Category: People

Scotty Is Recovering
We reported yesterday that James Doohan, who played Scotty on STAR TREK, had slipped into a coma. Now comes word from Doohan’s agent, “James has been a client of mine for almost 30 years. For an 82-year-old man who spent 13 weeks in bed recuperating from pneumonia, he’s doing damn well.”
In other words, there was no coma. His agent added, “He’s not ready to do any personal appearances yet, but he is home, and he is doing rehabilitation. … A lot of the stuff he’s going through now are a result of his injuries from World War II.” Doohan also suffers from Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.

Layne Staley Cause of Death Determined
The Seattle coroner’s office has determined that Alice in Chains lead singer Layne Staley died of an overdose caused by a speedball – a fatal mixture of heroin and cocaine. The drugs were self administered. Staley officially died on April 5, coincidentally the anniversary of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain’s suicide. Staley’s body decomposed for two weeks before anyone found him.

Is Van Halen, The Band, Still Alive?
Even though they have no recording contract it looks as if we haven’t heard the last from Van Halen. Eddie sent me a message in an email this morning:
Message From Eddie
I know I promised I’d get back to you and I’m sorry for the delay but I wanted to let you all know that I’ve just gotten a 100% clean bill of health – from head to toe. I wanted to share the good news with you immediately. And of course, I thank you all for all your good wishes and prayers along the way. Now it’s time to really get back to the music and fun…..so party on and you’ll be hearing from us very soon.
All my love,
Eddie
Of course, he also posted the same message on his website, so perhaps it wasn’t intended specifically for me. But I’m saving it anyway!
Either way, I wait with baited breath for the return of Van Halen. Join me, won’t you?

Star Trek’s Scotty Falls Into Coma
The Sy Fy Portal Web site posted a report that James Doohan has slipped into a coma after suffering a recurrence of pneumonia and is not expected to recover. The site based the report on a source close to Doohan’s family, who told the site that Doohan has been in a comatose state in an intensive care unit for the past two weeks.
“He never recovered from the bout with pneumonia and had even been re-hospitalized and released again without anybody finding out,” the source told the site. “It seems just a matter of his system shutting down at this point and how long it will take. Just meeting him the [past] few times has been pretty hard, as you could easily see how much he had slowed down mentally. The only reason he was attending those [conventions] was to raise money for his daughter. I guess we’re lucky we’ve had him as long as this.”
The 82-year-old actor was first hospitalized with pneumonia in February, but apparently had recovered. News of his being re-hospitalized recently came from fellow actor Walter Koenig (Trek’s Chekov). The latest news has not yet been confirmed through Doohan’s family.

Willis Buys Cookies For Troops
Nine-year-old Girl Scout Tallulah Belle Willis, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and cousins Katie and Hayley Rogers wanted to bring a taste of home to Operation Enduring Freedom troops overseas and Girl Scout cookies seemed to be the best way.
Willis bought 12,000 boxes of the cookies and Girl Scout Troop 231’s mission was accomplished.
“The story is absolutely true. His daughter came up with the idea, along with her two cousins, and the cookies were sent,” Willis publicist Paul Bloch said Tuesday.
The Sun Valley, Idaho, troop’s gift is on the way, troop leader Sue Dumke said, adding Willis and Moore have always been enthusiastic supporters of the Girl Scouts.
The troop’s share of the cookie-sale proceeds will be donated to Animal Shelter and Canine Companions, Dumke said.