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Claude Giraud

2010-09-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

CLAUDE GIRAUD, Comédien

Entretien réalisé le 27 mai 2009 par François JUSTAMAND
Remerciements à Jenny Gérard et à Pascal Laffitte
Ancien sociétaire de la Comédie-Française, Claude Giraud est l’un des plus remarquables comédiens de sa génération. Jeune premier dans les années 60, il a interprété Morgan le héros du feuilleton télévisé Les Compagnons de Jéhu. On se souvient aussi de lui dans le rôle de Philippe de Plessis-Bellières dans la saga des Angélique, ou encore de son rôle de Slimane, le compagnon d’infortune de Louis de Funès dans le célèbre film Les aventures de Rabbi Jacob.
Mais Claude Giraud, c’est aussi une grande voix de doublage depuis plusieurs décennies. Il est le double vocal de Robert Redford et de Tommy Lee Jones dans presque tous leurs films. Il a aussi prêté sa voix suave à Harrison Ford dans Les aventuriers de l’arche perdue, à Sean Connery dans Le nom de la rose, à Liam Neeson dans La liste de Schindler, ou encore au personnage d’Ulysse dans le dessin animé des années 80 Ulysse 31. Depuis presque une décennie, il double également le comédien Alan Rickman (le mystérieux professeur Rogue) dans la saga des Harry Potter.
Claude Giraud est un homme très discret et assez peu médiatisé. Il nous a fait l’honneur d’une rencontre où il a bien voulu évoquer avec nous sa riche carrière.

La Gazette du doublage : vous êtes né à Chamalières. A quel âge avez-vous eu la vocation de devenir comédien ?

Claude Giraud : J’ai eu la vocation assez tôt car j’avais l’occasion d’aller beaucoup au cinéma à Clermont-Ferrand. J’avais un oncle qui possédait plusieurs salles de cinéma. J’ai vu plusieurs films de l’âge d’or du cinéma américain. J’adorais les films avec Gary Cooper ; cela me faisait rêver. Ensuite j’ai découvert Richard Burton qui est un des plus grands acteurs qui soit. Et puis, il y avait aussi le cinéma français avec ses vedettes de l’époque telles que Gérard Philippe, Jean Marais qui ont participé à cette découverte et à cette passion.

La Gazette du doublage : Quel a été votre formation ?

Claude Giraud : Je suis resté dans ma province jusqu’au baccalauréat. Ensuite, je suis monté à Paris pour en principe faire une licence de lettres. Je me suis inscrit dans un cours de comédie : l’école du Vieux Colombier, rue du Conservatoire pour commencer à voir un peu ce qu’était ce métier dont j’ignorais absolument tout puisque personne dans ma famille n’était comédien. J’ai découvert le métier comme cela et j’ai donc abandonné très vite ma licence de lettres pour me consacrer au théâtre. J’ai fait le Centre de la rue Blanche puis le Conservatoire. J’en suis sorti en 1962 (après 29 mois de service militaire) avec trois premiers prix ; ce qui ne s’est jamais produit chez les comédiens auparavant. Cela est arrivé chez les comédiennes quelques années avant avec Geneviève Casile. Tout cela m’a permis d’être engagé à la Comédie-Française d’où je suis parti très vite pour tourner un film de Jean Giono, que j’aimais beaucoup, qui s’appelle Un roi sans divertissement (1965)...

La Gazette du doublage : Vous aviez donc démissionné du Français ?

Logo Comédie-Française Claude Giraud : J’avais donné ma démission ce qui avait créé de gros problèmes car j’ai eu un devis à payer – ce que j’ai fait – du fait que je suis resté seulement 6 mois ; d’août 1962 à janvier 1963. J’avais demandé à l’Administrateur du Français à l’époque, Maurice Escande, un congé qu’il n’a pas voulu m’accorder et donc je suis parti de la Maison de Molière. Malheureusement, le très beau film de Giono, que je suis très content d’avoir tourné, n’a pas eu le succès espéré malgré le Prix du cinéma de 1964. Du coup, ma carrière au cinéma n’a pas été très florissante. Comme le cinéma est une industrie, si vous tournez un film qui marche, ça va, sinon ça patauge un peu pendant un certain nombre d’années. Comme mon vrai métier c’est le théâtre, j’ai donc fait beaucoup plus de théâtre.

La Gazette du doublage : Vous êtes revenu au Français ?

Claude Giraud : Je suis revenu au Français dix ans après, en 1972. J’en suis parti à nouveau en 1982. J’en ai été Sociétaire...

La Gazette du doublage : A la télévision, on vous a vu dans Les Compagnons de Jéhu (1966) et au cinéma dans les Angélique ou encore Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob (1973) entre autres choses...

Claude Giraud : Rabbi Jacob, ça évidemment... (Rire.) La chose la plus marquante ! (Rire.) Non pas que je le renie, du tout, car cela a été très agréable comme tournage, mais enfin bon voilà... A la télévision, il y a eu aussi Belle et Sébastien qui a été un grand succès populaire.

La Gazette du doublage : Quels sont vos meilleurs souvenirs de carrière ?

Les aventures de Rabbi Jacob Claude Giraud : Au cinéma, j’ai été content de travailler avec certaines personnes, moins content de travailler avec d’autres mais Rabbi Jacob a été un bon souvenir. Louis de Funès et Gérard Oury ont été très agréables. Mes meilleurs souvenirs sont au théâtre par rapport au travail que l’on peut faire sur soi. Au théâtre aussi, il y a des metteurs en scène avec lesquels on est enchanté de travailler et d’autres moins. J’ai aimé jouer dans des pièces classiques comme « Le Gardien » de Pinter, qui a été un gros succès, avec Jacques Dufilho et Sacha Pitoëff. Cela a été un souvenir magnifique. Dufilho était absolument génial. On n’a fait qu’une saison au Théâtre de la Madeleine car nous nous sommes un peu chamaillés avec Jean-Laurent Cochet, un très bon ami du Conservatoire mais au caractère assez particulier. Pendant cette année, nous avons donc joué 20 spectacles en alternance, du « Misanthrope » à « Dom Juan »...

J’ai beaucoup aimé jouer dans un montage de textes poétiques à propos d’un thème principal. Un dénominateur commun qui pouvait être un « arbre » par exemple. Tous les textes ne parlaient pas forcément d’arbres mais ça allait de Clément Marot à Marguerite Duras, en passant par Genevois, Hugo et par d’autres grands poètes. J’ai toujours cru beaucoup à l’idée d’un spectacle avec un dénominateur commun qui créé une sorte de nerf dramatique qui sous-tend le spectacle et avec une adjonction de musiques, de chansons. Il y avait une douzaine de chansons dont les adaptations m’avaient été écrites par François Robert qui était l’accompagnateur, l’arrangeur de Jacques Brel. Il y avait un pianiste en scène pendant tout le spectacle. Je chantais des chansons à texte de Barbara, de Brel, de Brassens... Je les avais choisies minutieusement. La difficulté, c’est que pour le montage d’un spectacle poétique de cet ordre, il faut un nerf, je vous le disais, à travers un dénominateur commun, un thème principal, et puis que tout se mette en place progressivement. Cela oblige parfois à couper certaines choses avec respect, à alléger un peu les textes pour garder le moins possible de choses anecdotiques et conserver l’essentiel. C’était tout un travail de construction. Cela s’appelait « Arbres de vie ». J’en avais fait un autre sur le thème du rapport de l’homme et de la femme, « Amours fauves ».

La Gazette du doublage : Comment êtes-vous venu au doublage ?

Robert Redford Claude Giraud : J’y suis venu dans les années soixante grâce à Richard Heinz que j’aimais beaucoup. Un jour, il m’avait fait faire un essai sur Warren Beatty et cela a été concluant. C’était mon premier grand rôle. J’ai ensuite travaillé avec lui assez régulièrement. Il y a eu aussi d’autres rencontres. J’ai aussi travaillé beaucoup avec Jacques Barclay, un grand ami, qui gérait la société START à l’époque. J’ai doublé des films intéressants et des séries avec lui, comme Les six femmes d’Henry VIII car il travaillait beaucoup pour la BBC. Et puis, j’ai commencé à doubler Robert Redford sous la direction de Jacques Barclay dans un film de guerre. L’alchimie entre lui et moi s’est bien faite et j’ai continué à le doubler. En plus, c’est un acteur que j’adore. A une époque, j’ai souvent doublé Alan Bates, un acteur que j’aime beaucoup aussi.

La Gazette du doublage : Citez-nous les différents acteurs auxquels vous prêtez votre voix ?

Alan Rickman dans Harry Potter Claude Giraud : A part Robert Redford, je double très souvent Tommy Lee Jones et d’autres acteurs plus ponctuellement comme Alan Rickman dans les Harry Potter, Patrick Stewart dans les films de Star Trek, Roger Moore dans ses derniers films, Sean Connery dans Le nom de la rose et Harrison Ford dans Les Aventuriers de l’Arche perdue.

La Gazette du doublage : Parmi ses acteurs, avez-vous de préférences ?

Claude Giraud : J’aime beaucoup doubler Refdord car c’est un sublime acteur qui dans le jeu a une sorte de distance qui est intéressante, grâce auquel on apprend beaucoup de choses. Rien n’est livré au hasard chez lui. J’ai particulièrement apprécié de le doubler dans Le meilleur. Le personnage qu’il joue est presque anodin mais grâce à son talent, il lui apporte une intensité, une diversité de significations, une distance et un humour.

La Gazette du doublage : Est-il vrai que c’est Jean-Jacques Annaud qui vous avait choisi pour doubler Sean Connery dans Le nom de la rose, alors que sa voix habituelle était celle de Jean-Claude Michel ?

Claude Giraud : Oui, je ne sais pas pourquoi il m’avait choisi. J’avais fait un essai sans l’avoir rencontré d’ailleurs car il n’était pas sur le plateau et cela a été concluant. J’ai été enchanté de doubler ce film. Sean Connery est un merveilleux acteur.

La Gazette du doublage : Avez-vous des souvenirs du doublage du premier Indiana Jones ?

Tommy Lee Jones Claude Giraud : C’est Marc Cassot qui m’avait dirigé sur ce film. J’ai travaillé assez souvent avec Marc. J’ai été très content de le faire car le film était très bien. Il y avait un ton assez nouveau quand même, mais, j’ai préféré, de loin, doubler Tommy Lee Jones dans Le Fugitif où l’on retrouve aussi Harrison Ford. J’adore le doubler car c’est un acteur qui prend beaucoup de risques, il va au bout des choses. Il parle aussi assez fort. Une fois, lors du doublage d’un Tommy Lee Jones, le directeur de plateau me disait que je le faisais trop fort alors que j’essayais de respecter la VO. Pourtant, moi je suis toujours pour m’approcher au plus près de ce que fait l’acteur au niveau de la version originale. Tout ça pour parler du Fugitif, autant je trouve que Tommy Lee Jones a un charme, un oeil, un l’humour, autant Harrison Ford, je dois dire que ce n’est pas un acteur qui me transporte. Il a une puissance, mais il joue tout d ans le poids... Il n’a pas un oeil très allumé (rires !)

La Gazette du doublage : Quels acteurs avez-vous doublé pour la télévision ?

Stacy Keach dans "L'amour en héritage" Claude Giraud : J’ai doublé avec beaucoup de plaisir David Birney dans la série Serpico, le héros du dessin animé Ulysse 31 dirigé par Jacques Barclay, Stacy Keach dans L’amour en héritage. A ce propos, c’est le metteur en scène Robert Mazoyer qui s’était occupé de ce doublage. Je le connaissais car j’avais tourné plusieurs fois pour lui. Cela avait été très agréable à faire. J’y avais retrouvé de bonnes comédiennes comme Danièle Lebrun (Lee Remick), Evelyne Dandry (Stephanie Powers)... Cette mini-série n’avait pas un scénario formidable et Stacy Keach est un très bon acteur mais ce n’est pas celui que j’ai préféré doubler. J’ai doublé Richard Chamberlain dans Shogun, sous la direction de Marc Cassot aussi. C’est un bon acteur que j’ai doublé plusieurs fois.

La Gazette du doublage : Au doublage, vous avez été dirigé par des comédiens devenus directeurs de plateau et par des directeurs de plateau sans un passé de comédiens. Lesquels préférez-vous ?

Claude Giraud : A une certaine époque, il n’y avait pas trop de comédiens faisant la direction de plateau comme maintenant. En général, le directeur de plateau était souvent le patron de la société de doublage comme Jacques Barclay. Je ne trouve pas vraiment que ce soit un mieux lorsque c’est un comédien qui dirige un autre comédien car il peut y avoir un abus d’autorité. Je préfère nettement être dirigé par un patron de société. A mes débuts Jacques Barclay, j’ai fait des doublages où l’on travaillait « en boucles » avec deux projecteurs. On travaillait sur une boucle (une scène, ndlr) pendant qu’on montait l’autre boucle. Il y avait toujours certains arrêts pour envoyer la boucle suivante. Cette façon de travailler n’était pas désagréable car on se détendait un peu plus. Barclay avait une certaine autorité sur ses acteurs, ce qui facilitait la concentration sur le plateau.

La Gazette du doublage : Les rôles que vous interprétez à la synchro sont-ils proches de votre personnalité ?

Claude Giraud : Je pense qu’il y a certaines similitudes physiques ou de caractères. Mais ce qui intéressant aussi c’est d’arriver à doubler des acteurs différents en essayant toujours de s’approcher au plus proche de ce que fait l’acteur original. Parfois, on peut améliorer une mauvaise version, et parfois on ne peut pas faire aussi bien, même lorsque l’on se double soi-même. En studio, il n’est pas facile de reproduire le son exact du tournage.

La Gazette du doublage : Quelles différences faites-vous entre doubler un film maintenant et à vos débuts ?

Claude Giraud : Le temps certainement... C’est un métier bizarre le doublage. Il y a de très bons comédiens qui n’arrivent pas à en faire et des comédiens qui ne sont pas parmi les meilleurs mais qui sont très adroits et font ça très bien. Pour un comédien, le danger est qu’il ne faut pas trop en faire. On travaille beaucoup sur la facilité, sur la rapidité... J’ai connu beaucoup de comédiens qui ont eu des années dorées. Ils ont très bien gagné leur vie car dans la journée ils travaillaient dans trois studios différents ! C’est difficile d’essayer de conserver l’authenticité, bien que notre rôle soit de se mettre à la place de quelqu’un. Il faut s’identifier à un personnage interprété par un autre comédien, par la voix duquel on doit tout de même faire transparaître certains sentiments essentiels.

La Gazette du doublage : A vos débuts, avez-vous rencontré des difficultés avec la technique de la bande rythmo ?

Gatsby le magnifique Claude Giraud : Cela ne m’a jamais créé de réels soucis, par chance. C’est vrai que lorsque l’on est débutant et que l’on se trompe, on a encore plus peur par la suite.

Par contre, il y a eu une technique qui a été employé par un certain Jacques Lévy qui s’est occupé du doublage d’un certain nombre de films américains et avec qui j’avais fait Gerald Ford, Gatsby le magnifique. Un système d’origine américaine. Il n’y avait pas de bande rythmo car on avait le texte sur un pupitre. Sur l’image, une barre entrait – on disait son texte - et une autre barre suivait lorsque la phrase se terminait. Le problème est que l’on ne doublait pas seul. En conséquence, pour chaque scène, il y avait première barre qui entrait pour un comédien, une seconde pour un autre comédien et ainsi de suite. C’était infernal !

La Gazette du doublage : Avez-vous eu l’occasion de rencontrer des acteurs que vous avez doublés ?

Claude Giraud : Non, jamais. J’ai failli rencontrer Robert Redford. Michel Denisot m’avait proposé de le rencontrer lors d’une interview pour une sortie d’un de ces films mais ça ne s’est pas fait. Et puis, sur plateau d’une émission, c’est toujours un peu ridicule. Le jour de cette interview, il paraît qu’il avait dit des choses très gentilles en ce qui me concerne.
Par contre, j’avais une amie qui le connaissait bien et qui m’avait dit : « Tiens, un jour, on fera un dîner ! » Dans ce cadre, j’aurais bien aimé le rencontrer car c’est quelqu’un que j’admire énormément.

La Gazette du doublage : Quel est votre meilleur souvenir de doublage ?

Sean Connery dans Le nom de la rose Claude Giraud : C’est selon les acteurs et les films. Doubler un bon acteur, c’est un régal ! Je garde un très bon souvenir du Nom de la rose car c’était un personnage particulier. Même pour Sean Connery, c’était particulier aussi. Pour moi, il y avait à respecter une composition d’un personnage par Sean Connery. C’était amusant à faire. Et puis, j’aime doubler les films avec Redford et Tommy Lee Jones. Les derniers films que j’ai doublés avec lui sont Les trois enterrements et Dans la vallée d’Ellah, sur la guerre en Irak (sous la direction de Jenny Gérard). Je n’ai pas fait son dernier film réalisé par Bertrand Tavernier. Tommy Lee Jones et Richard Burton sont deux acteurs qui ont une puissance d’expression qui me fascine, que j’admire. Je n’ai jamais doublé Burton. Il était souvent doublé par André Falcon, Jean-Claude Michel et Raymond Gérôme. Ce dernier l’avait doublé dans l’adaptation au cinéma de la pièce "Qui a peur de Virginia Woolf ?" dans lequel je doublais George Segal. J’ai joué cette pièce au théâtre pendant deux ans et demi avec Madeleine Robinson et Pascale Audret.

