Where Is the "Batman Begins" Cast Now? See the Stars Today, 20 Years After the Movie Premiered

David James/Warner Bros/D C Comics/Kobal/Shutterstock Batman Beginswas released on June 15, 2005 The film was directed by Christopher Nolan, and startedThe Dark Knighttrilogy The cast included Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Kate Holmes and more It's been 20 years sinceChristian Balefirst donned the cape and cowl inBatman Begins. The 2005 action blockbuster kicked off a new era in superhero movies and revived theBatmancharacter after 1997's comically campyBatman & Robin. Batman Beginswas brought to life by acclaimed directorChristopher Nolan, and it would be the first installment in hisDark Knighttrilogy, which would go on to includeThe Dark KnightandThe Dark Knight Rises. The gritty and realistic take on the iconic DC superhero brought a whole new cast into the grimy world of Gotham City, as they showed new layers and dimensions of the comic book characters. In a July 2022 interview withThe Washington Post, Bale recalled how he was originally met with laughter when describingBatman Beginsduring the early days. "I would [tell people] we're going to sort of do Batman, but take himseriously," said the actor. "I had tons of people laugh at me and just say, 'Well, that's just not going to work at all.' " "It's wonderful to be a part of a trilogy that proved those people wrong," he continued. "I'm not certain if it kickstarted [theMarvel Cinematic Universe] but it certainly helped along the way." To mark 20 years since theBatman Beginsflew into theaters on June 15, 2005, here's what the cast has been up to since the film's release. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Robin L Marshall/Getty Christian Bale played Bruce Wayne, and his superhero alter-ego, Batman. He returned to play the Caped Crusader in the two follow-ups,The Dark KnightandThe Dark Knight Rises. Bale reunited with Nolan for some magic mischief in 2006'sThe Prestige. Bale fought Batman villains, but he also battled Skynet in 2009'sTerminator Salvation.Two years later, he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in David O. Russell'sThe Fighter. Most recently, he was a voice in Hayao Miyazaki's 2023 Oscar-winning animated epic,The Boy and the Heron, and he is currently filming theJohn Madden biopic,Madden, withNicolas Cage. BalemarriedSibi Bale (née Blazic), when the two eloped in Las Vegas in 2000. They later welcomed two kids, a daughter and son. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Dave Benett/Getty Michael Caineportrayed Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's loyal butler and legal guardian, in all three installments ofThe Dark Knighttrilogy. Caine became a frequent collaborator with Nolan, not only acting in theBatmanmovies, but also inThe Prestige,Inception,Interstellar,DunkirkandTenet. During an October 2023 interview onBBC Radio 4's Todayshow, Caineannouncedhis retirement from acting, following the release of his film,The Great Escaper. "I've figured, I've had a picture where I've played the lead and it's got incredible reviews. The only parts I'm likely to get now are old men," he continued. "And I thought, well I might as well leave with all this — what have I got to do to beat this?" Since 1973, theAlfieactor has been married toShakira Caine(née Baksh). That same year the couple welcomed a daughter. He also has another child, from hisfirst marriage, to Patricia Bailey. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Michael Loccisano/Getty Liam Neesonkept Bruce Wayne on his toes as Henri Ducard, who was revealed to be Batman's mysterious foe, Ra's al Ghul. Since trying to set Gotham City ablaze inBatman Begins, Neeson has become an action hero in his own right. He has starred in the threeTakenmovies, as well asUnknown,The GreyandNon-Stop— just to name a few. Neeson has also flexed his comedic muscles in movies likeA Million Ways to Die in the West,The Lego Movie,Ted 2and theupcoming rebootofThe Naked Gun. In July 1994, Neesonmarried Natasha Richardson. The couple were together until the actress' death on March 18, 2009, following a traumatic brain injury she suffered while skiing. They welcomedtwo sonstogether. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Katie Holmesplayed Rachel Dawes, Bruce Wayne's childhood friend, who was there when he first discovered the Batcave. Since befriending Batman, Holmes has had roles inMad Money,Ray Donovan, and played Jackie Kennedy in 2011'sThe KennedysTV mini-series and the 2017 sequel,The Kennedys After Camelot. She has also directed two movies,All We HadandAlone Together. Outside of film and television, Holmes was part of theBroadway revivalof Thornton Wilder'sOur Town. The celebrated production ran from October 2024 to January 2025. From 2006 to 2012, Holmes was married toTom Cruise. They share one child, Suri. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Amy Sussman/Getty Gary Oldmanplayed police officer James "Jim" Gordon, who like Batman, is trying to keep Gotham City's streets safe. In addition to returning for the next two entries inThe Dark Knighttrilogy, Oldman reunited with Nolan a few times, playing President Harry Truman in 2023's blockbuster biopic,Oppenheimer. Oldman also starred inTinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and since 2022, he has played Jackson Lamb in the Apple TV+ espionage seriesSlow Horses. In 2018, he took home the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill inDarkest Hour. Oldman has been married five times, and he has three children.He wedhis current wife, Gisele Schmidt, in August 2017. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; JC Olivera/Getty Cillian Murphyplayed Dr. Jonathan Crane, who is also known as the frightening Scarecrow. Murphy is a frequent collaborator with Nolan, appearing inThe Dark Knightmovies, as well asInception,DunkirkandOppenheimer, for which he won the 2024 Academy Award for Best Actor. From 2013 to 2022, Murphy starred inPeaky Blindersfor six seasons. He will be reprising his role of Tommy Shelby for the upcomingPeaky Blindersmovie,The Immortal Man. In 2004, Murphy marriedYvonne McGuinness, a classically trained visual artist. The pair have two sons. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Mike Marsland/WireImag Tom Wilkinson portrayed crime lord Carmine Falcone. Following his time in Gotham City, Wilkinson starred in a variety of critically acclaimed movies likeMichael Clayton,The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,Belle,The Grand Budapest HotelandSelma. Wilkinson diedat his home in London on Dec. 30, 2023, at the age of 75. His final role was in the 2023 television series,The Full Monty, playing Gerald, the role he originated in the 1997 movie. Wilkinson is survived by his wife, fellow actor Diana Hardcastle, and their two kids. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Presley Ann/Getty Morgan Freemanportrayed Lucius Fox, Bruce Wayne's close confidant who supplies him with gadgets and tech for Batman to use. After playing Lucius inBatman Begins, Freeman reprised his role of God inEvan Almighty, and appeared inThe Bucket List,Invictus,RedandLucy. The actor continued his action streak with theHas Fallentrilogy:Olympus Has Fallen,London Has FallenandAngel Has Fallen. Freeman also played Thaddeus Bradley inNow You See Me,Now You See Me 2and will reprise his role in the upcoming third film,Now You See Me: Now You Don't. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection ; Paras Griffin/Getty Ken Watanabeplayed a decoy, someone pretending to be Ra's al Ghul inBatman Begins. Following his turn in the superhero origin film, Watanabe starred inLetters From Iwo Jima,Inception,Godzilla,Isle of Dogs,Pokémon: Detective PikachuandThe Creator. The Oscar-nominated actor was also one of the stars of the Max original series,Tokyo Vice, which ran from 2022 to 2024. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

Where Is the “Batman Begins” Cast Now? See the Stars Today, 20 Years After the Movie Premiered

Where Is the "Batman Begins" Cast Now? See the Stars Today, 20 Years After the Movie Premiered David James/Warner Bros/D C Comics/...
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'Real Housewives' Exec Dies During Childbirth and Stars Are Showing SupportNew Foto - 'Real Housewives' Exec Dies During Childbirth and Stars Are Showing Support

