Tom Cruise has 'horrific' moment over Travolta death

Tom Cruise has broken down on live TV as he was asked to comment on the death of the son of his close Scientology friend John Travolta.

The actor was lost for words on The View programme as host Barbara Walters quizzed him on his thoughts on the 'horrific' death of Jett and the controversy sounding the 16-year-old's demise last Friday.

Stammering, Cruise finally mustered his thoughts to defend his and Travolta's religion hitting back at speculation that Jett may have been deprived prescription drugs to combat his tendency to suffer regular seizures - believed to have caused his death.

Walters asked: 'Tom, I do want to ask you something that's very sensitive. We'd been talking earlier and a lot of people are about John Travolta and the terrible tragedy with his son, Jett. You're very close to John - and John and Kelly. What are your thoughts?'

Speechless, Cruise welled up before responding: 'I just don't have the words for it.'

After gathering himself, The Valkyrie star started: 'It's just horrific.'

He then broke again, as he told: 'Here you have a man, both of them doting parents, they're wonderful people and…'

The star then tried to eradicate speculation the Travolta's had been anything other than doting parents, telling:

'I remember Jett when he was born,' said Cruise, 46.

'I saw him when he was just a few months old and John just adored him, and both of his children, and Kelly.'

The actor then used the opportunity to defend the practices of his and Travolta's religion, saying a boycott on medical attention was a myth.

'That's just not true,' Cruise said.

'They say, “Get your physical, get your medication, get your physical illnesses handled.”'

Cruise's appearance comes after the Travoltas held a private memorial service for their son at their £5million Florida home Thursday.

Via metro.co.uk

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes receive death threats

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes are living in fear after receiving death threats from anti-Scientology groups.

Security has been beefed up around Cruise, 46, Holmes, 30, and their two-year-old daughter Suri after the threats from groups opposed to the cult, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The couple now lives at separate locations and move around in bomb-proof vehicles as a precautionary measure. “Tom is terrified. He doesn't feel safe anywhere. The threats are perceived to be so great that the FBI has been alerted,” said a source close the actor.

Cruise has also spent 5 million pounds on an underground bunker in the grounds of his estate in Colorado to take shelter in case his family is attacked.

Apart from disrupting his and Holmes' movie and Broadway events at regular intervals, in August this year the anti-Scientology groups had threatened to place anthrax in Cruise' Los Angeles office.

Via sify.com

Tom & Katie Celebrate Her 30th Birthday All Week

Tom Cruise is not taking his wife's 30th birthday lightly. In fact, Cruise and Katie Holmes have been "celebrating along the way" to her special day.

"I've got some things planned. I've got some things planned tonight," Cruise said Wednesday on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show. "I've been kind of surprising her throughout the week with things."

Asked his advice on wooing a woman, Cruise, 46, says, "I like romance. You gotta think about these things. You've got to know the right thing and pay attention throughout the year ... and just know your lady."

Holmes, whose birthday is Thursday, will be performing in All My Sons on Broadway as she celebrates the big 3-0. Cruise is due in L.A. Thursday for the Hollywood premiere of his movie Valkyrie.

One thing Cruise cautions against is putting information about birthday surprises on one's BlackBerry. "It's wrong, man," he tells Seacrest. "You can't do that – not unless you are trying to get her off the track with false information in there."

As for how the family plans to celebrate the holidays, he says, "The main thing we know we're going to do is there's just gonna be nice family time and snuggles."

Via people.com

Tom Cruise gets restraining order against man

A judge has ordered an Iraq war veteran to stay away from Tom Cruise, after the man brandished a gun near a freeway and weeks later tried to hand-deliver a letter to the actor, attorneys said on Thursday.

Edward Van Tassel, 29, wanted to get the letter in Cruise's hands to enlist him in the cause of helping other veterans, said the former soldier's attorney, Robert Landheer.

Van Tassel went to Cruise's Beverly Hills mansion on December 3 and again on Sunday in an attempt to deliver the letter, Landheer said.

On Wednesday, Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge George Eskin issued a restraining order to prevent Van Tassel from approaching Cruise or his residential property.

"He's coming home like hundreds of other veterans, wounded and suffering from whatever kind of scarring that is," Landheer said.

Bert Fields, an attorney for Cruise, said the actor did not ask for the restraining order.

