Latest news with #Weeds
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lionsgate & DirecTV Launch Lionsgate Collection Premium Channel
EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate and DirecTV are firing up Lionsgate Collection, a premium channel for the latter's subscribers which will draw upon the studio's 20,000-plus title film and TV library. The channel will launch in the coming weeks providing DirecTV viewers access to such Lionsgate produced series as Weeds and Nurse Jackie in addition to movies like Now You See Me, The Expendables, and more. Lionsgate reported record annual library revenue of $956 million last month. It's these types of bespoke proprietary channels which allow the conglom to continue monetizing the library in new ways. More from Deadline Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's Action Channel Launches In UK: "This Is Big - I've Got A Huge Audience Out Here" Glenn Close & Billy Porter Join Cast Of Lionsgate's 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' - CineEurope Why 'Ballerina' Didn't Leap Into The Rafters With $25M Opening - Sunday AM Box Office Update 'Lionsgate is a powerhouse of bold storytelling and unforgettable entertainment, and this is a unique opportunity to work together on an exclusive curated channel that highlights the best titles in their vast collection,' said Amy Leifer, chief advertising sales officer at DirecTV. 'Together we have an extraordinary opportunity to connect brands with premium storytelling and passionate viewers in powerful new ways.' 'We're pleased to join with DirecTV in a first-of-its-kind partnership to launch Lionsgate Collection, a proprietary channel drawing upon our vast film & television library to deliver premium content across DirecTV's entire suite of platforms,' said Jim Packer, President of Lionsgate's Worldwide Television Distribution Group. 'By combining world-class content with DirecTV's advertising expertise and market clout, this is an important step forward in executing our strategy of unlocking the full value of our library with bespoke offerings that touch every part of the media ecosystem.' This collaboration with Lionsgate expands their relationship that started with launching a number of FAST channels like 50 Cent Action and MovieSphere. It also epitomizes DirecTV's FAST strategy of prioritizing quality, curation, and premium content that gives consumers access to unique entertainment programming and brands access to highly engaged audiences. At more than 125 FAST channels and counting, MyFree DirecTV curates the greatest hits of the fast-evolving and often-overwhelming world of FAST, offering premium content at no extra cost since its debut last Nov. 15. Best of Deadline 'Bachelor in Paradise' Cast Announcement: See Who Is Headed To The Beach For Season 10 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jeffrey Dean Morgan says he has auditioned "zero times" since playing Denny Duquette in 'Grey's Anatomy'
Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan is best known for playing Negan, the unpredictable, foul-mouthed, bat-wielding showman of the apocalypse in 'The Walking Dead' universe, reported People. Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan is best known for playing Negan, the unpredictable, foul-mouthed, bat-wielding showman of the apocalypse in 'The Walking Dead' universe, reported People. "That show honestly gave me a career. I was doing that, Weeds and Supernatural simultaneously... I've auditioned zero times since playing Denny Duquette," said Morgan. Jeffrey won over fans 19 years ago on the ABC medical drama as the dreamy heart transplant patient who appears in seasons 2 and 3 and who proposes to Katherine Heigl's Dr. Izzie Stevens on his deathbed. Morgan credits the breakthrough performance with launching his career in his 40s after years of failed pilots and guest star spots, reported People. "I'd been kicking around Hollywood for a long time, but nobody certainly knew who I was," said Morgan. "My whole career launched out of that character." "P.S. I Love You I got because of that show," Morgan said while discussing his role in the 2007 rom-com opposite Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. "Director Zack Snyder told me that he cast me in Watchmen because he saw me as Denny. How you watch Denny and go, 'Well, that's the nihilistic comedian right there,' is beyond me," Morgan shared of his 2009 comic-book film character. