“Of course, if we had the possibility to change everything, we would change everything for sure. But this is a hard day for us.”
Portugal boss Francisco Neto joined in the tributes to Diogo Jota as thousands of fans also paid their respects during the team’s Euro 2025 opener against Spain.
Liverpool forward Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, both died early on Thursday morning when the Lamborghini car they were travelling in crashed in the Spanish province of Zamora.
On an emotional evening, a heartfelt rendition of Portugal’s national anthem was followed by an impeccably observed minute’s silence before kick-off, during which a black-and-white image of Jota was displayed on the big stadium screens in Bern.
“It was a really tough day to play football, because this life is much more than a game, much more than football,” said Portugal forward Jessica Silva.
“Of course everyone is sad. It’s heavy, my heart is heavy – much more important things than playing a game.”
Portugal fans held up placards with messages paying tribute to the player who is also being mourned in Liverpool, while both sets of players wore black armbands.
Despite having relentless support from their fans throughout the 90 minutes, Portugal fell to a 5-0 defeat in Bern as world champions and tournament favourites Spain began their pursuit for a first European crown.
Speaking in his post-match news conference, coach Neto, who appeared to hold back tears during the minute’s silence, described Jota as a devoted supporter of the women’s side.
“Diogo followed our team because he loved the county,” said Neto, who explained he first met Jota while coaching at under-19 level.
“Diogo always, when I talked to him, always knew the result. He followed the team, some players and this is the culture we have in Portugal.
“Today is a really, really sad day because two of us lost our lives. So young. It is not a good day.”
Aidan Zingg, a motocross prodigy who recently signed with Kawasaki’s prestigious Team Green program, died Saturday at age 16 from injuries sustained during the Mammoth Mountain MX event in Mammoth Lakes.
During a 250cc B class race, Zingg “went down in a corner,” according to industry website Dirtbikelover.com and was run over by other bikes.
Zingg, who grew up in Hemet before his family moved to the state of Washington, won the American Motorcyclist Assn. 2024 Amateur National Championship in Supermini 2, held at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. He recently qualified for the championships for a seventh consecutive year.
Aidan’s sister Alex Zingg, 18, on Sunday posted a tribute to her brother.
“It’s been a day and I feel like it’s been a lifetime,” she wrote on Instagram. “My heart is completely broken. You used to joke that I was so old and that I’d die first, I would always joke that you were crazy and you’d be the first. Now I’m sitting here wishing with everything that I am that you were right so I’d never have to live a day without you.”
Zingg began racing in elementary school and soon dominated the 65cc, 85cc and Supermini classes. After signing with Kawasaki’s Team Green, he showed immense promise at the 250cc class. His other sponsors included Oakley, Bell, and Renthal.
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Kawasaki Team Green rider Aidan Zingg,” Kawasaki Racing posted on X. “Zingg’s dedication and kind demeanor will forever be remembered.”
Motocross journalist Donn Maeda was among those to pay tribute to Zingg on social media, writing that he was “one of those kids that made an impression on you from the moment you met him. I interviewed him for our race series years ago when he was on a 65 and when I asked him how long it’d be until he beat his dad [former racer Robert Zingg]. He smirked and said, ‘Soon, I’m sure.’
“After that, he always went out of his way to say hello, even recently when he grew into a fast big bike rider…. you know; the age when teens get cocky and cool. Not Aidan.”
Zingg’s last social media post came 10 days before his death. A joint Instagram post with MotoSport.com of Zingg racing read: “Remember the name… @aidanzingg.”
Hello! I’m Mark Olsen. Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies.
Opening this weekend and winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, “Sorry, Baby” is the feature film debut for writer, director and actor Eva Victor.
Personally, it’s among my favorite films of the year for its complex mix of comedy and drama, offbeat whimsy and deep vulnerability. (I’d previously called it “fresh, inventive and invigorating” and that still feels right to me.) The story tells some five years in the life of Agnes (Victor), a teacher at a small East Coast college attempting to move forward following a traumatic event.
Director Eva Victor of “Sorry, Baby,” photographed at the Los Angeles Times Sundance studio in January.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
In her review for the paper, Katie Walsh called the film “a movie that lingers,” attributing that to “the profound and nuanced honesty Victor extracts from each moment.”
I spoke to Victor about the process of making the film. The story is rooted in Victor’s own experiences, so every stage, from writing to production to bringing it to audiences, has had its own nuances and contours.
“It’s a very personal film for a lot of people and there’s a sadness to that because it’s a community of people who have experienced things that they shouldn’t have had to,” says Victor. “It’s life-affirming for me to know that I wrote the film in a leap-of-faith way to be like: ‘Is anyone else feeling like this?’ And it’s nice to know that there are people who are understanding what that is.”
World premiere ‘Tombstone’ restoration
Val Kilmer, photographed at the Regency Hotel in Manhattan in 1993 circa the time of “Tombstone.”
(Joe Tabacca / For The Times)
On Saturday, the Academy Museum will screen the world premiere of a 4K restoration of 1993’s “Tombstone” as a tribute to actor Val Kilmer. Directed by George P. Cosmatos, the film tells the legendary story of the shootout at the O.K. Corral, which has become one of the foundational myths of the American western. Kilmer stars as Doc Holliday, who comes to the aid of his friend, retired lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell). The cast also includes Bill Paxton, Sam Elliott, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley and Dana Delany.
The role was a special one for Kilmer, who titled his memoir “I’m Your Huckleberry” after a line in the movie.
