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Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Ron Simons has died at the age of 63

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NEW YORK (AP) – Ron Simons, the actor who became an completed film and stage producer, winning 4 Tony Awards and having several movies chosen at the Sundance Film Festival, has died. He was 63 years old.

SimonSays Entertainment, his New York production company, said Simons died on Wednesday but didn’t provide a cause or other details.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected death of our beloved, blessed and extremely valued friend, Ronald Keith Simons” – Production Company he wrote in an announcement on Facebook.

Simons won Tonys for producing “Porgy and Bess” with Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” starring Jefferson Mays, “Vanya and Sonia, Masha and Spike” with Sigourney Weaver and ” Jitney,” with John Douglas Thompson.

He also co-produced (*63*) with Forest Whitaker and “The Gin Game” starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” an all-black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a reissue of the novel “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” and the original work ” He thinks about the coloured man.”

Actor Ron Simons attends the opening night of New Directors/New Films 2013 “Blue Caprice” at the Museum of Modern Art on March 20, 2013 in New York City. (Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images)

In 2022, after the first full season since the death of George Floyd reignited the conversation about race and representation in America, Simons was glad to see Broadway offer one of the most diverse Tony offerings up to now.

“I can guarantee you I have never seen so many people of color represented in all the categories of the Tony Awards,” he told The Associated Press. “I was encouraged and impressed by that.”

On the film side, Simons produced “Night Catches Us” starring Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie and Wendell Pierce, “Gun Hill Road” starring Esai Morales and Judy Reyes, “Blue Caprice” starring Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond, and “Mother George” with Danai Gurira.

Simons, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College, an MBA from Columbia Business School and an MFA from the University of Washington, was a product manager at Microsoft when he decided to vary his life and pursue a profession in the entertainment industry.

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He began as an actor, performing in regional theaters including the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Classical Theater of Harlem.

He appeared in the movies “27 Dresses” and “Mystery Team”, in addition to on the small screen in “The Resident”, “Law & Order”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Law & Order: SVU”. “

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Maury Povich’s shocking double life of numerous affairs and sex parties revealed after publication of his wife Connie Chung’s memoir

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Former talk show host Maury Povich and former news anchor Connie Chung have remained married for 40 years. (Photo: @TheMAURYShow/X)

Connie Chung’s latest memoir hit stores on September 17. While the celebrity host was promoting her book, “Connie,” rumors about her marriage to speak show host Maury Povich resurfaced.

Maury Povich, 85, married Connie Chung, 78, in December 1984. The couple has one son, Matthew Jay Povich. Unconfirmed allegations of infidelity have plagued the couple for nearly 20 years.

In 2006, a producer of The Maury Povich Show filed a $100 million sexual harassment lawsuit against the show’s host and other staff members. Bianca Nardi alleged that Povich had a sexual relationship with one other producer, Donna Benner Ingber.

Former talk show host Maury Povich and former news anchor Connie Chung have been married for 40 years. (Photo: @TheMAURYShow/X)
Former talk show host Maury Povich and former news anchor Connie Chung have been married for 40 years. (Photo: @TheMAURYShow/X)

Povich was 20 years older than Ingber. Nardi said the alleged extramarital affair fueled a hostile work environment that included sexual remarks, pornographic videos and parties known to “invite open and familiar sexual activity,” in line with Online radar.

“We do not believe that Ms. Nardi was a victim of unlawful sexual harassment and we intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit,” an NBC spokeswoman said. Rebecca Marks said on the time. The judge ultimately ruled that Nardi’s lawsuit needs to be dismissed decided in closed-door arbitration.

Reports claimed that Connie Chung was “humiliated” over the sexual harassment lawsuit. She was also reportedly upset that her personal life had grow to be a subject of public discussion and divorce was an option. However, the previous CBS Evening News anchor remained married to Povich.

“I did it backwards, but it turned out perfectly,” Chung quotes People in a September 2024 article. “First I forgot about the wedding, then I forgot about the baby. And so I ended up having a career — a long, flourishing career. And then I had a long, flourishing period to raise my son.”

Of the difficulties in her marriage to Povich, Chung said: “If we fight at night, he wants to make up before we go to bed. But when I wake up in the morning, I want to keep fighting. I’m not done yet.”

Connie Chung was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Her media profession began within the Seventies when she was a Washington correspondent for the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.

Maury Povich, a D.C. native, met his future wife in 1969 while they were each working at television station WTTG within the nation’s capital. Povich was a reporter, while Chung was what was then called a “copy girl” within the newsroom.

“Maury never paid any attention to me,” Chung explained in a May 2022 interview with CBS News. “I would rip the text off the typewriters and give it to him.”

Connie Chung and Maury Povich met again in 1977 in Los Angeles while working at CBS’s KNXT. They dated for seven years before officially marrying in 1984.

