The ballots have been tabulated and the strike by the actors’ unions against the advertising industry has formally ended. Members of SAG and AFTRA overwhelmingly approved the new three-year contract covering commercials by a nearly 40,000 vote margin. In total, 42,000-plus votes were cast, representing only a 34 percent return of the nearly 125,000 ballots mailed to SAG and AFTRA members. The rank-and-file thumbs up was considered a virtual fait accompli since late October when actors returned to work after SAG’s and AFTRA’s boards of directors authorized the agreement between the unions and the Joint Policy Committee of the 4A’s and ANA. Word is that director Lara Shapiro is headed for Santa Monica-based Fuel. Editors Peter Odiorne and Matt Chesse have joined Crew Cuts‘ New York and Santa Monica shops, respectively.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More