La Gazette du doublage : Quelle place représente la synchro dans votre carrière ? Claude Giraud : La synchro ne représente pas une place primordiale, sans que cela soit péjoratif. Pour moi, c’est le théâtre qui a la plus grande place. Toutes les formes d’expression du comédien sont intéressantes, que cela soit le cinéma, la télévision, la radio, la syncho... Ce n’est pas inintéressant de tout pratiquer car cela permet d’avoir une certaine souplesse, de travailler... Je n’ai jamais bâti ma carrière sur le doublage en tout cas.

La Gazette du doublage : Quels sont vos prochains projets ?

Liam Neeson dans "La liste de Schindler" Claude Giraud : Je travaille de moins en moins car je vis en Province. Je fais de l’élevage de poneys Connemara, de très beaux poneys irlandais. J’adore jouer la comédie mais c’est un milieu qui me lasse maintenant. J’ai une fille, Marianne Giraud, qui fait ce métier aussi. Par rapport à la réalité de la vie, à moins d’aventures exceptionnelles, on est à côté des choses. C’est un métier de rigolos... J’adore ce métier mais je travaille de moins en moins. Demain, tout de même, je pars pour la journée à Bruxelles pour doubler Liam Neeson dans le film Un autre homme. C’est un merveilleux acteur que j’avais aussi doublé dans La liste de Schindler. Cela avait été une grande joie.

http://www.objectif-cinema.com/spip.php?article5279

Colin Egglesfield

2010-09-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth 9 February 1973, Dearborn, Michigan, USA
Height 6' (1.83 m)
He has 2 siblings: an older sister, Kerry, and a younger brother named Sean.
Trains in martial arts.
***
Colin Egglesfield was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan. At the age of 10, his family moved to Crete, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago where his father continued his medical practice and his mother opened up a café. As a child Colin divided his time between athletics, building model airplanes and working in his mother’s shop with his older sister and younger brother. Following high school, Colin attended Illinois Wesleyan University where football was his main focus. A year later he transferred to the University of Iowa to pursue a degree in Biology/ Pre-Med in hopes of following in his father’s footsteps. After earning his degree, Colin took a break to travel. While exploring, he was discovered by famed photographer, Bruce Weber, which immediately led to model work for Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Calvin Klein. Shorty thereafter Colin was walking the runways of Milan, New York, and Paris and doing photo shoots around the world. Throughout his career he would continue to work with some of the most significant names in fashion. In 1997, Colin moved to New York City where he furthered his modeling career and began to book national commercials and guest appearances on such TV shows as “Law & Order: SVU” and “Leap of Faith.” As a member of the Riant Theatre Group, he starred in multiple plays including “A Few Good Men.” In 2002, Colin moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting on a full time basis. He immediately booked a pilot for the WB and continued to work steadily including more guest appearances and supporting roles on such shows as “Gilmore Girls,” “Nip/Tuck,” and “Charmed.” He also landed lead and supporting parts in films such as “Must Love Dogs”, “Beautiful Dreamer,” and “The Good Guy.” Colin’s breakthrough as an actor came in 2005 when he booked the controversial role of Erica Kane’s son, Josh Madden, on ABC’s “All My Children.” Good boy turned bad Josh Madden allowed Colin to continue what he loves to do most and move back to New York City. After completing a three year stint at “All My Children,” Colin landed a principal role on the CW network’s reprisal of the hit TV show “Melrose Place” which will be airing Sept. 2009 Colin currently divides his time between Los Angeles and New York City. When not filming, he runs his own T shirt company, “Shout Out! Clothing”. Shout Out! shirts come with Velcro letters which attach to the shirt, allowing the wearer to create endless customizable messages. This is consistent with Colin’s belief in the importance of self expression; Shout Out! is a tool that empowers wearers to be whomever they want and share it with the world. Immediate plans for Shout Out! include the development of a not-for-profit branch of the company that will dedicate its resources to supporting educational initiatives for disadvantaged children. An avid runner who completed the Chicago, New York, and San Diego marathons, Colin has also raised money for such not-for-profits as “Team for Kids”, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. In addition, Colin has tutored high school students at “The Door” Youth Center in lower Manhattan and plans to continue his quest to create better educational opportunities for disadvantaged children wherever possible. Colin attributes his many accomplishments to the support of his family and friends without whom, he commits, none of his success would be possible.

Management:
Brillstein Entertainment Colton Gramm 9150 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90212
Theatrical Representation:
UTA (United Talent Agency) Darren Boghosian 9560 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 500 Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2401
Commercial Representation:
New York CESD Jesse Krysko 257 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10010
Los Angeles HRI Talent Michelle Henderson 101 Universal City Plaza Bungalow 7152 Universal City, CA 91608

Melrose Place (2009)

long clip / shorter clip

Christopher Showerman

2010-08-28T15:41:00.001-07:00

The Chris Chronicles

Pub. 08/30/04 Fowlerville News & Views Fowlerville, MI
Disney film star Chris Showerman talks about life beyond ‘George 2’
By Susan Parcheta
Chelsea, Michigan may have Jeff Daniels for its hometown movie star, but the neighborhood to the north – encompassing Webberville, Stockbridge, Gregory, and Fowlerville – can lay claim to native son Christopher Showerman…whose star is rising on the Hollywood horizon.
The actor’s film break came last October with the direct to video/DVD release of Disney’s George of the Jungle 2.
Cast as George, he follows the vine-swinging role of celebrity Brendan Fraser in the 1997 remake of Jay Ward’s 1960s animated classic.
Showerman, son of Jeanne Showerman of Webberville and Jim Showerman of Gregory, is a 1989 graduate of Stockbridge High School and 1992 Michigan State University alum. He earned a degree in music theory and composition while at MSU. After wandering the Lansing theater circuit for awhile, Chris set out in 1997 on the yellow brick road to Hollywood. He’s never looked back.
Now that ‘George 2’ has been showing on home entertainment systems for these past several months, we wondered what the actor has been up to since its release. How’s his career shaping up?
From all indications…quite well. The movie is playing on the Disney Channel and Chris is finding himself being recognized as George…almost, that is.
He tells of a recent encounter at an outdoor café in Long Beach. “A guy in his 50s stopped and asked me if I was Tarzan. I got a pretty big kick out of that, even though he got the character wrong, because without the long hair and the loincloth, I’m rarely recognized from that movie. More people recognize me from Fear Factor [he was on in 2001] still.”
“Apparently,” quips Showerman, “his grandkids play the movie all the time, so I’m sure he was sick of seeing me by then.”
Home recently for his cousin’s wedding, he tells of a similar event while getting popcorn at a Lansing cinema. “People asked if I was Tarzan,” says Chris. Then an employee, who’d seen the movie, recognized him for real…and asked for his autograph.
Another time he says he popped into a video store on Catalina Island. “I asked if they carried George of the Jungle 2. The owner of the store told me that they did not in fact carry it, because it was a cheesy direct-to-video release
that didn’t have the original guy in it. It was all I could do not to bust out laughing. Oh, if he only knew!”
A George 2 reviewer from England wrote: “You know, for a silly movie designed for kids, I had a blast! I’m a big fan of Brendan Fraser, but I have to admit, I like the new guy, Chris Showerman, better as George. There was something different, more of a loveable, boy scout, klutz, nice guy.”
We can only imagine the scores of young children viewing George 2 at zillions of birthday gatherings, with George’s character forever etched in their movie memories.
Mom, Jeanne, found it fascinating at the dentist’s office when Chris went for his annual check-up, watching the little kids gazing up – way, way up – at her son walking across the room.

She recalls when the movie came out last fall, Webberville elementary students in Mrs. Snow’s class, when asked to list some famous “Georges”, first cried out “George of the Jungle”! George Washington was last.
As Chris commented to Moviehole’s Clint Morris last October regarding the direct-to-video release, “The way I see it, folks all over the world will be taking me home with them. That sorta makes us family, right?”
Family is all-important to him, as he notes, “I love to see my family – usually about once a year, twice if it’s a good year. Now that I have a nephew and nieces, it makes the visit even more special.”
Christopher Showerman shares a moment of summertime fun with his nieces and nephew. With a smile that could melt the polar icecaps, a captivating, fun-loving personality and bodybuilder physique, it’s no wonder the six-foot—two Showerman inspires young moviegoers. Co-star Julie Benz told one reviewer, he’s “more like George, than George.”
A “Fanboy Planet” profile of the movie begins simply: “Christopher Showerman.” It ends simply, too: “Remember Christopher Showerman.” While lots of little boys dream of being stunt men, and spend countless hours playing the role, young Showerman turned that dream into a career goal… to be a movie action hero.
A thrill-seeker by nature, his performance as George of the Jungle was foreshadowed by vineswinging
fun at age 6 in his back yard. “I actually broke my arm,” says Showerman, “trying to swing from one branch to another.”
Some favorite thrills include piloting, skydiving, bungee jumping, billboard climbing (“don’t do this, it’s illegal,” says Showerman) and, of course, he adds, “helicopter tackling (thanks to Fear Factor). Cliff diving is still on the to do list.”

The physical power in Christopher Showerman comes from his regimented fitness regime. As he describes it, “My routine is like brushing my teeth – regularity is the key. I don’t think there is any magic quick fix for health; it’s simply doing something every day to keep you mentally, physically and spiritually alive. The first step is knowing that you’re worth the effort!”
Last November, Chris wrote in Muscle and Fitness magazine, “I spend two hours in the gym five days a week, plus an hour of cardio.” At that time he was eating six high-protein/low carb meals and drinking at least a gallon of water per day.
He flexed his movie muscles for a profile article, “Swinging into Action” (and cover photo) in the January 2004 issue of Max Sports and Fitness magazine. He currently is getting in shape for the 18th Annual Nautica Malibu Triathlon for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, slated for Sept. 19. Chris will be doing the running portion of a relay team for the event. [See more about the triathlon benefit and how you can help sponsor Chris’ team in a separate article that follows].
“My diet is slightly different now,” he points out, “as I am eating less to slim down [from 200 lbs to 190-195] for the triathlon competition. Easier to run when I'm not carrying so much weight around!”
“I’m still regulating my carbs, but not completely cutting them out. I think the body fatigues over any diet after a while and change slows or stops as a result.” Says Showerman, “I change my routines to keep my body responding and keep myself entertained. I am not doing a third hour of cardio at the moment but I am still doing the 2 hours in the gym from 5-7 a.m.”
When it comes to real life action heroes, Showerman has his own. Jackie Chan for one. “I love that he plays the nice guy that has the hidden ability to kick butt. He’s also completely charming.”
Another Christopher is high on his hero
list…Christopher Reeve, actor and everyone’s
Superman. “He devotes his life,” says Chris, “to
making a change in the world and lives his life
as an inspiration to others.”
But the hero Showerman declares has most
inspired him is his own brother, Sam, who,
explains Chris, suffered severed nerves in an
accident, but now is healed.
“He has overcome some amazing odds and hasn’t
let that change his personality, dull his charm,
or lessen his drive in life.”
Chris spends much of his time volunteering for
charity events…including the Christopher Reeve
Paralysis Foundation, the organization dearest to
his heart.
“I was inspired by the folks I met through that
organization and my brother to write a song
called Heroes. It’s about doing whatever it takes
to achieve your dreams – even if the rest of the
world tells you that your dream is impossible.”
Besides writing music, Chris continues to play
piano, guitar and bass. “Back in high school I
played bassoon and saxophone, as well. I’m pretty
rusty on all of it at the moment,” he says,” and
then, with a sprightly touch of Showerman humor,
adds, “I mostly play the radio now.”
Classically trained in voice, he had
aspirations at one time to sing Opera. He
intended to be a rock star after college, he
says. “They didn’t offer a degree in Rock Stardom
so I settled for composition instead. I played
with various bands for a few years, but realized
if I wanted to be a rock star, I’d have to depend
on other musicians creatively to be as driven as
I am.”
“I went back into my first love, acting,
because when you go into an audition, it’s just
you. You succeed or fail based on yourself –
there is no one else to shoulder the
responsibility.”
“I did a number of musicals in Lansing,”
Showerman says, “and reprised my role of Rocky
[Riverwalk Theater 1997] in LA with David Arquett
in the stage version of Rocky Horror. I also
sang in a new musical in New York last June
entitled Rush Limbaugh in Hell, by Tom
Klunzinger. Of local interest, the premise is
that Rush Limbaugh gets held hostage in Hell,
Michigan.”
“I think I was the only one in the cast,” he
laughs, “that had not only been to Hell, but had
enjoyed a delicious meal at the Dam Site Inn.”
Showerman manages to squeak moments into his
schedule for another passion…scriptwriting. “I
think the script is the most important part of
the movie,” he says. “That’s why I love to write.
You can compensate for a poor director or even
mediocre performances if there is an amazing
script, but if your script is bad, no one can
save it.”
“I am writing a western movie script right
now,” he adds, “called Last Cowboy. I always
fall in love with my characters, and this is no
exception.”
Movies are his life…When asked if he ever feels
like he’s living a movie, Showerman responds,
“Yeah, it really does feel like living a
movie…sometimes a comedy, sometimes a tragedy!”
Welcome to reality. TV, that is. An early
summer issue of TV Guide mentioned “Hollywood’s
talent pool overflowing with reality-TV castoffs
who wonder what happened to their 15 minutes.”
Chris Showerman knows. He’s been there…done
that. He left Webberville for Hollywood the year
George I opened with Brendan Fraser. Six years
later, he was the “new George.” In between, he
did the reality TV scene…and kept on plugging.
Looking back over those years, he recollects:
“It struck me as a very non-linear progression.
One day I was struggling to get my shot, then the
next day, I was in front of major studio
producers handing me a chance at the lead in a
movie. It doesn’t sound like the way things
really happen, but that’s really how it
happened.”
Acclimated now to the Hollywood scene, he’ll
admit to being in awe of certain personalities.
“I did meet astronaut Buzz Aldrin this year. That
was pretty inspiring. The guy must be in his 70s
and still has a handshake so strong, it could
turn coal into diamonds.”
As for the celebrity scene in general, though,
Chris has learned to navigate those waters with
ease. “I’m still fascinated by celebrities
because they do what I do, and usually more
successfully at this point,” he says. “I like to
study success and what elements seem to be
consistent in the champion of any field.” As time
goes by, though, he notes, “I believe less and
less in that mysterious ‘star quality.’”
During his early years in LA, he worked in
various jobs. “I used to be a massage therapist
to several stars. When I first met Heather
Locklear, I was pretty nervous because I had a
calendar of her hanging in my bedroom when I was
12. But unlike most people who met her that day,
I was massaging her feet and legs and had to
assume a professional ‘in control’ demeanor. I
haven’t been star struck since.”
Having been described in one review as an
“amiable newcomer,” Showerman has a star quality,
though, that casting agents are beginning to
discover. Said “Zap2It” reviewer Dale Reynolds of
the multi-faceted actor, “Chris is “bursting with
talent.”
Since George 2 small miracles have transpired;
and his list of acting credits continues to grow.
“Things are actually moving this summer,” he
says. “More people in Hollywood know who I am and
there are some opportunities showing themselves.”
Last November, he served as grand marshal for
the 16th annual Rosebud Parade for kids in
Pasadena. “I was still completely unknown,” he
laughs. “Everyone cheered and waved and shouted,
‘Who are you?!’”
He starred as Andy Hobart in Neil Simon’s The
Star Spangled Girl at North Hollywood’s Secret
Rose Theater. That, he says, was harrowing. He
had to memorize 70 pages of dialogue in three
weeks, perform it live, while during the same
time period he was filming Sea of Fear.
This independent thriller, slated for release
this fall, is directed by Andrew Schuth. “It is a
psychological thriller,” explains Chris, “where
four rich kids charter a sail boat and the
captain (played by Edward Albert – that’s Eddie
Albert’s son of Green Acres fame) takes on a
fifth unwelcome guest, played by myself. As luck
would have it, the rich kids start disappearing
off this boat that has been stranded at sea and
no one can figure out who is responsible.”
Showerman will also be seen on SOAPnet in
September, in a series of one-minute episodes,
beginning Sept. 13 for six weeks. “One Minute
Soap” is a takeoff on the old Taster’s Choice
serial coffee commercial.
Says Chris, “My character, Michael, meets
Rebecca online and they schedule a date. However,
Rebecca’s loser ex-husband shows up at just the
wrong time, threatening to spoil her chances of
ever moving on in her romantic life (or at least
going out with me!”)
But the hottest role he played this year was a
guest appearance on Fox’s O.C. episode, The
Strip. Chris was the lead “impossibly hot
fireman” stripper at the Cohen house bachelorette
party before Julie’s wedding.
When asked about the O.C., he says it was a
one-time appearance. “Besides, he says, “I don’t
know if I want to be type cast as a stripper.”
His famous line from that show came when Julie
threw open the door and Fireman Jeff greeted her
with, “Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?!”
On that note, the question on the O.C. message
board the next day was, “Anyone know who he is
and where he came from? We’d love to see more
(and more and more) of him.”
Showerman will be seen more and more as he
continues on that yellow brick road to stardom.
Most recently, he was privileged to be among
those heeding a casting call to audition for the
role of Superman in the new movie. That, alone,
is a dream come true.
While home, he says, “Mom helped me learn my
lines. She makes a great Lois Lane.”
Showerman fans may have seen his web interview
last fall on Superman-v.com, in which Chris
explores the archetype of Superman: “I think we
all have a Clark Kent in us that is secretly
dying to be the Man of Steel.”
“The Superman story,” he continues, “is
perfect for meeting us on a very human level
(Clark Kent) and taking us to that superhuman
heroic feeling that we get by the end of the
film. We walk out of the theater believing that
more things are possible in our own lives. That
is movie magic for me.”
Like cyclist Lance Armstrong, Christopher
Showerman is driven by what’s inside. “I’ve
always been pretty driven,” he says. “Perhaps it
was the values that Mom and Dad raised us with.
They always told us (and continue to tell us)
that nothing is impossible. I truly believe that.
If I didn’t, I would never have been able to come
this far.”
His purpose in pursuing an acting career, he’ll
say simply, is: “I enjoy what I do.”
“Being an actor gives you compassion for
everyone you meet, because when you act a
character, you can no longer judge him, you have
to get inside of him and discover what makes him
tick.”
“You do that enough,” he says, “and you begin
to realize that we all want the same things – to
be happy, to feel important, to be loved, to be
safe, to feel alive. Different characters just go
about achieving it differently.”
“My main purpose,” he adds, “is to enjoy my
life and to live to the fullest, and from that
I’ll hopefully inspire others to enjoy theirs and
to become more of what they were meant to be as
well.”
As for inspiration along the way each day,
Chris lists “kids, underdog stories, the promise
of a new goal.”
Reflectively, he talks about the journey thus
far. “It never moves fast enough when you are
going forward, but it seems like it all happened
in the blink of an eye when you are looking back
at it.”
Looking back ten years from now, A Disney
trivia question might be: “What famous actor
played the starring role in the 2003 movie Walt
Disney’s George of the Jungle 2, and went on to
sustain a rewarding career in film – both as an
actor and a screenwriter?”
Meanwhile, “grab a vine” George fans and swing
on down to your local movie rental shop or peruse
the Disney Channel listings for showings of
George of the Jungle 2. The movie is PG. For a
nutshell review, go to www.tvguide.com/movies or
www.Georgeofthejungle2.com.
Add it to your home collection of Disney films,
VHS or DVD, by purchasing wherever movies are
sold. It’s available online at amazon.com (with
reviews)
You can also check up on Chris’ activities on
his website: www.christophershowerman.com
As he would probably put it, “See you at the
movies!”

