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After William Friedkin’s Cruising spent the better part of the aughts as the subject of earnest, if guarded, revisionist critique, how does the film hold up in our current era of representational politics and trigger warnings? And why does it feel like how you answer that question will determine which side pocket you keep your handkerchief in?

The gay side of Film Twitter had previously treated Friedkin’s 1980 ode to fisting, frottage, and flash cuts with a level of curiosity nearly equal to the fury of the disco era’s gay community. What currency could an undercover police officer’s punk-disco battle with the monsters in his closet possibly have when held against the ironic sense that an avowed sexual assaulter with a fondness for golden showers will soon be the one to usher in a rollback of LGBT gains at every level? But in its day, Cruising was...

"The Big Bang Theory" ended its 12-season run in 2019, but apparently, it's still a major hit with audiences. According to Deadline, the series was the "most-binged" title in all of streaming in 2024 (which the outlet pulled from a Nielsen report).

According to Nielsen, "The Big Bang Theory" boasted an average of 265.5 episodes per audience member, which apparently translates to 29.1 billion minutes of streaming (which is seriously impressive). The show also managed to place seventh in all of the year's most-streamed titles, and 58% percent of its audience was from the highly valuable age group of 18 to 49. Deadline also noted that, in the Nielsen report, "most-binged" is drawn from shows that have at least 50 episodes ("The Big Bang Theory" has 279) and viewers had to spend the length of a single episode, which in the case of this series is about 20 minutes, in order to qualify. "While half-hour programs tend to be more binge-able,...

Starring in the hit sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, for over a decade, Jim Parsons earned significant acclaim and recognition for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper. While his acting career continued to thrive with more TV and film roles, he has since shared his experience of seeking out meaningful roles that truly resonated with him.

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

Parsons opened up about the same in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that while he received several offers after The Big Bang Theory ended, many of them didn’t feel like the right fit for him.

Jim Parsons reflected on the post-The Big Bang Theory offers

After wrapping up his role as the brilliant Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons has gone on to star in projects like Hollywood, The Boys in the Band, and Spoiler Alert.

In their feverish film, Craig plays a man embroiled in a drug-fuelled gay affair. He and director Guadagnino talk about love, ageing – and a forgotten sex act

There is no shortage of directors who have made movies about gay life only to then backtrack and claim they were not specifically gay stories after all: Tom Ford did it with A Single Man, William Friedkin with both Cruising and The Boys in the Band. Luca Guadagnino, the director of Call Me By Your Name and this year’s steamy tennis romcom Challengers, is not about to play that game. “It is the most gigantic gay film in history,” he says of his latest picture, for which he recreated 1950s Mexico City on 12 stages at the Cinecittà studios in Rome. “I don’t think there has ever been a bigger gay movie.” Then again, he doesn’t have much wriggle room: the film is called Queer.

"The Big Bang Theory" ran for 12 seasons and the same number of years — from 2007 to 2019, to be precise — and fans still love Chuck Lorre's sitcoms about a gang of (somewhat) lovable nerds even though this one has been off the airwaves for some time now. The success of "The Big Bang Theory" is unquestionably due to the show's outstanding cast, as every single series regular brought something genuinely special to their individual roles, and the chemistry between the main characters is definitely what made people tune into the show week after week.

So what has the cast of "The Big Bang Theory" been doing since the show came to a close in the spring of 2019? They're a pretty talented bunch, so you probably won't be surprised to learn that pretty much all of them have stayed booked and busy in Hollywood. Still, I'm here to provide updates on the stars of this well-loved show,...

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Jim Parsons is one of those actors who, pretty much no matter what he does for the rest of his life, is probably going to be known first and foremost as one single character. Parsons not only played the role of Sheldon Cooper for 12 seasons on the wildly popular sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," but he also served as the narrator (in addition to being a producer) on the spin-off "Young Sheldon," which had a healthy seven-season run on CBS. That series concluded with Parsons returning in front of the camera as an older Sheldon to help bookend the story. But his cameo, while very satisfying for fans, was something the actor was hesitant to do.

In a May 2024 interview with People, Parsons spoke about his involvement in the "Young Sheldon" finale shortly after it aired. Titled "Memoir," the episode...

Jim Parsons, known for portraying the role of Sheldon Cooper in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, once opened up about an audition that didn’t go his way. Before he gained recognition for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper, the actor had attempted for a role in other well-known and popular sitcoms like The Office.

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper | Credit: CBS

Parsons later reflected on his audition for a role in The Office, which he ultimately lost. However, despite the initial disappointment, the actor has no regrets over losing the role, as he shared that he wasn’t the best fit for the character.

