Legends neither die nor fade away. The adage holds true for some of the best remembered celebrities of our times. Remember Tom Jones the sixties and seventies sensation who regaled the world with numbers like Green Green Grass of Home?

Today at 62, he may be a granddad but he hasn’t lost his star appeal. In fact, he recently taught Martin Short and Michael J. Fox a lesson or two in star appeal.

The two were dining with the pop veteran when a mob of screaming girls spotted them. The actors braced themselves for yet another mauling until Tom waived at them. The girls knocked Martin and Michael out of the way in their rush for the Welsh warbler.

"It was just amazing. We didn’t stand a chance in hell!" says Michael J. Fox nursing a badly bruised ego.

It is not surprising that Robin Williams has been voted the nicest guy in Hollywood. The comedian who has never touched drinks for the last three years says he quit booze for good after almost passing out during his stand-up comedy act in Los Angeles.

"I used to drink only white wine while I was performing," Robin says. "But on this night people kept passing me these cocktails. Of course, I didn’t refuse, and I was halfway through one joke when the booze suddenly hit me."

Slurring like a stammerer Robin managed to say, ‘Thank you and goodnight’ and staggered off stage before collapsing in a heap. "I’ve never touched a drop since."

Though his raucous cronies may miss his company, the fact is that Robin is far more alert and in control of his career since then.

Despite her somewhat ruinous reputation as far as guys go, Joan, Collins seems to have a potent influence on them. The 68-year-old actress married for the fifth time recently. And the lucky groom, Mark Percy Gibson, a theatre manager, is 32 years younger, than her.

Collins is fiercely protective about him and makes sure he’s not seen with her at any major showbiz event. He’s a very private person and I respect him for it. So he leads his life and I lead mine," says Collins, who has three children from her previous marriages. Her oldest daughter, Tara Newley, who is 38, is two years older than her new husband!

Once again she’s on a eating binge. But this time people who know her look bored when they see Liz Taylor with an additional 20 kilos. Though she insists that this is the result of a recent hip operation, close friends say Liz is fast becoming a grubaholic all over again.

Those who don’t know her are aghast to see a more-than-oversized Liz as was evident when she attended a luncheon honouring Sidney Poitier, who received a Lifetime Achievement Oscar earlier this year.

She has taken to wearing caftans and baggy blouses to hide her bulk. And the see-saw battle has begun all over again. In fact, she is so depressed that she told a close friend that she had gone on an all-new diet. The friend just gave her a tell-me-what’s-new look before walking away.

Newsmen Features