"Tom didn't even know about it, and the judge did the right thing -- you've got to respect the judge for it. But it was not something Tom applied for," Fields said.

Authorities arrested Van Tassel last month on weapons charges after an incident near Santa Barbara, northwest of Los Angeles, in which he stood on a freeway overpass with a gun and a sign in what his attorney described as a protest.

Following the arrest, he was sent to a veterans' hospital in Los Angeles, but left the facility when he tried to deliver the letter to Cruise.

Van Tassel has been sent back to the hospital where he is receiving psychiatric care and is no longer permitted to leave, Landheer said.

Fields said Cruise "feels very strongly about veterans of not only the Iraq war, but any veterans of war, and that they should be taken care of."

Via reuters.com

Kidman says she was only to be 'seen, not heard' when married to Cruise

Nicole Kidman has confessed that she felt she didn't exist in her own right and was 'not heard' when she was married to Tom Cruise.

The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, who's now married to country star Keith Urban, revealed that it was following their split in 2001 that she was acknowledged for who she is - rather than being looked upon as an extended version of Cruise.

The 41-year-old, who separated from the actor just after their 10th wedding anniversary, told the December issue of America's Glamour magazine that she felt like a stifled wife.

"I felt I became a star only by association. I felt it was my job to put on a beautiful dress and be seen and not heard," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

The Oscar-winner, who established herself as an actress within two years from her divorce, admits that she was given her due credit and prospered in her career only after the split.

Via sify.com

Charlize Theron Trapped by Tom Cruise's 'Tourist'

Charlize Theron may join Tom Cruise in the thriller "The Tourist."

According to Variety, Theron is in negotiations to join the project, which has Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie working on a polish on the adaptation of the 2005 French thriller "Anthony Zimmer."

Julian Fellowes wrote the first draft of the script, which focuses on a female Interpol agent (Theron) who uses an American tourist as a pawn in a dangerous game involving her former lover, an elusive criminal.

Bharat Nalluri ("Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day") will direct "The Tourist," which could begin production as soon as March.

An Oscar winner for "Monster," Theron was most recently seen in the summer smash "Hancock." She has Guillermo Arriaga's "The Burning Plain" and the big screen version of "The Road" on tap.

Via zap2it.com

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise are Overpaid

In the last few years, Nicole Kidman has starred in a number of movies that underperformed at the box office, but last year's disappointing grosses for The Interpreter, The Golden Compass and even Margot at the Wedding likely contributed to her being named the least bankable actor in Hollywood by Forbes magazine. Apparently, given her exorbitant asking price, Forbes estimates her movies only earn, on average, as much from ticket sales as she earns for appearing in them. This is a major drop compared to last year, when Kidman's films were estimated to gross $8 for every $1 she's paid.

After Kidman, Forbes names Jennifer Garner, whose '07 films The Kingdom and Catch and Release did poorly enough that the runaway success of Juno couldn't help her ranking. On average her films grossed $3.60 for every $1 she took home. In third place, not surprisingly, is Kidman's ex, Tom Cruise, who bombed big time with Lions for Lambs last year. Others making the list of most overpaid actors include Nicolas Cage, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Jim Carrey, Cate Blanchett and Will Ferrell. Meanwhile, Russell Crowe, who topped the list last year, is considered more fairly paid this year thanks to the success of American Gangster.

Such fluctuations in actors' bankability only continues the debate regarding the importance of movie stars these days. Certainly all the names on Forbes' list are big names who occasionally headline blockbuster hits, but are they actually significant to moviegoers' attraction to a movie? Apparently not.

Via cinematical.com

Stunning Emma Watson wows film fans

Harry Potter starlet Emma Watson wowed fans at the second National Movie Awards last night as she stopped to chat and sign autographs.

The 18-year-old thrilled the crowd in a stunning white, Victorian-style, Alexander McQueen gown with a jewel encrusted bust.

And the rising star, who won an award for Best Female Performance at last year's awards, appeared pleased to talk to fans and have her photograph taken before heading inside at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Award nominee Meryl Streep and Kylie Minogue however snubbed the red carpet at last night's Awards.

A crowd of teenagers wearing t-shirts with slogans such as ‘Meryl is my Momma’ and clutching flowers for their heroine were left disappointed as the Mamma Mia! star failed to appear.