Jim Parsons Recalled His Failed Auditioned For The Office

In an appearance on Dan Patrick Show, the Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons shared that before starring on The Big Bang Theory, he had auditioned for a role on The Office. However, he doesn’t exactly...

The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons has shared his thoughts on potentially reprising the role of Sheldon Cooper for a third time. He played the neurotic character in all 12 seasons of the iconic sitcom, later reprising it as the narrator of the seven-season prequel show Young Sheldon, in which he appeared on camera during the series finale. However, he is not currently set to appear in the upcoming untitled Big Bang Theory spinoff, which is not officially greenlit but is in development with returning actors Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn, and Lauren Lapkus attached to star.

Per Deadline, Jim Parsons recently appeared on Whos Talking To Chris Wallace?, where he spoke about the possibility of returning to the role of Sheldon Cooper once more. He said he did not have interest at the time of the interview, but he added that he would "never say never," reflecting that "life just changes so much.

Much has been made of the incestuous portrayal of the Menendez brothers in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” But the actors behind the widely discussed Netflix original want viewers to know this element of the series isn’t necessarily based on fact.

“To be honest with you, I don’t remember reading any of that in my research. So if he did suggest that, it was a suggestion as it is at this dinner party where he talks for 20 pages,” Nathan Lane told TheWrap of Vanity Fair reporter Dominick Dunne.

During the dinner party in question, Dunne (Lane) entertains his guests with an onslaught of questions and theories about the case, questioning why the brothers didn’t bring up their alleged abuse sooner.

“Then he suggests maybe this is a possible scenario, and they cut away to Kitty walking in on them in the shower,” Lane explained. “That...

Emmy-winning actor Nathan Lane was able to channel his performance as legendary crime reporter Dominic Dunne in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story by going through the writer’s famous son, actor Griffin Dunne.

Lane’s performance is winning praise for his harnessing of the pain and loss Dunne held onto for decades after the double blow the writer experienced in the early 1980s of a tragedy and an injustice; as the series shows, the perceived miscarriage of justice informs Dunne’s perspective on crimes he covers for Vanity Fair and leads to his speculations about the nature of the Menendez boys’ relationship, which are peppered throughout the limited series. But it wasn’t only through researching his crime and trial reporting that Lane got into the mindset of the late legend.

“What helped was talking to Griffin Dunne, his son, a lovely actor and a wonderful...

Cult of Love, the upcoming new Broadway play by Star Wars: The Acolyte writer and showrunner Leslye Headland, will feature a cast that includes Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies), Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story), and Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria), producers announced today.

The Second Stage Theater production, directed by Trip Cullman, also will feature Molly Bernard (Younger), Roberta Colindrez (Broadway’s Fun Home), Rebecca Henderson (Star Wars: Acolyte), Christopher Lowell (Glow) and Christopher Sears (Off Broadway’s The Harvest).

Quinto is no stranger to Broadway – his credits include The Boys in the Band and The Glass Menagerie – while Woodley and Ferrari will be making their Broadway debuts.

The play, in its New York premiere, will begin previews on November 20 at Second Stage’s Helen Hayes Theater, with an official opening on December 12.

Additional casting will be announced shortly.

As previously announced, the synopsis reads: “It’s the holiday season for the Dahl family!

Exclusive: Michael Benjamin Washington (American Auto) and Elijah Wright (High and Low) have joined the fourth season of MGM+’s gangster drama Godfather of Harlem as recurring guest stars.

Washington will play James Baldwin, the renowned writer, social critic and activist from Harlem, known for his piercing insight into the complexities of race, identity, and human relationships. Baldwin is a commanding orator, soulful storyteller, and fierce advocate for justice.

Wright portrays Jerome Greene, a kid from Harlem, driven by a fierce sense of duty and loyalty, who initially wants to fight in Vietnam but ultimately channels his passion into the Black Panthers, where he battles for justice and equality at home.

In Season 4 of the series, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the emergence of a potential rival...

Johnny Galecki became a household name when he starred as Leonard Hofstadter in The Big Bang Theory. Playing a physicist who tries to up his social hierarchy by including his attractive neighbor in his group of other scientists, Galecki starred in the show for all twelve seasons and was one of TV’s highest-paid actors.

However, the actor has barely been in many films despite hitting it big on TV. The actor has had small roles in films and has also worked less since the end of Tbbt. Galecki confessed that he found the audition process grueling and that he would usually think of someone better to play the role, which annoyed his agent.

Johnny Galecki Fumbles Auditions In A Way That Drives His Agent Crazy A still from The Big Bang Theory | Credits: CBS

Johnny Galecki made being nerdy the new sexy with his co-stars Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyar,...

