Dan Frazer, Capt. McNeil on 'Kojak,' dies in NYC

Veteran film and television actor Dan Frazer, best known for his role as Captain Frank McNeil on the 1970s television series Kojak, has died in New York. He was 90. Frazer’s daughter, Susanna Frazer, said Sunday her father died of cardiac arrest Dec. 16 at his home in Manhattan. She described him as a “very truthful, naturalistic actor.” Frazer started playing character roles in various television series and films in the 1950s. His films include Cleopatra Jones, Take the Money and Run, Gideon’s Trumpet, and Deconstructing Harry. Besides Kojak, Frazer’s television appearances include Car 54, Where Are You, Route 66, Barney Miller, and Law & Order. He was a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and an adviser to The Workshop Theatre Co.



Rapper Slim Dunkin Fatally Shot
rapper Slim Dunking was fatally shot while he was recording in his Atlanta studio. According to the declarations of the Atlanta police, the rapper whose real name was Mario Hamilton got into an argument with another individual on Friday and he was later on shot in his chest. The identity of the shooter is unknown, according to the declaration of police major Keith Meadows. The Atlanta police are undergoing an investigation inside the building of the music studio. 20 people have been interviewed so far because they were in the building at the time of the shooting which was set around 5:30 p.m. However, the investigation is difficult because each witness was in a different area of the building. The handgun wasn’t found either. Meadows told reporters that the police are trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together because witnesses presented different declarations. The officers are doing their best to identify the information that could clarify the death of Slim Dunkin. The only scenario they’ve come up with is that the rapper was preparing for a photo shoot when he got involved into a verbal altercation with the suspect. The latter produced a gun and shot the rapper in his chest. Slim Dunkin was brought to the hospital but it was too late to be saved. Dunkin was only 20 years old and he was trying to become a rapper. He collaborated on various occasions with the rapper Waka Flocka Flame and was preparing for many other musical projects in 2012.

Giants LB Boley probed for child abuse

New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley is being investigated for abusing his 5-year-old son — a claim his lawyer shot down as nothing more than a money grab. Authorities in Gadsden, Ala., are deciding whether to charge Boley, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound player who was once arrested on a domestic-violence charge, for allegedly abusing the child in early June. The district attorney’s office in Etowah County, Ala., is expected to ask a grand jury to consider the evidence in the abuse case and decide whether to launch criminal charges against Boley. But attorney Randall Kessler pointed out that when the child’s mother had a chance in court to restrict Boley’s access to the boy, all she asked for was more child support. “We went to trial in October, four months after the allegation, and all that was presented was her request for a lot more child support,” he told The Post. “A lot more.” The abuse allegation and the request to “quintuple” the amount of child support came amid a tense year-long custody battle, Kessler said. Following the claim, another of Boley’s baby mamas asked a judge in Georgia to require supervised visits when the player sees their 2-year-old child.  The judge hasn’t ruled on the request. The woman, who lives in Georgia, hasn’t lodged any abuse claims. Boley was arrested in May 2008 in Georgia for allegedly beating his now-ex-wife, Chantelle. Charges were later dropped.

Kobe Bryant's Wife Files for Divorce

The Los Angeles Lakers star's wife of 10 years, Vanessa, filed for divorce Friday in Orange County, California. Vanessa cites irreconcilable differences, and is seeking spousal support and shared custody of their two daughters, Natalia Diamante Bryant, 8, and Gianna Maria-Onore, 5. Bryant, 33, and his soon-to-be ex-wife, 29, married in April 2001, when Bryant was just 22 and she was 18. The couple released a statement saying, "The couple say "We ask that in the interest of our young children and in light of the upcoming holiday season, the public respect our privacy during this most difficult time." There are reports the Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant cheated multiple times with multiple partners on his wife of more than a decade. Vanessa Bryant knew that her husband had been involved with "multiple women" over the years, but a recent affair pushed her over the edge.  In 2003, they weathered a public scandal after Bryant was charged with allegedly raping a 19-year-old Colorado resort employee. The charges were eventually dropped after the accuser refused to testify. The case settled out of court.

Deion Sanders getting a divorce
Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders said Saturday he and his wife of 12 years, Pilar Biggers-Sanders, were getting a divorce. In a statement the eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback said, "Pilar and I have decided to end our marriage and move on to the next phase of our individual lives with mutual respect. "We are friends and our top priority has and will continue to be the well-being of our children. "We arrived at this decision prayerfully and carefully in order to be able to pursue what is in both of our best personal interests." The pair were married in 1999 and have three children. It was the second marriage for Sanders, who won the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. The 44-year-old was previously married to Carolyn Chambers, and they have two children together.
 

J.R. Martinez and girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones expecting first child

Martinez has announced that he and girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones are expecting their first child together. "We found out just last week it's a girl and we are over the moon," the 28-year-old Martinez said. "Diana has a little baby bump now and it's the cutest thing ever. With the holidays coming up, this is the biggest and best gift we could get." Gonzalez-Jones and Martinez met in 2008 when he landed a role on "All My Children," while she was working as an assistant to the executive producer. They'll welcome the baby in the spring. "2011 has been full of a lot of surprises and opportunities and ultimately, a lot of blessings," says Martinez. "Diana and I were just asking ourselves, 'How is 2012 going to top 2011?'

