PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

LOS ANGELES (AP)— Michelle Triola Marvin, who waged a landmark palimony case against former lover actor Lee Marvin of “The Dirty Dozen” fame, died Friday at age 76.

She underwent surgery for lung cancer last year and died at the Malibu home of actor Dick Van Dyke, her partner of 30 years, said family spokesman Bob Palmer.

Michelle Marvin’s birth name was Triola and she met Lee Marvin — who died in 1987 — while working as an extra in his 1964 movie “Ship of Fools.” They lived together for six years and she took his last name but never married. The relationship ended in 1970.

Afterward, she went to work as an agent’s secretary at the William Morris talent agency, Palmer said.

In 1979, after his support checks stopped, Marvin sued her former lover for half of the estimated $3.6 million he had earned during their relationship. She claimed he had promised her lifetime support.

Famed attorney Marvin Mitchelson represented her and dubbed the request “palimony,” equating it to the alimony legally available to divorcing spouses.

A judge rejected Marvin’s community property request but granted her $104,000 for “rehabilitation.” The award was later overturned on appeal.

Although Marvin came away with no money, the sensational case spurred similar trials and, through a state Supreme Court ruling, established in California law the right of unmarried partners to sue for joint property on grounds that their partners had violated a relationship contract.

Palmer said Marvin didn’t dwell on the case and wasn’t bitter, even though she was forever associated with it. Many said she came up with the concept of palimony, but it was really Mitchelson, he said.

“She just shrugged it off,” Palmer said. “If Lee Marvin’s name came up, she said he was a great guy.”

Her relationship with Van Dyke began in the late 1970s and they moved to Malibu in 1986.

In addition to Van Dyke, Marvin is survived by her sister, Diane Triola Johnson of Los Angeles; a niece and a nephew.

Restraining order obtained by Seacrest

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Court records show Ryan Seacrest has obtained a temporary restraining order against a man accused of stalking the host of “American Idol.”

Seacrest’s attorneys obtained the stay-away order on Friday, hours after they say Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr. was detained at the E! Entertainment Television headquarters in Los Angeles.

The filing claims Uzomah was carrying a knife and was trying to see the popular television and radio host.

Police refused to confirm details about the incident. Jail records reviewed Friday did not indicate 25-year-old Uzomah had been booked.

Second son born to actor Colin Farrell

A spokeswoman for the 33-year-old actor said Friday that Farrell and actress Alicja Bachleda welcomed son Henry Tadeusz Farrell on Oct. 7. The couple met while filming “Ondine.”

Farrell has a 6-year-old son, James Padraig Farrell, with model Kim Bordenave. Farrell won a Golden Globe earlier this year for his role as a hit man in “In Bruges.”

Florida man wants rappers’ respect

NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida man wants rappers Lil Wayne and Birdman to show him respect — for using his voice on a song with that title.

Thomas Marasciullo filed a copyright infringement lawsuit Friday in a Manhattan federal court against the rappers, their record label and various music distribution outlets.

The lawsuit says Cash Money Records had him record some “Italian-styled” repartee in 2006. The suit says his work was used without pay or permission on “Respect” and other tracks from the rappers’ joint 2006 album “Like Father, Like Son” and Birdman’s 2007 album “5 Star Stunna.”

A lawyer and representatives for the label didn’t immediately return messages.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for Marasciullo, who lives in Florida’s Hernando County.

Bill will raise arts program funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal funding of arts and cultural programs would reach its highest level in 16 years under a bill heading to the White House.

President Barack Obama was expected to sign the Interior Appropriations bill this weekend. It includes money for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.

The bill passed by Congress on Thursday would give $167.5 million to each agency in fiscal 2010. That’s up from last year’s budget of $155 million.

The increase comes after an aggressive push by lobbyists to show that arts organizations create jobs across the country.

The bill also includes increases for the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center and the National Gallery of Art.

Nicole Richie granted space from paparazzi

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nicole Richie and her children are getting some court-ordered space from a pair of celebrity photographers.

A judge on Friday granted Nicole Richie’s request for a temporary restraining order against the paparazzi. Her filing states that one of the men, Eduardo Arrivabene, caused a car accident involving Richie in Beverly Hills earlier this month.

The filing added that Arrivabene and Ivon Emilio Melo Miguel continued to chase Richie and her children in the pursuit of shots. The men screamed at Richie “in an attempt to get a reaction” and have left the 28-year-old frightened for her family’s safety.