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It’s time to let Leon Bridges reintroduce himself. The soul artist is naming his upcoming fourth studio album simply Leon, and he’s previewing it with the serene-sounding “Peaceful Place.” He shot the video for the song around Mexico City, near where he recorded the record due out Oct. 4. He sings, “I’m in a peaceful place” on the song, with bongos and handclaps supporting him, and, of course, some soulful guitar. In a statement, Bridges said it’s the album he’s been waiting his whole life to record.

It’s been about 35 years since a one-name actor known as Leon generated some controversial chemistry with Madonna in her classic “Like a Prayer” video in 1989.

Now, while on a Zoom interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 6-foot-3-inch actor whose full name is Leon Preston Robinson — and who walks with the same swagger throughout the interview — lets on to more of his persona, one that has boded well for him in film roles like Derice Bannock in the hit Disney movie Cool Runnings (about the first Jamaican U.S. Olympics bobsled team); suave lead singer David Ruffin for the NBC miniseries The Temptations; and J.T. Matthews in The Five Heartbeats, among others. It still blows his mind that whenever he encounters a fan or fellow celebrity, there’s a good chance one of his own movie lines will be quoted back to him.

“The leader of the pack...

Get ready for an insightful and revealing episode of “Uncensored” as Season 6 Episode 13, titled “Leon,” airs this Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 10:00 Pm on TV One. In this episode, viewers will get an exclusive look into the remarkable 40-year journey of actor Leon, renowned for his unforgettable performances in both television and film.

Leon opens up about his illustrious career, delving into his experiences portraying iconic roles in acclaimed series such as “The Temptations” and blockbuster films like “Waiting to Exhale,” “Cool Runnings,” and “The Five Heartbeats.” With candor and depth, he shares behind-the-scenes stories, challenges faced, and the impact of his work on audiences worldwide.

Through intimate interviews and captivating anecdotes, “Uncensored” offers a rare glimpse into the life and career of Leon, highlighting his contributions to entertainment and his enduring legacy in the industry. Don’t miss this captivating episode as Leon’s remarkable journey unfolds, airing Sunday at 10:00 Pm on TV One.

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Quick Answer: The Color Purple (2023) can currently be streamed online with a Max subscription and purchased on Amazon Prime Video.

Stream 'The Color Purple' on Max

Music has always been a part of The Color Purple in every capacity, whether on the stage or on the screen. Now, that well-rounded and immersed music in the 2023 edition is available to watch on Max.

“A lot of musicals...

The African American Film Critics Association, representing the largest group of Black film critics globally, said Friday it has partnered with Delta Air Lines to curate a collection of films that celebrate Black History Month.

This in-flight collaboration marks a first for Aafca and promises to bring diverse stories representing the Black cinema experience to Delta customers during the month of February.

The films featured in this collection have been selected by Aafca members, working closely with Delta’s In-flight Entertainment team and Bold, Delta’s Black Community Business Resource Group, to encompass a range of genres and narratives that showcase the richness and depth of Black-themed stories in film.

“In-flight movies offer a great way to discover titles that were previously unknown to me,” says Aafca president, Gil Robertson. “Over the years, I have been introduced to phenomenal stories that broadened my point of view about different people and cultures from around the world.

The African American Film Critics Association revealed on Thursday that it has teamed up with Delta Air Lines to curate a collection of films celebrating Black History Month.

The movies in the collection include If Beale Street Could Talk, The Five Heartbeats, Dreamgirls, Shaft, The Best Man, School Daze, Friday, Dear White People, Crooklyn, The Wood, Sarafina! and more. The films will be available in-flight for Delta customers.

“In-flight movies offer a great way to discover titles that were previously unknown to me,” says Aafca president Gil Robertson. “Over the years, I have been introduced to phenomenal stories that broadened my point of view about different people and cultures from around the world. It is my hope that Delta passengers will enjoy a similar experience from our collection, which provides a showcase for the richness of Black-themed stories.”

The Aafca, the largest group of Black film critics globally, said it...

David McKnight, whose film resume included starring as the lead in the blaxploitation horror movie J.D.’s Revenge, as well as Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle and The Five Heartbeats, died Sunday at age 87.

McKnight passed from cancer in Las Vegas, according to reports.

The actor was a TV staple in various character roles, appearing on Kojak, Hill Street Blues, The Incredible Hulk, Dynasty and Benson, among other shows.

In J.D.’s Revenge (1976), McKnight played a deceased New Orleans hustler who takes over the body of a college student (Glynn Turman) and goes after the man who murdered him and his sister 30 years earlier.

McKnight was hired to play Uncle Ray in Townsend’s The Hollywood Shuffle, playing a singer turned barber who encourages Townsend’s Bobby Taylor to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.

