Howard Hesseman, Prolific Character Actor and Star of ‘WKRP in Cincinnati,’ Dies at 81

he Los Angeles Times in 1991. He was also a stand-in for  Robert DeNiro in “Taxi Driver” and Frank Sinatra in “The First Deadly Sin.”He had a small part in the first “Rocky” movie and formed a lifelong friendship with Sylvester Stallone.In 1991, he wrote the screenplay for the movie “29th Street,” about an Italian-American who wins more than $6 million in the first New York State Lottery, which he claimed was autobiographical.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaBrenda Deiss, a former NASA secretary who became an unexpected movie star with her role as a tough-talking matriarch in “Red Rocket,” died Monday in Clear Lake, Tex., from complications following a stroke she suffered in January. She was 60. A spokesperson for “Red Rocket” confirmed Deiss’ death to Variety.Deiss came to acting late in life.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterMelissa Joan Hart will star in multiple new “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” holiday movies, as well as the made-for-TV hoarder film “Dirty Little Secret” at Lifetime, as part of a new multi-year deal with the cable channel, Variety has learned exclusively.Under her new pact, Hart will star in, direct and executive produce several movies for Lifetime. For the “Ripped From The Headlines” movie “Dirty Little Secret” (working title), which is set to debut this summer, Hart stars as a mother hiding her extreme hoarding tendencies that are destroying her family.Additionally, Hart will star in and executive produce new movies for Lifetime’s 2022 and 2023 Christmas slates, having previously starred in six holiday films for the cabler, including “Mistletoe in Montana,” “Dear Christmas” and “A Very Merry Toy Store.” Hart has previously executive produced eight Lifetime films with her production company Hartbreak Films, including the recent “Christmas in Tune” starring Reba McEntire.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentAmber Heard (“Aquaman”) and Spain’s Eduardo Noriega (“Vantage Point”) will star in 19th century-set supernatural thriller “In the Fire.”The film, which will shoot in Italy, is directed by Conor Allyn (“No Man’s Land”).Principal photography is set to start Feb. 21 in Italy’s Apulia region.

My 600lb Life's first-ever transgender star Destinee Lashaee has died at the age of 30.The death of the reality star was confirmed by her brother Wayne Compton on Facebook as he shared several photos of his sibling before penning a heartbreaking tribute. "I accept you for who you are, I accept every flaw that come with you, I’m sorry you felt alone, I’m sorry you felt you had nobody else to turn too," he began the post.

J. Kim Murphy Julian Fowles, a film and television producer who worked at KCET and Esparza/Katz Productions, died in a hospital in Miami, Flor. on Saturday while recovering from a stroke.

Former Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes received a raft of support after opening up to her followers on Instagram.

Carmel Dagan Staff WriterItalian actress Monica Vitti, best known internationally for starring in Michelangelo Antonioni’s breakthrough cinematic trilogy “L’Avventura,” “La Notte” and “L’Eclisse,” as well as in the director’s “Red Desert,” has died. She was 90.

Tim Reid Howard Hesseman, the veteran actor known for starring in sitcoms “WKRP in Cincinnati” and “Head of the Class,” died Jan. 29 at the age of 81. The actor is remembered here by his friend and fellow “WKRP” star, actor-director Tim Reid.I first met Howard Hesseman at a cast meeting before we shot the pilot for “WKRP in Cincinnati.” The first thing I had to do was admit that I’d lifted something from him years back.Back in the early 1970s, I was one-half of a Black and white comedy duo with Tom Dreesen.

Sasha Urban editorCarleton Carpenter, who performed on stage and screen alongside stars such as Debbie Reynolds in “Two Weeks With Love” and Judy Garland in “Summer Stock,” died Monday in Warwick, N.Y., according to his reps. He was 95.Carpenter was a multi-hyphenate artist whose career spanned eight decades.

that he died at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications from his colon surgery last summer.Hesseman was beloved for his role as Dr. Johnny Fever on the CBS sitcom, which revolved around the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio.

told CNN in an email.“He was a groundbreaking talent and lifelong friend and longtime client whose kindness and generosity was equaled by his influence and admiration to generations of actors and improvisational comedy throughout the world,” Kass said.Hesseman was best known for his starring role on the CBS sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” from 1978 to 1982. The show had modest ratings and only lasted four seasons but became beloved in its syndication.

Howard Hesseman was an actor known for his starring role as Dr. Johnny Fever on the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati.”This is a breaking news story. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

Howard Hesseman, best known for playing Johnny Fever, the radio DJ in the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" has died at age 81.  Hesseman died Saturday in Los Angeles due to complications from colon surgery, his manager Robbie Kass said Sunday. Hesseman, who had himself been a radio DJ in the '60s, earned two Emmy nominations for playing Johnny Fever on CBS’ "WKRP in Cincinnati," which ran for four seasons from 1978-1982.The role made Hesseman a counterculture icon at a time when few hippie characters made it onto network television.

Howard Hesseman, part of the ensemble that made WKRP in Cincinnati a television staple, died Saturday at Cedar Sinai hospital in Los Angeles from compilations following colon surgery.