LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Alaina Reed-Amini, the Broadway star and TV actress best known for her long-running roles on "Sesame Street" and "227," has died. She was 63.

Morgan Freeman was born in Memphis, Tenn. on June 1, 1937, but raised from infancy in Charleston, Miss. by his paternal grandmother. Every summer as a young child, he would visit his parents who had moved to Chicago, which is where he developed his love of the cinema.

NEW YORK (AP) -- To create an album as hard-hitting as his multiplatinum-selling debut, 2003's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," 50 Cent says he had to tap into the troubles he dealt with before he became one of hip-hop's biggest stars.

Forget the JFK assassination, I can actually remember where I was the first time I heard that beautiful voice so many moons ago.

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe was born in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn in 1983 to R&B/Gospel singer Alice Tan Ridley, and Ibnou Sidibe, a cab driver from Senegal. After her parents separated, Gabby was raised in Harlem by her mother who supported the family by teaching Special Ed and by singing in the subway.

ATLANTA (AP) -- Comedian and rapper Katt Williams remained jailed in suburban Atlanta on Monday after police said they arrested the entertainer for breaking into a home.

Boris Kodjoe, along with his better half, Nicole Ari Parker, comprises one of the more striking and accomplished couples in showbiz. Prior to acting, Boris enjoyed a flourishing career as a supermodel, and was featured in national ad campaigns for everything from Ralph Lauren to Perry Ellis to Yves Saint Laurent to The Gap.

Michael made his screen debut in 1989 in "Toxic Avenger II," and followed that up with appearances in action flicks like "Universal Soldier" and "Full Contact." His big break arrived when he landed the title role in "Tyson," a made-for-TV bio-pic about boxing great Mike Tyson. He subsequently played "Spawn" in the screen adaptation based on the popular comic book series of the same name.

Oprah Winfrey was so taken by Sapphire's novel "Push" that she read it more than once.
Yet even though the talk-show host has made best-sellers of unknown books, Winfrey didn't think even her staggering influence could make "Push" -- the story of an obese, illiterate Black teen who suffers unspeakable abuse -- something that millions would want to read.

Fresh on the heels of her steamy screen debut earlier this year in "Notorious" as Lil' Kim, Naturi Naughton is back with "Fame," a remake of the 1980 Academy Award-winner for Best Score and Best Song. Now, the New Jersey native is enjoying a starring role showcasing an array of her considerable talents, including solo performances of a couple of hits from the original, the title track "Fame" as well as "Out Here on My Own."