Jim Parsons is one of the most talented people in the entertainment industry. And playing Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory has only cemented his place in Hollywood. But other than Tbbt, the actor has been part of many other successful projects, like The Normal Heart (2014), Hollywood (2020), The Boys in the Band (2020), etc.

Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory | CBS

The actor has also been nominated for multiple awards in his career so far. From multiple Emmys to Golden Globes, he has no shortage of accolades. And while most of his fame came from playing the neurodivergent character of Sheldon Cooper in the sitcom, he has a few other projects that have shown his mettle in his craft, including the Oscar-nominated movie, Hidden Figures (2016).

Jim Parsons Was Hesitant to Take on Hidden Figures

The biographical drama movie, Hidden Figures, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae in the lead,...

Earlier this year, Kieran Culkin scored an Emmy win for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his stint as Roman Roy in HBO’s Succession. But before Culkin made it big in the realm of television, his brother, Macaulay Culkin, who rose to stardom at the age of 11, was once offered to star in one of the biggest sitcoms of the 21st century.

However, unlike fans of The Big Bang Theory, the Home Alone star wasn’t too fond of the Jim Parsons-led show and dropped the opportunity to bank on its popularity.

Macaulay Culkin Preferred Losing Millions Over Starring in Tbbt A still from The Big Bang Theory | HBO

Despite being one of the beloved sitcoms of the past two decades, The Big Bang Theory isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, with one major example being Charlie Sheen. Despite making a guest appearance in season 2’s episode 4, The Griffin Equivalency,...

While the role of Sheldon Cooper doesn’t sound the most physical on paper, it did end up taking a major toll on Jim Parsons, especially in the initial seasons. Considering most conversations in the show revolved around science, most of the time, the cast was largely clueless about the meaning behind the lines in the script.

Things were more dire for Parsons, as being the lead of the series, he had to do the heavy lifting when it came to parroting rapid-fire scientific monologues during the initial seasons. This eventually forced him to quit drinking despite having no history of alcohol abuse, and his costar Kaley Cuoco has nothing but admiration for his commitment.

Kaley Cuoco Shedded Light on Tbbt‘s Pressure on Jim Parsons Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory | CBS

In the first four seasons of The Big Bang Theory, the sole pressure of delivering scientific...

Before ending his stint in The Big Bang Theory on a high note, Jim Parsons’ commitment to the character, especially in the early seasons, ended up taking a major toll on the actor’s health. Even though Parsons had no issues related to his weight prior to heading into Tbbt’s production, the actor willingly resorted to an extremely restrictive low-carb diet in order to become more healthy.

Moreover, the actor also dropped drinking alcohol for nine years, despite not having any history of alcohol abuse. However, his devotion backfired as the seasons progressed, and if it wasn’t Mayim Bialik, things might’ve continued to worsen.

Mayim Bialik’s Inclusion Made Room for Some Much-Needed Relaxation for Jim Parsons A still from The Big Bang Theory | CBS

Following his commitment to the intense diet, which continued to aggravate as the show progressed, Jim Parsons was struggling both mentally and physically.

After playing Sheldon Cooper for 12 seasons straight, Jim Parsons finally bid goodbye to the iconic role back in 2019. Although the actor was reportedly offered a whopping sum of $50M to carry on for seasons 13 and 14, the actor was firm with his decision to leave the sitcom for good.

Parsons’ decision to retire from playing the character was motivated by several factors, especially the death of his 14-year-old dog, which left the actor grieving. But this wasn’t the lone factor that contributed to his departure, as his father’s death was also looming around his head.

The Age Gap Between Him and His Father Made Jim Parsons Ponder His Future A still from The Big Bang Theory | CBS

While Jim Parsons initially had suspicions about leaving the sitcom when he signed on for seasons 11 and 12, things started to solidify on his mind once the filming of season 11 wrapped up. Although...

In a compelling exploration of a lifelong friendship and occasional rivalry between literary icons Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, Hollywood stars Jim Parsons and Zachary Quinto teamed up for a documentary project. With Lisa Immordino Vreeland directing Tennessee & Truman: An Intimate Conversation, Parsons and Quinto offered their voices as Capote and Williams, respectively.

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory | Chuck Lorre Productions, Warner Bros. Television

However, while the Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto’s association with the project came smoothly, Jim Parsons was rather hesitant to join the team. But fortunately, after his exit from the widely acclaimed series The Big Bang Theory, with nothing significant in hand, Parsons marked his notable collaboration with Quinto in their 2020 documentary.

With Reduced Opportunities, Jim Parsons Teamed up with Zachary Quinto

Finding his breakthrough following his role as the uber-geek Sheldon Cooper in the much-loved 12 season sitcom The Big Bang Theory,...