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist: Just Add 1 Drop Of This Household Item To Any Dark Spot And Wait 3 Minutes Undo In 2015, Morgan revealed at PasCon that he was offered the coveted role of The Walking Dead villain, a part he was all too eager to accept despite initially receiving very few details. However, Morgan recently decided to step outside of his comfort zone and become the TV host for NBC's competition series Destination X. "I'm still not actually completely sure how the hell this happened," he said, adding, "I am not like a typical host. I'm not Ryan Seacrest -- who I love, and I think he's excellent at his job -- but that's not me. I'm a bit on the crass side, and I've got a very sarcastic sense of humour, and I didn't picture it, reported People. Producers knew they had their man, but Morgan needed more convincing. "It was my wife [Hilarie Burton Morgan] who said, 'You know what?' She came from this world. She came from the world of hosting," he said, referring to her gig on MTV's Total Request Live in the early 2000s. "She said -- in a very nice way, but much more diplomatic than I'm going to make it seem now -- 'You're not getting any younger. You've got this thing about you that it would be fun for you to be able to share that with the world, and you may have an opportunity to do that [by] hosting a show like this. '" Based on a Belgian competition series, the reality show follows players travelling across Europe on a blacked-out bus and attempting to find their location each week through various challenges. The contestant whose guess is farthest from their destination gets the boot. "I spent a month and a half in Europe being a weird, fun host, and it was great," Morgan says. "I had so much fun being the ringmaster of the circus." He added, "It's an opportunity to do something new, and I sort of relish in that still, at the ripe old age of whatever I may be," he says. "I had a great time. It was really fun, reported People. Destination X airs Tuesdays on NBC. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Renée Victor, Voice of Abuelita in ‘Coco,' Dies at 86
Renée Victor, the actress known for voicing Abuelita in Disney and Pixar's Coco and starring as Lupita in Showtime's Weeds, has died. She was 86. Victor died at her home in Sherman Oaks on Friday night surrounded by her family after a battle with lymphoma, her representative told The Hollywood Reporter. More from The Hollywood Reporter Devin Harjes, 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Daredevil' and 'Gotham' Actor, Dies at 41 Alan Alda, Mike Farrell Among Those Paying Tribute to Loretta Swit: "A Supremely Talented Actor" Sherry Robb, Literary Agent, Talent Manager and Producer, Dies at 81 After being born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1938, she moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s where she grew her career as a musician. Victor worked alongside the likes of Xavier Cugat and Perez Prado, who helped popularize Latin music in the States before she and her husband began performing as the duo named 'Ray & Renée' from 1963 to 1973. She began her pivot into television in the 1970s when she hosted Pacesetters, a KTLA program that spotlighted the Chicano movement. Victor went on to be featured in an episode of Masquerade in 1984, Scarecrow and Mrs. King in 1985 and Matlock in 1987. She ventured into voice acting in 1992 with the animated The Addams Family series, with her additional credits including The Doctor, Confessions of a Shopaholic, A Night in Old Mexico and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, among others. In 2005, she joined the cast of Weeds, where she starred as Lupita, the housekeeper to Mary-Louise Parker's character. Victor starred in Coco as the protective Aubelita, and the film went on to garner two Academy Awards for best animated feature and best original song, 'Remember Me,' written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Notably, Coco featured an all-Latin cast. After Disney announced Coco 2 was in development at Disney's Annual Shareholder Meeting earlier this year, Victor showed her excitement for the project on Instagram. 'It was my great pleasure and experience working with the incredibly talented Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina! We get to do it again,' she wrote, though the official cast for Coco 2 has not yet been confirm. 'This is what we've all been waiting for! I'm so excited! Coco shared a Mexican tradition that is now celebrated around the world in unity. An amazing amount of work and talent goes into the creation of this unique film.' Following the news of her death, Pixar shared a statement in honor of Victor on Instagram. 'We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice Abuelita in Coco and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you,' they wrote Saturday. Gloria Calderón Kellett, whom Victor starred alongside in Prime Video's With Love, shared a heartfelt Instagram post Saturday, recalling when they first crossed paths on the set of The Ortegas and 'she radiated talent, humor and grace.' 'It's hard to say goodbye to the incomparable Renee Victor,' she wrote. 'Years later, she would become my TV mom, Marta, on With Love — a role named after my paternal grandmother. It felt like destiny. She brought that character to life with such warmth, sharp wit, and elegance. And let's be honest — she had the best legs in the biz!' 'Renee was a true pro. A scene-stealer. A joy. A blessing. Her artistry made everything better, and her presence made every set brighter,' she wrote in the conclusion of the post. Survivor include her two daughters, Raquel and Margo. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Renée Victor, 'Coco' and 'Weeds' star, dies at 86
