Celebrity gossip, sightings in and around Connecticut
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 15:
Renée Elise Goldsberry attends Marvel Studios “She-Hulk: Attorney At Law” Los Angeles Premiere at El Capitan Theatre on August 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 04: (L-R) Nolan Hansen, Sapnap, MrBeast, Karl Jacobs and Punz attend as Global YouTube star MrBeast launches the first physical MrBeast Burger Restaurant at American Dream on September 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for MrBeast Burger)
Grammy Award-winning artist Jose Feliciano performs the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Smithsonian’ National Museum of American History in Washington, Thursday June 14, 2018.
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds perform at Sound On Sound music festival in Bridgeport, Conn. on Sunday, Sept. 25.
From Mr. Beast bringing his burgers to Connecticut to “Hamilton” star Renée Elise Goldsberry headlining a gala, September was a sizzling time for celebrities in the Nutmeg State.
Here are some of the Hollywood sightings and murmurings that happened in and around Connecticut in September:
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 04:
(L-R) Nolan Hansen, Sapnap, MrBeast, Karl Jacobs and Punz attend as Global YouTube star MrBeast launches the first physical MrBeast Burger Restaurant at American Dream on September 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for MrBeast Burger)
Mr. Beast, a content creator on Youtube with over 100 million subscribers, teamed up with the company, “Virtual Dining Endeavors” to bring his virtual restaurant brand, Mr. Beast Burger, to multiple locations throughout Connecticut.
The virtual restaurant has established itself statewide, with a total of 19 locations in Connecticut: Avon, Bristol, Danbury, Darien, East Hartford, Enfield, Fairfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Greenwich, New Britain, Newington, North Haven, Norwich, Orange, Rocky Hill, Southington, Vernon and Waterbury.
– Amy Coval
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 15:
Renée Elise Goldsberry attends Marvel Studios “She-Hulk: Attorney At Law” Los Angeles Premiere at El Capitan Theatre on August 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Award-winning Broadway star Renée Elise Goldsberry, known for originating the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” headlined Westport Country Playhouse’s 2022 Gala in September.
The evening hosted by Tony Award-nominated actor Robin de Jesús featured a performance by Goldsberry backed by a seven-piece band, along with a pre-show cocktail party, live auction and after-party with a DJ and dancing. Barbara K. Streicker, former chair of the Playhouse board of trustees, received the Playhouse’s Leadership Award at the event.
– Susie Costaregni
Sheryl Lee Ralph poses in the press room with the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “Abbott Elementary” at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 12, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Waterbury native and “Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph, 66, was nominated for her first Emmy for “best-supporting actress in a comedy series.” Her first nomination also brought her first win at the award show.
She took home an Emmy award for best-supporting actress in a comedy for her role as Barbara Howard, a kindergarten teacher at “Abbott Elementary.” The show follows a group of teachers who teach at “one of the worst public schools in the country, simply because they love teaching,” according to IMDb.
– Jailene Cuevas
Grammy Award-winning artist Jose Feliciano performs the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Smithsonian’ National Museum of American History in Washington, Thursday June 14, 2018.
Grammy winner José Feliciano will receive the first-ever Billboard Legend Award at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Known for his bilingual Christmas song, “Feliz Navidad,” which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, has earned more than 45 gold and platinum awards and received 19 Grammy nominations with a total of eight wins.
– Jailene Cuevas
Heidi D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, Charli D’Amelio and Marc D’Amelio attend the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Norwalk native and TikTok star Charli D’Amelio topped the leaderboard during the premiere of the new season of “Dancing with the Stars.”
Streaming live on Disney+ for the first time, the television dance competition show premiered for its 31st season with a new cast of celebrities. D’Amelio’s cha cha routine with Mark Ballas scored the highest with 32 out of 40 points.
D’Amelio’s mother, Heidi, also moved onto the next round after securing 24 out of 40 points on her cha cha routine with Artem Chigvintsev.
– Abby Weiss
Summer Orlando as Winifred Sanderson.
Ben Orlando, better known as Connecticut drag queen Summer Orlando, was tapped to be in “Hocus Pocus 2” — which releases on Sept. 30 — by a Disney casting agent while he was in Florida.
The reason he was on Disney’s radar is because Orlando has been playing Winifred Sanderson in “Hocus Pocus Live!!!” a tribute show based on the original “Hocus Pocus” movie that has been staged around Connecticut for about six years. He created “Hocus Pocus Live!!!” because he has loved the movie since he was a child, he said.
During filming, Orlando got to work with the actresses who play the original Sanderson sisters, Bette Midler (Winifred Sanderson,) Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson.) Orlando also met drag queens from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on set including Ginger Minj, Kornbread and Kahmora Hall.
– Joseph Tucci
Stevie Nicks performs at Sound On Sound music festival in Bridgeport, Conn. on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Bridgeport’s Sound on Sound festival in late September was filled with celebrity performers including Stevie Nicks, Dave Matthews, Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers, The National and Caamp.
– Andrew DaRosa
This year’s Dancing Stars of Greenwich celebrity judges were actor Brendan Fraser, star of “The Mummy;” “Good Morning America” co-anchor Lara Spencer; and choreographer and dancer Billy Blanks Jr., creator and host of “Dance It Out TV” on Lifetime Television. The master of ceremonies was Ali Wentworth, co-creator, star and co-executive producer of “Head Case.”
