Author Archives: Benny Hollywood

MORE DRAMA: The Patriots’ New Star Antoino Brown Accused Of Raping His Former Trainer

Source: Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images / Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Patriots New Star Antoino Brown Accused Of Raping Former Trainer The news cycle of Antonio Brown calmed for all of three days–but things are picking up right where they left off. After receiving several fines , losing $30 million showing his azz to get off the Raiders roaster with a recorded phone call , and ending up a Patriot , you’d think he would be out of headlines for a while. But that is most definitely not the case. According to reports from TMZ , AB is now the focus of a rape lawsuit. A trainer by the name of Britney Taylor is accusing the wide receiver of raping & sexually assaulting her not once, not twice, but on three different occasions over the last several years. The story obtained in court documents states that the first encounter happened in June 2017 at his Pittsburgh home, not too long after being hired by him as a personal trainer. On that occasion, court documents state “Brown exposed himself and kissed [her] without her consent”. Later, at his Florida residence, “Brown, while positioned behind her, began masturbating near her without her knowledge and ejaculated on her back”. Following those two incidents, she also claims he bragged about it to her, which is when she chose to stop working for him. Months later, Taylor claims he reached out to make amends and have her return to training him. While she was skeptical, she eventually resumed training sessions against her better judgement. Almost a year later, on May 20th 2018, court documents reveal “Brown cornered [her] forced her down onto a bed, pushed her face into the mattress, and forcibly raped her”. Taylor expressed she tried to fight back but he over powered her as she screamed and cried and yelled both “no” and “stop”. As for the emotions she felt after the ordeal, “she had near-daily panic attacks, frequent suicidal ideations, and insomnia. She has also lost a remarkable amount of weight — 30 pounds in one month — due to stress.” As the story broke, Taylor has issued her own statement via her lawyer: “As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision…I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault. Speaking out removes the shame that I have felt for the past year and places it on the person responsible for my rape…I will cooperate with the NFL and any other agencies; however, at this time, I respectfully request that the media please respect my privacy.” In her lawsuit, Taylor is seeking compensation for physical injuries, pain and suffering, humiliation, embarrassment, stress and anxiety, loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, and emotional pain and suffering. The two met when they were both students and members of the ‘Fellowship of Christian Athletes group’ at the University of Central Michigan. As for AB’s response, he denies the sexual assault and rape allegations, but not the situations themselves, claiming that all of their encounters were consensual. In his statement, he walked the lines of victim blaming and mentions being approached by Taylor after he became one of the ‘highest paid’ wide receivers in the league. He also points out her asking him to invest in a business venture, all pretty weird things to mention in a rape lawsuit response. You can read AB’s full statement via his lawyer here . STATEMENT REGARDING ANTONIO BROWN: https://t.co/yvEcRyilbt pic.twitter.com/0K9G8vJeG1 — Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) September 11, 2019

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MORE DRAMA: The Patriots’ New Star Antoino Brown Accused Of Raping His Former Trainer

Britney Spears & Sam Asghari: We’re SO Ready For Marriage!

