Twentieth Century Fox

Tom Hanks is the latest to offer a tribute to the late acting legend, recalling their work together on the Chicago-based gangster film The Road to Perdition:

"Paul Newman told me his hotel in Chicago was a room at the YMCA, which was not hard to imagine. He considered himself just another member of the acting company, who would call his wife during breaks and confess to feeling self-conscious on the first day of shooting. But he was Paul Newman, and could not mask the fact he was simply—yet elegantly—an extraordinary artist and man. How lucky we all have been..."

Hanks is also one of an A-list group of celebs set to take part in a reading of Ernest Hemingway's The World of Nick Adams, proceeds from which will benefit the Painted Turtle, one of the 11 free camps Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang opened for children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

Zuma Press

Taking a chance on ABBA the Museum wasn't a sure bet after all.

"There is no doubt that there will be an ABBA museum, although it may take a while longer than expected," project cofounder Ulf Westman said in a statement announcing that the attraction dedicated to the Swedish pop group will not be open by June 4, 2009—or any other time next year.

Westman said that the renovation of the proposed site, the 100-year-old Stora Tullhuset in Stockholm, is turning out to be more complicated than previously though.

"It's better to make this decision at an early stage, even though it's a sad message," Westman said.

Then again, if fans can sit through Pierce Brosnan butchering "S.O.S.," waiting a little longer for an ABBA shrine is nothing.

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images for NAACP

Family, friends and thousands of fans gathered at Chicago's House of Hope church on Saturday to attend the public memorial for actor-comedian Bernie Mac, who died one week ago due to complications from pneumonia. He was 50.

The star-studded tribute featured emotional speeches from comedian Chris Rock, Rev. Jesse Jackson and actor Samuel L. Jackson, Mac's costar in the upcoming flick Soul Men.

Mac's fellow Original Kings of Comedy—Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey and DL Hughley—sat next to each other, breaking down in tears during the service. When they took the stage, however, they mixed their tears of sadness with laughter as they remembered the Mac Man.

"This dude is a very popular guy," said Cedric, according to the Chicago Tribune. "You know y'all were like, 'Let me get four tickets to the funeral!' He's still the hottest ticket in town."

Keep Reading

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that Bruce Springsteen fans are in mourning.

Boardwalk fixture and Springsteen song legend Madam Marie, the seaside clairvoyant immortalized in "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," died last Friday at age 93, great-granddaughter Sally Castello told the Asbury Park Press.

The medium, whose real name was Marie Castello, was an iconic presence along the Asbury Park boardwalk, performing her palm reading next door to Springsteen's old Jersey Shore haunt, the Stone Pony.

"Did you hear the cops finally busted Madam Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do?" Springsteen sang in the track off his 1973 sophomore release, The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle.

He was so fond of Castello that he always dropped by her small stand to say hello whenever he was in town.

"I'd sit across from her on the metal guard rail bordering the beach, and watched as she led the day-trippers into the small back room where she would unlock a few of the mysteries of their future," Springsteen writes in tribute on his website. "She always told me mine looked pretty good—she was right.

"Over here on E Street, we will miss her."

(Originally published July 2, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. PT.)

It's a day of remembrance in more ways than one for Heath Ledger.

Although his family has refused to release details about the late actor's funeral services or final resting place, a private viewing apparently took place Friday at a New York City funeral home.

While no involved parties would comment, police had set up barricades outside the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home Friday morning, ostensibly to shield the family from a barrage of onlookers as they paid their respects.

Ledger's body was first brought to the funeral home on Manhattan's Upper East Side Wednesday night after its release from the New York City Medical Examiner's Office following an as yet inconclusive autopsy.

At roughly 4 p.m., a hearse pulled away from the funeral home. Although the facility's spokesperson refused to confirm whether the coffin borne by the vehicle was Ledger's, the NYPD did block off the street while the coffin was loaded into the hearse and as the vehicle departed, reportedly en route to the airport.

Among those who had been expected to attend the viewing were Ledger's former fiancée, Michelle Williams; Williams' two-year-old daughter with Ledger, Matilda; Williams' mother, Carla, who is currently staying with her daughter in the Brooklyn home she once shared with Ledger; the late actor's parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Ledger-Belly; and his sister, Kate.

The latter trio arrived in New York late Thursday or early Friday from Australia. They may be heading back there soon, albeit with one more stop along the way.

Australian model Sophie Ward, sister of budding supermodel Gemma, both of whom logged time with the Brokeback Mountain star in their hometown of Perth over the holidays, told the West Australian newspaper that the family will likely fly to Los Angeles for a private memorial service before returning the body to Australia.

"I think we're going to L.A.—we might be flying tonight, but I'm not sure," she told the paper Friday. "L.A. is kind of central, between Perth and New York. This is just a funeral service. He'll probably be buried in Perth."

"I understand there's a private memorial service today for family members. I also understand it's proposed there will be a public memorial service in Los Angeles later this week," Australian  Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters in New York during a stop at the United Nations.

Smith said he didn't have any direct knowledge of the plans, but that the consulate has offered to help the family expedite the return of the actor's remains.

However, Ledger's publicist, Mara Buxbaum, reiterated to E! News Thursday that "there are no plans for a public service."

Prior to the Ledger family's departure to the U.S., the close-knit clan paid tribute to the 28-year-old onetime Oscar nominee in touching death notices published Friday in their hometown newspaper.

"How do we describe our sudden and tragic loss?" a note signed by the entire family and published in the West Australian read. "You were the most amazing individual 'old soul' in a young man's body. You so loved us, as we dearly loved you. As a close-knit and very private family unit, we have observed you so determined yet quietly traveling in your self-styled path in life, nothing would get in your way...no mountain too tall, no river too wide.

"You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment. We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing, and through it all we have loved each other beyond imagination.

"Your true legacy lives on in beautiful Matilda, who will always remain in the greatest of care. Our hearts are broken."

Ledger's parents and sister also wrote individual notices paying tribute to their lost family member.

"Our darling boy, special in so many ways to all of us," his mother wrote. "You lived life with courage and daring, and we are so grateful for the wonderful times we shared. We will be there for Matilda."

His older sister, Kate, whose nickname for her brother was "Roast," wrote that the greatest tragedy of all was that "there will never, ever be another 'Heath'...You will never leave my thoughts, Roast, ever."

"I can hardly breathe when I try to write this. We were the ultimate in soul mates. I feel both my heart and life have been torn apart...We were so fortunate to have you as long as we did."

Ledger's father, Kim, echoed the heartbroken sentiments of the family, writing that his "body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together."

"My beautiful boy, so loving, so talented, so independent, so caring, so young...no more chess games, mate...this is it, couldn't beat you anyway.

"It had only just started for you...and for us to further enjoy. We were one, in soul and commitment. Just...Father and Son. I will love you forever, Dad."

(Originally published Jan. 25, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. PT.)