Leon Ichaso Dies: Director Of ‘El Cantante,’ ‘El Paraiso’ & Dozens Of TV Series Was 74

"Welcome to Plathville" star Olivia Plath felt an unfortunate relatability with the new four-part docuseries "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets." "That was my life up until a few years ago," Plath revealed in an Instagram story post on Saturday. "A little triggering to watch, but also there is solidarity in having other people speak up and say, ‘Yep, you're not crazy, happened to me too.

Former Warner Bros. President of Sales and Distribution, D. Barry Reardon, passed at the age of 92 on May 27 in Vero Beach, Florida.

As the US military conducted air defence drills, the sound of a huge explosion was heard in the area surrounding Washington DC, according to reports.

Augusto Góngora, the journalist, author and television host documented in the Sundance winning film The Eternal Memory, is being mourned in his native Chile after his death at 71.

Sophia Scorziello editor Peter Meyer, beloved entertainment industry manager, died on May 14 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. after a five-year battle with sarcoma, his sister Patty K. Meyer shared. He wast 68. Meyer was an agent and manager to numerous Hollywood industry professionals. Since 1990, he represented clients under his agency, Meyer Management. “He was known and beloved by hundreds of industry pros,” Patty said. Most recently, he represented rights holders and producers on Denzel Washington’s “The Equalizer.” Meyer attended Yale University where he wrote his senior thesis, “MGM and the Studio System in the Age of Mass Production.” The thesis was later published as an award-winning book and was also printed in Variety.

Amazon has set the main cast for Cruel Intentions, its series adaptation of the 1999 cult film, sources tell Deadline. Sarah Catherine Hook (First Kill), Zac Burgess (Totally Completely Fine) and Myra Molloy (He’s All That) are set as leads, along with fellow series regulars Khobe Clarke (Yellowjackets), Brooke Lena Johnson (You), Sara Silva (The Boys), Sean Patrick Thomas (Cruel Intentions film) and John Harlan Kim (The Last Thing He Told Me).

Showtime has released a teaser trailer for Fellow Travelers, an eight-episode limited series based on Thomas Mallon’s novel, starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey. Jelani Alladin (The Walking Dead: World Beyond), Allison Williams (Get Out) and Noah J. Ricketts (American Gods) round out the main cast. Co-produced by Fremantle and Showtime, the network also revealed Fellow Travelers will premiere on Paramount+ With Showtime this fall. 

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor

Foo Fighters headlined the opening night of the new Washington D.C. venue The Atlantis and performed rare live track ‘New Way Home’ last night (May 30).The Atlantis – a new 450-person capacity replica venue of the original 9:30 Club – opened yesterday with the Foos taking the stage.According to Consequence of Sound, the band’s set began with frontman Dave Grohl reuniting with Pete Stahl, his old bandmate in the D.C.

William Earl Leaders in the TV industry will convene at Variety’s in-person TV FYC Fest on June 7 in Los Angeles, featuring Christina Applegate, Kerry Washington, Elle Fanning and more. Fanning (“The Great”), Janelle James (“Abbott Elementary”), Rodriguez (“Not Dead Yet”) and Washington (“UnPrisoned”) will participate in a roundtable celebrating Disney’s TV female comedy standouts, moderated by Angelique Jackson, Senior Entertainment Writer, Variety. Jean Smart will present Christina Applegate with the 2023 Variety TV Fest Legacy award, recognizing her storytelling achievements as an actor and producer.

Angelique Jackson Grammy winner Erykah Badu has joined the all-star ensemble for Netflix’s feature adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson.” The singer-songwriter (“What Men Want”) will make a cameo, delivering “her soulful sound and eclectic style” with musical performances in the film,” starring Oscar winner Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington. Jackson and Washington reprise their roles from the highly successful Broadway revival of Wilson’s play, which recently received two Tony Award nominations (best revival of a play and best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play for Jackson).

Robin Wagner, one of Broadway’s most prolific and celebrated set designers with three Tony Awards and a roster of major credits including Angels in America, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, The Producers and Jelly’s Last Jam, died Monday in his sleep in New York City. He was 89.

Nicholas Gray, whose Gray’s Papaya hot dog shop was a Manhattan fixture for 50 years, has died at 86.

Gary Kent, an actor, director and, most notably, stuntman whose career is thought to have been an inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, died Thursday at an assisted care facility in Austin, Texas. He was 89.

Rebel Wilson is set to make her directorial debut with an adaptation of the Australian musical of “The Deb” for Unigram, AI Film and Access Entertainment.“The Deb,” according to the official synopsis, tells the story of “lovable farm-girl and high school outcast Taylah Simpkins, who is certain the upcoming Debutante Ball, ‘the Deb,’ is her one chance to redefine herself. When her cynical city cousin Maeve is exiled to Taylah’s drought-stricken town Dunburn, she thinks the ball is a ‘heteronormative shit-show’ and immediately disrupts the status quo.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on the defensive.

pic.twitter.com/L2IJHCmO8eIchaso directed multiple episodes of “Miami Vice” and “Crime Story” in the ’80s, and most recently the Alice Braga USA series “Queen of the South.” He also helmed episodes of “The Cleaner, “Prodigal Son,” “Medium,” and “Criminal Minds.” “Queen of the South Writer” Jorge A. Reyes also shared a tribute to Icharo, saying, “We lost a real one today: Leon Ichaso. Cuban… A true artist & caballero.

Charna Flam Leon Ichaso, who directed the Héctor Lavoe biopic “El Cantante,” “Bitter Sugar” and several major TV series, died of a heart attack Monday morning in Los Angeles. He was 74. Ichaso’s sister, Mari Rodriquez Ichaso confirmed the news, writing on Twitter: “My beloved brother Leon Ichaso died today of an unexpected ‘massive heart attack’ in Los Angeles. Brilliant, full of life, young in spirit and illusions. A wonderful filmmaker and a unique being – and everyone who has met him knows it. I am destroyed. God help us!”Mi adorado hermano Leon Ichaso murió hoy de un inesperado “massive heart attack” en Los Ángeles. Brillante, lleno de vida, juventud de espíritu e ilusiones. Cineasta maravilloso y un ser único -y todos los que lo han conocido lo saben. Yo estoy destrozada. Dios nos ayude! pic.twitter.com/GdEcM7cMnE Mari Rodriquez Ichaso eulogized her brother in her initial announcement, recognizing all of the productions Leon has worked on throughout his prolific career. “Leon Ichaso – RIP – Pioneer of telling the history of immigrants in his movies! A brilliant director and writer. Loved Life. My beloved brother! ‘El Cantante,’ ‘Piñero,’ ‘El Super,’ ‘Sugar Hill,’ ‘Paraíso,’ ‘Bitter Sugar,’ ‘East of Eden,’ ‘Miami Vice,’ ‘Queen of the South.’ Damn sudden heart attack!”

Jim Brown, the NFL Hall of Famer and Civil Rights activist who turned to acting and appeared in films and TV shows ranging from The Dirty Dozen and I Spy to Draft Day, Mars Attacks! and The A-Team, died Thursday night in Los Angeles. His wife, Monique Brown, confirmed on his Instagram, saying he died peacefully, but did not provide a cause.

Following claims from a spokesperson that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” Tuesday night in New York City while being followed by “highly aggressive paparazzi,” a cab driver who picked up the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is offering his own insight, indicating the incident wasn’t as intense as it’s being made out to be.