Where Is “The Jeffersons” Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Where Is "The Jeffersons" Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty The final episode ofThe Jeffersonsaired on July 2, 1985 The beloved sitcom was a spinoff of the groundbreaking sitcom,All in the Family Following the end ofThe Jeffersons, the cast continued to act in television, appearing in classic series such as227,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,Will & Graceand more Forty years ago today, on July 2, 1985,The Jeffersonswent from "movin' on up," to movin' on, as the beloved sitcom aired its final episode. George and Louise "Weezy" Jefferson, played bySherman HemsleyandIsabel Sanford, respectively, first played their characters on the trailblazing '70s sitcom,All in the Family. In 1975, the fictional married couple and their friends and family became the subject of their own series,The Jeffersons.It ran for 11 seasons, becoming one of the most successful spinoffs in television history. Even after the show concluded its run on CBS, the cast continued to be staples in television and movies, with one ensemble member,Marla Gibbs, still working, and due to release her memoir next year. So where isThe Jeffersonscast now? Here's everything to know about what the actors did after the show ended 40 years ago. CBS via Getty ; Steve Grayson/WireImage Isabel Sanford played Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on all 11 seasons ofThe Jeffersons. The actress not only received laughs as the loving and witty wife of her husband, George, but also made television history. In 1981, she was the first Black actress towin an Emmyfor Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was also honored withtwo NAACP Image Awardsand a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the years following the end ofThe Jeffersons, Sanford appeared on several other sitcoms, includingLiving SingleandHangin' with Mr. Cooper. She also reprised her role of Louise on two episodes ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Sanford died at the age of 86 on July 9, 2004. "We all respected Isabel," Ernest Harden Jr., who played Marcus Henderson onThe Jeffersons,told PEOPLE in February 2024. "She was the consummate artist. Before every show, they would introduce her and the cast would all bow. She was the queen of the show." CBS via Getty ; Frazer Harrison/Getty Sherman Hemsley starred as the loud and stubborn George Jefferson, earning a nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in A Comedy Series at the 1984 Emmys. Following the end ofThe Jeffersons, he led another successful sitcom,Amen, which ran for five seasons from 1986 to 1991. Afterward, the actor worked on other sitcoms, includingDesigning Women,MartinandSister, Sister. He also voiced B.P. Richfield, the evil Triceratops boss onDinosaurs. Hemsley and his on-screen wife, Sanford, reprised their Jeffersons roles multiple times over the years, starring onThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They also starred in commercials forDenny'sandOld Navy. In addition to acting, Hemsley was a musician: He released a single, "Ain't That a Kick in the Head," in 1989, followed by an album,Dance, in 1992. Hemsley died at 74 on July 24, 2012. CBS via Getty; Ron Galella Collection via Getty Roxie Roker portrayed Helen Willis onThe Jeffersons,making history as one of television's first interracial couples. After the long-running sitcom ended, Roker continued to work in television, appearing on shows such as227,Punky BrewsterandMurder, She Wrote. She died at age 66 from breast cancer on Dec. 2, 1995. Roker was the mother of music icon,Lenny Kravitz, who told PEOPLE in February 2024 that he watchesThe Jeffersonswhen he misses her. "She's still everything to me. I probably feel her more since she's left the planet," he said.  "I'm very fortunate that she was on television because when I need to, I'll turn onThe Jeffersonsand watch her, and it does so much for me." "I am so grateful that God chose her to be my mother," Kravitz added. CBS Photo Archive/Getty ; Ron Galella Collection via Getty Franklin Cover played Helen's husband, Tom Willis, onThe Jeffersons. Cover kept working in television afterThe Jeffersons, appearing on shows like227,Who's the Boss,ERandWill & Grace— to name a few. He also portrayed a supporting role in 1987'sWall Street, directed by Oliver Stone. Cover died at 77 from pneumonia on Feb. 5, 2006, perThe New York Times. Bettmann Archive via Getty; CBS via Getty Zara Cully was the scene-stealing Olivia Jefferson, George's loving but intense mother. By the time she played "Mother" Jefferson, Cully already had a long list of stage and screen credits, but her role onThe Jeffersonsshot her to stardom. Sadly, while filming season 4 of the show,Cully diedat age 86 on Feb. 28, 1978. Her role was not recast. When asked about his on-screen mom during an August 2003Television Academy interview, Hemsley said, "She was so beautiful." "She had been around for so long, vaudeville, she had done all kinds of stuff since she was a little girl," he continued. "It was her first successful, big thing after all those years." "She said, 'I'm so happy. I finally got to do this and work with you people,' " Hemsley added. CBS via Getty; Bobby Bank/Getty Berlinda Tolbert portrayed Jenny, the daughter of Helen and Tom Willis. Tolbert's acting career continued afterThe Jeffersonsended. She guest-starred on various TV shows, including7th Heaven,Home ImprovementandSix Feet Under, among others. The actress also had roles in classic movies likeGoodfellas,Harlem NightsandPatriot Games. Tolbert's last acting credit is from 2013, perher IMDb. CBS via Getty; Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Paul Benedict played Harry Bentley, the Jeffersons' British neighbor. Following the sitcom's end, Benedict acted in movies likeArthur 2: On the Rocks,CocktailandThe Addams Family. He also collaborated with Christopher Guest's comedy troupe, appearing inWaiting for GuffmanandA Mighty Wind. Benedict died at the age of 70 on Dec. 1, 2008. CBS via Getty; Amanda Edwards/Getty Marla Gibbs portrayed the no-nonsense family maid Florence Johnston, receivingfive Emmy nominationsfor her role. Florence was her breakout role, and Gibbs has been consistently working sinceThe Jeffersonsconcluded its run. She was part of the cast of227, which ran from 1985 to 1990. Most recently, Gibbs starred in a January 2025 episode of ABC'sWill Trent. The following month, while accepting the Hollywood Legacy Award at the American Black Film Festival Honors in Los Angeles, Gibbs said she was "ready to work again." "I owe it all to you. I appreciate you so much," she told the audience. "Been an honor to be among you all these years. Yes, and I'm ready to do some more!" In June 2025,Gibbs celebratedher 94th birthday and announced herforthcoming memoirIt's Never Too Late, hitting store shelves in early 2026. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

