Mary-Kate Olsen has refused to be interviewed by federal investigators probing the accidental drug death of her close friend Heath Ledger unless she receives immunity from prosecution.
Olsen’s lawyer has repeatedly rebuffed attempts by the feds to question Olsen, who was the first person called after her masseuse discovered Ledger’s body in his SoHo apartment in January.
Frustrated federal officials could obtain a grand-jury subpoena to compel the funky “Full House” actress to tell them whatever she knows about the “Dark Knight” star’s behavior, his possible drug use and the events of that fateful morning, according to sources.
Probers have interviewed everyone connected to Ledger and his death, including his doctors, the masseuse, bodyguards, housekeepers, business associates and even the mother of his 2-year-old daughter, Matilda, his “Brokeback Mountain” co-star Michelle Williams.
The source explains that Olsen would be the final witness they need to conclude their investigation into where he got his drugs and medicines.
Just when you think it’s all over and Heath can finally rest — I wonder why Mary-Kate is seeking immunity — what could she possibly say that would justify her own prosecution?
He’s a screen legend – heck, he’s even been knighted! But Sir Ben Kingsley isn’t above a little kiss-and-tell when it comes to his on-screen smooch with 22-year-old Mary-Kate Olsen in The Wackness.
“She was completely in charge.”
The actor, 64, said of their enthusiastic make-out scene in a telephone booth.
The former star of Gandhi and Schindler’s List – who’s currently shooting with Martin Scorcese in Boston – drove down to New York for the movie’s Cinema Society and Sony Cierge-sponsored party at the Gramercy Roof Club.
source: Ben Kingsley: Mary-Kate Was ‘In Charge’ of Make-Out Scene [people]
Miley Cyrus at the tender age of 15 earned $18.2 million last year, according to Parade magazine’s annual “What People Earn” issue.
Oprah is the biggest bread winner in the celebrity realm. She took in $260 million last year.
And the most humorous goes to, Jessica Alba. Even Leona Helmsley’s dog made more than her!
• Miley Cyrus: $18.2 million
• Katherine Heigl: $11 million
• Jessica Alba: $9 million
• Dr. Phil McGraw: $90 million
• Steven Spielberg: $110 million
• Ryan Seacrest: $12 million
• Mariska Hargitay: $7 million
• Trouble (Leona Helmsley’s dog): $12 million
• Tiger Woods: $115 million
• Jeff Foxworthy: $10 million
• Oprah Winfrey: $260 million
• Mary-Kate Olsen: $17 million
• Gisele Bundchen: $33 million
• Scarlett Johansson: $5 million
• Eli Manning: $11.5 million
• 50 Cent: $33 million
• Carrie Underwood: $7 million
How much did you make?
source: How Much Money Did Singer Miley Cyrus Earn Last Year? [us magazine]
Hugh Hefner tried to land Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen for an issue of Playboy just after their 18th birthday. They wisely refused the offer and continued their quest of dominating the tween world. Not being one to give up, Hef tried again to snag the twins for a feature spread. According to an insider, he is under the impression that the Olsen twins are every man’s fantasy.
Michelle Tanner in Playboy?!? Thank God they said no. I could just see their issue hitting the stands and men everywhere have a sudden case of erectile dysfunction at the sight of their little boy breasts.
Source: Playboy Wants the Olsen Twins [Star Magazine]
How often do a brother and a sister make the top 10 of the same list?
10. Ally Hilfiger - Before “Laguna Beach,” in 2003 “Rich Girls” ruled the MTV privileged kid reality slot. Ally and her then friend, Jaime Gleicher, had every aspect of their Manhattan lives featured. During its only season, the daughter of famed designer Tommy claimed her father invented Cargo pants. Since the show wrapped, she’s visited rehab, but also recently had an art exhibit at the Chelsea Art Museum.
9. Stavros Niarchos III - The grandson of shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos, who was a rival of Aristotle Onassis, is best known for dating Paris Hilton, Mary-Kate Olsen (also both further down this list) and Lindsay Lohan. But he’s made the news on his own merit too — he once paid a homeless man to pour a drink over his head (just for fun).
8. Fabian Basabe - Son of an Ecuadorian businessman, in 2005 he married Martina Borgomanero, heir to La Perla lingerie. During his time in the limelight as being famous for doing nothing (he appeared in E!’s 2005 “Filthy Rich: Cattle Ranch”), he’s had a knack for making the gossip sites for negative news. He sued trendy NYC nightspot Bungalow 8 for not letting him in, called the doorman of a Hamptons hot spot the N word and has received a DUI. Never shy, he recently accused Tyra Banks of having an unfortunate accident in her pants on his blog.
7. Barron Hilton - The younger brother of Paris and Nicky recently initiated himself as the newest member of the celebutante lot by getting arrested for DUI. Is it cynical to ask if this was his ‘first’ DUI? Unlike role model sis, Paris, parents Rick and Kathy didn’t pay his bail.