McKnight went on to portray Pastor Stone in the Townsend-directed The Five Heartbeats (1991) and was the...

David McKnight, who portrayed the title character in the cult blaxploitation horror classic J.D.’s Revenge and appeared in Hollywood Shuffle and The Five Heartbeats for Robert Townsend, has died. He was 87.

McKnight died Sunday of cancer in Las Vegas, his friend and publicist Cynthia Busby told The Hollywood Reporter.

McKnight also showed up on dozens of TV shows, from Kojak, Hill Street Blues, The Incredible Hulk, Dynasty and Benson to Moonlighting, 227, Roc, L.A. Law and The District.

In the New Orleans-set J.D.’s Revenge (1976), directed by Arthur Marks, McKnight played a deceased hustler who takes over the body of a college student (Glynn Turman) and goes after the man who murdered him and his sister 30 years earlier.

In a 2018 interview, McKnight said that he first met Townsend when the first-time feature filmmaker was putting together Hollywood Shuffle (1987) and offered him advice.

He was then hired to play Uncle Ray,...

Fandoms everywhere can now rejoice, for in October Our Flag Means Death finally returns to our screens for its second season. Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi will be romancing the high seas once more thanks to an enormous outpouring of love and support from the show’s fans. The safety of the cult favorite is not yet known beyond season two, but if this one is as good as the first, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying.

Talking of little shows that could, Doom Patrol is back for its last ever block of episodes, having long outlasted the many of the other ill-fated DC streaming series. Season two of The Gilded Age is also streaming this month, with Bertha challenging both Mrs. Astor and the old system in this new run.

And if none of that is up your street, there’s always Jason Statham punching sharks in the face,...

With its combined catalog of HBO originals as well as titles from Food Network, Cartoon Network, the CW, Discovery, HGTV, and more, Max is starting another month with an embarrassment of riches, be it Gilded Age fortunes or pirate booty.

The Warner Bros. streamer will pull from its multiple brands for dozens of new titles, classic movies, special-interest series, and more, from 1963’s classic horror film The Haunting to the all-new highly anticipated second season of the romantic dramedy “Our Flag Means Death.”

Get ready for the new month and check out The Streamable’s picks for the best titles coming to Max this month!

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What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Max in October 2023? “Our Flag Means Death” Season 2 | Thursday, Oct. 5

Season 2 of the hit Taikia Waititi and Rhys Darby...

Rhys Darby in ‘Our Flag Means Death’ season 2 (Photograph by Nicola Dove/Max)

Max’s 2023 October lineup of series includes new seasons of Our Flag Means Death, The Gilded Age, and 30 Coins, as well as the second half of Doom Patrol season four (the final season). A documentary focusing on the notorious Bling Ring premieres on October 1st, along with all five Final Destination films.

In addition to a batch of horror films joining the network’s lineup, Max is celebrating Halloween with new seasons of Ghost Adventures and The Haunted Museum.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In October 2023:

October 1

3 Godfathers (1948)

The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)

All About the Benjamins (2002)

The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995)

Angels in the Outfield (1951)

The Answer Man (2009)

Anthropoid (2016)

Appaloosa (2008)

The Apparition (2012)

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Badlands (1973)

Be Cool (2005)

Bee Season (2005)

Beetlejuice (1988)

The Benchwarmers (2006)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blindspotting (2018)

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)

Cesar Chavez (2014)

Charlie Wilson’s War...

Leon Preston Robinson, better known simply as Leon, is an American actor who is best known for his performances as J.T. Matthews in the musical/drama film The Five Heartbeats, Derice Bannock in the hit sport/comedy film Cool Runnings, and for portraying Shep in the drama/crime basketball film Above the Rim.

Leon Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education

Leon was born on March 8, 1962 (Leon age: 61) in New York City. His parents are Leon Preston Robinson III and Antionette Robinson.

For high school, Leon attended Mount Saint Michael Academy. For college, he went to Loyola Marymount University on a basketball scholarship, where he was very active playing sports. He quickly developed a passion for the creative arts field, and decided to pursue acting as a full-time career after school. He later went on to attend Orange Coast College for his further education.

Leon Biography: Career

In an exclusive with uInterview,...

[This story contains mild spoilers to The Bear season two.]

For as long as Ayo Edebiri can remember, Robert Townsend has been a part of her life. “He literally was my dad for a period,” says The Bear star, referencing the pioneering actor and director’s role as Robert Peterson on the WB sitcom The Parent ‘Hood, which he created and starred in from 1995-1999.