Renee Victor, an actress known for her roles on the Showtime series "Weeds" and in the Pixar animated film "Coco," has died. She was 86. A representative for Victor confirmed the actress' death to USA TODAY on June 1. She had been battling lymphoma, a type of cancer, according to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. Victor provided the voice of Abuelita in the acclaimed 2017 animated movie "Coco." The Pixar film, which grossed more than $800 million worldwide, won two Oscars, for best animated film and best original song for "Remember Me." A sequel to "Coco" was announced in March, and Victor had indicated she planned to reprise her role. "It was my great pleasure and experience working with the incredibly talented (directors) Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina!" she wrote on Instagram in March. "We get to do it again! This is what we've all been waiting for! I'm so excited!" 'Coco 2' is in the works at Pixar: What we know She added, "Coco shared a Mexican tradition that is now celebrated around the world in unity. An amazing amount of work and talent goes into the creation of this unique film." Watch the opening number of 'Coco' you didn't see Victor, who was born and raised in San Antonio, played the role of Charlie Clark's beloved "Nana" in the Texas car dealer's 2021 superhero movie "Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone," which had a premiere in El Paso. Victor also played housekeeper Lupita on Showtime's "Weeds," which ran from 2005 to 2012. According to IMDb, she appeared in 22 episodes across the show's eight seasons. Her other television work included appearances on "Dead to Me," "Snowpiercer," "Vida" and "ER," and on the film side, she also starred in "Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" and "Confessions of a Shopaholic." Outside of acting, Victor was a singer and performed with her husband as the duo Ray and Renee. In a statement shared on Instagram, Pixar paid tribute to Victor with a reference to "Remember Me," the Oscar-winning song from "Coco." "We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice Abuelita in 'Coco' and an incredible part of the Pixar family," the company said. "We will always remember you." El Paso Times reporter Daniel Borunda contribute to this report. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Renée Victor dies: 'Coco,' 'Weeds' star was 86
Arab Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Renée Victor, voice of Abuelita in Pixar's 'Coco,' dies at 86
LOS ANGELES, June 3, (AP): Renée Victor, who voiced the no-nonsense, sandal-throwing Abuelita in Disney's animated hit "Coco' and played the wisecracking Lupita on Showtime's "Weeds,' has died. She was 86. Victor's death was confirmed on Monday by a representative, Julie Smith, who said the actor had lymphoma for several years. She died Friday at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, Smith said, with family by her side. A post on the Instagram feed of Pixar, which produced "Coco,' said: "We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice (of) Abuelita in 'Coco' and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you.' Victor appeared in 22 episodes of "Weeds' as sassy housekeeper Lupita between 2005 and 2012, among many other TV credits including "ER,' "Matlock' and "The Addams Family.' But she was perhaps best known for what she called the chancla-throwing grandmother in "Coco,' the 2017 family-friendly movie that explored death through the journey of a young Mexican boy to the land of the dead. "I play the part of 'Abuelita,' the chancla throwing grandma that preaches 'No Music!'' she wrote on Instagram, looking back several years ago. "Enjoy 'Coco' with your family this Dia de los Muertos and forever more!' She also looked back at "The Apostle,' the 1997 movie that Robert Duvall wrote, directed and starred in. "He took a chance on me with this film,' Victor wrote on Instagram. "This is where I got my nickname 'one take Renée,'' she said, adding laughter emojis. "I had a small role but what a great one! Can somebody give me an amen?!' Born in San Antonio, Texas, on July 25, 1938, Victor began her performing career as a singer and dancer. She moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, according to biography material provided by her representatives, where she launched her career singing with prominent big band leaders Xavier Cugat and Pérez Prado. She also taught Latin dancing, including the salsa and tango. She met her future husband, Ray, during that period, and from 1963 to 1973, they performed together as "Ray & Renée,' a variety show took them around the world - including Australia, where "they enjoyed particular fame,' the materials said. In the 1970s, Victor hosted the "Pacesetters' public affairs show on KTLA, her representatives said, and by the '80s had moved into TV and film work. Her film credits, other than "The Apostle,' included the 2014 horror film "Paranormal Activity 5: The Marked Ones,' "The Doctor' with William Hurt (1991), and "A Night in Old Mexico' (2013), also with Duvall. In 2004, she had a recurring role as Florina Lopez on TV's "ER,' and the following year was cast in "Weeds.' Other series credits included "Snowpiercer' (2020-2021), "Mayans M.C.' (2022), "Dead to Me' (2020-2022), and Amazon's "With Love' (2021-2023).
