Yasmine Bleeth, the stunning actress who rose to fame as Caroline Holden on the iconic television series “Baywatch” in the ’90s, had the world at her feet. However, her journey since her breakthrough on “Baywatch” has been marked by several tragic and heartbreaking events.

Born in New York City in 1968, Yasmine Bleeth’s career in the entertainment industry began at just 10 months old when she appeared in a commercial for Johnson & Johnson’s No More Tears baby shampoo. Her path to fame seemed clear from the start.

Her striking looks were inherited from her mother, Carina, a model who caught the attention of famous fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo. Scavullo, known for discovering stars like Brooke Shields, found Yasmine Bleeth while working with her mother. This early exposure to the world of modeling and entertainment set the stage for her future career.

Growing up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Yasmine’s parents separated when she was young, but they remained friends, making her upbringing as smooth as possible.

She started her acting career early, starring in her first movie at age 12 and later appearing in the daytime soap opera “Ryan’s Hope” from 1985 to 1989.

Yasmine’s life took a tragic turn when her mother, Carina, was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and passed away at the age of 47. The grief was overwhelming for Yasmine, leading her to turn down job offers and retreat from public life for almost a year.

It was during her time on “Baywatch” that Yasmine Bleeth achieved international fame. Joining the show as Caroline Holden in its fourth season, she quickly became a fan favorite. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “Baywatch” was the most-watched TV show globally for a period, and Yasmine became one of the iconic bikini-clad stars running along Santa Monica beach.

However, her role on “Baywatch” was not secured through a typical audition. The producers reached out to her, and Yasmine, who was at the beginning of her acting and modeling career, sought advice from her father before accepting the role.

Her success on “Baywatch” led to various opportunities, including modeling jobs and even her own swimwear line.

After leaving “Baywatch,” Yasmine starred in the TV series “Nash Bridges” from 1998 to 2000. However, by this time, her personal struggles were becoming evident.

Behind the scenes, Yasmine Bleeth was grappling with addiction, which began to affect her professional life. Colleagues noticed something was amiss, and her behavior led to her being blacklisted by many in the industry.

Yasmine’s addiction led her to isolate herself, lose contact with friends, and engage in self-destructive behavior. She maintained a facade of sobriety while on set, but her health deteriorated, and her colleagues observed alarming signs.

Her substance abuse took a heavy toll on her appearance, leading her to be unrecognizable compared to her time as a curvy model. She went from a size 6 during her golden years to a size 0. In addition to her physical health, her addiction had serious consequences for her career.

The turning point came when a doctor warned Yasmine that her body was on the brink of rupture due to an infection in her nose. The infection could have been life-threatening if left untreated. A collapse during a photoshoot in 2000 drove home the urgency of her situation, leading her to check into rehab.

Despite several relapses, Yasmine Bleeth ultimately overcame her addiction. She met her future husband, Paul Cerrito, while getting clean at the Promises Rehabilitation Clinic in Malibu. They married in 2002 and began a new chapter in her life.

Today, Yasmine Bleeth lives a quiet life with her husband, splitting her time between Southern California and Scottsdale, Arizona. She remains away from the limelight, focusing on maintaining her sobriety and enjoying life with her loved ones.

While Yasmine Bleeth may no longer be in the public eye, she has left an enduring mark on the entertainment industry and the hearts of her fans. Her journey from fame and addiction to recovery and a quieter life is a testament to the power of personal growth and transformation.

In 2020, Yasmine Bleeth was spotted walking her dogs in California, looking different from her “Baywatch” days. Despite her journey through fame and addiction, she appeared happy and content, emphasizing the importance of well-being and personal happiness.

Yasmine Bleeth’s primary income has been derived from her acting career, and her net worth is estimated at $2 million.

Yasmine Bleeth’s story is a reminder of the challenges many celebrities face and the resilience it takes to overcome them. Her journey serves as an inspiration to those seeking to reclaim their lives and find happiness beyond the spotlight.

The late James Gandolfini wasn’t always the hulking, balding man the world grew to love as a ruthless yet sensitive mobster on The Sopranos.

Sometimes sensitive, other times sociopathic, Gandolfini’s landmark performance of the flawed gangster earned him numerous awards and international acclaim.

Speaking of the lovable but brutal Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini told Vogue: “I am playing an Italian lunatic from New Jersey, and that’s basically what I am.”

After a hugely successful six-season run, the series ended in 2007, leaving fans wondering if the blacked-out screen in the end meant the antihero is alive, or dead.

Tragedy in Rome

But, along with the legendary actor, the elder Soprano died on June 19, 2013, after a heart attack claimed the life of the beloved 51-year-old star.

The Jersey-born man was travelling with his family in Italy and was in the hotel with his then 13-year-old son Michael when he had a heart attack and died.

Gandolfini left behind his wife Deborah Lin, who he married in 2008, daughter Liliane (born 2012), and Michael, who he shares with first wife, Marcy Wudarski.