'Real Housewives' Exec Dies During Childbirth and Stars Are Showing Supportoriginally appeared onParade. Real Housewivesexecutive Lauren Miller has died.According to a GoFundMeset up to help Miller's family, the exec died suddenly "moments after giving birth." Miller and her husband, Kevin, welcomed a son they named Jackson just before Miller died. "This unimaginable loss is impossible to comprehend and the hole that Lauren has left in this world and in her own family, is an impossible one to ever fill. We are devastated for her beloved husband, Kevin, who must now unexpectedly take on the sole role of parenting their two children … Emma (3) and newborn Jackson, who is still in the NICU. That the day Lauren was so eagerly awaiting should end in tragedy is truly unfathomable," the GoFundMe reads in part. Shed Media alsoshared a statement on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shed Media (@shed_media) "It is with devastated hearts that we share that our beloved colleague, Lauren, died unexpectedly just moments after giving birth to her baby boy," the statement reads. "Of all the things Lauren loved most, being a mother was at the top and ensuring that her children are being taken care of would mean everything to her." In the comments section, Kevin Miller shared a statement of his own. "Lauren is the love of my life and I was blessed by God that she chose to spend her life with me and give me two beautiful children to remember her every minute of everyday. Please pray for our family and thank you all for the prayers, kind words and thoughts. God bless,"he wrote. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Real Housewives of Orange Countystar Tamra Judge shared her condolences in the comments section. "Prayers for her family & friends. This is absolutely heartbreaking,"she said. Meanwhile,Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citystar Heather Gayleft a broken heart emojiin the comments section and Sai de Silva from the New York rebootcommented with three sad face emoji. 'Real Housewives' Exec Dies During Childbirth and Stars Are Showing Supportfirst appeared on Parade on Jun 14, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

'Real Housewives' Exec Dies During Childbirth and Stars Are Showing Support

'Real Housewives' Exec Dies During Childbirth and Stars Are Showing Support 'Real Housewives' Exec Dies During Childbirth an...
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Shane Lowry Caught on U.S. Open Hot Mic Having Another Foul-Mouthed OutburstNew Foto - Shane Lowry Caught on U.S. Open Hot Mic Having Another Foul-Mouthed Outburst

Andrew Redington/Getty Shane Lowry was caught on a hot mic expressing his frustrations during the U.S. Open on June 13 "F--- this place," the 38-year-old pro golfer said multiple times after he missed par on his fourth hole Lowry finished 17 over par, taking him out of the cut for this year's competition following his win in 2019 Shane Lowrycouldn't hide his frustration with the Oakmont Country Club at this year's U.S. Open., resulting in an obscenity-laden outburst. During the annual competition on Friday, June 13, in Pennsylvania, the 38-year-old pro golfer from Ireland was caught on a hot mic cursing after he missed par on his fourth hole. "F--- this place," Lowry said multiple times in abroadcast of the eventshared to social media before tapping in his ball, taking his score at the time to 14 over par. Andy Lyons/Getty On Thursday, Lowry was also seen on the broadcast taking out his frustrations on a microphone at the 17th hole by smacking it after he could not get his ball out of the rough. Friday's hot-mic moment comes just a few weeks after Lowry's appearance at the PGA Championship on May 16 — when he echoed a similar sentiment about the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. Lowry was on the eighth hole at the championship when his tee shot landed in a pre-established divot in the fairway, perGolf.com. Lowry, who was ranked No. 10 in the world, spoke with a rules official after the ball first landed. But the officials didn't budge, and he had to continue by hitting from the divot. Once he did so, he tore up the area around the divot. He then took his club directly to the gap and slammed into it, taking out a huge chunk of the turf. "F--- this place!" he said, before he put up his middle finger at the ball after he finished the hole with the putt. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to theNew York Post, Oakmont is known for being a difficult course. Lowry eventually finished 17 over par and was cut from Saturday's competition — a big departure from his win at the same competition in 2019. Also on Friday, Lowry made a major gaff that resulted in a one-stroke violation when he picked up ball up on the 14th hole but forgot to place his marker down. The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "Probably one of the stupidest things I've ever done," Lowry toldYahoo Sportswith a laugh after the incident. "I picked the ball up, had the ball in my hand, turned around to [caddie] Darren [Reynolds] and he basically said to me, 'What the f--- are you doing?' … By then, maybe my mind was somewhere else." "I drove it in play a lot yesterday, did what I was supposed to do off the tee, and then just didn't have my game that I've had for the last while," he shared, reflecting on his performance. "And then I really struggled on the greens yesterday, and the round got away from me out here, and that was it." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

Shane Lowry Caught on U.S. Open Hot Mic Having Another Foul-Mouthed Outburst

Shane Lowry Caught on U.S. Open Hot Mic Having Another Foul-Mouthed Outburst Andrew Redington/Getty Shane Lowry was caught on a hot mic expr...
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The 2025 U.S. Open (probably) won't have a superstar winner, and there's nothing wrong with thatNew Foto - The 2025 U.S. Open (probably) won't have a superstar winner, and there's nothing wrong with that

OAKMONT, Pa. — We're going to start this wrapup of Saturday's third round at the U.S. Open with an unexpected figure: Caitlin Clark. No, the Indiana Fever star forward wasn't in attendance Saturday; she was too busy triumphantly returning from injury. But while Clark was out, ratings for Fever games suffered mightily. Stars draw eyeballs, whether it's Clark, LeBron James or Tiger Woods. Golf is about to have a major in which, barring an absolute barnstorm, a non-superstar will lift the trophy Sunday afternoon. This, in itself, is not all that rare — there are dozens of players who picked the perfect week to have a perfect week, and never again won another major. The only player in the top 10, within 7 strokes of the lead, who's won a major? That would be Adam Scott (-3), who's now more than 12 years removed from his 2013 victory at Augusta National. Consider the other challengers at even par or better: Sam Burns (leader, -4):Currently ranked 22nd in the world. Burns has five PGA Tour wins but one lone top-10 in a major — a T9 at last year's U.S. Open. A member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2023, he's very much on the rise. J.J. Spaun (-3):Currently ranked 25th in the world. He has one PGA Tour win, and took Rory McIlroy to a playoff at the Players Championship this year before falling short. This is just his second U.S. Open, and he's never placed higher than T23 at any major. "This is the first time for me to be in contention in a major," Spaun said. "It's kind of everything that you prepare and hope to have the opportunity to have at these big events ... just getting into them are so hard." Viktor Hovland (-1):Currently ranked 14th in the world. If he were more consistent, he'd already be a superstar, but he's wavered from his 2023 Tour Championship-winning form. Has four top-10 finishes in majors, though none came in a U.S. Open. "I'm well aware that I've got a chance tomorrow, and if I shoot a low round of golf tomorrow then anything can happen," Hovland said. "But there's a lot of good players around me. Adam Scott played a brilliant round today, just didn't really miss a shot. That forces me to play some really good golf tomorrow." Carlos Ortiz (E):Currently ranked 246th in the world, but that's because he plays on the LIV tour. While he has a LIV win to his credit, he has struggled in the few majors he's played, never finishing in the top 50. "I always said I've been trying to do my best, that's all I have," Ortiz said. "Hopefully it's enough. If not, I don't have anything else." Any of those winners would be a considerable … let's sayvariancefrom the champions of the 2020s. To be blunt, we've gotten spoiled, expecting big dogs to win every major … because they pretty much have. In the 21 majors held in the 2020s, all but five were won by multiple-major winners. The list of recent major winners is the list of the game's best: Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau, Koepka, Schauffele. Still, it's worth noting: every superstar was once an unknown. Almost none of golf's current stars came into the game preceded by their reputation. The last time that the U.S. Open came through Oakmont back in 2016, for instance, Scottie Scheffler was an amateur who missed the cut, Brooks Koepka showed promise but still had not won a single major, Bryson DeChambeau tied for 15th but was still four years from his first major win, and Xander Schauffele was still on what was then called the Web.com Tour. (The reverse is also true. Dustin Johnson won that 2016 U.S. Open, and he's fallen completely off the golf map. Indeed, only a handful of players within six strokes of Johnson's lead back then — Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day — are still playing at a reasonably high level, and Garcia didn't even make the field at this year's U.S. Open.) In each of the last 10 majors, the eventual winner was ranked either first or second after 54 holes. Given the trickiness of Oakmont, that trend could end Sunday. In each of the last two U.S. Opens at Oakmont, according to Elias Sports, the winner — Johnson and Angel Cabrera — came from four strokes back. Back in 1973, Johnny Miller famously rode a final-round 63 to victory from six strokes back. For 2025, only eight players are within six strokes of the lead — those above, plus Tyrrell Hatton, Thriston Lawrence and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. Scheffler is the closest icon at +4, eight strokes off the lead. The next time the U.S. Open returns to Oakmont in 2033, will Sam Burns have five majors? Will J.J. Spaun be one of the best players in the world? Or will Scheffler, Koepka and DeChambeau have retaken control of the game? It's impossible to predict, and that's what makes this game so fascinating.