Barry Bonds avoids jail in perjury case

Barry Bonds avoided prison and will remain free after a federal judge in San Francisco sentenced Bonds, convicted of obstruction of justice last April, to 30 days' house arrest, two years of probation, 250 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine. Since Bonds is appealing the charges, a process that could take a year, the judge, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, delayed imposing the sentence. Matthew Parrella, assistant U.S. attorney, asked that Bonds receive 15 months in prison for dodging questions about steroids during his 2003 grand jury testimony. When Illston concluded that Bonds' convicted behavior was "aberrant," Parrella argued, "The defendant basically lived a double life for decades. He had mistresses throughout his marriages." Parrella called the sentence a "slap on the wrist" and the fine "almost laughable," given the money that Bonds made in his baseball career.


Britney Spears Is Engaged
Britney Spears and Jason Trawick certainly had a lot to celebrate this month. Not only did the pop star and her beau celebrate their 30th and 40th birthdays, respectively, now they're now engaged! In fact, the pop star's longtime love proposed on his birthday Thursday night in Los Angeles. "He surprised her after she gave him his gifts and after they had cake last night," a source says of his proposal with a Neil Lane sparkler. The singer began dating Trawick, her former agent, in 2009. Spears has two sons, Preston, 6, and Jayden, 5, with ex-husband Kevin Federline, whom she divorced in 2006.


Beyonce's Parents Divorce Final
Mathew and Tina Knowles' on again-off again divorce dragged on for two years, but it's now legally final. The final decree of divorce was issued in a Texas court, and according to documents Beyonce's mom refiled on August 30. Tina's first swing at the divorce was in November 2009 ... but the matter was dropped in 2010 when they were both no-shows for court. In the docs, Tina says the marriage was "insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities" ... which "prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation." The papers make no specific mention of Mathew getting slapped with a paternity suit back in 2009 -- but the original divorce filing did come one month after that went down. The turned out to be his.

Alyson Hannigan Is Pregnant

Alyson Hannigan is about to become a mother for the second the time. The former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star and her husband (and fellow "Buffy" alumnus), Alexis Denisof, are expecting their second child, the actress confirmed on Twitter. "Yes, I am pregnant! This time it is NOT a food baby," she Tweeted on Friday, referencing a prior Tweet back in September, where the star shot down pregnancy rumors after she was spotted with a bump by saying she had simply eaten "too much carnival food."

"We are beyond happy!" she added. This will be the second child for Alyson and Alexis, who welcomed daughter Satyana in March 2009.

Did 'Sherlock Holmes,' 'Chipwrecked' disappoint?
The weekend box office has been floundering significantly this holiday season, with last weekend's box office haul one of the lowest in years. This week, the industry was helped by the premieres of three sequels -- "Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows," "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," and "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol." Though better than last week, the Box Office still struggled as "Sherlock" and "Chipwrecked" debuted to softer numbers than studios had estimated or expected.
1     "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"  $40 mil 
2     "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked"  $23.5 mil  
3     "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"      $13 mil   
4     "New Year's Eve"     $7.4 mil
5     "The Sitter"     $4.4 mil
 The White House is releasing this new family portrait of the Obamas on Thursday, deciding it was time for an update – since daughters, Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10, have grown so much since the last official portrait was shot in 2009.


TV NEWS
Once Upon a Time has dipped into the Whedonverse yet again to fill a guest-starring role. Amy Acker, who had roles on both Joss Whedon’s Angel and Dollhouse, will visit ABC’s fantastical freshman drama as a romantic interest for both Grumpy (of the Seven Dwarves) and his surly Storybrooke counterpart, Leroy, in a late winter episode that delves into the grouch’s backstory.


Hugh Laurie on Thursday dropped by Ryan Seacrest’s radio show and gave the host an update on those ongoing House renewal talks. He said it’s “too soon to say” if the show will be back for a ninth season.


Gage Golightly (Ringer) and Sinqua Walls (Friday Night Lights) have landed multi-episode arcs on Season 2 of Teen Wolf.


Zoe Hart’s daddy issues will be moving front and center during the second half of Hart of Dixie‘s rookie season. Acting vet Gary Cole is joining the CW charmer as the superstar surgeon whom Rachel Bilson’s character was raised to believe was her father. Cole, who in recent years has recurred on Desperate Housewives, Entourage and Chuck, is booked to appear in at least two episodes. Zoe’s dad grew distant from her when she was young after learning that he wasn’t her biological father — something Zoe herself only recently discovered (and after pinning her hopes on one day joining his esteemed medical practice). As a result, their reunion is sure to be a bittersweet one.


Auditions for The X Factor‘s second season are officially underway, and you can get in on the action by uploading your best vocal performance at TheXFactorUSA.com between now and Dec. 31.


Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will drop by the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, Dec. 19 to present the Top Ten List.