people in the news

'Kato' Kaelin's

nephew killed

in Iraq explosion

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Aspiring actor and former O.J. Simpson house guest Brian "Kato" Kaelin says his nephew was killed in the war in Iraq.

"It's devastating to our family," he said during his Friday appearance on the Dave and Carole morning show on WKLH-FM.

Kaelin became widely known when he testified in the 1995 double-murder trial of Simpson, the former pro football player and actor.

Kaelin said he considered canceling his public appearance because of the death of his nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Warner. But his sister urged him to go ahead with it in memory of her son, killed in an explosion Monday.

"She goes, 'We need laughter, make us laugh,"' he said.

During the radio appearance, Kaelin joked at length about a number of topics before discussing how the Iraq war touched his family. He recalled taking Warner to Las Vegas in September, just before he was sent to Iraq.

"He was the best kid in the world," Kaelin said. "The greatest guy in the world, 22, and he was taken away."

Chow: Chaplin

was childhood

influence

HONG KONG (AP) - Comic actor and director Stephen Chow says his biggest influence was Charlie Chaplin, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Chow co-wrote, directed and starred in the 2001 "Shaolin Soccer." He is promoting his next comedy, "Kung Fu Hustle," which opens in Hong Kong on Thursday.

"I have many influences, but the greatest one was Charlie Chaplin," Chow was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post. "I can't remember exactly when I first saw him. I was 3 or 4 or 5. I just remember not being able to stop watching."

"Shaolin Soccer" starred Chow as a monk who unleashes his kung fu skills in his soccer game. It broke box office records in Hong Kong and Chow won prizes for best film, actor and director at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2001.

The film, distributed in the United States by Miramax Films, did poorly overseas, however, and Chow told the Post he was unhappy with the dubbed version.

Chow said he wants to make a film that's a hit outside of Asia. "To go international is very important to me," he said. "I just don't want to waste my time."

Habitat founder

tells graduates to

improve the world

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller encouraged graduates at the University of Alabama to use their education to improve the world.

"Only 1 percent of the people in the world get to sit where you are sitting today," Fuller told the 1,100 graduates at commencement Saturday. "You are among the elite of the world now. And the Bible has something to say about people like you and me - 'To whom much is given, much is required."'

Fuller, 69, has a law degree from the University of Alabama. He received an honorary doctorate of humane letters during Saturday's ceremony.

Since 1976, Habitat has blossomed into a worldwide network of 3,300 affiliates that have built 175,000 houses for poor people in 100 countries. Fuller has built an army of tens of thousands of volunteers that includes former U.S. presidents, Hollywood celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs

"It all started with a little guy from Alabama working with some other folks all across this state and all around the world who wanted to make a difference to realize that all of humanity is made in the image of God," Fuller said in describing his success with Habitat.