Prominently known for portraying Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons has enjoyed an illustrious career, across television, film, and Broadway. Despite the immense success of The Big Bang Theory, the show is believed to have ended largely because Parsons chose not to return as Sheldon Cooper.

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper | Credit: CBS

His decision sparked speculation about the factors influencing his departure from the show. Parsons later revealed that exhaustion and the emotional toll of losing his beloved pet dog were significant factors that led him to a point where he felt he could no longer continue with the series.

Jim Parsons Reflected on His Exit From The Big Bang Theory

Jim Parsons waited until after the conclusion of The Big Bang Theory’s final season in 2019 to publicly discuss his decision to leave the hit sitcom. During an appearance on David Tennant Does a Podcast With…...

Henry Cavill’s role as Superman has found a resurgence of fans after he was replaced by David Corenswet in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman. The actor played the role in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and went on to reprise his role in subsequent sequels. Though he was slated to return, he had to depart from the character after James Gunn’s reboot.

While Cavill had bad luck with Superman, another actor from the Dceu faced a terrible experience after auditioning for the role. Matt Bomer, who is known for his role in White Collar, reportedly auditioned for JJ Abrams’ unmade project Superman: Flyby. However, Bomer claimed that he lost the role after multiple auditions due to his sexual orientation.

Matt Bomer Claims He Lost Superman Role After Coming Out Matt Bomer in White Collar | Credits: Jeff Eastin & Warrior George Productions/Fox Television Studios

Actor Matt Bomer shot...

When LGBTQ community-gathering spaces were largely put on pause by the pandemic, those once-in-person safe havens became our streaming platforms and technical devices at home. Hyper-specific pop subcultures emerged — here’s looking at you, queer readers of the generally awful “Friends” — and reputations for streamers’ philosophies toward and commitment to LGBTQ content were widely discussed online. (Shout out to Showtime: the premium cable network still servicing lesbians everywhere.)

Even as the world has opened back up, in Hollywood, it feels like queer storytelling and community are more galvanized than ever. Nowhere is that more tidily displayed than on the carousels of “LGBTQ” offerings found across entertainment platforms. Netflix, a heavyweight in any streaming conversation (regardless of its rocky 2022), has played a significant role in green-lighting major queer-inclusive projects across television and film. Not only has the platform championed many shows that were queer in premise — see “Grace and Frankie” or...

Home features a star-studded voice cast, including Jim Parsons, Rihanna, and Steve Martin, bringing warmth and charm to the characters. Despite lukewarm reviews, the colorful animation and heartfelt messages of Home resonated with audiences, making it a commercial success. Oh and Tip's unlikely friendship drives the heart of Home, showcasing themes of acceptance and self-discovery through their adventurous journey.

Home features a voice cast packed with recognizable names. The 2015 DreamWorks animated movie was adapted by Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember, and Adam Rex from the Adam Rex children's book The True Meaning of Smekday. Directed by Tim Johnson, Home follows the story of Oh, a misfit alien from the Boov race who befriends a resourceful human girl named Tip. Together, they embark on an adventurous journey to save Earth from an impending Boov invasion, learning about friendship and acceptance along the way. The movie received lukewarm reviews, garnering a 53% rating...

The Big Bang Theory stood out by featuring socially-inept characters, making it easier for the public to root for them. Despite focus on Sheldon and Amy, the finale staged by CBS was surprisingly great, giving each character a heartwarming ending. Beyond the show, the Pasadena gang members continue to live great lives with successful projects and personal growth.

Years after The Big Bang Theory ends, the Pasadena gang members have gone on to do many other things. The CBS nerd-centric sitcom introduced Sheldons friend group, and for 12 years, fans closely followed as they navigated their professional and personal lives. Unlike the usual friendship sitcom, however, The Big Bang Theory was unique in a way that it featured several socially-inept characters, which added a layer of difficulty for them to navigate the world. Not only did it differentiate them from the likes of Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and even Seinfeld,...

Netflix’s new limited series Black Rabbit has added 11 to its cast, led by stars and executive producers Jude Law and Jason Bateman. The additions include Academy Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Odessa Young and Robin De Jesus.

From Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, Black Rabbit follows the owner of a New York City hotspot (Law) who allows his turbulent brother (Bateman) back into his life, opening up the door to escalating dangers that threaten to bring down everything he’s built.

In addition to Law and Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Dagmara Dominczyk and Chris Coy also star.

Kotsur will play “Joe Mancuso,” a local bookie with ties to organized crime and the brothers’ past. Lee will play “Anna,” a formidable NYC bartender. Young will play “Gen,” an...

Jim Parsons has starred in several other movies and shows over the years, but his most notable work continues to be The Big Bang Theory even after so many years since the last season aired. This is perhaps because his involvement with the series never ended as he serves as the narrator and producer on the spin-off series Young Sheldon.