In his original review of the film, Peter Rainer declared the film the latest of the then-in-vogue “designer Westerns” and highlighted Kilmer’s turn, writing, “Val Kilmer’s Holliday is classic camp performance, although it may not have started out that way. His Southern drawl sounds like a languorous cross between early Brando and Mr. Blackwell. Stricken with tuberculosis, his eyes red-rimmed, Doc coughs delicately and matches Ringo line for line in Latin. He also shoots straighter than anyone else in the movie — his powers of recuperation make Rasputin seem like a pushover.”
The film will also be playing on July 26 at Vidiots.
‘Familiar Touch’
Kathleen Chalfant, left, and Carolyn Michelle in the movie “Familiar Touch.”
(Music Box)
Winner of three prizes at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, “Familiar Touch” is the narrative feature debut of writer-director Sarah Friedland. The sensitive and compassionate story follows Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), an 80-something retired cook, as she settles into an assisted-living facility while grappling with memory loss.
Friedland and Chalfant will be at select showings throughout the weekend for Q&As.
In his review of the movie, Robert Abele wrote, “The mystery of Ruth’s mindfulness — which ebbs and flows — is at the core of Chalfant’s brilliant, award-worthy performance. Hers is a virtuosity that doesn’t ask for pity or applause or even link arms with the stricken-but-defiant disease-playing headliners who have gone before her. Chalfant’s Ruth is merely, momentously human: an older woman in need, but no less expressive of life’s fullness because of it.”
Esther Zuckerman spoke to Friedland about shooting the film at Pasadena’s Villa Gardens retirement community in collaboration with staff and residents. The production held a five-week filmmaking workshop, involving the residents as background actors and production assistants.
“It came a lot from the anti-ageist ideas of the project,” Friedland says. “If we’re going to make this film the character study of an older woman that sees older adults as valuable and talented and capacious, let’s engage their capaciousness and their creativity on all sides of production.”
Points of interest
Tsui Hark’s ‘Shanghai Blues’ in 4K
Sylvia Chang in the movie “Shanghai Blues.”
(Film Movement)
Though he is best known to American audiences for his action movies, Hong Kong director Tsui Hark has been versatile in many other genres. Now getting a new 4K restoration from the original negative for its 40th anniversary is Tsui’s 1984 screwball romantic comedy “Shanghai Blues.”
Opening in 1937 Shanghai, the story concerns an aspiring musician, Do-Re-Mi (Kenny Bee), and a woman, Shu-Shu (Sylvia Chang), who, after a chance encounter, vow to meet again in the same spot after the war. Leaping forward to peacetime a decade later, the two find themselves living in the same building without realizing it, as he becomes involved with her roommate (Sally Yeh).
The film will be playing at the American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3 on Fri., Tues. and Sat., July 5. It will also play multiple Laemmle locations on Weds.
And expect more on Hong Kong cinema later this summer when Beyond Fest launches a series of new restorations of such classics as “Hard Boiled,” “The Killer” and Hark’s 1986 “Peking Opera Blues.”
‘Much Ado About Nothing’
Director-actor Kenneth Branagh, left, Keanu Reeves, Emma Thompson, Robert Sean Leonard and Denzel Washington at Cannes in 1993.
(Patrick Billard / AFP via Getty Images)
On Monday, Vidiots will screen Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” About a bunch of incredibly good-looking people having a great time in the Italian countryside, the film stars Branagh, Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves and Denzel Washington.
Branagh and Thompson were married in real life at the time, and in his original review of the film, Kenneth Turan wrote, “Actors as well as athletes have a prime of life, a time when everything they touch seems a miracle. And the crowning pleasure of watching Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh in this rollicking version of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is the way it allows us to share in that state of special grace, to watch the English-speaking world’s reigning acting couple perform at the top of their game. … Seeing them beautifully play off each other is an enormous pleasure for lovers of the romance of language as well as fanciers of romantic love.”
‘The Spirit of ’76’ live commentary
David Cassidy in the movie “The Spirit of ’76.”
(Philosophical Research Society)
On Thursday, July 3, as part of the 7th House screening series at the Philosophical Research Society, there will be a screening of 1990’s “The Spirit of ’76” featuring a live commentary by stars Jeff and Steven McDonald of the band Redd Kross.
The film is something of a singular object: a loving satire of the 1970s made from the perspective of the burgeoning ’90s, written and directed by Lucas Reiner, with a co-story credit to Roman Coppola, costumes designed by Sofia Coppola and a cast that includes David Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Olivia d’Abo, Don Novello, Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner and Devo.
From the extremely drab future of 2176, three adventurers are sent back in time to July 4, 1776 but mistakenly land in the year 1976. They meet two teenagers (the McDonald brothers) who help them navigate the present and find their way back to their own time.
In his original review of the film, Kevin Thomas did not catch the vibes, as he wrote, “Movies do not get more inane than ‘The Spirit of ’76’ … You have to wonder how this film ever got made, let alone released.”
In other news
Jerry Bruckheimer is still revved up
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, photographed at his Santa Monica office in June.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Among the big releases this weekend is Joseph Kosinski’s racing drama “F1,” starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. The film reunited Kosinski with screenwriter Ehren Kruger and producer Jerry Bruckheimer following their huge success with “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Josh Rottenberg spoke to the 81-year-old Bruckheimer about his legendary career working on movies such as “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Bad Boys,” “Armageddon” and countless more, making sleek commercial pictures that have been defining the Hollywood blockbuster for decades.