In a collage that sits in front of Edebiri’s desk is a cutout of a poster of Hollywood Shuffle, Townsend’s 1987 semi-autobiographical comedy which he co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in. When she and co-host Olivia Craighead released the second episode in the director series of their Iconography podcast on July 29, 2020, Townsend was Edebiri’s chosen icon. And when Christopher Storer, The Bear’s creator and co-showrunner, asked the actress who portrays Sydney in the comedy-drama who she wanted to play her dad in season two, she told him, “My dream would be Robert Townsend.

The Motion Picture Academy’s decision to ban Will Smith from Oscar ceremonies and events for 10 years as discipline for slapping Chris Rock is little more than an extended time out for a playground bully. It’s a toothless penalty that lays bare the shallowness of Hollywood morals.

At this point, the only person who can redeem the integrity of the Oscars is Smith himself. He needs to come to grips with the gravity of the offense he committed: slapping Rock, live on March 27 in front of millions on the Academy Awards stage. Smith needs to express-mail his golden trophy back to the Academy and publicly state something to the effect of: “Out of respect for the 94 years of honor conferred upon this award, I do not in good conscience feel worthy of being its custodian.”

Of the many unsettling things said in the aftermath of the slap, the most...

Stacey Abrams has been tapped to receive the inaugural Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice award as part of the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.

The new award named for Belafonte — the Emmy-winning actor, activist and civil rights leader — is intended to recognize individuals who have used storytelling and the arts to enact change in their communities.

Abrams, in addition to her work as a politician and voting rights activist, also produced last year’s gripping documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” which illuminated America’s history of voter suppression. As such, Tribeca announced that Abrams will be honored for her “outstanding leadership, service and commitment to fighting against injustices through her work as a political leader, voting rights activist and novelist.”

“We are proud to salute the brilliant and inspiring actor, activist and friend, Harry Belafonte with this award created in his honor,’” said Tribeca Chief Content Officer, Paula Weinstein.

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese to have a pre-recorded discussion of Raging Bull at the Tribeca Film Festival following the screening. Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

The 25th anniversary of The Royal Tenenbaums, with stars Alec Baldwin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, and director Wes Anderson in a live-streamed conversation, following the screening; the 25th anniversary of Joel Coen and Ethan Coen’s Fargo, with stars Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, and Joel Coen in an in-person conversation; the 30th anniversary of Robert Townsend’s The Five Heartbeats, with stars John Terrell, Tico Wells, Leon Robinson, Harry Lennix, Michael Wright, Hawthorne James, and Townsend in an in-person conversation; plus Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro discussing Raging Bull’s “lasting legacy”, in a pre-recorded conversation following the screening, have all been announced for the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival to take place in outdoor venues across New York City.

The Tribeca Festival’s lineup of talks and reunion screenings will blend in-person and virtual events, with Amy Schumer, Guillermo del Toro and Bradley Cooper among those on the bill.

Reunion screenings, an increasingly popular draw at the fest in recent years, will celebrate Fargo, Raging Bull, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Five Heartbeats and Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid.

Tribeca’s 20th edition is set for June 9 to June 20 and will be the first major film festival to host in-person events since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in early 2020. The Berlin Film Festival just confirmed a special summer event to be held outdoors during the same June dates in the latest sign of the industry’s recovery from Covid-19.

The “storytellers” section will include Cooper in conversation with del Toro and Schumer in conversation with Emily Ratajkowski. Other tandems will include Mike Jackson and John Legend of Get Lifted Film Company...

The Tribeca Film Festival is adding some splashy talks to its upcoming New York City lineup, which promises to be the first major film festival in the U.S. to return to business as normal after the pandemic.

Director Joel Coen will be joined in conversation with stars Frances McDormand and Steve Buscemi to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award-winning film “Fargo.” Meanwhile, the 20th anniversary of “The Royal Tenenbaums” will be celebrated with a reunion of director Wes Anderson with stars Alec Baldwin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, and Danny Glover. The 30th anniversary of “The Five Heartbeats” will also be marked with stars Robert Townsend, John Terrell, Tico Wells, Leon Robinson, Harry Lennix, Michael Wright, and Hawthorne James.

Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro will also team up with director Martin Scorsese to discuss creating “Raging Bull.”

The Tribeca Talks: Storytellers slate celebrates groundbreaking creators working across multiple mediums.

The casts of “Fargo,” “Raging Bull,” “The Five Heartbeats,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums” will reunite at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

In addition, the festival, which is returning to in-person events after Covid scrambled plans for the 2020 edition, will host talks with the likes of Bradley Cooper, Amy Schumer, Gina Prince-Bythewood, M. Night Shyamalan, and members of the punk group Blondie.

The festival will take place largely in outdoor venues around each of the city’s five boroughs. It unfolds between June 9 to June 20, and comes nearly 20 years after the festival was founded in the wake of 9/11.

