Actor Jim Belushi says his next-door neighbor, actress Julie Newmar, is spying on him, destroying his property and calling him names behind his back. So he has filed a $1 million harassment suit against the actress famed for playing the villainess Catwoman on the 1960s "Batman" TV series, saying he will not let her drive him out of the neighborhood.
Newmar's agent, Fred Wostbrock, declined to discuss the allegations except to say: "You've got to be kidding. The only person Catwoman would hassle is Batman, Adam West."
Belushi says that Newmar, 71, destroyed a fence and landscaping on his property, spied on the actor and his family and directed loud music into his backyard.
The star of the ABC sitcom "According to Jim" also accuses Newmar of spreading defamatory statements about him by calling him a "Peeping Tom,"
a "voyeur" and "sick."
The suit, filed last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court and made public on Monday, describes Newmar's behavior as "an effort to force Belushi to move from his home."
It says her conduct has grown "more alarming and her harassment and apparent obsession have become more intrusive" over time.
The lawsuit makes no mention of why Newmar would direct such conduct at Belushi.
Belushi's lawyer, Brian Wolf, said he knew of no specific reason why Newmar might be angry.
"If she disapproves of some of her neighbors ... for whatever reason -- I don't know if it's aesthetics or leaf blowers or what the issue is -- she engages in this campaign of harassment and annoyance to try to force them to move."
The suit seeks at least $1 million in damages and a court order against Newmar.
Newmar was involved in a highly publicized dispute with neighbors several years ago over the din created by gardeners using gas-powered leaf blowers.
Posted by Ron at November 8, 2004 04:32 PM