Britney Spears has been with super hot boyfriend Sam Asghari for about three years now, and fans are starting to wonder, are they are ever going to tie the knot?  For Sam, that’s an easy question as he recently said he  “absolutely” sees the “Toxic” singer as his wife one day .  And one day might might be sooner than we think!  Asghari explained to Entertainment Tonight that he wouldn’t be dating Spears if he didn’t intend on marrying her.  He believes that is the whole point of a relationship and besides, they already consider each other family, why not make it legal? The 25-year-old added that he and Brit have hung out with his family numerous times and that family approval is not an issue because his mom and all three sisters love her.  Of course they do, it’s Britney, Bitch!  But much to our surprise, their relationship isn’t filled with red carpet events or fancy dinner reservations at Nobu. In fact, it sounds super normal — imagine something more like Netflix and Chinese take-out.  “What I love the most about my relationship is the fact that it’s so normal,” he said. “It’s not glamorous or anything. She inspires me in my work and I can give so much to her by going to the gym, by going to work, by having a balanced life.” “We can get inspired by each other here and there and really grow with each other,” Asghari explained.  Not only does her fitness trainer beau worship her and their happy life together, but he has also stood by her through some trying times .  Like, for instance, Spears’ ongoing battle with her dad Jamie over conservatorship of her multi-million dollar estate.  Britney’s dad has been her conservator since 2008, but as of today he has been temporarily removed due to “medical reasons.” The new temporary conservator is Jodi Montgomery — who Jamie handpicked for the role — and she will be stepping in from now until January 20, 2020, at the earliest. But Brit is hoping her court-ordered evaluator will prove her stability to win back her life.  I mean, it’s been many years since she was first declared legally incapable to care for herself and if partying too much, shaving your head in front of the press  (ok, that was wild) , or marrying too many men is a sign of that, then wouldn’t all of Hollywood have a conservator by now?  But on the other side, there has been a positive change in Britney, who has practiced poor spending habits and faced traffic charges, since her conservator was permanently assigned. She’s had more freedom to focus on her personal relationships, kids, and career — and not so much on finances.  But Britney is ready to take all matters of her life into her own hands. Her father has had so much control over her through the conservatorship — including decisions like where she can perform, if she can drive a car, where she can live, and yep… even if she can get married!  So before Sam and Brit get too carried away at the thought of saying “I do” and exchanging vows, we hope this conservatorship mess can get settled, quick! #FreeBritney! is a great hashtag and all, but we’re sure she would prefer to be planning her #WeddingOne!  View Slideshow: 13 Craziest Things Britney Spears Has Ever Done

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Britney Spears & Sam Asghari: We’re SO Ready For Marriage!

Joe Giudice to Feds: I Give Up! Go Ahead and Deport Me!

It looks like Joe Giudice is all out of juice. As you’re probably aware, Giudice has been fighting deportation to his native Italy for several months now. But it seems that after his latest appeal was rejected , the former Real Housewives of New Jersey star is slowly coming to terms with the fact that his days in America may be numbered. According to a new report from Radar Online, a frustrated Giudice has essentially issued an ultimatum to the federal government: Either release me to my family, or hurry up and deport me. Currently, Giudice is being held in an ICE detention center , where he has resided since completing his prison sentence for tax fraud back in March. Joe has reportedly complained to loved ones that conditions in the ICE facility are worse than in the federal prison where he was served his time. And it seems he’ll do anything to be a free man again, even if that means taking an unwanted trip overseas. A source tells Radar that Joe has accepted the fact that he’ll almost certainly be deported. He has asked officials to allow him to return home and spend his remaining days in America with his wife and daughters. If they refuse to do so, he has requested that he be deported immediately, rather than spend additional time in the detention center. “It’s been horrible, and he doesn’t want to rot away there any longer,” says the insider . “The moment he is denied, he said he will pull his appeal and get ready to go to Italy.” A recently-released fellow detainee told Radar that the facility is “like in a dungeon” with cramped, filthy cells and subhuman living conditions. If Joe’s request is granted, and he’s permitted to await deportation with his family, it could be the last time he sees them for a very long time. Teresa Giudice has already indicated that she plans to divorce Joe if he gets deported, and it seems she’s already enjoying life as a single mom. Teresa is rumored to be dating Blake Schreck , a 26-year-old businessman whom she met during Joe’s time in prison. Though he doesn’t speak the language and hasn’t been to Italy since he was a child, we can see how life in America might be growing more unappealing to Joe by the day. View Slideshow: Teresa Giudice: Filing For Divorce Once Joe Gets Deported?!

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Joe Giudice to Feds: I Give Up! Go Ahead and Deport Me!

The Vampire Diaries: 28 Secrets from the Set… REVEALED!

