Jessie Jones, a television actress who reinvented herself as one of America’s most-produced female playwrights, has died at 75.

Her longtime friend and writing partner Jamie Wooten confirmed she passed away March 20 in Washington, D.C. after a long illness.

Jones is survived by her sisters, a brother-in-law, a niece and nephews, and by her close collaborator Wooten.

Jessie Jones’ popular sitcoms:

Jones built a career in front of the camera throughout the 1980s and ’90s, appearing in popular sitcoms such as Night Court, Newhart, Designing Women, Murphy Brown (where she played Betty Hooley), Who’s the Boss, Perfect Strangers, Grace Under Fire and Melrose Place.

Jessie Jones’ TV movies:

She also starred in TV movies including The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Baby Jessica alongside Patty Duke and Beau Bridges, and the frequently aired Wife, Mother, Murderer.

Jessie Jones as playwright:

As her acting career wound down, Jones turned to writing.

She co-created the Off-Broadway Southern funeral comedy Dearly Departed, which became a staple for theater companies nationwide.

She later co-wrote the screenplay for Fox Searchlight’s Kingdom Come starring Whoopi Goldberg and LL Cool J.

Her most enduring legacy came through the Jones Hope Wooten partnership with Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten.

Together, they penned more than two dozen Southern-flavored comedies including The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, The Red Velvet Cake War, Christmas Belles and The Savannah Sipping Society.

Published by Concord Theatricals, their plays have been widely produced and translated into multiple languages.

Wooten described Jones as “the most-produced female American playwright.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs has seen his prison release date cut down once again, with federal records now confirming he is set to leave custody earlier than previously expected. 

According to the latest Federal Bureau of Prisons records, the 56-year-old rap mogul is now scheduled for release on 15 April 2028. 

This new date shaves a further 10 days off his sentence, marking the second time this month his timeline has been adjusted. 

Just a few weeks ago, his release date had already been brought forward from June to late April, but this latest update means the Bad Boy Records founder is now looking at a slightly shorter stay at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution in New Jersey.

Combs has been serving his time at the low-security facility since late October, following a high-profile case that saw him convicted on two prostitution-related charges. 

When he was originally sentenced to over four years in prison, the judge took a middle-ground approach. While prosecutors had pushed for a much longer stint of 135 months, the judge felt that was more than necessary, though he also rejected the defence’s plea for a mere 14-month sentence, arguing that wouldn’t be sufficient. 

Along with his time behind bars, which includes credit for time already served, Combs faces five years of supervised release and a substantial fine of £395,000.

Before he was sent away, a visibly humbled Combs expressed deep remorse in the courtroom for what he described as “disgusting, shameful and sick” actions. 

He admitted to being out of control and struggling with drug use at the time, telling the court that he had been stripped down to nothing and truly hated the person he had become. 

This raw admission of being broken to his core was a far cry from the untouchable persona he held for decades as a titan of the music industry.

Despite the gravity of his crimes, some of his peers are still finding it difficult to separate his legal downfalls from his professional achievements. 

Usher recently weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Combs’ legacy as a businessman and cultural trailblazer is being overshadowed by his public prosecution. 

Speaking about his own positive experiences with the producer, the R&B star argued that it was hard not to recognise the “valuable contributions” Combs made for Black entrepreneurs and the way he transitioned big ideas into tangible success. 

While the world’s view of the rapper has shifted drastically, his projected release in the spring of 2028 remains the firm focus for his legal team and the authorities.

Johnny Depp has launched his own premium rum brand, and unlike many celebrity spirits ventures, this one comes with a story that goes well beyond the label.

Three Hearts Rum, founded by Depp in partnership with his longtime friend Bobby DeLeon, is a Caribbean-inspired rum with roots in a years-long friendship and a genuine connection to the islands. 

Depp designed the bottle himself, drawing on his tattoos, personal philosophy and what he describes as the three great loves of his life.

The bottle is embossed with the flag of his private Bahamian island, Little Hall’s Pond Cay, and decorated with symbols lifted directly from his body art, a skull as a reminder to live fully, a lightning bolt to represent enduring friendship, the number three to signify new beginnings and three hearts for the loves of his life. 

The base carries the brand’s motto: “No Fear. No Malice. No Envy.” A bracelet-style charm sits at the top.

“Rum holds the history of the islands,” Depp said in a statement. 

“It’s shaped by the hands of the people who grow the cane, ferment the spirit and age it over time. Bobby and I wanted to create something that honored that tradition and the friendships that inspired it.”

The project took shape over several years, with the pair’s thinking crystallising further in the wake of hurricanes that devastated parts of the Caribbean in recent years, as they looked for ways to support and spotlight local communities. 

DeLeon described the process as one built entirely on patience. 

“We didn’t want to rush something into the world. This rum represents years of patience and collaboration. Our goal was to create something that respected the heritage of Caribbean rum while sharing the spirit of the friendship that started it.”

The liquid itself was produced at a distillery in the Dominican Republic, aged for five years in ex-bourbon barrels before being re-casked for a further two years in former cognac barrels, resulting in a seven-year-aged rum. 

DeLeon has described the flavour profile as sticky toffee, with aromas of wood, spices, candied orange and vanilla.

The founders have made clear this is just the beginning, describing Three Hearts Rum as the first chapter in what they plan as a broader exploration of Caribbean rum traditions in the years ahead. 

For Depp, who has been associated with rum on screen through Pirates of the Caribbean and The Rum Diary, it feels like a natural next act, though this time, the bottle is entirely his own.