group/Interscope Records)

The Book of Clarence (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Geneva Club under exclusive license to Roc Nation Records, LLC)

“Working for Me” — Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)

“16 CARRIAGES” — Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)

“Residuals” — Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

Adam Blackstone & Fantasia — “Summertime” (BASSic Black Entertainment Records/Anderson Music Group/EMPIRE)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)

Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz — “Piece of My Heart” (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary, or Special

Tina Mabry — The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can Eat (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)

One of Us Knows: A Thriller — Alyssa Cole (William Morrow – HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction

Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest — Fawn Weaver (Melcher Media Inc.)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography

Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America — JoyAnn Reid (Mariner Books – HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair — Tomesha Faxio (Clarkson Potter – Crown Publishing Group)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets — Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown and Company)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book — Taraji P. Henson (Author), Paul Kellam (Illustrator) (Zonderkidz – HarperCollins)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York — Samarra St. Hilaire (Samarra St. Hilaire)

We Don’t Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling (ABF Creative & Indian Meadows Productions)

We Don’t Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling (ABF Creative & Indian Meadows Productions)

What Now? with Trevor Noah (Spotify Studios in partnership with Day Zero Productions and Fulwell 73)

Tragedy as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Lynne Marie Stewart dies age 78 – Manchester Evening News

Actress Lynne Marie Stewart has died, her friend has confirmed. The star, best known for her roles in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, was 78.

Friend and fellow actress Cassandra Peterson said in an emotional statement on social media: “My heart is breaking upon hearing the news of my dear friend @lynnestewart78 Lynne Stewart’s passing. One of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived. The iconic Miss Yvonne of Pee-wee’s Playhouse: She’ll always be ‘the most beautiful woman in Puppetland’.”

Stewart had appeared in a variety of Pee-Wee Herman shows as Miss Yvonne. She first played the part in the 1981 stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show. She continued the role during the CBS show Pee-wee’s Playhouse, before also featuring in the 2010 stage revival and Broadway production.

In It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Stewart played the part of Bonnie Kelly, who was the mum of Charlie Day’s character Charlie Kelly.

Other titles on her resume included guest appearance on Disney shows such as Austin & Ally and Good Luck Charlie in 2011.

After the news of her death was released, fans paid tribute to the actress online, The Mirror reports. Emmy winner Danny Deraney was among those sharing heartfelt messages, writing: “Just got word that the most beautiful girl in puppet land has passed away. Millions of us loved Lynne Marie Stewart who played Miss Yvonne on Pee Wee’s Playhouse. Not only a groundlings legend, but truly an actor that could do anything.”

Another fan penned: “bonnie kelly was always my favorite secondary character. Every scene she was in would never fail to crack me up. There’s so many scenes to pick from but this is one of my favorites. Thank you for the laughs lynne marie stewart <3.” And a third wrote: “man this one hurts 🙁 rip lynne marie stewart.”

Jonathan Stark, another friend of Stewart’s, shared his own tribute on Facebook. His heartbreaking post read: “I lost a friend today. And the world lost a great soul. Lynne Marie Stewart is gone. Miss Yvonne, ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in Puppetland.’ It seemed impossible to me as I felt that her goodness and light would live forever. I’m beyond heartbroken.”

Ben Affleck’s Daughter Reportedly Cut Ties With Jennifer Lopez

According to reports, Violet, who was very close to the singer, felt “used as a pawn” during Lopez’s split from her father.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have since settled their divorce after being married for two years, with the pair ending their marriage amicably.

Lopez was often seen with Affleck’s kids during their three-year marriage, creating a vision of a seamlessly blended family.

The singer shares 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, while Affleck co-parents his three kids, Violet Anne, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 12, with former wife, Jennifer Garner.

However, despite ending their marriage amicably, the “Jenny on the Block” star seems to have lost the close connection she once had with one of Affleck’s children.

According to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail, Violet reportedly felt like she was “used as a pawn” amid her father’s split from Lopez.

The insider noted that at first, Garner “supported her daughter getting close to the singer because she always puts her children first.”

However, as Affleck and Lopez’s marriage unraveled, Violet’s continued closeness with the singer and decision to wear her clothes raised eyebrows within the family.

Adding to the speculation, Lopez’s younger sister, Lynda Lopez, was spotted visiting Violet at college, which some found unusual.

“Jen even let this slide because she wants Violet to be happy and respects that, as an adult, she can choose who to spend her time with even if Jen does not necessarily agree,” the source added.

The insider also revealed that Violet’s relationship with her former stepmother shifted after witnessing how deeply the split affected her father.

“Over time, Violet started to see how upset her father was that their split was at the center of everything,” the source explained.

They added that while “Ben never said a word about JLo,” his eldest daughter, Violet, is “highly intelligent and will ultimately always be a daddy’s girl. This is why you do not see her on public outings with JLo anymore.”

Last month, Lopez filed documents with the Los Angeles Superior Court confirming that the former couple had reached a settlement through mediation in September, just weeks after she initially filed for divorce.