Almost 10 years later, Michael landed the biggest role of his life, playing the role of a young Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark.

In September 2021, Michael spoke with the New York Times about capturing the complexity of the character his father so effortlessly played.

“I was always like, ‘I want to make my dad proud. I want to make my dad proud.’” The then 22-year-old actor continued, “I truly wasn’t aware of the legacy of him…My dad was just my dad.”

Though it’s cliché, Michael is his dad. The man inherited many of his father’s features and characteristics, like the sleepy yet inviting eyes, a menacing smirk and the soft voice mixed with the colorful language.

“The pressure is real,” he said of playing the mafia don as a youngster. “Not only was it the feeling of my dad – it was like, Tony Soprano is a f***ing hard character.”

‘Biggest flirt’

Before Gandolfini had three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe resting on his mantel, he was a regular Italian American kid growing up with his working-class family in a modest Westwood, New Jersey home.

His father served as the building maintenance chief at a Catholic school, and his mother worked as a lunch lady in a high school. He was a “happy, cute little boy,” as described by childhood chum Pam Donlan, who would later become a highly respected actor in Hollywood.

In 1979, the young man, who stood just over 6 ft., was a senior at Park Ridge High School in New Jersey, where he was one of the popular kids.

Excelling in both academics and extra-curricular activities, the Get Shorty star developed his skills as an actor while in high school, where he studied theatre.

It was in these years the Where the Wild Things Are star met John Travolta, whose father owned a store the senior Gandolfini patronized.

“My father sold tires to his father,” Travolta said after Gandolfini died. “I was his inspiration to get into the business…He would see pictures of me on the wall from movies and he decided that he wanted to be an actor.”

Before heading off to Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts, Gandolfini first celebrated his last year at high school with classmates voting him “best looking” and – not surprisingly – “biggest flirt.”

On a Facebook post shared by the Park Ridge community, an old photo of the young star along with a woman, Donna Lange, shows the two as “class flirts.”

“I [love] this picture of Jimmy and Donna…I always remember him like this…happy kid with that killer smile,” writes one old friend. “It’s a great picture of Jim and Donna,” shares another.

Meanwhile, Duff Lambros remembers his childhood friend as having “a “quiet confidence,” and “a cool dignity.” He said, “Girls loved him. Guys loved him.”

The friend adds, “When he cracked that smile, it wasn’t just teeth, he smiled with his eyes. It felt like the sun was shining.”

Travolta – who shared the screen with Gandfolfini in several films – remembers his long-time family friend as a giant not only as an actor, but also in his personal life. “He was a people person first and then everything else,” Travolta said. “He was this beautiful man and I love him very much.”

Despite Tony Soprano’s imposing presence, Gandolfini exhibited remarkable humility and dedication. He humorously characterized himself as a “260-pound Woody Allen,” emphasizing his unassuming nature despite the larger-than-life character he portrayed on screen.

What are your favorite memories of James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, or in another role? Please let us know what you think in the comments section below and then share this story so we can hear what others have to say!

Blueberry Cheesecake Cake is a two layer lemon blueberry cake with a layer of cheesecake in the middle. It’s covered with cream cheese frosting.

You’ve probably seen my cheesecake cakes before. My all-time favorite is my red velvet cheesecake cake. It’s a favorite “special occasion” cake in our family, and I published the recipe in the Recipe Girl cookbook too. So I’ve made several different flavors of cheesecake cakes over the years. This blueberry cheesecake cake is my latest!

If you want to make one, it can be a bit of a project but it’s worth it in the end because it’s so delicious! Just take it one step at a time. And start the project a couple days before you want to serve it.

Ingredients needed:

• cream cheese
• white sugar
• salt, baking powder and baking soda
• eggs
• sour cream
• heavy whipping cream
• vanilla extract
• salted and unsalted butter
• all purpose flour
• buttermilk
• lemon
• blueberries
• powdered sugar
• mint leaves

Follow the instructions in the recipe to make the cheesecake. It will be cooked in a water bath. And it will be a thinner cheesecake than what you’re used to seeing. It will be the middle of the cake, so that’s okay! You’ll put the cheesecake in the freezer and let it freeze completely before assembling.

Follow the instructions to make the two lemon blueberry cake layers too.

When ready to assemble, follow the instructions to make the frosting too.

Then it’s time to assemble the cake. Place one cake layer into the center of a cake plate or platter. Remove the cheesecake from the freezer, take off the sides of the pan, and slide a knife under the parchment to remove the cheesecake from the pan. Peel off the parchment. Measure your cheesecake layer against the cake layers. If the cheesecake layer turns out to be a slightly larger round than your cake, move it to a cutting board and gently shave off some of the exterior of the cheesecake to get it to the same size as your cake layers. Place the cheesecake layer on top of the first cake layer. Place the 2nd cake layer on top of the cheesecake.