Instead she and pop princess Kylie were sneaked in another door at the Royal Festival Hall.

All four male nominees – Pierce Brosnan, Will Smith, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale – failed to appear at the ceremony.

And the leads from Sex and the City nominated in the best comedy category were also absent, sending Chris Noth – aka Mr Big – in their place.

“I have no idea why they’re not here,” said Noth. “They’re probably all busy, I had a window and I love London so I wanted to come.”

Stars who did make the carpet included Jason Statham, Eddie Izzard and the child stars of Prince Caspian, the latest Narnia film.

Nicole Kidman stepped out for the first time since becoming a mum - and met ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus, 63. The Aussie beauty, 41, gave birth to Sunday Rose in July.

Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy raced down the red carpet in a kilt and Samuel L Jackson was sporting his trademark cap as he arrived.

Emma Watson said she was looking forward to presenting an award.

“It was such fun to be here last year,” she said. “And I won an award which made it extra special.”

Eddie Izzard, at the event to present the best comedy award, said he has enjoyed working with Tom Cruise on their new film Valkyrie.

“It was scary because on my first day I had a six page scene to shoot with him. But he was very polite and very Tom Cruiseish.”

Via thesun.co.uk

Victoria Beckham lands role in Cruise film

Victoria Beckham is reportedly set to star in new movie 'Hardy Men' - after she was personally hired by the film's star Tom Cruise.

At her recent 34th birthday party, the singer was said to have been left speechless after Cruise surprised her with an invitation to design the costumes for the forthcoming picture.

According to British newspaper The Daily Express, the 'Top Gun' star has also asked Beckham to make a cameo appearance in the film, which is a spoof of children's book series 'The Hardy Boys'.

Beckham showed off her acting abilities last year when she appeared in hit TV series 'Ugly Betty' as a bridesmaid to Vanessa Williams' catty fashion boss character, Wilhelmina Slater.

Via iol.ie

Tom Cruise "Mission" return not impossible

Sumner Redstone, the executive chairman of cable network and movie studio owner Viacom Inc, will not oppose the casting of Tom Cruise in the next installment of the "Mission: Impossible" movie franchise.

"That's really up to Brad Grey, who runs Paramount, he will make the decision," Redstone said on the sidelines of Seoul Digital Forum on Tuesday.

"What I can say is, I consider Tom Cruise a great actor and a good friend, and if Paramount decides to go ahead with him, I will not object."

Viacom is Paramount's parent company.

Redstone in 2006 told the Wall Street Journal that the studio was not renewing a 14-year relationship with Cruise's production company, saying "his recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."

The separation came in the wake of widely reported public relations setbacks that the star suffered at the time. His publicity faux pas ranged from his manic, couch-hopping profession of love for actress Katie Holmes on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to his strident denunciations of psychiatry.

Redstone's words at the time signaled the end of one of the most lucrative production deals commanded by an A-list Hollywood star and followed other signs that Cruise's stature had been damaged by his conduct during that year.

But recent media reports have speculated that Cruise would be back starring as agent Ethan Hunt for another "Mission: Impossible" movie.

Redstone sounded upbeat on the future of both Viacom and CBS Corp, which he controls through his privately held National Amusements Inc.

"CBS is doing exactly what it should do ... CBS and Viacom will both succeed in their respective initiatives."

Viacom, which owns the Nickelodeon cable network and Paramount studios, reported on Friday a forecast-beating 33 percent rise in quarterly net profit on strong sales of the "Rock Band" video game and higher advertising revenue at MTV Networks.

CBS last week also reported a greater-than-expected 14 percent rise in quarterly earnings, helped by healthier results from its television business.

"Their results were terrific," Redstone said, referring to CBS, "and so were Viacom's."

Via reuters.com

Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise and the adorable Suri Cruise

Its been a long time since we saw the adorable Suri Cruise, but here she is, all of two years old now, looking delightfully stylish, even though all we get to see is just her hair style and a bit of her jeans, with her parents in New York City on Saturday, May 3.

She does look sort of grown up, though.

Take a look at the photos that we have of her from the past:

During Part I of his interview with Oprah Winfrey, aired on Friday, May 2, there was one point when Tom was visibly annoyed - when Winfrey asked him to comment on rumors that Suri wasn't his biological child!