Just as that festival was formed to inspire people to return to lower Manhattan, which had been devastated by the terrorist attack, this iteration comes as New York City is struggling to reemerge from a pandemic that upended cultural and economic life.

Past Tribeca reunions have featured the filmmaking teams behind such classics as “Goodfellas,...

Oscar nominated screenwriter of One Night in Miami… and the writer/co-director of Pixar’s Soul, Kemp Powers discusses some of his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Innerspace (1987)

The Goonies (1985)

Animal House (1978)

Soul (2020)

One Night In Miami… (2020)

Munich (2005)

12 Angry Men (1957)

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)

Gremlins (1984)

About Schmidt (2002)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Little Women (2019)

Cornbread, Earl And Me (1975)

The Education Of Sonny Carson (1974)

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)

Point Break (1991)

Point Break (2015)

Ghost (1990)

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)

Road House (1989)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

The Outsiders (1983)

Die Hard (1988)

Up (2009)

Monsters Inc. (2001)

Inside Out (2015)

Wall-e (2008)

Ratatouille (2007)

Van Nuys Blvd. (1979)

Mad Max (1979)

The Road Warrior (1981)

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Happy Feet (2006)

Babe (1995)

Lorenzo’s Oil (1992)

Unforgiven (1992)

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Tombstone (1993)

Invictus (2009)

Jersey Boys (2014)

Gran Torino...

Ava DuVernay’s Array is presenting its fourth filmmaker tweet-a-thon, Array Film Fellowship. The annual daylong social media event is set to kick off on April 30 at 9 am Pt and will run for a staggering 10 hours and feature the voices of over 50 directors.

From Academy Award winners to veterans to legends to new voices the Twitter takeover will feature Guillermo Del Toro, Patty Jenkins, Jon M. Chu, Julie Dash, Jill Soloway, Patricia Cardoso, Mira Nair, George Tillman, Victoria Mahoney, Diane Paragas, Nisha Ganatra, Prentice Penny, Numa Perrier and many more.

More from DeadlineRusso Brothers To Celebrate One-Year Anniversary Of 'Avengers: Endgame' With Live Tweet RewatchSnap Surges 37%, Facebook Follows As Social Media Stocks Rally In Upbeat MarketTwitter Founder-ceo Jack Dorsey Made $1.40 In 2019, Even With Year Before

The filmmakers will wax poetic on the social media platform and share details about their craft, latest projects, take questions from film lovers...

Effie T. Brown got her start working in Hollywood as an intern in 1991’s “The Five Heartbeats,” directed and co-written and produced by Robert Townsend, one of black Hollywood’s preeminent figures. Since then, Brown has spent her career helping to produce films and TV that she says simply spoke to her, gave her life and had something to say about her experience — films such as “But I’m a Cheerleader,” “Real Women Have Curves” and “Dear White People.” As conversations in Hollywood increasingly steer toward issues of diversity and inclusion, however, Brown told TheWrap she felt there was more she could do than simply grind away as a producer trying to get things made. She recently joined the film and TV financing fund Gamechanger as its CEO, tweaking the mission from just focusing on funding projects from female filmmakers to include people of color, Lgbtq+ creators and those with disabilities.

Tributes are flooding in for “Hollywood Shuffle” and “Friday” actor John Witherspoon following news of his death on Tuesday at age 77.

“It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away. He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you “Pops” always & forever,” Witherspoon’s family said in a statement announcing his passing at his Sherman Oaks, Calif., home.

Friends, co-stars and famous fans were quick to share their fondest memories of the legendary actor and comedian, expressing sadness over the loss.

Also Read: John Witherspoon, Prolific Character Actor and 'Friday' Star, Dies at 77

“I’m devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon,” Ice Cube wrote. “Life won’t be as funny without him.”

The actor’s son, J.D. Witherspoon tweeted his favorite photos of his father:...

John Witherspoon, a prolific character actor best known for a run of comedic turns in acclaimed films and cult classics like “Hollywood Shuffle” and the “Friday” franchise, died Tuesday in his Sherman Oaks, California, home. He was 77.

“It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away. He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you “Pops” always & forever,” Witherspoon’s family said in a statement posted to his Twitter account.

Born John Weatherspoon in Detroit (he changed his name to Witherspoon later) in 1942, he began his career in the 1960s, performing as an actor, comedian and occasional model. He made his television debut in 1970 on an episode of “Barnaby Jones,” and later in the decade appeared on episodes of “Good Times,” “What’s Happening!!” and “The Incredible Hulk,...

Diahann Carroll, TV’s history-making star of NBC’s 1960s sitcom Julia and Broadway’s first black Tony Award-winner in a leading role for the 1962 musical No Strings, died today of cancer. The Dynasty star was 84.

