LOS ANGELES – Actress Lindsay Lohan is joining the big screen Gotti family as the wife of John Gotti Jr. in a biopic of one of New York’s most infamous families. She called her casting in “Gotti: Three Generations” a huge honor and said Wednesday the film is an opportunity to prove herself as an actress again.

“I’m really excited to be back on set and clear up all the misinterpretations about me and show this is what I love to do,” Lohan said.

John Travolta has been cast to play John Gotti Sr., the mob family’s patriarch who had a flair for style and a knack for avoiding convictions that earned him the nickname “Teflon Don.” Joe Pesci will play one of his deputies.

The younger Gotti has insisted he left the mob life in the 1990s, but has been unsuccessfully tried four times on racketeering charges.

The film will be shot in New York and is set for a 2012 release.

Trans-Atlantic talent tackles ‘Richard III’

LONDON – Producers have revealed the full cast of Sam Mendes’ trans-Atlantic production of “Richard III,” which opens in London in June with Kevin Spacey in the lead role.

The Old Vic Theatre said Wednesday that the cast includes British performers Haydn Gwynne, Gemma Jones and Chuk Iwuji, as well as American actors Maureen Anderman and Chandler Williams.

Shakespeare’s play forms the third and final season of the Bridge Project, which brings together British and American actors on classic plays directed by Mendes.

The production will open June 29.

Stiller getting serious, raising money for Haiti

NEW YORK – Ben Stiller is getting some of the biggest names in contemporary art to help Haitian children affected by last year’s earthquake.

The actor and comedian announced Wednesday that he is partnering with New York art dealer David Zwirner on a benefit auction called “Artists for Haiti,” scheduled for Sept. 22 at Christie’s auction house.

Some of the artists who have already donated works include Chuck Close, Paul McCarthy, Jasper Johns, Dan Flavin, Jeff Koons and Hiroshi Sugimoto.

“Over a year after the massive quake in Haiti, there remains a huge need to rebuild and help the country,” Stiller said in a statement. “David and I are working to help raise funds so that the children of Haiti have an opportunity to receive the education they need to lead a better life and fulfill the potential of this vibrant and important culture.”

Years later, not so happy

LOS ANGELES – Members of the “Happy Days” cast sued CBS Corp. Tuesday, alleging they’re not getting a cut of money made in sales of DVDs, lunch boxes, board games and other merchandise related to the TV show.

The plaintiffs named in the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court include Anson Williams, Marion Ross, Don Most, Erin Moran and Patricia Bosley, wife of the late Tom Bosley, who died last year. Two prominent members of the 1974 to 1984 sitcom, Henry Winkler and Ron Howard, are not party to the lawsuit.