Apply a crumb coat layer to the cake- use a long, thin spatula to cover the cake completely with a thin and even layer of frosting. Be sure to wipe off your spatula each time you are about to dip it back into the bowl to get more frosting (this way you won’t be transferring any red crumbs into the bowl of frosting). Don’t worry at this point about the crumbs being visible in the frosting on the cake. When your cake has a thin layer of frosting all over it, place it into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to “set” the frosting. Once the first layer of frosting is set, apply the 2nd layer. Start by adding a large scoop of frosting onto the top of the cake. Use a long, thin spatula to spread the frosting evenly across the top and then spread it down the sides of the cake too. Because you applied a crumb-coat layer, you shouldn’t have any crumbs floating around in the final frosting layer. Decorate, as desired. I recommend piping a little more frosting decoratively on top.

Sprinkle on some fresh blueberries and lemon zest. Perhaps mint leaves too. Keep this cake refrigerated until ready to serve.

The result is such a gorgeous cake. If you know someone with a birthday coming up, consider making a blueberry cheesecake cake to surprise them!

You’ll want to keep the cake refrigerated because of the cheesecake layer and the cream cheese frosting. Take it out about an hour before you want to serve it. Because it’s cold, you should be able to get nice, clean slices.

The lemon blueberry cake is really good. The layer of cheesecake in the middle lets you eat two desserts in one. It’s a very decadent cake. And it’s worth every itty bitty calorie. Enjoy!

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Blueberry Cheesecake Cake

By RecipeGirl.com (blueberry cake adapted slightly from Southern Living)

Two layers of lemon blueberry cake with cheesecake in the middle!

Prep: 1hour hr

Cook: 1hour hr 15minutes mins

Cooling and Freezing:: 6hours hrs

Total: 8hours hrs 15minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

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Ingredients

CHEESECAKE:

• ▢Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• ▢⅔ cup granulated white sugar
• ▢pinch of salt
• ▢2 large eggs
• ▢⅓ cup sour cream
• ▢⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
• ▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract

BLUEBERRY CAKE:

• ▢1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ▢2 cups granulated white sugar
• ▢4 large eggs
• ▢3 cups all purpose flour
• ▢2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢½ teaspoon baking soda
• ▢1¼ cups buttermilk
• ▢2 medium lemons, zested
• ▢¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ▢2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢1½ cups fresh blueberries (try to use smaller, rather than larger, blueberries)
• ▢1 tablespoon all purpose flour

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• ▢2½ cups powdered sugar, sifted to remove lumps
• ▢Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• ▢½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature
• ▢1 tablespoon vanilla extract

GARNISH:

• ▢fresh blueberries
• ▢lemon zest
• ▢mint leaves

Instructions

PREPARE THE CHEESECAKE LAYER:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place a large roasting pan on the lower third rack of the oven. Place a kettle of water on the stove to boil. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Wrap a double layer of foil around the bottom and up the sides of the pan (you want to seal it so the water from the water bath doesn’t seep into the pan). In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix the cream cheese- blend until it is nice and smooth and creamy. Mix in sugar and salt and blend for 2 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Add eggs, one at a time, blending after each addition. Finally, mix in sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Set the pan into the roasting pan in the pre-heated oven. Carefully pour the hot water from your kettle into the roasting pan (it will fill the pan surrounding the cheesecake). Pour enough water so that there is about an inch of water coming up the foil along the sides of the cheesecake pan. Bake the cheesecake for 45 minutes. It should be set to the touch and not jiggly. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan and let it cool on a wire rack for at least an hour. When it has cooled, place the pan into the freezer and let the cheesecake freeze completely. This can be done in several hours- or overnight.

PREPARE THE CAKE LAYERS:

• • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch round pans with baking spray.
  • In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat the butter on medium-speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add the sugar, beating until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Gradually beat in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, alternately with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Toss the blueberries with the tablespoon of flour. Gently fold the blueberry/flour mixture into the batter. Divide the batter between the two pans.
• Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes, the remove the cakes to the wire racks and let them cool completely.

PREPARE THE FROSTING:

• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla until it is smooth and creamy (do not over beat).

ASSEMBLE THE CAKE:

• Place one cake layer into the center of a cake plate or platter. Remove the cheesecake from the freezer, take off the sides of the pan, and slide a knife under the parchment to remove the cheesecake from the pan. Peel off the parchment. Measure your cheesecake layer against the cake layers. If the cheesecake layer turns out to be a slightly larger round than your cake, move it to a cutting board and gently shave off some of the exterior of the cheesecake to get it to the same size as your cake layers. Place the cheesecake layer on top of the first cake layer. Place the 2nd cake layer on top of the cheesecake.

