Phyllis Diller, the housewife turned humorist who aimed some of her sharpest barbs at herself, punctuating her jokes with her trademark cackle, died Monday morning in her Los Angeles home at age 95. “She died peacefully in her sleep and with a smile on her face,” her longtime manager, Milton Suchin, told The Associated Press. Diller, who suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 1999, was found by her son, Perry Diller. The cause of her death has not been released. She was a staple of nightclubs and television from the 1950s — when female comics were rare indeed — until her retirement in 2002. Diller built her stand-up act around the persona of the corner-cutting housewife (“I bury a lot of my ironing in the backyard”) with bizarre looks, a wardrobe to match (by “Omar of Omaha”) and a husband named “Fang.”  She inspired a generation of female comics, including Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres and Whoopi Goldberg, who remembered Diller on Twitter Monday.  “We lost a comedy legend today,” DeGeneres wrote. “Phyllis Diller was the queen of the one-liners. She was a pioneer.” “A true original has died,” Goldberg wrote of Diller. “There was NO One like her, no 1 looked like her sounded like her. A FUNNY FUNNY. Classy&Smart. RIP.” Rivers tweeted that she and her daughter had lunched with Diller last month. “I’m beyond saddened by the death of Phyllis Diller. We were friends,” Rivers wrote. “The only tragedy is that Phyllis Diller was the last from an era that insisted a woman had to look funny in order to be funny.” She didn’t get into comedy until she was nearly 40, after her first husband, Sherwood Diller, prodded her for two years to give up a successful career as an advertising and radio writer. Through it all, she was also a busy mother. “We had five kids at the time. I don’t how he thought we’d handle that,” she told the AP in 2006.  Her husband managed her career until the couple’s 25-year marriage fell apart in the 1960s. Shortly after her divorce she married entertainer Warde Donovan, but they separated within months. Through both marriages and other relationships, the foibles of “Fang” remained an integral part of her act.  Diller is survived by her two children, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Plans for services are pending.

Wynonna Judd’s Husband Loses Leg After Motorcycle Crash

Wynonna Judd’s husband has lost his leg after a motorcycle crash in South Dakota. Michael Scott “Cactus” Moser was riding a motorcycle on U.S. Highway 16 in the Black Hills on Saturday when he crossed the center line and hit a car. He was airlifted to a hospital. A representative for Judd said Monday that Moser’s leg was “severed at the scene of the accident” and that doctors have amputated his leg above his knee. Moser has also had surgery on his hand. Judd is postponing scheduled concerts in Canada as a result. Moser is a resident of Nashville, Tenn., and the drummer in the country singer’s band. The statement says the couple appreciates the “well-wishes from family, friends and fans.”


Tony Scott Had Inoperable Brain Cancer- His Family Says No
As the investigation continues into Sunday's apparent suicide of Top Gun director Tony Scott, an unnamed source has told ABC News that the British-born filmmaker, 68, had been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. But Scott's family is disputing that report, says LA Coroner Chief Craig Harvey. "According to family spokespersons, the information concerning brain cancer or an inoperable brain tumor in Mr. Scott is incorrect," he says. His wife Donna has told investigators this rumor is "absolutely false" and that he was not suffering from any serious medical issues that could have led to his taking his own life. More definitive answers will not be known for several weeks. An autopsy is being conducted and the results of that, including toxicology reports, will not be available until then. So far, the coroner has not announced any findings regarding Scott's medical condition. Scott, whose box-office hits included Top Gun, Days of Thunder and Beverly Hills Cop II, died Sunday after jumping from a bridge in Los Angeles Harbor. His body was recovered from the water four hours later. Witnesses told authorities that at around 12:35 p.m., the filmmaker left his parked Toyota Prius on the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the city of San Pedro, scaled an 8- to 10-ft.-high fence and then leapt without hesitation. A note with contact information was left in the vehicle, reported the Los Angeles Times, which also said a suicide note was located in Scott's office. Scott leaves behind twin sons with his wife, actress Donna Scott (formerly Wilson), who appeared in Days of Thunder. Another survivor is his brother, fellow producer-director (Alien, Gladiator) and business partner Ridley Scott, 74. His wife Donna has told investigators this rumor is "absolutely false" and that he was not suffering from any serious medical issues that could have led to his taking his own life. More definitive answers will not be known for several weeks. An autopsy is being conducted and the results of that, including toxicology reports, will not be available until then.
  Neve Campbell and JJ Feild enjoyed a day at the beach with their newborn on Sunday in Los Angeles. Although the actress, 38, announced the pregnancy in March, saying she was “thrilled,” the couple remain mum on the details of the birth of their first child. Campbell, who played Julia on Party of Five and Sydney in the Scream series, can next be seen in Sworn to Silence, a Lifetime movie that she also executive produced. Feild, 34, starred in Captain America: The First Avenger, and will next appear in Austenland. He recently filmed Not Safe For Work.

Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel Did NOT Get Married Over the Weekend

Despite rumors to the contrary, the engaged duo didn't wed in a "top secret" Jackson Hole, Wyoming ceremony on Saturday, a source confirmed. In fact, the Social Network star, 31, wasn't anywhere near Wyoming this weekend. Timberlake was busy in Puerto Rico, where he's currently filming Runner, Runner.

 A rep for the actress confirmed that she and boyfriend John Campisi have ended their five-year relationship. The pair split in May. The Oscar winner, who has spent the majority of the summer filming Mary & Martha with Brenda Blethyn in South Africa and Wilmington, N.C., and Campisi began dating in 2007.

Nicki Minaj Joins Mariah Carey as New American Idol Judge

Nicki Minaj -- and her multiple personas -- will be joining Mariah Carey at the judges' table on American Idol, two sources confirm said. "I'm not sure the deal is completely done yet, but yes, she is definitely doing it," one insider reveals. "A few more slight things to sign off on but it is happening." A second source says the "Super Bass" rapper, 29, is "100% confirmed to judge American Idol." Reps for FOX and Minaj had no comment when contacted.

The Hangover Part III John Goodman is in talks for a small but integral role in the upcoming "The Hangover Part III".  Goodman would play an antagonist in the vein of the character Paul Giamatti plyed in the previous film.


The F Word
Rafe Spall, Megan Park and Mackenzie Davis have joined the cast of Michael Dowse's rom-com "The F Word". Shooting kicks off this month in Toronto and Dublin. Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan will play two young people who meet at a party and find themselves attracted to one another, but try to stay just friends as she has a long-term boyfriend (Spall).


A Most Wanted Man Willem Dafoe has joined the cast of Anton Corbijn's adaptation of John le Carre's "A Most Wanted Man".  The story follows a half-Chechen, half-Russian man on the run who arrives in Hamburg looking to recover his late Russian father's ill-gotten fortune.

Feed the Dog
Heather Graham has joined the cast of the Selena Gomez-led, Tim Garrick-directed indie comedy "Feed the Dog".  Nat Wolff, Austin Stowell, Dylan McDermott, Elisabeth Shue and Cary Elwes also star in the film based on Ric Browde's novel "While I'm Dead ... Feed the Dog."

Chris Brown, Drake Sued Again Over NYC Club Brawl

A model who was injured during a bottle-throwing nightclub brawl between Chris Brown and Drake sued both singers and the owners of the New York City nightclub on Monday. Romain Julien, who was sitting at a nearby table during the brawl, suffered a severed tendon in his right hand during the June 14 melee, according to a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court. Julien also alleged that he endured lacerations from broken glass, cosmetic deformity and mental distress as a result of the fight. The complaint accused Brown of having a “hot temper” and inciting the altercation with Drake. The operators of the club Greenhouse and its basement lounge, W.i.P., are also named in the suit. Julien claimed the operators created a public nuisance by failing to provide adequate security in the club and serving liquor to intoxicated patrons. Julien, a model with Re:Quest Model Management, is seeking actual and punitive damages. Representatives for the nightclub, Brown and Drake had no immediate comment. Last week, a company with ties to the club sought to hold Drake and Brown responsible for the melee in a $16 million lawsuit. The suit filed by Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. faulted the artists for — at a minimum — doing nothing to stop the June 14 melee and said it sullied the chic Manhattan nightspot’s name. The company owns the trademark for Greenhouse. No criminal charges have been filed in the fight, which left Brown, NBA star Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and others injured. Police say the fracas started after members of Drake’s entourage confronted Brown on the dance floor as he was leaving W.i.P. Drake’s representatives have said he was on his way out and didn’t injure anyone. Both lawsuits point to news accounts of bad blood between Brown and Drake, both of whom have dated singer Rihanna.