Ferrer Promoted to Series Regular on CBS’ “NCIS: LA”

Miguel Ferrer will be getting more screen time on the small screen next season…

The 58-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, the son of Academy Award winner José Ferrer, has been promoted to series regular on CBSNCIS: LA starting next fall.

Miguel Ferrer

Ferrer, who portrays NCIS assistant director Owen Granger, joined the police procedural as a recurring character midway through last season.

In addition, he’ll join the proposed NCIS: LA spinoff, which will launch as an episode of NCIS: LA airing later this season. Ferrer will be regular on that show as well, portraying the same character.

Ferrer, best known for portraying Dr. Garret Macy on Crossing Jordan, guest-starred on the final season of Desperate Housewives.

Cruz Expecting Second Child with Husband Javier Bardem

Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem are about to double their brood….

The 38-year-old Spanish actress and her 43-year-old Spanish actor husband, the parents of 2-year-old son Leonardo, are expecting their second child, according to People.

Penelope Cruz & Javier Bardem

“Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment – when you see that face, you are transformed forever,” Cruz has said of parenthood.

Cruz and Bardem, both Academy Award winners, wed in July 2010 at a friend’s home in the Bahamas.

But Penelope isn’t the only pregnant Cruz…

Her sister Mónica Cruz recently revealed that she’s expecting a child after getting pregnant via artificial insemination.

Miranda Earns American Society of Cinematographers Award Nod

The American Society of Cinematographers is showing its love for Claudio Miranda

The Chilean cinematographer earned a Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography nomination from the group for his ethereal work on Ang Lee’s Life of Pi.

Claudio Miranda

It’s Miranda’s second nomination from the group, following his nod for serving as the Director of Photography on 2008’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the first entirely digitally filmed movie nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and an American Society of Cinematographers Award.

The 27th annual ASC Awards will be doled out on February 10.

Here’s a look at this year’s feature film nominees:

Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC (Anna Karenina),
Danny Cohen, BSC (Les Miserables),
Claudio Miranda, ASC (Life of Pi),
Janusz Kaminski (Lincoln)
Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC (Skyfall)

Meirelles Reuniting with Rachel Weisz on Latest Film

Noted filmmaker Fernando Meirelles is reuniting with actress Rachel Weisz on what could be his next award-winning film.

Fernando Meirelles

The 56-year-old noted Brazilian filmmaker and Weisz, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Meirelles’ The Constant Gardener, are back together on 360.

The dramatic thriller, which will be distributed by Magnolia Pictures, follows the stories of several people from contrasting social backgrounds through their intersecting relationships.

360

Along with Weisz, the film stars Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, Ben Foster, Jamel Debbouze and Moritz Bleibtreu.

Magnolia Pictures is planning a video on demand premiere for 360 on June 29, ahead of the film’s August 3 theatrical release.

Meirelles rose to acclaim for helming the critically acclaimed Brazilian film City of God, which garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director in 2004. He was also nomnated for a Golden Globe for Best Director for The Constant Gardener.

Louis C.K. to Star in Woody Allen’s Next Film Project…

Louis C.K. will be returning to the big screen in a big way…

The 44-year-old half-Mexican American actor/comedian, who last acted on film in 2009’s The Invention of Lying, has been added to the all-star cast of Woody Allen’s latest untitled film.

Louis CK

Louis C.K.—who recently nabbed four Comedy Central Comedy Awards—will join previously announced roster of A-list actors Bobby Cannavale, Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin. The rest of the cast includes Andrew Dice Clay, Michael Emerson, Sally Hawkins and Peter Sarsgaard.

Allen’s new film will be shot in New York and San Francisco this summer. This marks the noted director’s second time directing in San Francisco — his directorial debut, 1969’s Take the Money and Run, was also set there.

Allen recently won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Midnight In Paris. His upcoming film, To Rome With Love—starring Penelope Cruz—will hit theaters on June 22.

U.S. Postal Service Honors Ferrer on Special Stamp

He was the first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award… And, now José Ferrer is getting the stamp of approval as a “distinguished American.”

The life and accomplishments of the Puerto Rican actor, director, writer, musician and producer—who died in 1992 at the age of 80—have been commemorated on a First-Class Forever stamp by the U.S. Postal Service as part of its Distinguished Americans stamp series.

Jose Ferrer Postage Stamp

The portrait featured on the stamp is an oil painting by Daniel Adel of Cold Spring, NY, based on a photograph of Ferrer under the art direction of Antonio Alcala of Alexandria, VA, who designed the stamp.

Ferrer—whose career spanned the worlds of theater, film, television and music—is considered to be one of the most accomplished talents of his generation. Along with being the first Latino to win an Oscar, Ferrer won several Tony Awards for his work on the Broadway stage and performed in more than 60 movies.