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

The 2025 U.S. Open (probably) won’t have a superstar winner, and there’s nothing wrong with that

The 2025 U.S. Open (probably) won't have a superstar winner, and there's nothing wrong with that OAKMONT, Pa. — We're going to s...
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Ellen Pompeo Attends an Event at the Tribeca Festival in N.Y.C., Plus Ben Stiller, Kevin Durant and MoreNew Foto - Ellen Pompeo Attends an Event at the Tribeca Festival in N.Y.C., Plus Ben Stiller, Kevin Durant and More

Stars have been everywhere this week. In New York City,Ellen Pompeoattends a Storytellers event at the Tribeca Festival. Meanwhile,Ben Stillerwatches an F1 qualifying race in Montreal whileKevin Duranttalks to fans at the PSG House in L.A., andAshantistrikes a pose at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, Fla. Here are the best photos of celebs out and about this week. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest A-list outings! Dominik Bindl/Getty Ellen Pompeo attends Storytellers during the 2025 Tribeca Festival at Spring Studios in N.Y.C. on June 14. Jared C. Tilton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Ben Stiller watches qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal on June 14. PSG Kevin Durant is joined by fans at the PSG House in L.A. to celebrate his exclusive collection, "From DC to Paris," on June 14. Kelvin Bulluck / Nice Crowd Ashanti strikes a pose at Peacock'sNelly & Ashanti: We Belong Togetherdiscussion during Day 3 of the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach. Fla., on June 13. Michael Tullberg/Getty Shrinkingcastmates Ted McGinley, Lukita Maxwell, Allyson Fanger, Michael Urie, Rachel Stubington and Devin Kawaoka attend the Paul Smith XShrinkingcostume event at Paul Smith on June 12. Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic Mariska Hargitay is supported by herLaw & Order: SUVcostar Christopher Meloni at the premiere of her documentary filmMy Mom Jayne: A Film By Mariska Hargitayat the 2025 Tribeca Festival in New York City on June 13. Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic Jamie Lee Curtis attends the Tribeca Festival premiere ofMy Mom Jayne: A Film By Mariska Hargitayat New York City's Carnegie Hall on June 13. ShotbyNYP / BACKGRID Lizzo unveils a new blonde hairdo while in an eye-catching look in homage to Janet Jackson while stepping out for dinner in Los Angeles on June 13. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Olivia Wilde smiles on the red carpet at the 71st Taormina Film Festival on June 13 in Taormina, Italy. Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan via Getty Claire DanesandHugh Dancyget cozy on the red carpet at the Tribeca Festival premiere ofMy Mom Jayne: A Film By Mariska Hargitayon June 13 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Harry Connick Jr.andChercatch up as they attend the premiere ofMy Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitayat Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 13. Michael Simon/Getty Dionne Warwicksmiles for the camera while taping a segment forGood Night New Yorkon June 13 in New York City. XNY/Star Max/GC Images Nick Jonasstands out in a stylish printed co-ord as he takes a stroll in New York City on June 13. John Lamparski/Getty Jurnee Smollettdiscusses her new AppleTV+ showSmokeat a screening and panel event by SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations on June 13 in New York City. TheImageDirect.com Rita Oramakes an effortlessly chic exit from an office in East London wearing a sheer white blouse, ripped jeans and studded belt on June 13. J. Countess/Getty Ashantistrikes a pose at the 2025 American Black Film Festival at the New World Center in Miami on June 13. Jeff Spicer/Getty Idris Elba flashes a grin while being honored by the MOBO Awards with a Paving the Way stone on June 13 in London. Cindy Ord/Getty Conan O'Brien is joined by Martin Short (not pictured) on an episode ofConan O'Brien Needs a Friendat SiriusXM Studios in New York City on June 13. Cindy Ord/Getty Martin Short arrives with a smile on his face for a taping ofConan O' Brien Needs a Friendat SiriusXM Studios in New York City on June 13. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Jesse Williamstakes the mic during an appearance at the Taormina Film Festival on June 13 in Taormina, Italy. Shawn Salley/Shutterstock Molly GordonandLogan Lermantake a trip to the top of the Empire State Building to celebrate their movieOh, Hi!on June 13 in New York City. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Olivia Wildeposes during the photo call at the Taormina Film Festival on June 13 in Taormina, Italy. Diamond / BACKGRID With his helmet in hand,Hugh Jackmanarrives at Audible's Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City on June 13. Alekandra London/Getty Jermaine Dupristeps out for the STARZ: Come Play in Our World event at the American Black Film Festival in Miami on June 13. Arnold Jerocki/Getty Princess Eugeniecelebrates the launch of the "Thirty Six For Coral" art exhibition on June 12 in Nice, France. J. Countess/Getty Blair Underwoodhas his portrait taken at the 2025 American Black Film Festival at the New World Center in Miami on June 13. Michael Loccisano/Getty Jamie-Lynn Siglerposes at an event forEasy Money: The Charles Ponzi Storyduring the 2025 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Theater in New York City on June 13. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Brooks Naderis glowing while out for dinner at Craig's in L.A. on June 12. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Nicole "Snooki" Polizziis back on the Jersey Shore, this time to hand out Bliss Beach Day SPF Kits on June 13. Jeff Schear/Getty Grimace joins Loud Luxury at a party celebrating the mascot's birthday at McDonald's Chicago flagship restaurant on June 12. Bruce Glikas/WireImage Brooke Shieldsis joined by her daughterRowan Henchypose at the opening nightCall Me Izzyat Studio 54 Theatre in New York City on June 12. Bruce Bennett/Getty Taylor Swiftis back in her sporty era as she joins boyfriendTravis Kelceat game four of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida on June 12. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty Dua Lipatakes it all in from the stage as she performs at Sportpaleis in Antwerpen, Belgium on June 12. Lawrence Busacca/Getty Kristin ChenowethandGracie Abramsshare a sweet moment on the red carpet at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards gala at Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York City on June 12. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Ben Stillerchats during theGonzo Girlpremiere during Tribeca Festival at SVA Theatre in New York City on June 12. TheStewartofNY/Getty Christian Slatershows his support forPatricia Arquetteat the premiere of her directorial debut,Gonzo Girl,at SVA Theatre during the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 12. Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty Julianne Mooretakes her seat for an appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonon June 12 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/WireImage Jean Smartand Rose Abdoo celebrate the opening ofCall Me Izzyat Versa in New York City on June 12. Emma McIntyre/Getty John MayerjoinsJason Bateman,Sean HayesandWill Arnettfor a live taping ofSmartLessat Avalon Hollywood on June 12. John Nacion/WireImage Caitlin McHughandJohn Stamospose with their sonBilly Stamosat the 54th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards gala at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on June 12. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Jamie Lee CurtisandChristopher Gueststep out together for the 25th anniversary screening ofBest in Showat BMCC Theater in New York City during Tribeca Festival on June 12. Neil Mockford/GC Images Rita Oraflashes a smile and a wave ahead of her appearance at Heart Breakfast Radio Studios in London on June 13. Valerie Terranova/Getty Robin Roberts and Amber Laignpose together at the opening night ofCall Me Izzyin New York City on June 12. Kevin Mazur/Getty Jill Vedder,Harper Vedder, Olivia VedderandEddie Vedderattend the premiere ofMatter of Timeat Tribeca Festival on June 12 in New York City. Craig Barritt/Getty Rick Gomez andSteve Zahntake their seats inside a cocktail party hosted by Kentucky during Tribeca Festival on June 9 at the Soho Grand Gallery in New York City. River Callaway/Variety via Getty Tallulah Williscelebrates the launch of Louboutin's Nude Capsule with Jason Bolden andCulturedat Damn, I Miss Paris in L.A. on June 12. CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty Meryl Streep,David BeckhamandKate Winsletpose together at the King's Foundation Awards ceremony at St. James's Palace in London on June 12. Bobby Bank/GC Images Hugh Jackmanheads to Audible's Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City on June 12. Noam Galai/Getty John CusimanoandRachael Raybring date night to the 2025 North Shore Animal League America's Celebration of Rescue on June 12 at Tribeca 360 in New York City. Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock Nicky Hiltonattends the launch of Macrene actives at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City on June 12. Aeon/GC Images Kaia Gerberstuns in a bright red dress for Thursday's premiere ofGonzo Girlon June 12 at SVA Theatre in New York City. Bruce Glikas/WireImage Julia Foxposes at the opening night ofCall Me Izzyat the Studio 54 Theatre on June 12 in New York City. Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images Michelle Buteauopts for orange while out and about in New York City on June 12. Lawrence Busacca/Getty Fat JoeandLL Cool Jtake their seats inside the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York City on June 12. Noam Galai/Getty Ali Wentworthand Beth Ostrosky Stern pose with some adorable companions at the 2025 North Shore Animal League America's Celebration of Rescue on June 12 at Tribeca 360 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Jane Lynchshows off Twenty-One the Standard Poodle at theBest in Show25th anniversary screening at BMCC Theater the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 12 in New York City. Jordan Strauss/JanuaryImages Paul FeigandAwkwafinagive a pair of thumbs up at a tastemaker event forAnother Simple Favorat CAA in L.A. on June 10. John Lamparski/Getty Jurnee SmollettandAnna Chlumskystrike a pose at the premiere ofSmokeduring Tribeca Festival at SVA Theatre on June 12 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/Getty Emily Blunt and Sienna Miller squeeze in a hug at the opening night for the new playAngry Alanat Studio Seaview Theatre on June 11 in New York City. J. Countess/Getty Gabrielle Union shows off her radiant smile as she poses for a portrait at the 2025 American Black Film Festival in Miami on June 12. Bruce Glikas Becky G happily poses with the Playbill forReal Women Have Curveson Broadway after catching a show on June 11. Bryan Bedder/Getty Nick Jonas gives his signature smolder as he attends theMen's HealthLab hosted by Hearst Magazines on June 12 in New York City. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Joey McIntyre, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight and Danny Wood of theNew Kids On the Block' perform at theGood Morning Americashow in Times Square, Manhattan on June 12, in New York City. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Martin Scorseselooks sharp in a black tux as he attends the 71st Taormina Film Festival on June 12, 2025 in Taormina, Italy. Bruce Glikas/Getty FormerSuccessioncastmates Arian Moayed,Sarah Snook,Kieran Culkinpose withBill Burrduring a portrait ceremony honoring Culkin for his performance inGlengarry Glen Rosson June 11 in New York City. Austin Ruffer Carrie Coonmaximizes her time atDead Outlawon Broadway as she steps into a coffin backstage after the show on June 12. Jordan Peck/Getty Will Smithwatches on during the Baller League U.K. 2025 Final at the 02 Arena on June 12 in London. Raymond Hall/GC Images Gerard Butlerheads intoThe Viewon June 12 in New York City BACKGRID Natalie Portmanand her boyfriend Tanguy Destable are spotted taking a train at Montparnasse station in Paris on June 12. Disney Theatrical Group Priyanka ChopravisitsThe Lion Kingon Broadway and snaps a pic with cast members Steven Taylor and Ntsepa Pitjeng-Molebatsi in New York. MGM+ Chris Brancato andSwizz Beatzpose for cameras at June 11'sGodfather of Harlemseason 4 finale at Tribeca Film Festival. Valerie Terranova/Getty Mercedes Ron, Olivia Milch, Jenny Han, Sue Kroll, Lola Tung and Julie Plec pose together at the Escape with Prime Luncheon at Crosby Hotel on June 11 in New York City. Kevin Winter/Getty Arnold Snortzenegger steals the spotlight fromArnold Schwarzeneggerat the Premiere of Netflix'sFubarseason 2 in Los Angeles on June 11. Ordonez/INSTAR Images/BACKGRID Blake Livelywalks around New York City with a vibrant and colorful outfit on June 11. CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Prince Williamdiscusses wildlife at a restored wetland in Dartmoor National Park in the United Kingdom on June 11. Manoli Figetakis/Getty Leighton MeesterandChristina Hendrickstwin with their hair color at the Buccaneers Season 2 Photo Call in New York on June 11. Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Colman Domingolooks darling in a peach ensemble while arriving atThe Late Show With Stephen Colberton June 11 in New York City. Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Cory Michael Smith,Jason SchwartzmanandRamy Youssefmake for a funny trio as they attend HBO'sMountainheadFYC screening, panel and reception at the DGA Theater Complex on June 11 in Los Angeles. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Amy SchumerandChris Fischerattend theRoom To Movepremiere during the 2025 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theater on June 11 in New York City. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Alison Brie and Dave Francogear up for Franco's birthday while at the 71st Taormina Film Festival on June 11 in Italy. Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Darren Crissplays guitar at MCNY's Gala, Gotham Dreams at Cipriani 42nd Street on June 11 in New York City. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Allison Williamsis the guest at theDeath Sex & Moneylive episode during the 2025 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theater on June 11 in New York City PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images White Lotus'Aimee Lou Woodsmiles and waves as she heads intoJimmy Kimmel Live!on June 11 in Los Angeles. Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty Gerard Butler,Nico Parker, Mason Thames pose while at the premiere ofHow to Train Your Dragonduring the Tribeca Festival on June 11 in New York. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Gabriel LunaandChris Prattthrow up their fists at the premiere of Netflix'sFubarin Los Angeles on June 11. Phillip Faraone/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Lance Bassand his husband Michael Turchin look ultra cool atThe Hollywood Reporterand GLAAD's celebration of Pride '25 and GLAAD's 40th Anniversary presented by Paramount+ FYC on June 11 in West Hollywood, California. Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty Jimmy Fallonposes with guestMichelle Monaghanbackstage at theTonight Showon June 11. Charley Gallay/Getty Monica BarbaroandFortune Feimsterattend Netflix's Los Angeles premiere ofFubarseason 2 at Netflix Tudum Theater on June 11. Shawn Salley/Shutterstock Katie Couricbrings her bright smile to the 2025 The Public Theater Gala celebratingHamilton's 10th anniversary andA Chorus Line's50th anniversary in New York on June 11. Theo Wargo/Getty Ethan Hawkeand wife Ryan Hawke keep it casual as they attend theMetallica Saved My Lifepremiere during the Tribeca Festival at BMCC Theater on June 11. Dominik Bindl/Getty Tina Fey, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani and Erika Henningsen band together for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations screening and Q&A forFour Seasonson June 11 in New York City. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock Patrick Schwarzeneggercomes to support his father at the premiere ofFubaron June 11 in Los Angeles. Dave Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock Robert De Niroposes with Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa while at Vertical's Nobu New York Premiere at Tribeca Festival on June 11. Aeon/GC Images Fresh off her Tony Awards hosting gig,Cynthia Erivois cooler than ever while out and about in Midtown, New York on June 11. Emma McIntyre/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Raven-Symonéand her wife Miranda Maday rock matching shades as they attendThe Hollywood Reporterand GLAAD's Celebration of Pride '25 and GLAAD's 40th anniversary on June 11 in California. Karwai Tang/WireImage Helena Bonham Carterand her daughter Nell Burton coordinate in florals as at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Preview Party 2025 at Burlington House on June 11 in London. Rebecca J Michelson Hillary ClintonandJean Smartbackstage the actress'Call Me Izzyshow in New York. Santiago Felipe/Getty Dionne Warwickvisits SiriusXM Studios on June 11 in New York City. Wendell Teodoro/WireImage Megan MullallyandNick Offermanpose for a photo during the Vivid Sydney Unscripted and Unfiltered in conversation press conference at Pier One Sydney Harbour on June 12 in Australia. Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Colman Domingoshows off his chiseled arms as he rocks a crispy white tank top in New York on June 11. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Dave Franco and Alison Briemake a picture-perfect pair while on the carpet of the Taormina Film Festival in Italy on June 11. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Henry Cavillrocks longer tresses as he arrives at the Taormina Film Festival with his girlfriend Natalie Viscuso on June 11. Bruce Glikas/WireImage Fresh off their Tony win,Cole Escolatakes a photo withRobert De Niroand his daughter, Helen, after performingOh, Mary!on June 10. Raymond Hall/GC Images Bryce Dallas Howardwears a sparkling cardigan while heading out of CBS Studios in New York City on June 11. TheImageDirect.com Zoë Kravitzis spotted heading to the gym in a matching, all-gray outfit on June 11. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Dennis Quaidand his wifeLaura Savoiemake an appearance at the 71st Taormina Film Festival in Italy on June 11. Ivan Apfel/Getty Music iconMarc Anthonyspeaks at the FIFA World Cup One Year Out Celebration in Miami on June 11. Madeleine Thomas/BFA Padma Lakshmiflashes her soft smile as she attends an intimate dinner celebrating chef Mauro Colagreco as the chef partner for The Lake Como Edition on June 11 in New York City. Paras Griffin/Getty Paula Pattonlaughs it up while at The Big Tigger Morning Show with Jazzy McBeeat Audacy Atlanta on June 11, 2025. Lauren Menowitz / BACKGRID Ian Somerhalderdebuts the first micro-batch, single-barrel bourbon from his brand, Brother's Bond at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge on June 10. Mrhooke Photography Blac Chynabrings her daughterDream Kardashianto the grand opening of BET's Pop'N Flavors alongside the Atlanta Falcons' Ray Ray McCloud III and Michelle Stokes. Vladimir Kolesnikov/Michael Priest Photography PEOPLE Senior EditorDave Quinnchats with Eva Price, Constantine Rousouli, Cassadee Pope and Tess Marshall about their hit Off-Broadway play,Titaniqueat the 92NY on June 9. Dave Benett/Getty Tom Sturridge givesAlexa Chunga kiss on the cheek as the couple attends the preview of the Royal Academy of Arts' Summer Exhibition on June 11 in London. Phillip Faraone/Getty Melanie Lynskey and Jason Ritterhave a date night at the Astra TV Awards on June 10 in Los Angeles. Todd Williamson Orlando Bloombrings his dog Biggie Smalls to the premiere ofDeep Coverin New York City on June 10. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Olivia Munncuddles with a sweet, four-legged friend from Petco Love while at the Astra TV Awards in Los Angeles. Eddie Mulholland - WPA Pool/Getty Kate Middletongives a friendly smile while in the Cloth Working Centre during a visit to the V&A East Storehouse in London on June 10. Jordan Strauss/JanuaryImages Anna CampandRebel Wilsonpromote their new movieBride Hardat a skydiving course in Lake Elsinore, California on June 10. Courtesy David Benthal/BFA.com/Shutterstock Bryan Cranstonlooks dapper at the premiere ofEverything's Going to be Greatat the Tribeca Festival in New York City. Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images Bryce Dallas Howardwears a daring dress at theDeep Coverpremiere at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on June 10. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