Jim Parsons and Taylor Kitsch in The Normal Heart

In a recent interview in which he discussed his appearance in the finale of the series, he addressed a rumor that suggests he was married to singer Rihanna. In the process of debunking the theory, he said something that makes one wonder if his husband doubts his capability of dating someone like Rihanna.

Jim Parsons Debunked the Rumors of His Marriage to Rihanna

Rihanna in a still from the music video This Is What You Came For

The internet is a continuous rumor-churning mill.

Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch and Katie Holmes will star in the Broadway revival of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town this fall.

In the production, directed by Kenny Leon, Parsons will play the role of Stage Manager, Deutch will play Emily Webb and Holmes will play Mrs. Webb. They lead a cast of 28 actors, who also include Richard Thomas (The Waltons, To Kill a Mockingbird) as Mr. Webb, Ephraim Sykes (Ain’t Too Proud, Hairspray Live!) as George Gibbs and Billy Eugene Jones (Purlie Victorious) as Dr. Gibbs.

The play will begin previews at the Barrymore Theatre on Sept. 17, ahead of an Oct. 10 opening.

Known for his role as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, Parsons also has extensive stage credits, including a role in Mother Play, which begins Broadway previews April 3. He has previously appeared on Broadway in productions including The Boys in the Band, An Act of God and The Normal Heart.

Jim Parsons is one of the most well-known TV actors. He is most popular for his performance as the socially awkward science genius Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. He has received numerous accolades for his portrayal of Sheldon.

Sheldon Cooper became such a beloved character over the twelve seasons of the sitcom that it spawned a spin-off named Young Sheldon. After airing for seven seasons, the spin-off is finally coming to an end with a finale that will see Parsons reprising his role as Sheldon. He recently opened up about his feelings regarding this.

The Big Bang Theory Was Jim Parsons’ Big Break

Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory

Much like his character Sheldon Cooper who happens to be a genius but struggles with fitting into society, Jim Parsons too struggled with finding his place in the entertainment industry. According to the Houston Chronicle,...

Bazinga again! “The Big Bang Theory” stars Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik will guest star on the series finale of CBS’ “Young Sheldon,” reuniting as Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler. Details of the episode, which airs Thursday, May 16, and how Parsons and Bialik will be incorporated into it, remains a secret.

Parsons, of course, has been a part of “Young Sheldon” from the beginning, serving as the show’s narrator and as one of its executive producers. Bialik has also been heard on two episodes of “Young Sheldon” as a guest voiceover. But this reps the first time the duo has been on screen together since the May 2019 series finale of “The Big Bang Theory,” and it also marks the first on-camera appearance of their characters — as grown-up Sheldon and Amy.

“Young Sheldon” originally premiered in 2017, while “The Big Bang Theory” wrapped up its run in 2019 after launching in...

Exclusive: Frank Whaley has signed with TalentWorks for theatrical representation. Since his acclaimed debut opposite Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson in 1987’s Ironweed, Whaley has appeared in over 80 films including, Pulp Fiction, Field of Dreams, Swimming With Sharks, Swing Kids, Career Opportunities, Born on the Fourth of July, The Doors, Broken Arrow, J.F.K., Red Dragon, School of Rock, World Trade Center, The Freshman, Hoffa, Vacancy, among many others. Recent features are Hustlers opposite Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu and Cardi B and Monster Trucks for Paramount. On television, he has recurred on Ray Donovan, Interrogation and Luke Cage. He has also appeared on The Blacklist, Gotham, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Empire, Psyche, Sneaky Pete and recently recurred on the Netflix series The Good Cop and on Amazon’s Jack Ryan. Whaley was previously with A3 and continues to be managed by Karen Forman.

Exclusive: Tuc Watkins has signed with Greene Talent for theatrical representation.

The New Hollywood revolution was raging in 1971, and studios were rapidly transitioning from old-school leadership to boat-rocking up-and-comers who seemed to have the pulse of the Baby Boomer-driven counterculture. The age of star-studded mega-musicals and old-fashioned oaters was over; movies didn't necessarily need a serrated edge to slash into the zeitgeist, but even a weepie like Arthur Hiller's "Love Story" boasted a lived-in verisimilitude. These films, shorn of backlot artifice, were happening in the real world.

Young moviegoers weren't the only ones craving authenticity. John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy" couldn't have been voted Best Picture of 1969 without significant support from gray-haired Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members. This was a film that plunged viewers into the seamiest iteration of New York City ever captured by a studio movie, that dealt with issues of sex work and homosexuality so unflinchingly that the MPAA (now known as MPA) gave it an X-rating.