"When someone compares your daughter to Rosemary's baby - it's one thing to come after me," he said. "Say stuff about me. But when it comes to my family, my children, that's when I went, 'This is off the chart'."

Via sawf.org

Tom Cruise circling Mission Impossible IV?

Tom Cruise has reportedly held discussions with Paramount about making Mission: Impossible IV.

A source told Life & Style magazine: "Tom will make M:I 4 once Paramount greenlights the script."

It was rumoured that movie bosses wanted Brad Pitt to step into the franchise to replace Cruise's Ethan Hunt character.

Cruise exited Paramount in 2006 after falling out with Sumner Redstone, chairman of the studio's parent company Viacom.

He set up his own studio, United Artists, with producing partner Paula Wagner later that year but has experienced mixed fortunes as CEO.

His political drama Lions For Lambs flopped at the box office and Valkyrie has been delayed twice.

Cruise will next be seen in a cameo role in Tropic Thunder, due for release on September 19.

Via digitalspy.co.uk

Cher reveals affair with Tom Cruise

Singer Cher has revealed that she had a brief fling with actor Tom Cruise.

According to the Daily Mail, the singer had an affair with Cruise, who is 16 years her junior, in 1986 at the start of his career.

At the time Cher was 39-years-old and 23-year-old Cruise had released his hit film 'Risky Business' and was working on 'Top Gun'.

The paper reported that Cher, now 61, told Oprah Winfrey: "I was crazy about him."

In the show, which will go to air in the US next month, she spoke of Cruise, now 45, as an awkward young man and she said: "He was shy."

Speaking about the affair, during an interview publicising her upcoming run of shows in Las Vegas, she said: "It could have been a great big romance because I was crazy for him".

She told Oprah she was currently single and broke up with her last serious boyfriend, actor Rob Camilletti, almost 15 years ago.

Cher added: "Dating is a strange thing. It's not every man who can be comfortable with me. Being Cher is a hard thing and difficult for him to hold his place."

Via rte.ie

Katie Holmes Reportedly Looks for Separation from Tom Cruise

Katie Holmes is reportedly filing for separation from husband Tom Cruise, according to a report on Thursday.

The news of a trial separation comes after reports in the UK's Daily Mail stated that Cruise wanted Holmes to stay away from one of her close Hollywood girlfriends, Victoria Beckham, because the negative effect their friendship was having on Holmes' attitude to her own body.

Star magazine also claims that Holmes, 29, is trying to break away from the controlled life of her marriage with Cruise and move to Manhattan in a sort of trial separation.

The news of a separation comes soon after TV actor Jason Beghe, who is reportedly friends with Cruise, slammed the Church of Scientology in a rant released on YouTube.

Holmes and Cruise were married in Bracciano, Italy on November 18, 2006. The two have one daughter, Suri, together.

Via transworldnews.com

Will Won't Wear Scientologarb

Tom Cruise-azy, Scientolowife Katie Kate, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will all met up at Cut for dinner -- where Will actually wore a bedazzled t-shirt reading "Party Starter" on it. Everyone else wore regulation black.

Will & Jada looked genuinely excited about all the paparazzi outside though, and even gave up a kiss for the cameras (take our word for it.) TomKat, not so much.

Via tmz.com

Tom Cruise vows to 'clean this place up'

A new video of Tom Cruise has appeared on the internet, showing the actor telling a Scientology audience: "I do care so very, very, very much" and then saluting a giant poster of the religion's founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

The new clip, uploaded onto the Gawker celebrity website, follows another video showing Cruise talking excitedly about his faith.

The Church of Scientology has tried to suppress these videos, claiming they are copyrighted so as to stop them from being featured on video sharing site YouTube.

But even though the video has been taken off the site it has already made its way to dozens of other websites and been re-posted on YouTube. It has also been posted on file-sharing networks.

The new video show Cruise's victory speech after receiving a Freedom Medal Award.

"These are the times now people. OK?" Cruise tells his audience in the clip.

"These are the times we will all remember. Were you there? What did you do? I think you know that I am there for you."

Tapping the lecture on each adverb, he then says: "And I do care so very, very, very much."

"So what do you say?"

Wild roars answer his next question: "We gonna clean this place up?"

"OK? Because we're counting on you. OK? Alright?".

