Photo by Joe Howell // Buy this photo
Actress Elaine Hendrix demonstrates Friday against fur products in frotn of West Town Mall. Hendrix, spokeswoman for the group in Defense of Animals, was supporting Fur Free Friday.
Photo by Joe Howell
Actress Elaine Hendrix demonstrates Friday against fur products in frotn of West Town Mall. Hendrix, spokeswoman for the group in Defense of Animals, was supporting Fur Free Friday.
Actress Elaine Hendrix is a new mom — sort of.
The East Tennessee actress, living in Los Angeles, adopted a puppy from Young-Williams Animal Center while she was visiting here at Thanksgiving. Hendrix says she and her new pet are doing well together.
Hendrix named her puppy Oliver.
Adopting a pet over the holidays isn’t something unusual for Hendrix. She likes bringing her activism on behalf of animals back home to East Tennessee. Most Thanksgivings, Hendrix stands outside West Town Mall to hand out fliers and draw attention to animals in crisis and the importance of adoption.
Next month, she is planning to visit here to protest puppy mills.
“I’m coming to Tennessee Feb. 15-18. Nine times out of 10 pet stores sell animals bred at puppy mills,” she says. “The largest puppy mill bust in history so far was in Tennessee. Why buy a companion animal when as many as 8 million homeless animals die every year? Adopt from Young-Williams. My family and I did.”
Though puppy mills are not illegal, animal activists oppose them because of the unhealthy conditions many dogs are subjected to. Dogs bred in puppy mills can be sold to animal stores, too.
As for her career, Hendrix has just finished shooting an episode of “The Mentalist,” which will air March 4 on CBS. “Everyone was so nice from the guest cast to the regulars to the crew. And for all the comedy I do, I also do a lot of drama. They’re both fun. I like going back and forth,” she says. Hendrix, who grew up in Morristown and Oak Ridge, is best known for her role in “The Parent Trap” with Lindsay Lohan. “Good Intentions,” a movie in which she co-stars, is coming out March 9 on DVD. Pre-sales start Feb. 14. She was also co-producer on the project, which stars Luke Perry and LeAnn Rimes.
Deal. Former “American Idol” finalist Melinda Doolittle will be starring in the Miracle Theater’s new production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which will run March 1 through April 9 at the theater in Pigeon Forge.
“We just finalized the deal with Melinda last week,” says James Peacock, who handles marketing for the theater.
Doolittle, a Nashville resident, was a contestant who finished as the third-place finalist on the sixth season of “Idol.” Prior to “Idol,” she was a professional backup singer for stars such as Kirk Franklin and Michael McDonald.
Doolittle, 32, lost the “Idol” title to Jordin Sparks.
Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/.
news sentinel file photo
TV and movie actress and East Tennessee native Elaine Hendrix demonstrates against the use of fur most Thanksgivings in front of West Town Mall.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 9
stacyhikes writes:
There was so much money pouring into Haiti and I had my donation all lined up...and then I read how the folks at Young-Williams Animal Center needed donations for food so that people could keep their pets and not have to turn to shelters because they can no longer afford to feed them. The fact that people are trying to help others keep their beloved pets....well that took me all of 10 seconds to change my donation plan and send them the money instead. The people of Haiti are being helped 24X7 now (and historically with U.S. tax dollars) and where is the money/aid for our own people that have tragic stories of their own??
deerman writes:
Love animals but I have no use for PETA or any of their ilk. These are the same yoyos who want us to replace Phil with a mechanical groudhog and stop wearing leather. Keep your butt in Hollywood lady
Radman1 writes:
I assume those aren't leather shoes she's wearing.
oakridgeguy writes:
you go, girl!
kayr writes:
just because you’re an animal activist doesn’t mean you’re a PETA supporter. this article doesn’t even mention PETA.
tnkickball writes:
Love her! She was great in Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion and the BEST EVER as Evian in SUPERSTAR! So what if she's anti-fur and against puppy mills... good for her. It doesnt mean you have to be a Peta wing-nut
Biggie writes:
I love animals too....right beside my mashed potatoes.
She's another hollywood whack job. She doesn't belong in Tennessee.
ganoceto writes:
Physco!Why don't she waste her engery on the abused and starving children in the world? She needs to take that act to Hollywood. She's in TENNESSEE for Gods sake, Best Rabbit eatin state there is......
awh writes:
Never heard of her.
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