FROST THE CAKE, AND SERVE:

• Apply a crumb coat layer to the cake- use a long, thin spatula to cover the cake completely with a thin and even layer of frosting. Be sure to wipe off your spatula each time you are about to dip it back into the bowl to get more frosting (this way you won’t be transferring any red crumbs into the bowl of frosting). Don’t worry at this point about the crumbs being visible in the frosting on the cake. When your cake has a thin layer of frosting all over it, place it into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to “set” the frosting. Once the first layer of frosting is set, apply the 2nd layer. Start by adding a large scoop of frosting onto the top of the cake. Use a long, thin spatula to spread the frosting evenly across the top and then spread it down the sides of the cake too. Because you applied a crumb-coat layer, you shouldn’t have any crumbs floating around in the final frosting layer. Decorate, as desired. I recommend piping a little more frosting decoratively on top. Sprinkle on some fresh blueberries and lemon zest. Perhaps mint leaves too. Keep this cake refrigerated until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 971kcal, Carbohydrates: 105g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 57g, Saturated Fat: 34g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 247mg, Sodium: 584mg, Potassium: 272mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 76g, Vitamin A: 2082IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 185mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Melanie Griffith’s life has been quite a rollercoaster. The iconic actress, daughter of actress Tippi Hedren, made her debut on the screen at age 12 – and since then, she’s starred in several big productions. 

Melanie Griffith really had something in the ’80s. She was erotic and sexual in a way that European actresses sometimes are and American actresses almost always are not. And she could act, even though I don’t think Melanie ever truly realized her potential.

I loved her in the movie Working Girl and Paradise!

She was born on August 9, 1957, in New York City to parents Peter Griffith and superstar actress Tippi Hedren, most commonly known for her role in the Hitchcock classic, The Birds.

In hindsight, Griffith’s life has been rather incredible. However, it’s been tragic at the same time. The famous actress, who became known for playing strong-but-sexy characters, has been involved in a car accident, battled with drinking problems, and went through three divorces.

From the start of her life, she was exposed to the pressure of a life in show business. Her mother, Tippi, was, as mentioned, a superstar, and her childhood was extravagant in a very special way – even by Hollywood standards.

When Griffith was seven years old, her mother married agent and producer Noah Marshall. After coming back from a trip to Africa, the couple decided to make a film about lions. An animal trainer gave them a unique idea: to get to know the big cat better, they could welcome one into their home.

So, Melanie Griffith grew up with a pet lion, living with them in the 1970s at their home in Los Angeles, California.

”I grew up with lions, tigers, and two elephants,” Griffith said.

The pet lion, Neil, lived together with the family. Life Magazine documented the extraordinary event, with pictures showing Hedren resting on Neil’s back. The lion even slept under blankets in Melanie Griffith’s bed.

”It was stupid beyond belief,” Griffith later explained.

Even though she wasn’t involved in any incidents with Neil, years later, in another encounter, things didn’t end that well.

Met Don Johnson at 14

Melanie Griffith starred in her first commercial before she turned one. She continued to do commercials and modeling work for some years, and at 12, she made her debut in Extra!, even though she was uncredited.

At the age of 14, she appeared in The Harrad Experiment, and on set, she met her first big love. Griffith met actor Don Johnson on set, and the two fell madly in love. At the time, however, their age difference was somewhat controversial. Don Johnson was 22 at the time – eight years older than Melanie – but their love for one another didn’t stop them.

”I thought he was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen,” Griffith said.

Her mother feared for the two because of her age but eventually gave in. At 15, Melanie Griffith moved in with Don Johnson, and on her 18th birthday, the two got engaged.

”They were two beautiful, wonderful people, and here, my daughter was showing signs that I had never seen before in her, with an older man, and there was just sheer panic,” her mother, Tippi Hedren, recalled.

Griffith and Johnson tied the knot in Las Vegas in 1976. And, after just six months of marriage, the two split. However, they would rekindle their romance later on, exchanging vows a second time in 1989.

Melanie Griffith lion accident

Melanie Griffith started her promising acting career in the 1970s, starring in films such as Night Moves and Joyride.

In 1981, Melanie Griffith starred in the film Roar. Even though her mother and stepfather raised lions to shoot a film, things turned out ugly on the set of Roar. It was very dangerous being in front of the camera, and Melanie got injured.

She was mauled near the eye, and she feared losing her sight. She needed plastic surgery, while her mother Tippi Hedren contracted gangrene and needed skin grafts, according to a piece in the New Yorker.

As reported by The Guardian, Melanie Griffith said that the lioness ”didn’t mean to hurt me. Just, after seven years growing up with the lions, I forgot you have to be careful. You can never be sure you’re safe, and just a blow can pop your head like a ping pong ball.”

Melanie Griffith came through the scary incident. She continued to star in movies, however, without any live wild animals. She appeared in Body Double, Something Wild, and The Working Girl, among others, with the last one earning her an Academy Award nomination in 1989.

In the 1980s, Melanie Griffith also found love for the second time. She married actor Steven Bauer in 1981, and four years later, they welcomed a son, Alexander Bauer.

Melanie Griffith – daughter Dakota Johnson

Their relationship lasted until 1989 when the couple divorced – with Griffith finding love in Don Johnson again. They divorced again in 1996, after welcoming daughter and now actress Dakota Johnson in 1989.