Whatever happens in his acting career, all
things will be “excellent and possible” in
Christopher Showerman’s world. It’s how he looks
at life…when everyday is like Christmas.
How did you come to have such a positive
outlook on life? My mom always looked at the
solutions and the possibilities growing up. I
think we were trained to not see problems, but
opportunities.
We know you are greatly involved in volunteer
work. How has that aspect of your life developed?
I recently saw Spider Man 2 and was reminded of a
great thought in that script. “With great power
comes great responsibility.” This is such a great
way to really relish the gratitude for all that
we have that makes us unique, whether it’s money,
or intelligence, or strength or a talent, etc.
The converse is true and even more empowering:
“With great responsibility comes great power.”
When you proactively put your energy and life
force into making the world a better place and
continually hold yourself responsible for a
higher standard than others expect, you
‘mysteriously’ begin to acquire more of the gifts
that make it possible for you to contribute and
make a positive difference in the world.
How do you know which causes you want to
espouse? There are so many worthwhile causes out
there I could never get to them all. The bottom
line is people putting an effort into enriching
someone else’s life. It may be a charity or
benefit, or it may be teaching your kid how to
tie his shoe, mowing your neighbor’s lawn when
he’s sick, or calling someone you haven’t talked
to in a year to let them know someone’s thinking
about them.
You helped raise $700,000 when you were
celebrity host of the 18th Annual AIDS Walk Orange
County in June. What would you like to share
about your work on behalf of AIDS patients? I
have several pals living with AIDS. The first
time I encountered someone with AIDS, I had the
usual reaction of fear and judgment. However,
once I became educated about the disease, it’s
not just a gay issue or a black issue; it is an
epidemic that is currently rising fastest with
heterosexual women. My involvement with the AIDS
effort is to bridge the gap of awareness,
understanding and education for folks, who, like
me, didn’t fully understand the disease.
Tell about the Jeran Hollywood Graffiti gown
benefit this spring, and your part in that. The
Hollywood Graffiti Gown is a black dress that is
covered with platinum beaded signatures of
hundreds of female Hollywood legends. Currently,
Jerry Skeels and Randy McLaughlin are working on
the train, which will have the male Hollywood
celebrities on it. (They asked for my signature
Actor Christopher Showerman demonstrates his muscle power,
climbing the rock wall at the 18th Annual AIDS Walk in Irvine, CA in
June.
Celebrity host Chris Showerman and friend, Keri (l) announce the
winners at the 18th Annual AIDS Walk Orange County on Sunday,
June 6, 2004.
so we’ll just wait and see if it makes the
train.) It will be auctioned off and the proceeds
will be donated to AIDS research. Opening bid:
$1,000,000.00
Your feeling about heroes…whether in the movies
or in real life. A hero is anyone who makes a
sacrifice for someone else. Parents, teachers,
crossing guards – they’re everywhere, and
probably most of them don’t even know they’re
heroes. If you think about your favorite stories
or movies, I bet you love the hero in that story
because he did something selfless for someone
else.
Playing action hero roles requires enormous
energy. How do you maintain such a high-energy
lifestyle? I am pretty high energy most of the
time. I think it takes an awesome amount of
energy to compete at the top of any field.
However, I believe that passion for what you do
enables you to tap into energy reserves you never
knew you had. Remember the first time you fell in
love and felt like you only needed three hours of
sleep for the whole first week?
You did most of your own stunts for George 2.
How have you prepared for such action roles?
Every role requires different skills from the
actor, so I stay in pretty good shape all the
time, so I’m ready to expand into whatever the
role asks of me (i.e. fencing, horseback riding,
etc.).
What kinds of thrilling things would you like
to pursue? Motorcycling? Not after my crash in
’98 on Sunset Blvd. I broke my leg in three
places and was full of pins for a year. I love
riding, but will wait till I move out of the city
to get another bike.
Skydiving? I kinda promised mom I wouldn’t do
that anymore. Mountain climbing? Yup.
Swimming/diving? Definitely. Martial arts?
Absolutely. Surfing? I’ve gone a couple of
times, but I’m not very good at it. I make good
shark bait. Horses? Love them! Car racing? Yes,
someday. But this takes some capital!! Biking?
What, and try to compete with Lance? Not a
chance. Any other sports? Archery.
How do you think being an Eagle Scout
contributed to your career? The whole underlying
purpose behind the Eagle Scout challenge is to
develop leadership skills. This has been a
priceless experience that I still use every day
with everyone I meet. I can’t recommend scouting
enough for both boys and girls.
What about George 3? What if there is a sequel?
If there is a sequel, I’d be happy to do it. I
haven’t heard any murmurs of a sequel.
Variety said when George came out: “Expect a
record-setting franchise-encouraging rental and
sell-through biz.” Do you know how it’s been
doing? I know we surpassed the sales figures they
had projected, but I haven’t heard that we broke
any records.
By the time a movie comes out, you’re at a
different place in your life. How do you feel
about that? I remember the first time I saw a
completed version of George. I thought, “Wow, who
is that guy…oh yeah, that was me.”
Hopefully George 2 will have a long shelf
life…much like another George in It’s a Wonderful
Life! Or at least as long as a Twinkie.
After playing the hunky role of George, and
after the O.C. appearance as the hot fireman,
think you’ll make next year’s hottest Hollywood
bachelors’ list? Well, I am a bachelor, and I am
in Hollywood, and it is pretty hot today. On the
dating scene? I just got a call from The Secret
Rose Theatre Company wanting me to donate a
massage or a date to their auction to raise money
for the theater. I could donate a date - that's
like dropping a quarter into the great date
gumball machine.
What if you suddenly found yourself a teenage
heartthrob? Well, the teenage heartthrob route
hasn’t hurt Orlando Bloom’s career! I was written
up in Scholastic last year. I don’t think that
qualifies me as a teenage heartthrob yet though.
A quirky question: what magnets do you have on
your refrigerator? What a fun question! Hmmmm,
let me see… One says: A journey of 3,000 miles
begins with a single step. – A George of the
Jungle 2 magnet – A picture frame magnet with a
picture of Mom – One says: We cannot discover new
oceans unless we have the courage to leave the
shore.
What books might we find in your library?
Mostly unread ones. Once I read them, I give them
away. Favorites: Giant Steps by Tony Robbins, The
Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent
Peale, The Search for Superstrings, Symmetry, and
the Theory of Everything by John Gribbin, The
Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. Movies? Life is
Beautiful, The Iron Giant, The Sixth Sense, The
Notebook, Rocky, Terminator 2, Lonesome Dove
(miniseries), The Matrix, ET, Forrest Gump.
Music? Everything, really. I listen to classical,
jazz, rap, country, pop, metal. Not a big blues
fan – I know, I know, but everything else when
it’s good. I also like silence a lot.
How is the Christopher Showerman Fan Club
shaping up? The fan club is meager in numbers,
but mighty in spirit. Thank you so much to
everyone who has sent in emails via the websites
out there.
You’ve said you answer all your email? It’s
true, I do TRY to answer all the mail personally.
I figure if someone takes the time to write me,
and they are the people that really decide if my
career moves forward or not, that should be a
priority. Even if I have to stay inside typing,
while all the other children get to go have
recess.
Who is the president of your fan club? I think
my mom is the president of my fan club. At least
I get the most email from her, so I’ll give her
the honorary position.
Do you know how many members you have? I think
I have four fans now. And are you getting more
global fan mail? Brazil, Denmark, Stockbridge,
Webberville, Fowlerville, Australia and Canada.
What has been a typical fan mail? It’s been
such a wide range of responses! I get letters
from young men that want to know what my workout
routine is, letters from moms to say their kids
loved the picture, letters from kids asking my
advice on totally unrelated matters, letters from
moms on totally unrelated matters…I think people
feel a certain sense of security divulging their
personal life to me because I played such a
likable character…and there is a sense of safety
there, too, because I am still a complete
stranger.
You recently responded to a teen’s letter to
the editor about her perception of Disney movies
having a racist and sexist slant. You said, “We
the audience are actually the ones in control of
what ends up on the television and movie screen.”
Do you get up on the soapbox often? I have
opinions on most things. However, I think when
you are in the public eye, you need to
discriminately pick your battles, otherwise your
personal politics can alienate your audience.
Please tell about your personal signature: All
things excellent, all things possible.
All Things Excellent: Life is perfect as it is
in the now. Just be and accept and appreciate the
present moment because it is perfect, excellent.
And you are enough as you are right now.
All Things Possible: The future is yet
unwritten – with effort and dedication you can
shape any future you choose for yourself. If you
do not choose one, one will be chosen for you.
Here’s a monumental question: You were covaledictorian
of your senior class at SHS. What
did you tell your classmates in your valedictory
address?
Whew! That was a while ago!! I remember that I
had written it on a brown bag and it was about
living fully now because now is the only time you
have…I think that’s what it was.
What would you tell them now? I think I’d shut
up and listen – they have 15 years of different
experiences I need to catch up on with them.
Help sponsor Chris Showerman’s
team in children’s AIDS triathlon
Actor Christopher Showerman, formerly of
Webberville and star of Disney’s George of the
Jungle 2, welcomes local support of his team at
the 18th Annual Nautica Malibu Triathlon for the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation on
Sept. 19.
Showerman spends much of his time donating his
efforts to the Elizabeth Glaser organization,
appearing at celebrity AIDS benefits during the
year.
As he explains, “In 1988, the Pediatric AIDS
Foundation was founded by three friends who were
compelled to take action after Elizabeth Glaser
and her husband, Paul, discovered that she, their
daughter Ariel and son Jake were all HIVinfected.”
What began at a kitchen table more than 12
years ago is now the leading national non-profit
organization dedicated to identifying, funding
and conducting critical pediatric AIDS research.
Today, there is an entire community of
pediatric AIDS researchers that didn't exist
before. Fewer children are being born with HIV,
and children with HIV infection are living longer
and healthier lives.
Elizabeth Glaser died in 1994 but her vision,
passion and mission live on in the Foundation and
its work. On December 1, 1997 the Foundation
officially enhanced its name to become the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation as a
tribute to Elizabeth's legacy and inspiration in
working to find the answers that will eradicate
pediatric HIV/AIDS.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
creates a future of hope for children and
families worldwide by eradicating pediatric AIDS,
providing care and treatment to people with
HIV/AIDS, and accelerating the discovery of new
treatments for other serious and life-threatening
pediatric illnesses.
A non-profit organization, the Foundation
receives an 'A' rating from the American
Institute of Philanthropy. Please visit
https://secure2.i-3.com/pedaids/triathlonpledge.jsp to
make an on-line donation or mail donation to:
The Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
2950 31st Street, #125, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: 310-314-1459 FAX: 310-314-1469
“If folks want to support that cause,” says
Showerman, “they could sponsor me. They would
just have to include my name and address on any
donations to sponsor my team.”
Showerman is doing the running portion of the
running, biking, swimming relay event. “This year
I am on Team Disney,” he said, “which has many
participants who work for that company in some
capacity. I am on the team because George 2 was
a Disney release.” For more information about
the event, go to websites (www.pedaidsnauticamalibutriathlon.
org) (www.pedaids.org)