“It’s changed a lot,” Bruckheimer says of the movie business. “Streaming hit a lot of places hard. They spent too much money and now they’ve got problems with that. Some of the studios aren’t healthy. But the business, if you do it right, is healthy.”
Bruckheimer is not one of the doomsayers foretelling the end of movies.
“I’ve been doing this over 50 years and that doom has been there every time a new technology shows up,” he says. “And yet, look at what’s happened. Look at ‘Minecraft.’ Look at ‘Sinners.’ Look at ‘Lilo & Stitch.’ If you do it right, people show up.”
The former NBA great and current player for the Big 3’s L.A. Riot on Wednesday wrote on Instagram that his dog, Sunday, died in an apparent hit-and-run accident on June 18 in Suwanee, Ga. Howard said that he was visiting New York when he received the tragic news that his beloved Belgian Malinois “got loose and was hit by a car that kept going.”
“I’m devastated because you were the dog that never left my side, the dog that stuck to my hip at all times, and the one time you wander off without me being there someone takes you away from me,” Howard wrote. “Who could be so heartless to do this to such an innocent girl with no remorse.
“I’ve been trying to hold this in. … I really have but it’s killing me inside to get answers! I need answers and I won’t stop searching until I find out what happen to my beautiful Sunday.”
Howard implored his 3.7 million followers to share any information they might have about the incident. The majority of his post, however, was a tribute in words, photos and videos to a dear pooch who sounds as though she was one man’s best friend.
“From the moment I got you, Sunday, you were more than just my dog. … You were my peace. My protector. A reminder of everything beautiful and calm just like those early Sunday mornings,” wrote Howard, a three-time defensive player of the year who won an NBA title with the Lakers in 2020 and is set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this fall.
“You hugged like no other. Barked at nothing like it meant everything. And every time I called your name, you came running full speed like your only mission was to love me. You waited at the door for me every single day, just to wrap your paws around me. And I’m gonna miss those hugs more than I can put into words.
“You were joy. You were warmth. You were my girl. And your life was cut short too soon. You helped me Smile through all the Storms I’ve been through but what do I do now that my Sunday Sunshine is gone.”
John Stamos was by Beach Boys founding member Mike Love’s side when news of bandmate Brian Wilson’s death on Wednesday was made public. The “Full House” star was also the messenger who delivered the heartbreaking news to Love, Wilson’s cousin-turned-longtime collaborator.
“I said, ‘Mike, your cousin passed away,’ and his face went blank,” Stamos, an honorary Beach Boys member, recalled to the New York Post. “And we sat in the car for two and a half hours or so … he didn’t say one word.”
Wilson, the genius behind the Beach Boys, died Wednesday at age 82. The singer’s family announced his death on social media and his website, writing in a statement, “We are at a loss for words right now.” A cause of death was not revealed, but Wilson was diagnosed with dementia and placed under a conservatorship in May 2024. Wilson, who co-founded the Beach Boys in 1961 with brothers Dennis and Carl and cousin Love, also battled mental health issues and drug addiction for decades.
Stamos, 61, relived the somber moment on Thursday ahead of the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York, where Love was among the newest group of inductees that included George Clinton, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and the Doobie Brothers. Though Love remained speechless after learning of Wilson’s death, Stamos said, “I knew how he was feeling.” The actor, who has performed with the Beach Boys over several decades, also spoke to the Post about Love, 84, and Wilson’s relationship, noting “they made beautiful music together.”
During the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony, Stamos introduced Love, who paid tribute to Wilson, as “my brother in music.” His sentiments on Thursday added to his social media tribute to Wilson on Wednesday.
“Brian Wilson wasn’t just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound,” Love wrote as he reminisced on the group’s early days and Wilson’s lasting contributions to music.
Love added in his tribute: “Our journey together was filled with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, laughter, complexity and most of all, LOVE . Like all families, we had our ups and downs. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other, and I never stopped being in awe of what he could do when he sat at a piano or his spontaneity in the studio.”
“Wilson fundamentally changed modern music, helping make the Beach Boys not only the defining American band of their era, but also the California band to this day,” Newsom said in a statement. “He captured the mystique and magic of California, carrying it around the world and across generations.”
The Beach Boys established a quintessentially California sound with popular tracks including “Surfer Girl,” “California Girls” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.”
Wilson is survived by six children, including daughters Carnie and Wendy, who made up two-thirds of the Grammy-nominated pop vocal group Wilson Phillips with the Mamas and the Papas scion Chynna Phillips. He is preceded in death by his wife, Melinda, who died in January 2024. His brother Dennis drowned in 1983 while diving in Marina Del Rey, and Carl, his other brother, died of lung cancer in 1998.
This Morning hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond have paid tribute to a former guest who is thought to have been onboard the fatal Air India flight which crashed yesterday
“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Kerr said in 1849. Nearly 200 years later, that is sadly true of the greatest protest songs. In 2025, songs like Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” are as needed for their messages as they were when they were written more than 60 years ago.
So when Grammy-winning jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington set out this year to pay homage to one of her stick-wielding idols, the legendary Max Roach, by revisiting his seminal 1961 album, “We Insist!,” it turned out to be more than a musical tribute. In the process of recording the album “We Insist 2025!,” Carrington took time to reflect on how issues of inequality, racism and more that Roach fought against in 1961 are unfortunately just as prevalent today.
