Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband hit by car in Beverly Hills (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband Prinz Frederic von Anhalt was hit by a car in Beverly Hills on Friday and taken to a hospital where he was treated for cuts to his hip and hand, his spokesman said.

The 68-year-old von Anhalt was walking to a bank when a car drove out from an underground parking garage and hit him.

Doctors were trying to determine on Friday afternoon if he also had broken his leg, the spokesman said.

The driver was arrested by Beverly Hills police. Von Anhalt said he did not want to press charges. "He just wants to go home and be with his wife," his spokesman said.

(Reporting and Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Suicide rocks Beverly Hills "Real Housewives" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The estranged husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Taylor Armstrong has been found dead in what police on Tuesday said appeared to be a suicide.

Venture capitalist Russell Armstrong was found dead on Monday evening at a house on Los Angeles' famous Mulholland Drive, a Los Angeles police spokesman said.

Celebrity website TMZ.com said Armstrong, 47, was found hanging in a bedroom. Police could not confirm details but said Armstrong's death was being treated as an apparent suicide.

Armstrong's wife Taylor filed for divorce in July and her struggle to keep her six year marriage alive was expected to be a key theme in the second season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills", which is due to start on September 5.

Russell Armstrong was hit with a $1.5 million breach of contract lawsuit in July by a company that claimed it hired him to expand its business but alleged he had misused the funds to redecorate the mansion he shared with his wife.

Armstrong's lawyer Ronald Richards told TMZ on Tuesday that Armstrong had huge debt problems, but Richards said he had no idea Armstrong was depressed.

"His credit cards weren't working...He had tremendous financial problems," Richards was quoted as telling TMZ. "He was also extremely bummed out about the divorce with Taylor."

Taylor Armstrong told People magazine last month that the couple had explosive arguments and accused Russell of pushing and shoving her. Russell Armstrong admitted things had become heated but told People "this (TV) show has literally pushed us to the limit." The couple have one young daughter, Kennedy.

The popular reality show about the lives of rich and pampered women in the Beverly Hills area was filmed over the summer.

"All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time," the cable TV channel said in a statement.

Fellow "Housewives" cast members were stunned by the news. Camille Grammer, whose divorce from "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer played out over the first season of the TV show, said in a Twitter message, "My sympathy and condolences go out to Taylor and Kennedy. My thoughts and prayers are with them."

Danielle Staub. a cast member of the New Jersey version of the TV franchise, said in a Twitter message to Taylor Armstrong "Love and prayers to you and your family. I pray your privacy will be respected in this great time of need!"

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Elly May vs Barbie: Beverly Hillbilly sues Mattel (Reuters)

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – The woman who portrayed Elly May Clampett in the 1960s TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies" has sued toymaker Mattel over a Barbie doll that she says looks like her.

Actress Donna Douglas filed a federal suit against Mattel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, charging that the toy company "is engaging in the unauthorized use" of her name, likeness and image to promote and sell the "Elly May" Barbie.

She is seeking $75,000 in damages.

It has been nearly 50 years since the fictional Clampett family struck oil and ditched their backwoods home for a life of adventure in California. Douglas played Elly May in all 274 episodes of the show, which continues to air in syndication around the world.

In her lawsuit, Douglas says that she "continues to make public appearances in association with" her character. The suit says that Mattel introduced the "Elly May" Barbie doll in December 2010, and even uses Douglas' name in promotional materials.

It claims Douglas "never endorsed the doll and never gave Mattel her permission" to use her name or likeness. It charges that the doll "creates the false public impression that Ms Douglas has endorsed" the doll.

Mattel said in a statement that it "licensed the rights to 'Beverly Hillbillies' for this product through the appropriate channels."

A spokesman for CBS Television Distribution, which acquired the rights to "The Beverly Hillbillies" in the 1980s, could not be reached for comment.

(Editing by Greg McCune)

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