Their agreement reportedly addresses ownership of their $61 million Los Angeles estate, with both parties opting to forgo spousal support. Additionally, they will retain earnings from their respective business ventures and projects.

The settlement was reached through high-profile attorney Laura Wasser, known for representing celebrities in major divorces. Under the terms, each will keep assets acquired individually during the marriage.

Court documents also reveal that Lopez has officially dropped Affleck from her last name.

Fans once saw Affleck and Lopez’s romance as a fairytale comeback after the pair rekindled their relationship in 2021, shortly after the singer ended her engagement to former MLB star Alex Rodriguez.

They then made their union official by tying the knot in an intimate ceremony at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022.

A month later, they celebrated again with a lavish, star-studded wedding at Affleck’s Georgia estate on August 20.

Exactly two years later, on August 20, 2024, Lopez filed for divorce, listing their official separation date as April 26 of that year.

Since her divorce, Lopez has been focusing on herself and is embracing her independence. A source close to the singer revealed that she is prioritizing her well-being and personal happiness.

“J.Lo is starting to feel like herself again. She’s making sure she is happy and that she’s being a good mom,” an insider shared with Us Weekly.

They also noted that immersing herself in work has been a “good distraction” for Lopez.

The singer is currently dedicated to her role in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” a movie musical adaptation that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival last month.

Speaking at the event, she reflected on her lifelong dream of starring in a musical.

Lopez said, “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. The reason I even wanted to be in this business is because my mom would sit me in front of the TV, and [West Side Story] would come on once a year.”

She added, “I remember I was mesmerized and was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ That was always my goal. This is the first time I actually got to do it. This man made my dream come true!”

What Time Does ‘1923’ Season 2 Come Out? See The Full Release Schedule

After delays caused by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the second season of 1923 — Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel — finally premieres tonight. Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, and Brandon Sklenar are all back for the next installment, which picks up after the action-packed Season 1 cliffhanger.

Set a century before Kevin Costner’s era in Yellowstone and 40 years after the prequel series 1883, the show follows the next two generations of Duttons as they navigate new challenges during Montana’s Great Depression, including lawlessness, prohibition, and cattle theft. Ford and Mirren star as Jake and Cara Dutton, who are ancestors of Costner’s John Dutton III. (Jacob is also the brother to Tim McGraw’s James Dutton from 1883.)

In the second season, the Duttons find themselves on the brink of war, facing the added challenge of a brutal winter. “A cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob and Cara back at Dutton ranch. With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana,” the synopsis for Season 2 reads. “Meanwhile, Alexandra sets off on her own harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love.”

Season two’s returning cast also includes Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, Sebastian Roché, and Timothy Dalton. Joining them this season are newcomers Jennifer Carpenter, Augustus Prew, Janet Montgomery, and more.

Carpenter will play Mamie Fossett, a U.S. deputy marshall who serves warrants and makes arrests with confidence ahead of her time. Prew will portray Paul, a bookish and well-dressed young British man on a passenger ship. Finally, Montgomery appear as Hillary, a thoughtful woman who longs for justice, according to Deadline.

Keep reading to learn everything about 1923 Season 2, including the start time, episode count, release schedule, and more.

Season 2 of 1923 premieres Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at 12 a.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT on Paramount+.

Season 2 of 1923 will consist of eight episodes, which is the same amount as the first season. The prequel series was renewed for its second and final season in February 2023.

After the premiere of Episode 1 on Feb. 23, new episodes of 1923 Season 2 will stream weekly on Paramount+, leading up to the series finale on April 13. See the full release schedule below.

1923 is exclusively available to stream on Paramount+. The streaming service offers two plans: Essential and with SHOWTIME. The essential plan is $7.99 per month with limited ads, while Paramount with SHOWTIME is $12.99 per month.

George Armitage, ‘Grosse Pointe Blank’ and ‘Miami Blues’ Director, Dies at 83

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Host Star-Studded ‘SNL50’ Q&A: Ryan Reynolds Teases Legal Trouble, Adam Driver Scowls and Cher Reigns 5 days ago

George Armitage, who directed, wrote and produced films including “Grosse Pointe Blank” and “Miami Blues,” died Saturday in Playa del Rey, his son Brent confirmed. He was 83.

Raised in Hartford, Conn., Armitage started out in the 20th Century Fox mailroom before becoming associate producer on the long-running series “Peyton Place” in the 1960s. He met Roger Corman on the Fox lot and moved into feature films, writing the Corman-produced 1970 comedy “Gas! – Or – It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.”

He continued making films for Corman and his brother Gene Corman, moving into directing with “Private Duty Nurses.” The 1972 Blaxploitation film “Hit Man,” which he directed and co-wrote, starred Pam Grier and Bernie Casey. Next up was “Vigilante Force,” with Kris Kristofferson and Jan-Michael Vincent, and the TV movie “Hot Rod.”