“Wow, I can’t believe that this stuff is still relevant,” Carrington says. “When we look at these examples of how things have shifted in some ways, but not in other ways, it can be very depressing, especially right now. When we started this record, the election hadn’t happened yet. I thought I knew what was going to happen during this election, and it was still relevant. But now it’s even more relevant.”
Now 59, Carrington, who also serves as Zildjian Chair in Performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston, is ready to pass along some of the fight for social justice to the younger generation.
“I do feel like it’s a youthful game. I had an uncle that I would talk to when I was in my 20s, who has since passed. He would say that this is your fight now, and I would be mad at him, feeling like he wasn’t doing more,” she recalls. “And he would say, ‘No, this is your fight now. I‘ve done it, I‘ve been there, I‘m tired.’ I get that sentiment too. I‘m going to do whatever I do, but I‘m relying on the younger generation and how pissed off I feel like they are and what that will do.”
Terri Lyne Carrington playing a drum kit.
(John Watson)
Among her many ventures to champion the jazz music she loves so much is A&R for iconic jazz label Candid Records, founded by the great jazz writer Nat Hentoff in 1960. So, she called on the younger generation to help share her vision of “We Insist 2025!”
“I thought of calling the people that had been signed or were being signed to Candid Records because I do A&R for Candid. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to also shine a light on a lot of these artists, young people and progressive artists that are being signed right now to Candid. It‘s kind of like a family gathering; we all came together to pay tribute to this great artist and this great project,” she says.
At the center of the next generation of jazz artists on the album is vocalist Christie Dashiell, with whom Carrington collaborates on the album.
“Somebody like Christie Dashiell was really important to the project, because I felt like the voice is so out front. It‘s what people relate to; the average ear relates to the voice the most,” Carrington says. “I just feel like she perfectly embodies all these different areas of Black music traditions. That was really important, so I started there. What is the voice that’s going to work with this idea?”
Having toured with Herbie Hancock and played with giants as Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz, Carrington has a strong sense of jazz history and rightly sees herself as a bridge between the history and future of jazz. She made sure that bridge was strong on “We Insist 2025!” by including trombonist Julian Priester on the record, who, at 89, is the last living musician who appeared on Roach’s 1961 work.
“Jazz has always been about these kinds of bridges between generations. It‘s been such an important part of jazz. Mentorship, apprenticeships — it‘s an apprenticeship art form,” she says. “So we did contemporary things with this music, but it wasn‘t so contemporary that there was no place for a Julian Priester. I think that the ability to be a bridge is important — pointing to past legacies, to the foundation of what we stand on, while trying to also point to the future or reflect the present is important.”
As much as the album‘s original political message weighs in this turbulent current climate, and as much as Carrington wanted to make the record a vehicle for younger artists, the impetus for “We Insist 2025!” was to pay tribute to Roach for the centennial anniversary of his birth. For Carrington, the heart of her interpretation was to honor the music and spirit Roach created on “We Insist!”
Jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington poses for a portrait.
(David Butow / For The Times)
“I had a history with reimagining projects in other people‘s work, and helping that legacy continue, but doing it in a way that also has my own identity involved in a way that really feels new, in a sense,” she says. “The music is not new, but so many elements around those things are new. So I feel like it‘s reshaping these things a little, even though we didn‘t change the lyric content. By changing the music around the lyrics, it gives the lyric a different slant.”
As one of the country‘s primary ambassadors of jazz music today, Carrington hopes the record will introduce new fans to Roach’s considerable legacy while helping to revive the soul of protest music. To that end, she has discussed bigger plans with his family.
“I‘ve talked to Max‘s son, Raul Roach, quite a bit about trying to collaborate by doing shows that would be expansive. Doing some of this music, maybe doing some other Max music, like some of the double quartet music,” she says. “So we‘ve talked about finding ways to continue this celebration of Max Roach and his artistry. There‘s a lot there as a foundation that can be expanded upon.”
England fan Harrison Turner was tragically killed on May 30
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Harrison’s family held a banner in his honour outside the City Ground on TuesdayCredit: izzyrichardson instagram
Harrison was tragically killed after being struck while working on a motorway hard shoulder on May 30.
He suffered serious injuries and died at the scene of the crash close to the southbound slip road at junction 8 of the M1.
Harrison’s loving family organised for the minute’s applause to take place in the 26th minute in his honour.
Thomas Tuchel‘s side were leading 1-0 after Harry Kane slotted in his 73rd international goal in the seventh minute.
According to his family, the youngster was a huge England fan that went home and away.
He was also a big Chelsea supporter, regularly attending Stamford Bridge to cheer on the Blues.
A man, 58, from Luton, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drink or drugs and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.
Det Sgt Ben Heath, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the man’s loved ones at this difficult time.
“Our inquiries are continuing, and I am appealing for anyone with information to please come forward.
“Did you see what happened, or witness anything before the collision?
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their patience whilst we put road closures in place.”
Anyone who saw the crash, has information or dash cam footage has been urged to contact the police.
Race Across the World paid tribute to a former contestant at the end of tonight’s episode, after it was revealed that Sam Gardiner has died aged 24 in a car crash
23:23, 04 Jun 2025Updated 23:23, 04 Jun 2025
Sam Gardiner died at the age of 24(Image: BBC)
Race Across the World has honoured a past contestant following their untimely passing. The emotional tribute came at the close of Wednesday’s episode for 24-year-old Sam Gardiner, who passed away this week.
When the end credits began to roll, the viewers were met with a touching tribute to the series two adventurer. Displayed alongside Sam’s photo, the message read: “In loving memory of Sam Gardiner, 2000 to 2025.”
