The legendary actor, who passed away in September 2008, bequeathed over $20 million to a variety of charities focused on education, the environment, health, human services, and more. Not surprisingly, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt came in second with gifts of $13.5 million, followed by Mel Gibson ($6 million), Richard Childress ($5 million), Oscar de la Hoya ($9.5 million), and Oprah Winfrey ($2.4 million).

To be sure, the Giving Back Fund prides itself on the accuracy of their reports. To collect the date, the group “culled media reports of charitable giving by sports and entertainment professionals; reviewed PF-990 tax-forms; contacted more than 250 publicists, attorneys, agents, agencies, and managers for information about their clients; polled more than 150 charities known for their celebrity associations; and contacted all of the major sports leagues.”

To see the complete list, jump here.

The trailer for Mel Gibson’s new eco-themed thriller has been released — and it looks to be a dark return for the actor to the silver screen. Titled Edge of Darkness, the flick is based on a popular ’80s BBC mini-series of the same name. The film revolves around Gibson, who plays a detective, and the death of his activist daughter. Everything from government and corporate cover-ups, nuclear espionage and even Gaia theory is rumored to be covered in the film. Have a look below to catch a first glimpse of Edge of Darkness.

A myriad of celebrities — including Justin Timberlake, Bill Murray, Huey Lewis, Michael Bolton, and Kevin James — participated in the 3M Celebrity Golf Challenge yesterday. About $29,000 in charity cash was up for grabs to the winner — which ultimately went to Bolton and James on the last putt. True to his Caddyshack character, Bill Murray won over of the crowd with some hilarious quotes. Check out the jump for video and more. [Read more...]

Some of Australia’s biggest stars participated in a telethon yesterday to help raise money for those affected by the horrible brush fires raging there this week. According to E!, “Russell Crowe, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, Mel Gibson, Rachel Griffiths, Orlando Bloom and his model-girlfriend Miranda Kerr, Ellen DeGeneres and a host of musicians like k.d. lang, politicians and sports legends, all of whom sent appeals asking for money on behalf of the Nine Network’s Australia Unites telethon.” Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban personally donated $300,000. [Read more...]

A couple months ago Ecorazzi told you that Mel Gibson was coming out of hiding to play a detective in the new eco-thriller Edge Of Darkness — a film based on the 1985 BBC mini-series of the same name. Edge Of Darkness revolves around the death of a detective’s activist daughter, government and corporate cover-ups, nuclear espionage, and the fate of life on Earth as we know it. So it’s like a reality show? But I joke…

Anyway, GK Films announced yesterday that Robert De Niro has joined on to play the role of a dastardly operative sent in to clean up the mess. Awesome! This isn’t the first time De Niro has played a corrupt Washington official acting on government business. Does anyone else remember Wag The Dog?

So we’ve got Mel playing the hero, Bob playing the bad guy…what about the activist daughter? Let’s see, if I was a casting director I’d choose… Natalie Portman. I know, I know, you probably think I’d only be casting her because I have a super crazy crush, but let me remind you that she’s not only way dreamy but also way activisty!

Who would you pick? Take a second to play Hollywood producer and tell us who you’d cast to play the part of Mel’s activist daughter and why. We know for a fact that Hollywood is all up in this blog so you never know what studio honcho just might be inspire. Comment away bloggers, comment away! 

Mel’s in Malaysia drumming up interest and money to help fund this fascinating project.  He’s also chairman of the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies(FARES), which is a sponsor of the Mirador Basin Project. Check out their good works. I’m going to go rent Apocalypto.

via: thestar.com.my

Another interesting trend are famous folk offering retreats to those celebs in need. Last month, it was Mel Gibson giving Britney Spears some time at his ranch in Costa Rica. This time, Johnny Depp has offered Lindsay Lohan free use of his island in the Caribbean. The location, appropriately called “F**k Off Island”, is a perfect, secluded, paradise — something Depp believes Lohan could use for a break. [Read More...]

Rocker Bruce Springsteen offered Discovery Exec David Zaslav some brand-building advice for the network while over dinner recently. The boss apparently told Zaslav that he needs to “make people fall in love” — much in the way that the Planet Earth series made people love the planet more. He said that’s exactly what he tries to do with every song he creates. Hey, if it works for him, lets hope Planet Green gets people swooning. [Read More...]

Ludacris and Tommy Lee have created a hilarious trailer for their Battleground Earth series. Jump to it here. 

We all know Britney Spears has not experienced the best of times lately, so perhaps a little vacation right now is exactly what she needs.

Taking the advice of her friend Mel Gibson (the two used to live in the same Malibu community), Britney and her Dad are joining him and his wife for a little down-time on his new $24 million ranch in Costa Rica. As reported earlier, Gibson — facing his own issues — sold off properties in Malibu and Connecticut earlier last year to purchase the 403-acre property. It’s as pretty much close to a natural paradise as one can find these days with minimal tourism and wooded, mountainous landscape bordered by beautiful beaches.

While no green details of Gibson’s new home have emerged, having someone simply own the property who is a committed conservationist and investor in sustainable technologies is good enough for us. We hope all enjoy their time — and Britney, please just chill out girl. LA can wait.

“Writer Troy Kennedy Martin was greatly influenced by the political climate of the time – particularly the Thatcher administration, perceived by many as reactionary, and the aura of secrecy surrounding the nuclear industry – and by the implications of the Gaia hypothesis of environmentalist James Lovelock, crafting a thriller that mingled real world concerns with mythic and the mystical elements. Kennedy Martin’s original ending was more fantastic than that eventually used in the finished serial, proposing that Craven would turn into a tree but this was vetoed by other members of the cast and crew.”

Gibson has recently been spending more time down in Coast Rica after selling off his Malibu home for a ranch in the South American country. Late last year, he also donated $500,000 for the establishment of a 525,000-acre national park. He has stated time again that he fully intends to protect ancient Mayan sites and rainforest habitat in the area.

Watch for Edge of Darkness to bow sometime in 2009.

That’s right, Hilton spend “all last week calling different celebrities and sports figures” asking them to donate some of their personal possessions to an ebay auction she’s hosting for the Make A Wish Foundation.

What exactly can you bid on? Mel Gibson’s jeans, Johnny Carson’s cuff links, Dean Martin’s golf clubs, Lucille Ball’s teacup and saucer, an Ocean Thirteen script signed by the film’s cast, and Tom Cruise’s autographed Ray-Ban sunglasses are just a few of the fancy treats.

But wait a second? Kathy Hilton said that she spent all last week calling her celebrity friends, and now she has stuff from Dean Martin, Johnny Carson and Lucille Ball? Oh my God, the Hilton family has a phone that can contact dead people!!! Now THAT’S cool.

Okay, so maybe she’s not really making any personal sacrifice here, but at least she’s setting up the online auction right? Nevermind. Kathy Hilton recently confessed, ” I don’t know how to use the computer.” Well, it’s the thought that counts anyway I guess, but all I’m saying is just think how much she could get for that dead people phone. Think about it Mrs. Hilton, think about it.