Peter White, known for his role as attorney Lincoln (Linc) Tyler on soap opera “All My Children” and for his role onstage and on screen in “The Boys in the Band,” died of melanoma at his home in Los Angeles on Nov. 1. He was 86.

In “Armageddon,” White played the Secretary of Defense, while he joined the U.S. government again as Secretary of Commerce in “Dave.” With a distinguished look, Whit was particularly in demand for parts as senators, college deans and ambassadors.

The actor, a graduate of Northwestern and the Yale School of Drama, got his first major acting role as an understudy for Robert Redford in the Broadway production of “Barefoot in the Park” along Myrna Loy. That role formally introduced White to the world of Broadway.

In 1968, White starred as Alan McCarthy in the play “The Boys in the Band,” about a group of gay men who attend...

Peter White, an alum of TV soaps All My Children and Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, has died at 86. All My Children costar Kathleen Noone told The Hollywood Reporter that White died of melanoma at home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. White, born in New York City in 1937 and trained at Yale School of Drama, got his start playing Jerry Ames on the CBS soap The Secret Storm from 1965 to 1966. In 1968, he starred in the original, off-Broadway production of the groundbreaking Mart Crowley play The Boys in the Band — which ran for more than 1,000 performances — and reprised his part in the 1970 film adaptation, directed by William Friedkin. (The play begat a Broadway revival in 2018 and a Netflix film with the revival cast.) On CBS’ Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, White played Dr. Sanford Hiller for more than 250 episodes in 1971. And on ABC’s All My Children, White played Lincoln Tyler,...

Peter White, who portrayed Linc Tyler on the ABC soap opera All My Children over four decades and starred in the original stage production and film adaptation of The Boys in the Band, has died. He was 86.

White died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles of melanoma, his All My Children castmate Kathleen Noone (Ellen Shepherd Dalton on the show) told The Hollywood Reporter.

White also played Arthur Cates, the attorney for Sable Colby (Stephanie Beacham), on the first two seasons of the ABC primetime soap The Colbys in 1985-86, and he recurred as the deceased doctor dad of the characters played by Swoosie Kurtz, Sela Ward, Patricia Kalember and Julianne Phillips on the 1991-96 NBC drama Sisters.

White first portrayed Lincoln Tyler, son of stern Pine Valley matriarch Phoebe Tyler (Ruth Warrick), from 1974-80 — he was the third actor in the role, starting with James Karen — then returned...

While looking for a project to follow the success of his films The French Connection and The Exorcist, director William Friedkin came across a book he found to be fascinating: Cruising by Gerald Walker, about “a series of murders in the gay bars of New York, and a detective assigned to go undercover to find the killer”. But Friedkin had already made a movie that centered on gay characters, The Boys in the Band, so he let the Cruising adaptation go by. For a while, Steven Spielberg was attached to direct the film, but wasn’t able to get it into production. In his memoir The Friedkin Connection, Friedkin revealed that it wasn’t until someone he worked with on The Exorcist turned out to be a real-life serial killer that he thought of the way to approach Cruising.

Friedkin wrote in The Friedkin Connection that in 1979 he started seeing...

On Friday, October 6, cinephiles were given a precious gift when Showtime dropped one last film by the late, great William Friedkin: an adaptation of Herman Wouk’s play “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.” The film is classic Friedkin, a clinic in blocking, editing, and camera movement reminiscent of earlier theatrical adaptations like “The Birthday Party,” “The Boys in the Band,” and “Bug.”

While there are many filmmaking lessons to be learned from studying the piece, one notable Friedkin disciple had the chance to examine the director’s process firsthand: Guillermo del Toro, who shadowed Friedkin throughout production as a backup in case the 87-year-old filmmaker was unable to complete the movie.

Long before he ever met Friedkin, del Toro was an admirer of his work. “He is an original,” del Toro told IndieWire. “He blends the lessons of documentary with complex and precise technology and narrative prowess. Every decision he...

Long before he made Popeye Doyle race a Brooklyn subway and Regan MacNeil’s head spin, William Friedkin began his career doing live TV. He’d move on to an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, short documentaries, a Sonny-and-Cher joint (Good Times), theatrical adaptations (The Birthday Party, The Boys in the Band), and then an all-guts-all-glory double shot that instantly made him a New Hollywood power player. But like a lot of directors coming up in the early 1960s, his roots were with actors, words, conflict, and not much more.

On December 26, 1973, horror fans endured long lines for the theatrical premiere of The Exorcist – a film that’s now considered by many to be the scariest movie ever made. Directed by William Friedkin and based on the bestselling novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist broke box office records in its first week of release. Theater employees reported that moviegoers were passing out, becoming ill, and heading for the exits before the credits rolled because the subject matter was so disturbing and intense.

