retirement - Page 2

April 2023: Vol 49, No 4

His name is now synonymous with the adventurous assassin John Wick, who propelled his movie star status to new heights. At 58, and in the prime of his career, Keanu Reeves’ name is right up there with such male stars as Tom Cruise, Liam Neeson, and Clint Eastwood.

Reeves’ journey to stardom has been a long and twisting road across the globe, beginning with his birth in Beirut, Lebanon in September 1964. He was raised in Toronto by his English-born mother, a costume designer, and performer, and his father, a native Hawaiian of Chinese, English, Irish, and Portuguese descent.

March 2023: Vol 49, No 3

We all know Mariska Hargitay for her role as Olivia Benson in the long-running hit TV drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” But did you know that the successful actress and daughter of the late Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay is busy off-screen fighting against sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse?

Using her platform “to do something meaningful,” she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, a support organization for survivors of these crimes inflicted on women. Since 2010, her foundation has sent thousands of women and children to therapeutic programs in New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii.

January 2023: Vol 49, No 1

As we sat down to write this cover story, we heard the news: Celine Dion has been diagnosed with a brain disorder commonly known as “stiff person syndrome.”

According to medical experts, it is a very rare condition that affects about 1 million people
and has features similar to those found in stroke victims. The bad news: there is no known
cure. The good news is: The symptoms of muscle spasms, imbalance, and light sensitivity
can be treated successfully with the latest medications.

December 2022: Vol 48, No 12

We all know 53-year-old Matt Damon for his award-winning roles in “Good Will Hunting,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Courage Under Fire,” “The Bourne Identity” and so many more.

What I found out about this very active movie star is a revealing peek into a man who demonstrates his true character in front of and behind the cameras.

November 2022: Vol 48, No 11

Can you believe it? Shania Twain, the undisputed “queen of country pop” and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, is 57!

Somehow, age is irrelevant in this cover tribute to a true songstress who continues to entertain audiences all over the world, in concerts, on vinyl, and in digital formats.

October 2022: Vol 48, No 10

The story of actor, filmmaker, director, and entrepreneur Bryan Cranston is the story of “local boy makes good.”

Born in Hollywood and raised in Canoga Park, he is the second of three children. His father was of half Irish, quarter Austrian-Jewish and quarter German descent, while his mother was the daughter of German immigrants.

July 2022: Vol 48, No 7

Let’s face it: Unless you’ve been living under a rock in the Mohave Desert, you know that Reba McEntire, now 67 years young, is one of America’s best entertainment icons. She holds the title among her peers and fans as The Queen of Country.

The Oklahoma-born and raised singer, actress, songwriter, and producer holds every honor the country music industry can bestow.

September 2021: Vol 47, No 9

At 58 years young, she’s one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry today. She’s sold millions of records worldwide, appealing to every musical taste, from pop to jazz, from Latin to gospel. Her honors include Emmys, Grammys, Tony’s, Golden Globes, and others.

Of course, I’m talking about Vanessa L. Williams whose road to celebrity status began
when she became the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title in
1983.

August 2021: Vol 47, No 8

It seems inconceivable to me and, if you talk to others in the movie industry they will agree, Kevin Bacon is one of the best actors never to have received an Oscar nomination.

The Academy Award judges missed the mark and should have given one of the most famous American actors the industry’s highest honor for Bacon’s leading or supporting roles in such high-profile films as “Footloose,” “JFK,” “A Few Good Men,” “Apollo 13,” “Mystic River,” “The River Wild,” “Hollow Man,” and so many others.

June 2019: Vol 45, No 6

There is no disputing the 65-year-old actor/director’s talent in either role. For those of us who grew up in the “Baby Boomer” era, how can we forget the little boy named Opie who played the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor in the “Andy Grifth Show,” or the precocious teen in “Happy Days”? Ron Howard, who is the epitome of the coming of age stories he portrayed, including the iconic flm, “American Grafti,” is unlike most of the actors who gained fame at an early age and quickly faded as they matured.