Pub. 11/27/06
Fowlerville News & Views Fowlerville, MI
Part 1 Chris Chronicles 2006
Showtime! New flick, theater tour light up hometown actor’s career
Editor’s Note: In the summer of 2004, the News
& Views published an update about hometown actor
Christopher Showerman’s life after starring in
George of the Jungle 2. We caught up with him
again, two years later…to find out where his
career has taken him thus far. (Part I of two.)
By Susan Parcheta
In the wild and wacky world of Hollywood, young
actors soon discover that the zigzag road to
stardom can be strewn with a few boulders.
Local native Christopher Showerman is no
exception. Best known for his role as George in
the Disney film George of the Jungle 2,
Showerman’s latest movie is Sea of Fear, a Lion’s
Gate thriller released August 22 on DVD.
Shot in summer 2003, the movie is now listed
among his film credits. In the meantime, the
actor/writer/artist/musician and entrepreneur has
been busy doing what many Hollywood hopefuls do
to build their careers…anything and everything.
Some actors, like Showerman, diversify their
talents while waiting for that supernova role
that will propel them into the stratosphere, with
adoring fans everywhere.
As for that yellow brick road, it’s been said
that the beaten path is the safest, but watch out…
the traffic is terrible. So how does a young
actor continue to stand out in that…excuse
me…jungle? Well, being multi-talented, Showerman
seems to have that covered.
After ten years in Hollywood, the 35-year-old
actor decided to leave town this fall, striking
out on a different road…called Broadway. While
Sea of Fear appears in living rooms around the
globe, Showerman is getting a taste of theater
life across the United States. Asked to tour as
an understudy in the Broadway show Legends!…with
entertainment divas Joan Collins and Linda Evans
in the lead roles, he jumped at the opportunity.
The 1986 comedy by James Kirkwood (starring
Mary Martin as Leatrice Monsee and Carol Channing
as Sylvia Glenn) is revived…with the former
Dynasty co-stars picking up the roles, involving
two former dueling movie stars doing a stage show
together.
The show kicked off in Toronto in September for
a 17-city tour, swinging through Michigan in mid-
November at the Wharton Center on the campus of
Showerman’s Alma Mater, Michigan State
University.
A 1992 MSU graduate, the former Webberville
resident and Stockbridge High School alumnus,
majored in music theory and composition.
Classically trained in voice, he had aspirations
to sing opera, or be a rock star. He taught music
for awhile, played in a few bands (Showerman’s
instruments include piano, guitar, bass, bassoon
and saxophone) and sang in a number of musicals
in Lansing, including Rocky Horror Show at the
Riverwalk Theater.
He inherited his musical genes naturally; mom,
Jeanne Showerman, taught music for Webberville
Community Schools. Now retired, she is married to
Frank McKowen. Chris Showerman’s dad, Jim, and
his brother, Sam, and family still reside in the
area.
Showerman’s mom was delighted to learn the tour
would come here, knowing she’d get to have him
around for a week…since visits home from
California are few and far between.
When Chris Showerman set out for LA, he went
with his family’s blessing. While his mom
entertained thoughts of starving artists in
Hollywood, she’d also taught her sons to follow
their dreams. His parents, says Chris, “always
told us that nothing is impossible. I truly
believe that.”
It was this belief that inspired his signature
slogan all things possible. He first applied it,
in a different form he explains, by writing on
the back of his early headshots – the requisite
photos every actor needs to convey his persona to
the industry.
“The first slogan I used on the back of my
headshots was, ‘We can inspire positive change.’
I felt that was especially appropriate as it was
going to all corners of the entertainment
industry.” This evolved into all things possible,
and has been a constant touchstone for his work.
I first interviewed Chris in the summer of
2003, talking to him at length about his break
into a major film role…following in the footsteps
of Brendan Fraser as George of the Jungle in the
sequel GOTJ2.
By the time of our 2004 update, he’d appeared
on an episode of the popular TV series The O.C.
as the “Impossibly Hot Fireman.” And he had just
completed his dream audition for the role of
Superman in the movie Superman Returns, released
this summer. Now, two years later, the movie is
out with Brandon Routh in the lead role, and
Showerman marks his tenth anniversary in tinsel
town.
When we left off that August, he was awaiting
news of the Superman audition. Just being
considered for the role was a privilege, he’d
said. And, as he’d put it then, in an interview
for Superman-v, “I think we all have a Clark Kent
in us that is secretly dying to be the Man of
Steel.” While he’d envisioned being that Man of
Steel since boyhood days, Showerman – along with
all the other contenders – knew that only one
actor would be chosen.
He admits to entering a self-imposed black hole
for a time. The yellow brick road, he recalls,
got a little bit foggy…and the signposts seemed
barely visible. The experience proved to be a
turning point.
Not only didn’t he get the part, his real life
hero, actor Christopher Reeve, died that October.
A year later he lost close friend and mentor
Dalee Henderson, who had struggled with illness
for a number of years. Showerman gave the eulogy
at Henderson’s funeral.
Earlier this year, when he learned the news of
Dana Reeve’s passing, he shared his feelings
about losing heroes on his web forum: “I think
we’re universally affected by people who have
devoted their lives to the betterment of others.”
His personal hero, Dalee, he wrote, greatly
impacted the way he lives today. He went on to
say, “I revered Christopher Reeve as a great
public figure who devoted his latter life to
improving the quality of life for handicapped
individuals. His wife, Dana, was not quite as
public a figure, but just as much a hero in how
she supported the Christopher Reeve Paralysis
Foundation, as well as Christopher Reeve himself,
while continuing to be a wonderful mother and
performer.”
Showerman continues his longtime involvement in
charity benefits. Besides the Reeve foundation,
he’s been a spokesperson for Special Olympics and
for Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation.
It was while participating in the Nautica Malibu
Triathlon for Elizabeth Glaser in September 2003
that he became acquainted with his girlfriend,
who “has a heart of gold,” he says, “and gets me
involved in many charitable causes.”
He’s performed a number of times on behalf of
the Actors' Fund of America, including the starstudded
tribute to songwriter Cy Coleman in Nov.
2004, and this summer appeared as a guest
celebrity at the Actors’ Fund 10th Annual Tony
Awards honoring Liza Minnelli.
Not one to stay in a black hole for long,
Showerman demonstrated his resiliency by putting
an even more positive spin on his All Things
Possible philosophy. While continuing to aim
toward becoming known as an action hero, he’s
been investing his energy the past couple of
years in numerous enterprises beyond George 2 and
beyond Sea of Fear.
A few acting jobs have come his way. Recent
credits include a dip into TV soapdom on the One
Minute Soap series on Soapnet (he played Michael
in an episode called “Too Late”); Gentle Barn (a
short film about a farm sanctuary for domestic
animals and the effect it has on its visitors);
and he plays himself in Christopher Long’s Idol,
which he describes as “a low budget ‘mock-umentory’
about the rise and fall of a newcomer to
Hollywood. I got to play myself, which in itself
is flattering.”
Most prominent this spring was a co-starring
guest spot in an episode of CSI Miami (“Driven”)
in which he played Pete, a peeping Tom/massage
therapist who is witness to a murder.
“Auditioning for Superman did carry some
unforeseen benefits in the press, as it’s a
current topic,” Showerman says, “and it seems to
give me some undeserved credibility in the press.
Being on CSI Miami this year had a similar
benefit in being associated with a globally
recognized franchise.”
As for Routh playing Superman, a Starpulse
Celebrity News headline this summer read:
Superman’s Rival Praises New Man of Steel.
“Honorable in defeat, Showerman admits he dashed
out to see the new movie, and has nothing but
praise for Routh.”
The entertainment website Moviehole posted
this note: “Showerman, you may remember, was also
one of the guys who was up for the role of the
new Superman. So what did he end up thinking of
the guy that pipped him at the post – Brandon
Routh? ‘I thought Brandon was a really good Clark
Kent. More specifically, I thought he nailed
Christopher Reeve’s Clark Kent’”.
Ironically, now that Superman is out,
Showerman’s experienced a sizzling summer mediawise.
Just previous to his announcement that he’d
be going on the road with LEGENDS!, the movie
rumor mill began churning out tantalizing tidbits
about the actor.
Director John Woo, he learned, had considered
him for the role of He-Man in the remake of that
film. Then Canmag.com reported the project being
on hold. “Woo,” they said, “was reportedly
considering several actors to play the role of
‘He-Man’ in the film, including big names Paul
Walker and Triple H as well as relative newcomers
Matt Davis (Blue Crush) and Christopher Showerman
(George of the Jungle II).”
Showerman responded to the media hype: “Well,
even though the movie has been shelved, it’s very
nice to be thought of. I had no idea.” His name
has also come up in the last couple of years for
the role of Sam Sinclair in a Splinter Cell
movie.
“With both these movies,” says Showerman, “I
was surprised to be considered for these
projects, as I didn’t actively seek them out. I
think that once one actively spends enough time
in this small community, you accrue enough
critical mass, that at a certain point people
just know who you are. That seems to be what is
going on for me right now.”
“I’m not famous by any stretch,” he adds, “but
I seem to be gaining some notoriety among some
professional circles. I think if you’ve spent a
decade in this town, people just start to be
aware of you by osmosis.”
The latest Internet rumor was that he might
play Dr. Doom in a new film, Fantastic Four and
the Silver Surfer. Moviehole noted: “Rumor has it
that the actor, soon to be seen in Lionsgate’s
Sea of Fear, is reading for the role of ‘Victor
Von Doom’, suggesting that although Julian
McMahon may be returning to voice the character –
who will now be totally masked behind a mask – it
may be someone else filling the suit. (Makes
sense I guess – why would McMahon want to return
if his face isn’t going to be seen?)”
Moviehole news continued, “Showerman is a bit
of a go-to man for superhero roles at the moment.
He was one of the ‘Superman’ contenders there for
a while, and rumor has it that he was one of the
muscled young lads that John Woo was looking at
for his new live-action ‘He-Man’. He’s definitely
on the rise, so it will only be time before he
lassos up one of these big parts.”
As for Showerman’s take on Fantastic Four, he
announced on his website in early August that he
he’d auditioned for it, “but the part would have
been hidden behind prosthetics. I have instead
decided to take the part of the LEGENDS! tour
with Joan Collins and Linda Evans,” he said,
“even though it is only understudying two very
brief roles.”
The physical prowess that earned him the title
role in GOTJ2 and places him in the limelight for
such roles, also raised his star power for
several fitness magazines, including Australian
Ironman, Max Mag, and Muscle & Fitness in 2004,
Hollywood Movie Muscle Ironman in 2005, and a new
fitness article for the September issue of Men’s
Workout magazine on newsstands this summer.
That article headlined: “Super fit Christopher
Showerman stays chiseled for leading roles.”
Keeping fit is a #1 priority for the 6ft.2 actor,
who is well known in bodybuilding circles.
He enjoys passing on his knowledge to others as
a personal trainer. And, while on tour? “Yes,” he
says, “I do have some fitness clients that I
train at a private training gym in Los Angeles.
They will have to train with someone else while
I’m gone.”
Whenever dealt lemons, Showerman pumps out more
lemonade. While continuing to train for action
roles in that elusive supernova movie, he’s
branching out into entrepreneurial endeavors. For
diehard actors, it’s called creating your own
opportunities.
Says Showerman, “I am on a different path that
I’m actually enjoying and feel I’m somewhat in
charge of. I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to
grow stronger and more in tune with myself. I
have created a lot of things since that first
audition for Superman that never would have
happened if I were on the circus ride of being
Superman.”
Last year (happening to be the 100th birthday
year of the t-shirt), he launched InvertEgo, his
own line of tees, available online at
www.invertego.com.
Long before the DaVinci code was cool, he will
tell you, there was InvertEgo. “The idea,” says
Showerman, “is that there is a word on the front
of the shirt - BUT - when viewed in the mirror,
there is a DIFFERENT word with a very contrary
meaning.”
Also an aspiring filmmaker, Showerman’s
beginning his first foray into that realm. Last
fall he completed an audio-script for an action
movie, Last Cowboy, which fans may listen to on
his website: www.christophershowerman.com.
“Folks are welcome to download it from the
site. Free! Many of my actor friends donated
their voice talents to this project, including
Zelda Rubenstein (Poltergeist) and Chris Durand
(Halloween H20).”
A couple of local actors showed up in town to
help, notes Chris. “I cast my mom and step dad in
small roles for my audio version of Last Cowboy.
They were out here on vacation and I just put
them to work. They were hesitant at first, but
they both did an extraordinary job.”
While it’s not easy to get a foothold in the
filmmaking industry, Showerman hopes to produce
Last Cowboy as a motion picture with Moviehole
web owner Clint Morris. The two have formed a
film production company, Shorris Film.
(Read more about Last Cowboy in part II of our
Showerman feature in an upcoming News & Views).
As for his movie Sea of Fear, released in
August, Showerman said he had to wait to see it
like everyone else. Before it came out he’d
commented on it: “I saw a rough edit of the movie
a year or so ago and I’m looking forward to
hopefully a new edit on it. Editing and music
can really make or break a movie so I hope we
were able to get some great post work done on
this one.” The movie score was by Brandon
Roberts, with blues, rock and folk-like songs
woven throughout.
The PG 13 film, as described on co-star
Kieren Hutchison’s website “is a thriller about a
group of people going on a sail cruise for spring
break. They tell each other what they fear most
and then one by one they are murdered in a way
that is connected to their fear. They try to find
out if the killer is among them or maybe comes
from a boat that is following them, which they
suspect could belong to modern pirates that are
said to be in these waters…”
The actor shares a couple of Sea of Fear
filmmaking memories. “We actually shot the movie
on that sailboat,” says Showerman, “and all of us
got very seasick, especially the camera guys
because they had to experience the motion through
a camera lens.”
The cast and crew were up all night shooting
the campfire scene, he recalls. “It was shot just
outside of LAX and we were directly in the flight
path of departing planes. We’d get a few seconds
of shooting in before another plane would scream
overhead and ruin the audio on the take.”
Sea of Fear photos are on Showerman’s website,
which he revamped last year, making it uniquely
interactive. The site features the usual actor
data, as well as offering a forum for fans to
communicate with Chris and blog with each other.
Showerman devotes a great deal of time to his
web forum and will continue to post weekly
updates and anecdotes during the coming months of
the LEGENDS! tour. “It promises to be a very
exciting experience,” he wrote before leaving,
“and I intend to keep you all informed to the
extent that my Internet access on the road will
allow!”
Listing travel, new experiences and comedy
among his interests, the invitation to go out on
the road with the LEGENDS! cast proved
irresistible.
A new door opened on the yellow brick road and
Showerman walked through it. Like The Man of La
Mancha’s quest to follow that star, Chris
Showerman’s “all things possible” dream is ever
in the adventure.
* * *

Q&A interview with actor Christopher Showerman follows in an upcoming News & Views.
Sea of Fear Cast (Top left to bottom right): Adam Mayfield as Joel,
Burgess Jenkins as Lance, Chris Showerman as Derek, Kieren
Hutchison as Tom, Katherine Bailess as Kate. The movie also stars
Edward Albert as Captain and Caroline Walker as Ashley
MacDougal.