Where Is “The Jeffersons” Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Where Is "The Jeffersons" Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago Michael Ochs Archives/Getty...

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'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series

'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series

Millions of children in more than 150 countries have watched a 7-year-old Latina with her trademark purple backpack take friends on fun television adventures. Now, Nickelodeon'sanimated series "Dora the Explorer"is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a live-action movie, premiering on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ on Wednesday, ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" tells the story of 16-year-old Dora (played by Samantha Lorraine) who is budding into a skilled treasure hunter. The movie follows Dora and her friend Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) as they trek through a jungle to find an ancient treasure that could grant a magical wish. This teenage version of Dora, Mexican director Alberto Belli says, is like Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, but with a spunky "lo hicimos" ("We did it") attitude that makes her uniquely Latina. But according to Belli, Dora is more interested in the adventure because it can help her figure out who she is and what other people are like. Developing this larger sense of finding her place became a guiding theme for the movie. "When you're taking a cartoon character into a live action, you need to go a little bit deeper. So we tried to create some more problems," Belli said in an interview, accompanied by actress Samantha Lorraine. "She (Dora) loses her bag,which is a spoiler, but it's also in the trailer. So now she needs to find who she really is. And I think right now, more than ever, people feel a little lost." Dora's backpack typically contains specific items, including a map, which she will need on her adventures. And Belli says that when "you don't know exactly where you need to go," you have to look inside yourself to figure it out. Lorraine says that "Sol Dorado" ("Golden Sun") is more about finding an internal space — "who you are as a person." "When she (Dora) finds Sol Dorado, to me, it was this full circle moment that we had finally finished this character arc," the young actress said. Many iconic action-adventure characters "usually go and explore someone else's culture. They never explore their own culture," Belli said. "What's really exciting about Dora is she loves history. She's exploring her own culture." The movie incorporates Indigenous Latino traditions that influence Dora's identity. One such tradition was based on "ayllu," which is the Andean way of organizing communities to support each other through shared land, resources and responsibilities. "When it comes to ayllu, friendship and connection is so important, and I think Dora is the epitome of that. She's the connection through most cultures of the world," Lorraine said, adding that "Dora the Explorer" has been translated into more than 30 languages. Belli said that they had an expert on set to guide them through different Indigenous traditions, including quipus, which are knotted cords that were used by the Incas to record information. They also had two consultants to work on pronunciation for when Dora had to speak in Quechua, which is an Indigenous language spoken by people in parts of Perú, Bolivia and Ecuador. Lorraine, who identifies as Cuban American, says that playing Dora was a privilege because she offers many Latino children visibility. "I kept thinking to myself, what do I want my little cousins to see when they watch this movie?," she said. Lorraine wants "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" to help viewers — regardless of their age — keep their sense of adventure and curiosity alive. Dora has "always been part of pop culture," Belli said, adding that he has a 5-year-old who's a big fan. "When I got the job, he got more excited than I did," the director said with a laugh. "What I love about Dora is she's a positive influence in people; she teaches you how to be positive, energetic and adventurous — and at the same time she teaches Spanish in a fun way, which I think is very cool."

