Howard Keel, the deep-voiced baritone associated with the classic movie musicals of the 50s, died Sunday of colon cancer at his home in Palm Springs, CA; he was 85. A naturally gifted singer who had what he described as a "terrible, rotten childhood," Keel first came to prominence onstage, discovered by legendary composers Rodgers & Hammerstein no less, who hired him to replace John Raitt in the original Broadway production of Carousel. After a successful stage career in both New York and London, he was signed to a contract with MGM, and his first film for the studio, Annie Get Your Gun, immediately shot him to stardom. Throughout the 50s he re-created a number of his stage roles for film, and his impressive string of hits included Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate, Kismet, Calamity Jane, Jupiter's Darling, and the actor's personal favorite, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Once MGM abandoned large-scale musicals, Keel went back to the stage, traveling in a number of productions. Though he worked in television off and on throughout the 70s, Keel found himself on another career high with the TV show Dallas, in which he played Clayton Farlow, the second husband to Barbara Bel Geddes' Miss Ellie. Hired in 1981 after the death of Jim Davis, who played patriarch Jock Ewing, Keel stayed with the show through the rest of its run until 1991. Keel was married three times, first to actress Rosemary Cooper, then dancer Helen Anderson, with whom he had three children; both marriages ended in divorce. His third and final marriage was to former flight attendant Judy Magamoll in 1970, with whom he had a daughter. He is also survived by ten grandchildren. --Prepared by IMDb staff

Pierce Brosnan has further spoken of his anger when movie bosses told him he would no longer be playing superspy James Bond. The 51-year-old claims he was asked to return as 007, before a sudden telephone call revealed his services were no longer required, leaving him "gutted". Appearing on TV show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, Brosnan said, "When they told me, I was angry and the conversation was pretty short and sweet. They invited me back, and they changed their minds half-way through negotiations. It's hard to find the truth. If you get uptight it just does your head in so you've got to let it go. I thought they did me a favor, really...leave while you're on top." Brosnan starred in four Bond movies, beginning with 1995's GoldenEye.

Actress Natalie Portman ordered director Mike Nichols to remove her full frontal nude scenes from her latest movie Closer - despite playing a stripper in the film. Nichols is very protective of the 23-year-old beauty and agreed the topless footage was acceptable, but decided raunchy shots of her fully nude were gratuitous and should be deleted from the drama. Portman explains, "He wants to see my bare ass much less than (even) my father would. He's as or more protective of me than my parents are. So doing sexual, physical stuff for him felt very uncomfortable."

Actor James Belushi is suing his next-door neighbor Julie Newmar for $4 million in damages, accusing her of a "campaign of harassment" designed to drive him from his home. Belushi, 50, claims in the lawsuit filed on ovember 2 that the actress destroyed a fence and landscaping at the home in the upscale Brentwood, California, neighborhood and repeatedly made defamatory statements about him to neighbors and friends. The lawsuit also claims that Newmar spied on Belushi's family from her residence and caused a nuisance by playing loud music directed at his backyard. The lawsuit claims, "Newmar has engaged in a malicious and premeditated campaign to prevent and destroy Belushi's quiet peace." Belushi says the actions of the actress, who played Catwoman in the 1960s television series Batman, caused emotional distress and harmed his reputation and career.

Pop beauty Britney Spears will put her music career on hold for two years and plans to return with a shocking new image. The singer has her heart set on starting a family with husband Kevin Federline. In an open letter to fans on her website, Britney writes, "I haven't really thought a lot about work lately, what better time for a greatest hits album to come out? I can actually enjoy and reflect on my success at this point in my life. I may be disappointing some fans but I don't think I'll do another tour for a couple of years. My priorities in life have changed. When I come back, things will be totally different." A friend of the star adds, "Britney is going to disappear from the spotlight for a few years and come back almost unrecognizble. Good luck to her."

Director David O. Russell is so grateful to Uma Thurman's father Robert Thurman for inspiring his latest movie I Heart Huckabees, he based the central character on him. The Kill Bill star's dad taught Russell ancient texts at college, and was such a profound influence on the young film-maker, Russell used Dustin Hoffman's detective character to pay homage to him. He tells British magazine Empire, "I was taught by Robert Thurman. He's one of the most brilliant scholars in the world, completely unpretentious but an expert in Sanskrit and all these ancient texts. The detective played by Dustin Hoffman is actually based on him."

Actress Sienna Miller is negotiating for one of cinema's most graphic roles ever - as artist Andy Warhol's muse Edie Sedgwick. The movie Factory Girl will focus on the love triangle between Warhol, Sedgwick and Bob Dylan during the sixties, and will feature some of the most controversial sex scenes ever filmed for mainstream release. An insider says, "Already there's a huge buzz about it. Sienna Miller would be perfect for the part. It's going to be a no-holds-barred look at Edie's tragic life." Sedgwick was an heiress who ran away from her fortune to find a new life in New York aged only 21. She met Warhol in 1965 and quickly became his disciple, starring in a plethora of his movies, including The Poor Little Rich Girl before dying from a drugs overdose in 1971.

Hollywood star Renee Zellweger has advised Hugh Grant to get some exercise - because she was shocked by his flabby appearance during their latest movie Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason. The actress had to playfully fight with Grant in the romantic comedy sequel, but he was so out of shape, she complains the romantic tumbling "was more like wrestling my grandmother". She says, "When we did do the fight scene three years ago, I think Hugh was then spending more time on his fitness and body. It's remarkable the difference three years can make, really. It was certainly easier for me because he was much fleshier, and the contours were much softer - it was more like wrestling my grandmother. Hugh complained all the time that I was hurting him and given him bruises. Probably, if we ever do it again. I'd advise him to get in a bit of training."

Actress Shar Jackson has laughed off reports she announced Britney Spears' alleged pregnancy, declaring "I am not in Britney's womb". The former Moesha star - mother to Britney's husband Kevin Federline's two children Kori and Kaleb - was reported to have declared "You know, Britney's pregnant" in a Beverly Hills, California boutique earlier this week. But in an interview with American TV show Access Hollywood, Jackson laughs, "I talked to Kevin and we both laughed because now I think the latest rumor is that he told me she was pregnant. From what I hear, Britney is not pregnant. Just so everybody can get this real clear, I am not the authority on Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. I am not in Britney's womb. I am not their spokesperson/publicist. I'm none of that."

National Lampoon's Van Wilder actress Tara Reid is fed-up with her reputation for being a "retard" and cites friend Paris Hilton as her role model for overcoming her party girl image. The American Pie star, 28, is keen to outgrow her controversial persona and be taken more seriously in Hollywood. Reid says, "I am known as this retard. I want to grow up. I don't want to be the drunk girl. It hurts my feelings when stuff is written about me. Paris seems to move on from situations all the time, why can't I?"

Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino and her husband Chris Backus have become the proud parents of a baby girl. The Mighty Aphrodite star, 37, and her 27-year-old husband have yet to reveal the name of their daughter, who was born in Los Angeles last week. A close source says, "They're extremely happy." The couple married in June this year after meeting at a friend's party.