Q&A Chris Chronicles 2006
Chris Showerman talks about his 10 years in Hollywood

For the past three years, the News & Views has
been following the career of hometown actor
Christopher Showerman since landing the role of
vine-swinging George in Disney’s George of the
Jungle 2.
Hollywood’s now home. Showerman felt its call
ten years ago. He’s made a few discoveries
traveling that alluring yellow brick road. His
quest for stardom has turned up some amazing
adventures along the way, including auditioning
for Superman and winding up on a Broadway tour.
As he pointed out in Part I, he’s content with
the path he’s on. “I’ve created a lot of things
since that first audition for Superman that never
would have happened if I were on the circus ride
of being Superman.”
When life deals lemons, Showerman-—with his all
things possible mindset-—pumps out more lemonade.
While continuing to train for action roles in
that elusive Supernova movie, he’s branching out
into entrepreneurial endeavors.
We asked Chris to share some thoughts on his
Hollywood experience: His take on the movie scene
in 2006; what it’s been like being on that yellow
brick road aiming to make it big in Hollywood;
his new endeavors and goals; his perspective on
the entertainment industry from the vantage point
of ten years into the business.
Chris, you went to Hollywood to pursue your
dream of becoming an action hero in the movies.
As happens to many actors, the “bug” bit early
when you were cast as the biggest Billy Goat in
an elementary school play. You went on to major
in music at Michigan State University, but when
did the stage lights really go on for you? Did
you do any other acting in high school and
college?
Hmmm, theater work. You’re really making me
think now!
Stockbridge High School: A Bad Year For
Tomatoes; Lil’ Abner (I was just an extra in
this). Michigan State: La Cenorentella. Lansing
Community College: Once On This Island; For the
Love of the Dark One.
Riverwalk Theater: Lies and Legends; Bleacher
Bum; Rocky Horror. Mid Michigan Opera Co: Closer
Than Ever; It’s not My Fault; Choices (I think
that was the title – it’s been a while now!) Los
Angeles: The Wright Brothers: The Littlest Witch:
Rocky Horror (again!) Star-Spangled Girl.
So you started out in theater. You’ve said you
like theater work and movie work equally well.
What triggered your desire to try films?
I was cast in a movie in Lansing – then
promptly un-cast. However, for that moment that
I had the role, the thought of making movies
suddenly seemed very possible to me. I owe a lot
to that little movie I was never in because it is
the belief in the possibility of events that
allows them to happen!!
Do you remember what movie that was?
The little movie I was not in was called “Into
the Woods”. No, it wasn’t a musical by Stephen
Sondheim. I believe they did end up making it in
Kalamazoo.
Ten years ago, you packed your bags and set off
on that yellow brick road to L.A. to follow your
dream. Was there a point where it hit you that
you weren’t in Kansas anymore?
Yeah. Day #1.
You first appeared on celebrity radar when you
were on an episode of Fear Factor, a popular
reality TV show. While that kicked off your
career, and those shows continue to remain
popular, what do you think about them now?
Reality television has always been around in
various forms. Game shows and the news could be
considered reality programming. However, the
harsh reality for most actors and writers began
in 2000 with the show SURVIVOR, when prime time
was being allotted to these unscripted shows that
were amassing huge popularity.
Though the reality craze seems to have leveled
off, it appears to be a phenomenon that is here
to stay, as it offers apparent real life drama to
the viewers and a very low production cost
(compared to scripted shows) for their creators.
I have appeared in a ridiculous number of
these shows, as many of my friends work in
reality programming, so I can attest that there
is much less “reality” occurring on most of those
shows than you might think.
The highest profile reality show I ever did was
Fear Factor during its first season. I believe
my exposure on reality programming has had little
to no benefit for my acting career. However I
must admit they were usually fun to participate
in and I love the atmosphere of being on set –
even if there aren’t any lines to memorize.
GOTJ2 didn’t catapult you into film prominence
as you may have hoped. You’ve just turned 35, yet
you don’t seem unnerved by the number of hoops
you’ve had to jump through to stay on your chosen
career path as an actor.
If it wasn’t a challenge, it wouldn’t be fun
and therefore not worth doing!
Can you give us your take on the entertainment
industry from your perspective of ten years into
the business? What do you think, for example,
about recent Disney decisions…going family
friendly…cutting some 650 jobs.
I think that Disney makes decisions based on
product branding and revenue. Period. A G or PG
rated movie isn’t necessarily a better movie or a
more spiritual or moral story – it simply has a
broader audience. Not only are you including all
the movie patrons under the age of 18, but for
every child that attends your movie, usually a
parent attends as well. It’s all business. And
yes, there is no reason for the Disney title to
NOT be family as they have so many production
companies that can put out the more adult themed
features.
I think, however, that it was a mistake for
Disney to let Nina Jacobson go. Nina was the one
who green-lit, among other titles, George of the
Jungle 2. So I may be a bit biased, however she
oversaw the companies’ biggest big-screen
successes of all time, including this year’s Cars
and Pirates of the Caribbean 2. She is a very
savvy woman with a lot of drive and experience.
Disney, like all giant corporations, will
occasionally fall victim to their own
groupthink. This will be a big win for whatever
company acquires Ms. Jacobson.
In your first interview with N&V, you’d said
you’d like to be the next Jackie Chan, and we
know Sylvester Stallone is one of your heroes.
What are your thoughts on the status of the
action hero in Hollywood over the past ten years?
I believe the topography of the entire
entertainment industry has shifted dramatically
in the past 10 years. The action hero, as we
know it, has faded from the blockbuster summer
season he once dominated. His replacement is the
super hero. The major difference is that an
action hero’s powers, although usually
exaggerated in their representation, are borne of
actual human abilities. On the other hand, the
super hero’s powers are limited, not by the
stifling rules of reality but only by the
imagination and talent of the writer, director,
and computer generated effects animators.
Perhaps collectively we feel that the real
challenges of our world have gotten so out of
control that no mere mortal could save us
anymore. Or perhaps we need to escape further
into fantasy to get away from it all. Either
way, I feel like the effect-driven blockbuster
movies of today lack the real jeopardy that made
the action movie of the 1900’s, regardless of how
improbable, riveting - complete with REAL stunts
and REAL explosions.
What that means for a budding action star today
is that there is no necessary skill set or
physique formerly associated with the action
heroes that had to at least appear as if they
could possibly pull off the extraordinary feats
scripted for their character. Now you could just
as easily be saved by Toby Maguire as you could
by The Rock.
I have always admired Jackie Chan for his charm
and unassuming nature in his movies, which I
believe is how his movies were able to translate
so well to so many different cultures. That
charm, charisma, and wit still remain key
ingredients for longevity as any kind of star -
but especially a heroic one.
We know you wanted to be the next Superman, and
how much you loved Christopher Reeve, both as an
actor and as a human being. How has your purpose
evolved, do you think, from then to now?
In the decade since I came out to Los Angeles,
I have zeroed in on my own mission statement as a
performer and a human being. I’d like to catalyze
a genre that retains the visual spectacle and
thrill we have come to expect from a blockbuster,
yet the clear-cut line between good and evil
isn’t so blatant. Somewhere in the gray area
between right and wrong the viewer is inspired to
consult or possibly reconsider his own beliefs.
Superman returned in more ways than one for you
this year because, not only is the movie out, but
also it’s nearly two years since Christopher
Reeve died, and now this spring, Dana. USA
Weekend reminded the nation of all this when they
interviewed people who’d known the Reeves. You
lost two heroes in their passing. You’ve been
actively involved in the Christopher Reeve
Foundation for several years. Do you have your
own personal memories you could share with us?
I never met Christopher Reeve. but I was
inspired by his books and interviews. He is an
awesome example of All Things Possible…No
Excuses! I met Dana a couple of times at
different CRPF functions. She was a lovely human
being and a symbol of strength to so many
people. Their marriage set a great example of
supportive teamwork and left behind an amazing
legacy of courage and real power.
You’ve a wide field of interests. Has this
helped you remain resilient?
I love to write as well as act. Performing
and writing require very different energies but
they have a symbiotic relationship for me. At
times when my acting career seemed to stall, I
felt lucky to have a creative outlet like writing
that I could pour myself into.
Actually, the darkest times for me as an actor
have become some of the most prolific and
informative times of my life. Having a creative
outlet has allowed me to channel painful
disappointments into some of my most inspired
work rather than falling into a depressing selfabsorption.
Although a lot of my decade in Hollywood has
been very difficult on many levels, looking back,
I wouldn’t change a thing. My favorite Nietzsche
quote reads: That which does not kill us makes us
strong, and I would add, that which does not
break our spirit gives us wisdom, elegance, and
conviction – what a gift!
Your movie, Sea of Fear, came out in August on
DVD. As described on your co-star Kieren
Hutchison’s website, it’s “a thriller about a
group of people going on a sail cruise for spring
break. They tell each other what they fear most,
and then one by one they are murdered in a way
that is connected with their fear.” What did you
think of it?
Andrew Schuth, our director on Sea Of Fear,
started this movie with about $100,000 of
borrowed money and a script he wrote himself.
It’s pretty inspiring that this guy with no
preferential treatment in the industry was able
to go out and make a real movie that he then sold
to Lionsgate (production company).
Just think, if we all had that much drive and
determination to make our dreams real! For those
who aren’t as familiar with the movie making
process, it is an extremely expensive logistical
nightmare. Making a movie for $100 k is like
building a house for 20 bucks.
A few weeks after Sea of Fear’s release, your
co-star Edward Albert, who played the Captain,
died of lung cancer. He was also one of your
heroes. How will you remember him?
For those of you who saw *Sea Of Fear*, Edward
played the Captain. He was a wonderful man with a
magnificent spirit. In between takes around the
camp fire, Edward would tell hilarious stories
about taking care of his father, Eddie Albert, or
his godfather, Lawrence Olivier, or pals like
Marlon Brando.
Edward is one of those spirits that stays with
you long after he leaves the room. He was not
only a very accomplished actor and intellectual
but served people as an activist - being a voice
for those who couldn't otherwise be heard. He is
a real hero. His existence should be celebrated -
his gentle compassion emulated.
Edward lived his life fully - a life where /all
things are possible.
e of How did you get the idea for your movie script
Last Cowboy? What’s the update on that?
I developed a character I really enjoyed for an
audition for a new series called Transylvania.
It was supposed to be a follow-up to the movie
Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman for NBC, but
Transylvania never actually make it to the
screen. After developing this charming Texan, I
decided I wanted to do something with him, so I
wrote a script around this character who became
Lorin “LS” Sheffield and the script became Last
Cowboy. Since then I produced an audio version
of the script that is available on my website.
Currently, Last Cowboy is being shopped to
different studios and financiers as a property of
Shorris Film – my production company with Clint
Morris (formerly Showerman Morris Productions).
Shorris film is on the verge of making a
production deal on a werewolf movie called Howl
written by Clint. We are also excited about
acquiring a new property called Rampage, a
comedy/thriller about an unstoppable bull by Greg
Kappy.
How did you meet Clint Morris of Moviehole?
Clint Morris contacted me after we shot George
Of The Jungle 2, but before it was released, and
asked for my first interview about the movie. He
has always stayed in contact since that time and
proven himself to be a real upstanding guy.
After spending some time with him a couple of
years ago when he and his wife came to the states
for their honeymoon, we decided that we should
join forces and start our own production company
– and that is how Shorris Film came to be.
If folks want to keep up with me, they can
check in on my site. They can find out loads of
movie related things on Moviehole.net but I am
not officially affiliated with that website. My
production company with Moviehole.net owner Clint
Morris can be found on the web at
www.shorrisfilm.com.
You also have a passion for the environment.
What is the documentary you’re working on?
I recently had an opportunity to develop and
pitch a series idea called Surviving Evolution to
the Discovery Channel. Surviving Evolution is a
reality/documentary hybrid series that deals with
issues of alternative energy in a very cool way.
Since then, I have united with a Canadian
director and together we hope to make Surviving
Evolution a reality – no pun intended.
I definitely want to make a show about
alternative fuel sources that reaches the “Least
likely to use alternative fuel” demographic.
Usually there is a motivation beneath the
resistance or unwillingness to look at facts so I
want to go to the root of what frightens people
about it.
If you have a personal vested interest in using
fossil fuel, there would naturally be a
resistance to go elsewhere for energy. If you
fear for your job or lifestyle, there would also
create some resistance to change.
It’s my goal to show that alternative fuel is
not only the “Right” thing to do for the planet
and our longevity on it, but that it has MASSIVE
benefits for everyone. I’m sure the blacksmiths
who use to shoe horses at the turn of the 20th
century were uneasy about the automobile
initially as it meant they would be out of a
job. In fact, these same guys were the ones most
qualified.
Why do you believe in the power of films?
I believe not just in films, but the cultural
power of story telling. Throughout recorded
time, story telling is how a people comes to
identify with itself.
By altering a culture’s myths, you alter the
way that culture operates in the world.
Therefore, storytelling is a powerful tool for
social change and the far-reaching power of the
media (film, TV, Internet, etc.) creates an
opportunity to unite the world as a global
culture. It’s a slow process though.
Your website, www.christophershowerman.com, is
designed to be interactive. Was that your idea?
My web site was designed entirely by Kurt
Ahrens of the Ahrens Design Group. Having it be
interactive was my idea. I do spend a lot of
time responding to fans from the site but that is
why the site is there in the first place. I
always appreciate when folks write in.
Do you really answer all of your e-mail?
I try to respond to all the email I get from the
site.
You’re not only artistic in the sense of
writing and music, but you also enjoy designing
and inventing things, such as your creation of
the InvertEgo line of tees in 2005 – ironically,
the 100th birthday year of the t-shirt. What’s the
update on those?
My new t-shirts, named InvertEgo, are available
online now at www.invertego.com. The idea is that
there is a word on the front of the shirt - BUT -
when viewed in the mirror, there is a DIFFERENT
word with a very contrary meaning. The company
name, InvertEgo, comes from the idea that we show
one side of our personality to the world, but
when we take a good look at ourselves we can see
the whole range of who we really are. I haven't
really sold a lot of shirts, but I have had to
put this effort on the backburner momentarily.”
“I came up with InvertEgo clothes long before
the DaVinci code because I like puzzles and
hidden meanings. I believe we are all complex
puzzles, made up of more than what meets the eye.
The self that we represent to the world is
necessarily a thin veneer over a depth of
psychological life made up of our ego, super ego,
alter ego...ergo – InvertEgo! We show the world
one thing and hide the rest. The second word on
InvertEgo clothing is hidden backwards in the
negative space but becomes readable in a mirror,
if you know what you’re looking for!
Christopher Showerman sporting one of his InvertEgo tees
You indicated an interest in archery in a
previous interview. Do you still practice? Hunt?
Is that from your scouting days?
I only hunt paper targets. When time permits,
I practice archery at a couple of local archery
ranges here in LA. I have had a bow since I was
in Cub Scouts and fell in love with it. The bow
I’m using now is a compound #70.
You’ve been active in volunteer work during
your ten years in Hollywood. What is surfacing
for you now?
I have spent a lot of time lately with Reading
for the Blind and Dyslexic, as well as doing
motivational speaking engagements with various
kids’ organizations. I have always loved speaking
to young people. Back when my mom taught at
Webberville, she would occasionally give me the
opportunity to address some of her students.
I have had three speaking engagements this year
with kids groups around Los Angeles. I focus the
topic on possibility thinking and how our choices
can shape the lives we live.
Most of these kids have severe medical
conditions so they grow up feeling less than
other kids and limited in their abilities. My
goal there is to give them the control over who
they are and stop letting the handicap define
them. That’s one of the most rewarding things I
have gotten to do.
GOTJ2 plays now and then on the Disney Channel
and you’re appearing on the celebrity scene more
often. Do you find you are more recognized now?
How has your increasing celebrity status figured
into your home ties…friends, family?
The glamour of celebrity as we know it has been
a relatively recent and short-lived phenomenon.
Before the advent of cameras in the 1840’s, the
only way to be “Famous” to a mass audience was to
have your face mass-produced on money. In the
golden era of Hollywood, there seemed to be
certain magic around those few celebrated
Hollywood stars.
With the advent of reality television and
hundreds of TV channels starving for cheap
programming, the probability of being “famous”
(even if only for 15 minutes) is much higher, but
the uncommon mystique formerly associated with
fame is more rare than ever.
As for my own experience, I’m rarely recognized
by strangers unless I happen to be walking around
with hair extensions and a loin cloth. It is
still fun, though, to get calls and emails from
pals who saw me (most likely making a fool of
myself) on TV. Other than the good laugh we all
get and some fun stories for me to tell, my
friendships and family ties remain otherwise
unchanged.
What’s it been like knowing you’re becoming
highly visible in the media and your fans can now
“Explore the Works of Christopher Showerman” on
Amazon.com?
I used to be really knocked out by knowing
that strangers could watch my work or read about
me. I still like to be aware of what is floating
around about me, but it doesn’t affect me like it
once did. It’s kinda like dating the prettiest
girl in town. At first, you can’t believe your
lucky stars. After a few years you still
appreciate that someone is willing to put up with
you, but you’re not constantly pinching yourself
anymore to make sure it’s not a dream.
Publicity can be addictive for some, but for me
it’s just a great tool to make folks aware of my
next project. I’m not as shy as I use to be, but
I don’t want to learn new things about myself in
print!
How do you have time to juggle your time
between friends, relatives, agents, fans, coworkers…
how do you find balance?
Balancing act: I believe we all find ourselves
at times out of balance and stretched to our
limit. Out of fairness, I try to be as honest
with myself and those around me as possible about
my limitations.
My personal goal is to prioritize what is most
important to me beforehand, and attempt to always
keep that in mind. Setting boundaries requires a
great deal of diplomacy and compassion, but I
think it is necessary to keeping balance and
control in life.
Why did you decide to go on the road and be
gone from home so long with the LEGENDS! tour,
when this is an understudy role?
I'm an actor. I act. I love the opportunity
to perform. What a dream to get a chance to be
with great performers and learn from them and get
paid for it! This tour was an opportunity that
just fell in my lap and I would be an idiot NOT
to go on the tour. I can't think of any
opportunity that has come to me this effortlessly
so it feels like the right thing to do as well. I
do love a good adventure!
My role with the show is a very small one - I
am understudying two brief parts – about five
pages each in the script. None of the film stuff
came through that I was waiting for, though, so
here I go on another adventure!
Speaking of home ties, you surprised your mom
and step-dad on a visit to California, nabbing
them for your audio version of Last Cowboy. Tell
us more about that.
“I cast them in small roles in the audio
version. They were out on vacation and I just put
them to work. They were hesitant at first, but
they both did an extraordinary job.”
I understand you surprised them with something
else when the Legends! tour came to East
Lansing. Would you fill us in on that?
When you’re on the road for months at a time,
it’s really a special event to get a home-cooked
meal and I wanted to share that with my friends
from work! Soooo, I volunteered mom to host a
breakfast party for the entire cast and crew of
lEGENDS! We had a full house and mom did great.
You signed off on your e-news from the road
with “Take care of each other.” How did that come
about?
It’s just my way of signing “love” in a way
that hopefully doesn’t make people uncomfortable.
After all, what is love but caring for each
other?
I know an actor wants to act, no matter
what…are some able to manage both active theater
roles and movies? I suppose Michigan’s Jeff
Daniels could be an example? Do you see that as
being who you are too?
I believe those who love to act love all the
variations of acting. One would be hard pressed
to find a great movie star who never worked the
stage. There are some stylistic differences and
differences in the technique, but ultimately,
it’s all the same craft. I count my lucky stars
to be able to make a living doing what I love.
As a kind of ambassador for “all things
possible” – when you reflect back over the last
ten years on your yellow brick road, what do you
see? And gazing down that road, what would you
like to bring into your life?
Having been blessed with so many opportunities
and lessons thus far, I’m looking forward to an
ever-increasing sense of certainty, security, and
sovereignty in my life. I am devoting my energies
to finding more joy and excitement along the way,
because I believe it is from this state that we
all can turn in our most inspired creativity and
optimum performances.

John Thaw

2010-03-08T23:18:00.000-08:00

John Thaw – muusikalembeline roosikasvataja
Briti draamasarjade veteran John Thaw oli väidetavasti üks saareriigi paremini tasustatud näitlejaid.
Ometi näeb seda hallipäist härrasmeest haruharva seltskondlikel koosviibimistel. Märksa meelsamini sisustab ta oma vaba aega koduaias askeldamise, tõsise muusika nautimise või lugemisega.
Ehkki John Thaw on viimase 36 aasta jooksul teinud kaasa ligi neljakümnes telesarjas või kinofilmis, on ta oma eraelu ja tööalased kolleegidevahelised suhted püüdnud rangelt lahus hoida. Näitleja on isegi tunnistanud, et pole triviaalses vestluskunstis kuigi tugev. Samas on tal juba paarkümmend aastat olnud kindel abivägi (autojuht ja paar kostümeerijat), kes saadavad teda kõikjal ning kellega John Thaw vahel ka üldisemat juttu armastab ajada.
John Thaw on sündinud 2. jaanuaril 1942 Manchesteris. Kui poiss oli seitsmeaastane, hülgas ema perekonna ning John jäi koos noorema venna Raymondiga pidevalt sõidus viibiva koormaautojuhist isa Jacki hoole alla. Seega õppis ta juba varakult enese eest hoolt kandma. Kord 15aastaselt koolibussile kiirustades murtud jalaluu sunnib näitlejat veel nüüdki kergelt lonkama.
Ducie Technical High Schoolis õppides ja oma toonaselt draamaõpetajalt julgustust saades otsustas John Thaw näitlejaks õppida. 16aastaselt õnnestus noorukil pääseda Londoni Kuninglikku teatriakadeemiasse RADA. Õpinguaega langes ka tema esimene filmiroll: Bosworthi kõrvalosa rezhissöör Tony Richardsoni draamas "Pikamaajooksja üksildus" (1962). Paar aastat hiljem, olles äsja RADA lõpetanud, äratas John Thaw esmakordselt kriitikute tähelepanu seersant John Mannina politseisarjas "Redcap" (1964-66), kus tema partneriks oli sellal veel suhteliselt tundmatu Diana Rigg.
1969. a, olles just lahutanud oma esimese abielu Sally Alexanderiga, pakuti John Thaw’le võimalust mängida üht peaosa komöödianäidendis "So What About Love". Samasse aega langes tutvumine näitlejanna Sheila Hancockiga. Neli aastat hiljem, kui Sheila oli jõudnud juba mõnda aega lesepõlve pidada, nad abiellusid. Praeguseni Lõuna-Inglismaal elaval näitlejapaaril on kolm tütart, kellest vähemalt üks (Melanie) on vanemate ameti jätkaja.
1970. aastate keskpaigast alates on John Thaw vähehaaval kujunenud tõsiseltvõetavaks telenäitlejaks. Kõigepealt oli ta endine varas Stanley kaheksajaolises situatsioonikomöödias "Thick as Thieves" (LWT 1974), kelle vana kamraad (Bob Hoskins) avastab vabadusse pääsedes, et semu elab kokku tema naisega. Samal aastal järgnes populaarne politseisari "Regan". Detektiivinspektor Jack Reganit kehastas John Thaw ka seriaalis "The Sweeney" (Thames TV 1975-76).
Järgnes viie-kuueaastane periood, kus näitlejat võidi lisaks telele näha võrdlemisi tihti ka teatrilavadel. John Thaw’ tõenäoliselt tuntumaiks teatritöödeks on West Endis etendunud Tom Stoppardi "Öö ja päev" (koos Diana Riggiga) ning nimiosa Royal National Theatre’i etenduses "Seersant Musgrave’'i tants". Filmirollidest vääriks eraldi märkimist sadistlik ülekuulaja Richard Attenborough' apartheiditeemalises draamas "Hüüd vabadusele" (1987).
Kindlasti seostub John Thaw eeskätt nimiosaga Colin Dexteri bestsellerite järgi vändatud kriminaalsarjas "Inspector Morse" (Central TV 1987-92), kus intelligentne ja mõnevõrra küüniline peainspektor Endeavour Morse suutis koos oma abilise seersant Lewisega (Kevin Whately) lahendada kuitahes keerulise, peamiselt Oxfordi lähemas ümbruses aset leidnud mõrvajuhtumi. Peaaegu sama tuntud on ka tema kehastatud sõnaosav vandeadvokaat James Kavanagh kohtusarjas "Kavanagh QC" (ITV 1994-99).
Ka John Thaw’ lähiminevik on olnud võrdlemisi töine: lisaks kirjanik Peter Mayle’ile neljaosalises lühisarjas "Aasta Provence’is" (1994) ja Tom Oakleyle draamas "Head ööd, mr Tom" (1998) on tema filmograafiasse kahe viimase aastaga lisandunud veel kolm tähelepanuväärset saavutust.
Lühisarjas "Plastiline mees" (The Plastic Man, 1999) kehastab ta plastilistele näooperatsioonidele spetsialiseerunud dr Joe MacConnelli, kellel on olemas nii naine (Sorcha Cusack) kui armuke (Frances Barber). Jõulises kaheosalises spioonidraamas "Ootamise aeg" (The Waiting Time, 1999) seikleb ta (koos Zara Turneriga) Ida-Saksa julgeolekupolitsei Stasi mängumaal.
Tänavu märtsi lõpus aga jõudis teleekraanidele neljaosaline draama "Monsignor Renard". John Thaw kehastab rooma-katoliku preestrit Augustin Renard'i, esimese ilmasõja sangarit, kes naaseb pärast 20aastast eemalolekut sünnilinna – umbkaudu samal ajal, kui algas Saksa okupatsioon.
(11. august 2000)

JOHN THAW

The world was saddened to learn of the passing on February 21st, 2002, of John Thaw, one of the most popular and beloved actors on British television. His image will be permanently linked with that of one of the most famous roles in British history, Inspector Morse, whose films have been watched and enjoyed by millions in more than 80 countries worldwide. A consummate actor of unlimited range and ability, his talent spanned roles ranging from action to drama to romance, while displaying a deft touch for light comedy. His untimely passing at the age of 60 has left a huge void than can never be filled, with the promise of his company in the years to come unrealized. We are forever fortunate that he shared his unique gifts and talents with the world, and in so doing, he left us a body of work spanning four decades for his fans to treasure and remember him by. In this way, he will never really leave us.

