DEAR STACY: Can you tell me what actors play the store manager and the innocent young man on the Fiber One commercials? They both look familiar. — Margaret T., Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

DEAR MARGARET: I believe you are referring to busy New Delhi, India-born actor Ajay Mehta, who plays the district manager in those Fiber One spots — and whose long list of credits includes parts on shows including "24" and "Nip/Tuck," and movies including "Spider-Man." The young man is Frederick Koehler, former child actor on "Kate & Allie."

DEAR STACY: Is Clint Eastwood a Democrat or a Republican? — J.B., Athens, Ohio

DEAR J.B.: The Oscar-winning actor-filmmaker-composer characterizes himself as a libertarian — "everyone leaves everyone else alone" — though he's reportedly been registered as a Republican since the '50s. He was recently quoted saying that he and his wife, one-time Arizona anchorwoman Dina Ruiz, who knew John McCain through work, supported McCain in his last presidential bid eight years ago. They were "letting things percolate" for a while in this election cycle before deciding whether to get active, campaign-wise.

DEAR STACY: I heard that Sean Flynn of "Zoey 101" is the grandson of 1930s movie star Errol Flynn. If it's true, who is his parent? — Sharon P., Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR SHARON: Eighteen-year-old Sean is indeed the matinee idol's grandson — the son of his second daughter, Rory, a film stills photographer. (Sean was also the name of Errol's only son, the photojournalist who disappeared in Cambodia during the Vietnam War.) Sean's father is Gideon Amir, a TV producer, and he was born Sean Rio Amir.

DEAR STACY: Please solve a mystery. What is the name of the song featured on the Jeep commercial that starts out, "There's a time for us to let go." Please provide me with the name of the band also. — Nicholas T., Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR NICHOLAS: That 2007 spot features "Time of Our Lives" by Brandenburg, Germany-born electronica music maker Paul van Dyk.

DEAR STACY: I am wondering why the actor Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez changed his name to Clifton Collins Jr. — Jim S., Cleveland, Ohio

DEAR JIM: Clifton used to use his maternal grandfather's surname to honor him. "He's a genius comedian who's been in dozens of movies," Clifton proudly said of Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, who appeared in several John Wayne movies, prior to the elder actor's passing in 2006. However, Clifton began using his late father's surname years ago for reasons having to do with overcoming his bitterness over his father's suicide.

DEAR STACY: The old episodes of "Keeping Up Appearances" are hilarious. Are there any new ones planned? — B.G., Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR B.G.: No. The British sitcom, which has added to its legions of fans with its reruns on PBS and elsewhere, concluded its four-year run on BBC1 back in 1995, at the behest of star Patricia Routledge. She felt she'd done enough with the social-climbing Hyacinth Bucket ("Bouquet") character, and went on to other roles on stage, screen and telly. Known for her work in musical theater (she won a 1968 Tony for "Darling of the Day"), Routledge, now 79, also has to her credit the long-running British show, "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" — which co-starred "Lost's" Dominic Monaghan as her assistant. Meanwhile, two "Keeping Up Appearances" cast members died in 1998 — Mary Millar, who played sister Rose, and George Webb, who played Daddy.

DEAR STACY: My husband and I enjoyed the acting work of Karl Malden for decades. Is he still with us? — Sharon M., Santa Ana, Calif.

DEAR SHARON: The 96-year-old Oscar winner ("A Streetcar Named Desire") and Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement honoree is still listed as a board member of L.A.'s Geffen Playhouse. Malden, who was known for being actively involved in the Hollywood scene — he's a former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — told Variety's Army Archerd three years ago that he hadn't "retired" from acting. "I just quit." He's been married to the former Mona Greenberg for 69 years!

With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.

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 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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