Posted on 02/02/2006 5:59:48 PM PST by BurbankKarl
New Zealand filmmaker Lee Tamahori, who directed the James Bond movie "Die Another Day," has been arrested in a Hollywood prostitution sting while dressed in drag.
Tamahori, 55, was arrested on January 8 when he allegedly sought sex with an undercover policeman while clad in women's clothes, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
"Mr Tamahori was arrested for soliciting. I can confirm he was dressed in women's clothing at the time of the arrest," Officer Jason Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Prosecutors confirmed they had filed two misdemeanour charges against the Hollywood filmmaker: agreeing to engage in an act of prostitution and unlawfully loitering on Hollywood's Santa Monica Boulevard.
"He was arrested after approaching an undercover officer who was sitting in his car and offering to perform a sex act," Frank Mateljan of the Los Angeles City Attorney's office.
"The defendant was dressed in drag, loitering on the sidewalk," the spokesman said.
Tamahori also directed last year's action adventure "XXX: State of the Union" with Samuel L. Jackson and Willem Dafoe and 2001's "Along Came a Spider" with Morgan Freeman.
He is due to appear in court in Los Angeles on February 24 to be arraigned on the two charges. He is free on 2,000 dollars bail, according to the City Attorney's office.
Tamahori's lawyer, celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, did not immediately return calls for comment on the arrest of the filmmaker.
He started out as a commercial artist and photographer in New Zealand, before entering the film industry in the late 1970 as a boom microphone operator, going on to become an assistant director.
Tamahori got his break in Hollywood directing an episode of the hit television series "The Sopranos" in 2000 and went on do "Spider" the following year, before making "Die Another Day" starring Piece Brosnan and Oscar-winning Bond girl Halle Berry in 2002.
Which is worse, getting arrested for prostitution, or everyone knowing you like to dress in women's clothing?
Now we know why they were in a rush to start production, without casting the villian or love interest.
Daniel Craig, cinemas newest James Bond, has embarked on his first 007 flick sans leading lady and arch-nemesis.
Sonys Casino Royale kicked off its long-anticipated shoot in Prague on Friday, but Craigs love interest and the flicks villain have yet to be cast.
Although beginning principal photography with two major cast elements unsettled has been done before, its a risky move for a project of this budget and scope.
An agent whos familiar with the film divulged that since time is of the essence, the Bond Girl will have the upper hand in negotiations with Sony.
To be that exposed is unheard of, the agent said, (The actor or actress) can have them over a barrel. Not to have your two principal leads (by now) is awfully strange.
However, the Martin Campbell-helmed production does have some breathing room because, as a source told the Hollywood Reporter, the scenes involving James Bonds love interest dont begin for more than a month.
Theyre talking to three or four girls right now, Royale scribe, Paul Haggis said. Every week I read theres a new Bond girl, and I call them and they say, No, you idiot.
The latest Bond Girl possibilities include The Notebook star Rachel McAdams and Thandie Newton of Crash fame.
EEEWWWWWWW!!!!!!
MKM
Hehehehe...
already getting chuckles over here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1570624/posts
He must have made one ugly drag queen:
"Lee Tamahori... arrested in a Hollywood prostitution sting while dressed in drag."
Ouch!
Calling Alec Baldwin, this guy-gal should be just the ticket for you to get over your rage at Kim and your rage at America. Why don't we buy Alec and his new "friend" one-way tickets to someplace exotic?
I'll take option C: both.
Where does he hide his eyebrows when he's dressed in drag. They're a dead give-away!!
...and by "I'll take," I of course mean "I think that C is the worst." Not that I would like to experience either.
You are right, of course. I completely forgot about Hugh Grant. Dally with a skank prostitute and you get a booking on Jay Leno.
I have that outfit!
LOL....Tom Daschle?
The funny thing about Karma...
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