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Published: October 16, 2009 3:00 a.m.

People

Findings downplay drugs in Mays death

Associated Press
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The family of TV pitchman Billy Mays released the findings of an independent medical examiner Thursday who concluded that the informercial star’s cocaine use was not a significant contributing factor in his death.

The report, released by a family spokeswoman, does not refute Mays’ cocaine use but states there is no evidence to suggest he was a chronic user. A review of the official autopsy also concludes that “cocaine was not a significant contributing factor” in his death.

Dr. William Manion, the independent medical examiner, wrote there was “no evidence that Mr. Mays’ death was related to acute cocaine intoxication.” Manion added that the pitchman’s use of cocaine “appears to have occurred a remote time several days before his death.”

Mays, 50, was found dead in his family’s Tampa condo in June.

The Hillsborough County medical examiner’s office classified his death as “natural” but said that cocaine use contributed to the heart disease that killed him.

Lohan to appear

A judge in Beverly Hills, Calif., has ordered Lindsay Lohan to appear at a court hearing this morning.

The 23-year-old actress was placed on three years of probation in 2007 after she pleaded guilty to two counts of being under the influence of cocaine, and no contest to two counts of drunken driving and one count of reckless driving. She spent 84 minutes in jail.

It is unclear why Lohan has been ordered to appear. The judge’s order was made during a routine progress report Wednesday.

Divorce filing

Court records in Los Angeles show that Avril Lavigne has filed for divorce from her musician husband after three years of marriage.

Lavigne filed for divorce from Sum 41 singer Deryck Jason Whibley last Friday.

The couple were married in July 2006 and have no children together. Lavigne cited “irreconcilable differences.”

Crypt for auction

The crypt above Marilyn Monroe is going back on the auction block.

Bidding for the marble mausoleum crypt will start at $500,000 beginning Monday, according to organizer Eric Gazin of AuctionCause.com. A previous $4.6 million bid for the space fell through in August when Elsie Poncher first attempted to auction off her late husband’s crypt.

The new eBay.com auction will end Oct. 29 and require a 1 percent to 5 percent refundable deposit, based on the bid.

Boxers on Oprah

Boxing rivals Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are to meet again – and this time Oprah will referee.

Harpo Productions announced Wednesday the two fighters would appear on today’s live episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from Chicago.

On June 28, 1997, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Tyson was disqualified after biting off part of Holyfield’s right ear during their WBA heavyweight title fight.

Winfrey aired an interview with Tyson on Monday during which he discussed the death of his 4-year-old daughter and talked about his family. Winfrey says Tyson will take questions from the audience today.

Happy birthday

Among celebrity birthdays today: Actress Angela Lansbury is 84. Actress Suzanne Somers is 63. Guitarist Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead is 62. Producer-director David Zucker is 62. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 51. Bassist Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 47. Actress Terri J. Vaughn (“All of Us,” “The Steve Harvey Show”) is 40. Singer Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 40. Singer-songwriter John Mayer is 32. Actor Jeremy Jackson (“Baywatch”) is 29. Actress Brea Grant (“Heroes”) is 28.