“Kaplan, Demme, Dante, Arkush and me… We were making little 45 RPM rock ‘n’ roll movies. Same subject matter as early rock songs and same lack of respect until… This is what made us different even from Roger, who was half a generation ahead, a liberal but no rocker,” he told Film Comment in 2015.

Armitage’s next film as director, the 1990 comedic thriller “Miami Blues,” was based on a Charles Willeford novel. Starring Alec Baldwin and Fred Ward, it garnered attention for Jennifer Jason-Leigh’s performance. Also in 1990, Armitage co-wrote cop actioner “Last of the Finest.”

He was Emmy-nominated for co-writing the 1996 TV movie “The Late Shift,” the story of the rivalry between David Letterman and Jay Leno over who would succeed Johnny Carson.

Armitage next directed the well-received comedy “Grosse Pointe Blank,” starring Dan Aykroyd, John Cusack and Minnie Driver in the story of a professional assassin who is sent to the suburb where his high school reunion is taking place.

“With ‘Grosse Pointe Blank’ I shot three movies simultaneously. We shot the script as written, we shot a mildly understated version, and we shot a completely over-the-top version, which usually was what was used. We cast that movie — and I’ve cast most movies — by having the actors come in and read, then throwing the script out and saying: “Okay, let’s improvise.” That’s what I was comfortable with. I say to the actors: “You are creating the character. This is written, these are the parameters, this is the outline. Now you take this, make it your own, and bring me, bring me, bring me,” Armitage told Film Comment.

His final credit was the 2004 crime pic “The Big Bounce,” starring Owen Wilson and Morgan Freeman in a story co-written by Elmore Leonard.

He was a longtime member of the WGA, DGA and the Academy.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon, son Brent, a writer-producer, and grandchildren Caroline and Nick.

The Apprentice director dropped by management after allegedly groping A-list star

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi has reportedly been dropped by his American representatives after allegedly groping an A-list star.

The 44-year-old filmmaker has parted ways with his agents at talent agency CAA and his management at Entertainment360.

According to Deadline, the incident occurred at a party at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont following the Golden Globes. Sources claimed Abbasi “aggressively groped an A-list, CAA-repped actor” and was let go by his representatives in the aftermath.

The Independent has approached CAA, Entertainment360 and Abbasi’s UK representatives for comment.

Controversial Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice had been nominated for two awards at the Golden Globes, with Sebastian Stan up for Best Actor and Jeremy Strong competing for Best Supporting Actor.

Stan plays Trump, while Succession star Strong plays his mentor, the lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn. Both men are also nominated in the same categories at next month’s Academy Awards.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May last year but subsequently struggled to find a distributor in the United States as Donald Trump’s attorneys sent out a cease and desist letter to producers seeking to prevent it from being released.

In a statement to The Independent at the time, Trump campaign chief spokesperson Steven Cheung said: “We filed a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers.”

He added: “This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked. As with the illegal Biden trials, this is election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House and beat their candidate of choice because nothing they have done has worked. This ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day.”

In a three-star review of The Apprentice for The Independent, critic Clarisse Loughrey wrote: “The Apprentice’s most effective takedown of Donald Trump is how unremarkable it makes him seem. This may render Ali Abbasi’s portrait of the early days of the former president and current presidential candidate a little monotonous, but it makes its point succinctly.”

She added: “A direct line is drawn from Richard Nixon, with his ‘I’m not a crook’ address, to attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), and on to Trump (Sebastian Stan), who he [Cohn] both represented and mentored in the early Seventies.”

‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse,’ ‘It’s Always Sunny’ star Lynne Marie Stewart…

Lynne Marie Stewart, the comic actress famed for “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” has died at the age of 78.

The sad news was announced Friday by Stewart’s longtime friend, actress Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson, in a tribute shared to Instagram.

A cause of death has not been disclosed.

“My heart is breaking upon hearing the news of my dear friend Lynne Stewart’s passing,” Peterson wrote. “One of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived. The iconic Miss Yvonne of ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse.’ She’ll always be ‘the most beautiful woman in Puppetland.’”

Stewart was born in Los Angeles and got her start in comedy as a member of The Groundlings, the famed improv and sketch comedy troupe based in Hollywood.

It was there that she met “Pee-wee” creator Paul Reubens, and the two struck up a friendship.

Stewart has guest roles on iconic sitcoms such as “M*A*S*H*,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Golden Girls,” and “Night Court.”

She also appeared in the iconic 1973 flick, “American Graffiti.”

In 1981, she played Miss Yvonne in “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” and later reprised the same role in the CBS children’s spin-off “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which aired from 1986 to 1990.

She appeared in several other titles with Reubens, including “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” in 1985 and “Big Top Pee-wee” in 1988.

For 18 years, from 2005 through to 2023, Stewart starred in the cult comedy show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” playing Charlie Kenny’s mother, Bonnie.

Following news of Stewart’s death, several other stars took to social media to pay tribute, including Maya Rudolph, who shared a snap of the actress as Miss Yvonne from “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”