Fans of the hit BBC travel show expressed their sorrow on X (formerly Twitter), with one posting: “They gave Sam Gardiner an end card. Sad.” Another shared: “The tribute to Sam Gardiner [sad face],” and one more added: “Rest in peace to Sam Gardiner, who took part in series 2 with his Mum, Jo, back in 2020.” A fourth viewer noted: “Lovely tribute to Sam at the end,” while another wrote: “Rest in peace Sam.”
A tribute was left to Sam
Sam tragically died in a car crash on Sunday (June 1), as confirmed by his family, reports Plymouth Live. His mother Jo, who was his teammate on the 2019 series, and father Andrew offered a heartfelt statement: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident.
“We hold on to the beautiful memories of him, even though words can’t fully do justice to how much light and joy he brought into our world. Sam was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective.”
Sources revealed that after participating in Race Across the World, the experience “opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel”. A heartwarming post was later made on Instagram by the official BBC travel series account, honouring Sam and Jo’s memorable journey from Mexico to Argentina.
“We are all deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about Sam, who died this week following a car accident,” the post read. The tribute expressed how evident it was to those who met him and viewers alike, just how life-changing and significant the journey had been for Sam and his mum, Jo.
The homage was wrapped up with: “Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences.”
Sam and mum Jo were unable to compete in the final leg of the race after they ran out of money. However, Sam had described his time on Race Across the World as a “life-changing” experience.
JOHANNESBURG — Presley Chweneyagae, the South African actor who gained international recognition for his leading role in the 2005 film “Tsotsi,” which won South Africa’s first-ever Academy Award for best foreign language film, has died. He was 40 years old.
His talent agency MLA on Tuesday confirmed Chweneyagae’s death and said South Africa had lost one of its “most gifted and beloved actors.”
“His passion for empowering the next generation of artists will remain integral to his legacy,” MLA Chief Executive Nina Morris Lee said in a statement. She gave no details about the cause of death.
Chweneyagae’s three-decade-long career spanned theater, television and film.
His award-winning performance in “Tsotsi,” based on the 1961 novel by South Africa’s preeminent playwright Athol Fugard and directed by Gavin Hood, catapulted him to international stardom.
Chweneyagae was also a gifted writer and director, co-writing the internationally acclaimed stage play “Relativity” with Paul Grootboom.
The South African government paid tribute to Chweneyagae, lauding his outstanding contribution to the film, television and theater fraternity.
“The nation mourns the loss of a gifted storyteller whose talent lit up our screens and hearts,” the government said in a post on X. “Your legacy will live on through the powerful stories you told.”
The South Africa Film and Television Awards organization, known as SAFTA, paid tribute to Chweneyagae, calling him a “true legend of South African Cinema” on X.
“Rest in Power … a powerhouse performer whose talent left an indelible mark on our screens and in our hearts,” SAFTA posted.
The secretary general of the ANC, the party that dominated South African politics for 30 years, offered his condolences.
Fikile Mbalula described Chweneyagae as a “giant of South African film and theatre.”
“His legacy in ‘Tsotsi,’ ‘The River,’ and beyond will live on. Condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his brilliance,” Mbalula said.
Springwatch returned to the BBC on Monday night for a special 20th anniversary series with Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams all back as presenters
BBC’s beloved wildlife programme Springwatch has kicked off its 20th anniversary series, with Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan returning as hosts.
Broadcasting from a new location in the picturesque Peak District, the duo introduced the first episode on May 26 with a nostalgic montage of clips featuring familiar faces, including Kate Humble and Bill Oddie, from the show’s debut in 2005.
In his signature style, Chris Packham donned a bucket hat and peppered his opening segment with Oasis puns, teasing viewers that they were in for a treat: “You’ll want to be here now as we’re about to bring you the Champagne supernova of wildlife TV, starting tonight.”
To celebrate two decades on air, the show has introduced a new feature, Springwatch Street, which delves into the secret lives of urban wildlife, showcasing the thriving populations of foxes and swifts in city environments.
Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan hosting Springwatch(Image: BBC)
Within minutes of the episode airing, fans took to social media platform X to share their delight at the show’s return. One enthusiastic viewer exclaimed: “Springwatch at 20! Absolutely love this show! Great recap of the start and all of the amazing presenters that the show has had!” reports Gloucestershire Live.
Another loyal fan commented: “Springwatch is 20 – and I think I’ve watched every series.”
A third viewer praised the show’s hosts, saying: “Wonderful #springwatch is back – @ChrisPackham4 and @michaelastracha are national treasures.”
Others welcomed the show’s return, posting: “Lovely to have #Springwatch back on our screens. And from the #PeakDistrict too!” and “Ssshhhh it’s finally #springwatch time! Welcome back.”
Chris had fans buzzing with his not-so-secret Oasis theme, with one viewer tweeting: “@ChrisGPackham clearly on an Oasis kick tonight.”
Others chimed in: “Oasis songs then Chris?” and noted: “Sneaky Oasis references in the first 10 minutes.”
Some even teased: “Some might say that Chris is naming Oasis songs.”
Iolo Williams with his new look(Image: BBC)
Meanwhile, Welsh presenter Iolo Williams drew attention with a new look as he checked in from a damp Belfast, saying: “My beard and I, we’re going to take you on a Northern Ireland road trip,” before outlining the wildlife features ahead, including foxes and seals.