6. The Olsen Twins - The super rich sisters are heirs to their own fortune. They make our list because even though they’ve made their money by actually working, they had to wait until their 18th birthday to collect it. Fixtures in the club scene, these fashionistas now rub elbows with society’s elite. Mary-Kate might be considered the breakout star partly because of her role on the critically acclaimed Showtime series, ‘Weeds.’ But, more likely, it’s because she’s allegedly been hospitalized for anorexia and reportedly was having a relationship with Heath Ledger during the time of his death.
5. Cisco Adler - Son of the son of music producer and director Lou Adler, Cisco is the front man for his own band, Whitestar. Famous for dating Hollywood starlets like Lauren Conrad and Mischa Barton, he’s most famous for a nude photo that circled the Internet in 2006 in which his nether regions seem stretched (Note: not the region that would be flattering). His band starred in 2007’s VH1 Reality show, ‘The Rock Life.’
4. Kim Kardashian - This curvy daughter of the late O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Kardashian and current wife of Bruce Jenner, Kris Jenner, currently stars in E!’s “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” Following the footsteps of heiresses before her, she gained notoriety for a sex tape scandal with R&B singer Ray J (Brandy’s brother). She has recently been accused of stealing her co-star’s mother’s credit cards to purchase clothes, when she was working as Brandy’s stylist.
3. Brandon Davis - Born Brandon Zarif, Brandon is a grandson of oil magnate Marvin Davis. He’s been to rehab twice, but if there is truth to famous photos, he should be there more often. He famously went on a caught-on-tape rant with famous fellow socialite friend, Paris Hilton, where he continuously called Lindsay Lohan ‘Fire C#$%*’ in 2006.
2. Nicole Richie - Lionel’s daughter’s first arrest was in 2003 for heroin possession. Later that year, “The Simple Life” debuted on Fox and the reality show co-star “frienemy” Paris Hilton gained instant notoriety. In 2006, the nickname “Wrong Way Richie” emerged after the star was pulled over driving the wrong direction on the 134 freeway in Los Angeles. She served about 82 minutes of jail time for the crime. However, recently she’s cleaned up her act — she has since had a baby and started a charity with her boyfriend, Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden.
1. Paris Hilton - If you look up the word ‘celebutante’ in the dictionary, her name is likely listed. This uber-famous ’singer,’ ‘actress,’ ‘model’ and ‘writer’ is an heiress to the Hilton Hotels franchise. Already famous in society pages, Hilton skyrocketed to super stardom when a sex tape with Rick Salomon went public. This former LA County Jail resident (she spent 22 days there in June 2007 for charges stemming for violating probation over a DUI) makes an impressive income for ‘doing nothing.’ Forbes estimates she made $7 million in 2007 combined through all of her ventures.
Spider-Man’s Mary Jane made the decision to follow in the footsteps of Cirque patients such as Lindsay Lohan and Richie Sambora — after a week of wild parties at last month’s Sundance Film Festival. Fellow actress Eva Mendes is also in the mountaintop facility right now. Mary-Kate Olsen was treated at Cirque for food issues.
“She desperately needed help,” a source in Utah tells Star. “She seemed to be intoxicated when she checked in because she was acting really erratic. She was extremely emotional, constantly breaking down in tears.
“She not in a good place right now, but thankfully, she’s getting the help she needs.”
Kirsten, 25, has long had a reputation for partying, with bloggers giving her the unfortunate nickname of Kirsten Drunkst.
source: Star Exclusive: Kirsten Dunst In Rehab! [star]
Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of painkillers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and other prescription drugs, the New York City medical examiner said Wednesday.
The cause of death was “acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine,” spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said in a statement.
The drugs are the generic names for the painkiller OxyContin, the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, and the sleep aids Restoril and Unisom. Hydrocodone is a widely used prescription painkiller.
Borakove wouldn’t say what concentrations of each drug were found in Ledger’s blood, or whether one drug played a greater part than another in causing his death.
“What you’re looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together,” she said.
The ruling comes two weeks after the 28-year-old Australian-born actor was found dead in the bed of his rented SoHo apartment. Police found bottles of six types of prescription drugs, including sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, in his bedroom and bathroom.
Ledger was discovered by his masseuse on Jan. 22 after she arrived for an appointment that afternoon. She entered his bedroom to set up for the massage and found him unresponsive, and proceeded to call Mary-Kate Olsen three times over the next 9 minutes before dialing 911. Ledger had been dead for some time, and police say no foul play occurred.
Ledger, nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Brokeback Mountain,” had returned to New York from London days before his death, where he had been filming a $30 million Terry Gilliam film. He said in a November interview that his most recent completed roles in the Batman movie “The Dark Night” and Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There” had taken a toll, saying he couldn’t sleep.
Sounds like another case of doctors prescribing medication, without finding out what the patient is currently taking and the warning of the risks when combining said medications. Completely senseless.
source: Ledger’s Death an Accidental Overdose [associated press]