Forefathers' Force Will Be With Jones At Exhibit

Published: Jul 3, 2007

The voice of Darth Vader will be the voice of the Declaration of Independence.

James Earl Jones, whose rich baritone gave life to the sinister villain of the "Star Wars" movies, will be in Philadelphia today to help open an exhibit featuring the Magna Carta at the National Constitution Center.

The actor will recite the Declaration of Independence at the "Magna Carta: Foundation of Freedom" exhibit one day before the Fourth of July.

"Here's an opportunity to focus on the declaration itself - besides the holiday, besides the great explosions and bombs bursting in air," Jones said in an interview that aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Rushdie, 'Top Chef' Host Part Ways

The 3-year marriage of author Salman Rushdie and TV's "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi has ended, according to Rushdie's publicist.

"Salman Rushdie has agreed to divorce his wife, Padma Lakshmi, because of her desire to end their marriage," spokeswoman Jin Auh said in a statement issued to Reuters.

"He asks that the media respect his privacy at this difficult time," the statement also said.

Rushdie, 60, and Lakshmi, 36, were married in New York City in April 2004. It was the fourth marriage for the writer.

Magician's Divorce Woes No Illusion

Criss Angel's wife says the magic has gone from their marriage and she now wants to make him vanish from her life.

Angel, known for his "Mindfreak" show on the A&E network, subdued his sometimes flashy look for a court hearing Friday. But he flashed a bit of humor during a break, gesturing toward his estranged wife's lawyer and saying, "I can make him disappear."

Angel, whose real name is Christopher Sarantakos, and his wife, Joanne, 37, married five years ago, after a decade of dating, said his wife's lawyer, Dominic Barbara. But the magician kept his marriage quiet and then deserted his wife as he became famous and hasn't given her "a cent" of his millions, Barbara said.

B.B. King Comes Home For 'The Kids'

B.B. King returned to his hometown of Indianola, Miss., for the aptly titled B.B. King Homecoming Festival.

"It is something that I have been doing for 42 years, playing free for the kids in June," the 81-year-old blues legend said.

With his trademark guitar that he named Lucille, King is one of the nation's most influential blues musicians.

King, who was born on a plantation in Itta Bena, Miss., near Indianola, said no one famous came to town to play music for the children when he was growing up.

"I wanted to let them know that if B.B. King can do it, they can do it better," he said.

Dog Food Can From Hilton's Trash Fetches $305

An empty can of gourmet dog food taken from Paris Hilton's trash fetched $305 in an eBay auction.

The sellers were from the Web site HollywoodStarTrash.com. A used toothbrush sold for $305, two envelopes sent to her while she was in jail sold for $510, and a Coke can pulled from her trash went for $51.

Today's Birthdays

Writer Dave Barry is 60. Talk show host Montel Williams is 51. Country singer Aaron Tippin is 49. Actor Tom Cruise is 45.

Sources: The Associated Press, People.com