“My personal world has taken a downward spiral,” said singer and friend Dionne Warwick in a statement. “Losing my dear friend and Mentor comes as a true hurt to my heart!! I know I’ll miss her as I’m certain all that knew her will. Rest In Peace my dear friend.”

Carroll’s death was announced by her daughter, Suzanne Kay.

Already a popular stage and nightclub performer when she signed on to star in Julia, Carroll is credited with being the first African-American actress to lead a primetime series in a non-stereotypical role, and the first overall since Beulah, the 1950s sitcom about a maid.

Julia became an immediate hit when it...

Singer and Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated actress Diahann Carroll, the first African American woman to star in her own TV series, has died at at her home in Los Angeles after a long bout with cancer. She was 84.

Her daughter, Suzanne Kay, confirmed the news.

Carroll is perhaps best remembered by younger audiences for her role as the conniving Dominique Deveraux on the nighttime soap “Dynasty” in the mid-’80s. But her first major television assignment was starring as the middle-class single mother Julia in a 1968 sitcom that was praised for featuring an African American in the title role — as much as it was criticized for ignoring the civil rights struggle. The series, which ran for three years, was a trailblazer in leading to greater visibility for African American characters on series television.

The actress characterized by svelte cosmopolitan sophistication had come to television via the musical theater. In the early 1960s...

Paul Benjamin, who played one of the men on the corner in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” died June 28, Lee announced on Instagram.

“I’m sad to write that the great actor Paul Benjamin, who played Ml, far left, passed this past Friday, two days before the 30th anniversary of ‘Do the Right Thing.’ Rest in Paradise,” the director wrote.

View this post on Instagram

I’m Sad To Write That The Great Actor Paul Benjamin on Jul 2, 2019 at 10:15am Pdt

Born in South Carolina, Benjamin started out doing Shakespeare on stage in New York, and made his film debut with a small role as a bartender in “Midnight Cowboy.” He had a featured role in “Across 110th Street” in 1972, and appeared in Blaxploitation films like “The Education of Sonny Carson” and “Friday Foster” with Pam Grier.

Among his other appearances were in Richard Pryor comedy “Some Kind of Hero,...

Paul Benjamin, who appeared in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, has died. Lee announced on Instagram that the veteran actor died June 28. The cause of death was not immediately known. Benjamin was 81.

Benjamin, who played one of the three wise Brooklyn “cornermen” in Lee’s 1989 film Do the Right Thing, began his career in 1969 as a bartender in Midnight Cowboy. He went to play small roles in Sidney Lumet’s The Anderson Tapes and Born to Win, then segued into more extensive TV work later in the 1970s.

He appeared as a death row inmate in a 1988 episode of In The Heat of the Night and also in the 1994 pilot episode of ER, which led to his recurring role of homeless man Al Ervin during the next few seasons. Benjamin also worked on the American Masters documentary of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ralph Ellison, which aired on PBS, as...

Exclusive: The Five Heartbeats, Robert Townsend’s story about the trials and tribulations of a band of five talented guys in a musical group during the rise of Motown, is on its way to Broadway. The film was released by 20th Century Fox on March 28, 1991, and the documentary on the making of has been playing in exclusive runs in New York and Los Angeles this month to qualify for Oscar in hopes of landing a spot in the Best Feature Documentary category.

The Broadway play will “tell a similar story with music that people know from the movie, but there is a composer, Grammy-Award winner, a guy who has won some big awards who already said he will write an original song for us,” said Townsend. He told Deadline that he is in negotiations with a Broadway producer and is writing the Broadway play with Kennen Ivory Wayans,” his original...

John Carter, the pioneering African-American film editor whose credits spanned 1968’s Paper Lion and the original The Heartbreak Kid through Lean On Me, Barbershop and Madea’s Family Reunion, died August 13 at his home in White Plains, New York. He was 95.

Carter’s death was reported by his family in a notice in The New York Times. He was the first African-American editor to join the American Cinema Editors society.

A native of Newark, New Jersey, Carter began his career with Paper Lion, the comedy-drama based on George Plimpton’s New Journalism classic chronicling the author’s first-person account of enduring a grueling Detroit Lions training camp. The film starred Alan Alda as a fictionalized Plimpton.

Prior to Paper Lion, Carter had worked for 12 years at CBS – the family says he was the first African-American film editor employed by network television in New York – finishing his career there as supervising...

John Carter, a pioneering African-American film editor behind such films as “Friday,” “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit,” “Lean on Me” and the Academy Award-nominated Martin Luther King documentary “King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis,” has died. He was 95 years old.

Carter, the first black member of the American Cinema Editors, died peacefully on Aug. 13 at his home in White Plains, New York, his family reported.

