Hollywood director Steven Spielberg is leading the tributes to Jurassic Park author and filmmaker Michael Crichton, who died in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Crichton, who also wrote sex thriller Disclosure and co-created hit TV series ER, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 66.

Spielberg helped to adapt Jurassic Park for the big-screen in 1993, and the star, who was a close pal of Crichton’s for 40 years, has hailed the author as a great talent.

Singer Barbra Streisand has commended Americans for voting President-elect Barack Obama into office on Tuesday - because his victory has “regained the respect of the world” for the US.

The 66-year-old political activist has long been an active supporter of the Democratic Party, raising awareness for global warming, gun control, and speaking out against the country’s 2003 invasion of Iraq.

And she insists the new US President’s election has already united the world.

Funnyman Seth Rogen was so convinced he’d have to bare all in new movie Zack And Miri Make A Porno he shaved his hairy back.

The Knocked Up star was fully prepared to get naked with co-star Elizabeth Banks, but director Kevin Smith chose not to ask the pair to strip onscreen.