Ellen Pompeo Attends an Event at the Tribeca Festival in N.Y.C., Plus Ben Stiller, Kevin Durant and More

Ellen Pompeo Attends an Event at the Tribeca Festival in N.Y.C., Plus Ben Stiller, Kevin Durant and More Stars have been everywhere this wee...
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Meet the Real-Life Loves of "The Chosen" Cast (Including One Couple Who Acted Together on the Show!)

Greg Doherty/Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty The Chosenmay retell Jesus' life by depicting various Bible stories, but the cast has romantic tales of their own. After premiering in theaters earlier in the year, the first part ofThe Chosenseason 5 was released on Prime Video on June 15. While faith-based people across nearly 200 countries steadfastly tune intoThe Chosen, Paras Patel, who plays Matthew, told PEOPLE in April 2025 that the fans' connection goes beyond religion. "What I love about our show is thatwe incorporate real-life momentswith scripture added to it," he said. "You see things, themes of death, miscarriages and stuff that people can relate to and identify with." He continued, "And I think that's why the audience has really found a liking and understanding of the show because they can relate to that and they see a version of themselves or something they've been through in life." Jesus and his disciples may not be known for their romantic relationships, but that doesn't mean the cast doesn't have robust love lives. While leadJonathan Roumieappears to be single, Noah James and his wife have been married since 2022, and George H. Xanthis also married that same year. From how playing holy figures have impacted their relationships to how their partners have supported them, here's everything to know about the real-life loves ofThe Chosencast. Oscar Ortiz/Europa Press via Getty Playing the titular role of Jesus inThe Chosen, Jonathan Roumie is not known to be romantically involved with anyone. Though he's been rumored to be married, the actor set the record straight in a 2024 Instagram Live. "According to the internet, I am married to a woman named Diane in Canada. I don't know who that person is; I don't know where that came from," Roumie said. "I am not married to anyone." Mario Cartelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty During her tenure playingThe Chosen's Mary Magdalene, a devout follower of Jesus and the first person to whom he appeared after his resurrection, Elizabeth Tabish married playwright and actor Stan Mayer. The couple largely keep their relationship private, though they frequently post photos of their time together on social media. Tabish gave rare insight into their dynamic in a May 2024 interview withFirst for Women, sharing that she prioritizes having open communication with Mayer. "We talk about our dreams and our memories," she said. "Having a partner who cares so much about my interior life and where my heart is at is something that I'm deeply grateful for. That brings me a lot of joy." Manuel Velasquez/Getty Shahar Isaac stars as Simon Peter, Jesus' first disciple, inThe Chosen.Like many of the cast, Isaac doesn't share much about his private life, and he seems to be single currently. He has, however, spoken about his awe of the show's reach — and the wide array of feelings about its subject matter. "I think what I find very fascinating is how each reaction can be so vastly different," Isaac toldPremier Christian Radioin January 2024. "How each person finds another angle of the character ... that's the beauty, you don't have control in it." Jon Kopaloff/Getty Noah James, who portrays Simon Peter's brother, Andrew the Apostle, inThe Chosen, married his wife Norma James in September 2022. The couple tied the knot in Malibu, Calif., in a whimsical Renaissance-themed ceremony. On their first wedding anniversary, Noah shared photos from their nuptials onInstagram. Alongside shots of himself and Norma beneath a grand floral-wrapped altar, the actor wrote, "It was the best day of my life and we tried to soak up EVERY second of it." Medios y Media/Getty Paras Patel plays Jesus' disciple Matthew inThe Chosen.He isn't currently known to be seeing anyone during his time off set. As far as his character, Patel has said that the love Matthew gets from the neurodivergent community has "fueled" him to "dig deeper." "At the end of the day, everyone wants to see a version of themself or feel like they can relate," he toldMovieguidein March 2025. "I think that's what makes Matthew pop for people, they really see themselves." George H. Xanthis/ Instagram When George H. Xanthis isn't portraying Jesus' disciple John the Apostle on the set ofThe Chosen, he's spending time with his wife and son. The actor largely keeps his family out of the public eye, choosing not to share their names, but according to Xanthis' Instagram, the couple married in February 2022 and welcomed their first child at the end of 2024. Bella Michaels/ Instagram Giavani Cairo, who portrays Jesus' disciple Thaddeus inThe Chosen, is in a relationship with news anchor Bella Michaels. The couple began dating in early 2024, and, in an Instagram recap at the end of the year, Cairo called Michaels "a true gift from God." "2024 was incredible for so many reasons," the actor wrote. "But the best part about it? Having my soulmate by my side." Jordan Ross/Instagram Jordan Walker Ross is Jesus' disciple Little James inThe Chosen, but in real life, he's a husband to his wife Stacy Ross. They share three kids, two daughters and a son. Following the theater release ofThe Chosenseason 3 in November 2022, the actor thanked his wife onInstagramfor her unyielding support over the years. "I'm so glad my wife @skr2688 was able to be by my side after supporting me on this journey for so long," Jordan wrote. "Thank you for always believing in me, baby!" Paul Archuleta/Getty Vanessa Benavente plays the virgin Mother Mary inThe Chosen, and like her character, the actress is married in real life. In 2011, she said "I do" to fellow actor Sergio Lanza, who has portrayed Lamech in a few episodes of the historical drama. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Olivia, in 2018, followed by Amaia in 2022. During an April 2025 interview withOmnes, Benavente said that playing Mary has influenced how she parents. "I take it back to me, to my home," she said. "They can make mistakes five hundred times; we, as their parents, will continue to love them. But we don't love them because they do things right, but because they are them." JC Olivera/Getty Luke Dimyan's role inThe Chosenis that of the famous traitor Judas Iscariot. Like some of his costars, Dimyan isn't known to be in a relationship. Though he isn't romantically involved with anyone, the actor is close with his family. In November 2022, he and his loved ones went to the theater to see a showing ofThe Chosenseason 3, which was his first on the show. "Judas fam went and sawThe Chosenin theaters last night," he wrote onInstagram. "I don't think my head's ever been bigger. Or my heart fuller." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

Meet the Real-Life Loves of “The Chosen” Cast (Including One Couple Who Acted Together on the Show!)

Meet the Real-Life Loves of "The Chosen" Cast (Including One Couple Who Acted Together on the Show!) Greg Doherty/Getty; Michael T...
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What's next for UFL? News on expansion, attendance, plans for 2026 seasonNew Foto - What's next for UFL? News on expansion, attendance, plans for 2026 season

