Crisis on hold: Coster plays in RFK golf tourney

GOOD MORNING: Kevin Costner segues from appearing with the Kennedys -- JFK and Bobby -- in "13 Days," a retelling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, to appear for Ethel Kennedy, Oct. 15 and 16. Costner gets two days off from the film to play in Ethel Kennedy's 10th annual Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Golf Tourney in Hyannis Port. It supports the Memorial's inner city and human rights projects, the legacy of RFK's life and work. Two years ago, Ethel K. escorted Costner on a tour of the JFK library in Boston. He has since met with other Kennedy family members including Joe Jr. Coca-Cola and Nike sponsor the tourney, which raised $500,000 last year. In "13 Days," Costner plays Kenny O'Donnell who was a classmate of Bobby's at Harvard and became an aide to JFK -- he was plugged into everything transpiring during the Cuban crisis. Costner plays "everyman" who sees what is happening -- and who knows how close we came to a nuclear war. Although we know the outcome, the pic promises to be a nail-biter. JFK is played by Bruce Greenwood ("Double Jeopardy") and Steven Culp (Robert's son) plays Bobby Kennedy ... Celeb golfers also attending include Alec Baldwin, Bill Murray, Frank Gifford, Peter Gallagher, Bill Russell and Rafer Johnson. And among other Kennedys to be there, RFK Jr. and daughter Rory whose docu, "American Hollow" airs on HBO next month ... And Robert Redford, now directing-producing "The Legend of Bagger Vance" the story of the black caddie (played by Will Smith) who guides golfer Rannulph Junah (played by Matt Damon) in a championship match, arranged for the "Bagger Vance" book's publisher (HarperCollins) to donate to the RFK Memorial Golf tourney players 150 copies of the book. For inspiration?

"WHEN HE HEARD THE WORD 'ARMY,' did he go into a monologue?" Larry Gelbart asked after I said hello to Bob Hope, who made a surprise appearance at the BevHilton for the Maple Counseling Center's Crystal Ball honoring Pat and Larry Gelbart -- in remembrance of their (late) daughter Cathy. When I welcomed Hope (96), in the noisy ball room, Dolores whispered my name in Bob's ear. He greeted me warmly with a smile. The black tie'd audience gave Hope a standing ovation when m.c. Carl Reiner, ever-generous and indefatigable, announced Hope's attendance, along with the presence of two others for whom Gelbart had worked -- Red Buttons and Sid Caesar. Gelbart had written for Hope on radio, TV, movies -- in Korea, in the Berlin airlift, etc. Buttons admitted Gelbart wrote for him on his series but left to write for Sid Caesar. Buttons added, "Neil Simon also worked for me -- and left to work for Sid Caesar. It made ME want to leave me for Sid Caesar!" Buttons was at his funniest -- and when he's only funny, he's brilliant. He admitted," I couldn't be here in spirit -- so I came in person. I left my mansion in Bel-Air where we had a flood -- two Evian trucks collided" ... The evening, launched by a video from Tipper Gore, recipient of the Center's Leadership in Mental Health Awareness Award, raised over $200,000. The most touching segment of the event was a tape of Cathy Gelbart's life -- including her beautiful singing of "Someone To Watch Over Me." There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Mine included. Tributes to Cathy were also made by Loleah Soomekh, Mary Knobler and Cathy's son Sasha Gelbart. The Hollywood crowd included Kirk and Anne Douglas, Veronique and Gregory Peck, Felicia and Jack Lemmon, Barbara Sinatra, Angie Dickinson, Dick and Michelle Van Dyke, Mildred and Sherwood Schwartz (he started his career writing for Hope), Monty and Marilyn Hall, Rita and Jerry Vale, Penni and Dick Crenna, Kit and Jay Kanter, Carole and Dom DeLuise and Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna on their night off from the Canon Theater.

CARROLL O'CONNOR IS OK at St. John's hospital after surgery to correct adhesions from gall bladder surgery several years ago. He and wife Nancy had winged in from N.Y. where they attended the Friars' roast of Jerry Stiller and Bobby Short's 75th birthday party at the Carlyle. O'Connor's feature, "Return to Me" with Minnie Driver is readying for release and he's ready to return to work again ... Connie Stevens who told me earlier of dissatisfaction with her pact with Home Shopping Network -- where, over 10 years she's sold over one billion-$ (that's with a "b") in her "Forever Spring" products -- has notified 'em she'll no longer appear on HSN ... Lew Wasserman will be interviewed on tape by L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan for the Millennium New Year's Eve gala party at Paramount honoring Wasserman "as Man of the Century." But the Wassermans will not attend the lengthy, late night bash in person. Gary Smith who is producing the taped interview will next be producing the 23-hour (!) ABC global New Year's eve celebration. He leaves next week for confabs with the BBC in London, and Paris, part of the 60 different countries participating in the coverage ... The 25th anni of the Groundlings will be celebrated Saturday at their L.A. theatre with alums participating including "SNL's" Cheri Oteri and Ana Gasteyer, Mike McDonald, Kathy Griffin and Mindy Sterling ... Sandy Fisher and Rick Kelleher welcomed twins, Alexis Samantha and Tyler Ethan, Oct. 1 ... There will be a memorial for the much-loved Gloria (Mrs. Ben) Starr 2 p.m. Oct. 17, at the home of Gloria and Jules Strelitz.