DEAR STACY: What is the most successful Christmas movie of all time? — Dian W., Chattanooga, Tennessee
DEAR DIAN: In terms of box office, "Home Alone" rings in with a worldwide gross (per Box Office Mojo) of $476,684,675, and its sequel made upwards of $359 million. Jim Carrey's 2000 "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" comes in at $345,141,403, "The Polar Express" at $307,514,317, and "Elf" with $220,443,451. In terms of air play and longevity, it would be hard to beat "It's a Wonderful Life," though that 1947 Jimmy Stewart classic, recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest movies ever made, only took in $3.3 million at theaters when it was released and got mixed reviews.
DEAR STACY: As a long-time fan of Joni Mitchell, I'd like to get an update on her health. — Roger T., Warren, Ohio
DEAR ROGER: The 72-year-old music great, who suffered a brain aneurysm and stroke in March, continues to improve in rehab, according to her attorney. Her friend Judy Collins posted a few weeks ago that "a close mutual friend" said Mitchell "is walking, talking, painting some, doing much rehab every day." Earlier, friend and one-time romantic interest David Crosby explained, "She took a terrible hit. ... She had an aneurysm, and nobody found her for a while. And she's going to have to struggle back from it the way you struggle back from a traumatic brain injury."
DEAR STACY: Whatever happened to Debralee Scott, who was on "Welcome Back, Kotter" and other shows of that time? I heard she died. — BCSwink_2
DEAR BCSwink_2: The actress, also remembered from "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and "American Graffiti," died in 2005, three days after her 52nd birthday. She had been engaged to New York Port Authority officer John Dennis Levi, who was killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Her sister, Jerri Scott, was quoted saying she never got over his death, and his mother, Joanne Priavity, was quoted saying that the actress had developed a drinking problem that had destroyed her health.
DEAR STACY: Can you please give me some background information on Mila Kunis? What's the origin of her name? How old is she now and what is she doing? I've been fascinated by her since "That '70s Show." — R.J.
DEAR R.J.: The dark-haired beauty is 32 years old and, as you probably are aware, has been married to her "That '70s Show" castmate Ashton Kutcher since the 4th of July. They have one daughter, Wyatt Isabelle, who turned 1 year old in October. Next on her agenda is the big-screen comedy formerly known as "Bad Moms" (new title pending) in which she is to star with Kristen Bell and Christina Applegate. Mila began life in Kiev, Ukraine, daughter of a mechanical engineer father and physics teacher mom. The family relocated to the U.S. when Mila was 7 — when Ukraine was granted its sovereignty — and wound up in L.A.'s Fairfax district, home to many Russian Jewish immigrants. When she was 9, her father (who became president of a cab company, while her mother managed a drugstore) enrolled her in acting classes in nearby Beverly Hills. She caught the eye of a talent manager when her class gave a showcase, and soon landed a role in daytime's "Days of our Lives" in addition to commercial work. She guested on numerous primetime series and took roles in TV movies. In 1998, she played the 11-year-old version of doomed supermodel Gia Carangi in the acclaimed HBO film "Gia," with Angelina Jolie playing Gia as an adult. At age 14, she won the role that launched her career, that of the high maintenance, all-American girlfriend, Jackie, on "That '70s Show."
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