ST. LOUIS — Gold and white confetti fell at The Dome at America's Center on Saturday night as the DC Defenders put a bow on the United Football League's second season bywinning their first spring league title. The UFL's leaders will take a moment to bask in the glow of the championship game, which featured a record-breaking performance from the Defenders (58 points) and Jordan Ta'amu (390 passing yards, five total touchdowns). But in the weeks after, the league will begin looking at ways to improve in planning sessions ahead of its 2026 season. That will include beefing up efforts to improve attendance, exploring expansion and considering several changes that could improve and make more exciting what it believes is an already strong on-field product. Here's a look at what's next for the UFL as the league enters its second full offseason since the 2024 USFL-XFL merger. The UFL has not yet announced any plans to expand for the 2026 campaign, but it continues to explore markets that could potentially house future teams. "We're looking heavily into the process," Brandon said of expansion. "We're taking a lot of rigor to it. We're taking a lot of time and effort to do it the right way." The UFL's executive vice president of football operations Daryl Johnston added that it's "great" to hear so many are interested in the league's potential expansion. However, he was adamant sustainability is at the front of the league's mind as it evaluates potential UFL markets. "One of the things that Russ always talks about is incremental growth, and doing it in a way that is sound and provides us the opportunity to make sure this league is sustainable moving forward," Johnston said, before adding. "When it's right for the league, that's when we'll make that decision." The league's reticence about expansion comes afterProFootballTalk's Mike Florioreported USFL Enterprises LLC — which owns the USFL conference side of the UFL — had filed trademarks for the names of the names of four original USFL teams: Oakland Invaders, Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals, and Tampa Bay Bandits. The filings occurred on May 6, 2025. It isn't clear whether the league views these as potential future market options or if it just wants to own the former USFL team names. Either way, the UFL isn't looking to rush into a hasty decision about expansion. The league is simply getting its ducks in a row as it considers the possibility. "I think as we stand now, we will continue to look at it over the next few months, meet with the board, and make some decisions," Brandon said. "But I think it's in a very good place from a process standpoint." Expansion is one of the UFL's eventual goals, but improving its attendance remains one of its No. 1 priorities. The UFL's overall attendance declined by 5% in 2025, according to the Sports Business Journal. That included seeing downturn in turnout across seven of the league's eight home markets, with the Michigan Panthers' 30.4% increase in attendance serving as the outlier. Those results could be viewed as discouraging given that the UFL invested resources into each of its markets for the 2025 season in the hopes of improving attendance. However, Brandon outlined the 2025 campaign was the first ahead of which the league was able to really focus on its attendance goals. Much of the 2024 season was spent getting operationally situated after the USFL-XFL merger closed on Jan. 13, just two-and-a-half months before the start of the season. "We were drinking out of a fire hose operationally to get up and running," Brandon detailed. But after learning more about consumer habits in 2025, UFL owner Dany Garcia explained the league has a better idea of what "The market actually thinks of us." "This is the year that we got the clarity, and now we know who we are, and now we push forward," Garcia said. As such, the league's focus investment in market-by-market strategies to improve attendance will continue on. "We know this: We have a great product. We know it's affordable," Brandon said. "We're trying to activate as much as possible in each of these local markets. And we have a great plan, I believe, in place to do that." UFL ATTENDANCE:UFL remains confident in growth despite 2025 attendance, TV rating declines The UFL has started its season on March 28 in consecutive years. Brandon revealed the league is planning to evaluate whether that rough timeframe — which was established to split the difference between the XFL and USFL start dates following the 2024 merger — works. "We're going to take a look and see what makes sense," Brandon said. "Not only the player feedback, but our consumer feedback as well." The UFL's current start date forces it to face early season ratings competition from the NCAA Tournament, which could be a part of the reason overall TV viewership for 2025 declined by 20%, per Sports Business Journal. Brandon didn't seem overly worried about the state of the league's TV ratings, referring to them as "phenomenal." "People would give their eyeteeth for the amount of eyeballs that are watching our games on TV," he said. The UFL set its roster size at 64 for the 2025 season after it was 75 for 2024. That roster size reduction also prompted the league to cut training camp from four weeks to three weeks. Some UFL offenses got off to a slower start in 2025 than the league was hoping, so Johnston explained going back to a four-week training camp model could be in play. "Those will be conversations we have with our coaches," Johnston detailed. "Did that impact you? Do you need more time?" Johnston also opined one of the reasons some UFL teams struggled out of the gate was because they hadn't yet found their No. 1 quarterback. He and Brandon pointed to the Houston Roughnecks — who finished 5-5 despite starting the season with a 1-3 record — as one of the prime examples, as their performance improvement coincided with Jalan McClendon's insertion into the starting quarterback role. A longer training camp could allow coaches more time to evaluate the position and make the all-important call about a Week 1 starter. "You have to have your guy in place Week 1," Johnston said. "I hope that's the big lesson that our teams learned this year." UFL rosters have often been plundered in the offseason as NFL teams swoop in and scoop up some of the league's top players to give them a shot at making it in the UFL. However, the league is set to have some of its own players experiencing free agency ahead of the 2026 season, as Johnston explained. "We've actually got players experiencing free agency this year," he said. "So, there could be movement with guys being on a team for two consecutive seasons." That will create a new challenge for UFL teams in addition to the one posed by the omnipresent threat of losing players to other professional leagues, namely the NFL. "How do we create that continuity where we're able to retain those guys without the other teams coming in and picking some of the higher-profile, more successful players in our league to try to bring them their way?" Johnston said. He believes that off-the-field battle for players could create some additional excitement within league circles. "I think it's going to be a fun offseason for us and for our young league to grow and mature." All the NFL news on and off the field.Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What's next for UFL? News on expansion, plans for 2026 season

