KING KONG - JACK BLACK ELOPES

KING KONG star JACK BLACK has eloped with his girlfriend TANYA HADEN. The couple first met while they were attending a private performing arts high school in Santa Monica, California, but were not romantically involved. According to the bride's father, jazz bassist CHARLIE HADEN, "They love each other very much. We're thrilled." Haden, like her famous father, is a musician and played cello in the HADEN TRIPLETS with her sisters, Rachel and Peta, who are, in fact, triplets. The bride's sister, Peta, recently released the acclaimed a cappella cover album THE WHO SELL OUT. The couple began dating when they bumped into each other last April (05) at a mutual friend's birthday party where, Black's two-man band TENACIOUS D was performing. Black says of the initial meeting, "Tanya was there. I got really nervous and I talked to her...and it's been great. I'm really crazy about her." The actor reportedly proposed to Haden just after Christmas (25DEC05), presenting her with a $220,000 (GBP129,000) ring from celebrity jeweller NEIL LANE. Prior to his surprise nuptials, Black had been linked with writer and comic LAURA KIGHTLINGER since 1997.