Povich returned to the East Coast to launch “The Maury Povich Show” in September 1991. The popular daytime talk show aired until September 2022. Chung has hosted news shows throughout her profession, including “Eye to Eye” for CBS and “20/20” for ABC.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Joseph Sikora: The Man Behind ‘Tommy’ and His Rise to Television Fame on POWER

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While his breakthrough role could also be Tommy Egan on Power, Joseph Sikora’s acting profession dates back to the Nineteen Eighties. As a baby, Sikora even appeared in a business with music icon Michael Jackson. Learn more about TV, film and stage star Joseph Sikora below.

Józef Sikora’s personal life

Joseph Sikora is a component of Dutch and Polishalthough he was born in Chicago. He has two brothers and was drawn to acting early on. His college education and early success in the teenager industry indicate that acting is a profession he has pursued as doggedly as Tommy Egan pursued revenge within the fictional world of Power. Sikora attended theater school at DePaul University before graduating from Columbia College Chicago in 1998.

Sikora is usually protective of her private life — a typical approach for a lot of actors and actresses who don’t want their spouses, love lives or children to turn into tabloid fodder or social media topics.

“Power” star Joseph Sikora attends the Lexus Uptown Honors Hollywood at Neue House Hollywood in February. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

Despite his commitment to staying undercover, it’s common knowledge that Sikora is married to Tania Ribalow, award-winning makeup artist. Sikora married Ribalow in 2014 after they met and fell in love on the set of “Boardwalk Empire.” The wedding was a non-public affair, and most individuals didn’t realize the 2 were married until Sikora revealed the actual fact 4 years later on social media — a formidable feat in an era when many celebrities should not exactly unknown.

Whether Sikora is a parent or not isn’t something that the general public knows. As of mid-2024, there was no news or record of Sikora having children of her own.

Józef Sikora’s profession

Although Sikora landed a number of minor acting roles as a young person, he was not a breakout child star. His first roles were more like one-episode cameos on television series, although he did appear in a number of notable shows. Some of his earliest appearances include one-episode roles on shows like “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and “Frasier.” He also had supporting roles in movies like “Rudy” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

Power
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 20: (L-R) Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Joseph Sikora and Naturi Naughton attend the red carpet premiere of Season 6 of the series “Power” at Madison Square Garden Concert and Party on August 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for STARZ)

This trend continued throughout his adult profession. Sikora has end credits in programs including Grey’s Anatomy, ER, NYPD Blue, and several CSI series, to name a number of. If there was a serious television drama within the 2000s, Sikora appeared in at the least one episode. He also appeared in Dollhouse, Lost, Prison Break, Without a Trace, JAG, and Monk. During this time, he continued to land small roles in feature movies, including Charlie Wilson’s War and Shutter Island.

Sikora performed in different rolesincluding comedies, although he became known for his gritty, realistic performances in thrillers and crime stories. He played each law enforcement officers and the criminals they pursued.

Actors Joseph Sikora and Omari Hardwick
Actors Joseph Sikora (left) and Omari Hardwick speak onstage in the course of the “Power” panel in the course of the 2015 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour on the Langham Hotel on January 9, 2015 in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Sikora also put his theater background and skills to use, appearing on stage in various shows during this time. However, achieving success in Hollywood can sometimes be a marathon, not a sprint, and Sikora’s profession reflects that. He has appeared in one- or two-episode roles on quite a few television shows, including “White Collar,” “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Good Wife.” He has also landed small roles in feature movies, including “Jack Reacher.”

It wasn’t until he landed the role of Tommy Egan in Power that his big break got here. From 2014 to 2020, Sikora appeared in 63 episodes. The HBO series spawned spin-offs Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book IV: Force, with Sikora reprising his role in each. In Force, Tommy Egan is the lead character, allowing Sikora to further his profession.

Power Series Finale Screened at Paley Center
“Power” stars (from left) Michael Rainey Jr., Joseph Sikora and Naturi Naughton chat after a screening of the series finale in New York City in February (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for STARZ)

Going Beyond “Tommy”

Sikora and others have confirmed the tip of the spin-off series, “Power Book IV: Force.” In statements regarding the plot, the team says the series has come to an end. However, Sikora said that this isn’t the tip of the “Tommy” character and that other concepts are within the works.

As for other projects, Internet Movie Database says Sikora has credits on a project called “Atypical Pirate,” which is in post-production as of August 2024. Sikora also has small screenwriting and directing credits, and given the success of his breakout role, it’s possible he’ll be showing off his creative chops again soon.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Oprah’s Interview with Kamala Harris Causes Chaos Among Trump Fanatics, Forcing Her to Block Comments

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Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has come under political fire after hosting a livestreamed event with Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

During the Sept. 19 “Unite for America” rally, which featured Hollywood stars Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Rock, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Stiller via video geared toward rallying support for Harris ahead of the 2024 election, the event quickly became the goal of online criticism from Trump supporters.

