Juanita Moore, Oscar-Nominated Actress in Imitation of Life, Dies at 99

By K.C. Blumm

01/01/2014 at 05:05 PM EST

Juanita Moore, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the 1959 film Imitation of Life, has died.

She passed away at her L.A. home on Wednesday at the age of 99, Variety reports.

Moore, who appeared in more than 30 films, was the fifth African-American to receive an Academy Award nomination – she scored the Best Supporting Actress nod for playing Annie Johnson, a housekeeper whose daughter passes for white.

"Annie was a good role for me," she said in a 2005 interview. "I have been in a lot of pictures. However most of them consisted of my opening doors for white people."

She said she did a lot of crying while shooting the film, but director Douglas Sirk was patient with her.

"There were times I was so nervous the muscles were jumping in my face," she added. "I cried a lot in the making of this movie because it was real easy for me to cry. I had a lot to cry about. Conditions for black actors were unbelievable back then. Very few actors got the opportunity to hone their craft in the same way white actors did."

Kim Kardashian's Daughter North West 'Rings' In the New Year

By Wade Rouse

01/01/2014 at 04:25 PM EST

North West

Courtesy of Kim Kardashian

Talk about a choking hazard.

Kim Kardashian posted an Instagram photo of her 6-month-old daughter holding her giant engagement ring from Kanye West on Tuesday, captioned: "It was an amazing year!!!"

Judging by the bling in North's hot little hand, it seems the couple's baby rocked her first New Year's Eve in style, just like she celebrated her first Christmas – with a matching, miniature version of her father's black Lamborghini.

Apparently, no driving was involved for Kardashian and her daughter, as they enjoyed a quiet New Year's Eve.

"I hope everyone has a safe New Years tonight!" she Tweeted Tuesday. "Nothing better than spending it with family & friends playing board games ;-)"

By the looks of that ring, we're guessing Kardashian, Kanye and North West played Monopoly.

Kaley Cuoco: Wedding Was the 'Greatest Night of My Entire Life'

By K.C. Blumm

01/01/2014 at 03:30 PM EST

Kaley Cuoco and Ryan Sweeting

Courtesy of Kaley Cuoco

Her smile says it all – Kaley Cuoco had a huge grin as she posed for a fun pic with her new husband, Ryan Sweeting, at her wedding reception on Tuesday night.

The Big Bang Theory star posted a pic on Instagram on Wednesday taken at their fire-and-ice themed New Year's Eve wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Santa Susana, Calif.

"Greatest night of my entire life," the 28-year-old captioned the pic, which shows her tennis pro hubby engulfed in her pink Vera Wang gown.

"#Bestnightever #love #magic #amazing," posted makeup artist Jamie Greenberg, who was a guest at the wedding and shared the pic on her Instagram account.

"Congratulations to @KaleyCuoco on her new year's eve wedding," her costar Mayim Bialik Tweeted. "Yay kaley and ryan!"

The couple announced their engagement in September, just three months after they were first spotted together.

Tori Spelling Shares New Year's Family Photo with Dean McDermott Amid Cheating Rumors

By Wade Rouse

01/01/2014 at 03:15 PM EST

Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott with kids Stella and Liam

Courtesy of Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling continues to put on a happy holiday face despite the cheating rumors surrounding husband Dean McDermott.

The actress-author, 40, Tweeted a New Year's Day message and photo to her fans, speaking volumes in just a few words.

"Happy New Year! Love, The McDermotts," she wrote, linking to a photo on her website that showed her cuddling with her husband and kids Liam, 6, and Stella, 5, while holding a homemade poster conveying the same message.

While the mother of four (Spelling is also mom to Hattie Margaret, 2, and Finn, 15 months) has yet to respond publicly to reports of marriage troubles, she has blogged extensively over the holidays about her "blessings."

"Happy New Year everyone! I can NOT believe it's 2014. Time flies when you're having fun … and when you have 4 little ones running around!" Spelling wrote on New Year's Day. "We rang in the New Year with (kid-friendly) cocktails, lots of yummy treats and some quality family time."

Continued Spelling: "Cheers to another year of crafting, cooking, party-planning, family memories, fashion statements, love fests, lots of cozy time and of course … blogging!"

Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl Get Engaged in St. Barts

By Andrea Billups

01/01/2014 at 03:00 PM EST

Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

It's a New Year of love for socialite and fashion star Olivia Palermo and her German model beau, Johannes Huebl.

The happy couple announced their engagement via an Instagram video (see it below!) on Wednesday as they vacationed over the holidays in St. Barts. Palermo, 27, showed off her new ring in excitement as she frolicked among the palms in a billowy white beach dress.

“Happy New Year to everybody and this is how we celebrate it: OP said YES,” Huebl wrote in sharing their news.

Fashionistas were jazzed by the couple's engagement, noting on social media their big expectations for style maven and The City star Palermo's upcoming wedding dress.

The photogenic couple, who in the past have modeled together, have been together since 2008.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's James Avery Has Died

By K.C. Blumm

01/01/2014 at 02:05 PM EST

James Avery, best known for playing Will Smith's Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , died on Tuesday night. He was 65.

"I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away," Alfonso Ribeiro, who played his son, Carlton, on the hit sitcom, Tweeted Wednesday. "He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly."

The New Jersey-born star had recently undergone surgery for an undisclosed illness and passed away at an L.A. hospital, TMZ reports.

In addition to playing Smith's beloved uncle, Avery guest starred on That '70s Show, CSI, The Closer and Grey's Anatomy.

TRIBUTES: The Stars We Lost in 2013

Taylor Swift, Sarah Hyland Ring In 2014 Together

By Andrea Billups

01/01/2014 at 01:35 PM EST

Sarah Hyland (left) and Taylor Swift

Courtesy of Taylor Swift

Party on, Taylor. Party on, Sarah. Oh, and party on, cat!

Dressed in bright red, with lips to match her ensemble, Taylor Swift rang in the new year at her Los Angeles home Tuesday evening with longtime bestie, Modern Family 's Sarah Hyland.

Swift, 24, captured their festive moment with an Instagram pic, natch, showing the gal pals all dressed up and mugging for the camera. "Ringing in 2014," Swift wrote.

Hyland, 23, who's now starring in the new Bonnie and Clyde: Dead and Alive TV movie, also got in on the action, posting her own photo, which was photobombed by Swift's white-and-gray cat, Meredith, who sat on the kitchen counter.

"New Years with the best of the best @taylorswift. I look scared… I think I should be," Hyland joked of their gathering, which included Hyland's longtime boyfriend, Matt Prokop.