Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
Grace Hightower and Robert De Niro at the Gordon Parks Foundation dinner, where the star and his wife were presented with the group’s honor.
Living legend Robert De Niro was happy to add another honor to his trophy cabinet Tuesday, even though he had no idea what it was. The two-time Oscar winner made a rare red carpet appearance before accepting the Gordon Parks Patron of the Arts Award, along with wife Grace Hightower, at 55 Wall St. That’s where the “Raging Bull” star quickly found himself on the ropes after being asked what the night’s honor meant to him. “That’s a difficult question, because I’m … the only thing I know is ‘Shaft’ and ah, I, I, in fact I’m not. … You know I have not…” De Niro stammered. “I haven’t been aware of certain things that Gordon Parks has done and I realize now that, ah, I should have been, but I wasn’t.”
It’s no wonder Bobby D wasn’t terribly familiar with Parks’ body of work. Though influential, the Life photographer-turned-filmmaker’s commercial success never reflected the impact of his revolutionary films, including “Shaft” and “The Learning Tree.” Parks directed nine films before dying in 2006 at the age of 93. De Niro explained to reporters that it was Hightower, his wife of 18 years, who was the Parks fan in the family and that they attended due to her urging. The “Raging Bull” star, 71, was also at a loss for words when Confidenti@l asked him if he could tell us the secret to a happy marriage. “Don’t ask me,” De Niro said.
GYLLENHAAL IN GRIP OF LUNA-CY
He sure sounds like he’s in space. Jake Gyllenhaal says he thinks humans are controlled by the moon. The “Southpaw” star tells Esquire the lunar cycle influences our behavior because we are made up of mostly water — kind of like how it affects the tides. “I believe deeply in the unconscious. That you literally accumulate the molecules of the space that you’re in. We’re like 90% water, so naturally we are going to be affected by the moon when it’s full: If the sea is, why wouldn’t we be? That seems scientific to me.” Quick, somebody get him a doctorate!
Ian Gavan/Getty Images
Gigi Hadid, above, praised Caitlyn Jenner’s transformation and said it gave Kendall Jenner a big boost.
HADID PRAISES NEW JENNER-ATION
Gigi Hadid is thrilled about Caitlyn Jenner’s new Vanity Fair cover. “I’m so excited for her and I kind of knew there was a cover coming out, so to see it was really exciting for me,” she told us at the CFDA Awards. “It’s a beautiful cover.” Hadid also said that her BFF, Kendall Jenner, is happy for her parent. “She’s so excited,” Hadid said, adding that Kendall cried. “She was so happy about it.”
SUITING ORA TO A ‘T’
“Black Widow” singer Rita Ora sported a Red Hot Chili Peppers T-shirt en route to Heathrow Airport, where she boarded a flight to Asia. Ora’s flight out of town didn’t stop Glamour Magazine from awarding her its Best TV Personality Award at the mag’s Woman of the Year Awards in Berkeley Square Garden later that night. No doubt it’ll be waiting for her when she gets back.
Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
You can meet Audra McDonald and help Covenant House, too.
A DEAL ON A NEW-MODEL AUDRA
It’s an auction for Audra. Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald is auctioning herself off for a private meet-and-greet before Covenant House’s “A Night of Broadway Stars” gala on Tuesday. For an encore, the “Porgy and Bess” star will perform at the Lincoln Center event, which aids homeless young people. Covenant House’s fund-raising gala also will honor country star Martina McBride.
FERGUSON RESCUE AN ACT OF ‘GOD’
Jesse Tyler Ferguson to the rescue! The “Modern Family” star had just finished seeing Broadway’s “Hand to God” when he sprang into action on the way to the exit. “He helped an audience member who fainted in the lobby after the show, by jumping over the bar to grab a handful of ice to wake him up,” one spy tells us. “The audience member was grateful for his assistance once he came to.” Other stars who have seen the show — without incident — include Sarah Jessica Parker, Neil Patrick Harris, Michael J. Fox, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ruth Wilson, Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale and Sandra Oh.
SPW/Splash News
Jessica Simpson gets some careful steering by hubby Eric Johnson as they leave a club in L.A.
‘HAZZARD’ ALERT: JESS IN DISTRESS
Daisy Duke nearly puked. Jessica Simpson appeared a bit queasy after leaving Sayers Club in L.A., where her new brother-in-law, Evan Ross, was performing. “She and her dad threw back more than a handful of cocktails in just a matter of minutes,” said one clubgoer. According to Us Weekly, Simpson is about to get a new stepfather to party with, too. The mag reported Wednesday that her mom, Tina, is engaged to gardener Jon Goldstein.
IT’S DAVE, BY A WHISKER
It’s late afternoon with David Letterman. Just two weeks after walking away from late-night TV, the 68-year-old funnyman put on a racing jacket and shades and strolled around Tribeca on Wednesday. The fair-skinned Letterman, sporting white hair and a beard and mustache, already appears to be missing the CBS hair and makeup department. Perhaps he’s cultivating his rugged outdoorsman look to spend more time at his ranch in Saypo, Mont.
Jose Perez/Splash News
Megan Fox is back in a shell of a sequel with “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.”
WHAT’S NEW ON FOX
Baby, one more time. Megan Fox channeled Britney Spears for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.” Fox, who plays reporter April O’Neil in the upcoming kung-fu shell flick, was right at home in a parochial school uniform. In 2013, she told Esquire magazine, “I was raised to believe that you’re safe in God’s hands.”
SEEN AND HEARD
Samuel Lips, who plays Pippin in the U.S. national tour of “Pippin,” proposed to boyfriend Curtis Schroeger at Urbo’s Lights Out on Broadway open-mic night Monday. … Lena Dunham picking up some Bandier active wear. … Mario Batali hosted over 800 foodies at the official launch of Eat (Red) Drink (Red) Save Lives, a campaign for the Global Fund to fight AIDS.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Halle Berry arrives at the Achievement In Cancer Research event at the Four Seasons in L.A.
HALLE ON RESEARCH TEAM
Halle Berry celebrated achievements in cancer research at a Four Seasons luncheon in Beverly Hills.
THEY SAID IT
“I felt like maybe I should have called (Justin Timberlake) and talked to him.”
— Kevin Federline to Us Weekly on first dating Britney Spears
“We like almost none of the same things.”
— Sarah Silverman on “Ellen” about boyfriend Michael Sheen
INFphoto.com/INFphoto.com
Elizabeth Banks shows no ‘Mercy’ at a film screening in L.A.
BANKS IN THE RED
Elizabeth Banks added a little color to the “Love & Mercy” premier in Beverly Hills.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
Daily News – Gossip