Oprah Winfrey and Kamala Harris teamed up for a monumental streaming event, nevertheless it was crashed on social media by Trump supporters. (Instagram/ @Oprah)

The response to Winfrey’s first joint tweet with the previous California attorney general was so overwhelming that she disabled comments a couple of posts on Instagram promoting the event and recap afterward. Fans speculated that the lockout was related to the wave of negative reactions and hostile remarks questioning the integrity of each women.

“The stakes in this election are very high, and each of us has a job to do between now and Election Day.” To read caption on a post Harris made just hours before the event.

Harris also expressed her excitement at the chance to meet with Winfrey, calling it a “one-of-a-kind livestream event” to discuss their shared vision for a greater future.

But the comments section quickly became a battleground for political rhetoric, with a flood of Trump supporters pouring in.

“One billionaire and one millionaire telling us we can’t trust the rich,” one comment read, while one other added: “This will be a pass. No respect for Oprah anymore and we never had for Kamala.”

Hostility increased when some users accused Harris of being out of touch with key national issues similar to military strategy, with one noting, “Harris doesn’t even know where our troops are. Disturbing! I know how I vote.”

The critical backlash also revived old allegations about Winfrey’s past relationships.

“Oprah was Donald Trump’s best friend until he ran for president as a Republican. He hasn’t changed. She has,” one user said, referring to Winfrey’s once-friendly relationship with the previous president.

Winfrey’s decision to disable commenting on her posts posts fueled further conspiracy theories.

“I WONDER why Instagram disabled messages for Kamala… during the OPRAH chat… Hmmmmmm! They didn’t disable President Trump’s messages with the Jewish Federation,” one other user speculated.

The criticism didn’t stop there. Several comments ridiculed each women, accusing them of being out of touch with odd Americans.

One commenter noted, “This is the same way (Oprah) tried to sell her Weight Loss Plan for years and then turned around and used Ozempic when she decided to lose weight!!!! Please!!!!! Don’t buy the bridge she’s trying to sell.”

One person said bluntly: “Nobody trusts Oprah anymore, this is a bad idea!!!”

Trust within the 18-time Emmy winner has waned over time.

When Winfrey opened a college in South Africa in 2007, certainly one of the teachers was charged with sexual assault, and lots of blamed her.

Even when she tried to raise money for people in Maui, Hawaii, people questioned her intentions and ridiculed her for using odd people’s money while she sat on estimated net price $2.7 billion.

Despite the backlash, Harris supporters rallied within the comments to defend the candidate’s policies.

Winfrey and Harris’ interview itself also sparked controversy, particularly due to Harris’ admission that he owned a gun.

“If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot,” Harris told Winfrey candidly, apparently surprising the “Beloved” actor and producer.

Winfrey, who has famously struggled to connect with odd Americans on problems with wealth and sophistication, also found herself in hot water when Harris shared her plan for tax breaks for small businesses.

Another segment that seemed to show Winfrey’s lack of knowledge of average people concerned small business owners and Harris’ plan to give start-ups a $50,000 tax break so that they can pursue the American dream by running their very own business.

When Harris mentioned the $50,000 tax deduction, Winfrey joked, “It’s a tiny business.” Harris replied, “The concept of a business,” prompting mixed reactions from MAGA fans in regards to the billionaire’s perceived out-of-touchness with on a regular basis Americans.

However, Harris-Walz’s supporters rallied on Platform X when the clips were shared.

“Watch out, you MAGA idiots. She has her rules. Trump lies to you about his promises. He will never keep them,” one user he fired it back uppointing to Harris’ plans for small business owners, including a $50,000 tax break for startups.

“He still has nothing but a health care plan. He doesn’t have to worry about infrastructure because President Biden has already taken care of that. I’m voting for someone who actually cares about me, not billionaires. What about you?”

“For me, starting a small business will become more feasible if Kamala is elected and this is implemented. Especially with interest rates dropping” as well as other.

While Trump supporters dominated many of the comment sections, Harris’ base remained strong. Grassroots groups like Latinas for Harris, White Dudes for Harris and Win With Black Men joined the net conversation, hosting phone calls and virtual events to bolster support for the candidate.

Harris’ campaign advisers said nearly 200,000 people signed up to watch the live stream across apps, and nearly 100,000 watched it on YouTube. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitch were also heavily used to broadcast the event.

Despite the negative response, Harris’ team stays optimistic about her standing, with recent polls showing her leading Trump 47 percent to 42 percent. In key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and North Carolina, Harris has a bonus, while in Arizona the 2 candidates remain tied, according to Reuters.

Winfrey’s decision to disable the comments section could have been an attempt to quell negativity, however the episode underscores the deepening political divide because the 2024 election approaches. The presidential race looks set to get increasingly nasty.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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