#Hollywood signs J.K. Simmons up for endless roles

Hollywood signs ’em up

J.K. Simmons. He’s in “Being the Ricardos” playing Lucille Ball’s next-door neighbor Fred, who for real was played by William Frawley. He’s also in endless insurance commercials. He now has a white beard so fluffy puffy that, comparatively, Santa looks clean-shaven.

“The beard’s for ‘The Woods,’ a film my wife wrote and directed.” It’s a horror pic in which nice pleasant insurance guy J.K. plays a murderous sociopath. What else has he done over the pandemic?

“Watched football as often as possible, rode my bike and stayed mostly home for six months. Now we’re making a new insurance company commercial in LA. It’s a sports type shoot.”

He said more but his white hairy chin muffler muffled it.

More from Hollywood.

Channing Tatum’s male stripper “Magic Mike” is going round three. New film is “Magic Mike’s Last Dance.” Steven Soderbergh directs. Two previous Magic Mike things grossed nearly $300 mil. That’s big stuff coming from those tight little stripper briefs . . . And Jay Leno’s climbing out of his car long enough to play Ed Sullivan in the film “Midas Man” about The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein. Filming’s in Liverpool, England.

When in ‘Doubt,’ show your ID

Presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan may schmooze her way into Mrs. Biden but not into reopened “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Press guys had to OK her at the theater when she had vax proof but no ID.

Forget critics who fire at “Mrs. Doubtfire.” After its sluggish opening setup, Jerry Zaks’ direction, Rob McClure and his surrounding buddies proved delicious.

Even the audience was special. Actress Sam Carrell escorted two 4-pounders. Real actual live peeing pooping barking dogs. She said: “Well-behaved, they’ll just sit on my lap and enjoy the show.” Which they did. Shove Peggy Noonan. The hounds did not have to show ID.

Family drama

More on Harvey Keitel’s “Lansky” film — from those who knew him well.

Meyer Lansky’s three kids: Buddy had CP, daughter Sandy, Army Capt. Paul — sponsored into West Point by Sen. Estes Kefauver who led the ’50s hearings on organized crime. Meyer gave brother Jake $15 million, because with Genovese capo Vincent “Jimmy Blue Eyes” Alo he’d blown his fortune in Cuba. Second wife Thelma tended him when Israel’s A.G. — Eichmann’s prosecutor — threw him out of that country. Due to that religion’s automatic citizenship and right to return they then regretted it.

Death watch

Cynthia Fagen’s podcast reprises Connecticut’s unsolved Jennifer Farber Dulos, mother of five, murder. Her aunt was Liz Claiborne. Over 2 ¹/₂ years the body is still not recovered. Two face conspiracy to murder charges — a third, her estranged husband Fotis Dulos killed himself in 2020 rather than face trial. The episode’s dedicated to our NY Post’s late crime reporter Steve Dunleavy.

Americans must learn to be charitable. Not nice to mock Nancy Pelousy saying she came from nothing to become nothing. Or that her fashion flair equals Michael Moore wearing sweats. I don’t say it’s wrong. I just say it’s not nice.

Only me muttering in New York, kids, only me muttering in New York.