DEAR STACY: Elijah Kelley was awesome as Seaweed in "Hairspray." I thought he was going to play Sammy Davis Jr. What's he doing now? — Ray L., Tacoma, Wash.

DEAR RAY: Kelley is among the stars of George Lucas' upcoming "Red Tails," a movie about the heroic Tuskegee Airmen of WWII. Also in the cast are Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Nate Parker, Tristan Wilds and Ne-Yo. The film has already gotten support from Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, among others.

The generously talented Kelley made big casting news in 2007 when he was chosen to play Sammy Davis Jr. in a biopic about the Rat Pack entertainment icon. However, that film stalled. A few weeks ago, it was announced that Byron Allen's company had made a rights deal with Tracey Davis, daughter of the late entertainer, for stage and screen treatments of Davis' story. We'll see if that gets off the ground.

DEAR STACY: Is Jennifer Garner related to James Garner? — Karen G., San Bernardino, Calif.

DEAR KAREN: The answer is no, although Jennifer has admitted that she allowed some high school band mates to think her "Uncle Jimmy" was the beloved veteran star. Then, on graduation night, as she recalled on "The Tonight Show," her tuba-player classmate "was standing there with his autograph book and a camera, and he is ready for Uncle Jimmy. And I have — I have an Uncle Jimmy, but he's a farmer in Oklahoma."

DEAR STACY: Whatever happened to Cynthia Daniel, who played Elizabeth Wakefield on "Sweet Valley High"? I've seen her sister Brittany, but not her. — Jo D., Chattanooga, Tenn.

DEAR JO: Cynthia retired from acting after "Sweet Valley High" was canceled in 1997, save for one appearance with her twin, Brittany, in "That '80s Show" in 2002. Her real-life roles now are as wife and mother — she and actor Cole Hauser have two sons — Ryland, 7, and Colt, 3. And she has developed a second career as a photographer.

DEAR STACY: I have a bet with some office friends, and I hope you can help. I say that Kate Walsh of "Grey's Anatomy" played on "The Drew Carey Show" as Drew's girlfriend who got enormously fat. They don't believe me. — Andy R., Chesterfield, Mo.

DEAR ANDY: You win. Walsh donned progressively bigger fat prosthetics for her role as Nicki Fifer in the 1997-1998 season of "The Drew Carey Show."

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