Van Dyke turns to virtual funnies

Los Angeles — Retired comic actor Dick Van Dyke has found a high-tech outlet for his talent.

“I’m a computer animator. I’m a real nerd,” the 78-year-old Van Dyke said in an interview to promote the DVD release of the 1968 musical fantasy “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”

“I do special effects, animation and everything on computer graphics — and I’m pretty good.”

Van Dyke said he started tinkering with the technology about 13 years ago.

“It just became a constant companion,” he said. “I have myself in there and do cartoons with myself. Then I’ll try to do realistic stuff, too. If I go see a ‘Jurassic Park,’ I’ve got to go home and see if I can duplicate it.”

Crawford joins young survivors

Madison, Wisc. — When supermodel Cindy Crawford’s younger brother died of leukemia more than 25 years ago, a reunion of more than 200 childhood cancer survivors didn’t seem possible.

“Cancer is not a death sentence anymore,” Crawford said before Saturday’s “Kids with Courage” reunion at the University of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital, where her 4-year-old brother, Jeffrey, was treated.

Crawford, 37, said what’s most important to her is spending time with the children.

“The great thing about this is you see the miracles, you meet the miracles,” she said. “It’s so not my day … I just feel lucky to be in the room.”

Navarro, Electra tie knot

New York — There’s no way former “Baywatch” star Carmen Electra and Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro could have had a regular wedding ceremony.

The platinum-and-red invitations called for “hot and sexy” attire. And the 200 guests who arrived at the St. Regis Hotel in Los Angeles were greeted by men dressed in black with red masks covering their faces, similar to “Eyes Wide Shut,” one of the couple’s favorite films.

But the feelings they expressed couldn’t have been more traditional.

“What’s really going to touch my heart,” Electra said beforehand, “is when my dad takes a step back when walking down the aisle and my husband takes his place.”

Zellweger downplays weight gains

New York — Renee Zellweger doesn’t see what the big deal is about the fact that she put on weight to play Bridget Jones.

The petite actress plumped up again for the sequel “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” due out next year.

“The first time I did it, I learned a lot. I realized the influence of living in a society that focuses so much on physicality has affected me,” Zellweger tells Vogue magazine.

“When the film was coming out, the question I was asked the most was regarding my weight. And again it’s happening. I was followed around Heathrow (airport) by a guy who wanted to take a picture of my backside. I don’t understand the obsession.”