In this article: Birthdays Last week's Who's News

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow hasn't had a movie out since December's The Talented Mr. Ripley. We hear about movies she's filmed, but then they aren't released. I'm concerned about her career.
L.P. Lewis, Bethesda, Md.

The good news is that two of Paltrow's long-completed movies finally will be seen: Duets (directed by her dad, Bruce), next week in L.A. and New York and at the Toronto Film Festival, and Bounce, opening nationwide Oct. 13. The bad: Problems with both movies already overshadow their content. There were questions about violent scenes in Duets, otherwise a family movie (they later got cut). And Paltrow's beau/friend Ben Affleck, her Bounce co-star, was in a snit about that film's original summer release date, arguing that it's an "adult-themed love story" that should not be expected to compete in a crowded summer schedule. A third Paltrow flick, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, has no release date.

I hear former 49ers star Steve Young got married. True?
Dave Shumway, Orem, Utah

In March, Young wrapped up more than a decade as San Francisco's most eligible bachelor by marrying former model Barbara Graham in a Mormon ceremony in Hawaii. Graham, who converted to Young's faith (he's a great-great-great-grandson of Mormon leader Brigham Young and got his law degree from the university that bears that name), returned from their world-tour honeymoon pregnant. Soon after, Young, 38, who suffered six concussions in 13 years, made the tough decision to retire. Said his mom, Sherry, "He couldn't have done this [retire] without a wife and a life."

Why isn't Britain's newest royal bride, Sophie Rhys-Jones, considered a princess as the wife of Prince Edward?
Fred Blair, Pensacola, Fla.

She is. But don't call her that. This title stuff is complicated, so we went to the expert, Harold Brooks-Baker of Burke's Peerage in London. He tells us that, by marrying the prince last summer, commoner Sophie became a princess and was granted by Queen Elizabeth the designation of Royal Highness. (The title of His or Her Royal Highness, or HRH, once came automatically with marriage into the family, but the queen cavalierly took it away from outcast in-laws Diana and Sarah, appalling British historians.) Edward, a Royal Highness by birth, chose as a wedding gift from Mum the title Earl of Wessex. That made Sophie a countess (an earl is the British equivalent of a count). Now he is addressed as HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex; she is HRH the Countess of Wessex. If not for the Wessex title, she would be HRH the Princess Edward.

I often see Renee Estevez in credits for NBC's drama The West Wing. Is she related to Martin Sheen, who plays President Bartlet?
D. Malden, Burbank, Calif.

Very observant. Estevez, who plays one of Bartlet's many secretaries, is the youngest child of Sheen (born Carlos Estevez) and his designer-artist wife, Janet. Her brothers are actors Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen and documentary maker Ramon Estevez. She got a role in the WW pilot on her own (she knew the casting director), but after her scene was cut, creator Aaron Sorkin found her the semi-regular part. A true family gal, she'll appear with Charlie in a 2001 film drama, Good Advice. "As much as I'd prefer doing my own projects," she tells us, "I'd be an idiot to turn down work with my dad or brothers." Estevez, 20-something, says she and husband Jason Federico, a golfer, have no plans for kids.

I'm curious about the background of CBS weekend anchor John Roberts. He seems to be heir apparent to Dan Rather.
H.R. Hale, Roswell, N.M.

Roberts was born to a Scottish father and English mother in Toronto; his father died when Roberts was 5. He got his career off to a good start in Canada, first in radio and later as a morning show host, but settled in the States because CBS kept offering jobs. Now Roberts, 43, is seen as a possible successor to Rather, 69, and has been doing time on the White House beat as if to prep. He covered the Democratic convention and tells us mud will soon fly: Gore and Bush "seem to be trying to take the high road, focus on issues. But you can bet they'll get back on the low road quickly."

I'm a Rocky and Bullwinkle fan and have always wondered what the "J" stands for in Rocky's full name, Rocket J. Squirrel.
Jimmy Leta, Pine Beach, N.J.

Both squirrel and moose have the middle initial J, perhaps because creator Jay Ward was born J (no period) Troplong Ward. (His parents wanted him to pick his own first name.) Bullwinkle's name was taken from a '40s car dealer in Berkeley, Calif., Clarence Bullwinkel, because it amused Ward. Rocky was rarely called Rocket and always billed as Rocky. More trivia is in Keith Scott's detailed history of the show, The Moose That Roared.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
September 3: Charlie Sheen, 35
September 4: Ione Skye, 30 Mike Piazza, 32 Damon Wayans, 40
September 5: Raquel Welch, 60 Dweezil Zappa 31
September 6: Jane Curtin, 53 Swoosie Kurtz, 56
September 7: Tom Everett Scott, 30 Corbin Bernsen, 45 Chrissie Hynde, 49 Richard Roundtree, 58
September 8: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, 19; David Arquette, 29; Latrell Sprewell, 30
September 9: Michelle Williams, 20; Adam Sandler, 34; Hugh Grant, 40; Michael Keaton, 49

Contributing: Evelyn Poitevent, Patty Rhule