Bud Ekins, the man behind the most famous motorcycle stunt in movie history, has died aged 77. Ekins was in the saddle for the iconic scene in The Great Escape, when Steve McQueen's character jumps a barbed wire fence on a bike to avoid capture as he escapes a German prisoner-of-war camp.

Shirley Bassey has backed British soul star Amy Winehouse to sing the next James Bond theme tune. Bassey has sung the title song for a record three James Bond movies - Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker - and is urging the film bosses to hire the Rehab hitmaker for the next spy-franchise installment.

Veteran singer Shirley Bassey nearly became an opera singer - but admits she was too lazy to put in the practice. The Goldfinger hitmaker - who has performed the title songs for three James Bond movies - was put off by the gruelling training regime required of opera singers and chose to stick with her trademark big band music instead.

Happy Birthday To actor Joey Lawrence (1976), actress/model Carmen Electra (1976), "King Kong" actor Andy Serkis (1964), "Willard" star Crispin Glover (1964), New York Yankees legend Don Mattingly (1961), R&B legend Luther Vandross (1951; d. 2005), "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" actress Veronica Cartwright (1950), "Broken Flowers" actress Jessica Lange (1949), model/actress Edie Sedgwick (1943), actor Ryan O'Neal (1941), "Star Trek" actor George Takei (1940), Latin jazz musician Tito Puente (1925; d. 2000), "Diamonds are Forever" actor Bruce Cabot (1904), Spanish painter Joan Miro (1893; d. 1983), and comedic screen legend Harold Lloyd (1893; d. 1971).

A saucy line from Moonraker has been voted James Bond fans' favorite 007 sexual innuendo. Cinema advertising giants Pearl And Dean invited devotees of the secret agent franchise to vote for their favorite sexy gag from the legendary franchise.

Happy Birthday To actor Joey Lawrence (1976), actress/model Carmen Electra (1976), "King Kong" actor Andy Serkis (1964), "Willard" star Crispin Glover (1964), New York Yankees legend Don Mattingly (1961), R&B legend Luther Vandross (1951; d. 2005), "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" actress Veronica Cartwright (1950), "Broken Flowers" actress Jessica Lange (1949), model/actress Edie Sedgwick (1943), actor Ryan O'Neal (1941), "Star Trek" actor George Takei (1940), Latin jazz musician Tito Puente (1925; d. 2000), "Diamonds are Forever" actor Bruce Cabot (1904), Spanish painter Joan Miro (1893; d. 1983), and comedic screen legend Harold Lloyd (1893; d. 1971).

-Bassey Considers Legal Action Kanye West has hit back in the argument over his sampling of Dame Shirley Bassey's Diamonds Are Forever James Bond theme, insisting he had never heard of the singer. Bassey is considering legal action, because West never sought her permission before using the sample on his single Diamonds From Sierra Leone. But the rapper tells British newspaper the Daily Star, "I have never heard of her, I thought she was an unknown singer."

Legendary James Bond star Sean Connery has given the new 007 his seal of approval - calling Daniel Craig a "terrific choice". The veteran actor - who played the suave spy in six Bond films, including, first movie Dr. No, Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever - insists the latest star picked to don the famous tuxedo will do the role proud.