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Beverlee Dean, a manager and casting executive who discovered and then helped guide the careers of Jim Caviezel and Reese Witherspoon, has died. She was 79.

Dean died Nov. 21 in Tarzana after a long battle with dementia, acting coach John Kirby announced.

In 1990, Dean and Shari Rhodes cast the Robert Mulligan film The Man in the Moon, which marked the onscreen debut of Witherspoon, whom Dean had discovered at age 13 and then managed.

Dean also discovered the twin brothers Jeremy London (Party of Five) and Jason London (Dazed and Confused) that year; the latter also appeared in...

CNN National Security Analyst John Kirby spoke with John King on Friday to discuss President Donald Trump's comments before top military brass and reporters at the White House Thursday night.

A gunman fatally shot the Russian ambassador to Turkey while he spoke at a photo exhibit in the country’s capital, Ankara, on Monday, according to the Associated Press.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed Andrei Karlov’s death to CBS News, calling the incident a “terrorist attack.”

Karlov was attending the exhibit “Russia as seen by Turks,” according to the BBC, and was speaking to reporters when a man wearing a suit and tie opened fire.

The suspect reportedly fired at least eight shots before shouting “Allahu Akbar” – or “God is great,” according to the AP. The BBC...

For 12 years, ever since their son, David, disappeared after hiking in China, Kathleen and Roy Sneddon always believed that he had been kidnapped and was alive. Now it appears that they were right. This week, the Sneddons, who live in Providence, Utah, learned through Yahoo Japan that David, a 24-year-old Brigham Young University student at the time he went missing, is believed to be in North Korea's capital city of Pyongyang, where he now has a wife and two children and teaches English - including work as a tutor for the country's leader, Kim Jong-un. "Basically, this isn't a surprise...

For 12 years, ever since their son, David, disappeared after hiking in China, Kathleen and Roy Sneddon always believed that he had been kidnapped and was alive. Now it appears that they were right. This week, the Sneddons, who live in Providence, Utah, learned through Yahoo Japan that David, a 24-year-old Brigham Young University student at the time he went missing, is believed to be in North Korea's capital city of Pyongyang, where he now has a wife and two children and teaches English - including work as a tutor for the country's leader, Kim Jong-un. "Basically, this isn't a surprise...

A Texas father and son were among the 84 killed in Nice, France, on Thursday after a truck drove into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the city, according to multiple reports. Sean Copeland, 51, and his 11-year-old son Brodie were killed in the attack while on vacation in the seaside city with family, a friend of the family told CBS News. "We are heartbroken and in shock over the loss of Brodie Copeland, an amazing son and brother who lit up our lives, and Sean Copeland, a wonderful husband and father," the family said in a statement issued by the friend.

Two officers are were killed and dozens were wounded or taken hostage after Isis gunmen attacked a cafe in Bangladesh Friday night, according to multiple reports. As many as 20 people were still being held hostage at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, the nation's capital, according to CNN and The New York Times. Two officers were killed in a gun battle, according to CNN; and 30 people were wounded, officials told the Times and the BBC - mostly from shrapnel, according to the Times. The attackers also set off explosives, according to the Times. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka confirmed reports of the violence,...

Two gay rights activists were hacked to death in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday, the BBC reports. The Bangladeshi branch of al-Qaida has reportedly claimed responsibility. One of the men, Xulhaz Mannan, was a top gay rights activist in Bangladesh and editor of the country's only Lgbt magazine. He was also a former employee at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka. Mannan and the second victim, identified by Bangladeshi media as Tanay Mojumdar, were both openly gay and served on the staff of Roopbaan, a Bangladeshi magazine and activist group for Lgbt rights. Homosexuality is technically illegal in Bangladesh. U.S.

Kirby has had a long, interesting life as Nintendo's favorite little pink hero. Here's a look back at the character's strange history...

The Wii U finally got a burst of positive momentum in 2014'a second half with games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros, giving the beleaguered console a much needed sales boost. Now, with a number of major titles scattered throughout the 2015 release calendar, a lot of Nintendo fans are hoping that this is the year that the company fully capitalises on the Wii U's untapped potential.

To that end, Nintendo is keeping things going in the right direction with Kirby And The Rainbow Curse, out now in the Us and due for release later this year in Europe as Kirby And The Rainbow Paintbrush. 

Kirby has his fans for sure, but the character doesn't seem to spark the same passion among Nintendo enthusiasts as the company's other flagship franchises.

Senator John McCain uncensored is always fun and last week he showed his disdain for a Pentagon spokesman through the art of imitation. See photos: John McCain Welcomes Jay Carney to CNN With a Battle: ‘Facts Are Stubborn Things’ Appearing on the Tyler Cralle Show on 980 Waav-am, McCain responded to Pentagon Spokesman Admiral John Kirby's statement on whether America is losing to Isis: “It's the most amazing thing. It's the most amazing thing,” McCain said. “The spin and the lies out of this White House. I mean, it's unbelievable. This idiot Admiral Kirby was asked, I think yesterday, that said,...

Ebola fears began to ease for some Monday as a monitoring period passed for those who had close contact with a victim of the disease and after a cruise ended with the boat returning to port and a lab worker on board testing negative for the virus. Federal officials meanwhile ramped up readiness to deal with future cases. A top government official said revised guidance instructs health workers treating Ebola patients to wear protective gear "with no skin showing." The Pentagon said it is forming a team to support civilian medical staff in the U.S. In Dallas, Louise Troh...

