TV star Gary Dourdan has been arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine, heroin and other drugs, reports Reuters.
The 41-year-old, who appears in hit forensics show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, was arrested after he was found asleep in the driver's seat of a parked car in Palm Springs.
A police statement said that the car had been parked on the wrong side of the road and Dourdan was disorientated, "possibly under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs".
The arresting officer found substances thought to be cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy and prescription drugs along with drug-taking paraphernalia in the actor's car.
Dourdan was released on bail for $5,000 after a five-hour stay in jail.
CBS show CSI is the most watched drama on US TV, regularly drawing in viewing figures in excess of 15 million. Dourdan's character in the series, forensics expert Warrick Brown, will leave the show in May.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
That could explain the leaving.
I just caught up with Robert David Hall - a wonderful veteran TV actor, lovely guy, and of course Dr. Al Robbins on "CSI" - by phone a few minutes ago. He's gonna be in town to present a major award at the U.N. next Tuesday. (More on that in a second.)
And of course, I turned the conversation immediately to Gary Dourdan, Hall's (obviously) troubled colleague who was arrested outside Palm Springs early yesterday in possession of various illegal substances.
In any event, the news: Hall tells me Dourdan was actually on set yesterday (long after his arrest, of course)
"I actually worked with him yesterday, and everybody was moving on. It's real hard to get work done when your're so close to the end of the season [show wraps this week then takes a week off before getting to the ninth season]."
I asked him what the talk of the set re: Dourdan is: "Almost to a person, I'd say ninety-nine percent of the cast and crew are very hopeful that Gary will be OK, and we love him deeply."
So...why's Dourdan leaving (at the end of May, when "CSI" introduces a pair of new-comers)?
"He wants to do other things," says Hall. "That's the speculation...You and I and the majority of other people would say, why would anyone leave a hit show [Hall just signed for three more seasons] but everybody's different. I can't comment on why Gary and CBS are parting company, but I was told he has dreams of [doing other things - maybe movies?] He's a generous, soulful guy. I read the same stuff you do. I just know him as the guy who gave me a big hug yesterday. The cast and crew want the best for Gary."
Ah yes, that award: It's the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award; Hall's presenting it next week to the country of New Zealand, along with a $50,000 grant that'll be used to benefit disabled Kiwis.
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/zwec...TR-zp01.articleIt's looking like CSI Vegas may be in the last stretch. :tear:
CSI Adjusts Production Schedule to Accommodate Strike-Affected Staffers
Executive Producer Carol Mendelsohn: No Break Between Seasons Eight and Nine
CSI, currently filming its eighth season, will not go on hiatus before beginning production on season nine, according to CSI executive producer and showrunner Carol Mendelsohn.
Mendelsohn, speaking on a conference call to reporters about the upcoming CSI/Two and a Half Men crossover, said the decision came in response to the 100-day-long writers’ strike, which left many production and support staffers in uneasy financial situations. The extended production schedule and abbreviated production break will likely give staffers a chance to make up for time and earnings lost during the strike.
“We are rolling right into the next season,” Mendelsohn said. “We will start our ninth season May 12 [right after completing season eight] and get a few episodes in the can before we take a four- or five-week hiatus.”