It's hard to believe it, but The Vampire Diaries is officially a decade old.  While that may seem like a short amount of time for some of the vampires who have been alive on the show for centuries, it's a significant amount of time for us humans who still obsess over the show.  In honor of the 10th anniversary of the premiere, The Hollywood Gossip is here to talk all about the series, and the things that went down behind the scenes.  Oh yes, we're totally going there. There's a wealth of secrets to unpack, so we hope you have time.  Scroll down for all the juicy details.  1. Kevin Williamson Almost Wasn’t Involved Kevin Williamson, who is well known for writing I Know What You Did Last Summer and some of the Scream movies, and for creating Dawson’s Creek almost wasn’t part of the series. 2. The Reason? “In the beginning when I read it, I didn’t want to be involved with it because I felt it was a sort of Twilight rip-off, no matter which came first,” He admitted to The Independent. “The premise was exactly the same: girl falls in love with vampire, and I felt that it had been done and that nobody was going to do another vampire story. But then Julie kept telling me to keep reading the books and then I began to realise that it was a story about a small town, about that town’s underbelly and about what lurks under the surface.” 3. The Elena That Almost Wasn’t Fans of the book series were livid when they learned that Nina Dobrev landed the role of Elena Gilbert. But the truth is that Dobrev didn’t impress the showrunners with her audition. “The funniest story about the first impression of Nina is that she didn’t make an impression,” Julie explained to EW. “None of us remembered seeing her for the first time. And then she, through her agents and the casting directors, said, ‘Hey, listen—I was sick that day, I didn’t do my best work, I really really want this part.” [She] put herself on tape, which then got sent to us and it was so magical and so perfect that she basically had the job from that minute forward.” 4. Ashlee Simpson Almost Played Elena The network wanted to be in business with Ashlee Simpson. Said co-executive producer and director Marcos Siega at a SAG event shortly after the series’ debut : “We couldn’t find the girl we wanted. The network wanted us to hire Ashlee Simpson. …But Nina sent this DVD back and we all were home looking, searching, and we came in the next day saying, ‘We should look at Nina again.’ We showed it to Peter Roth, and Peter only saw her on that tape and he said, ‘That’s her’.” 5. Ashley Tisdale Was Reportedly in Talks for the Role Ashley was riding a wave thanks to the success of High School Musical, and there have been many rumors that she was offered the role. However, she is said to have declined to star in the one-and-done Hellcats. Yup, it seems the producers have a thing for the Ashleys. 6. Many People Wanted the Role of Elena Gilbert “Half of Hollywood I think went out for the role, for all our roles,” Nina told E! News of the difficulty in getting the role. “I guess I did something right, here I am. We had to discover and find our characters. Every episode we learned something more and something more, and eventually we created and molded these amazing, awesome characters.” View Slideshow

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The Vampire Diaries: 28 Secrets from the Set… REVEALED!

Jenelle Evans: My Home Life is Great! Nothing to See Here!