”You have to understand that we have a tie, and I love him,” Melanie Griffith said and added:

”I will always love [Don Johnson]. But just because you love someone doesn’t necessarily mean that you can live with them.”

Dakota Johnson has become a prominent actress, starring in Fifty Shades of Grey and The Social Network. But because her parents divorced when she was only seven years old, she had a turbulent childhood. She moved around plenty, went to several different schools, and was even homeschooled for a while.

She was often hanging around her parents on film sets from a young age. It made her want to become an actress as well, which she did.

However, the childhood of Dakota Johnson was also filled with much trouble because of her family situation. As a result, she started to go to therapy at age three.

“The whole shebang,” Dakota Johnson told Vogue. “All the help you can get.”

Melanie Griffith – marriage to Antonio Banderas

”I was so consistently unmoored and discombobulated, I didn’t have an anchor anywhere, I never learned how to learn the way you’re supposed to as a kid. I thought, ‘Why do I have to go to school on time? What’s the point when you’re living in Budapest for six months while your stepdad films Evita and you go to school in your hotel room?’ I was a disaster, and I thought for so long that there was something wrong with my brain. Now I realize that it just works in a different way.”

Dakota Johnson’s childhood could’ve become the thing that put her on the wrong foot. However, a new person soon entered her life, who changed everything. Just as she mentioned, she needed an anchor. And that was precisely what she got in her stepfather, Antonio Banderas.

In 1996, the same year as Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson split, Banderas also went through a divorce with Ana Leza, whom he’d been married to for nine years. He had long admired Melanie Griffith after seeing her in Gone Girl and on the red carpet at the Academy Awards.

“The first time I went to the Academy Awards after we got a nomination for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, we got on the red carpet, and I saw this blonde woman, and I knew her because I saw movies of her, but I didn’t remember [her name] at the time,” Banderas told Vulture.

“So, I said to [director Pedro Almodóvar] ‘Who is she? Who is she? What is her name?’ Pedro said, ‘That’s Melanie Griffith!’ I said, ‘That’s it. Oh my God.’ Six years later, I was married to her.”

Dakota Johnson’s relationship with stepfather Antonio Banderas

The two met while filming the comedy film Two Much in 1995, and they had one actual thing in common. Both were unhappy in their marriages – and Banderas and Griffith recognized each other’s situations.

Antonio Banderas instantly felt an attraction to Melanie Griffith when working together. He thought she was funny, generous, sweet, and beautiful, and after Two Much, the two stayed in touch. In May 1996, the two tied the knot and welcomed daughter Stella later the same year.

Not only did Antonio Banderas become a father to Stella, but the well-respected actor also became a stepfather to Alexander – from her second marriage to Steven Bauer – and Dakota Johnson.

For both Alexander and Dakota, Antonio Banderas became vital, as they finally got a stepfather who was there for her all the time.

In the beginning, however, Banderas explained that it was difficult for the children to accept him because they didn’t know how long he’d stick around.

“I was totally inexperienced. Suddenly I had a 6-year-old girl, a 10-year-old boy, and Stella came along almost immediately,” he told AARP. “I was, ‘Oh, my God!’ But as soon as the kids knew that I was there to stay, they were fine. They needed solid ground in which they could grow. As soon as I realized that, I started establishing my relationship, giving them security, little by little doing the father thing.”

Changed Dakota Johnson’s life

Dakota and Alexander realized that Antonio Banderas was not a temporary man. He took on the role of their stepfather and helped them in any way possible.

For Dakota, this was especially important. Her childhood had been more than stressful and uncertain. In Banderas, she got a stepfather that taught her many things, including “true passion and discipline.”

In 2011, he revealed that the kids call him “Paponio, “which is a mix of “Papa” and “Antonio.”

During an award ceremony in 2019, when Antonio Banderas received the Hollywood Actor Award, Dakota Johnson and Melanie Griffith presented him with the trophy.

”I come from a family of many a marriage, and I got very lucky,” Johnson said in her speech.

”I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life. When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light, a whole new world of creativity and culture, and one remarkably magical little sister into our family.”

”He loved my mother, and my siblings and I so big, and so fiercely and so loud, that it would change all of our lives together,” Dakota added in her speech.

Strong bond to this day

The relationship between Antonio Banderas and his stepchildren continued to be strong even after he and Melanie Griffith divorced in 2014.

Even though Melanie Griffith and Antonio aren’t married anymore, their family bond will forever be strong. As of today, Banderas is in a relationship with Nicole Kimpel. But as soon as he is in Los Angeles, he makes sure to spend time with his stepchildren and ex-wife.

The divorce between the two in 2014 wasn’t dramatic at all, for which his stepchildren were very grateful, Banderas explained.

He added that he will always cherish the time he and Melanie had together – and that he always will love her. And regarding his stepdaughter, Dakota Johnson, he is like her biological, very proud father.

