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Pernell Roberts, best remembered for his roles in Bonanza and Trapper John, M.D. has died of cancer at his Malibu home aged 81.

Pernell Roberts started his career in high school, singing in a local USO show before serving two years in the United States Marine Corps. After a period of study, he performed off-Broadway, winning a Drama Desk award in 1955 for his performance in Macbeth.

He first appeared on TV as a guest star in the series Northwest Passage, and made his film debut a year later co-starring in the film Ride Lonesome.

Robert’s big break came playing Ben Cartwright’s eldest son in the TV series Bonanza for six seasons. During this period he also recorded a solo album, and sang extensively on a separate Bonanza related album.

After appearing on a range of television shows, he found fame again in the early 80’s playing Trapper John M.D., in the show of the same name from 1979-1986. He last appeared on television in 2001.

Los Angeles, CA, United States (CNS) – Covers of Leonard Cohen’s 1984 classic “Hallelujah” have a way of topping the digital charts, including Jeff Buckley’s version by way of “American Idol” finalist Jason Castro, and “X Factor” winner Alexandra Burke. The same rings true again for Justin Timberlake and his live performance of the track, which hits #1 on the iTunes sales chart.

Timberlake performed “Hallelujah” for the “Hope for Haiti Now” benefit telethon which aired across various television networks Friday. He performed with singer Matt Morris, a fellow member of the “Mickey Mouse Club,” who recently released his debut studio album.

“It’s always been one of my favorite songs,” Timberlake told MTV of the song. “And my artist Matt, we always kinda sing that song when we’re messing around in the studio with ideas. The way that it’s written can be interpreted many different ways. But the emotion that comes through – the chords, the melody and also what’s being said in the song – it just kind of fit for the telethon.”

The telethon raised over $57 million for Haiti. The tally is increasing thanks to the proceeds from the sales of the #1 digital single and the other 19 tracks on the “Hope for Haiti Now” album. The “Hope for Haiti Now” album, which includes live performances by Christina Aguilera, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, and Taylor Swift, is currently the #1 selling album on iTunes.

18 of the 20 album “Hope for Haiti Now” tracks are currently in the Top 200 selling songs on iTunes. “Lean On Me,” by Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, and Kid Rock, is currently just outside the top 10 at #11.

Mel Gibson thinks “all guys are dogs”.

The 54-year-old actor is very protective of his daughters, married Hannah, 29, and baby Lucia with his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, because he knows what men are like and what they are interested in.

He told People magazine, “Oh, you get scared. We all know what dogs all guys are because we are guys.”

Although Mel is distrustful of any man’s intentions for his girls, the actor acknowledges that women are far smarter than guys give them credit for.

Mel, who plays a father who seeks revenge for his daughter’s murder in film ‘Edge of Darkness’ added, “We shouldn’t despair, the truth is all women are smarter than men.”

The Hollywood star is a very protective father and partner and last week revealed he keeps a gun “stowed away” in his house to protect against intruders.

The ‘Edge of Darkness’ actor, who lives with Oksana and Lucia said, “I did have bodyguards for a little while but it’s a drag. If your number’s up, it’s up. If I’m lying in bed and somebody comes into my room, I’ll either wake up or I won’t. And I’ll either hit ‘em with my big stick that I’ve got or my gun that I have stowed away… or they’ll hit me.”

Mariah Carey will sing on Simon Cowell’s Haiti charity single.

The ‘Obsessed’ hitmaker has signed up to join a selection of the world’s biggest stars and add her vocals to the music mogul’s star-studded cover version of the REM ballad ‘Everybody Hurts’.

Simon has revealed the 40-year-old singer-and-actress was so keen to help raise relief funds for the Caribbean island following the two devastating earthquakes, she altered her schedule to fit in the recording.

He said, “We’re getting there. We have had an incredible amount of support. It’s amazing these great singers are clearing their schedules to make this happen. I just found out Mariah has changed her schedule to be able to do this too.

“It says such a lot that everyone is working so hard to help Haiti. This is something that really matters to us all and I’m so grateful for the support we are getting.”

Simon, who hopes the song will be released next Sunday, January 31, is thrilled about the extra publicity which will be generated now Mariah has joined the bill.

A source added to The Sun newspaper, “Mariah was brilliant, she wanted to help in any way she could. Her name gives the single another great boost.”

‘Hannah Montana’ star Miley Cyrus has also joined the track’s all-star cast.

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole and British boy band JLS were the first to record their vocals in London over the weekend.

The song is particularly poignant to JLS member Oritse Williams, who has lost family members in Haiti.

He said, “This tragedy is very close to my heart. We hope to raise as much money as possible.”

‘Bleeding Love’ songstress Leona Lewis paid a visit to a Los Angeles studio last night, January 24, while Take That and rocker Rod Stewart will record in the US today, January 25.

Alexandra Burke and Susan Boyle are set to add their vocals this afternoon, while James Morrison, Mika and James Blunt will make arrangements for their recordings over the next few days.

The individual vocals are being compiled by producer Steve Robson, using advanced technology which means artists do not need to record together.

Kristen Stewart plays a stripper in her new film.

The ‘Twilight’ star portrays a 16-year-old runaway who gets into erotic dancing and occasional prostitution to earn money in the movie – which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Saturday, January 23, and Kristen admits it is a big departure for her.

She said, “My character’s not sultry, not sexy. She sort of throws herself into all her moves. I tore myself up doing it.”

The 19-year-old actress is seen dancing in platform heels, fishnets, a micro-mini skirt and a bra in one scene and the actress was nervous about shooting the sequence with co-star James Gandolfini.

She added, “The first time I put on all the fishnets I was nervous. I really tried to own it though.”

