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James Van Der Beek Remembered By Hollywood, Donations Made To Fundraiser For Family

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James Van Der Beek unfortunately passed away this week after being diagnosed with cancer in 2023. The actor is known for playing multiple notable roles, one of his most recognized being Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, the 90s teen soap that made him a household name. 

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Actors, directors, and colleagues all throughout Hollywood have posted tributes to Van Der Beek while promoting and donating to his foundation to help his wife Kimberly and their six children. 

Film director Steven Spielberg has donated $25,000 to a crowdfunder to help his family. In Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek’s character idolized Speilberg, as he was based on the show’s creator Kevin Williamson, who is also known for writing famous horror-comedy Scream and other films within the franchise. 

Spielberg was also a contributor to a Dawson’s Creek reunion in September which helped raise funds for F**k Cancer and Van Der Beek’s medical treatments. He sent in a video message saying:

“Dawson, you made it. Maybe someday, I will get to have a Dawson’s closet.”

Van Der Beek was unfortunately too sick to attend the event in person, but also sent a video message. In December, he auctioned off memorabilia from the show as well to help pay for his medical bills. This included some of the iconic bedroom props that showed off Dawson’s love for Spielberg. 

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Donations to the GoFundMe for Van Der Beek’s family has now surpassed $2 million, prompting them to release a thankful and loving message: 

“Your kindness has meant more than we can put into words. In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light. It reminds us that love is real, that community is strong, and that Jame’s spirit continues to bring people together.”

Others also donated to the fund including Zoe Saldaña, who pledged a monthly stipend of $2,500, Wicked director Jon M Chu who donated $10,000, and both Cameo co-founder Martin Blencowe and talent agency Guy Oseary. 

Additionally, according to the Guardian, OpenAI CEO Fidji Simo has donated $5,000 as well as director Ellie Kanner. Danielle Marquez Levinson, wife of film producer Stephen Levinson, gave $10,000, and fashion designer Tracy Robbins and talent agent Kevin Huvane both donated $5,000.

Some top donors also remained anonymous with one giving $30,000 and another pledging $5,000 monthly. 

Guardant Health gave $25,000. Van Der Beek was the first brand ambassador for their new blood test for colorectal cancer screenings. 

“His voice and advocacy will leave a lasting mark on the fight against colorectal cancer,” a spokesperson wrote on the GoFundMe page.

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Fashion Designer Giorgio Armani Remembered As ‘An Immense Talent And Friend’ By Peers 

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Designers, celebrities, politicians, and artists of all variety are paying tribute to legendary designer Giorgio Armani after it was announced by the Armani group that he passed away last week at the age of 91.

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Armani is being remembered as a “true friend,” “an immense talent,” and “a visionary.”

“The world lost a giant today. He made history and will be remembered forever,” wrote Donatella Versace.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour praised his influence: “For him fashion wasn’t one thing: it was also film, music, sport, art, design, and architecture, and he left his mark in all these worlds. 

Fashion designer Valentino Garavani said Armani was “a friend, never a rival … I can only bow to his immense talent.”

Ralph Lauren praised him as “a designer who never strayed from his vision … a man who loved his family and friends, and his homeland in such a special way.”

Prada group’s Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli said “Armani was a Maestro recognized for his elegance and creativity, and an undisputed protagonist of Italian and international fashion.”

Julia Roberts wrote that Armani was “A true friend. A legend,” adding a broken heart emoji. Roberts and Armani made one of the most memorable Golden Globe looks of all time with a steel grey oversized suit, white shirt, and tie. 

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Russell Crowe remembered a time he lost his bags on the way to the 1997 Cannes film festival, which led him to discovering Armani. 

“I adored him. He was so kind. So many significant moments in my life, awards, wedding, Wimbledon … all in Armani. What a life he had, from his beginnings to his glory.”

Jessica Chastain recounted meeting her husband at an Armani show in Paris, and Leonardo DiCaprio described Armani as “a visionary whose influence reached far beyond design”.

Cate Blanchett said: “The private man leaves a void that is impossible to fill.”

Victoria Beckham said: “The fashion world has lost a true legend in Giorgio Armani – a visionary designer whose legacy will live on forever. I feel honoured to have called him a friend.”

Martin Scorsese said Armani “was a real artist, and a great one – people use the term ‘timeless’ quite often, but in his case it happens to be true.” Scorsese directed the 1990 documentary “Made in Milan,” to show the behind-the-scenes life of Armani. 

Armani was often referred to as the “king of the blazer,” and pioneering “soft power dressing,” according to the Guardian. His designs often graced red carpets and award shows.

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, praised Armani as “an icon, a tireless worker, a symbol of the best of Italy.”

Actor Chair on Set

Remembering Pioneer Hollywood Icon Cicely Tyson

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Cicely Tyson is best known for being one of the biggest pioneers for Black actors in America thanks to her powerful performances throughout the past few decades. She gained an Oscar nomination for her role as the sharecroppers wife in “Sounder” and went on to win a Tony Award in 2013 at the age of 88. Unfortunately, it was announced by Tyson’s family this morning that the Hollywood legend passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. 

“With a heavy heart, the family of Miss Cicely Tyson announces her peaceful transition this afternoon. At this time please allow the family their privacy,” according to a statement issued through her manager Larry Thompson. 

Tyson began her on-screen career back in the early 70s when Black women were first starting to receive starring roles in feature films or TV shows. Tyson was always very adamant about how she would never take a role simply for the money.

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“I’m very selective as I’ve been my whole career about what I do. Unfortunately, I’m not the kind of person who works only for money.It has to have some real substance for me to do it.” 

“She took pride in knowing that whenever her face was on camera, she would be playing a character who was a human being — flawed but resilient; perfect not despite but because of their imperfections,” wrote former President Barack Obama in a tribute post to Tyson; Obama also awarded Tyson the Medal of Freedom back in 2016.

Tyson won two Emmys for playing the 110-year-old former slave in the 1974 television drama “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.” The younger generation was introduced to Tyson’s legendary acting skills in the 2011 hit movie “The Help.” In 2018 she was given an honorary Oscar statuette at the annual Governors Awards.

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One of the most famous roles that Tyson is known for is her performance as the Depression-era loving wife of a sharecropper in the movie “Sounder,” based on the William Hunter novel. Her performance in the film evoked amazing reviews. The New York Times wrote that Tyson “passes all of her easy beauty by to give us, at long last, some sense of the profound beauty of millions of Black women.” 

In 2013 when she was 88, Tyson won the Tony for best leading actress in a play for the revival of Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful.” That performance was Tysons first time back on Broadway in thirty years. In her acceptance speech she famously refused to finish up her acceptance speech when the teleprompter told her to.”

“‘Please wrap it up,; it says. Well, that’s exactly what you did with me: You wrapped me up in your arms after 30 years.”

Tyson’s legendary impact in Hollywood helped pave the way for countless other Black actors to speak up for themselves and only take roles that they felt emotionally fulfilling, not just to make some money and be seen as a background character.