Two men who could be regarded as acting royalty have been crowned with official titles in West Africa. Acclaimed actors Forest Whitaker and Danny Glover were introduced as chiefs in the ancient town of Nkwere, Nigeria after a DNA test revealed that they both have Igbo ancestry. Read more.

Gary Coleman accused of hitting fan. Former “Diff’rent Strokes” star Gary Coleman has pleaded not guilty to reckless driving and disorderly conduct charges after he allegedly hit a fan with his SUV in Utah. Coleman was an hour late to court Tuesday before denying the charges that could send him to jail for six months if he’s convicted. He’s accused of attacking Colt Rushton, 24, after Rushton reportedly took Coleman’s photograph at a bowling alley last month and claimed to have followed the actor into the parking lot to retrieve a cell phone allegedly taken from him. Coleman allegedly attacked Rushton and backed his vehicle into the fan. Rushton was treated and released from a hospital.

Lethal Weapon 5 not likely to be filmed. Things don’t look good for actor Danny Glover teaming up with Mel Gibson again for a fifth Lethal Weapon movie. Ten years after Lethal Weapon 4, which also starred comedian Chris Rock, an insider says Mel Gibson turned down the offer. “I would like to think that Mel turned it down because I wasn’t involved,” says Richard Donner, who directed the first four blockbusters. The action sequels have made Glover and Gibson among the most famous police partner characters in Hollywood history, creating the mold for such duos as Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan.

Danny Glover deprives himself of sight to play blind character.

Finding empty theater venues has been a practice of one actor preparing for his role in the film Blindness. Inside the theaters, Danny Glover says he wanders around in darkness to get a feel for the character he portrays. “There’s another kind of humility for me whenever you close your eyes and trust all the other senses that you often don’t use as much, like hearing and smell,” he says. “I began to notice the difference from when I was going from outside to inside the building, the way the air feels.”
Rosie Perez says rap song is rude. Actress and choreographer Rosie Perez is no stranger to hip hop. After all, she grew up in Brooklyn and has had various film and TV ties that were connected to the culture since the early 90s. But a more mature Perez says Kanye West’s verbal tribute to her in his hit “Good Morning” is less than cool. “I’m a woman of a certain age,” Perez tells New York magazine. “If you’re gonna mention me in a song, have a little respect. He mentions my breasts. When you walk down the street and you have 15-year-old boys… (and) they’re like ‘Yo, Rosie, D’s D’s, Rosie Perez,’ it’s no good.”

“Yes We Can Tour” shows impact of Obama campaign. Independent filmmakers have launched what’s being called the “Yes We Can Tour” of movie short screenings on college campuses and in small venues around the nation. A collection of seven dramatic shorts that depict the impact of Sen. Barack Obama’s run for the presidency, “Yes We Can” is next scheduled for the Neon Theater in Dayton, Ohio. For additional dates, filmgoers can visit the Web site http://www.yeswecantour.com/.