Ebola fears began to ease for some Monday as a monitoring period passed for those who had close contact with a victim of the disease and after a cruise ended with the boat returning to port and a lab worker on board testing negative for the virus. Federal officials meanwhile ramped up readiness to deal with future cases. A top government official said revised guidance instructs health workers treating Ebola patients to wear protective gear "with no skin showing." The Pentagon said it is forming a team to support civilian medical staff in the U.S. In Dallas, Louise Troh...

Greg Coote was remembered as the .heart and soul. of the Australian film renaissance of the 1970s and 80s at a celebration of his life and career on Sunday. Hundreds of family, friends and former colleagues gathered at Village Roadshow.s Sydney offices to pay homage to the film and TV industry executive and producer who died at his home in Los Angeles on June 27, aged 72. .Like so many filmmakers I owe my career to Greg Coote,. said Newsfront director Phillip Noyce in a message read by David Elfick, who produced that 1978 classic.

Noyce credited Coote with championing the film from the script stage right through the shoot, editing and the theatrical release. .He was the heart and soul of the new wave of Australian cinema in the 1970s and 80s,. the director said. Village Roadshow co-chairman/co-ceo Graham Burke noted that his long-time friend and former colleague spent 58 years in the screen industry,...

Bowe Bergdahl, the Army sergeant who has been recovering in Germany after five years as a Taliban captive, returned to the United States early Friday to continue his medical treatment. A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, said Bergdahl flew to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio from Ramstein Air Base. While at the Texas Army base, Bergdahl "will continue the next phase of his reintegration process," Kirby said, adding there was no timeline for the process. "Our focus remains on his health and well-being," he said. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel "is confident that the Army will continue to ensure that Sgt.

Following the news about the shooting of 16 Afghan civilians, Fox News' Shepard Smith spoke to Pentagon spokesman Captain John Kirby about the situation. The conversation touched on the nondisclosure of the shooter's identity, and then turned to the fate of the war. At that point, responding to Kirby's predictably diplomatic answers, Smith railed against the war, citing decreasing support and the corruption in Afghanistan.

Dancing with the Stars winner J.R. Martinez has fans in high places. U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta wrote a letter to the Iraq war veteran and called him up to offer his congratulations for winning the mirror-ball trophy in last week's finale, according to the Department of Defense. In his letter, Panetta praised the former Army infantryman, who suffered severe burns when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq in 2003. "Over the course of this competition, your spirit captivated the nation and your victory sends a powerful message about the strength and resilience of our wounded warriors,...

Washington -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has invited soldier-turned-actor J.R. Martinez, winner of this season's "Dancing with the Stars" competition, to meet him at the Pentagon.

During a 10-minute telephone call Friday, Panetta told the dance champion he demonstrated the strength and resilience of wounded veterans, Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby said.

Martinez credited his military training for his performance on the ABC show, Kirby said. Martinez and professional partner Karina Smirnoff bested fellow finalists Rob Kardashian and Ricki Lake in the finale broadcast Tuesday.

Martinez, 28, was severely burned over more than 40 percent of his body when the Humvee he was driving for the U.S. Army in Iraq struck a land mine in 2003. After dozens of operations during a nearly three-year recovery, Martinez became a motivational speaker and in 2008 won a role on the now-retired ABC soap opera "All My Children."

Details of Panetta's meeting with Martinez are being worked out.

The following is a list of Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and coaches organized by category and alphabetically.Each of the entries contains the following information, if applicable: name of teacher or school; address; phone and fax numbers; email address and/or website; average number of students per class; whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced students are taught; whether auditing is permitted; whether a work/study program is offered. Descriptions of the class, school, or coaching are provided by the instructor of institution and edited by Back Stage.Schools of teacher who have been omitted may contact, in writing, Listing, c/o Back Stage, 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 6th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036, so that we may include you in our next list.  Acting Technique/Scene StudyAARON McPherson STUDIOWest Hollywood, CA aaron@aaronmcphersonstudio.comwww.aaronmcphersonstudio.com310-918-5335Class size varies, 12 max. for auditioning class, 40 max. for scene study; day...

I'd never attempt to argue that 1982's Silent Rage is a particularly good movie -- even by Chuck Norris standards -- but fans who like early era slasher film aesthetics mixed in with their martial arts action will definitely want to give this one a viewing.

You read that right -- Silent Rage is a weird hybrid of a film, one part slasher movie, one part traditional Chuck Norris chop-socky flick. It's an unusual blending of elements even by today's standards, but it was downright baffling to most audiences back in the early 80's, when slasher cinema was just really starting to take off.

Norris plays Sheriff Dan Stevens, the law in a small Texas town. He and his partner are called out to a murder scene where a mentally unstable man named John Kirby (Brian Libby) has murdered a man and a woman. Norris and his partner get the killer into custody,...

The following is a list of Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and acoaches organized by category and alphabetically.Each of the entries contains the following information, if applicable: name of teacher or school; address; phone and fax numbers; email address and/or website; average number of students per class; whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced students are taught; whether auditing is permitted; whether classes are ongoing or by sessions; any special emphasis used in classes or coaching; whether a work/study program is offered. Descriptions of the class, schoool, or coaching are provided by the instructor or institutions and edited by Back Stage.Schools or teachers who have been omitted may contact, in writing, Listings, c/o Back Stage, 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 6th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036, so that we may include you in our next list.Acting Technique/Scene StudyAARON McPherson STUDIOWest Hollywood, CA [email protected].