Hoffman Leads Tributes to McClanahan

Dustin Hoffman is leading tributes to late Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan, who died on Thursday morning (03Jun10) after suffering a major stroke.

The actress' manager, Barbara Lawrence, confirmed the star died aged 76at a hospital in New York, surrounded by her family, and messages of condolence have flooded in since the announcement.

Hoffman, who starred alongside McClanahan in the Broadway production ofJimmy Shine in 1968, says, "I have fond memories of working with Rue on Broadway in the '60s, and I am saddened by her passing. My thoughts are with her family and friends".

Will and Grace star Leslie Jordan praised McClanahan for her talent whilethey starred together in 2000's Sordid Lives The Series, saying, "We did a tour of comedy from the show. She was in a wheelchair, I think after a hip replacement, and rather than stand-up comedy, she called it sit-down comedy.

Honey, we wheeled her out... We said, 'You have 20 minutes.' Well, she had that audience on the palm of her hands... She could get down with the best of us. She was filthy. She will really be missed".

Actress Mandy Moore posted a message on her Twitter.com page, writing, "Rip Rue Mcclanahan. Sending love and prayers to her loved ones..".

In other news Dustin Hoffman and Jason Bateman shocked the crowd at a basketball game in Los Angeles on Thursday night (03Jun10) - by kissing for the big-screen cameras.

The stars were part of a celebrity-packed audience, including Adam Sandler, Snoop Dogg and Leonardo DiCaprio, who had all turned out at the Staples Center to watch the NBA Finals opener between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.

Hoffman and Bateman stunned fans as the arena's 'Kiss Me-Cam' - designed to catch smooching couples - zoomed into the area where they were sitting next to each other, but instead of locking lips with the women next to them, they shared a kiss themselves.

As Hoffman lent in for the kiss, the stadium roared with cheers as the clinch was transmitted on to the big screens in a heart shape.