The creation of the classic horror film, which is the gold standard for movies dealing with possession and the devil, begins with Blatty’s novel published in 1971. Blatty’s story focused on a 12-year-old girl named Regan MacNeil who went from a happy-go-lucky, horse-loving preteen to a foul-mouthed, head-spinning nightmare after being possessed by a demon. Coming to Regan’s rescue were two Catholic priests who eventually...

Plot: A Naval officer (Jake Lacy) is on trial for mutiny. His court-appointed attorney (Jason Clarke) must prove that his captain (Kiefer Sutherland) was dangerously unbalanced and that mutiny was the only solution to protect the crew.

Review: The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is an interesting final film for the late William Friedkin. While most know him for his seventies epics, having directed at least three or four of the greatest films ever made, many don’t know that he started his career with a couple of films based on stage plays: The Birthday Party and The Boys in the Band. His most recent work, Bug and Killer Joe, were also stage adaptations (of works by Tracy Letts), but The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is more traditionally mounted than those. This is basically a stage play put to film, with no exteriors, no music and only two sets.

The play was written...

The trailer for Showtime’s drama “Fellow Travelers” just dropped, and it features and intense and illicit affair between Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey’s (“Bridgerton”) characters.

Jelani Alladin (“The Walking Dead World Beyond”), Allison Williams and Noah J. Ricketts (“American Gods”) also star in the series, described as a love story and political thriller.

The series is based on the novel by Thomas Mallon and created for television by Ron Nyswaner. Season 1 will feature eight episodes.

According to the show’s description, Bomer plays the charismatic Hawkins Fuller, who maintains a financially rewarding, behind-the-scenes career in politics. Hawkins avoids emotional entanglements – until he meets Tim Laughlin (Bailey), a young man who’s brimming with idealism and religious faith. They begin a romance just as Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn declare war on “subversives and sexual deviants,” initiating one of the darkest periods in 20th-century American history. Over the course of four decades,...

Somewhere, at any given moment, there’s a film director adapting a stage play to the big screen. Yet it’s rare, and fascinating, to see a filmmaker steeped to the gills in cinema as cinema who also has a grand obsession with the theater. Robert Altman was like that. His great films of the ’70s were so naturalistic they seemed to dissolve the edges of the movie frame, yet in the ’80s, starting with “Come Back to the Five & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” he adapted nine plays in a row, the last of which, in 1988, was a darkly solid made-for-tv version of “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.”

William Friedkin, the legendary director who passed away last month, just before his 88th birthday, represents another case like Altman’s. In the early ’70s, when Friedkin commandeered Hollywood and the world with the extraordinary one-two punch of “The French Connection” (1971) and...

Jessica Lange, Jim Parsons and Celia Keenan-Bolger will star in the world premiere of Mother Play on Broadway.

The play, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel, who wrote How I Learned to Drive and Indecent, and directed by Tina Landau, will play a limited engagement at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater starting April 3, with an opening night on April 25.

This marks Lange’s first return to Broadway since she starred as Mary Tyrone in the 2016 revival of A Long Day’s Journey Into Night, for which she received a Tony Award for lead actress in a play. The American Horror Story and Tootsie star made her Broadway debut in A Streetcar Named Desire and also appeared in The Glass Menagerie on Broadway.

Parsons, who starred in the long-running sitcom The Big Bang Theory, recently appeared Off-Broadway in a revival of A Man of No Importance. He has starred on...

Jessica Lange, Jim Parsons and Celia Keenan-Bolger will star on Broadway this spring in a world premiere production of Paula Vogel’s new Mother Play, to be directed by Tina Landau.

The Second Stage Theater production will begin a limited engagement at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater on Wednesday, April 3, with an official opening on Thursday, April 25.

Mother Play by Pulitzer Prize winner Vogel (How I Learned to Drive) is described by Second Stage as “a bitingly funny and unflinchingly honest new play about the hold our family has over us and the surprises we find when we unpack the past.”

The synopsis: “It’s 1962, just outside of D.C., and matriarch Phyllis is supervising her teenage children, Carl and Martha, as they move into a new apartment. Phyllis has strong ideas about what her children need to do and be to succeed, and woe be the child who finds their own path.

The Big Bang Theory has only been off the air for four years thus far, but after 12 seasons it’s hard to imagine the cast as anything other than the beloved characters they played for over a decade. While some actors have chosen to take it easy in the years since Bbt ended, others have gone full-speed ahead into roles that are wildly different from the characters we know them as.

Across film and television, here are the Big Bang Theory cast’s best post-Big Bang roles.