Jenelle Evans is married to an admitted dog killer . Due to David Eason’s violent, disgusting actions, Jenelle and her husband lost custody of their children for about two months this spring and summer. But now little Kaiser and Ensley (along with 11-year old Maryssa) are back in the reality star’s custody — and it’s like nothing ever totally awful and disturving ever happened. At least in the eyes of Jenelle and David. Speaking to Us Weekly at the Jenelle Evans JE Cosmetics Launch on Monday, Evans addressed the temporary loss of her son and daughter, telling the tabloid: “It’s been very great because it’s really keeping us humble. “[It’s] been having us focus on just staying at home, focusing on making them happy, making sure that’s a No. 1 priority.” A very nice sentiment, we’d all agree. But will Evans and Eason really put these kids first? Truly raise them in a calm and safe environment for a change? Yes, Jenelle vows. “We want to make them happy,” Evans continued in this same interview , adding of her controversial makeup line: “In the background, I have a big support team that’s out here working for me behind the scenes, and a lot of people don’t see that. I have to be a mom and live in North Carolina, but behind the scenes I am doing a lot.” This marks the first real job Jenelle has had since she was fired by MTV for Eason’s aforementioned murder and the subsequent removal of  her kids. Why anyone would take beauty advice from Jenelle Evans, well… that’s a different, confusing story. Evans and Eason — the latter of whom now MAKES WEAPONS FOR A LIVING — share a two-year old daughter named Ensley, while Evans coparents five-year old son Kaiser with her ex Nathan Griffith. For his part, Eason has custody of daughter Maryssa, 11, from a previous relationship. Those are a lot of mouths to feed. Or, in David’s case, a lot of young people to keep out of harm’s way — despite the fact that he’s typically the one causing said harm. Jenelle’s oldest son, Jace, is 10 years old. He has been residing with Evans’ mother, Barbara Evans, for many years now… and the former MTV personality announced her determination to regain custody of him as well. At some point. “Jace will remain with my mom, normal schedule every other weekend visits and two-week visits on school breaks,” she told Daily Champion in July. The North Carolina native went on to say that she wants to build a stronger relationship with Jace and earn full custody, but this may take  some time. View Slideshow: Jenelle Evans at New York Fashion Week: Yeah, I’m Fat … But I’m About to Be RICH! Eason, meanwhile, finally confessed this week that he really did kill the family’s French Bulldog, Nugget, several months ago. “It was a situation where my daughter, her health, her safety was in danger,” Eason just  told People Magazine, referencing Ensley. He added: “This was something that nobody wants to ever have to do. The dog was aggressive. Yes, she might not be huge or whatever, but you know when a dog bites a child on the face more than one time, then it should never be around the child again. “If you give the dog up for adoption, one day it’s going to be around children again. “If you call the authorities at that point, the law says the dog has to be euthanized. I’m not going to pay anyone to euthanize my dog when I could do it myself.” View Slideshow: Jenelle Evans Responds to Pregnancy Rumor with Four Candid Words In conclusion, David wants you to know that the animal massacre (he reportedly took Nugget into the woods and emptied the contents of his shotgun into the canine) tore him up inside. “I mean, I loved that dog,” Eason said, fighting back tears. “I still think about her every day. It’s really hard for me. A lot of people put me down for it, they hate me for it, but like I said, it was not something I wanted to do.”

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Jenelle Evans: My Home Life is Great! Nothing to See Here!

Amanda Bynes Just Joined Instagram, See Her New Hair & Nose Ring!

Today, on this very special Tuesday in September, I’m happy to share that Amanda Bynes has joined Instagram . The 33-year-old just made her first-ever post, and as usual, she is leaving quite a big impression. A few hours ago, the Nickelodeon alum directed her 2.9 million Twitter followers to her new Instagram page, writing, “Hey guys! I’m on Instagram now ! Check me out.” Since making the announcement, the beloved child star has already racked up around 28,000 followers!  Um, talk about a #Comeback.  Currently, there are only nine people in the world who are lucky enough to be followed by Ms. Bynes, most of them fashion designers and magazine outlets.  But Nicky and Paris Hilton also scored individual follows.  The first photo Amanda shared was a selfie, which offered a perfect glimpse into her edgy new look. She debuted her long, wavy pink locks and accessorized with a pink necklace and a gold septum ring, using a kissy face emoji for her caption. The comment section of the post was disabled, which honestly, is pretty impressive considering she is a newbie to IG. But also unfortunate because we can only imagine how much support and praise her post, as seen below, would’ve received. Oh well, we’re sending all the love anyway!  Amanda has slowly but surely been making her way back into the public eye.  But with that and the pressure of auditioning again, 5 months ago  she landed right back into rehab after an unfortunate “relapse”.  At the time, her family’s attorney told E! News that “Amanda is doing great, working on herself, and taking some well-deserved time off to focus on her wellbeing after graduating FIDM in December.”  Right before her graduation, Amanda graced the cover of  Paper magazine, where she opened up about her past struggles with mental health and drugs .  While most of us remember her as the charming, beautiful lead in some of the best early 00’s rom-coms like What a Girl Wants and She’s the Man (great movie don’t @ me) Amanda saw something else. At the time, she said watching herself play a boy in the popular soccer film sent her into a months-long depression. “When the movie came out and I saw it, I went into a deep depression for 4 to 6 months because I didn’t like how I looked when I was a boy,” she explained. Bynes also discussed her experience with smoking marijuana, along with taking other drugs, and how it changed her entire personality and outlook on life.  “I was high on marijuana when I saw [ Easy A ], but for some reason, it really started to affect me,” she said. “I don’t know if it was a drug-induced psychosis or what, but it affected my brain in a different way than it affects other people. It absolutely changed my perception of things.” The Hairspray actress has been sober for four years now, and even though her road to recovery has taken some dark turns, fans are remaining optimistic.  Hopefully, we will get to see some of her life updates through more photos on Instagram!  The comeback is real this time, folks. View Slideshow: 24 Child Stars Who Actually Grew Up to Be Normal

