Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

DEAR STACY: "The Good Wife" really is good. The actress who plays Kalinda, Archie Panjabi, looks very familiar. What other films/TV shows has she done? Background? — G.L., Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR G.L.: You may have seen London-born Archie Panjabi as the soccer-crazed tomboy in 1999's "East is East," her first film role, or as the bride-to-be sister in "Bend It Like Beckham." You may have seen her as the Indian-American journalist friend who helps Mariane Pearl (Angelina Jolie) search for her husband, Danny, in "A Mighty Heart." Other credits include the British drama "Yasmin," about a Muslim woman whose life is torn apart in the aftermath of 9/11, the romantic comedy "A Good Year," the adaptation of John le Carre's "The Constant Gardener," and the Don Cheadle starrer "Traitor." A Sikh of Punjabi descent, Panjabi grew up partly in Mumbai. She earned a degree in Management Studies from England's Brunel University before plunging into her acting career. She is married to Raj Nihalani, who runs his own personal tailoring company in the U.K.

DEAR STACY: Regarding Anderson Cooper of CNN, is he the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, as I have been told? And is she still with us? — Courtney B., Cedar Rapids, Iowa

DEAR COURTNEY: Yes and yes. The fashion-designer-artist-socialite is 85 years old. Part of the famous American Vanderbilt railroad dynasty, she has led a highly dramatic life including a tumultuous childhood — she was the subject of a notorious custody fight — four marriages (to agent Pat DiCicco, conductor Leopold Stokowski, filmmaker Sidney Lumet, and the late author, Anderson's father, Wyatt Emory Cooper) — and the tragic death of son Carter Cooper by suicide in 1988. Gloria subsequently wrote "A Mother's Story," dealing with Carter's life and his death, and how she coped with the overwhelming grief.

DEAR STACY: No one can heat up my blood like Jeff Hardy of the WWE "Smackdown." What really happened to him? — C.C., Bronx, N.Y.

DEAR C.C.: Hardy, who lost a "loser leaves WWE" match to CM Punk last summer as a story line reason for him to leave WWE and pursue a reality TV show, was arrested in North Carolina two weeks later on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and possession of anabolic steroids.

As his case moves forward, release of a planned WWE Jeff Hardy DVD appears to be stalled, and he's taken down his Twitter page. Hardy also has been healing from neck and back injuries including two herniated discs.

DEAR STACY: Any chance of Courteney Cox Arquette's former "Friends" co-stars showing up on her "Cougar Town" series? — Phyllis M., Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR PHYLLIS: A chance, yes. "I'll ask them when there's a part I think would be good for them to play," she said.

DEAR STACY: I like Laurence Fishburne on "CSI," but I still miss William Petersen. What is he doing now? — Jordan W., Chattanooga, Tenn.

DEAR JORDAN: "He's happy as a clam doing his theater in Chicago," is how friend and former cast mate Robert David Hall puts it. He recently received Actor in a Principal Role honors for his performance in the Victory Gardens Theater's production of "Blackbird" in Chicago's 41st Annual Jeff Equity Awards.

DEAR STACY: Can you tell whether Lauren Graham has ever been married? Also, what is her age and where is she from? She lights up everything she is in. — S.L., Canton, Ohio

DEAR S.L.: Honolulu-born Graham, 42, grew up in Virginia, near Washington, D.C. She was raised by her father, a chocolate maker, after her parents divorced when she was 5. Although she's been linked with fellas including Marc Blucas, Tate Donovan and, this year, Matthew Perry, she has never been married.

DEAR STACY: Please tell me if '60s teen star Deborah Walley is still alive. — George, Elmhurst, N.Y.

DEAR GEORGE: No, the energetic one-time dream girl of "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" and "The Mothers-In-Law" fame died of esophageal cancer at age 57 in 2001. Living in Sedona, Ariz., she had become engrossed by Native American culture. She founded the Swiftwind Theater Company and coached Native American actors; she wrote plays with Native American themes; she created projects including her award-winning "Legend of ‘Seeks-To-Hunt-Great'" short film of 1989. Walley also co-founded two children's theater companies in Sedona, aiming to introduce disadvantaged youth to live theater. Three times married and divorced, she left two grown sons.

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.

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