Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

DEAR STACY: We just watched that wonderful movie, "Big." The boy who played Billy, the friend of Tom Hanks' character, did a great job, with a couple of takes that were just priceless. Whatever became of him? — Melinda M., Cleveland, Ohio

DEAR MELINDA: Jared Rushton grew up, of course. Prolific as a juvenile actor ("Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Overboard," etc.), he's now 35 and plays guitar and does vocals in an alternative rock band called Withdrawal, which he joined in 2004. He kept active as an actor through the 1990s, logging lots of episodic TV guestings on shows from "ER" to "Cracker."

DEAR STACY: I was wondering if the actress Dee Wallace you mentioned in your May 1, 2009, column was the one who was married to a now-deceased actor whose last name was Stone. I don't recall Mr. Stone's first name. — Sarah L., Huntington, Ind.

DEAR SARAH: Yes, the "ET" actress, mentioned in connection with nine films she has coming out, including "Stay Cool," was married to Christopher Stone. The actor, a familiar face on big and small screens in the 1970s and '80s, passed away at age 53 of a heart attack in 1995. His credits included such shows as "The Interns" and "Spencer's Pilots," and such movies as "Cujo" and "The Howling" — both of which he made with Wallace. Married to Skip Belyea since 1998, in recent years Wallace let go of using the name Stone.

DEAR STACY: I am curious as to what Mary Kay Place is up to lately. I haven't heard of her in a long time. — Casey P., Reno, Nev.

DEAR CASEY: Evidently you don't watch HBO's "Big Love." Place plays Adaleen Grant, polygamist and one of the mothers-in-law of Bill Paxton's character. Place also has been busy on the big screen side. She appeared in last year's "City of Ember," and, if all is going according to plan, is filming Japanese writer-director Hisako Matsui's "Leonie." Starring Emily Mortimer and Shido Nakamura, the turn-of-the-last-century period film is about the very adventurous Leonie Gilmour, the American wife of Japanese writer Yone Noguchi and mother of sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

DEAR STACY: Whatever happened to Anson Williams of the old "Happy Days" series? Is he still with us? — L.G., Torrance, Calif.

DEAR L.G.: Yes, indeed.

The former "Potsie" of "Happy Days" is now 59, and has numerous credits in his second career as a director, including "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Xena: Warrior Princess," "Charmed," "Lizzie McGuire," "7th Heaven" and "Baywatch."

DEAR STACY: How is Thomas Everett Scott related to the late George C. Scott? — Brian L., Orem, Utah

DEAR BRIAN: Other than sharing a profession and a last name, there is no relation between the "That Thing You Do!" actor and the Oscar-winning star.

DEAR STACY: In the 1960s, there was a series starring Charles Boyer, Gig Young and David Niven. Was the series called "Bourbon Street Beat?" — Yvette D., Manhattan

DEAR YVETTE: No. "Bourbon Street Beat" was an ABC private eye series with Andrew Duggan. The show you're referring to, about a trio of former con men who employ their skills in tricking unscrupulous types, was on NBC and was titled "The Rogues." Given the talent level on the show, many critics expressed disgust over the network's decision to cancel it after a mere seven months — a sizeable trial by today's standards.

DEAR STACY: J.T. Walsh was a good character actor. What happened to him? Always enjoyed his performances. — Gloria G., Monroe Township, N.J.

DEAR GLORIA: Walsh died of a heart attack at age 54 in 1998. His final two films — "Pleasantville" and "The Negotiator" — were dedicated to him.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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