THE EARLY YEARS

"I've heard he's meant to be a very clever man." - from The Dead Of Jericho

John Edward Thaw was born into a working class family in West Gorton, Manchester, England on January 3rd, 1942. His formative years were difficult and trying to say the least; his mother having abandoned John when he was seven, he did not see her again for another 12 years. His father, a long-distance lorry driver, did his best to raise both John and his younger brother Raymond, but spent most of the time on the road and away from home, often leaving the brothers to fend for themselves or in the care of relatives. For awhile John stacked potatoes in Manchester's Smithfield Market to help bring in an income for his family. As a teen he held a number of menial jobs, including that of laborer and for a short time, baker.
His only stage experience came as a stand-up comic entertaining old folks and hospital patients. John's school years were unexceptional. At one point he was slightly injured in a automobile accident that permanently damaged a nerve in his leg and left him with a slight limp; he was concious of this fact during his early years as an actor and would refuse to be filmed in such a way that would serve to highlight this disability. While attending Ducie Technical High School a drama teacher encouraged him to take part in a number of school plays and productions as a way of helping the youngster overcome his shyness. He must have spotted something in John even at that young age for with his teacher's encouragement, John decided upon an acting career and was accepted by London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts at the age of 16, his uncle driving John to the audition in a used van, with John lying about his age to gain admission. But once in, his life's path was set.
While at the Royal Academy John became friends with future British stars such as Tom Courtney, and later graduated with honors. Here was something at which the youngster could excel, even though he consistently felt as though he were an outsider because of his working-class roots. He admitted to having an "inferiority complex" that no amount of success later in his life would ever completely dispel. Thus classically trained, John appeared on stage in many successful productions where he was heralded as a new talent to be watched and befriended by Laurence Olivier. But unlike others of his peers who longed for a motion picture career, the large fees and huge audiences of small-screen television soon lured him in that direction. He made his professional stage debut at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1960 in "A Shred Of Evidence", and his television debut the following year as a member of "The Younger Generation", in which a stock company of raw actors (John being 19), performed in original plays by equally young and raw writers, chief among these was the one-act play "Fire Raisers". He also was cast - for the first but certainly not last time in his career - as a police officer in a guest appearance on the highly popular police show "Z Cars" in 1961, and also landed a guest appearance that year on the hit TV-series "The Avengers".
His first feature film came in 1962, "The Lonliness Of The Long Distance Runner". Other plays followed, "Women Beware Women" (1962) and "Semi-Detatched" (1962), "Nil Carborundum" (1962), and "Five To One" (1963). However, it was in 1964, at the age of 22, when he first caught the critic's attention as Sgt. John Mann in the television series "Redcap", in which he starred with Diana Rigg. "Redcap" told the story of the Special Investigation Branch of The Royal Military Police. Several more films and short-lived TV series followed which, while mostly forgettable, allowed John to sharpen his ability while also paying the bills. These included "Dead Man's Chest" (1965), "Bat Out Of Hell" (1966 TV-movie), "The Bofors Gun" (1968), "Praise Marx And Pass The Ammunition" (1970), "MacBeth" (TV version, 1970), "The Last Grenade" (1970); "Random Happenings In The Hebrides" (1970), "Lady From The Sea" (1971), the camp horror classic "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" (1972), "The Collaborators" (1973), and a 1974 series "Thick As Thieves", where John played a crook who settles down rather comfortably with the wife of an accomplice still in prison (Bob Hoskins), who is subsequently released on parole. This show was a critical success, and offered for John a welcome chance to do light comedy, but while the network was considering whether or not to renew it for a second season an offer came along for a TV-movie then in development called Regan, and the rest, as they say, is history. He continued to hone his skills on stage before a live audience and developed a second love for live performances that would continue throught his life. He would admit that stage acting was much more demanding than either film or television, perhaps this is why he enjoyed the challenge of it so much, splitting his career at this point in his life equally between the two.
In 1967, at the Liverpool Playhouse, John takes part in a stage production of "Around The World In 80 Days". John also guest stars alongside Michael Caine in "The Other Man" , a two-and-a-half-hour television play by Giles Cooper which imagined that Britain had made peace with Hitler and was now a Nazi satellite. John continued to show his versatility in 1968 when he appeared in a TV serial called "The Inheritance", in which he played an entire series of characters, both fathers and sons, from the mid-1800s up through the days of Churchill. In 1968 John was divorced from his first wife, historian Sally Alexander, and the following year was offered a part in the stage comedy "So What About Love", in which he met actress Sheila Hancock, whom he married in 1973. It was to be a lifelong, happy marriage. He further honed his craft by guest-starring in such series as "Strange Report" (1969) in which he played, oddly enough, a police inspector investigating strange paranormal happenings in 1960s London, "Budgie" (1971), and "The Onedin Line" (1971). It was at this point that ABC television, then the dominant partner in Thames Television, came up with a one-time TV movie "Regan", that cast John as a tough, no-nonsense, break-all-the-rules, streetwise cop. Little did he know that this movie, and the series that followed, would catapult him from obscure supporting actor to national attention, and would make John Thaw a household name for the first but certainly not the last time in his budding career.

The Sweeney

"Get your trousers on, you sod, you're nicked."
"We're the Sweeney, son, and we've haven't had any dinner yet, so unless you want a kickin'...."
"I am utterly and abjectly pissed off."
"I'll drink down to the label with you if you like"
"If you weren't who you are I'd kick your arse up to you shoulderblades."
"Look slag, I don't give a toss who you have in your bed."
"The word is you're a right evil bastard."
"Shut it!"
- from The Sweeney

On Tuesday, June 4th, 1974, the 90-minute police action drama "Regan" first aired and was an immediate ratings success, watched by more than 7 million viewers, a huge number in England in those days. Eager to capitalize on its success, Thames television quickly signed John to a TV-series based around the Regan character, "The Sweeney" (a name derived from cockney rhyming slang "Flying Squad/Sweeney Todd"). The first season premiered on February 1st, 1975, and featured Denis Waterman as Thaw's partner and Garfield Morgan as his superior, and was unlike anything ever to hit the British airwaves.
"The Sweeney" was more action oriented than the Brits had been used to before, much more similar in style to "Kojak" or "The Streets Of San Francisco" which were airing in the US during that time. In each show Regan almost always went over the line or bent the rules in his efforts to put the criminal element behind bars, and each episode almost invariably ended in car chases or random gunplay. Continuing a decades-long love affair with the police force, the Brits ate it up. During the show's tenure it brought a whole new vocabulary of cockney/police slang into everyday use, and the styles set either by racy cars or Thaw's rumped raincoat and private flat that looked as if it had been decorated from a second-hand thrift shop. A number of familiar faces from British stage & screen guest starred at different times, among them Brian Blessed, John Clive, Denholm Elliott, Brian Glover, John Hurt and Roy Kinnear. In its first season the show did reasonably well in its Thursday night time slot, then dominated the airwaves for 2 more seaons on Monday nights, before returing to its Thursday slot for its fourth and final year. In all, the series ran for 53 hour-long episodes.
The series' final episode on December 28, 1978, garnered its highest ratings of 19 million viewers. But British fans could not get enough of their newly-found heroes on the small screen, as the Sweeney made the jump to the big screen in two feature films: "Sweeney!" (1977) which won John the Evening Standard Best Film Actor of the Year Award, and "Sweeney II" in 1978. It also spawned a series of cheap pulp paperback novels based on the show, and all sorts of licensed tie-ins. Following this hectic shooting schedule of sqealing tires and shootouts, John returned to the stage and appeared in a series of plays both in London and Toronto, Canada. He appeared opposite Diana Rigg in "Night And Day" (1976) and drew rave reviews for "Absurd Person Singular" (1976). Other appearances included "The Sensible Action Of Mr.Horst" (1976), "The Two Of Us" (1977) opposite wife Sheila Hancock, "Sgt. Musgrave's Dance" (1978), "Pygmalion" (1984), Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" in the part of Joe Keller (1985), "Stainheads" (1986), and as "Kieran Flynn" opposite Glenda Jackson in "Business As Usual" (1988). Not forgetting his classical training, he also gained favorable reviews for his performance in Shakespeare's "Henry VII" (1989) and "Twelfth Night" (1990). John seems at home on both the stage and in front of the television cameras, and easily switches from one medium to another in an effort to balance out his projects with a satisfying degree of variety. It is a talent few actors seem able to master. Though John enjoys the immediate response of performing in front of a live audience, "keeping you sharp at your craft" as he puts it, it is television which is his first love and where he is the most comfortable.
An uneasy John is surprised, however, in 1981 with an unexpected episode of "This Is Your Life" featuring him at home. Always intensely private about his personal life, John warms up when, among the parade of friends and relatives that are brought out, his father and brother appear. This particular episode becomes the most popular of the show for that year. John next appears in "The Grass is Singing" (1981, also released as "Killing Heat") opposite Karen Black, a searing saga in which Black plays an unstable white South African woman who marries a well-meaning but failing farmer (Thaw) whose marriage and life disintegrates into poverty while losing her sanity in the process.
During this period of his life John also performed in what he later described as the "most gratifying role of his career," as a father trying to find out how his son has died in Northern Ireland in a remarkable one-man play by Douglas Livingstone, called "We'll Support You Evermore" (1985). According to Livingstone, "Though the quest for truth was the mainspring of the plot, it was never going to be settled; what mattered, in the end, was an uncomplicated man's grief and puzzlement, both conveyed so subtlty by the formidable Mr. Thaw." John also makes one of his rare overseas ventures in 1985, appearing in Toronto, Canada, in the Ray Cooney farce "Two Into One" with fellow actor Daniel Massey.
John also excelled on the small screen in such features as the comedy "Dinner At The Sporting Club" (1978), the historical miniseries "Drakes Venture" (1980) in which he played the famed English explorer Sir Francis Drake, as a hard-drinking London newspaper reporter in "Mitch", another historical miniseries "The Life And Death Of King John" (1984), and as Henry Willows in a weekly sitcom "Home To Roost" which lasted for 29 episodes and for which John won the Pye TV Award. John also teamed up with his Sweeney co-star Denis Waterman for a 1976 appearance on the "Morcane & Wise Christmas Show," and guest-starred (1972) on a episode of the children's series "Black Beauty". John's favorite cause was the fight against child abuse; in 1981 he hosted a 10-part series on the problem of child abuse called "When The Bough Breaks", a subject which would crop up again in "Goodnight Mr. Tom" 16 years later. For a change of pace John appeared in Killer Waiting (1984), a suspenseful thriller right out of The Twilight Zone type of story in which John plays an ex-IRA assassin who himself is being hunted by an unknown killer. This TV-production, one of a trilogy of Killer films, ends in one of the most unusual plot twists of all time.
After "The Sweeney" ended its run, John began casting about for new projects to conquer. About this time an unknown first-time writer by the name of Colin Dexter was putting the finishing touches to his first novel about a grumpy, sometimes morose, but always brilliant detective that was to catch the public's imagination in a way no other mystery series has done since the days of Agatha Christie, making this literary character the most poular detective in British history, second only to Sherlock Holmes. In bringing this character to life, John Thaw would unknowingly take on the part he was born to play, one that would transform him from a popular British TV actor to an international star.

Inspector Morse

"It's a very funny thing, but as soon as someone doesn't want to discuss something, I do"
- from Service Of All The Dead
"I don't know why they let Morse stay on this case, it's a murder a minute."
- from Service Of All The Dead
"Morse's Law is that there is always time for one more drink."
- from The Silent World Of Nicholas Quinn
"I don't think Lewis I deduce, I only ever deduce."
- from The Wolvercote Tongue
"Try not to antagonize the rich and famous, Morse, just for the sake of it."
- from Greeks Bearing Gifts
"Here we are again, Lewis, putting together the last moments of a complete stranger's life."
- from Who Killed Harry Field?

In 1985 longtime friend Ted Childs, director of drama programming from Central TV, approached John with a novel he had just read about a new detective character named Morse, an Inspector with the Thames Valley CID, with the idea about turning the character into an on-going series of 2-hour mystery films. John read through the book, met with author Colin Dexter, and immediately liked what he saw. Between Central TV's committment to quality and Colin Dexter's writing, John was convinced it would be a worthwhile project and immediately signed on. In the summer of 1986 they began shooting the first program in and around Oxford. Though Dexter had written his character's background and history with all the requisite quirks and eccentricities, it would be John who would ultimately impress upon the figure his own interpretation and personality traits and bring the character to life, leaping from the pages of a novel and imbuing it with a breathing, flesh-and-blood quality. In the process, he would make the role his own.
On January 6, 1987, "The Dead Of Jericho", the first Inspector Morse mystery, debuted on British television and introduced the world to a new phenomenon. Morse was unlike anything John had played before, in fact the complete opposite of the rough-and-tumble Regan he had played in The Sweeney. Gone were the car chases and shoot-outs; instead was a more thoughtful, cerebral story that relied more on characterization and deduction than violent gunplay. It quickly gained a reputation as being perhaps "the most intelligent show on television today." Morse was a character with many human flaws: morose, brooding, melancholy, a devoted bachelor with a poor track record of successful relationships with women. Here was a detective who often ignored forensic science, and couldn't stand the sight of blood. He had a passion for opera and classical music, a love of classic cars (his 1959 red Jaguar Mark II became a Morse trademark), a talent for crossword puzzles, and a thirst for beer. Indeed, it became a common feature in each mystery for Morse to visit the local area pub to mull over the case he was currently working on over a pint (or two) of ale.
Never one to try and grab the spolight, Thaw shared the show's success with a wonderful cast of supporting characters, chief among these his partner Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis, brilliantly played by Kevin Whateley, and his long-suffering boss, Chief Superintendant Strange, played by the talented James Grout, and produced initially by another longtime colleague, Kenny McBain. Inspector Morse also broke new ground in that a regular series of any kind had never been tried before in a 2-hour format. Viewers were quickly drawn to the ever-changing and growing relationship between Morse and Lewis, evolving from that of superior to mentor to an almost father-son relationship. Indeed, Morse came to regard Lewis in many respects as the family he never had, and they came to rely on each other's strength and weaknesses to complement each other perfectly. No better duo had been seen since the days of Holmes & Watson.
As the series grew over the years, a number of interesting aspects were soon noticed. To begin with, for almost the series' entire run Colin Dexter never revealed his character's first name, and it was a preference for Inspector Morse simply to be known by his last name. It was rumored that the "morse code" heard in the background during the closing credit's haunting theme music revealed that name to sharp-minded viewers, but this was not the case as author Colin Dexter himself did not even make up his own mind what that name would be until the next-to-last episode: "Endeavour" (Morse's father, apparently, being a fan of Captain Cook's voyages of exploration). Dexter himself, the son of a taxi-driver father and mother who worked in a butcher shop in Stamford, Lincolnshire, took to making Hitchcock-like appearances in each and every episode, and it soon became a game among Morse fans to see if they could spot him. The original series music by composer Barrington Pheloung became highly popular and ultimately spawned four different soundtrack albums. The town of Oxford, known chiefly as a quiet, rural community mostly based around the famed university, with only one verified killing in 50 years, quickly became dubbed as "the murder capital of the world" as more and more victims piled up in each new mystery Dexter wrote for Morse to solve. Indeed, the series racked up an impressive body count of 94 victims during its long run.
Chiefly known for exporting comedies, Inspector Morse became the most popular and widely-watched British drama series in the world, eventually being broadcast in more than 80 countries. Accolades poured in from across the globe, from millions of fans who saw the show as the perfect antidote to the violence seen in many American dramas. "Morse tours" sprang up as fan clubs and armchair detectives alike toured the Oxford streets and surrounding countryside, eager to see the sites and locations made famous in the television shows and books.
Thaw was delighted with the response, and his portrayal of the now world-famous figure earned him two seperate British Academy Awards for best actor (BAFTA) in 1990 and 1993. John also won the ITV Personality Of The Year Award for 1990, and was named ITV/Time's favorite actor of 1991. After a run of 6 years and 28 episodes, "Twilight Of The Gods", guest starring Sir John Gielgud, was shown on January 20th, 1993, and was widely regarded as the final Morse mystery. During those six seasons John kept to a grueling schedule, each two-hour film being a miniature motion picture in itself, to the exclusion of all else. He soon began looking forward to new roles and projects to undertake, as a refreshing change of pace. But like Basil Rathbone before him, John Thaw would soon discover than his best-known character had other plans in mind and was not quite done with him. Morse would be heard from again. In the meantime, John's next project would take him to the sunny countryside of southern France.