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Amanda Bynes Just Joined Instagram, See Her New Hair & Nose Ring!

Zero Chill: Here’s How Twitter Reacted To Blake Griffin Savagely Roasting Caitlyn Jenner & The Kardashians

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Zero Chill: Here’s How Twitter Reacted To Blake Griffin Savagely Roasting Caitlyn Jenner & The Kardashians

‘Lovett Or Leave It’ Takes Radio City Music Hall With Special Guests Stacey Abrams, Desus and Mero, Wyatt Cenac & More

Source: FilmMagic / Getty Pod Save America Co-Host Jon Lovett To Host Live Version Of His Podcast Crooked Media co-founder and Pod Save America co-host Jon Lovett has taken his podcast, Lovett or Leave It , on the road! This Friday, September 13, Lovett is bringing his live show to New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall with some seriously special guests.  The hilarious week-in-review podcast is hosted with a panel of comedians, actors, and journalists–all in front of a live audience. View this post on Instagram Hey! Joining #LovettorLeaveIt LIVE at @radiocitymusichall on 9/13 is @staceyabrams. And @desusnice & @thekidmero. And @wyattcenac. And @dulcesloan. And @mastro175. Get tickets at the link in our bio! A post shared by Crooked Media (@crookedmedia) on Sep 5, 2019 at 4:00pm PDT For his Radio City live show, special guests will include: Former Georgia House Democratic Leader and Founder of Fair Fight Action Stacey Abrams , comedians Desus and Mero , comedian & host of HBO’s Problem Areas Wyatt Cenac, Daily Show with Trevor Noah correspondent Dulcé Sloan, Former White House Deputy, and Alyssa Mastromonaco. Known for smart and funny commentary on politics, policy, pop culture and social issues, the show also features fun games and quizzes tied to the week’s news and events. Tickets for this live show are going fast and can be purchased here .

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‘Lovett Or Leave It’ Takes Radio City Music Hall With Special Guests Stacey Abrams, Desus and Mero, Wyatt Cenac & More