Johnny Galecki – The Conners

Johnny Galecki hasn’t done much since The Big Bang Theory ended, but having a child a few months before a global pandemic changes the world as we know it is as good an excuse as any. However, you can still find him playing David Healy every once in a while in the Roseanne spinoff The Conners. Aside...

The last works by artists who have just died often acquire a strange patina of significance. Whether the deceased knew the work would be their last or not, it’s almost impossible not to read into them a foreshadowing of the maker’s imminent departure, a railing against the dying of the light or a tidy return to earlier themes.

The storied director William Friedkin passed on Aug. 7 at the age of 87, just weeks after he completed his last feature film, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. I don’t know if Friedkin was aware this would be his last when he decided to make it, but it does feel like a fitting final artistic word in many ways. Like so many of his other movies, it’s pithy, punchy, a little shouty at times, but made with brio and swagger.

From the earliest days of his filmmaking career, he was drawn to theatrical material.

William Friedkin, one of the great directors of the New Hollywood movement, died August 7 at the age of 87. The news launched an outpouring of love for the director, whose ’70s and ’80s film work proved some of the most enduring and beloved of that cinema-redefining period.

The son of Jewish Ukrainian immigrants, Friedkin was born in 1935 and got his start as a director making documentaries for Chicago public television. In 1965 he moved out to Hollywood to advance his career and made his narrative feature debut with “Good Times,” a vehicle for Cher and Sonny Bono. Friedkin put out several generally well-received films, including the groundbreaking “The Boys in the Band” and “The Birthday Party,” but truly broke out with 1971’s “The French Connection.” Starring Gene Hackman and featuring one of the greatest car chase scenes in cinematic history, the movie earned Friedkin a Best Director Oscar and gave him the clout to pursue passion projects.

I remember clearly the first time I became aware of the name William Friedkin. I was 12 years old.

I used to wander around Manhattan a lot by myself in those days. I loved bookstores and hobby shops, and in particular I loved dingy places that sold strange collectibles. One Saturday, I entered such a spot — in this case, a movie memorabilia joint on Bleecker Street — and saw an enormous poster meant for display in subway stations. The image slapped me across the face: a truck in the pouring rain, leaning impossibly to the right on a rickety rope bridge ready for collapse. It said merely: “a William Friedkin Film, Sorcerer.”

What a mysterious and wonderful piece of art! I bought it (10 dollars, all I had on me) and posted it on my wall.

Soon after, I learned that this very same director had made a film showing at the Hollywood Twin,...

The death at 87 of the great director William Friedkin on Monday reminded me of one of the two most intense movie viewing experiences I’ve ever had in a theater. One came last year when I saw “Rrr,” which due to its massive audience participation at the Chinese Theatre was a spectacular happening.

The other one happened in 1973 when I was a wee lad of 16, when I saw “The Exorcist.”

Friedkin was a master of his craft who made several other memorable films, chiefly “The French Connection” (for which he won his Academy Award), “Cruising,” “The Boys in the Band” and “To Live and Die in L.A.” But for my money, nothing he did could ever equal the phenomenon he helmed into being with “The Exorcist,” which would earn Oscars for sound and William Peter Blatty’s adapted screenplay as well as a directing nomination for Friedkin.

But forget all...

William Friedkin's career spanned decades and left behind a diverse legacy that shaped numerous genres, from intense police thrillers to groundbreaking horror movies like The Exorcist. Friedkin's skillful character work shines through in films like Bug, where Michael Shannon delivers a compelling and terrifying performance, and The Birthday Party, an underrated adaptation of Harold Pinter's play that showcases Friedkin's ability to bring tension alive onscreen. While The French Connection and The Exorcist are standout films in Friedkin's career, his other works like Sorcerer and To Live and Die in L.A. deserve recognition for their thrilling and influential contributions to cinema. Friedkin's versatility is evident in projects like The Night They Raided Minsky's, a charming musical comedy that showcases his range as a filmmaker.

The late, great William Friedkin left viewers with a slew of great movies that remain a testament to his originality and range. William Friedkin passed away on Aug.

Editor’S Note: William Friedkin’s passing is a gutting experience for anyone lucky enough to have sat as he reminisced over his classic movies, with measures of regret for the recklessness, humor, and keen observations of why Hollywood’s Auteur Era gave way to the global blockbuster, and whatever it is we have today as two guilds strike seeking transparency, and residuals for writers and actors. This interview was originally published August 6, 2015 under the title ’70s Maverick Revisits A Golden Era With Tales Of Glory And Reckless Abandon. I am feeling a bit gutted by Friedkin’s passing. I looked forward to a long interview with him for his Venice-bound Showtime remake of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. After spending time with Billy and his elegant wife Sherry Lansing at Peter Bart’s 90th birthday where the back and forth between them proved the highlight of the evening, I wanted...