National Entertainment

PARIS (AP) — More than 50 French performers, writers and producers published an essay Tuesday defending film star and national icon Gerard Depardieu amid growing scrutiny of his behavior toward women during his five-decade career.

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) — Beyoncé’s childhood home caught fire early on Christmas morning, though the family living there escaped safely. The fire was reported at about 2 a.m.

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III reflected his coronation theme of public service Monday in a Christmas message that he connected to the health of the planet and wars that are raging.

Kamar de los Reyes, a television, movie and voice actor best known for playing a gang member-turned-cop in the soap “One Life to Live” and a villain in the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II," has died in Los Angeles at 56, the family announced.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 31-Jan. 6: Dec. 31: Actor Anthony Hopkins is 86. Actor Sarah Miles (“The Big Sleep”) is 82. Actor Barbara Carrera (“Never Say Never Again”) is 82. Guitarist Andy Summers of The Police is 81.

BANGKOK (AP) — China’s press and publications authority has approved 105 new online games, saying it fully supports the industry after proposed curbs caused massive losses last week for investors in major games makers.

It’s not a secret that Fantasia Barrino did not want to play Celie again. The “American Idol” winner hadn’t had the best time doing “The Color Purple” on Broadway.

“ Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ” led a crowd of new releases at the box office on the weekend before Christmas Monday. The DC and Warner Bros. superhero sequel starring Jason Momoa earned an estimated $28.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — This year, Dave Rowe, owner of a decades-old music store in St. John's, N.L., found himself in a peculiar yet pressing situation: he was out of ugly sticks, and the man who made them was retiring.

LONDON (AP) — A second suspect was arrested in the alleged theft of a work by the elusive street artist Banksy of a stop sign adorned with three military drones, London police said Sunday.