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

What's next for UFL? News on expansion, attendance, plans for 2026 season

What's next for UFL? News on expansion, attendance, plans for 2026 season ST. LOUIS — Gold and white confetti fell at The Dome at Americ...
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For MLB's second generation players, love of game tops genetics – and science agreesNew Foto - For MLB's second generation players, love of game tops genetics – and science agrees

Jackson Hollidayhas read the scouting reports and heard the buzz about his own skills and those of his younger brother,Ethan, for most of his young life. And it rarely takes more than a sentence or two before talk turns from their work ethics or their gorgeous swings or power potential to the tie that ostensibly binds them to predictive greatness. Bloodlines. It's both the most obvious and yet oversimplified evaluation a baseball scout can make – a recognizable name leaping off the page, a player profile to dream on based on how far their father made it in the game. And ostensibly, the Holliday family justifies those dreams: For the second time in four years, a Holliday lad will be picked at or near the very top ofMajor League Baseball's draftwhen Ethan is selected somewhere in the first five or so picks at the July 13 selection party. Jackson, still just 21, is in his second year as a Baltimore Oriole and perhaps already on his way to his first All-Star Game. Ethan, while having to conquer several levels of minor league ball to join his older brother in a major league middle infield, could be a bigger and more powerful version of Jackson. Both are carrying the legacy of their father Matt, a seven-time All-Star, a batting champion, a World Series winner who slugged 316 home runs over 15 years in the major leagues. Genes to dream on, for certain. Yet the story of baseball bloodlines will forever be a classic nature vs. nurture equation, and despite inherent advantages of growing up Holliday or Clemens or Bellinger, countless environmental factors will determine if the child's most important adult acronym, say, is OPS or CPA. "It's nice to have the genes – my dad's a big guy and played baseball a long time," says Holliday, on pace for a 20-homer, 20-steal season in his first full season in the majors. "But I don't look like him and I just have the last name and he happens to be my dad. "I think a lot of it has to do with growing up in the game and watching someone you want to be like, and that's what they do. So, that's essentially what me and my brothers wanted to do." Indeed, the Holliday patriarch is built like an NFL linebacker – at 6-4, 240 pounds, he had both speed and power and at 45 still cuts an imposing figure when he's around a major league batting cage. While Holliday was a slugging left fielder, his eldest sons are cut from a different template: Jackson is 6 feet and 185 pounds, while Ethan is already 6-4, about 200 pounds and projected to stick at shortstop long term. Not exactly daddy duplicates from a physical standpoint. "Yeah, it's nice having good genetics," says Kody Clemens, youngest son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, and a versatile reserve for the Minnesota Twins. "But the exposure is probably more important." The scientific community generally agrees. It's been nearly a decade since Alejandro Lucia collaborated with renowned genomic professor Claude Bouchard - regarded as a godfather of genetics and exercise – on a 2016 study exploring the responses and adaptations of the body to exercise. Lucia, a professor and researcher at European University of Madrid, worked with human patients and animals and extensively explored how genetics influence the body. "We found, basically, nothing," says Lucia. That's not to say genetics don't affect body types. Lucia says there is an "undeniable genetic influence" that he pegs at around 50% that determines whether a person'sphenotypeis better suited toward respiratory fitness or muscular makeup. Humans, at their core, are endurance animals, he says. Yet what makes athletes great are almost exclusively influenced by environment, be it the preponderance of eliteEast African distance runnersor, say, an elite travel baseball team from Texas. "Is it the genes you have inherited from your father? Or is it the influence, the atmosphere?" says Lucia. "In the case of sports performance, we're not talking about a single phenotype. It's the combination of many phenotypes. What makes you a good basketball player? Is it strength? Is it skill? Is it motivation? It's many different things. "It is probably the combination of too many factors. We tend to blame our genetics on too many things." Certainly, genetics play some role in getting a child into the game. Stephen M. Roth, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Maryland, has studied genetics and elements of skeletal muscle and athletic performance for more than 20 years. Loosely, he pegs the chances of bestowing athletic genes on offspring at about 50%, though some factors have a higher likelihood of inheritance. Height, for instance, has closer to 80% inheritability. "Most of these traits are remarkably complex. It's not just a single gene that's contributing and you either have it or you don't," says Roth. "It's going to be a lot of different genes, all contributing and the likelihood that at least some of those are passed down is probably pretty good. But certainly not all of them, in the exact pattern that either parent has. "Biology is really good at mixing things up, and purposefully doing so." Roth says certain psychological factors – competitiveness, say – have about a 20-30% likelihood of inheritability. Yet it's almost impossible for genetics to outkick an athlete's surroundings. "When you see a given geographic group or set of families who are especially successful in a given sport, instead of thinking of genes I will think of the special environment of this particular geographic reason or this particular family" says Lucia. "The example, the inspiration they get from their parents. "I will never be a great baseball player. But maybe my genetic makeup is not that different from the best baseball player in the U.S." And sometimes the next generation quickly exceeds its predecessors. Cody Bellinger didn't need much time to push the label "son of ex-Yankee Cody Bellinger" into the background. He hit 20 home runs in hisfirst 51 major league games, and doubled his father's career total of 12 in his first 57. No, Cody wasn't inheriting Babe Ruth's genetic profile. Yet growing up Bellinger – Clay was part of World Series-winning Yankees teams in 1999 and 2000 – was pivotal. "You're in the batting cage, you're picking up baseballs, you're going out to batting practice and you just fall in love with it," says Bellinger, who won the 2019 NL MVP award and has a .760 OPS this season for the Yankees. "Moreso than other kids who don't have that opportunity. A huge blessing. "I think just being around it, you just appreciate it and you love it and it's not forced. For me, I loved it." That's one trait that can't be underestimated. The pressure of following in a famous father's footsteps can be immense. With no ceiling on travel ball and many ballplayer families residing in warm-weather climes, the potential for burnout is immense. "It's almost like going into the family business. You have this, maybe stated, but unstated expectation that you could, or maybe should, be following in this person's footsteps," says Roth, the Maryland professor. "You have this unique opportunity to go into this particular business. I think the concern is, how many of these kids actually feel pressure to do it, but don't realize they may not want to do it? "They may be good at it, but is this how they want to spend their lives? That can be really hard to disentangle. We see that following in the family business, too, where someone says, 'No, actually, I don't want to be a butcher.'" The second-gen kids who made the big leagues tended to steer into it. Craig Biggio, the Hall of Fame second baseman for the Houston Astros, was already retired by the time his son Cavan was in high school. So the elder Biggio took the coaching reins at Houston's St. Thomas High School, giving Cavan a potential double-whammy: A legacy to look up to, and the stigma that can come by being The Coach's Son. Yet it turns out his teammates thought it was nifty having a coach who was two years from having a bust in Cooperstown. "Because everybody loved having him, having a Hall of Fame guy," says Cavan, who is in his seventh major league season. "It was a professional environment from a high school level, which was really rare and cool. "So when I eventually got to pro ball, it was already things I was doing from a young age." Not that Dad can't be hard on the kid. Clay Bellinger also coached some of Cody's teams, preaching lessons Cody relies upon to this day, and also saying so much by saying virtually nothing. "I was lucky enough that my dad was the coach," says Bellinger, drafted in the fourth round by the Dodgers in 2013, "but me and my friends had a little joke – if you didn't do something well, you'd get the 'Clay Stare.' "He'd stare at you and you'd feel it. That you did something wrong. That was always something that we joked around with and that stuck with me – play the game hard." Of course, having a ballplayer dad means having lots of famous uncles. Matt Holliday played long enough that Jackson can remember kibitzing in the clubhouse and on the field with the likes of Nolan Arenado and Aaron Judge. Biggio recalls catcher Brad Ausmus as a "funny, witty guy," and appreciates the respect he was afforded from Astros such as Morgan Ensberg, Lance Berkman and Willy Taveras. Josh Barfield, a four-year major leaguer and now the assistant general manager of the White Sox and son of Blue Jays legend Jesse Barfield, counted Rickey Henderson and Ken Griffey Jr. as de facto family members thanks to his father's longtime friendships with both. As little kids and adolescents, they didn't go through the grind. But they got an up-close view of what it took to survive it. "You watch the work every day – and go out and try to replicate what I watched for so long," says Jackson Holliday. Sometimes, it's the only life they know. "Kasey and I always talk about how we really didn't understand what there was in life besides being a baseball fan or baseball player," says Kody Clemens of his older brother. "Growing up, we knew we wanted to be the players. "When (Roger Clemens) was in New York and in the tail end of his career in Houston - that was when I realized how good he was, why these people were coming to the stadium, why we were going to the stadium. From 5 to 10 years old was when I realized what was going on." While some of the legacy ballplayers become elite – like Bellinger and Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – or are burgeoning stars like the Hollidays, others are determined to stick. Clemens has never played in more than 56 games since his 2022 debut and at 29 is enjoying his first taste of extended success with Minnesota, slugging six homers in 36 games after Philadelphia designated him for assignment in April. Biggio is currently at Class AAA with Kansas City, after making the club out of spring training; he's with his fourth organization in the past two seasons. It's plenty of time to ponder who makes it, who stays, and why. "I think athleticism has a ton to do with it, but everybody in pro ball is athletic, even college baseball," says Biggio. "I more credit being around it as a young kid. For me, it developed a passion and a love and a want for what this was going to be for me." Or, as Maryland's Roth puts it, "baseball is always in the environment. You have this almost constant presence. That's going to lead to expectations and opportunities for these kids." And the cycle rolls along. As Bellinger glances about the Yankees clubhouse, a pair of young boys, baseball gloves in hand, tail behind assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes, like ducklings following their mother to the pond. "There you go," he says as elementary-school aged Kash and Jett head out to the field, perhaps taking the tiniest steps toward draft day 2036. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB Father's Day: Love of baseball tops genetics – and science agrees

