The big Hurt: ‘Spy’ movie reaches a Boyle
“Everybody Loves Raymond” co-star Peter Boyle, who just received his fourth consecutive Emmy nomination for the CBS sitcom (he plays Ray Romano’s dad), has been cast opposite Oscar winner William Hurt in “Master Spy: The Life of Robert Hanssen.”
In the four-hour CBS miniseries, Boyle will play Hanssen’s father, Howard Hanssen – a tough-as-nails cop who leaned very hard on his son.
Hurt will star as Hanssen, the FBI Special Agent who doubled as a spy – and created the greatest breach of security in U.S. history.
Boyle will begin filming the role in Toronto later this month, jetting there from the “Raymond” set in L.A. He’s no stranger to tough patriarchal roles – having played Billy Bob Thornton’s racist dad in “Monster’s Ball.”
A touching tribute to Josh Evans
The Aug. 27 issue of Soap Opera Weekly has a special tribute to diminutive Josh Ryan Evans, who played Timmy on “Passions.” Evans died Aug. 5 due to complications from a chronic congenital heart condition. He was 20.
Among those paying tribute to Evans is Ron Howard, who directed him in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” which starred Jim Carrey.
“He so thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Passions’ experience,” Howard says. “He thought [‘Passions’] was the best thing ever. It was fun for me to see him that enthusiastic.”
Evans also had a role on “Ally McBeal” playing a prodigy attorney named Oren. “Josh was a tremendous spirit who touched everybody in the ‘Ally McBeal’ family,” “Ally” creator David Kelley tells the magazine.
Taye gets his Diggs in with pal Tyson
Former “Ally McBeal”er Taye Diggs joined pal (and model) Tyson Beckford, who was recently the host at Noel Ashman’s Veruka (in SoHo). Beckford was celebrating the inclusion of his film, “Gully,” in the Urban World Film Festival, which ran through Aug. 11 in Manhattan.
Beckford, in charge of Veruka’s guest list every Tuesday night, was chatting up the crowd and visiting the VIP section – where Diggs was drinking champagne with other celeb athletes and models.
This just in . . .
* Starting today on Ch. 4: “Judge Joe Brown” will air at 4 p.m., with “The People’s Court” moving to 10 a.m. and “The Other Half” moving to 11 a.m.
* As expected, King World has officially renewed “Martha Stewart Living” for the 2002-2003 season – its 10th.
* Cindy Williams (“Laverne & Shirley”) will guest-star in the Sept. 30 episode of “7th Heaven,” playing the vice principal of Lucy’s school. It’s the same episode featuring Pat Boone.
* Christy Musumeci has joined MSNBC as an anchor.
* John Arthur Long and Chet Meyer’s “The Tooth Fairy Legend: The Touch of Kindness” (L&M Press) is expected to be turned into an animated series by a leading cable network.