A RED CARPET WELL TRAVELED
There was glitz and a good dose of old school Hollywood glamour as the John Wayne Cancer Institute kicked off its 26th Annual Odyssey Ball at the Beverly Hilton.
Friends and supporters for this year’s festivities included locals like Ryan O’Neal as well as original supermodel Cheryl Tiegs and film vet James Caan.
The red carpet became a dazzling entranceway for some of Tinseltown’s most famous femme fatales. Timeless beauty Raquel Welch turned heads in a Jessica Rabbit worthy off-the-shoulder red gown. Blond bombshell Nicolette Sheridan wowed in black satin, while devilish “Dynasty” star Joan Collins stepped out in a flashy frock of winter white. Guests like Jaclyn Smith mingled at the VIP cocktail do before settling in for dinner and the awards presentation.
KTLA entertainment guru Sam Rubin emceed the event, which honored two of the institute’s most dedicated pals. Alana Stewart, who has also been hard at work as president of the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, was presented with this year’s “True Grit” humanitarian award, while Ruth Weil received “The Duke” Special Service Award.
The evening wrapped up on a high note with a special musical performance by Julianne Hough and raised thousands of dollars to keep doctors on the leading edge of medical technology.
FIT FOR A KING
When Joan Collins wasn’t busy putting in appearances at the Odyssey Ball, she was hobnobbing with Malibu locals, world famous jet setters and international royalty. The star was all a-glitter in silver and black as she took her seat at a lavish Bel-Air dinner for the Emir of Qatar.
The well-clad crowd was a mix of Hollywood old and new. Famous faces included action legend Sly Stallone and Jennifer Flavin, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Oscar winner Sidney Poitier, and musical mega couple Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale. Malibu’s Sean Penn also made the rounds with blond beauty Scarlett Johansson.
The elegant affair took place at the richly decorated home of oil magnate Ray Irani. Their dinner feast was first class all the way courtesy of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.
A SOBERING THOUGHT
Malibu’s Martin Sheen has played a wide variety of characters in his time, but his next role is one he’s all too familiar with. On June 27, the veteran actor will take the stage at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood to star in “Bill W. and Dr. Bob.” The one-night only production tells the story of Alcoholics Anonymous. Sheen has grappled with addiction issues in the past and most recently those of his son Charlie during his “Two and a Half Men” meltdown. Proceeds from the Geffen event benefit Hazelden, a nonprofit addiction treatment center.