“I remember those years as very effervescent and really beautiful. I am not married with Melanie anymore, but she is my family. She is probably one of my best friends, if not the best friend that I have. My family is there, Dakota [Johnson], Little Estella and Alexander,” Antonio Banderas told Vulture in 2019.

”I met her when she was five years old,” he added. “I followed every single step of it. I’m so proud of her. I saw her the other day in Toronto, and she looks — as I said in the social networks when I put a picture of her and myself, I put there, ‘My radiant Dakota.’”

Melanie Griffith today

At 65, Melanie Griffith is happily single. Her last appearance on the big screen was in 2020, when she had a minor role and co-starred alongside her daughter Dakota in The High Note.

Today, she devotes her time to her family, and according to BestLife, Melanie is currently writing her memoir. And there will probably be a lot to pen down – including her battle against cancer.

The actress was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2010, and eight years later, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

Doctors had to remove a cancerous cell on her nose, the whole event took a toll on Melanie.

“It’s a scary thing when you’re an actress and you depend on your face for work,” the actress told InStyle and continued:

“But I realize I have to put a Band-Aid on it, and it’s fine. I just look like a dork.”

Luckily, everything went fine in the end – Melanie is now a loud advocate of cancer and also supports the efforts of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Born Demi Gene Guynes on November 11, 1962, actress Demi Moore, who changed her surname after marrying her first husband, Freddy Moore, at the age of 18, has had a tough upbringing that profoundly affected her life and helped shape her identity.

Moore’s father left before she was born and she was raised by her mother, Virginia King, and her step-father, Dan Guynes.

Her childhood was traumatic because her mother battled substance abuse most her life. In fact, their relationship was strained and rocky from the start. Her mother attempted suicide multiple times, and Moore, although a young child, took the role of a caregiver at times and was there to save her mother. One time, she was forced to dig the pills her mom had swallowed out of her mouth.

In her book Inside Out, the Ghost star opened up about her dark past, writing that after her parents’ split, her mom would often take her to bars for men to notice her. Heartbreakingly, one of those nights ended in rape.

Moore was just 15 when she was sexually assaulted by a man whom her mother knew. Speaking to Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, the actress revealed that after the assault, he asked her how it felt like “to be wh***d by your mother for $500.”

Asked if she believed the man’s words were true, Moore told Sawyer, “I think, in my deep heart no. I don’t think it was a straightforward transaction.

“But she still – she did give him the access and put me in harm’s way.”

Despite the struggles and the challenges she had faced because of her mother, Moore tried to reconcile with her multiple times throughout her life. Eventually, Virginia King passed away in 1998 due to cancer.

Moore was able to distance herself from her mother during her teenage years and to protect herself from her destructive behavior.

Eventually, she made a name for herself and became an A-list actress with a number of famous movies under her belt.

In 1987, she married actor Bruce Willis with whom she has three daughters. Their union lasted for 13 years. However, the divorce affected her relationship with Willis and her daughters, and with that, her physical and mental health.

“I guess the fundamental question that came forward for me was, ‘How did I get here?’” Moore told Sawyer. “I mean, from where I started to what I’ve experienced, where I’ve been, like, how did I get here?”

Just like Moore’s relationship with her own mother, her connection with one of her daughters, Talullah Willis, has also been a troubled one at some point. This was influenced by various factors, and Moore’s high-profile marriage to actor Ashton Kutcher, who was 15 years her junior, added another layer of complexity to their relationship.

Though they have faced difficulties, they have strived to improve their relationship and have shared moments of reconciliation.

Both have expressed a commitment to backing each other and have openly admitted their efforts to foster a more profound connection.

A 13-year-old boy has died after being struck by a falling bullet that was likely shot into the air like a firework in northwest Indiana last weekend.

Noah Inman, of the 1600 block of 171st Pl. in Hammond, was pronounced dead at 2:06 p.m. Friday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

At around 9:30 p.m. on July 1, police said Inman had been playing basketball with a group of kids in the 7300 block of Harrison Ave. when he suddenly fell down.

Witnesses at the scene thought he may have had a seizure and called for an ambulance. Once at the hospital, officials discovered Inman had been hit by a falling bullet that was shot into the sky by someone in a nearby community.

He was flown to Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago where he died Friday.

Police said an investigation determined the bullet was “most likely fired into the air like a firework.”

“The Hammond Police Department would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the Inman family,” police said in a statement Sunday.

“We wish you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead, and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts,” the statement continued. “Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow. When reason fails, pray for peace. We will be praying with you.”

Hammond authorities issued a reminder that it is never legal to discharge a weapon in city limits, and asked the public to call 911 to report anyone they believe is using a firearm as part of a celebration in the summer holiday season.

No one is in custody in connection with the shooting, according to Hammond police, who continue to investigate.

• Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps remains a beloved figure, not just for his astounding sporting achievements but also for his endearing charm that continues to captivate fans.
• While Phelps’s Olympic medals solidify his status as one of the greatest athletes of all time, it’s his heartwarming love story with former Miss California, Nicole Johnson, that adds a charming twist to his remarkable journey.
• Fans admire not only his athletic prowess but also Phelp’s good looks and his wife’s striking beauty.

Michael Phelps at a press conference held at McBurney YMCA in New York City on August 28, 2008 | Source: Getty Images

Michael Phelps proudly displays his eighth gold medal, wearing a smile and the American flag, following the Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008, in Beijing, China | Source: Getty Images

Michael Phelps celebrates his fourth gold medal with a hand gesture after his victory in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games | Source: Getty Images

Michael Phelps joyously celebrates during the medal ceremony for the Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Source: Getty Images

A Johnny Depp fan uploaded videos and images of the actor after meeting him for the first time during his trip to the Bahamas. The post brought the focus back to Depp’s teeth which looked different compared to how damaged they were before.

Johnny Depp and @killerbartender at Lorraine’s Cafe & High Tide in Exuma, Bahamas, on August 30, 3034 | Source: Instagram/killerbartender

Johnny Depp and @killerbartender at Lorraine’s Cafe & High Tide in Exuma, Bahamas, on August 30, 3034 | Source: Instagram/killerbartender

Johnny Depp posing next to his Captain Jack Sparrow artwork at Lorraine’s Cafe & High Tide in Exuma, Bahamas, on August 30, 3034 | Source: Instagram/killerbartender

Johnny Depp and @killerbartender at Lorraine’s Cafe & High Tide in Exuma, Bahamas, on August 30, 3034 | Source: Instagram/killerbartender

Johnny Depp and @killerbartender at Lorraine’s Cafe & High Tide in Exuma, Bahamas, on August 30, 3034 | Source: Instagram/killerbartender

Johnny Depp at Lorraine’s Cafe & High Tide in Exuma, Bahamas, on August 30, 3034 | Source: Instagram/killerbartender

Johnny Depp at the “Jeanne du Barry” red carpet screening and opening ceremony at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2023, in France | Source: Getty Images

Johnny Depp during a photocall for “Jeanne du Barry” at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 17, 2023 | Source: Getty Images

Johnny Depp, as Captain Jack Sparrow, with Jerry Bruckheimer and Sean Bailey at the “Worlds, Galaxies, and Universes: Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO in Anaheim, California, on August 15, 2015 | Source: Getty Images

This boy came from a poor family, but he had big dreams that he believed in.

He pursued his dreams relentlessly and achieved them despite several obstacles he faced.

The boy is now a famous comedian, a celebrated TV host, and an accomplished author and businessman.

This African-American boy knew from a very young age that he wanted to be on TV. His philosophy in life was to dream big and believe that one day, he would succeed. So, the boy held on to his dreams of being on TV as much as he was a stutterer.

The boy was born on January 17, 1957, in Welch, West Virginia, to his dad, Jesse Harvey, a coal miner, and mom, Eloise Vera Harvey, a Sunday school teacher. The boy grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and the place still remains special in his heart.

The road to success wasn’t an easy one for the boy, but he relentlessly pursued his dreams. The boy wrote on a piece of paper when he was ten that he would be on TV one day. He didn’t get on TV until he was 38. Now, he is a New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-winning entertainer, businessman, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and radio personality.

The boy has thrived against all odds. He was born to parents who didn’t have much to their name, but that didn’t stop him from dreaming big. His dad, a father to five kids, made $5 a day as a coal miner. The boy also worked in his uncle and grandfather’s farm in West Virginia until he was 16. He narrated:

“I grew up very poor, I flunked out of school, I’ve been homeless. I lived in a car for three years. I got the first car in my name, the first car ever put in my name was a used car, and I got it at 38.”

The boy’s family was so poor that he didn’t see a proper toilet with a flush until he was 5. Still, the boy made it big. He promised God that if succeeded, he would thank him and praise his name. Now, as a global figure, the boy honors his promise to God by sharing his gratitude with his audience at the end of every show.

One time, when he was homeless, he hid in a hotel washroom to wash up, and it just dawned on him that he was at his lowest point ever.
This boy learned to embrace God from his mother, who also taught him the importance of dressing up and maintaining one’s image. The boy’s siblings said he behaves just like his dad and that his mom was a sweet angel who was non-judgmental.

The boy is now an inspiration to other people with speech impediments. This boy said he used to stutter so badly but now encourages other people, noting that it is curable and if they get the right care, they can live normal lives like he has. From being a stuttering boy to being homeless, the boy is now a famous millionaire

The boy who moved from rags to riches is Steve Harvey. Steve’s comedy journey started when he performed at an open mic comedy night in 1985, and he stunned the audience. The next day, he quit his job to become a comedian, but this move led to his separation from his wife. The comedian found himself with no wife, no job, and living on as little as $50 a week.