He then pauses before saying, "To LRH" and saluting a giant photo of Hubbard, accompanied by loud cheering from the audience.

Another video on the same page features David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology, at the same awards ceremony, preaching to an enthusiastic audience.

"Look at it this way," he says.

"If a Scientologist is a street sweeper, it is his responsibility to apply Scientology to his zone and to whomever he may interact with and know it's not an option.

"Not if he's a real Scientologist and when his head hits the pillow each night he better know he did all he could.

"Yes, all manner of reasons could exist to not do so but lets face it - he might be able to fool others but not himself.

"Similarly, a housewife has the same responsibilities for her family and extending out to the school her children attend and so forth.

"Then again, a corporate executive. It isn't a matter of simply being a wise member or this member or a that member.

"When you step on the path and had your first cognition you also became part of the urgent mission to carry it forth."

The new videos have already been viewed more than 90,000 times.

Via smh.com.au

Tom Cruise Scientology video tops Oprah moment

A video featuring Tom Cruise giving a speech on Scientology has been seized on by gossip websites, with bloggers ranking the appearance as even more extreme than the actor's infamous encounter with Oprah Winfrey's sofa.

The four-year-old video was picked up by other websites after a brief posting on YouTube earlier today.

During Cruise's eight-minute speech, the actor says that, as a Scientologist, he and his fellow believers are "the authorities of the mind".

They "can bring peace and unite cultures". They can "rehabilitate criminals". As members of the controversial church, it is also apparently their responsibility "to educate and create the new reality".

Speaking over a soundtrack featuring the Mission Impossible theme tune, Cruise declares his dedication to his faith.

"Beng a scientologist, you look as someone, and you know absolutely that you can help them. When you drive past an accident, it's not like anyone else; as you drive past, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you're the only one that can really help."

The 45-year-old actor peppers his speech with Scientological terms such as "SP" (a suppressive person) and "PTSPs" (a potential trouble source, influenced by SPs) when delivering his message.

"[It's about] re-reading the KSW [the Keep Scientology Working policy, formed by it's founder L.Ron Hubbard]..., saying OK, I'm going to do it, or I'm not going to do it. Period."

At one point, the actor starts laughing, and clapping his hands, apparently amused by a religious in-joke. He recalls being asked whether he has ever met an "SP".

He says: "I looked at them and I thought, what a beautiful thing. Maybe one day it will be like that. Wow. SPs. Maybe they will just read about them in the history books. [But] it's not about how to run from an SP. It's PTSP - how do you shatter or confront that oppression."

The video's appearance comes as Andrew Morton, the author of a controversial biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, a publishes a book about the Hollywood star, alleging that the 45-year-old actor ranks second in command in the Church of Scientology.

"This is a fair, even-handed treatment of Tom Cruise's life," the British author said. "He's a man who deserves attention."

The church has responded with a 15-page statement, calling Morton's book, Tom Cruise An Unauthorised Biography, "a bigoted, defamatory assault replete with lies". A spokesman insisted Cruise "is a Scientology parishioner and holds no official or unofficial position in the Church hierarchy".

At the end of the video, Cruise says: "I have to tell you something. It really is, you know, it's rough and tumble. It's wild and woolly." His voice drops to a whisper. "It's a blast. A blast. It really is fun. Because dammit, there's nothing better than getting out and fighting the fight. And suddenly you see."

The film finishes with Cruise laughing, while a deep voiceover says: "Scientology can be defined by a single question: would you want others to develop the knowledge you have?

"In answering that question, Tom Cruise has introduced LRH [L. Ron Hubbard] technology to more than1 billion people on earth." The figure 1.037 billion flashes up on the screen.

"And that is only the first wave he has unleashed. That is why the story of Tom Cruise, Scientologist, has only just begun."

Via timesonline.co.uk

Tom Cruise’s Photo Extortionist Gets Sentenced

One of the two men who tried to extort $1.3 million for a series of personal photos he stole from Tom Cruise’s computer got sentenced on Thursday to two years probation and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

Computer technician Marc Lewis Gittleman, 34, pleaded guilty in August to a charge of transporting stolen property after he admitted to trying to sell Cruise copies of stolen photos from the actor's 2006 nuptials to Katie Holmes.

Gittleman, who has no criminal record, expressed remorse, telling the court, "I brought unimaginable shame upon myself and my family. I'll be working the rest of my life to make it right," and also by writing an apology letter to Cruise himself.