His career spanned four decades, during which he put his editing touch to more than 50 feature films, including 1968’s “Paper Lion,” “The Formula,” starring Marlon Brando and “Karate Kid Part III.” Carter also served as editor for a number of black-centric films, such as “The Five Heartbeats” — a musical drama loosely based on The Temptations and The Four Tops — “Boomerang,” “Set it Off,” “Soul Food” and “The Wood.”

Also Read: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shonda Rhimes Remember Aretha Franklin: 'Thank You For the...

At the moment, Harry Lennix is perhaps best known for his portrayal of FBI agent Harold Cooper on NBC’s The Blacklist. The breadth and depth of his work on the stage and screen go well beyond that hit show, however, with film roles spanning from Robert Townsend’s The Five Heartbeats and Julie Taymor’s Titus, to General Swanwick in both Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman, and on Broadway in August Wilson’s final play Radio Golf, and Cymbeline at The Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2014 Lennix created Exponent Media Group and began producing his own content, such as H4, a […]...

At the moment, Harry Lennix is perhaps best known for his portrayal of FBI agent Harold Cooper on NBC’s The Blacklist. The breadth and depth of his work on the stage and screen go well beyond that hit show, however, with film roles spanning from Robert Townsend’s The Five Heartbeats and Julie Taymor’s Titus, to General Swanwick in both Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman, and on Broadway in August Wilson’s final play Radio Golf, and Cymbeline at The Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2014 Lennix created Exponent Media Group and began producing his own content, such as H4, a […]...

Netflix has confirmed that a slew of new original series will be debuting on the streaming service in February. There will also be new to Netflix seasons of some of your favorites from other networks. Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Netflix appearances including Martin Scorsese‘s Oscar-winning “Goodfellas,” Quentin Tarantino‘s “Kill Bill” double feature, the “Oceans” trilogy, and all the films in the “American Pie” franchise.

Of the new Netflix originals, several stand out as particularly binge-worthy, including season 1 of the sci-fi series “Altered Carbon” and the sophomore edition of the teen drama “Greenhouse Academy.” And there are episodes of both the new David Letterman and Joel Hale talk shows.

Feb. 1

3000 Miles to Graceland

42 Grams

Aeon Flux

American Pie

American Pie 2

American Pie Presents: Band Camp

American Pie Presents: The Book of Love

American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile

Ella Enchanted

Extract

Goodfellas...

Next month, Netflix has a wide variety of films — modern to classic, animated to horror, Oscar winners to new indies — and we’ve picked seven that you should watch once they’re made available on the streaming service, either for the first time or as part of a nostalgic binge. Enjoy.

Read More: Kristen Stewart And Juliette Binoche Dig Into Their Complex ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ Relationship – Watch

1. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (available February 1)

The 1993 stop-motion classic directed by Henry Slick and produced by Tim Burton tells the story of Jack Skellington, a resident from Halloween Town who stumbles through a portal to Christmas Town and decides to celebrate the holiday.

2. “The Blair Witch Project” (available February 1)

Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the 1999 found footage horror film became one of the most successful indie films of all time when it was released. The movie follows three film students...

Chicago – The stage play that Harry Lennix is in town to direct – “A Small Oak Tree Runs Red” – is in its last weekend, and is giving the actor/director the best notices of the theater part in his long and successful career. For more information about the play, and ticket availability, click here.

Harry Lennix is a 17 year board member of the Congo Square Theatre – the company presenting the play – while he continues his career as a working actor. Born in Chicago, he studied acting and direction at Northwestern University. He broke into films with 1989’s made-in-Chicago “The Package,” and has steadily climbed the career ladder since then. Film highlights include “The Five Heartbeats” (1991), “Get on the Bus” (1996), “Love & Basketball” (2000), “The Matrix Reloaded” (2003) and “State of Play” (2009). He has had recurring or regular character roles on the TV series “ER,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “24” and “Dollhouse.” He appeared in Chicago on the...

Chicago – Mention the name Harry Lennix, and images of his many character roles are bound to emerge – Harold Cooper in the TV series “The Blacklist,” General Swanwick from “Batman v Superman” and Commissioner Blades from Spike Lee’s recent “Chi-Raq.” The deeply knowledgeable Lennix brings his years of dramatic expertise, as he directs the Congo Square Theatre Company’s world premiere stage play “A Small Oak Tree Runs Red.’

The play is an allegory set in purgatory, the weigh station between heaven and hell. Three African-America characters – two men, and a woman – are in this space, trying to remember what brought them there. They all three have nooses around the necks, the victims of the 1918 Georgia Lynch Riots. With ramifications all the way to the present day, “A Small Oak Tree Runs Red” is a stark reminder of the hatred that has burned in the soul of America since its inception.