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series

'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series Millions of children in more than 150 countries ...

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UPenn updates swimming records set by Lia Thomas, settling with feds on transgender athletes case

UPenn updates swimming records set by Lia Thomas, settling with feds on transgender athletes case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Pennsylvania on Tuesday modified a trio of school records set by transgender swimmerLia Thomasand said it would apologize to female athletes "disadvantaged" by her participation on the women's swimming team, part of a resolution of a federalcivil rights case. The U.S. Education Department and Penn announced the voluntary agreement of the high-profile case that focused on Thomas, who last competed for the Ivy League school in 2022, when she became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title. The department investigated Penn as part of theTrump administration's broader attemptto remove transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports, concluding the university in Philadelphia had violated the rights of female athletes. Under the agreement, Penn agreed to restore all individual Division I records and titles to female athletes who lost to Thomas and send a personalized apology letter to each of those swimmers, the Education Department said. By Tuesday afternoon, thePenn websiteshowed other athletes holding the school's top times in Thomas' events. The site was annotated with a note that read, "Competing under eligibility rules in effect at the time, Lia Thomas set program records in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle during the 2021-22 season." "While Penn's policies during the 2021-2022 swim season were in accordance with NCAA eligibility rules at the time, we acknowledge that some student-athletes were disadvantaged by these rules," Penn President J. Larry Jameson said. "We recognize this and will apologize to those who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect at the time." As part of the settlement, the university must also announce that it "will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs" and it must adopt "biology-based" definitions of male and female, the department said. In his statement, Jameson said Penn has always been in compliance with NCAA and Title IX rules as they were interpreted at the time, and that the university has never had its own policies around transgender athlete participation. The school has followed changes to eligibility guidelines as they were issued earlier this year, he said. The NCAA changed its participation policy fortransgender athletesin February, limiting competition in women's sports toathletes who were assigned femaleat birth. "Our commitment to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all of our students is unwavering," Jameson said. "At the same time, we must comply with federal requirements, including executive orders, and NCAA eligibility rules, so our teams and student-athletes may engage in competitive intercollegiate sports." Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a victory for women and girls. "The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX's proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law," McMahon said in a statement. Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines thanked PresidentTrumpon social media and wrote of the settlement, "Are pigs flying?" Gaines has said she started her activism against transgender athletes competing in women's sports after sharing a locker room with Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships. The Education Department opened its investigation in February and concluded in April that Penn had violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding sex discrimination in education. Such findings have almost always been resolved through voluntary agreements. If Penn had fought the finding, the department could have moved to refer the case to the Justice Department or pursued a separate process to cut the school's federal funding. In February, the Education Department asked the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFSHSA, to restore titles, awards and records it says have been "misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories." The most obvious target at the college level was in women's swimming, where Thomas won the national title in the 500-yard freestyle in 2022. The NCAA has updated its record books when recruiting and other violations have stripped titles from certain schools, but the organization, like the NFSHSA, has not responded to the federal government's request and did not respond to emails seeking comment Tuesday. It was not clear how either would determine which events had a transgender athlete participating years later. ___ Associated Press writers Annie Ma and Dan Gelston contributed. Gelston contributed from Philadelphia. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, alistof supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

UPenn updates swimming records set by Lia Thomas, settling with feds on transgender athletes case

UPenn updates swimming records set by Lia Thomas, settling with feds on transgender athletes case WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Pennsy...

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Why Joey Chestnut says Nathan's hot dog contest is his Indy 500

