Ken Hudson Campbell: Steve Carell among stars to donate towards Home Alone actor’s cancer care as he has jaw surgery
Home Alone star Ken Hudson Campbell, who played a grumpy Santa in the 1990 film, has been inundated with donations from fellow actors and fans after being diagnosed with cancer.
His daughter Michaela Campbell, who started the fundraising page, said he “burst into tears” after seeing people’s generosity.
“It was the first time he really got emotional about the whole situation. It was kind of a shock to him to feel so loved,” she told People magazine.
The Office star Steve Carell donated $10,000 (£7,952) to the fund, and Jeff Garlin, Tim Meadows and Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Prady also donated.
Campbell, who also had roles in Groundhog Day and Armageddon, was diagnosed with cancer on 27 October.
He played a disgruntled grotto Santa in Home Alone who got a parking ticket and gave lead character Kevin McCallister some Tic Tacs because he was out of candy canes.
Ken Hudson Campbell and Macaulay Culkin. Pic: 20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
A tumour had grown on the bottom of his mouth and was “encroaching on his teeth”, his daughter wrote on GoFundMe.
He had successful surgery on 7 December to remove the tumour and reconstruct his jaw using bone from his leg.
The fundraiser, which has surpassed its $100,000 target, was set up to cover costs for medical equipment, carers, transport, dental implants and other expenses.
Campbell will have radiotherapy after surgery and may need chemotherapy after a six-month recovery period.
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“In January of 2022, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Ken lost the SAG-AFTRA [Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists] health insurance that he had used for his whole career,” Ms Campbell wrote on the fundraiser.
She said he has new insurance and his physical therapy and speech therapy are covered but “we are anticipating huge out-of-pocket costs”.
She told People that the generosity of donors “really means the world”.
“My family’s been struggling for a long time financially. So just having my dad’s friends come together, this is just very overwhelming and it really takes a lot of stress off of my family’s shoulders.”
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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