Jose Ferrer

Arguably his most famous role was that of Cyrano de Bergerac for which he won both a Tony Award for Best Actor (1947) and the Oscar for Best Actor (1950) for his film portrayal of the same role. He remains one of the few actors to ever win both awards for playing the same character on stage and on film.

“Today, the Postal Service is pleased and proud to bestow upon Jose Ferrer — a groundbreaking Latino movie, theater and television performer and the first Puerto Rican actor to succeed in Hollywood — a new commemorative Forever stamp,” said Marie Therese Dominguez, vice president, Government Relations and Public Policy for the U.S. Postal Service. “Throughout an acting career that spanned more than half a century, Ferrer played a wide range of roles on both Broadway and on the silver screen. His accomplishments extended to many other genres of entertainment. He acted on radio, performed as an opera singer; co-authored a libretto and was a composer. And, as if all this weren’t enough, Ferrer wrote for theater and television, and directed and produced numerous plays, both on and off Broadway.”

Ferrer’s family moved from Puerto Rico to New York City when he was six. Always an excellent student, he passed the Princeton University entrance exam at age 15, but was considered too young to attend and spent a year in a boarding school in Switzerland. He entered Princeton at age 16 and graduated with the class of 1933. He conducted postgraduate work at Columbia University with the intention of becoming a language teacher. However, he had discovered his love of acting while in college, and in 1935, made his first appearance on Broadway, a one-line part in the play, A Slight Case of Murder.

Garcia to Star in “Admissions”

It’s time for Andy Garcia to make some admissions

The 56-year-old Cuban American actor is set to star opposite Vera Farmiga in the indie romantic comedy Admissions. In addition, Garcia will produce the film through his CineSon Productions.

Andy Garcia

Admissions centers on a once-in-a-lifetime relationship that grows between two strangers over the course of a single day. Garcia will portray buttoned-up heart surgeon George, who’s taking his son Conrad on a walking tour of a beautiful small college. Farmiga will play Edith, a free-spirited mom taking her driven daughter Audrey on the same tour. Failing comically to connect with their respective children, George and Edith decide to play “tour hooky” together for the rest of the afternoon. The result is a surprising romance and the greatest half-day of their lives.

Garcia, who received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Godfather: Part III toplines two soon-to-be released films—For Greater Glory and The Truth, which he filmed with Eva Longoria.

Ruehl’s a Luck’y Lady!

Luck be a lady tonight for Oscar-winner Mercedes Ruehl!

The 63-year part-Cuban actress is moving from guest star to series regular on HBO’s drama series Luck in its second season.

Mercedes Ruehl

Ruehl, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for her role in The Fisher King, plays Julietta Caligari, the mother of Renzo (Ritchie Coster). It’s a role she originates in an upcoming guest appearance on the horse racing drama series’ current freshman season.

Starring fellow Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, Luck is a behind-the-scenes look at the world of horse racing and gambling’s denizens—owners, trainers, jockeys and gamblers.

Luck received a 10-episode second-season pickup last week shortly after its official premiere.

Most recently, Ruehl has appeared on Entourage, Psych and Law & Order.

Mendes to Pay Tribute to Paul McCartney

He recently scored an Oscar nomination for Penning a song that celebrates the beauty and magic of Brazil in the animated film Rio… And now Sergio Mendes is preparing to pay tribute to a former member of The Beatles.

The 70-year-old Brazilian singer/songwriter will sing at the MusicCares tribute to Paul McCartney event.

Sergio Mendes

Hosted by British comedian Eddie Izzard, the MusiCares Person of the Year event is one of the special events held during Grammy week, which culminates with the live telecast of 2012 Grammy Awards on February 12 at Staples Center.

Proceeds from the event will benefit MusiCares, an organization that helps musicians struggling with financial, medical or personal issues.

Along with Mendes, the night’s list of performers include Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Coldplay and Norah Jones.

In addition, past MusiCares Person of the Year honorees Tony Bennett and James Taylor will perform as well.

Ramirez May Star in Bin Laden Movie…

Edgar Ramirez may soon become a Navy SEAL in Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s movie about Osama Bin Laden.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan actor, who has starred in Carlos and The Bourne Ultimatum, is reportedly being considered for a role in the film, along with actress Jessica Chastain and actor Mark Strong, according to Deadline.com.

Edgar Ramirez Star Trek

Directed by Bigelow, who became the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director for The Hurt Locker, the drama will reportedly tell the story of Navy SEAL Team 6′s
extensive hunt for the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden, who was finally killed in a covert mission last year.

The project isn’t without controversy. The Pentagon will reportedly investigate charges made by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) that Bigelow and her team somehow received inside information about the mission from the Obama Administration in preparing the script.

Despite the drama surrounding the drama, the script has been completed and Bigelow is expected to move forward with filming.

Sony Pictures has scheduled the film for release on December 19, to avoid this year’s presidential election.

Meanwhile, Ramirez will next star in Wrath of the Titans, a sequel to the recent Clash of the Titans reboot.