Why Joey Chestnut says Nathan's hot dog contest is his Indy 500

What does the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest have in common with the Indianapolis 500? A lot if you're Joey Chestnut, the 16-time Nathan's championset to return to the contestFriday after a one-year ban over a contractual dispute. "If you're an IndyCar racer, you want to be (in the) Indy 500,'' Chestnut told USA TODAY Sports this week. "There might be other eating contests all throughout the year and there might be other races throughout the year. But if you're any car driver, you should be at the 500. That's the way I felt about Fourth of July. If you're a competitive eater, you should be at the Fourth of July hot dog contest.'' Yet last year, Nathan's refused to let the fastest car in competitive eating onto the track. So Chestnut ended up competing at Fort Bliss, the Army base in El Paso, Texas, without the ESPN crew that televises the Nathan's spectacle from Coney Island, New York. Chestnut, who holds the all-time Nathan's record for hot dogs consumed — 76 hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute contest in 2021 — is aiming for more than the checkered flag. This week it was clear Chestnut was, well, revved up for the competition. "I'm going to let loose,'' he said. For almost a year, Chestnut said, his absence from the Nathan's contest was inescapable. Especially while competing at other events. "I could almost read people's facial expressions when they're going to tell me how they used to watch me on the Fourth of July,'' he said. "And eventually it was going to come to, 'Oh, I'm sorry you didn't compete last year.' "I told people I was going to try really hard to get back, but I couldn't guarantee it.'' In early June, Chestnut told USA TODAY Sports he was exploring other possibilities for the Fourth of July. That included competing under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis with his own field of eaters. But on June 16, Chestnut announced he had signed a three-year deal with Nathan's and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) Inc., which runs the Nathan's competition. Chestnut said the terms of the deal call for him to endorse only Nathan's hot dogs. That required him to stop endorsing hot dogs for Impossible Foods, although Chestnut said he still endorses other Impossible Foods products. Though he attributes his return to Nathan's in part to the fans, he also said it hinged on his relationship with Nathan's. "I wasn't sure if we could repair it,'' he said, "and it took a long time.'' This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Joey Chestnut on Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest: 'Going to let loose'

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

Why Joey Chestnut says Nathan's hot dog contest is his Indy 500

Why Joey Chestnut says Nathan's hot dog contest is his Indy 500 What does the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest have in common with th...

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'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

"Jurassic Park" is all about bringing the past back to life, so for one of the most pulse-pounding sequences in the new entry, the franchise returns to where it all began. In a standout scene from"Jurassic World Rebirth" (in theaters July 2), Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and his family, who find themselves on an island filled with dinosaurs, board a raft and are pursued on a river by aTyrannosaurus rex. When director Gareth Edwards read the script by "Jurassic Park" screenwriter David Koepp, he was so impressed, he thought, "This film's worth directing just for this scene alone." It was only after he finished shooting that Edwards stumbled upon a book about the making of "Jurassic Park" and discovered a nearly identical scene was intended to be in the originalSteven Spielbergfilm more than three decades ago. "I had no idea," he says. Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox The scene is straight out ofMichael Crichton's1990 "Jurassic Park" novel, only instead of the Delgados, Alan Grant (played bySam Neillin the movie), Tim Murphy and Lex Murphy board a raft and are pursued by a T. rex. There were even storyboards made during the production of the Spielberg classic, but the scene was dropped because of technical limitations. "This was 1992, and making a T. rex, period, was going to be this enormous challenge," Koepp recalls. "In the early '90s, water was still a big challenge for CG, and so the idea of making a T. rex and then having it swim was a bridge too far." Coming off a trilogy of films starringChris PrattandBryce Dallas Howard, "Rebirth" introduces a whole new cast of characters to the "Jurassic" world.Scarlett Johansson,Mahershala AliandJonathan Baileyare adventurers on a mission to obtain dinosaur DNA for a breakthrough drug that could cure heart disease. The trio cross paths with the Delgados after a dinosaur has destroyed the family's sailboat and they're making their way across the island to find rescue. Koepp, who hasn't written a "Jurassic" movie since 1997's "The Lost World," was recruited for "Rebirth" by Spielberg, an executive producer on the film. When brainstorming, one of the first things they talked about was finally revisiting the raft scene. "That was like being able to scratch something that has itched for 32 years," Koepp says, and adds it was "worth the wait" for computer-generated imagery to get good enough to do the sequence justice. This wasn't the only instance of scrapped "Jurassic" material being revived in "Rebirth." In one scene, paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) delivers a monologue about humanity's capacity to destroy itself, remarking that "when the Earth gets tired of us, it will shake us off like a summer cold." Koepp, drawing on Crichton's novel, had Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) utter that line in an early draft of "Jurassic Park" and has wanted to find a place for it ever since. "I remember asking Steven ... did that line ever show up?" Koepp says. "And he said, 'Nope, that's definitely not in ("Jurassic Park").' So it was like, great. It's going in here." The raft scene may not have fit in, had "Rebirth" not gone back to "Jurassic" basics by returning to the island setting. While 2022's "Jurassic World Dominion" ended with dinosaurs and humans coexisting around the world, "Rebirth" effectively resets to the status quo of the first "Jurassic" trilogy by revealing the Earth's climate has made it impossible for dinosaurs to survive outside of a few tropical islands. Koepp wanted to make dinosaurs "special again and harder to find" and bring back the "ocean and jungle adventure aspect" of the series. The idea of dinosaurs interacting with humans on the mainland had been explored thoroughly enough in previous films, he felt − including his own "The Lost World," which ended with a T. rex loose in San Diego. The plot point was also once again inspired by the original novel, in which Ian points out how different the environment is today compared to 65 million years ago during his famous "life finds a way" speech. That's not the only reason it's a tough time to be a dinosaur in "Rebirth," which establishes the public has largely lost interest in the creatures. Edwards and Koepp both saw this as a meta reflection of the issue facing "Jurassic" itself, six sequels in. "My biggest problem is, there's been a lot of 'Jurassic' films," Edwards says. "What can you do that people haven't seen before? The script acknowledged that problem on page 1. I thought it was very honest and a really good way to reset and start a new chapter." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Jurassic World Rebirth' includes iconic scene cut by Spielberg

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut "Jurassic Park" is all about bringing the past back t...