“So Chris and Michaela we have got three wildlife-packed weeks coming up for you,” Iolo declared, prompting a handover back to the Peak District. There, Michaela shared her approval of his new look: “I know, more rain, more hair – I like it. I almost think you look quite handsome actually Iolo.”
Chris offered his humorous take: “I think he looks like a Norwegain resistance fighter in the Second World war personally.”
Fans didn’t hesitate to weigh in on Iolo’s beard, with comments such as: “Liking the beard!” and “Loving @IoloWilliams2’s beard.”
Another added: “Silver fox sighting on #Springwatch already, Iolo definitely needs to keep the beard.”
Actor George Wendt, who starred in the beloved Cheers TV series, has passed away at the age of 76, and he has a famous Ted Lasso nephew he’s sadly leaving behind
22:05, 20 May 2025Updated 22:22, 20 May 2025
George Wendt was best known for his role as Norm Peterson in the iconic sitcom Cheers(Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Theactor, who was best known for his role as Norm Peterson in the iconic sitcom Cheers, died peacefully in his sleep at his home, his family confirmed.
A representative told the Hollywood Reporter: “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
During his notable career, the American star delighted viewers on Saturday Night Live, portraying Bob Swerski, one of the fervent superfans often seen crowding around Coach Mike Ditka’s diner, passionately rooting for “Da Bears.”
George Wendt has passed away at the age of 76(Image: Getty Images)
He also boasted an impressive back catalogue of film appearances, gracing screens in Dreamscape (1984), House (1985), Fletch (1985), Gung Ho (1986), Plain Clothes (1987), Never Say Die (1988), Guilty by Suspicion (1991), Forever Young (1992) and the pop culture hit Spice World (1997).
But away from work, George spent time with his doting family, including his wife Bernadette Birkett and their three children: Hilary, Joe, and Daniel. He also leaves behind his nephew, Jason Sudeikis, who plays the lead role in the hugely popular TV series Ted Lasso.
While appearing on an episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast, George gushed over his pride for his famous nephew. The Cheers star shared: “Proud especially, you know, not only of the success, but he’s solid. Have you read profiles and stuff? I mean he is such a mesh, so smart, so thoughtful. I mean, it all comes out in the show. Right?”
There has even been a touching link between the finale of Ted Lasso and the final episode of Cheers – a homage to the uncle and nephew duo.
During the season three finale of Ted Lasso, bartender Mae straightens a framed photo of Apache leader Geronimo at the Crown & Anchor. The subtle but touching scene was inspired by the ending of Cheers, which saw a similar picture and a small gesture from Sam.
Jason Sudeikis, who played the lead role in Ted Lasso, is the nephew of George Wendt(Image: Handout)
Marked by heartbreaking coincidence, the news of George’s death comes precisely 32 years after the last episode of Cheers graced our television screens. With a run of 275 episodes under his belt, the actor garnered six Primetime Emmy Award nods for his beloved role as the beer-chugging regular, Norm.
On X, formerly Twitter, tributes poured in from fans mourning their favourite TV bar patron, with one writing: “George Wendt, beloved for his role as Norm on Cheers, has died at 77. With a beer in hand and a heart of gold, he made millions feel like regulars. A true legend of TV comfort and comedy.”
Another wrote: “Rest in peace to George Wendt, responsible for Norm Peterson, one of the most iconic sitcom characters of my lifetime. Cheers big guy. Rest easy.”
A third also shared a touching tribute: “RIP George Wendt. You were a big part of my childhood and the impact you had on society was positive and substantial. We are sad to see you go, but know you will be in a better place. Thanks for the laughs.”
PRINCESS Diana’s former bodyguard who protected princes William and Harry has died at the age of 63.
Lee Sansum, who served as a royal military police officer, was one of Diana’s bodyguards shortly before her death in 1997, escorting her during a family holiday to the French resort of Saint Tropez that year.
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Princess Diana’s former bodyguard Lee Sansum has died at the age of 63Credit: Northpix
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The former royal military police officer (far right) protected Diana and her kids Harry and William during a trip to Saint Tropez in July 1997Credit: B960
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Harry on a jet ski while on holiday with mum Diana in Saint Tropez just one month before her tragic deathCredit: Getty
The former bodyguard’s wife announced the tragic news of Lee’s death in a post on Facebook on Monday, revealing he had died of a sudden heart attack.
Sharing a compilation of pictures of the couple throughout the years, she wrote: “Since meeting in 1998, Lee Sansum has been my soul mate, hero and most amazing man in my world.
“So I’m devastated to share that he is no longer with us. He had a fatal heart attack on Saturday morning at home.
“His huge presence will be missed around the world as much as it is in our household although his capacity for love, and the life skills he has shared have left a legacy that will never be lost.
“He’s forever loved and will always be with us
“I love you more than ever ‘My Lovely Lee’.”
On top of being a bodyguard for Diana and her kids, father-of-six Lee also served as a bodyguard for the late Alex Salmond, while he was serving as First Minister of Scotland in 2014.
Lee, who held black belts in karate, jujitsu and kick-boxing, was nicknamed “Rambo” by Diana and was no stranger to the spotlight.
He also loyally protected stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Nicole Kidman, and Tom Cruise during his career.
He had been assigned to look after Diana and her young sons Prince William and Prince Harry during their stay at Al-Fayad’s 30-bedroom villa in Saint Tropez in the summer of 1997.
This was tragically just one month before Diana died in a Paris car crash, alongside Dodi.
