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Artist Robert Rauschenberg dead at 82

NEW YORK, May 14 (UPI) -- Prolific U.S. artist Robert Rauschenberg has died of heart failure, his New York gallery confirmed. He was 82.

Born Milton Ernest Rauschenberg, the Texas native was a painter, photographer, printmaker, choreographer, onstage performer, set designer and composer, The New York Times said.

Several of his works -- including "Canyon," which featured a stuffed bald eagle affixed to a canvas; "Monogram," a stuffed Angora goat on top of a painted panel; and "Bed," a quilt, sheet and pillow slathered with paint and framed on a wall -- became icons of postwar modernism.

"I really feel sorry for people who think things like soap dishes or mirrors or Coke bottles are ugly," the Times quoted Rauschenburg as once having said. "Because they're surrounded by things like that all day long, and it must make them miserable."

The Times said once Rauschenberg became successful, he donated millions of dollars to charities for women, children, medical research, other artists and Democratic politicians.

Drafted during World War II, he was stationed in San Diego as a medical technician in the Navy Hospital Corps and later studied at the Kansas City Art Institute and the Academie Julian in Paris.

Rauschenberg is survived by his son Christopher and companion Darryl Pottorf.



Marissa voted off of 'Dancing'

LOS ANGELES, May 14 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Marissa Jaret Winokur and her professional dance partner Tony Dovolani were the latest contenders voted off of "Dancing with the Stars."

"Ah, so close!" People.com quoted Winokur as saying as she and Dovolani took to the dance floor one last time after hearing they had been eliminated from the dance competition series.

"No one expected us to get this far," Jaret Winokur told host Samantha Harris. "I didn't expect us to get this far. Tony didn't expect me to get this far … This has been such an incredible, incredible experience."

People.com said she also told the studio audience and viewers at home, "I want everyone to go out and do something fun and do something that makes you feel sexy and shake what your momma gave you!"

Still in the running are Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas, Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska, and Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke.

Jaret Winokur is best known for her Tony Award-winning performance in the Broadway musical "Hairspray."



'Oprah's Big Give' won't be back on ABC

CHICAGO, May 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. reality show "Oprah's Big Give" will not be returning to ABC, the network's president of entertainment said Tuesday.

As he unveiled ABC's upcoming slate of programming in New York, Stephen McPherson said Winfrey's Chicago-based Harpo production company has decided not to do another season of "Oprah's Big Give."

"It wasn't something Oprah wanted to do," the Chicago Tribune quoted McPherson as saying.



'Home' is Diamond's first No. 1 album

NEW YORK, May 14 (UPI) -- Neil Diamond's "Home Before Dark" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart, marking the first time one of his albums has hit the top of The Billboard 200.

"Home Before Dark" is Diamond's 46th album since 1966's "The Feel of Neil Diamond" to appear on The Billboard 200. It marks his 15th full-length song collection to hit the Top 10, Columbia Records said Wednesday.

Diamond is to perform new songs and classic hits during his 37-city North American summer tour, which is scheduled to kick off July 19 in St. Paul, Minn.

The North American leg follows a series of European dates starting May 24 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with new dates recently added to accommodate an overwhelming demand for tickets, the record label said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International