Another Hollywood Tough Guy on the Ballot

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Monday, June 30, 2008

Maybe it's time to rent "Predator" again. The 1987 sci-fi horror movie has spawned a trio of unlikely politicians: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura. . . and now Sonny Landham, who is running for the Senate in Kentucky.

"They always said there was something in the water down in Mexico," where the movie was filmed, Landham told us. "I guess it turned out to be a political bug."

The 67-year-old, who had tough-guy roles in '80s flicks like "48 Hours" and "Action Jackson," may be best known for (spoiler alert!) his memorably grisly death at the hands of an extraterrestrial hunter in "Predator." On Wednesday, Landham announced he's running against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) on the Libertarian ticket -- and his phone hasn't stopped ringing. He expected local coverage but was "overwhelmed by the international response" -- including from casting agents who've suddenly remembered his name. "I said, 'Wait a minute, folks. I'm going to win this race. This is mine to lose.' "

Libertarians think that presidential candidate Bob Barr has a shot in Kentucky and that Landham can beef up that ticket. He got permission from fifth wife Jessica to enter the race; he's banking that his modest lifestyle (Screen Actors Guild pension and Social Security, less than $30,000 a year) makes him an average-Joe alternative to McConnell and Democrat Bruce Lunsford.

Landham is confident he'll get the 5,000 signatures he needs to get on the ballot. "I know there are a lot of things that make me a colorful person," he said, adding he's got nothing to hide -- not even his early career in adult films. "That was 30 years ago," he said with a laugh. "If you've seen the porno movies, you've seen my shortcomings."

The Collector's Identity? It's as Clear as Frosted Glass

The search continues for " T he Collector," the manifesto-writing mystery man of Artomatic. Last year the prankster stole Tim Tate's glass sculpture from the show and returned it in a midnight Monopoly money ransom drop; this year, he led us on a cat-and-mouse through the show but again let us only glimpse him briefly before vanishing. Here, some of the prime suspects:

Tim Tate

glass sculptor, original victim

Why him?: With a well-known flair for publicity, Tate was suspected by many at Artomatic of faking his own sculpture's disappearance.

He says:"I categorically deny it."

Alibi: Tate was by our side when we met The Collector at the ransom drop last year, so unless he's part of a broader conspiracy . . .

Michael Janis

glass sculptor, friend of Tate 's

Why him?: Artomatic gossips theorize that Tate's Washington Glass School colleague may have helped pull off the stunt.

He says:"I'm denying any kind of involvement."

Alibi:"Michael is too serious" for pranks, says DCArtNews blogger Lenny Campello.

Jesse Cohen

art photographer, overseer of the Artdc.org forum

Why him?: Like the author of The Collector's manifestos, a big booster of the local arts scene; resembles the man at the ransom drop (young white guy, dark hair).

He says:"No . . . I thought it was really crappy of anyone [to take Tate's art]."

Alibi: Skinnier than the man we saw.

Kirk Waldroff

printmaker and glass artist, colleague of Tate 's

Why him?: Has The Collector's build, coloring; his voice mail sounds like the man we talked to on the phone; Tate is a little too insistent that Waldroff can't be The Collector.

He says:[In a voice mail message] "No, I'm not The Collector"; says he'd be glad to talk more but he's leaving town in a few minutes. (Hmm, getting too hot around here?)

Alibi:"He seems too cool to be pulling stuff like that," says a fellow artist. "He's in a band."

Love, Etc.

· Married: Ruben Studdard, 29, and girlfriend of nearly two years Surata Zuri McCants, 30, in his home town of Birmingham, Ala., Saturday. The 2003 "American Idol" winner met his now-wife while signing CDs at an Atlanta Wal-Mart. Since you're wondering: He's got a new album on the way and will soon tour in "Ain't Misbehavin' " with former "AI" contestant Frenchie Davis.

· Married: Tennis legend Chris Evert and golf legend Greg Norman in the Bahamas on Saturday. The couple, both 53, exchanged vows in front of 140 family members and friends, People reports. The Wimbledon champ split in 2006 from her second husband, Olympic skier Andy Mill; the British Open champ divorced his wife of 26 years last year.