With all the talk about Black Panther and other black superheroes, it's perhaps odd that Robert Townsend's 1991 film "The Meteor Man" has never really found any love. It was a box office bomb when it was first released; but unlike other black films that also bombed, and would later find an audience, becoming cult favorites (such as "Love Jones" and Townsend's earlier "The Five Heartbeats"), "Meteor Man" wasn't quite as lucky. The premise is straight out of an old comic book in which Townsend plays Jefferson Reed, a Washington D.C. teacher in a troubled neighborhood who is, one day, stuck by a chunk of a meteor, giving him super powers. But, of course,...

1972 | Directed by Joy N. Houck Jr.

(a.k.a Dirty Dan’s Women, Is the Father Black Enough, The Ace of Spades)

“Southern Revenge”

When Denise (Susan McCullough, in her only credited role) returns home to New Orleans with the news that she is pregnant and due to wed back in New York, her oldest brother Dan (James Ralston, The Terminator) is none too pleased, especially when the father and future husband is revealed to be African American. He is as racist as they come and he doesn’t care who knows about it! Fortunately for Denise, her slightly older brother Vance (Mickey Dolenz, The Monkees) is much more supportive. Not that it really matters as she and her fiancee are murdered back in New York by a Vietnam vet-cum-assassin (Patrick Wright, The Abductors). Denise’s fiancee is shot in broad daylight and her death is staged as a grief stricken suicide.

"Cooley High" ought to be remembered as a cinema milestone, and its writer and director remembered as pioneers.

Released 40 years ago this week (on June 25, 1975), it ought to be celebrated for its vast influence on movies, TV, and music. As a young-men-coming-of-age movie, it deserves to be mentioned alongside Fellini's "I Vitelloni," George Lucas's "American Graffiti," Barry Levinson's "Diner," and John Singleton's "Boyz N the Hood." And yet, the film and its creators have been largely forgotten, lost to history.

The story behind "Cooley High" is even more dramatic than the comedy-drama that unspooled on the screen. It's the story of Kenneth Williams, who, like protagonist Preach, left Chicago's Cabrini-Green projects with dreams of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter. Having dropped out of high school, he hitchhiked from the Windy City to Hollywood with $5 in his pocket and no connections, and for a while he supported himself selling drugs.

Back in 2009, it was reported that Warner Bros was moving forward with another version of "Brewster's Millions," which is based on a 1902 novel. And now comes word that the project is happening again. Variety is reporting that Robert Townsend (The Five Heartbeats, The Meteor Man, Baps) has signed on to direct. The book has been adapted for the big twice already, first in 1945 with Dennis O'Keefe starring and then in 1985 with Richard Pryor and John Candy. The story centers on a man who inherits $1 million from a rich grandfather. When a rich uncle who hated the grandfather also passes away, the will leaves the young man $7 million -- but under the condition he spends the grandfather's million within a year and not end up with any assets from the spending spree.

The 11th - really - big screen adaptation of Brewster's Millions is in the works...

The history of Brewster's Millions on the big screen is extensive. Based on the novel by George Barr McCutcheon, that was published in 1902, there have, to date, been ten screen adaptations of it (not including television projects). They range from the first, a 1914 adaptation directed by Cecil B De Mille and Oscar Apfel, through arguably the highest profile, the Richard Pryor-headlined version that landed in 1985.

Well, number 11 is on the way (and we're indebted to Film Divider for pointing out there have been that many).

The new Brewster's Millions, the first English language take on the book since that 1985 project (that was helmed by Walter Hill, with John Candy co-starring), will be directed by Robert Townsend, based on a screenplay by Michael William Schmidt. The basic premise will be the same: for a man to inherit a large fortune,...

Et was on the ground for Super Bowl media day in Arizona on Tuesday, testing some of the toughest football players on the planet about their knowledge of halftime artist Katy Perry.

Et's Kevin Frazier and special correspondent Michelle Williams got stars from both the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks to sing some of Katy's biggest hits, and even got Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch to bust out a tune.

Video: Seattle Seahawks Star Marshawn Lynch Sings in Rare Interview With Et!

Instead of Katy Perry, Lynch belted out the chorus from "Nights Like This" featured on the soundtrack of the 1991 classic The Five Heartbeats.

As a reward for playing along, Et gave the players Xbox Ones -- a prize Lynch is sending to a good cause.

"One lucky kid from my [Fam 1st Family Foundation] will be going home with an Xbox One as soon as I get home from the Super Bowl," Lynch said.

While...

Laconic Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch remained closed-off to most outlets during Super Bowl media day on Tuesday in Arizona, but Et special correspondent Michelle Williams got him to open up in a sweet moment.

News: Which Side are the Celebrities On This Super Bowl?

