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Dan Gross: Colin Farrell roams Rittenhouse Square during filming of 'Dead Man Down'

COLIN FARRELL has been hanging out around Rittenhouse Square while in preproduction on "Dead Man Down." The mob drama, which begins shooting at month's end, co-stars Noomi Rapace, the Swedish actress who starred in the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and its sequels.

COLIN FARRELL has been hanging out around Rittenhouse Square while in preproduction on "Dead Man Down."

The mob drama, which begins shooting at month's end, co-stars Noomi Rapace, the Swedish actress who starred in the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and its sequels.

Terrence Howard was also recently added to the cast of the film which is to be shot here but set in New York.

Don't expect to see the reformed bad boy Farrell out partying. The Irishman, now a father of two, says he's been sober for nearly seven years and told Ellen DeGeneres recently about his fondness for yoga and spinning.

Affleck gets trim

Ben Affleck, who is not shooting anything in town, was out for a Rittenhouse Square stroll one morning last week when he stopped into All About Hair (42 S. 19th) for a trim. Stylist Diane Romano recognized him, of course, but played it cool. She says Affleck was friendly and polite and left a good tip. "He has beautiful hair," Romano tells us.

Spurlock doc at Troc

"Super-Size Me" filmmaker Morgan Spurlock will be at the Trocadero (1003 Arch) Thursday for a screening of his new film "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope." The film, which starts at 8 p.m., is part of The Awesome Fest. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait also will be in town for the festival on April 26, hosting the local premiere of "God Bless America," as well as a 20th anniversary midnight screening of "Shakes the Clown." For more info, visit theawesomefest.com.

Charitably minded

The last you heard of "SNL" veteran Victoria Jackson might have been that she became a "birther" doubting that President Obama was born in the United States. On Friday, Jackson performs at the 2012 Red Heart Variety Show to benefit the Variety Club of Philadelphia. Funnyman Joe Piscopo, also an "SNL" alum, hosts the event; comedian Jeff Norris also will perform. The event, with music by the City Rhythm Orchestra, takes place at Vie (600 N. Broad). For info, call Gina Iovanisci at 215-735-0803, ext. 17, or email

gina@varietyphila.org.

* Speaking of Piscopo, he and Flyers great Bernie Parent join honorary chairman Joseph F. Coradino at the Bethesda Project's 15th Annual Gala & Auction May 1 at Citizens Bank Park. If you ask nicely, maybe Piscopo will let you hang him on a hook like his character Danny Vermin in "Johnny Dangerously."

His mother hung him on a hook once. Once.

The Bethesda Project is a nonprofit that supports homeless and formerly homeless adults in Philadelphia. For info on the event, visit bethesdaproject.org or call 215-985-1600, ext. 203.