Quirky movie great Jack Nicholson is set to shock fans in his new thriller The Departed by wearing a sex toy in a sleazy scene. The Chinatown star, who threatened to set fire to co-star Leonardo DiCaprio to heighten the tension in one scene, felt he’d add to the sick sexual nature of his character Frank Costello by strapping on a dildo. And, as shocked as co-star Matt Damon was, he admits Nicholson’s last-minute decision to wear a sex toy impacted his whole performance in the Martin Scorsese film. Damon says, "It’s Sunday night and I’m looking over the script and I’m getting ready and I get a phone call: ‘Hello, its Marty… Jack had some ideas for the scene tomorrow in the XXX movie theatre where he meets up with your character and he’s gonna wear a dildo.’ I said, ‘Alright, I’ll see you at seven!’ "So, we went in the next day and we rehearsed and Jack said, ‘Here’s the deal – I’m gonna come in and I’m gonna sit there in the overcoat and turn around and I’m gonna pull out the big dildo and we’re gonna laugh.’ "I thought that was a good idea to get into the scene. Jack brought this incredibly new layer to that character. He made him more obscene in a way that felt authentic.
Patrick Quinn, the newly appointed executive director of the Actors’ Equity Association, died suddenly of a heart attack in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 24. He was 55. Maria Somma, a spokesperson at Equity, confirmed the news. Mr. Quinn died while at his country home. The Council of Actors’ Equity Association announced on Aug. 22 that he would be the union’s new executive director, effective Oct. 5. He was to have succeeded Alan Eisenberg, who is leaving after 25 years in the position. A native Philadelphian, Quinn began his Equity career in 1970. His credits include 10 Broadway shows. He was first elected to the Council, Equity’s national governing body, in 1977. Since that time he has served as third vice-president, first vice president and for 17 years chaired the Union’s negotiating teams for its flagship Production Contract. In 2000, the membership elected him to the first of three terms as president. Quinn is a founding member of Equity Fights AIDS and has served as the second vice president since 1993 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He is a trustee of The Actors’ Fund of America, Equity-League Pension, Health and 401(k) Trust Funds, the Actors’ Equity Staff Pension Plan, and serves as Secretary of the Actors’ Equity Foundation and a delegate to the Associated Actors and Artistes of America. Actors’ Equity Association is the national union representing 45,000 stage actors and stage managers. It is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with the International Federation of Actors (FIA), a worldwide organization of performing arts unions. In his new role, Quinn would have directed the collective bargaining process for more than 30 national and regional contracts, overseen the Union’s finances, supervised Equity’s staff located in five offices, and represented AEA within the industry as well as to the public. Tall and boyishly handsome, Mr. Quinn was a genial presence in Broadway shows like Beauty and the Beast, Lend Me a Tenor, The Sound of Music and A Class Act. His most recent appearance was in the Cape Playhouse production of Sylvia and earlier this season he appeared in Gunmetal Blues at the George Street Playhouse. Mr. Quinn is survived by his partner of 12 and a half years, Martin Cassella. He is also survived by his brothers James and his wife Sondra, of Naples, Florida; Gerard and his wife Gail of Cotesville, Pa; John and his wife Marguerite, of Doylestown, Pa; and a sister, Livanne Antonucci and her husband Joseph; and nine (9) nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Actors’ Equity Foundation, BC/EFA, or the Actors’ Fund of America.
Kate Moss could marry troubled singer Pete Doherty within weeks, according to reports. The supermodel said yes to Doherty after he proposed to her during a stroll in the grounds of the Priory Clinic last week, where he is being treated for crack cocaine and heroin abuse, reported the Sunday Mirror. Doherty, 27, is due to leave the clinic this week. According to the newspaper, the pair are likely to wed abroad – probably a tropical destination – where the only guest will be Kate’s mother Linda. Doherty and Moss – who boosted her earnings even more last week when she signed a £3m deal to design for high street store Top Shop – have had an on/off relationship for more than a year. In September last year the supermodel was photographed allegedly snorting cocaine at a West London studio where Doherty was recording. The former Libertines star, who has battled drug addiction for the past few years, allegedly told Priory staff: "We will run away together to somewhere no one can find us and then we’ll get married." The Babyshambles frontman has made good progress during his latest stay at the Priory. He has put on weight and apparently looks healthier than he has in years. The source told the newspaper: "From the moment Pete came into the clinic, he accepted he was addicted to drugs like heroin and crack. He knew he had a problem. "In counselling sessions he has said things that show he knows what he needs to do – stop taking drugs and seek help as soon as he feels the urge to do so. "Kate has been so impressed with that attitude. She has always loved him but just needed him to straighten up. Now there’s nothing to stop them marrying."
Patrick Quinn, the newly appointed executive director of the Actors’ Equity Association, died suddenly of a heart attack in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 24. He was 55. Maria Somma, a spokesperson at Equity, confirmed the news. Mr. Quinn died while at his country home. The Council of Actors’ Equity Association announced on Aug. 22 that he would be the union’s new executive director, effective Oct. 5. He was to have succeeded Alan Eisenberg, who is leaving after 25 years in the position. A native Philadelphian, Quinn began his Equity career in 1970. His credits include 10 Broadway shows. He was first elected to the Council, Equity’s national governing body, in 1977. Since that time he has served as third vice-president, first vice president and for 17 years chaired the Union’s negotiating teams for its flagship Production Contract. In 2000, the membership elected him to the first of three terms as president. Quinn is a founding member of Equity Fights AIDS and has served as the second vice president since 1993 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He is a trustee of The Actors’ Fund of America, Equity-League Pension, Health and 401(k) Trust Funds, the Actors’ Equity Staff Pension Plan, and serves as Secretary of the Actors’ Equity Foundation and a delegate to the Associated Actors and Artistes of America. Actors’ Equity Association is the national union representing 45,000 stage actors and stage managers. It is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with the International Federation of Actors (FIA), a worldwide organization of performing arts unions. In his new role, Quinn would have directed the collective bargaining process for more than 30 national and regional contracts, overseen the Union’s finances, supervised Equity’s staff located in five offices, and represented AEA within the industry as well as to the public. Tall and boyishly handsome, Mr. Quinn was a genial presence in Broadway shows like Beauty and the Beast, Lend Me a Tenor, The Sound of Music and A Class Act. His most recent appearance was in the Cape Playhouse production of Sylvia and earlier this season he appeared in Gunmetal Blues at the George Street Playhouse. Mr. Quinn is survived by his partner of 12 and a half years, Martin Cassella. He is also survived by his brothers James and his wife Sondra, of Naples, Florida; Gerard and his wife Gail of Cotesville, Pa; John and his wife Marguerite, of Doylestown, Pa; and a sister, Livanne Antonucci and her husband Joseph; and nine (9) nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Actors’ Equity Foundation, BC/EFA, or the Actors’ Fund of America.
