Taking Names

Allen suing clothier over ads

Woody Allen is suing American Apparel Inc., claiming the clothing company used his image in advertising on billboards and the Internet without his consent, Reuters news agency reports.

The billboard ads, which depict Mr. Allen dressed as a rabbi, appeared in New York and California, according to the complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Mr. Allen, 72, an Oscar-winning director known for such films as “Annie Hall” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” said in the suit that he was neither contacted by the company nor compensated for the use of his image.

He is seeking damages in excess of $10 million.

A representative for American Apparel did not immediately return a call seeking comment, Reuters said.

The Los Angeles-based company makes and sells its own cotton apparel and has more than 180 stores in the United States and Canada.

Star power for arts funding

Yes, that was Robert Redford you saw turning heads yesterday on Capitol Hill.

The actor-director and singer John Legend want funding restored for the National Endowment for the Arts and cultural programs. Both stars, along with actress Kerry Washington — who appeared in the movie “Ray” — joined arts advocates nationwide for Arts Advocacy Day in Congress, Associated Press reports.

In prepared testimony, Mr. Redford said the arts are critical to economic development. The Academy Award-winning actor said his own Sundance Film Festival is a good example.

President Bush has proposed a $16 million cut to the arts endowment budget for the 2009 fiscal year, to $128 million from about $145 million in 2008.Arts advocates in Congress have been working to restore funding to its height of $176 million in 1992.

Avon calling Dr. McDreamy

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey will partner with Avon to launch a new men’s fragrance in November, People.com reported yesterday. The actor, known to “Grey’s” fans as “Dr. McDreamy,” joins Reese Witherspoon as one of the faces of the venerable cosmetics brand. Mr. Dempsy’s wife, makeup artist Jillian Dempsey, has been Avon’s global creative color director since July 2006.

Here’s looking at you, Madge

Madonna, whose acting career has produced more turkeys than Butterball, has been pitching a remake of “Casablanca” with her in the Ingrid Bergman role, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Did we mention the film would be set in Iraq?

No, it’s not a leftover April Fool’s joke.

Wilson hospitalized

Veteran jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson was hospitalized Monday for treatment of a collapsed lung, AP reports.

The Grammy winner, 71, was expected to recover but will not be able to make a performance scheduled in Memphis, Tenn., this weekend, said Devra Levy, wife of Miss Wilson’s longtime manager, John Levy.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from Web and wire reports