Newman battles cancer

Paul Newman, the legendary actor and philanthropist, is battling cancer, his longtime neighbor and business partner said yesterday. Newman, 83, has recently appeared gaunt in photos and dropped plans to direct a play in his hometown of New Haven. Writer A.E. Hotchner, who partnered with Newman to start Newman's Own salad dressing company in the 1980s, said the actor told him about the disease 18 months ago. He did not specify what kind of cancer but said Newman is in active treatment. Newman issued a statement Tuesday that he's "doing nicely" but didn't address questions about cancer. Newman lives in Westport, Conn., with his wife, Joanne Woodward. (AP)

Actor John Cusack jumped into the political arena with a video saying John McCain is a war-profiteering clone of President George W. Bush. "I know my opinion doesn't matter more than anyone else's, and I just make films," he said yesterday. "But I do feel you have to speak out, and that's what I'm doing." The 30-second video, which went to members of the liberal political activist group MoveOn.org yesterday, airs today on Bravo, CNN, MSNBC, and Comedy Central. (AP)

Rodney King will appear in the next installment of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew," featuring famous people dealing with drug and alcohol problems aided by celebrity addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky. King, whose 1991 beating by LA police led to deadly rioting that prompted him to make a famously earnest plea for peace, will appear with actor Jeff Conaway, former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler, Rod Stewart's son Sean, and actress Tawny Kitaen. (AP)

Hulk Hogan's estranged wife is asking a Florida judge to cite the wrestler for allegedly not paying his share of a $4.2 million Las Vegas condo. Linda Bollea is asking that Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, be held in contempt of court and jailed until he pays. (AP)

"Am I engaged? In what? I'm engaged in a conversation with you." - Justin Timberlake, refusing to tell Jay Leno whether he plans to get hitched with his girlfriend, Jessica Biel