A stunned Hollywood mourned the death of "Top Gun" director Tony Scott on Monday, after he jumped from a Los Angles harbor bridge in a suicide that has yet to be fully explained. The man behind movies like "Beverly Hills Cop II", and "True Romance" was seen leaping from the bridge on Sunday. He was 68. A suicide note was found in his car, but the contents of it are not yet fully known. The British-born Scott was the younger brother of "Blade Runner" director Ridley Scott, and directed more than two dozen movies and television shows and produced nearly 50 titles.
Comedienne Phyllis Diller, the former housewife whose raucous cackle and jokes about her own looks made her one of America's first female stand-up comedy stars, died on Monday. Known for being a pioneer in comedy, Diller created an indelible persona with her distinctive braying laugh, a cigarette holder, teased hair, outlandish costumes and a fictional loutish husband she called Fang. She was 95.
Russian police are hunting for more members of the Pussy Riot punk rock band signaling further pressure on the group despite an international outcry over jail terms for three women who protested in a church against Vladimir Putin. The Russian president's critics condemned the court proceeding that yielded the two-year prison sentences on Friday (August 17) as part of a clampdown on a protest movement and reminiscent of show trials of dissidents in the Soviet era. Police said on Monday (August 20) they were searching for other members of the group over the February protest at Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral, but had not yet identified the suspects.
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant joined forces with Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou for a charity basketball extravaganza in Shanghai on Saturday (August 18) night. More than 6,000 fans cheered as Bryant appeared with a guitar in his arms and Chou with a basketball. The Los Angeles Laker scored 68 points in 15 minutes in the charity game, but the final score was bumped up to 88 points after fans were invited to send in text messaging votes for both sides.
