Leguizamo pitches in for Sept. 11

Olympian news services

Originally published Tuesday, March 12, 2002

NEW YORK -- John Leguizamo is reaching out to Spanish-speaking family members of those who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The actor recently recorded two public service announcements -- one in Spanish and one in English -- for The Gift of New York, a nonprofit initiative that provides free admission to arts, entertainment and sports venues for victims' families.

The main goal of the Leguizamo announcements is to reach Spanish-speaking families who may have been left behind in the recovery effort because of language barriers.

Leguizamo, 37, who was born in Colombia and raised in New York City, also is an author and comedian whose film credits include "Moulin Rouge," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Summer of Sam."

RADNOR, Pa. -- "Malcolm in the Middle" mom Jane Kaczmarek has been out since Feb. 12 with migraine headaches.

Sources close to the popular Fox series said in the March 16 issue of TV Guide that Kaczmarek's representatives have contacted the show about her salary.

Kaczmarek, 46, who plays manic mother Lois, declined to be interviewed by the magazine, but her publicist said "there is no connection between her health issues and any contractual matters."

The Emmy-nominated actress will appear in the season finale in May, thanks to existing footage and editing.

LOS ANGELES -- Russell Crowe said he has apologized for losing his temper with the director of the British Academy Film Awards show after the actor's speech was cut short in the British broadcast of the ceremony.

Crowe said Sunday he called Malcolm Gerrie to apologize about the Feb. 24 incident. News reports said Crowe swore at Gerrie and pushed him against a wall at a dinner after the awards show.

"I was unrepentant for a while there," Crowe said Sunday after he was named best actor for "A Beautiful Mind" at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Crowe said he called to apologize after hearing that Gerrie's son was being hassled in school over the incident.

At the British awards, where Crowe also won best-actor honors for "A Beautiful Mind," his acceptance speech included a four-line poem, "Sanctity," by the late Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh. The poem was cut from the broadcast for time constraints.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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