People news 9/21/02

Bowie plans return to London venue

LONDON -- David Bowie is returning to the venue where he killed off his most famous creation, Ziggy Stardust, nearly 30 years ago.

The 55-year-old star said Friday he'll perform Oct. 2 at London's Carling Apollo, which was known in the 1970s as the Hammersmith Odeon.

"This has got to be one of the great venues in London. It should be a thrill to play it again," Bowie said.

The performer stunned his fans in 1973 when he rounded off a Ziggy tour at the Odeon by telling them: "This show will stay the longest in our memories, not just because it is the end of the tour but because it is the last show we'll ever do."

The announcement was his way of burying Ziggy Stardust, the outrageous stage persona his fans had come to love.

At the Oct. 2 concert, he'll play many of his classic tracks as well as songs from his recent "Heathen" album. But he gave no indication that he has any plans to resurrect Ziggy.

Actor takes turn behind the lens

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain -- Actor John Malkovich tackled a dense political drama inspired by the capture of former Peruvian guerrilla leader Abimael Guzman for his directorial debut, "The Dancer Upstairs."

Based on the novel by Nicholas Shakespeare, the film was shown Thursday at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

The movie, set in an unidentified Latin American country, describes a social climate where political corruption is universal and public indifference so ingrained that a brutal revolution is almost unnoticed.

Javier Bardem plays an idealistic lawyer-turned-politician who faces the challenge of capturing a mysterious guerrilla leader.

Singer readies next album, second child

NEW YORK -- A new album isn't all that Toni Braxton's expecting to deliver soon -- the songbird is pregnant with her second child, due early next year, her record label said.

Braxton, who is married to 31-year-old producer Keri Lewis, gave birth to a son, Denim Cole Braxton Lewis, last December.

The 33-year-old R&B singer, the winner of six Grammys, is working on a new album, expected to be released by the end of the year.

Man faked credit card accounts in actor's name

PITTSBURGH -- A man who racked up nearly $33,000 in credit card bills in the name of actor-rapper Will Smith has pleaded guilty to one count of the use of an unauthorized access device.

Carlos Lomax, 41, entered the plea Wednesday before Senior U.S. District Judge Alan N. Bloch. Lomax faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors say Lomax used Smith's Social Security number and other information to obtain 14 credit accounts at various department and specialty stores in the Pittsburgh region. They say Lomax placed fraudulent charges on 12 of those accounts.

The total amount placed in the name of Willard C. Smith -- the film star's given name -- was $32,897.34.

A telephone message left for Lomax's federal public defender, Jay Finkelstein, was not returned Wednesday.

Smith's business manager alerted federal authorities after noticing $5,447 worth of items had been charged on a Sears account in Pittsburgh.

-- From wire reports