A Year In Provence

" I love it, I have no idea what's normal anymore... What color are their yellow pages?"
"The hills were green, the trees were green, even the swimming pool was green."
"France was the truffle in our egg box."
"If you're looking for a real bargain, they tell me Bulgaria's the place."
"We should never have told people about France."
"Welcome to the south of France, they said. Well the south is beginning to get up my nose."
- from "A Year In Provence"

During his initial 6 years as Inspector Morse, John Thaw had little time for other projects. He did a guest appearance in 1987 on the Granada-TV series of Sherlock Holmes, opposite Jeremey Brett, in "The Sign Of Four", portrayed Sir Arthur Harris of Bomber Command in the World War 2 TV biography of "How I Won The War" (1989), returned to the stage in one of his rare overseas ventures, appearing in Toronto, Canada, in the Ray Cooney farce "Two Into One" (1986) with fellow actor Daniel Massey and back home in England in a theatrical production of "Charlie" in 1992. Near the end of Morse's run John signed on (1991) to play the role of Stanley Duke in "Stanley And The Women", a 4-part adaptation of the Kingsley Amis work which provided him with his most challenging and dramatic role yet. In it, the idyllic lifestyle of John's character is suddenly shattered when his son develops a terrible mental illness, and as Stanley struggles to help his son regain his sanity he finds himself locked in a horrible battle with the medical profession in general and a monstrous lady psychiatrist in particular. Stanley's beautiful, cultured second wife and her more strident predecessor turn out to be no help at all in this traumatic and heart-rending human drama. John's demanding performance won him the accolades of fans and critics alike.
About this time a book by author Peter Mayle was making waves on all the major bestseller lists. Called "A Year In Provence", it was an autobiographical work telling the story of Mayle and his wife's (an advertising executive and tax inspector, respectively) attempt to leave the London big city rat race behind and settle into an idyllic tranquil new lifestyle in the south of France. Their attempts to renovate a centuries-old farmhouse and adapt to the local color and customs provided a humourous look at the inevitable culture clash between two completely different lifestyles. John had read the book and was as entranced with it as millions of others had become, quickly signing on play the part of Peter Mayle in an ITV television production of the book, which, together with two successful sequels by Peter Mayle detailing the further misadventures in blending into French society, were culled to form the basis for the miniseries version of "A Year In Provence".
But the project almost didn't happen. Seeing a runaway bestseller up for grabs, Hollywood immediately pounced on the material and started a bidding war for rights to the book. An American network had even gone so far as to write up a two hour made-for-TV treatment with a preliminary cast of Richard Chamberlain and Meryl Streep in the leads. But a crafty executive from ITV television approached Mayle and, while being able to offer less in the way of money but promised a more faithful adaptation of his work, stole the project out from right under the noses of Hollywood studios. The result was a 6 hour masterpiece told in twelve 30-minute segments. Hearing of the coup, John looked forward to shooting his first major project outside of England, and sharing a working vacation with his wife on the sunny Mediterranean shores of southern France. John also welcomed the chance to do a bit of light comedy as a refreshing change of pace, something he hadn't done since his own short-lived sitcom "Home To Roost" eight years earlier.
The story follows the attempt by the Mayles to renovate their newly-acquired farmhouse, despite an unending procession of univited house guests, a language barrier, unreliable workmen, eccentric neighbors, and a never-ending series of crises. Shooting took place for 15 weeks during the spring and summer of 1992 and required the producers to rent an already occupied farmhouse similar in style to that of the real Mayles', moving all its furniture into storage, weathering and altering the building to give it the appearance of being dilapidated, then having it restored during the filming as part of the story whereupon it was returned to a very grateful owner. John worked at a demanding pace, as his character appeared in almost every shot of the series, and commonly worked along with a 50-man crew 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, for nearly four months straight. But what came out of the effort was almost magical. Peter and Annie, as portrayed by John Thaw and Lindsay Duncan, marvelously capture all of the glories that make up Provence and their stories made the books literally come to life. The series is visually stunning, the characters that we cared about so much in the books are vividly captured and in some cases even fleshed out better than in Mr. Mayle's novels.
John appreciated the fact that here was something the whole family could watch, that it was a relief to produce something where "no one was getting shot or maimed or having sex every ten minutes." Along with co-star Lindsay Duncan, they created a number of memorable scenes, among these the annual goat races, the great bread caper, or the truffle underworld of the Luberon, as well as sentimental moments such as the Mayle's efforts to help save the town's only school from closing, or mediating a dispute on finding a new Father Christmas for the village holidays.
Like his televison counterpart, John Thaw and his wife fell in love with the Provence region and purchased their own piece of paradise in a 3-bedroom home in the small village of Les Gavots, overlooking the staggering beauty of vibrant green hills and lush vineyards. Not having many shops or tourist attactions, the area is known for its privacy and tranquility and the Thaw family would often use it as a vacation spot or summer home, as often as his demanding schedule allowed.
A Year In Provence debuted on February 20, 1993, and ran for 12 consecutive weeks. While not a ratings blockbuster, it did attain a measure of cult status and provided an alternative to the usual tired sitcom fare. However, among those who watched was none other than the Queen herself, who was known to be a big Inspector Morse and Provence fan. It was while the series was ending its run on TV that the Queen invited John Thaw to Buckingham Palace in the spring of 1993 to receive the CBE (Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire). During their meeting the Queen commented on how different Thaw was from what she expected, "Seeing him play a genial Englishman in France was quite a contrast from the grumpy Inspector Morse." Being awarded the CBE was a highpoint in his life, and put John Thaw at the peak of his professional career. The lorry-driver's son had finally made good. Most actors would give their right arm to be associated with a hit television series. At this stage in his life, John had acheived two: The Sweeney in the 1970s, and Inspector Morse in the 1980s. Little could this talented actor know that yet a third hit series awaited him in the 1990s.

Kavanagh Q.C.

It seems that John Thaw was always destined to play a role of some kind in the legal profession; indeed, his three most famous series even followed a natural progression: in The Sweeney he first became known as a streetwise rough-edged cop, in Inspector Morse he played an Inspector Detective, and in his final regular series Kavanagh Q.C., he took on the role of a full-fledged barrister, arguing cases in a British courtroom while dealing with personal crisis in his home life. Surprisingly, John almost never took the role because he did not like the idea of wearing a legal wig. "I know it sounds stupid," he explained, "But I hate wearing hats, and the last thing I wanted to do was have this grey horse-hair thing stuck on my head for a whole series."
Devised as a vehicle especially for John by producer Ted Childs, the character of James Kavanagh was envisioned as a crumpled yet charismatic northern barrister with an affinity for the underdog. Like John, the character was written as coming from Manchester, recently tested by his wife's waywardness at home while maintaing a razor-sharp mind in the courtroom. A lot of Kavanagh's domestic home life would be featured, giving John a chance to film some scenes in a more relxed jeans-and-sweatshirt atmosphere, a far cry from the way audiences were used to seeing him as the impeccibly-dressed Inspector Morse. To research the role, John visited London's Inn of Court to attend an actual murder trial at the Old Bailey. "Although the script is there for you, I like to observe human behavior and ask a lot of questions," he commented.
The series premiered on John's 53rd birthday, January 3rd, 1995, and was an instant ratings hit as more than 12 million people tuned in. "The British love crime and anything to do with it," he observed. "Maybe its because we were lawless at one time and still are in our hearts. There's also an element of 'there but for the grace of God go I.' You think, thank God that didn't happen to me." John carried over a part of the crusty Morse image into his interpretation of the new role, and people instantly took John's new character to heart. John realized that the world-weary, gruff exterior was an important part of Kavanagh's personna, as viewers watched him deal with the trails and tribulations of the world around him. When told by one person that Kavanagh seemed to be getting happier in later episdoes, Thaw responded, "Does he? I'll have to put a stop to that."
Having the series take place in and around Manchester afforded John an opportunity for a sentimental and nostalgic trip back to his hometown as the show moved there periodically for location shooting. In one episode, Tom Courtney guest-starred as a mild-mannered doctor accused of killing his wife. John was delighted with the chance to be able to work with his old friend from the Royal Academy days, and with whom John had starred in his very first motion picture "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" some 30 years before.
In the show's fourth year the producers killed off Kavanagh's wife, played by Lisa Harrow, to enable the show to focus more on the courtroom trials and showing John's character adapting to widowed life and learning to take care of himself more. Unlike the 2-hour Morse mysteries, Kavanagh Q.C. consisted of 90-minute episodes, allowing for a somewhat less demanding shooting schedule. John took advantage of this flexibility by returning to the stage at the National Theater in the 1994/1995 season by appearing as the strongly principled by weak-willed Labour party leader Gary Jones in "The Absence Of War." Critics called John's portrayal as nothing less than "spellbinding."
After a successful run of 5 seasons, the last regular episode entitled "End Games" aired on the 29th of March, 1999, and a special finale "The End Of Law" was broadcast on April 25, 2001. Altogether Kavanagh Q.C. ran for 29 episodes, and in the final one the writers hinted at the possibility of James Kavanagh being made a judge, thereby keeping the door open for possible further development of the series. But midway through Kavanagh's run, Thaw had made an announcement that millions of his fans around the world had been looking forward to with anticipation. Having put some time and distance behind him since the last time he donned the famous raincoat, John announced that he was ready to return to the one role that had made him an international star: Inspector Morse would be returning.

Inspector Morse Returns

"You know what they say about funerals, Lewis, there's always someone who catches his death."
- from Promised Land
"I can't carry my own bags, Lewis, can I? I'm a Chief Inspector."
- from Promised Land
"He does crosswords, madam, knows all sorts of words nobody ever uses." - from Ghost In The Machine
"They put me on to these things when they can smell a corpse." - from Last Seen Wearing
"Coffee may be instant, death may not." - from The Way Through The Woods
"Allowing the pages of the Sun to pass before your eyes does not amount to reading, Lewis." - from Twilight Of The Gods

On the evening of November 29, 1995, millions of viewers sat transfixed before their TV screens as the familiar credits began to roll and "The Way Through The Woods" flickered across the screens. After a 3-year absence John Thaw was returning to the role of Inspector Morse, and the build-up in the weeks leading up to the show's airing had been tremendous. Thaw had originally expressed concern that audiences might eventually tire of the character or that the writing might grow stale, but such was not the case as this 29th Morse mystery became one of the BBC's highest-rated programs of the season. Thanks to Colin Dexter's excellant storytelling and the return of all the principal cast members, the show was vintage Morse at its best.
John had agreed to reprise the role of Morse only if the quality of the scripts remained high, and if it allowed him time to pursue other projects on the side. Therefore, Morse would not be returning as part of a regular, on-going series but as a set of one-off films that would appear at roughy one-year intervals. By this time in the show, Morse had been promoted to Chief Inspector and Sergeant Lewis was preparing to take the exams that would promote him to Inspector status. This situation allowed for an emotional play-off between the two characters for, even though Morse supported Lewis in his quest for advancement, he did so knowing that if Lewis were to become an inspector in his own right Morse would be forced to lose him as a partner after all these years, a prospect which he detested. It was a further sign of the closeness written between the two, mirroring the friendship of the actors offscreen as well. "Morse and Lewis just seemed to click with viewers," observed Thaw's co-star Kevin Whateley, "and I always love working with John. We stopped doing them before people got tired of them and I believe people are ready for another look at them now."
Viewers seemed to agree. Morse's return to the small screen drew an audience of 16.5 million, a whopping 65% of the available British audience at the time. The two actors, reunited, were clearly delighted to be back in harness once again. They were helped by a spellbinding story and some sparkling dialogue: In once scene, with Sergeant Lewis still pushing for his long-delayed promotion, the young man loses his temper for once with Morse and calls him "a miserable, self-centered, arrogant bastard." Morse was certainly back with a bang.
Four more Morse mysteries followed in the next four years. These resulted in yet two more acheivements for John; for in May 2001 he was awarded the Radio Times reader-voted Lew Grade Award for the Inspector Morse series, and a Lifetime Acheivement Fellowship Award from the Royal Academy of Drama and Acting. Both well-deserved awards were presented to John by his old friend, Sir Tom Courtney. John was at the peak of his career and this night was an emotional one for him. It was an honor John clearly cherished.
In the last two episodes viewers noticed a new direction the series was taking as Chief Inspector Morse began facing his own mortality. In one episode, after suffering chest pains and being hospitalized, it was discovered that Morse had become a diabetic; a lifteime of smoking, liberal drinking, and constant overwork were catching up with him. He was encouraged by Lewis and Strange that it his body's way of telling him he should retire. Lamenting his own lack of advancement, Lewis states, "I'll be made Inspector yet if there's any justice in this world." To this Morse replies, facing his own forced retirement, "I'm not sure there is, Lewis, or else there'd be one last case for Morse." Morse eventually decides against retirement as he had no other life outside of the force and no family ties for him to enjoy; he recoiled at the prospect of being "fobbed off by a gold watch only to grow old, waiting to die in bed." It was not the way he wanted to go out.
The truth was that it was a decison mutually arrived at by both Thaw and author Colin Dexter. When it came to film the ending, the cast and crew said although they were in tears, they felt it was time for the end. "Producer Chris Burt phoned to tell me that in Colin's next book Morse would die," said Thaw. "I was pleased in a way because it took away the responsibility of deciding if I, as an actor, should do Morse again and again. I didn't want the television Morse to end like Frank Sinatra, doing an endless series of farewell concerts." After 13 full-length novels, more than a dozen short stories, and 32 television screenplays in the span of 15 years, Dexter felt he had taken the character as far as it could go and that Morse was not the kind of person to go off into the sunset enjoying his golden years. So it was announced that in the 33rd and final Morse, the aptly-titled "Remorseful Day", the unthinkable would happen: the great detective would die. In a prophetic statement made at the time to an interviewer, John said that his onscreen demise was chilling: "Seeing yourself on a mortuary slab pulls you up. I've done a past Morse when he was in the hospital, and you think that this could be you tommorrow or in 6 month's time; I could be here as John Thaw."
Word spread life wildfire as fans of the show searched for any clues or hints concerning details of Morse's demise. Most remained a closely guarded secret and on November 15, 2000, TV's most popular detective passed into television history. In the course of his final mystery, re-opening a year-old unsolved murder case, Morse solves it with the assistance of Lewis (who finally makes Inspector) and succumbs to his condition right at the point of bringing the guilty parties to bay. Lewis brings the case to a successful conclusion, the final Morse scene being an emotional and moving farewell from Lewis to his friend and mentor of 15 years. In the coming weeks "Remorseful Day" was broadcast to audiences around the world. When aired in the U.S. it became one of the highest rated PBS broadcasts of all time, and it was estimated that worldwide the show was seen by upwards of half a billion people. Fans felt as though they had lost an old friend, but appreciated the dignity with which their favorite character had departed this life. They also looked forward to seeing John Thaw in future projects, and were curious as to what shape they would take now that he had put Inspector Morse behind him. In the ultimate irony, however, the actor who had breathed life into the character and had become inextricably linked with, himself would not long outlast his creation and would soon follow him in death as well.

