The Juicy Details

I've been reading a lot of auto-biographies lately from actors. It seems the older one is, the more they think their lives weren't as fascinating as what's next. I recall hearing a story from Bob Costas interviewing Anthony Quinn about his dance in "Zorba the Greek." An iconic celebratory dance. To which (being tight-lipped as Quinn was) shared, a lot of that came from the death of his first son back in the 30's. He revealed that in life, he'd been marking the days shortly after his son had died at the age of 3 and made up a story of what he would be now. It wasn't necessarily part of the scene, but it gave him the emotional core he needed to reach a place of persistence of life pushing through deep sadness. Mr. Quinn took something deeply personal and used it to convey a message to all those who have gone through similar adversity. A story he hadn't shared with anyone.

I've finished one on Marilu Henner. I'm not sure why her name stuck out. Maybe because I'd just watched "Johnny Dangerously" but reading the tales of Hollywood through a middle aged woman still working in Hollywood, is like taking a bath and then jumping into the pool afterwards. You're already wet, what's the point?

But, her sense of humor breaks through. And she's very open about her promiscuity. Of having banged both Tony Danza, John Travolta and Judd Hirsch (that's range!). I'm guessing to the sense of giving us the dirt we buy and read books for. There is also shared pain. Parents who died (relatively) young. Married into alcoholism and actor insecurities. Losing juicy roles. For instance, had no idea she was up for the role that Kate Capshaw got in "Black Rain" with Michael Douglas. It explained why the character came from Chicago. Kate Capshaw, in my opinion, is too glamour-puss to be that earthy. Though, after seeing "Johnny Dangerously" it may have turned others sour to the vampy comedy that she pulled off in that movie. Which, by the way, she minces no words in gutting that movie despite having worked with Michael Keaton and director Amy Heckerling. She also got passed for "Thelma & Louise" Assuming she was going to be Louise.

I think these stories are fascinating, because you get their perspective of how things went down and sense the what-ifs. Also, some of these give you great pointers in terms of navigating the entertainment business.