Gary Allan Coe, known from the Oscars as “Gary From Chicago,” was released from a California prison just three days before Jimmy Kimmel ushered a group of unknowing tourists into the Dolby Theatre on Sunday to meet Hollywood’s top talent.
Coe, 59, served 20 years in prison. In a recent interview with ABC 7 Eyewitness News, he said he had been convicted of multiple felonies.
“Change is possible. It’s a sad day to be in prison for 20 years and not be able to be a dad, granddad to your children,” Coe told ABC 7. “You know what my son told me today, man, and I almost come to tears. He said he’s proud of me. So to hear your children say that they’re proud of me means the world to me,” he added.
His release is so recent that he is still listed as an inmate on public prison records. According to these records, Coe was admitted to the Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in California.
One of Coe’s felonies is attempted rape, according to public records cited by both Fox News and The Daily Mail. Coe is a registered sex offender in the state of California for attempting rape by force or fear, according to reports. But, it appears, that was a prior charge from Coe’s teen years. A Chicago Tribune story cited a recent Facebook post by Coe’s attorney, public defender Karen Nash, which said Coe had been sentenced in 1997 for stealing perfume and that he had not been sentenced on a rape charge. Instead, she wrote, he had a prior from 1975 for attempted rape when he was a teenager.
He met his fiancee, Vickie Vines, during his time behind bars. Vines also stole the show at the 89th Academy Awards with her hilarious facial expressions as she met actors like Ryan Gosling and Denzel Washington.
“I’ve been watching Denzel since he was on ‘St. Elsewhere.’ Oh my god. I could die and go to heaven right now,” she told ABC 7.
Gary From Chicago became an overnight sensation when Kimmel invited a group of unknowing tourists on a Starline tour to the Dolby Theatre, while the Oscars were going on. Coe took as many pictures and selfies while he met stars like Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban and Meryl Streep as he could and even gave a shoutout to the windy city.
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The following day, the actress issued a statement denying his allegations, saying Lagerfeld "defamed" her to "overwhelm my appearance at the Oscars."
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The Records That Fell
Sunday was a historic night for the Oscars -- For example, Damien Chazelle became the youngest Best Director winner ever for "La La Land," and Viola Davis ("Fences") became the first black actor to win three major acting awards -- the Tony, Emmy and Oscar.
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Jimmy Kimmel's "Lion King" Moment With Sunny Pawar
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Kimmel Gets Slammed For Mocking Asian Woman's Name
Kimmel invited a bunch of unknowing tourists into the Dolby Theatre, and when Kimmel asked an Asian woman for her name, she told him her name was Yulree, which rhymes with “jewelry.”
Kimmel responded, “your name is Yulree? I know it rhymes with jewelry! That’s some name!” Then, he asked her husband what his name was, to which he responded, “Patrick.”
“See, that’s a name!” said Kimmel.
“It’s not the #Oscars unless they make fun of Asians somehow. This time, it’s Yulree’s name. Not really laughing,” wrote one Twitter user.
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Shirley MacLaine Appearance
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Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre erupted in applause for MacLaine, and she rewarded them with a charm offensive that eventually made her a top trending topic on Twitter.
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“I’m sorry I’m not with you tonight,” he continued. “My absence is out of respect for the the people of my country and those of the other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S.”
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As far as the Academy is concerned, the movie’s makeup effects were good enough to beat out competitors “Star Trek: Beyond” and “A Man Called Ove.”
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As Ali passed Bridges on his way onstage to accept the award, Bridges reached out and patted him on the arm. Ali stopped, turned, and shook hands with the seven-times nominated veteran.
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