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Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

After a life in the spotlight, Richard Simmons spent the last decade of his life at his home, rarely speaking with friends or venturing out Those who knew the fitness icon say that news of an unauthorized biopic starring Pauly Shore forced the fitness icon to finally emerge from his self-imposed exile "It lit a fire," says his longtime publicist of Simmons's plans for a splashy comeback—and a Broadway musical of his life story In the early-morning hours of July 8, 2024, Patrick Leonard received an email fromRichard Simmons. For the previous month the famed songwriter had been busy putting music to the biographical lyrics that Simmons—who'd spent the past 10 years living in seclusion from his flamboyant public persona—would send him, hoping they would one day become a hit Broadway musical, marking his grand return to show business. "It was a poem about dealing with loss," recalls Leonard, trying not to choke up while reading Simmons's prophetic words. "He wrote: 'It takes a toll on your heart. Some shed many tears, others stare at the sky. It's so hard to say goodbye. Here's what I know: When it's time for us to go, beautiful angels will greet us with a smile and hello.'" Harry Langdon/Getty, Anna Mjöll Leonard, who's worked with everyone from Madonna and Rod Stewart to Leonard Cohen, never got a chance to sit down at his piano and compose a melody to accompany Simmons's last installment of lyrics. Simmons's unexpected death from heart disease and complications from a fall marked a sudden, unsettling end to an iconic career that spawned bestselling books, infomercials and workout videos that sold more than 22 million copies. Reports later emerged that he had taken a tumble before he died but waved off entreaties from his live-in house manager to get medical attention. "It's been a very long year," says Simmons's brother Lenny. "But people are still taking about him—and that's given us a lot of peace." Simmons's death, however, dashed any hopes that the frizzy-haired tornado of energy and empathy would reemerge from self-imposed exile. It was in 2014 that he first retreated from view behind the walls of his home—with his doll collection, artwork and roses—in the hills above the Sunset Strip. Richard Simmons/X The move spawned wild speculation, including a popular podcast, about why he really disappeared. Just two days before his death, Simmons finally laid to rest those rumors in anupbeat interview with People—his first in more than a decade—assuring the public that he was "feeling great." As for why he turned off his spotlight, Simmons—for whom 40 years of high-kicking workouts had taken their toll on his knees—insisted the reason was fairly prosaic: "My body told me it was time." Now, a year after his passing, some of those who knew Simmons best are painting a picture of his final months, what renewed his interest in the public eye and his tragically unfulfilled plans for the future. "He was ready to come back," says Tom Estey, his publicist of nearly 30 years, "but he was going to do it on his terms." Even to those close to him, Simmons's withdrawal from public life in February 2014—the same month Hattie, the last of his six beloved dalmatians, died—was confusing. "It was the abruptness and the complete shutdown that really got people concerned," says Michael Catalano, who had been Simmons's manager since his break-a-sweat heyday. Few of his friends and business associates heard from him for nearly a decade. Courtesy of Teresa Reveles Then in January 2024 things suddenly changed after Simmons learned that actor and comedianPauly Shore was planningon starring in a feature film based on his life. "That lit a fire," says Estey, explaining that Simmons was incensed that someone besides him was trying to tell his story. Lenny describes the incident as "the straw that broke the camel's back." It forced a "recharged" Simmons—who, up until then, rarely saw anyone but Teresa Reveles, his house manager of nearly 36 years—to consider restarting his career. Within days of learning about the unauthorized biopic, hereturned to social mediawith a message denying any involvement with the film and informing his fans that he had been trying "to live a quiet life and be peaceful." Estey began receiving up to five phone calls a day from him. In the months that followed, Simmons began reestablishing contact with scores of people he hadn't been in regular touch with. Before long he was also talking with ABC'sDiane Sawyerabout sitting for a TV special on the next chapter of his life. "It was wonderful," recalls Sawyer of their conversations, "to hear him so excited, to hear that in his voice again." Death cut short Simmons's plans for the future, but his collaborators would love to see his planned musical, now his final project, realized even without him. Says Leonard: "I hope they can find a way to get this done. I think it would do what Richard spent his whole life doing—lift people up." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusiv...

