So This Is What Nic Cage Spends Those National Treasure Checks On?!
Next time we see Nicolas Cage, the Coppola-pedigreed Oscar-winning thespian, slumming it in craptacular explosion-fest, we know why.
All that national treasure he unearthed is gonzo.
The Oscar winner's former bean counter is fighting back at allegations he ripped off the Ghost Rider star, claiming in a newly filed countersuit that Cage just can't stop spending big bucks.
Samuel Levin says by the time he was hired by the actor in 2001, Cage had "already squandered tens of millions of dollars he had earned as a movie star, he was deeply in debt and he owed millions of dollars in accrued but unpaid income taxes."
And what did he spend it on? Levin gives a breakdown that includes "15 palatial homes around the world, four yachts, an island in the Bahamas, a Gulfstream jet, millions of dollars in jewelry and art."
But wait, there's more! Lots more...
Fred Durst: Limp Bizkit, Limp Marriage
Ain't technology grand. Without it, we might not even know that Fred Durst's marriage is on the fritz.
Three months after his Vegas wedding to on-off paramour Esther Nazarov, Limp Bizkit's nookie-happy frontman took to Twitter to announce the demise of his union.
"For those of you inquiring I will confirm that Esther and I have decided to go our separate ways and we both thank you for your support," tweeted Durst, 31. "Thank you all SO much for your concern and extremely kind words. Sincerely. We remain very positive and wish only the best for each other."
E! News has learned from friends of the twosome that tension in their marriage came to a head recently on a monthlong retreat in the mountains, where the rocker was working on a new album. About that time, Durst's once-cheery tweets suddenly took a dark turn.
"Cheers to life. When things fall apart it's good to have a friend to lean on," he wrote. "We cannot go back and start a new beginning, but we can start today and make a new ending."
No word when he'll start the divorce papers rollin'.
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At least Durst is in some good company. Check out E! Online's Celebrity Splits gallery.
Jackson's King of Collagen: I Didn't Help Kill Michael
Dr. Arnold Klein might have done some work on Michael Jackson, but so-called King of Collagen swears he didn't off the King of Pop.
And he's got a brand-new lawsuit to back him up.
Klein has sued a fellow physician for slander, claiming Dr. Steven Hoefflin passed himself off as spokesman for Katherine Jackson and made comments to Britain's Sun tabloid that opened up Klein to "contempt, ridicule and shame" and caused him to be "shunned and avoided and have injured his reputation as a person."
The suit, filed Monday in Los Angeles, claims Hoefflin linked Klein to Dr. Conrad Murray, the cardiologist who was the last to see Michael alive. The tab reported that Murray called Klein in the moments after Michael died because the dermatologist had schooled Murray on how to administer the powerful anesthetic propofol.
The coroner has ruled Jackson's death a homicide from an overdose of propofol, but no charges have been filed. Klein's lawyer has previously said the dermatologist has been "fully cooperative" with the investigation.
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Klein's no fan of rumors. But one that won't go away is whether he's the father of Michael's children. Get the latest scoop here.
DJ AM Left No Will; Mom Claims Estate
Not much spin here. DJ AM's final wishes will be forever a mystery.
The celebrated turntablist's mother, Andrea Gross, has filed letters of administration with Los Angeles County Superior Court revealing that AM (whose real name was Adam Goldtstein) left no will or instructions on how to disburse his multimillion-dollar fortune.
According to the petition for probate obtained by E! News, Gross seeks to have her named the sole heir of the late DJ's estate since Goldstein was not married and did not have any children.
Court documents listed AM as having $3.5 million in property, an additional $400,000 in personal assets and debts totaling $2.9 million for a net worth of about $1 million.
Gross also states that her son was trying to sell his Los Angeles-area home at the time of his death last week and as his administrator, asked the court for permission to allow the sale to go through. AM was found dead in his New York apartment.
A hearing on the matter has been set for Oct. 7.
DJ AM's funeral, meanwhile, is scheduled for later today. A public memorial for Goldstein is due to be held Thursday night at the Hollywood Palladium.
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E! Online remembers DJ AM with a special photo gallery.
Victoria Principal Strikes Back, Claims She and Dog Threatened
Finally, after all these years a new Dallas spinoff is coming...to a Los Angeles courtroom.
Days after getting sued by a former housekeeper who claimed the erstwhile Pamela Ewing pulled a gun on her, Victoria Principal is fighting back with a countersuit, alleging that it was the ex-maid who did the assaulting.
Per the complaint filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by E! News, the Dallas star alleges that Maribel Banegas "engaged in outrageous, threatening violent conduct" after Principal fired her only two days into the job, leaving the actress fearing for her safety.
David Hasselhoff Kicks Ex to the Curb
The Hoff has one less hassle to deal with: His ex-missus.
A Los Angeles judge has ordered Pamela Bach to pack up her belongings and move out of the Encino residence she once shared with the former Baywatch star.
Superior Court Judge Robert Schneider sided with David Hasselhoff in ruling that Bach must vacate the premises by Jan. 31, agreeing that her living in the 10,000-square-foot mansion was hampering the former fun couple from properly divvying up their assets.
Papa Panettiere's Arraignment Postponed
Hayden Panettiere's dad just caught a break.
Alan Panettiere's arraignment on a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly striking his wife, Lesley, was postponed today, E! News has learned.
His lawyers were able to work out a deal with prosecutors allowing him to remain free on $50,000 bail until his new arraignment date, Dec. 11. In turn, he agreed to to abide by a protective order that will require him "not harass, strike, threaten, assault (sexually or otherwise), follow, stalk, molest," his wife.
He must also not "destroy or damage real property" and hand over to authorities any licensed handguns in his possession.
Alan and Lesley Panettiere attended the hearing at the Beverly Hills courthouse together. He offered up a terse "no comment" upon leaving the courtroom.