Lee had released a book in 2022 – called The Bodyguard – in which he explored his close relationship with Diana and the young princes, particularly Harry.
He revealed how he had tried to teach the two boys kickboxing but that they were too “apprehensive” to it.
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Lee received a touching letter from Diana, William, and Harry after protecting them on their holiday to Saint TropezCredit: Northpix
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He also served as a bodyguard for the late First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond in 2014Credit: Northpix
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Lee was nicknamed Rambo by Princess DianaCredit: Supplied
However, he managed to succeed in teaching Harry how to drive a jet ski – even helping him to soak photographers who were waiting to snap a picture of the young prince on holiday.
For his loyal and kind services on the trip, he was given a touching thank you letter by Diana.
In it, she wrote that she was grateful for the “magical ten days [which] would not have been possible without your invaluable contribution”.
The former bodyguard also revealed that Diana had turned to him for comfort, even crying on his shoulder, after her fashion designer friend Gianni Versace had been fatally shot outside his home in July 1997.
Lee, born in Burnley, Lancashire, said Diana would chat to him every day after she woke up at 7am – adding that she was worried about the safety of her own life.
He added that Diana was an “amazing woman”, saying: “She cared a great deal. She never said a bad word about anyone.”
25 years following her death, Lee also revealed how he could have been in the car with the princess on the day she died.
Speaking in a 2022 interview, he said: “It could have been me in that car.
“We drew straws to see who would be accompanying Trevor [Rees-Jones] that weekend.
“When I learned they were not wearing seatbelts in the crash I understood why they didn’t survive.
“I always insisted on it.”
Lee claimed Diana would still be alive if he had been on duty the night she died in a car crash.
The ex-Royal Military Policeman and “international security consultant” explained it was standard practice for the family to wear seatbelts – an order which had been sent down by Mohamed Al-Fayed.
When Diana, Dodi, and driver Henri Paul crashed and tragically died, none were wearing seatbelts.
Lee had begun his service as a military police officer in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
He said: “I was looking after people in witness protection. I learnt my craft in Northern Ireland.”
After leaving the Army he started working as a civilian bodyguard, known in the industry as The Circuit.
A friend then recommended him to billionaire businessman Al-Fayed, who was so impressed by Lee that the bodyguard said he “became like family”.
Ahmaud Arbery. His name is just one that we’ve come to associate with senseless racial violence in America. On the afternoon of Feb. 23, 2020, in Georgia’s Glynn County, Arbery, 25, was out running when three white men chased him down and shot him. His death ricocheted across the nation just three months before the murder of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer.
Now, five years later, the Grammy-winning choral ensemble Tonality is dedicating a show to Arbery at the Wallis in Beverly Hills. The May 24 program, “Put Your Guns Down,” includes the world premiere of founding Artistic Director Alexander Lloyd Blake’s piece “Running From, Running To: A Musical Reflection on Ahmaud Arbery.”
Tonality choral ensemble during a performance.
(Dorian Bonner)
Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, will attend the concert and has already heard Blake’s 30-minute work for choir, orchestra and soloists. She took time while traveling to answer questions via email about experiencing the music.
“When I first heard the composition, I was overwhelmed. It’s beautiful. I wish I could play it over and over again,” Cooper-Jones wrote. “The fact that someone took the time to honor Ahmaud in this way — it means more than I can put into words. One of the movements is called ‘Running Free,’ and when I heard that, I told Alex that it was like we were made to make a connection.”
After Arbery’s death, Cooper-Jones channeled her grief into creating the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, which champions mental health awareness and provides scholarships and youth development camps for young Black men.
“One of my favorite quotes from Ahmaud is, ‘When life gets hard, you gotta get hard with it,’” Cooper-Jones wrote. “I hear his voice saying that all the time, especially when I get to the point where I want to give up. Starting the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation hasn’t been easy. It’s hard work. But those words keep me going.”
Arbery, Cooper-Jones explained, inspired everything she does.
“He had a way of leaving every person with ‘I love you,’ no matter who they were. Since losing him, I try to do the same, letting people know I love them, just in case I leave here tomorrow,” she said. “Through the foundation, I’m working to be the change for young Black men like Ahmaud who may be facing mental health challenges or simply struggling to find their place in the world. If they choose running as their outlet, I want them to be able to run free, without fear. That’s what this work is about, honoring Ahmaud’s legacy by fighting for freedom, for justice, and for love.”
Tonality’s Blake also wants to honor Arbery’s life with his music.
“I remember reading about Ahmaud Arbery’s story in 2020 and feeling a deep frustration at how little attention it received. That frustration led me to create a project in 2020 with 60 Black musicians to honor the countless Black lives lost without consequence,” Blake wrote in an email. “‘Running From, Running To’ is my way of ensuring his story is not forgotten — a reflection of our need to remember, to heal, and to strive toward justice that has yet to be fully realized.”
Tonality founding Artistic Director Alexander Lloyd Blake.
(Dorian Bonner)
“Put Your Guns Down,” begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased at thewallis.org.
I’m arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, grateful for Cooper-Jones’ reflections on the power of love. Here’s a rundown of this week’s other arts news.
