Entertainment News Roundup: LaQuan Smith shows at Empire State, elegance at Caroline Herrera; Bennifer have arrived! Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Venice for filmfest and more

Constantine, who won an Emmy Award as a school principal in the 1970s TV series "Room 222," died peacefully on Aug. 31 of natural causes at his home in Reading, Pennsylvania, with family members at his side, his representative, Julia Buchwald, said in an email, citing his family. 'Dear Evan Hansen' opens hybrid Toronto Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) lifted its curtains to a live audience for the first time in two years on Thursday with the world premiere of the musical "Dear Evan Hansen".

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

LaQuan Smith shows at Empire State, elegance at Caroline Herrera

Fashion floated high above New York City on Thursday night as designer LaQuan Smith presented his collection on the observation deck of the Empire State Building as part of the New York Fashion Week show. With a lit up Big Apple around them, models presented sparkly bodysuits, mini dresses as well as frocks and trousers with cutouts. Printed strapless tops were matched with mini skirts and there were lace dresses for the evening.

Bennifer have arrived! Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Venice for filmfest

Looking radiant and holding hands, singer Jennifer Lopez and actor Ben Affleck arrived for the Venice Film Festival on Thursday, getting into a water taxi to be whizzed off to their luxury hotel in the lagoon city. Affleck is in Venice for the festival premiere of Ridley Scott's medieval epic "The Last Duel", which also stars his close friend Matt Damon.

Singer Arlo Parks wins Mercury Prize for debut album

Singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks won the 2021 Mercury Prize on Thursday, scooping the British music award for her critically acclaimed debut album "Collapsed in Sunbeams". The 21-year-old, whose songs address mental health and sexual identity, beat off 11 other contenders across a range of music genres for the prize, which is considered less mainstream than the annual BRIT Awards.

Michael Constantine, actor known for 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' dead at 94

Michael Constantine, the American actor who found countless uses for Windex as the patriarchal restaurant owner in the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" films, has died at age 94, his representative confirmed on Thursday. Constantine, who won an Emmy Award as a school principal in the 1970s TV series "Room 222," died peacefully on Aug. 31 of natural causes at his home in Reading, Pennsylvania, with family members at his side, his representative, Julia Buchwald, said in an email, citing his family.

'Dear Evan Hansen' opens hybrid Toronto Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) lifted its curtains to a live audience for the first time in two years on Thursday with the world premiere of the musical "Dear Evan Hansen". The film, an adaptation of the Broadway production, stars Tony Award winner Ben Platt reprising his role as a high school student with social anxiety who gets caught up in a lie. Julianne Moore, Amy Adams and Kaitlyn Dever are among the cast.

Family, stars including Alain Delon bid farewell to iconic French actor Belmondo

Steadying himself on a crutch, veteran French film star Alain Delon made a rare public appearance on Friday at the funeral of a fellow giant of French cinema, Jean-Paul Belmondo, who died on Monday at the age of 88. Belmondo, a charismatic actor who often performed his own daring stunts, switched from existential New Wave roles in the 1960s to mainstream films and became one of France's most beloved comedy and action heroes.

Adieu Bébel: France says goodbye to charismatic New Wave star Belmondo

France staged a grand farewell to Jean-Paul Belmondo on Thursday, saying the charismatic actor and New Wave legend who died on Monday aged 88 would live forever on film screens. Pallbearers carried Belmondo's coffin, covered in the French tricolour flag, into the courtyard of Les Invalides military museum in Paris, where Napoleon is buried, for an official tribute.

Hometowns, exotic locales inspire menswear designers at NY Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week Men's Day returned to in-person presentations on Wednesday, with nearly a dozen emerging designers showcasing their 2022 collections. Models posed like statues as the audience walked through within touching distance of the designs. At times, there was a central character showcasing the theme behind the look.

Musician Phil Collins says his drumming days are over

British musician Phil Collins said he can barely hold a drum stick because of deteriorating health that has also forced him to sit while singing during live performances. The 70-year-old drummer and singer told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Thursday that he was frustrated at the challenges he faces. He underwent surgery on his back in 2009 and again in 2015 that affected his nerves, and he also has diabetes.

Company bosses face ethical dilemmas in French film premiering in Venice

The tension between labor and profit in globalized, market-oriented economies is at the center of French director Stéphane Brizé's new film "Another World", the story of a plant manager who is asked by his bosses to lay off his own workers. The movie, which premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Friday, follows actor Vincent Lindon in the role of Philippe Lemesle, an executive at the French unit of Elson, a fictional multinational manufacturing firm.

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