As she did with all the other players, Williams tried to get Lynch to put his golden pipes on display and join the Destiny's Child singer in singing a Katy Perry song when she caught up with him backstage, but she didn't expect a lot of participation. During his time at the podium, Lynch told reporters bluntly, "I'm here so I won't get fined."

According to Espn, the NFL warned Lynch that he could face a $500,000 fine if he failed to make himself available on media day.

"I have to sing?" Lynch asked Williams. "I run into people, though. I think it'd be better if you sing."

Lynch eventually...

‘Jersey Boys’ movie review: Great music fails to save Clint Eastwood-directed film version of the 2005 Broadway musical (photo: John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons in ‘Jersey Boys’) Clint Eastwood’s semi-historically accurate biopic of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys, is based on the hit 2005 Broadway musical — and it is a crushing bore. But we shall start with the positive: In Eastwood’s film, the music and the performances of the music (which are not the same thing) are great. That is to be expected, as the Jersey Boys movie cast is mostly composed from cast members of the stage show, including Tony winner John Lloyd Young, who happens to look a lot like Frankie Valli and who has a four-plus octave range. Lucky boy. Lloyd Young is also a serviceable actor with a number of (mostly stage) credits that did not require a piercing falsetto.

More Black History Month commemorations, as you'd expect, with February just around the corner. This one from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, via press release below... To commemorate Black History Month and the cinematic achievements of African-Americans, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has unveiled the ‘Real Black History Month Collection,’ an abundant collection of timeless and trailblazing titles featured on DVD, including for the first-time-ever on Blu-ray™, The Five Heartbeats, the Motown-flavored masterpiece that tells the story of five friends drawn together by music, success and personal tragedy. Available now on Blu-ray™ (Bd) and DVD at major U.S....

Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week

"Blue Jasmine"

What's It About? Cate Blanchett stars as Jasmine, a fancy New Yorker whose late husband was one of those finance scumbags who swindled people. Left high and dry, she heads to Sf to impose upon her sweet sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins), who's got her own problems to deal with.

Why We're In: This Woody Allen flick is getting rave reviews, nominations, and awards out the wazoo, so if you haven't seen it yet, get cracking.

Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week

"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (Criterion)

What's It About? Comedy bigwigs like Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Spencer Tracy, and Jonathan Winters star in this slapstick-y flick about buried treasure.

Why We're In: Because it's winter and you need a laugh, and because this Criterion edition is restored, extended, and spiffed up in all the right ways.

Like Love Jones, Robert Townsend’s The Five Heartbeats wasn’t a huge box office success when it first came out back in March 1991, but like Love Jones, its stature has grown and has become more appreciated and loved over the past 20 years.Directed by Townsend, who also co-wrote wrote the script with Keenan Ivory Wayans, the film charts the rise and fall, and rise again, of a five man singing group (played by Townsend, Harry Lennix, Michael Wright, Leon and Tico Wells) in a heartfelt love letter by Townsend to those great soul vocal groups of the 1960’s. It is as sincere, emotional and compelling as any film ever made.And, of course, the music is just fantastic.Now Fox Home...

Chicago – One of the more unique independent films that worked the festival circuit in 2012 and ’13 was the drama “Mr. Sophistication.” The main character was Ron Waters, a comedian described as “Richard Pryor’s protegé.” Actor Harry Lennix took on the character, breathing in both the drama of the show business story and the particular style of stand-up.

The film was recently released in downloadable and DVD formats. While on that festival circuit, Harry Lennix and the production crew – writer/director Danny Green and producers Jon E. Edwards and Albena Dodeva – stopped by Chicago, and HollywoodChicago.com spoke to them about the film.

Actor Harry Lennix, Portrays Ron Waters in “Mr. Sophistication”

Harry Lennix and Robert Patrick in ‘Mr. Sophistication’

Photo credit: Mr. Smoothie Company

HollywoodChicago.com: You were born in Chicago and have the Chicago influence in the story of Ron Waters. How important was it to give Ron a...

New York — George Duke, the Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist and producer whose sound infused acoustic jazz, electronic jazz, funk, R&B and soul in a 40-year-plus career, has died. He was 67.

A representative for Duke said the performer died Monday night in Los Angeles. Duke was being treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Duke's son, Rashid, thanked his father's fans in a statement Tuesday.

"The outpouring of love and support that we have received from my father's friends, fans and the entire music community has been overwhelming," he said. "Thank you all for your concern, prayers and support."

Duke was born in San Rafael, Calif. He appeared on a number of Frank Zappa albums and played in the Don Ellis Orchestra, Cannonball Adderley's band and with jazz musician Stanley Clarke. Duke also played keyboard on Michael Jackson's multiplatinum 1979 album, "Off the Wall."

His wife, Corine, died from cancer last year.