After leaving his job to be a comedian, Steve didn’t get into professional comedy until he was 27. He confessed that he was homeless from age 30 to 33, where he lived in his car. He now uses his struggle and success story to motivate people never to give up on their dreams.

The car Steve lived in wasn’t even his. He had been given the car by his dad, an old and used car. When Steve finally got on TV, he used the money he got from the TV channel to buy a car at 38. He recalled that as a homeless man, he didn’t have anything, but now, he is doing well for himself.

Even through his hard work and determination, Steve wasn’t sure he would make it. He always hoped that one day he wouldn’t be poor and struggling, but the success he has achieved is above and beyond what he ever dreamed of. “My imagination didn’t even go this big,” he confessed.

Steve recalled that he almost gave up. One time, when he was homeless, he hid in a hotel washroom to wash up, and it just dawned on him that he was at his lowest point ever. He sat down and started crying, but a voice told him not to quit and keep going. Steve felt that this was the voice of God telling him that he would take him to places he’d never been.

Shortly after this difficult moment, doors began opening for Steve. He won a national comedy competition in 1990, which played a role in him getting a high-profile job performing on “Showtime at the Apollo” in 1993 and then a sitcom.

More opportunities came coming up for the comedian from that moment onwards. Now, he is a television mainstay who runs his own show, and he is known as the busiest man in Hollywood. Familywise, Steve is in a happy marriage and has a thriving family life.

Steve is married to Marjorie Harvey. He first saw Marjorie in 1987 at a Memphis comedy club, and he was stunned by her. Marjorie arrived late to the show, but when she walked in, Steve looked at her and said, “I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to marry you one day.”

However, the two lost touch after their first meeting. They reconnected years later via a mutual friend and have been a pair ever since. Steve and Marjorie dated for one year, and then the comedian proposed. They exchanged vows on June 25, 2007.

On their 15th wedding anniversary, Steve bared his heart to Marjorie and confessed that she made him happy and gave him peace. He added that Marjorie handled motherhood amazingly and that she was a better parent than him. “You are the single biggest reason outside of God’s grace that I am where I am today. You’re the one,” he concluded.

Today, Steve’s greatest accomplishment is his family of seven children and seven grandchildren. He is devoted to his family and once shared on Facebook that his grandchildren are the reason why he wakes up every morning to do what he does. Together with Marjorie, Steve has nurtured a home and family life he loves and enjoys.

Hollywood legend Mel Gibson celebrates his 67th birthday today (January 3), and it turns out that his son, Milo Gibson, is also carving his path in the acting world, bearing a striking resemblance to his famous father.

At 32 years old, Milo has already made a name for himself with roles in movies like Hackshaw Ridge and Under The Stadium Lights. He is one of six children from Mel’s previous marriage with Robyn Moore and is part of a total of nine siblings.

Although acting now seems to be in his blood, Milo explored various career paths before finding his passion. From working as a masseuse to an electrician, he ventured into the world of acting after growing up around film sets with his dad.

Reflecting on his journey, Milo shared with W Magazine, “We didn’t grow up in the Hollywood lifestyle clique. I basically did everything other than going into the career of acting; I wanted to do more of a blue-collar job that involved real people.”

However, as he grew older, the allure of acting became irresistible. He explained, “When you’re growing up and you’re not pushed in a path, it makes you feel like if you do go in that direction, it might not be okay. But as I got older, I realized that it was my life, and I wanted to act because I love it.”

Milo, along with his brother Louis, who is now a director, used to make home videos during their childhood. But as the desire to act grew stronger, Milo didn’t want to look back with regrets. He commented, “One day it hit me, you know, I don’t want to be 60 years old and regret not going for it – I think a lot of people regret a lot of things in life – and I didn’t want to be one of those people.”

In 2016, Milo officially stepped into the world of acting after studying drama in Santa Monica, California. His breakthrough came with his role as Lucky Ford in the war film Hackshaw Ridge, directed by his father Mel and featuring stars like Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, and Teresa Palmer.

Since then, Milo has showcased his talent in various films, including The Outpost, Gangster Land (as Al Capone), and Under The Stadium Lights (as Chad Mitchell). He even starred in his first leading role as Harry in Breaking and Entering, directed by Twilight alumni Peter Facinelli, and more recently, portrayed Dave Hayes in 2022’s Manifest West.

Milo has also received valuable advice from his father about acting. He revealed to The Hollywood Reporter, “Something that stuck with me [that my father told me] was, when you’re working, to be truthful to your character and emulate them as much as possible, and of course, have fun. Forget the camera is there. They say the camera is your best friend, but I find it most useful forgetting that it’s there because if you’re aware of it, you’re not being truthful to what you’re doing. So, [his advice was] to be honest.”

While Milo tends to preserve his personal life away from the spotlight, it’s known that he has been approached for modeling work. Embracing new opportunities, he told W Magazine, “I’m new to it, so I’m just going to take it all in and see where it takes me.”