Sesame Street star Alaina Reed Amini dies aged 63

Alaina Reed Amini, best known for playing Olivia Robinson on long-running children's show Sesame Street, has died aged 63, her publicist has confirmed.

The star - previously known as Alaina Reed Hall - died Thursday at a hospital in Santa Monica after a two-year battle with breast cancer.

Her stage credits included Chicago and Hair. She also appeared in several movies, including Cruel Intentions.

She also guest-starred in various TV shows such as ER and NYPD Blue.

Reed-Amini joined the Sesame Street cast in 1976 and played a photographer and sister of the character Gordon.

The actress remained on the show until 1988 and also starred in NBC's 227 playing the landlady and best friend of the show's main character.

During the final series Reed-Amini married a character who was played by her real-life husband, Kevin Peter Hall, who died in 1991.

She is survived by her husband, Tamim Amini, and two children from a previous marriage.

According to her husband, no memorial service will be held, but a celebration of her life is being planned for next year.

Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins split confirmed

Hollywood couple Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins have ended their relationship after more than two decades together, Sarandon's publicist has confirmed.

"Actress Susan Sarandon and her partner of 23 years, actor Tim Robbins, have announced that they separated over the summer," she said in a statement.

Sarandon, 63, met Robbins, 51, on the set of their 1988 film Bull Durham.

The couple, who never married, have two sons. Sarandon's representative said no further comments would be made.

Sarandon, whose films include Thelma and Louise and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, won an Oscar in 1996 for her work in Death Row drama Dead Man Walking.

The film was directed by Robbins, who went on to win an Academy Award for his performance in 2003's Mystic River.

In addition to the couple's sons Jack, 20, and Miles, 17, Sarandon has a 24-year-old daughter, Eva Amurri, from a previous relationship.

The actress recently attended the Royal Film Performance in London of her latest movie, The Lovely Bones.

She also travelled to Sweden last month to accept a career achievement prize at the Stockholm Film Festival.