Monitor

WEDDINGS
Sometimes being an extra can lead to something larger than life. Actress Leighanne Wallace (Wild America), 31, who had a small role in the '97 Backstreet Boys video ''As Long as You Love Me,'' tied the knot with Backstreeter Brian Littrell, 25, Sept. 2 in Atlanta. It's the first time for both ... Will & Grace star Debra Messing, 32, wed actor-screenwriter Daniel Zelman (What Lies Beneath), 33, Sept. 3 near Santa Barbara. It's the first marriage for both.

RECOVERING
Ex-Superman Christopher Reeve, 47, broke his left leg Aug. 17 while exercising, the likely result of weakened bones from five years of paralysis, his publicist says. A full return to his physical therapy regimen is expected in six to eight weeks ... Ex-Bond girl Britt Ekland, 57, broke her right ankle and right wrist Aug. 29 at Kerrang! magazine's heavy metal awards show in London. She was walking to the stage to present Marilyn Manson an award when she slipped on a piece of melon. ''The crowd had gone pretty wild,'' says Paul Cohen, Ekland's manager. ''There were fruit plates and melons and bits of fruit everywhere.'' She was released from a London hospital Sept. 2.

SPLITS
And the beef goes on: On Aug. 10, perennial girl next door Meg Ryan, 38, counter-filed for divorce from hubby Dennis Quaid, 46 (he originally filed for divorce in July after nine years of marriage). Reports claim that after a fling with actor Russell Crowe, 36, she tried to reconcile with Quaid, apparently to no avail. Quaid's publicist had no comment.

ARRESTED
The kid from The Client may just become one. On Aug. 28, actor Brad Renfro, 18, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on a grand theft charge for allegedly trying to steal a 45-foot yacht. The day before he was to start shooting Bully, the Apt Pupil star and a companion, Harold Bond, 24, were found allegedly trying to drive away in the boat — but neglected to untie it from the dock first. Both the yacht's stern and the dock were damaged. Renfro was released after posting $10,000 bond. Authorities reportedly were investigating whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the incident; after a 1998 plea bargain on marijuana and cocaine possession charges, Renfro agreed to random drug testing. Renfro's publicist could not be reached for comment.

COURTS
Hog-riding actor Dennis Hopper, 64, got an easy ride Sept. 1 when a Canadian judge granted an absolute discharge to a charge of marijuana possession. Last October, Hopper was arrested at Calgary's airport after police dogs sniffed out less than half an ounce of pot in his luggage ... Oh, Brother: Chicago attorney Marvin Rosenblum, who owns the film and TV rights to George Orwell's 1984 and produced a 1985 film adaptation, filed a lawsuit Aug. 16 against CBS parent Viacom and Orwell Prods., the production firm behind the reality series Big Brother. Rosenblum reportedly alleges that Orwell Prods. and the net intentionally misled viewers to believe their show is connected with Orwell's 1948 classic. Orwell Prods. had no comment, but a CBS statement said ''We think the lawsuit is meritless.'' ...