Kristen trained with a professional stripper for two weeks to prepare for the movie and initially wanted to learn the sexy moves covered up.

Speaking to Us Weekly magazine, she said, “I wanted to do it in my clothes. But my trainer was like, ‘No, you don’t stick to the poll when you do that.’ ”

Sean Penn has visited disaster-stricken Haiti to highlight the need for more help.

The Oscar-winning actor flew out to the Caribbean island, which has been left devastated by two earthquakes in the past two weeks, leaving over 150,000 people dead, insists continued international aid is crucial as the country attempts to recover.

Penn said, “It can also be said that Haiti’s quite used to having the spotlight come off of them. It has had needs for a long time. But I hope that it will refocus, that this is one of our (America’s) neighbors.”

The 49-year-old star, who is filming a documentary for FOX News Channel’s ‘Geraldo at Large,’ is amazed by the efforts so far but knows more needs to be done.

Penn said, “The military that I’ve been dealing with, the 82nd Airborne, are people that got me aspiring to a new level. However, the mission is still contained, it’s focused in the public epicenter. And yet there’s masses of people in the outlying areas that are still phase one.

“It’s still phase one injuries and traumas. And where broken legs are suddenly becoming compound, where bones are breaking out of the skin and infections are coming. And this is happening on a daily basis. People are dying by the thousands a day.”

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are not heading for a split, sources close to the couple have claimed.

Friends of the pair, who have been dating for five years and raise six children together, insist “everything is fine” between them and branded recent reports of a break-up “totally false”.

A source told the New York Daily News newspaper, “I was told it’s not true. They are very secretive. But I was told it’s not true.”

Although another source called the split rumors “B.S”, the couple are yet to officially comment on the status of their relationship.

Yesterday, January 24, the News of the World newspaper claimed Brad, 46, and 34-year-old Angelina had visited divorce lawyers to help them separate and planned to split up in the near future.

The legal document they allegedly signed will see their $330 million fortune halved in two, while the pair will have joint custody of their children.

The couple – who have three adopted children, Maddox, eight, Pax, six, and Zahara, five, as well as three biological kids, Shiloh, three, and 18-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne – are alleged to have visited a top Los Angeles law firm in December last year, and have since hired a lawyer specializing in celebrity divorces.

Although the reports have been refuted, it has since been claimed Brad’s brother Doug Pitt begged the ‘Fight Club’ star to end the relationship because their family was being torn apart.

A source told The Sun newspaper, “Brad’s family are being more vocal with their doubts over the relationship. The only thing they still have in common is their kids. That’s keeping them together at the moment.”

Brad and Angelina, who has been married twice before, got together after meeting on the set of ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ in 2004, while Brad was still married to Jennifer Aniston.

Amy Winehouse will remarry Blake Fielder-Civil and have children, according to a psychic.

Recovering drug addict Blake’s mother Georgette Civil contacted celebrity medium Denise Harrison, who did a special reading to see what the future holds for her son and his singer ex-wife.

The psychic claimed things will be positive for the couple and they will elope to tie the knot for a second time when Blake leaves rehab in Sheffield, Northern England, next month.

Denise also stated they will go on a “spiritual journey” together, but both will stay off drugs.

Georgette, 46, said, “I wanted to know whether their future was going to be positive.

“Denise told me that they are going to remarry very soon. It’s going to be abroad. She said they would always be together because of the huge bond between them.

“In the long-term they are going to be free of drugs, go on a spiritual journey, and they will live happily and have children.

“Spirits are guarding Amy and Blake and want them to have a happy future together.”

Meanwhile, Amy is currently staying in a hotel after blowing the electrics in her London home by playing loud music.

Amy, 26, and Blake, 31, originally wed in May 2007 in Miami but divorced in August 2009, after Blake filed for divorce on grounds of adultery.

Pete Wentz wants to move to France.

The Fall Out Boy rocker, who has a 14-month-old son Bronx Mowgli with wife Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, has fallen in love with the European country since flying out for music industry conference Midem.

He revealed on twitter, “In south france feeling the jet lag. I could live here. France is amazing. The food. The people.(sic)”

The ‘Sugar We’re Going Down’ hitmaker also spoke about his love of Bronx, revealing him to be the most important thing in his life.

When asked how fatherhood had affected him, he replied, “he is the only person that can take me away from my blackberry. the only thing i want to get right in my entire life. (sic)”

Last year, Pete revealed he wanted to move out of Los Angeles to protect his family’s privacy.

He said, “Once you have a kid it’s a little bit different. You’re more protective. You want them to have a normal life, or as normal as possible.

“We’re going to figure out moving somewhere that’s a little less public. But we still got to be close enough where we can work.

“There’ll be too many paparazzi and you’ll get mobbed. You’re just trying to protect your wife or your kid. It’s just frustrating.”

Mel Gibson keeps a gun “stowed away” in his house.

The ‘Edge of Darkness’ actor, who lives with his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva and their two-month-old baby daughter Lucia, has admitted he has a dangerous weapon hidden away in his home in case an intruder breaks in during the night and puts his family’s lives at risk.

He said, “I did have bodyguards for a little while but it’s a drag. If your number’s up, it’s up. If I’m lying in bed and somebody comes into my room, I’ll either wake up or I won’t. And I’ll either hit ‘em with my big stick that I’ve got or my gun that I have stowed away… or they’ll hit me.”

The 54-year-old actor insists there is nothing unusual about his outlook, as in modern society, times have changed to the extent where people need to be “tooled up” with weapons to defend themselves, their loved-ones and their homes.

He added, “Look, in this day and age you’ve got to be tooled up.”