DiCaprio to produce film about endangered gorillas

Plus: Pacino back on Broadway in new Davis Mamet play, Gowariker’s Everest has newcomer in lead, Bono reveals glaucoma is reason for ever-present sunglasses and Downton Abbey star honoured by the Queen

DiCaprio said films like “Virunga” offer “a window into the incredible cultural and natural diversity of our world, the forces that are threatening to destroy it, and the people who are fighting to prShow more

Leonardo DiCaprio is teaming up with the online streaming service Netflix to make a documentary about endangered mountain gorillas in east Africa. The Titanic star is an executive producer on Virunga, described as "part investigative journalism and part nature documentary". Directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, the documentary follows an embattled team of park rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo "as they are caught in the crossfire of poachers, militia and industry in Africa's oldest national park". The Virunga sanctuary is home to about a quarter of the world's critically endangered mountain gorillas. DiCaprio said films like "Virunga" offer "a window into the incredible cultural and natural diversity of our world, the forces that are threatening to destroy it, and the people who are fighting to protect it." The film will be released on Netflix on November 7.- AFP

Pacino back on Broadway in new Davis Mamet play

Al Pacino will return to Broadway next year in a new play by David Mamet written especially for the Oscar-winner. China Doll, directed by Pam MacKinnonn will begin its run in October 2015. The rest of the cast has yet to be announced. Pacino last appeared on Broadway in 2012 in the role of Shelly Levene in a revival of Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Glengarry Glen Ross." He appeared in the 1992 film version of the play in a different role, as Ricky Roma. Mamet's last new play on Broadway was the The Anarchist in 2012, co-starring Debra Winger and Patti LuPone, which producers announced it was closing just a day after it opened to bad reviews. - AP

Gowariker's Everest has newcomer in lead

Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has signed on the new actress Shamata Anchan as the lead in his forthcoming TV show Everest, which will make its debut on Star Plus on November 3. The series is about a girl who decides to climb the highest mountain in the world in an effort to win her father's respect and love. Also starring are Sahil Salathia, Rohan Gandotra, Milind Gunaji and Rajat Kapoor. AR Rahman is the music director for the Everest, which marks his debut as a music composer for television. – IANS

Bono reveals glaucoma is reason for ever-present sunglasses

Bono has had his share of fun poked at him over the years for always wearing sunglasses, indoors and out but the U2 singer has finally revealed that they are not a rock-star affectation – he has suffered from glaucoma for 20 years. The condition – a build-up of pressure that can damage the optic nerve – can make eyes sensitive to light. During an appearance on the BBC comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show, Bono told the Irish presenter he had the condition but added: “I have good treatments and I am going to be fine.” He joked that people would now think of him as “poor old blind Bono.” In response to the backlash from some people who were not happy to have U2’s new album added to their iTunes accounts for free, Bono said, “We wanted to do something fresh, but it seems some people don’t believe in Father Christmas.” - AP

Downton Abbey star honoured by the Queen

British royalty has met acting aristocracy when Queen Elizabeth II bestowed an honour on Maggie Smith during a ceremony at Windsor Castle at the weekend. Smith, the English actress who plays the imperious Dowager Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey, was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor on Friday in recognition of her six decades in theatre, cinema and television. The award is limited to 65 living people "of distinction." Other members include physicist Stephen Hawking, actor Ian McKellen and artist David Hockney. The 79-year-old actress has won two Academy Awards, for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and "California Suite." She also won a new generation of fans as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies. - AP

Medical examiner confirms Joan Rivers’ cause of death

The New York City medical examiner has revealed that comedian Joan Rivers died after suffering brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during a medical procedure. The 81 year-old died on September 4, a week after she went into cardiac arrest during a routine medical procedure at a doctor’s office in New York to check out voice changes and reflux. Medical examiner spokeswoman Julie Bolcer confirmed that that the cause of death was brain damage due to lack of oxygen. This is classified as a therapeutic complication, meaning that the death resulted from a predictable complication of surgery. The New York state health department is investigating the circumstances. - AP

Manhattan Transfer ‘visionary’ dies at age 72

Tim Hauser, the founder and singer of Grammy-winning pop group The Manhattan Transfer, died on Thursday from cardiac arrest. He was 72. Hauser was the driving force behind the group, who released their debut album in the early 1970s, and whose hits included Operator and The Boy from New York City. They went on to win multiple pop and jazz Grammy Awards. Their critically acclaimed album, 1985's "Vocalese," earned 12 Grammy nominations. Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne – who joined in 1978, replacing Laurel Masse – rounded out the foursome. "Tim was the visionary behind The Manhattan Transfer," the other band members said. "It's incomprehensible to think of this world without him." Hauser, who was born in Troy, New York, is survived by his wife Barb Sennet Hauser, son Basie and daughter Lily. The remaining band members said they would continue their current tour despite Hauser's death. Their next show is Thursday in Manchester, New Hampshire. - AP

Broadway tribute to Elaine Stritch

A one-night-only tribute to the late theatre icon Elaine Stritch will be staged on Broadway next month, featuring Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, Hal Prince, Betty Buckley, Christine Ebersole and Michael Feinstein. A limited number of tickets will be made available to the public for Everybody, Rise! A Celebration of Elaine Stritch, on November 17 at The Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress died in July at age 89. - AP

Police find body of Django Unchained actress

A body found in a ravine in the Seattle suburb of Auburn is that of the missing actress, Misty Upham, known for her roles in Django Unchained, August: Osage County and Frozen River. The King County medical examiner said the 32-year-old died on October 5. That's the day the family of the Native American actress contacted police to say they feared she was suicidal. Relatives reported her missing the next day. The medical examiner said the cause and manner of death were being investigated. A police spokesman said the body was found on Thursday near the White River, and that there was no evidence of foul play. - AP