– Susie Costaregni
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 02:
Hannah Storm attends the 2nd Annual Critic’s Choice Documentary Awards on November 2, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images,)
Greenwich resident and ESPN’s SportsCenter Face to Face anchor Hannah Storm was seen dining at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant, Happy Monkey, on Greenwich Avenue in September
– Susie Costaregni
Jacques Pepin in his Connecticut kitchen.
Jacques Pépin will be the guest of honor at Greenwich Wine + Food’s 10th-anniversary celebrity chef gala on Oct. 7, where he will be fêted for his decades of culinary contributions. The 86-year-old chef first cultivated his lifelong love of food at his parents’ restaurant and has enjoyed a storied career over the last 60 years as chef to heads of state, a restaurateur in New York City, an educator, an author, TV personality and artist.
He also released his newest book, “Art of the Chicken,” which is a celebration of his lifelong love of the bird, featuring the chef’s life stories along with his own artistic ventures: dozens of his bright and whimsical paintings and drawings of fowl.
– Leeanne Griffin
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12:
Annabeth Gish arrives for the 2019 Hammer Museum Gala In The Garden at Hammer Museum on October 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic)
During CT HorrorFest in mid-September, fans had the opportunity to meet celebrities in the world of horror, like “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Midnight Mass,” creator Mike Flanagan; Annabeth Gish (“Midnight Mass,” “The X-Files”); Keith David (“The Thing,” “They Live”); Jeffrey Combs (“Re-Animator,” “From Beyond”); and Milly Shapiro (“Hereditary”).
– Andrew DaRosa
Professional fashion stylist Withley Verdiner was seen at Tony’s at the J House at the Greenwich venue’s end-of-summer party in September.
Greenwich resident, 710 WOR radio host and Newsmax contributor Mark Simone was among the many guests at the party as well.
– Susie Costaregni
NOTORIOUS – “Kept and Broken” – After his affair with Sarah is exposed on live TV, Jake learns a troubling secret about his former lover and is blindsided by new allegations. Meanwhile, the media fervor over a wealthy missing girl prompts Julia to undertake a personal search for a lesser-known victim whose life is in danger, on “Notorious,” airing THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Television Network. (Ron Batzdorff/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) MATT WALTON
The film “Candlewood,’ which is inspired by some true events and some local lore, will be released in 2023.
The movie, which stars Matt Walton (“The Irishman,” “Mindhunter”) and Lisann Valentin (“The Blacklist,” “Jessica Jones”), focuses on a family that moves to New Milford from New York City amid a pandemic.
– Andrew DaRosa
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – SEPTEMBER 09: Dick Ebersol poses for a portrait during the 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Tip-Off Celebration & Awards Gala at Mohegan Sun on September 09, 2022 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Torrington native Dick Ebersol immortalized his four-decade career in television with the release of his autobiography, “From Saturday Night to Sunday Night: My Forty Years of Laughter, Tears, and Touchdowns in TV.”
The book, which was released in mid-September, goes into the career of Ebersol as he created a media empire that still stands tall today. Ebersol’s “Sunday Night Football” still remains the number one Primetime series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
– Andrew DaRosa
After making waves during its filming in Norwalk last year, Netflix’s “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” has dropped its first trailer ahead of its Oct. 5 release.
Based on a short story included in Stephen King’s 2020 book “If It Bleeds,” the movie follows Craig, a small-town boy, who befriends Mr. Harrigan, a reclusive billionaire. After Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig finds that he can still communicate with him, albeit at the expense of strange and horrific occurrences happening in his town.
The movie stars Jaeden Martell (“It,” “Knives Out”) and Donald Sutherland (“The Hunger Games,” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”) in the lead roles. Directing and writing the film is John Lee Hancock, who is responsible for movies like “The Blind Side,” “Saving Mr. Banks” and “The Founder.” “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” is being produced by Blumhouse Productions (“The Black Phone,” “Get Out”) and Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story,” “Glee”).
– Andrew DaRosa
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 15:
Jenny Mollen attends Jenny Mollen In Conversation with actress Busy Phillips at 92NY on September 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images)
Actress, social media influencer and best-selling author Jenny Mollen, known for the TV series “Angel,” served as guest speaker at the Center for HOPE’s annual luncheon in September, which is co-chaired by Bri Hart, Jen Hyde and Abby Ritman.
The Center for HOPE also presented interior designer Amanda Lindroth with the Spirit of Resiliency Award in recognition of her strength following the death of her husband.
– Susie Costaregni
Andrew DaRosa is a web producer and reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group.
Andrew is an award-winning journalist and holds a degree in digital journalism from Fairfield University.
When he’s not writing, he is spending time with his dogs or going to see live music.
Leeanne Griffin is the food and consumer reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group, handling coverage of restaurant openings and closings, trends, events and general news about CT food and beverage businesses.
She’s been working in Connecticut news for more than 15 years, most recently as the food and dining reporter for the Hartford Courant. A native of Worcester, Mass., she holds a master’s degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University.
