Celebs in the news

NEW YORK

- Meryl Streep has donated $1 million to the Public Theater in honor of both its late founder, Joseph Papp, and her friend Nora Ephron.

Streep has performed for the Public for decades, starting in 1975 and including "Henry V" in 1976 and "Mother Courage and Her Children" in 2006. This summer, she played Juliet opposite Kevin Kline as Romeo in a benefit reading of "Romeo and Juliet" in Central Park.

Ephron, who died in June, directed Streep in her portrayal of chef Julia Child in 2009's "Julie & Julia." And Streep played a version of Ephron herself in 1986's "Heartburn."

LOS ANGELES - It'll be springtime for Mel Brooks when the American Film Institute presents him with its highest honor, the Life Achievement Award.

The writer and director of comedy classics including "The Producers," "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein" and "History of the World: Part I" will receive the award at a gala tribute next June, the AFI announced Friday.

Brooks, 86, is one of only 14 people to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.

LONDON - Music superstar Lady Gaga will share a peace prize in memory of John Lennon to honor her work campaigning for equality for gay, lesbian and transgender people.

The American singer has been chosen along with four others - including Russian punk band Pussy Riot and the late writer Christopher Hitchens - to receive the biennial LennonOno Grant For Peace.