Rest In Power: Joan Johnson, The Queen Of Afro Sheen, Dead At 89

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Joan Johnson ran so that Carol’s Daughter , Shea Moisture and even Tracee Ellis Ross ‘ Pattern line could fly. And now, the queen of Afro Sheen and Black haircare icon has died at the age of 89. According to the Chicago Sun-Times , Johnson, the co-founder of Johnson Products Company and the makers of Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen—passed last Friday (Sep. 6). Her oldest son, Eric G. Johnson , told the newspaper that his trailblazing mother was ‘battling a combination of medical conditions stemming from a 2005 accident that sent her through five back surgeries.” Her husband George added that he lost “the love of his life.” “I have lost a lifelong friend and partner and the love of my life,” he said in a statement. “Joan will be greatly missed by her family and all of those who have come to know her.” In 1954, Johnson and her husband George Johnson started their haircare line on the city’s South Side with a $250 investment and grew their business from $4 million in sales in 1967 to $40 million in 1976, the Sun-Times noted. Their company was one of the nation’s largest African-American owned in history. Johnson Products Company co-Founder, Joan Johnson, has passed away at 89. Rest in peace #JoanJohnson pic.twitter.com/0hsQ17BRcv — BallerAlert (@balleralert) September 10, 2019 In addition, Johnson gave back her community and amplified other African-American businesses and ventures including making sure that Johnson Hair Company was one of the first sponsors of the iconic dance show Soul Train and became an integral part of the marketing of the show in the 70s. Johnson also served as a trustee of Spelman College and provided an annual scholarship for a select set of the HBCU’s students each year. For her son, his mother was a “pioneer. “For having such a string of ‘firsts’ and being comfortable in that environment, I look at my mother as a pioneer,” Eric Johnson said. “She and my father had no provided path. They created a path where there was none.” Adding, “Because of her, people have been able to accomplish things they maybe didn’t think they could, and they knew all the things they had to strive for.” “As [the] matriarch of the family, she was a magnet who inspired, consoled and advised people. That’s the role she’s always played in this family from me as a child right down to her great-grandchildren.” Thank you #AfroSheen Queen #JoanJohnson for the legacy of natural hair products, with the most #Afrocentric marketing campaigns and #iconic cultural commercials. pic.twitter.com/1niafQunjh — Sista Dee Barnes (@sistadbarnes) September 10, 2019 “She truly was a grande dame in every sense of the work,” said Linda Johnson Rice, CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, which formerly published Ebony and Jet magazines. “Dignified, smart, sharp-witted and fun. I have many fond memories of my conversations with her…dispensing life advice. Her life is one to be celebrated.” Joan Johnson is survived husband and three sons, a daughter Joan Johnson, 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Funeral services are set in Chicago this Friday. Rest in power Joan. RELATED NEWS: 5 Things You Need To Know About Tracee Ellis Ross’ New Hair Care Line Mane Magic: Jordyn Woods #DMXChallenge Is Giving Us Serious Hair Envy #BuyBlack: Four Celebs With Haircare Lines You Should Try! [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3056109″ overlay=”true”]

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Rest In Power: Joan Johnson, The Queen Of Afro Sheen, Dead At 89

‘Fresh Prince’ & ‘Martin’ Actor John Wesley Dies At 72

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Source: Amy Graves / Getty Prevalent T.V. actor John Wesley has unfortunately passed over the weekend. According to CNN , he died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California. His manager Gerry Pass explained that Wesley’s final days came after a long struggle with multiple myeloma, a cancer that forms in white blood cells. He was 72 years old. Wesley is known for appearing in various T.V. shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where he played Dr. Hoover. He also appeared in another beloved 1990s sitcom, Martin , as Mr. Jim. Other credits include Benson, The Jeffersons , NCIS, Moving, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot and Medium. “John Wesley was a gift to the world, for his kindness and grace are immortalized in his works of theatre, TV, and film,” Pass said in a  statement . “I am heartbroken to have lost a dear friend today.” According to Entertainment Weekly , Wesley demonstrated his theater talents at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles where he starred in plays like Wild Oats and Arthur Miller ‘s An American Clock.  He also showcased his skills at the Old Globe Theatre in London in Toys in the Attic by Lillian Hellman . Wesley originally hailed from Louisiana and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at the University of San Diego. He then earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, according to CNN. Wesley also served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. However, he couldn’t escape his passion for acting and he secured his first credited role playing a police officer on My Three Sons in 1963. A successful career in television followed, including work with actors like Denzel Washington, Barbara Streisand, Morgan Freeman, Tim Burton and James Earl Jones. In an interview with Indie Activity , Wesley said he cherished playing many memorable roles such as activist Torro Chombe in The Atlanta Child Murders mini-series and Vic Glendon on the series In the Heat of the Night. “Another memorable character was ‘Sweets Walker leader of his quintet from the series Dirty Dancing ,” Wesley said. “This character was created to tell the civil rights story of the 60’s. Too bad the series ended after one season.” Wesley’s most recent endeavor was the short film Second Acts , which was co-written by Pass. He is survived by his wife Jenny Houston, their daughters, his stepson as well as his mother and grandchildren.

‘Fresh Prince’ & ‘Martin’ Actor John Wesley Dies At 72