ALLY MCBEAL - MCBEAL'S MARTIN TO PLAY GAYE

Former ALLY MCBEAL actor JESSE L. MARTIN will portray MARVIN GAYE in a new movie about the late soul star's life. The 39-year-old, who has previously showed off his singing skills in rock musical Rent, will play the legendary Motown star in Sexual Healing - a film based loosely on author Steven Turner's book Trouble Man. The screenplay will document Gaye's rise to international fame in the 1960s and 1970s, right through to his split from the Motown Record label in the 1980s and his self-imposed exile in Europe. Gaye died in April 1984 - one day before his 45th birthday (02Apr84) - when he was shot and killed by his father following an argument. The Sopranos star James Gandolfini is also slated to appear in the film as promoter Freddy Cousaert, and will produce the project, according to Variety.