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ACC quarterback rankings for 2025 college football season include two playoff starters

ACC quarterback rankings for 2025 college football season include two playoff starters

As college football fans well know, having the best quarterback in the league does not guarantee a championship. But it certainly helps, and having an experienced hand directing the offense is a huge advantage, especially in the era of the portal. It therefore should come as no surprise that the two teams that squared off for the ACC title last season and appeared in the inaugural 12-team playoff, both of which have incumbent signal callers in place, can be found at or near the top of our ranking of each team's QB situation with fall practice getting underway in just a few weeks. Of course, transfers are part of the picture as well, with programs seeking to maintain upward trajectory or reverse their tumbling fortunes. Here's how we rank the ACC starters. The Tigers needed Klubnik to improve in his second season, and he did just that as he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 TDs in 2024 as part of a run to the ACC title and College Football Playoff. If he continues to progress, Clemson fans can think about not just making the playoff again but sticking around a while. When healthy King was outstanding, tossing 14 TD passes with just two picks. He was also a productive runner with 587 yards and 11 scores. But his aggressive style led to some nagging injuries during much of the season, so keeping him protected will be a major priority for the Yellow Jackets. EXPERIENCE MATTERS:Familiar faces top Big Ten QB rankings TIME TO SHINE:Arch Manning headlines SEC QB rankings Jennings was a revelation after assuming the starting job early last season. Unfortunately, he had his the worst day of an otherwise outstanding campaign in the Mustangs' first-round playoff loss to Penn State. But now with a full year under his belt he should keep SMU in the league title hunt once again. In arguably the splashiest move of the early transfer cycle, Beck left Georgia after two seasons as the team's starter. He will look to pick up where No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward left off for the Hurricanes. But while his stint with the Bulldogs was largely successful, his resume does not include a national championship and he his health remains a question after an arm injury in the SEC title game. The fact that the Blue Devils were able to gain the services of the highly sought after Tulane transfer indicates how serious the school is about not just being a basketball destination. Mensah threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns while leading the Green Wave to a nine-win campaign as a freshman. His sophomore campaign will be a step up in competition, but he seems ready for it. The well-traveled Morris was most recently putting up lofty passing numbers at North Texas (3,774 yards, 31 TDs). He wasn't nearly as productive at his previous Power Four locations (Oklahoma and TCU), but he might be the experienced hand theCavaliersneed to recharge their program. Johnson's season was over before it really got started when he was injured in last year's opener at Minnesota, and he was still unable to participate in spring drills for new Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick. That might give the edge in the competition to Lopez, who transfers in from South Alabama, where he led the Jaguars to the program's first bowl win. As a promising season as the replacement for Caleb Williams at Southern California drifted into mediocrity, Moss lost his starting job and entered the portal. Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm's track record with transfer quarterbacks suggests the results here will be good given the physical tools Moss brings to the table. As Florida State fans know all too well, not every quarterback transfer is a home run. The DJ Uiagalelei experiment was part of a disappointing two-win season last year. They hope this one will work out better, although Castellanos's tenure atBoston Collegewas a mixed bag as he ultimately wound up on the bench at the end of the season. His mobility and moxie should help bring improvement to the Seminoles offense. Drones had highlight moments for the Hokies, but he also made his share of mistakes as the team went through a subpar season after high expectations. Consistency from the offense would go a long way toward cooling coach Brent Pry's potentially warm chair. New Demon Deacons coach Jake Dickert has also demonstrated the ability to develop transfer QBs. Both Ashford and Purdie have starting experience at Auburn and Charlotte, respectively, though neither posted eye-popping numbers. The competition is expected to extend deep into training camp and might now be fully decided before the opener. Holstein's first season at Pitt was going swimmingly until it wasn't, as a 7-0 start was followed by the team's six-game losing skid. Multiple injuries sidelined him for most of the last four games. He returns after posting a respectable 61.9% completion rate with 17 scoring throws, though he must manage more accomplished defenses better. James started the last four games for the Eagles after replacing Castellanos in the starting lineup. He finished with solid numbers - 1,202 yards passing and six TDs - and ran for three more scores. The offense is his now, and he should be able to negotiate the Eagles' early schedule before things heat up in October. After seeing limited action in two seasons at LSU, Collins moved north with the Orange needing a replacement for Kyle McCord. Collins was officially named the starter by coach Fran Brown coming out of the spring. He's a huge wildcard on this list with significant talent but few live reps. Pressed into service ahead of schedule as a freshman when Grayson McCall was injured, Bailey posted solid stats with 2,413 yards and 17 TDs. He was intercepted 10 times, a number that must be reduced if theWolfpackare to get back to the league's upper tier. A full offseason as the starter should serve him well Cal faithful are hopeful that signing a guy who has been in Ohio State's quarterback room works out as well as McCord did at Syracuse. Brown completed just 11 passes on 20 attempts with a touchdown in mop-up duty behind Will Howard on the Buckeyes' title team. Brown, the former four-star recruit out of perennial prep power Mater Dei, is the lone remaining quarterback on the Cardinal roster with any live reps. Interim coach Frank Reich might instead turn to Gulbranson, a late portal arrival from Oregon State, to ease the transition from a chaotic offseason. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:ACC quarterback rankings for college football season

