Snakes on a Plane director dies
David R Ellis, the actor-turned-director of Snakes on a Plane, died on Monday at age 60. His body was found in a hotel room in South Africa, but no cause of death has been released. Ellis was in Johannesburg working on Kite, which would have starred the Snakes on a Plane actor Samuel L Jackson. "So talented, so kind, such a good friend. He'll be missed. Gone too soon!" Jackson tweeted. Ellis also helmed Shark Night 3D, The Final Destination and Cellular. - AP
MacFarlane to announce Oscar nods
For the first time in 40 years, the host of the Oscars will help announce the nominations. Seth MacFarlane will join Emma Stone tomorrow to reveal the nominees for the 85th Academy Awards. Charlton Heston was the only other host to announce nominees. The Oscars will be presented on February 24. - AP
Winslet's husband fights tabloid
Kate Winslet's new husband has gone to court in London to stop a tabloid from publishing photos of him at what he called an "outrageous" costume party. Ned Rocknroll is asking to bar The Sun from running the pictures, pending the outcome of his invasion of privacy claim. Rocknroll argues there is no public interest in running the photos that were taken in 2010 when he was "a relative nobody". The content of the images was not disclosed. - AP
Baftas announces Rising Stars
The British Academy Film and Television Awards have named the 23-year-old British actress Juno Temple one of five young stars shortlisted for the Bafta Rising Star award. Others in the running are the Life of Pi star Suraj Sharma, the Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, the British-born Andrea Riseborough and the US star Elizabeth Olsen - the younger sister of the Olsen twins. The Baftas will be presented on February 10. - AP
Former Sopranos actor dies at 82
Tony Lip, known for playing a mob kingpin in The Sopranos, died on Friday at age 82, announced his family, who told The Record of New Jersey that Lip had been in failing health in recent years. While best known for playing the mobster Carmine Lupertazzi in The Sopranos, Lip also starred in The Godfather, Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco. - AP
Bowie readies first album in 10 years
David Bowie is celebrating his birthday by releasing new music. The English singer announced on Tuesday, his 66th birthday, that he has released his first song in 10 years titled Where Are We Now? A new album, The Next Day, will be out in March. The single was released on iTunes and in 119 countries. It was produced by his long-time collaborator Tony Visconti. Bowie's last album was 2003's Reality. - AP
