Names and faces

LITTLE ROCK — New York City police whistle-blower Frank Serpico thinks Al Pacino played him better than he did himself. Pacino played the detective who exposed widespread police corruption in the 1973 movie Serpico. The Daily News interviewed the real-life Serpico in Ghent, in New York’s Hudson Valley, for a story published Sunday. The 76-year-old retiree spoke weeks after the death of fellow whistle-blowing ex-detective David Durk. Serpico smiled as an interviewer noted he is ranked No. 41, just behind Lassie, on the American Film Institute’s list of movie heroes. He says that’s “good company.” The newspaper said Serpico keeps busy trying to finish a book and taking solitary walks. Serpico’s and Durk’s efforts resulted in front-page newspaper stories and a city panel that recommended changes to prevent police corruption.

Bedtime at Katherine Heigl’s house can take awhile. As a mom of two daughters and seven other kids of the fourlegged variety, she likes to give eachone special attention. The Emmy Award winner said first she tucks in her girls, 4-year-old Naleigh and baby Adalaide, who turns 1 in April. Then she takes her seven dogs through their own nighttime ritual. “I literally put each one to bed and every one of them gets hugged and kissed before they go to bed,” she laughed in a recent interview. “It sounds absurd because there are some nights where you’re like, ‘I’m exhausted!’ but there’s never a night where I don’t want that time with them.” The actress has channeled her love of animals to ending animal abuse. She’s launching a line of pet products called Just One where part of the proceeds go to help programs that foster, train, neuter and rescue animals. Merchandise ranging frompet collars to apparel and accessories for people is available on the product’s website. “It’s been an interesting and long process developing this, and it feels so rewarding and exciting that it’s coming to fruition,” said the 33-year-old actress in a recent interview. Heigl said she bought her first three dogs - miniature schnauzers - because “I just didn’t know any better.” Since then, she’s been turning to rescues. “One dog I rescued from Rhode Island while filming 27 Dresses. I love older dogs. I think people don’t realize how much easier they are than puppies. I think they just sense or know that they have you to thank.”