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

ACC quarterback rankings for 2025 college football season include two playoff starters

ACC quarterback rankings for 2025 college football season include two playoff starters As college football fans well know, having the best q...

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NHL free agency winners and losers: Florida Panthers run it back

NHL free agency winners and losers: Florida Panthers run it back

Something doesn't seem quite right whenthe day before free agencyis more exciting than theactual opening of free agency. That's because NHL general managers did their best to remove some of the bigger names in the market on June 30. Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Patrick Kane and Ivan Provorov were all gone on Monday. There still was some action on Tuesday. Brock Boeser, who had seemed all but gone, re-signed with theVancouver Canucks. Mikael Granlund joined theAnaheim Ducks. Vladislav Gavrikov went to theNew York Rangers, and the Rangers traded K'Andre Miller to theCarolina Hurricanes. Here are the winners and losers from the last two days of NHL free agency: It seemed unlikely that Panthers general manager Bill Zito would be able to bring back his big three free agents of Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchandbut he got it done. "This is 100 percent those guys wanting to be part of something they created," Zito said. He then got Tomas Nosek re-signed, meaning all 12 forwards who skated in the Panthers' Stanley Cup-clinching win are under contract. The only main player who left is defenseman Nate Schmidt, but Zito signed Jeff Petry as a replacement. They'readding prolific scorer Mitch Marnerto a roster that already has lots of offense in Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev. The question is whether Marner can produce in the postseason, but that's pretty far away. The Rangers have been sloppy defensively, so it was good to add Gavrikov, the top defensive defenseman in the free agent class. They had to part with Miller to make the money work, but they received a prospect and two draft picks in the deal. General manager Chris Drury also got restricted free agent forward Will Cuylle re-signed for two years. He had been considered a potential target for an offer sheet. Losing Gavrikov was tough. They also traded young defenseman Jordan Spence. Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin don't seem like adequate replacements. Jake Allen was the top free agent goalie and he signed a five-year, $9 million contract to return to the New Jersey Devils. Goaltenders Vitek Vanecek (Utah), Dan Vladar (Philadelphia), David Rittich (Islanders), Anton Forsberg (Los Angeles), Matt Murray (Seattle) and Alex Nedeljkovic (San Jose) did move. Ilya Samsonov, James Reimer and Alexandar Georgiev are among the goalies still available. Mikael Granlund was a good fit for the Stars after he arrived before the 2025 trade deadline, but they didn't have the cap space to re-sign him. They did sign Radek Faksa, a former Star, but he's more of a depth player. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NHL free agency winners, losers: Panthers, Rangers, Kings

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

NHL free agency winners and losers: Florida Panthers run it back

NHL free agency winners and losers: Florida Panthers run it back Something doesn't seem quite right whenthe day before free agencyis mor...

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'The Bear' Season 5 Renewal Sparks Mixed Fan Reactions