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Best bets: On our radar this week
‘Califas Trilogy’
Playwright and actor Roger Q. Mason made waves with their play “Lavendar Men,” which reimagined Abraham Lincoln’s life through a queer lens. Now Mason has launched the “Califas Trilogy,” plays exploring the California dream at various points in the past, present and future. Times contributor Amanda L. Andrei sat down with Mason to discuss the works, two of which are up and running. Check them out and dive into Mason’s story. “California Story” runs through June 3 at Caminito Theatre of Los Angeles City College “Hide and Hide” runs through May 29 at Skylight Theatre in L.A.; “Juana Maria” runs May 25-June 1 at Caminito Theatre. www.califastrilogy.com
‘Schoenberg in Hollywood’
Tod Machover’s opera “Schoenberg in Hollywood” is based on a remarkable incident from 1935: In the office of legendary Hollywood producer Irving Thalberg, composer Arnold Schoenberg asks for more than an astronomical fee to score the MGM feature film adaptation of Pearl S. Buck’s “The Good Earth.” He also asks for full control of the movie’s sound — and wants the actors to recite their lines to his musical rhythms. Three more performances of “Schoenberg in Hollywood” by the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music are scheduled this week at the Nimoy Theater in Westwood. Until then, you can read music critic Mark Swed’s take on Schoenberg and his contribution to the L.A. sound. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd., L.A. schoolofmusic.ucla.edu
Culture news and the SoCal scene
Elizabeth Reaser and Jason Butler Harner, who star as Nora and Torvald in “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” at the Pasadena Playhouse on Friday, May 2, 2025.
(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)
Since Henrik Ibsen’s classic play “A Doll’s House” premiered in 1879, one thing has not changed: It’s still shocking for a woman to walk out on her child. Which is where playwright Lucas Hnath’s starts his 2017 play, “A Doll’s House, Part 2”: 15 years after Ibsen’s female protagonist, Nora, left her husband and daughter to find her own way in life. In a new production at Pasadena Playhouse, screen actors Elizabeth Reaser and Jason Butler Harner play Nora and husband Torvald, coming up with their own answers about what these two former life partners may now think and feel about each other. Read all about the show here.
Times theater critic Charles McNulty, a part-time professor at CalArts, enjoyed reading playwright Sarah Ruhl’s new book, “Lessons From My Teachers.” Ruhl is a playwriting instructor at Yale who finds plenty to learn from her students. “Even in the classroom, with its necessary hierarchies and rigorously observed boundaries, teaching isn’t a one-way street,” McNulty writes in review of the book. “Authority is enriched, not undermined, by intellectual challenge. The most thrilling moments in my years of teaching drama have come when in the dialectical heat of class discussion, a new way of understanding a scene or a character’s psychology emerges from conflicting perspectives.”
Maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Pierre-Laurent Aimard at piano at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
(David Swanson/For The Times)
The classical music world is abuzz with the thought that conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen might return to lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic after Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leaves at the end of next season to take over the New York Philharmonic. Times critic Swed ruminates on the possibility of Salonen playing a transitional role for a couple years while the search continues for a permanent successor.
Joe Ngo, Abraham Kim, Kelsey Angel Baehrens, Jane Lui and Tim Liu in “Cambodian Rock Band” at East West Players.
(Teolindo)
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Massive cutbacks to the National Endowment for the Artscontinue to send shock waves through L.A.’s arts community. East West Players announced that it lost a $20,000 grant meant to support the creative team behind the world premiere of Prince Gomolvilas’ “Paranormal Inside,” scheduled for the fall. “The loss of this funding represents more than a financial setback; it is a symbolic blow to our mission and to the creatives who rely on institutional support to tell vital, underrepresented stories,” the theater wrote in an email to supporters. The loss, which represents 10% of the budget for the project, couldn’t come at a worse time for the company, which in April was forced to layoff five full-time staff members. The theater is calling on members of the community to help fundraise and to contact their local representatives to protest the Trump administration’s proposed elimination of the NEA.
A massive art installation created by transgender and nonbinary artists in support of visibility and acceptance for their community was unveiled Saturday in Washington, D.C. The “Freedom to Be” project was spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union and helped kick off World Pride in the capital by displaying hundreds of quilts meant to build on the legacy of the 1987 AIDS Memorial Quilt.
The Getty has announced the lineup for its free outdoor summer concert series, “Off the 405.” This year’s performers include Bartees Strange, Cate Le Bon, Helado Negro, Alabaster DePlume and Moses Sumney. Check out the full schedule here.
And last but not least
Times travel writer Christopher Reynolds, who may have the best job at the paper, just released this list of “the 34 coolest, kitschiest, most fascinating motels in California,” which appeals to just about every aspect of my personality and taste. Now I just need a few months off — and a lottery win — to stay at each and every one.
Penelope Hocking and Caroline Conti both scored in the first half to lift Bay FC to a 2-0 victory over Angel City on Saturday.
Hocking opened the scoring with a rising shot from inside the box after a pass from Taylor Huff in the 23rd minute. It was Hocking’s second goal of the season and her second in consecutive weeks.
The referee awarded a penalty kick to Bay FC after Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson came off her line and brought down Huff in the 26th minute. Conti converted the penalty for her second goal of the season.
Bay goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz made four saves and picked up her third shutout.
Angel City were without defender Savy King, who is on medical leave after undergoing surgery for a heart abnormality. King collapsed in the second half of Angel City’s 2-0 win over the Utah Royals last weekend.
Before kick-off at PayPal Park, both Bay FC and Angel City wore shirts with ‘SK3’ printed on the front as a tribute to King. Angel City captain Sarah Gorden also held up King’s jersey during the team photo.
The win snapped a three-game winless streak for Bay (3-4-2). Angel City (4-3-2) has lost all three of its meetings with Bay FC.
