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James Earl Jones To Be Honored For Life's Work

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

James Earl Jones, who has voiced some of entertainment's most memorable characters, will receive the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

SAG President Alan Rosenberg called Jones "a vocal presence without peer" and lauded his TV, film and stage work.

"His long and quiet devotion to advancing literacy, the arts and humanities on a national and local scale deserves our appreciation," Rosenberg said Thursday.

Jones, who said he was mute as a child because of a stuttering problem, credits reading with helping him find his voice.

"Through a love of reading, I was able to overcome my muteness and pursue a career in which my voice would be my most prominent asset," the actor said.

Jones, 77, is known to fans of all ages as the voice of Darth Vader in "Star Wars," Mufasa in Disney's "The Lion King" and of cable network CNN.
Natalie Cole Home From Hospital

Natalie Cole, who has hepatitis C, is resting at her Los Angeles home after being released from the hospital earlier this week, Cole's representative said Friday.

Publicist Maureen O'Connor said the Grammy-winning singer checked out several days ago and is "feeling a lot better."

The 58-year-old daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole entered a New York hospital Sept. 12.

O'Connor said Cole has been receiving kidney dialysis that isn't related to her struggle with hepatitis C, a liver disease spread through contact with infected blood.

Cole announced in July that she was suffering from the disease, revealed to her during a routine examination, and that it was likely caused by her drug use years ago.

Whispers Of Throat Cancer Exaggerated

Rachael Ray is shooting down reports that she had a throat cancer scare and is about to be silenced for two months by surgery.

The bubbly Emmy-winning talk show host is having surgery - but it's not as serious as reports suggest, according to her rep.

"Rachael is the picture of health. She is having very minor surgery to remove a benign cyst on her vocal cord," says Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for Ray. "It's a common in-and-out procedure that she will have in early December and it will not adversely affect any of her daytime show or Food Network tapings."

Today's Birthdays

Author Roy Blount Jr. is 67. Author Anne Rice is 67. Actress Susan Sarandon is 62. Blues musician Duke Robillard is 60. Playwright Lee Blessing is 59. Actor Armand Assante is 59. Actor Alan Rosenberg is 58. Actor Bill Fagerbakke is 51. Producer Russell Simmons is 51. Musician Chris Lowe (The Pet Shop Boys) is 49. Country musician Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard (Sawyer Brown) is 48. Actor David W. Harper is 47. Singer Jon Secada is 47. TV personality John Melendez ("The Tonight Show") is 43. Actor Liev Schreiber is 41. Actor Abraham Benrubi is 39. Country singer-musician Heidi Newfield is 38. Rock musician Andy Parle is 38. Actress Alicia Silverstone is 32.