His lawyer, Richard Hirsch, called his client's crime "an impulsive act" that mainly reeked of "colossal bad judgment."

The judge and attorneys agreed Thursday that prison was not necessary for Gittleman.

According to court papers, Gittleman kept approximately 7,000 shots from Cruise and Holmes’ wedding after a photographer brought in a damaged computer hard drive for repair. He then took the pictures to infamous celebrity porn peddler David Hans Schmidt, who threatened to publish them unless Cruise would pay up.

Schmidt was arrested last July and pleaded guilty to transmitting threatening communications with intent to extort but he hanged himself in September, just two weeks before his scheduled court appearance.

Via efluxmedia.com

Tom Cruise Is Scientology's Second-In-Command, Says Biographer

Tom Cruise has become the Church Of Scientology's second-in-command, according to a new biography. British writer Andrew Morton, best known for his books about the late Diana, Princess Of Wales and David and Victoria Beckham, claims the 45-year-old superstar's life has been taken over by the controversial religion.

In "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography," Morton alleges the 'church,' founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, relies so heavily on Cruise's celebrity to recruit followers, the actor is now considered second only to leader David Miscavige.

Morton's book claims Cruise's movie career is built around the Church Of Scientology's needs and that he carefully selected his wife Katie Holmes based on what is best for the religion.

However, Cruise's lawyer Bert Fields insists the biography is full of errors as a result of Morton's poor research.

He tells British newspaper the Mail On Sunday: "(Tom) has been told about it and naturally he knows there are a bunch of lies about him. It's a boring, poorly researched book by a man who never talked to anyone involved in Tom Cruise's life or anyone close to him."

"Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography" is due for release in the U.S. on January 15.

Via starpulse.com

Alleged Tom Cruise extortionist found dead

A scandalmonger accused of trying to extort more than $1 million from actor Tom Cruise was found dead in an apparent suicide Friday, two weeks after he told a Daily News reporter he wanted to kill himself.

Cops found the body of David Schmidt, 47, dubbed the "Sultan of Sleaze" for peddling celebrity dirt, in his Phoenix home. Authorities did not say how he died.

He had been under house arrest and planned to plead guilty to demanding that Cruise pay up to $1.3 million for pictures of his wedding to Katie Holmes.

"I did something really stupid," he told News gossip columnist George Rush a couple of weeks ago.

"I put a belt around my neck in the shower. Fortunately, it didn't work," he said.

"He was phoning me every other day," said Rush. "I kept saying, 'You got to get yourself some medication.' He said he was on some, but it just didn't work for very long."

Schmidt was arrested in July after obtaining pictures of Cruise's wedding in Italy last year from a co-defendant, authorities said.

Schmidt threatened to release the pictures if Cruise didn't pay up, authorities said.

Schmidt, who had served time for violating a restraining order taken out by the mother of his daughters, was due back in court on Oct. 11 and faced up to two years behind bars.

"I can't go back to prison," he told Rush.

"I tried to tell him how much he had to look forward to, that there was some publishing interest in a book and he could use his time in prison to write his memoirs," Rush said.

But Schmidt was evidently too depressed.

"He had to wear an ankle monitor. He couldn't leave the house, and there were liens on everything he owned," Rush said. "He was days away from getting stripped of everything."

Schmidt was famous for getting hold of sex tapes and nude photos of celebrities.

He tried to auction off diaries and naked pictures of Paris Hilton that had been locked in a Los Angeles storage locker.

He said he had a sex video of Dustin Diamond, who played Screech on "Saved by the Bell," and he sold topless shots of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, a former prisoner of war.

He also said he had nude pictures of Gennifer Flowers, who claimed to have had an affair with former President Bill Clinton.

"He loved doing these deals," said Rush. "When he had something in the works, he was pumped up. Full of energy.

"But he couldn't do it anymore. He was afraid the prosecutors would use it as evidence that he was unrepentant and continuing to be up to his old tricks.

"It left him with no income."

Cops said they found Schmidt at 3 p.m. on Friday after they noticed the tracking device he was wearing had not moved.

"He was a lovable rogue," Rush said. "Every time he was on the phone, you knew there was another wild story coming down the pike."

Via nydailynews