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

For MLB's second generation players, love of game tops genetics – and science agrees

For MLB's second generation players, love of game tops genetics – and science agrees Jackson Hollidayhas read the scouting reports and h...
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NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 15New Foto - NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 15

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 15originally appeared onParade. Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already playWordle,Connections,Strandsand theMini Crosswordnow have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.So, if you're looking for some hints and answers for today's Connections Sports Edition on Sunday, June 15, 2025, you've come to the right place.Related:The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it's a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It's up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you "group sports terms that share a common thread." Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings. Yellow:Let's make a deal! Green:Teams associated with a high-octane sport. Blue:Last names that span generations in baseball. Purple:All of these individuals accomplished a certain feat (hint: they're all from the same sport). OK, time for a second hint…we'll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below! Yellow:PEOPLE OFTEN INVOLVED IN A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION Green:F1 TEAMS Blue:BASEBALL FATHER AND SON DUOS Purple:NBA PLAYERS TO WIN TITLES WITH THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS If you're looking for the answers, no worries—we've got them below. So, don't scroll any further if you don't want to see the solutions!The answers to today's Connections Sports Edition #265 are coming up next.Related:15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day PEOPLE OFTEN INVOLVED IN A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION: AGENT, GM, OWNER, PLAYER F1 TEAMS: ASTON MARTIN, FERRARI, MCLAREN, MERCEDES BASEBALL FATHER/SON DUOS: BONDS, GRIFFEY, GUERRERO, TATIS NBA PLAYERS TO WIN TITLES WITH THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS: GREEN, HORRY, JAMES, SALLEY Don't worry if you didn't get them this time—we've all been there.Up next,catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles. NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 15first appeared on Parade on Jun 15, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 15

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 15 NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 15origi...
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Prince William's Children Share Sweet Father's Day Tribute After Family Appearance at Trooping the ColourNew Foto - Prince William's Children Share Sweet Father's Day Tribute After Family Appearance at Trooping the Colour

The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram Prince William received a heartwarming Father's Day message on Instagram from his children on Sunday, June 15 The Prince and Princess of Wales share three kids: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 A day prior, the royals appeared at Trooping the Colour following a year William called "brutal" for their family as Princess Kate and King Charles navigated cancer Prince Williamis being honored this Father's Day. On Sunday, June 15,Prince George, 11,Princess Charlotte, 10, andPrince Louis, 7, took over the Prince and Princess of Wales'Instagram accountto share a sweet tribute. The first of the two photographs included in the post showed Prince William with his arms around the children as they posed for a photo, standing underneath what appeared to be a cherry tree. The second snap captured the playful moment when the kids piled on top of him as they lay on the ground. "Happy Father's Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L 💖," the post was captioned. The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram Josh Shinner, a photographer who has also previously taken photos of thePrincess of Wales, was tagged in the post. The snaps appeared to be taken on the same day as the portraits forLouis's 7th birthday. The heartfelt Father's Day message was shared following a major family appearance the day prior atTrooping the Colour. On Saturday, June 14, the Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out with their three kids to attendKing Charles' birthday parade. Trooping the Colour is a 265-year-old annual tradition in which the seven regiments of the British Army's Household Division convene for a festive military march organized to recognize the British monarch'sofficial birthday. The moment marked the second major appearance of the year for Prince William, Princess Kate and their kids as a family,following the children's surprise appearance at the national commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE Dayin May. Karwai Tang/WireImage The Prince and Princess of Wales have been working to ensure their children's childhoods are balanced with a sense of normalcy, with school and family time prioritized as it is for other kids. "Those children look pretty happy with life,"a palace insider previously told PEOPLE. "A lot of it is the stabilizing normality Kate brings — and that's how she grew up. William absolutely loves it." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The Wales family weathered a year unlike any other in 2024, as King Charles and Princess Kateboth announced that they were undergoing treatment for cancer. In a candid interview on the ground from his 2024 Earthshot Prize in Cape Town, South Africa, in November, Prince William described the year asthe most "brutal" of his life. "It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life," the heir to the throne said. "So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult." He then commended his wife and father for how they faced cancer. "But I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it's been, yeah, it's been brutal," William said. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel
in
June 15, 2025

Prince William’s Children Share Sweet Father’s Day Tribute After Family Appearance at Trooping the Colour

Prince William's Children Share Sweet Father's Day Tribute After Family Appearance at Trooping the Colour The Prince and Princess of...
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