'The Bear' Season 5 Renewal Sparks Mixed Fan Reactions

'The Bear' Season 5 Renewal Sparks Mixed Fan Reactionsoriginally appeared onParade. The Internet received some exciting news on Tuesday afternoon. It was announced that the hit TV show,The Bear,was renewed for a fifth season, just one week after its fourth season was released on Hulu. Starring Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach,The Bearfollows Carmy Berzatto (White), an award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother's Italian beef sandwich shop. The series also stars Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas and Matty Matheson, with Oliver Platt and Molly Gordon in recurring roles. The Bearhas been a favorite for both fans and critics. The TV series won many accolades in the Emmy Awards, as well as nominations and wins from the Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Peabody Awards, Critics' Choice Awards and more. Viewers of the show had a pretty positive reaction to the news that the TV show was going to be renewed for another season. "WE WON,"an X usercommented on the news. Another replied, "YESSSS." "LETS GOOOOO,"a user wrote. "sydcarmy truthers we're abt to win the war,"a fan commented on X, referring to the shipname between Carmy and Sydney (Edebiri), because some viewers are still hoping for a romantic connection between the two. "More yelling, more sweating, more emotional damage, can't wait,"another wrote. This fan wrote"the bear is truly the best show on television right now" on X after the news was announced this afternoon. "here's to another year of us going absolutely insane with no promo!" an X account dedicated to the showquote-tweeted. "i'm 21 and AFRAID of christopher storer when he's directing,"a fan joked. Though the show has many awards and has a score of 93% onRotten Tomatoes, some viewers were disappointed about the renewal. "Wth. Carmy's arc is complete," one viewer wrote, referring to the end of season 4, which showed Carmy making the difficult decision to leave the restaurant and the culinary world altogether, entrusting Sydney, Richie (Moss-Bachrach) and Natalie (Sugar) to take over. "I thought that was a series finale for sure." "If its just be more like season 4 no thanks,"one person commented on X. There were many mixed reviews on the series' latest season,which theNew York Timesdescribed as feeling "like a do-over, for the restaurant and the show." "I'm only 4 episodes in (and the 4th was the best ep so far), but finding out that this is not the last season of The Bear has killed my enthusiasm for the show,"one viewer honestly expressed. "It was so obvious these two seasons are stretched out from one season and the writing isnt strong enough to support it." "4th season was much better than the 3rd IMO,"one fan said. "Some of the scenes, especially with Carmy and his Mom were award winning stuff. Glad to see it back." "notice how no one is talking about it anymore… 😭"a user brought up. Another noticed and postedon their X, "the way no one's happy about the bear getting renewed 💀💀." One simply posted on X, "I think I'm done. Thanks." Related: Taylor Swift Twist Added in New Season of Hulu's 'The Bear' Once Again FX'sThe Bearwas created by Christopher Storer, who serves as an executive producer alongside Josh Senior, Joanna Calo, Cooper Wehde, Tyson Bidner, Matty Matheson, Hiro Murai and Rene Gube. Courtney Storer serves as a co-executive producer and culinary producer. All seasons ofThe Bear, including the current Season 4, are available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. The next season is set to premiere in 2026. 'The Bear' Season 5 Renewal Sparks Mixed Fan Reactionsfirst appeared on Parade on Jul 2, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

'The Bear' Season 5 Renewal Sparks Mixed Fan Reactions

'The Bear' Season 5 Renewal Sparks Mixed Fan Reactions 'The Bear' Season 5 Renewal Sparks Mixed Fan Reactionsoriginally appe...

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BTS Confirms 'All Seven of Us' Will Return with New Album and World Tour in 2026

BTS Confirms 'All Seven of Us' Will Return with New Album and World Tour in 2026

BigHit Music BTS has a new album and tour on the way The album will start recording in July and be released next spring The band expressed support of each other's solo efforts BTSis back! The moment fans have been waiting for has finally arrived, as the K-pop icons have announced they're working on both a new album and a world tour for 2026. The group announced the exciting news on a Tuesday, July 1 livestream viewed by over 7.3 million fans. Reuniting with each other for their first livestream in almost three years, the group announced that their upcoming album is set to release in spring of 2026, with recording beginning this month. Jin, 32, Suga, 32, J-hope, 31, RM, 30, Jimin, 29, V, 29 and Jung Kook, 27, doubled down on their power as a collective, saying, "Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member's thoughts and ideas. We're approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started." The band also confirmed there will be a tour following the album's release, telling viewers, "I hope you're as excited as we are." In addition to this major announcement, individual members shared updates on their solo tours and projects through the rest of 2025. The band heaped praise onJin's recent shows in Korea saying "...it was a show that only Jin could pull off." They also showed their confidence inJ-Hope's upcoming headline performance at Lollapalooza Berlin. BTS' hiatus prior to this announcement was primarily due to the members' service in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, a requirement of all men in the country. With all membershaving completed their mandatory service, the group is now free to resume their domination of the musical world. BTS formed in 2013, and steadily gained a following within the K-pop scene. Starting in 2017, the band exploded into mainstream pop stardom with hits such as "MIC DROP" and "DNA." In the 2020s, they had six songs topping theBillboardHot 100, fully cementing themselves as one of the most successful K-pop acts of all time. Since the band's hiatus, each member has continued their solo careers. While members had dropped material while BTS was still active, the break allowed their new directions to flourish. Between 2022 and 2025, every member of the band released at least one solo album during their break. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 02, 2025

BTS Confirms 'All Seven of Us' Will Return with New Album and World Tour in 2026

BTS Confirms 'All Seven of Us' Will Return with New Album and World Tour in 2026 BigHit Music BTS has a new album and tour on the wa...

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