Films and Movies

"I'm happy enough doing what I do."
- from Happy Families
"You are in God's care and you must care for one another.
Seek the best in people, not the worst. We must stand or fall together."
- from Monsignor Renard

Despite being primarily a television actor, John Thaw made occasional appearances on the big screen as well. Two notable examples of this are Sir Richard Attenborough's "Cry Freedom" in 1987 (starring Denzel Washington) in the role South African prime minister Paul Kruger, which earned John a nomination as Best Actor in a supporting role by the British Academy Of Film & Television Arts, and Attenborough's 1992 film "Chaplin" in which he portrayed Fred Karno, the London impressario who gave Chaplin his first job in vaudville but went bankrupt in 1926 and died penniless. "My first introduction to Charlie," John remembered at the time, "was as a boy in the 1950s in my local Odeon on a Saturday morning. His black & white two-reelers would bring the house down". But after completing both the Morse and Kavanagh roles, he returned to the small screen, which he made his own, and where he found a wealth of dramatic material in which to work.
How did John resist the lure of working in Hollywood? In 2000, John had been offered a part of an "English baddie" alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in an American feature film, but turned it down - because he preferred his starring roles on TV. In an interview in March, 2001, John explained that the bright lights of Tinseltown held little attraction to him. "I would sooner do leading parts on television than have 10 minutes - for 20 weeks work - in a Hollywood so-called blockbuster. The films I'm being offered are 10 or 20-minute slots and it's going to take three times as long as a film for television. I wonder, why do I need to do that? Why do 10 minutes in an Arnie movie when I could play Harry? I'm not bothered by that." (He was referring to the part of Harry Jenkins in "Buried Treasure" which turned out to be his final role.) Thaw added: "It was a film that was never made. I truthfully don't know why. They built the set and spent fortunes on it. It was a costume thing." But asked if he could remember much about the script, he laughed: "Nothing good." The actor instead took the part of a villain in a light-hearted musical departure as Captain Hook in a BBC Radio 3 version of Peter Pan, recorded at the Royal Festival Hall for later broadcast. "I've been practising with a pianist - and getting it wrong, forgetting when to breathe," he said. It wasn't his first singing role though: "I sang once on The Sweeney. We were supposed to be drunk on that occasion."
In spite of being kept busy with the ongoing Morse and Kavanagh Q.C. roles, John found a huge variety of work being offered him. Beginning in 1995, John starred in the televison miniseries "The Absence Of War," which was the final installament in a 3-part trilogy by David Hare on contemporary Britain. This installment dealt with the trials and tribulations of a Labour Party leader on the campaign trail, and the eventual downfall of Labour in a national election. John had originally performed the role in a stage version of the play in 1992. After "Absence Of War" John took on what he considered were two new exciting projects that were developed especially for him.
The first of these, "Out Of Blue" (1997), starred John as Harry Barnett, in a 2-hour thriller based on the bestselling novel by Robert Goddard. Harry Barnett, once married and successful, is now single, bankrupt and working as a caretaker at a villa on the Greek island of Rhodes. The villa is owned by his good friend, the powerful multi-millionaire and disgraced ex-government minister Alan Dysart. Through the generosity of his good friend, a few drinks and the beauty of Rhodes, Harry finds his life quite peaceful...until he has a fling with Heather Mallender. Suddenly, he is thrown into a stormy sea of blackmail, deceit and murder when, the next morning, Heather disappears and Harry is hauled in by the local police, suspected of her murder. Fortunately, the ever-connected Dysart gets his friend released, but he also has some curious news about Heather: she is the sister of Dysart's former personal assistant, who was found drowned in the sea near his home in Britain. Harry begins to feel like a pawn in a game he doesn't understand. He decides that his only recourse is to turn detective himself and uncover the truth. Just when it seems life can't get any worse -- it does. Uprooted from his peaceful life, Harry traces Heather back to London, chasing his innocence across a sea of political scandal, blackmail, and murder, as Harry unravels a conspiracy that may reach to the very highest corridors of power in the government itself. The terrifying climax leads Harry to a rediscovery of his own inner strength and courage, and ultimate vindication. Viewers cheered at the conclusion and like every project John was associated with, it became an instant ratings hit.
John next appeared in the much-acclaimed and very moving "Goodnight Mister Tom" (1998), based on the bestelling book by Michelle Magorian, in which he played Tom Oakley, a widower and recluse who had lost both his wife and son years before but takes on the care of a young 9-year old boy evacuated to the countryside from London, along with thousands of other children, to escape Hitler's bombs in the fall of 1940. In trying to make a home for the child, Oakley discovers that Willie has been the victim of severe child abuse, and decides to adopt the child as his own, in order to save him from the severe psychological damage caused by his natural mother. "It has something for everyone," said John of the story, "because in a way it's about everyone. We've all been children, we've all felt frightened, we've all felt unloved, and loved too, hopefully." This film won the National Television Award for best drama and John Thaw as best actor.
John appeared in two dramas in 1999, both of which confirmed his brillance as an actor and his popularity with the public. The first of these, "The Plastic Man", cast John in the role of a plastic surgeon whose life isn't as perfect as it seems as he is forced to face two moral dilemmas in his life: the first over a patient and the second concerning his troubled marriage. John played plastic surgeon Joe MacConnell, whose son is in training to be a doctor but was involved with a crime, the victim of which was one of Thaw's patients. In this 2-part, four-hour series, MacConnell's marriage is suffering from neglect, his son can't bear to tell him he's dropping out of medical school and his job is extremely highly pressured, So what does he do? Have an affair with a colleague. Naturally this only adds fat to the fire. This drama comes from the producer of the acclaimed detective series Prime Suspect. John revelled in the role of a man facing the crisis of being torn between two women, explaining "This character has far more depth that I have been allowed to show in either Morse or Kavanagh." 12 million viewers agreed.
John rounded out 1999 with a two-part adaptation of the Gerald Seymour thriller "The Waiting Time". Playing Joshua Mantle, a solicitor's clerk, Thaw becomes involved in post-cold war intrigue in England and Germany that might uncover the shady past dealings between a high-ranking British member of Parliament and a former member of the East German secret police. The story begins when a female Army officer attempts to get revenge on a former East German Stasi officer who killed her boyfriend. During the years of the Cold War Dieter Krause was an important officer in the Stasi - East Germany's secret police. One night in 1988 he and his men captured a spy, Hans Becker, and they killed him. Ten years on and the wall has come down, the Stazi has gone but Krause has managed to keep himself popular and in a position of influence by providing the West with tit-bits of information on a Russian colleague Rykov, who is seen as a potential Russian leader with hard-line military policies. The Americans need the officer because he's buddies with the possible new President of Russia, and so the mighty forces of the British Secret Service (run by former Doctor Who - and now Orson Welles lookalike - Colin Baker) to thwart Thaw's efforts to get to the truth. While visiting a British Army base Krause is attacked by Corporal Tracey Barnes. She was one of the British military contingent in Germany back in 1988 and it turns out that she was present when Krause killed Becker. She has decided that it's time Krause should pay for the murder. Joshua Mantle, a former soldier who gets involved, travels to Germany to help Tracy. Krause and his former-Stasi men have something in common - they can't afford the murder to be made public so they set out to intimidate and silence the few witnesses from 1988. Meanwhile British Intelligence are watching with interest because this whole affair could bring down the Russian Rykov. What everyone agrees on is that Barnes and Mantle are expendible. John was intrigued by the role as something different from anything he had ever done, and the attraction of working during part of the shoot in Germany, even though he decribed it as the coldest-ever location of his entire acting career. Besides the challenge of staying warm while filming was the equally daunting task of learning to speak rudimentary German for some key scenes. He viewed the character as "a lonely, rather bored man whose life is given purpose and meaning by this adventure."
The year 2000 saw John return to the screen in one of his most popular post-Morse roles, "Monsignor Renard", a 4-part drama in which John played a French Catholic priest who, after a twenty year absence, returns to his homeland in 1940 just as the German occupying forces march in. John's character, Augustin Renard, finds his hometown a place of confusion, led by an ineffectual mayor and a populace divided over resisting the Germans or collaborating with them. Filmed entirely in France, it covers the first eight months of the German occupation and covers Renard's inner struggle between doing what he thinks is best for his people and giving them a cause to fight for. John is later angered when plans for four more Renard films, continuing through the end of the war, are cancelled as being "too costly." John has looked forward to Renard as being his next long-term character and briefly considers changing his contract over from Carlton TV to the BBC in protest but later relents. The film is a huge hit. John explains, "Naturally I was disappointed when I was told. A lot of work has gone into it and I think we should all be proud of it. It's a quality drama, but I'm a big boy and that's the way the business goes." John also takes this time to narrate a 3-part televison documentary series called "Britain At War In Colour", using rare archival films and photographs. He also made his last stage appearance in April, 2001, when he performed the dual roles of Mr. Darling & Captain Hook in the one-night live performance of "Peter Pan" at the Royal Festival Hall mentioned above.
May 2001 saw John appear in a new 6-part drama called "Glass." This told the story of a woman, Carol (played by Sarah Lancashire) who is torn between the affections of a working class older man (Thaw), who plays the owner of a window company by the name of Jim Proctor, and a 22-year old younger man, a charming opportunity-seeker and fortune-hunting Paul Duggan, played by Joseph McFadden. To complicate matters, Proctor faces loses his glass company company (and his girl) to his evil, scheming nephew (Duggan), and his attempts to win them back.

In May, 2001, John also won the prestigious Lew Grade Radio Times Audience Award and a fellowship at the British Academy of Film and Television.
Sadly, John Thaw's last screen appearance was also perhaps one of his most emotional and sentimental, and served to prove the extradordinary range of this gifted actor. In November 2001, John portrayed widowed estate agent Harry Jenkins in the moving "Buried Treasure", who suddenly discovers that his estranged daughter has died and that he is the grandfather of a mixed-race child he never knew existed. Dominque Jackson stars as Jenkin's strong-willed granddaughter, a spirited child who proves more than a match for him. A trip to London in search of the child's father forces Harry to face up to a few home truths, and that things need to change if he is to play a part in his granddaughter's life. This was a role John especially wanted to play, and served as a fine coda to a remarkable and varied career that has been equalled by few other actors, television or otherwise. John also gets to sing the Beatles "All My Loving" to his grandaughter during the film, one of the few times in his career that he permitted himself to do so. John looked forward to a new year full of exciting, new roles that would further challenge him as an actor, but the discovery of an unexpected illness kept this from becoming a reality.

Remorseful Day

"Ensanguining the skies
How heavily it dies
Into the west away;
Past touch and sight and sound,
Not further to be found,
How hopeless under ground
Falls the remorseful day."
- A.E. Houseman

"Thank Lewis for me."
- from The Remorseful Day

On June 19, 2001, John Thaw made an annoucement that stunned his fans. "I am receiving treatement for cancer of the esophagus," he said, and then, in typical Morse fashion, "As soon as this has been completed, I intend to return to work." He went on to thank the public for the concern they would show for him and his family during the coming months, then asked the reporters and press to respect their privacy during this trying time. The news came like a thunderbolt, totally unexpected. John's father had died of the disease in 1997, and ironically his wife Sheila's first husband had also died from the same disease back in 1971. Thaw admitted that he smoked heavily all his life and had once tried to give it up, but said he became "nervy, edgy and snappy" and that "after driving his wife and family mad he decided he would rather smoke and be pleasant and relaxed for everyone's sake around him." John knew this meant he would be forced to lighten his work load, which was his entire life. In his last public interview at the Royal Society of Arts in London, John commented "In the last few years I have made a conscious decision to slow down and I've not worked for a couple of months, quite deliberately," he said. "I've been called a workaholic in the past. But now I can think of many pleasant ways of spending retirement - lots of reading and walking, going to concerts, shows, and operas; sitting in the sun and long, leisurely lunches. I can think of lots of nice things to do."
John and Sheila take a vacation to France in the summer before starting his programme of treatment. "It's not been easy this year so it was lovely to get away to France for a break," Hancock said in an interview. "We get lost in the crowd there - I'm not complaining but it was nice just to look in the shops and sit in a cafe which is difficult to do over here. "John is doing well. He is in the middle of his treatment and they are all very thrilled. He is responding marvellously. There is no news when he might start working again. But we are hoping he will be able to start some time in the autumn. But with all these things you play it day by day and see what happens." She then went on to speak of their daughters. Originally all three decided to pursue a career in acting but Hancock admits she is happier two have now decided that it is not for them. "My eldest daughter Melanie, much to my relief, is doing interior design. She did her own house up very well and then a lot of people asked her for help. She thought it was silly as it was turning into a job. She did a course and is now working with an architect. My middle daughter, Abigail, is at The Globe and my youngest daughter is contemplating doing a course in psychiatry. I pray all the time that they will give up acting. If I get a sniff of them doing anything different I encourage them."
John and Sheila returned to England in good spirits. Most of his friends and associates felt that if anyone could beat the disease, he could. Colin Dexter observed that John went into the treatment "From day one in a positive frame of mind, optimistic, and determined to beat it." His wife Sheila had been a breast-cancer survivor herself from 16 years previously, and a 6-year old grandson had just recovered from a brain tumor, so there was hope among the family that the dreaded disease does not always have to win. John completed the prescribed program of treatement in time for the Christmas holidays. On January 3rd, 2002, he celebrated his 60th birthday and looked forward to returning to work. On February 13th, he and his wife met with long time-friend and producer Ted Childs over tea to discuss the possibility of John's reprising the role of Kavanagh. John looked over the suggested scripts and agreed to return in two more Kavanagh programs, slated to begin filming in March. Eight days later, on Thursday, February 21st, John Thaw was dead. He spent the last evening of his life walking in his beloved garden at home, and that very day had signed a one-year contract with ITV that Sheila found on the piano the next morning. He had refused to lose faith in the future right up to the very end.
John passed away at his small cottage home in Wiltshire, surrounded by his family, which consisted of three daughters: Melanie Jane from Sheila's first marriage; Abigail, from John's first marriage; and a daughter of their own, Joanna, all three of whom were actresses taking after their famed father. In addition to his immediate family, his 3 grandchildren were at his bedside. The family decided on a private ceremony with just Sheila and the daughters present, saying that the "entire family had been exhausted by the emotional stress of his passing and the constant care they had given him at home" for the previous eight months, but promised that there would be a memorial service later in the spring for the public and his fans to share in celebrating his life. John Thaw was cremated on February 25th, and his ashes scattered in his garden at home that he loved so much.
Ted Childs, John's longtime friend and producer for over 30 years, talked with great sadness of the last lunch they shared a week before his death. "John was as he had been throughout his illness, very positive, funny and self-effacing. He clearly was not very well, but he was anxious to get back to work and had a great sense of humor about things. We talked of the old days, of the time we spent working on The Sweeney. He was very funny." Denis Waterman, who co-starred alongside Thaw in The Sweeney, said he would "miss a great friend. I know John's family loved him dearly and will be devastated by his loss and my thoughts are with them all. All of us are going to miss a great friend and actor. I admired him hugely." (To hear audio clips from various individuals on John's passing and his impact on television, click on the following names: Ted Childs, executive producer of Inspector Morse, and John's frend of nearly 30 years (3 minutes 10 seconds), Torin Douglas of the BBC (2 minutes 45 seconds), and Colin Dexter, author of the Inspector Morse novels and close friend of John's (20 seconds). From RTE Ireland comes a 90 second obituary from their evening news, that contains rare scenes from Redcap, The Sweeney, Morse and Kavanagh Q.C.
The night after his death, the BBC aired a special 30-minute tribute on ITV1 to John's life and career hosted by his Inspector Morse partner and colleague Kevin Whateley, after which they showed a selection of Morse mysteries thoughout the night. In it, Kevin paid tribute to his "Great pal and mentor. John's death will leave a hole in millions of lives", he said, adding that the country had lost "it's finest screen actor" but that his thoughts were with John's friends and family. Kevin then shared with viewers some personal stories and insights into John's character. "John had a wonderful sense of humor which is belied sometimes by journalist's impressions of him as irascible. He loathed the whole celebrity circuit. In between takes he was like an Irish storyteller in a bar, he wouldn't tell jokes, just stories and you would find yourself rolling around and crying with laughter. He was a wonderful mimic, particularly of people on the set rather than of famous people." At this point Kevin broke down and could barely continue the show.
And author Colin Dexter, who created the Inspector Morse character and became a close friend of John's over the years, summed it up for all by expressing that "John's death was a great sadness. He was very brave and optimistic and hopeful about the future, although I think everybody knew that this was an especially serious form of cancer." He described his friend as "A perfectionist. He did not mind how many takes there were. He was a person who was prepared to do anything to make sure that the television he made was as it should be. He always gave the best he had. And that is how I will remember him, always giving a hundred percent of himself."
Morse's beloved Jaguar MkII, perhaps the most recognizable example of its kind in the world, (which originally cost $2200 in 1959), sold at auction for an astounding $78,000 to a devoted collector and fan who vowed to keep the auto from leaving the U.K. When John's will (signed only five days before his death) is read, it is discovered that he left an estate estimated at 2.2 million pounds, divided up equally between Sheila and his three daughters. To his first wife Sally Alexander, mother of Abigail, he left her choice of cherished mementoes. And to give back something to the profession which he loved so much, a John Thaw Foundation is set up with an initial bequest of $200,000 pounds, as a scholarship fund to help struggling actors and students. Finally, in April, 2002, almost two months to the day after his passing, John Thaw won his second BAFTA, the coveted Lew Grade Award for his final performance in "Buried Treasure". At the conclusion of the ceremony a short filmed piece was shown remembering those actors who have passed during the last year, and John was left for last. They presented clips from both Inspector Morse and The Sweeney, and closed with a long, lingering shot of him showing that enigmatic smile on his face we've all come to know so well. The audience stood up in a thunderous ovation. John's final award was presented by his Inspector Morse colleague Kevin Whateley, and accepted on his behalf by his widow, Sheila. The actress said John would have been "absolutely overwhelmed and moved beyond belief. I think his is a remarkable story. He overcame adversity and fought a lot of personal demons to get where he was. John was really a very shy man who only ever regarded himself as a working actor. He never understood the public's fascination with him. Having reached a lovely, tranquil stage in his life, he has been snatched away from us. We really do miss him terribly." She went on to say: "It's very fitting that the last award that John will ever get should be one that's voted for by the audience. John would be hugely, hugely proud. He liked it when the critics gave him a good review. But if they didn't, he would always say 'it's only the audience that matters.'" That bond between John and his fans will forever remain strong and unbroken.

Some Final Thoughts

"To make an end is to make a beginning." - from The Wench Is Dead
"John could say a whole paragraph of dialogue in one look." - Chris Burt, film editor
"Well done, Morse, well done." - Chief Superintendent Strange to Inspector Morse

The stunning news of John's death came as a shock to millions of his fans. Messages of condolonce, sorrow, and grief continued to flood in to England from around the world, in dozens of languages, for two weeks after the actor's death. The most common feeling was that having gone through the death of their favorite character only a year before, it was like having lost Morse for a second time. He was truly an actor of international stature and the kind who only comes along once in a generation. John Thaw remains the only English actor to have had a television success in every decade from the 1960s to 2002, a span of over forty years.

Though being in the public spotlight for the better part of four decades, people knew very little about John Thaw the man. Part of the reason is the great lengths John went through to protect his and his family's privacy. "John's shyness is the reason why he never went on TV talk shows," said his late younger brother Ray, who lived in Australia. "He was remarkably quiet and reserved, and generous to a fault. He would constantly tell friends or relatives that 'if you're ever strife or need anything, you've only got to call me.' There was nothing John liked to do more than grab a book, listen to classical music, and basically lounge around. He's not the sort of actor that wants star treatment as soon as they get a name, he's not into that."

John always brought quality and a sense of class to whatever project he was in. He had a great respect for his profession, and it for him. Clive Jones, chief of Carlton TV (who produced Inspector Morse, Kavanagh Q.C., and Goodnight Mister Tom) called him "One of the great actors of his generation. He was universally the viewer's choice, and will always be remembered for setting new standards for others to measure up to." Ted Childs said of his friend "The power of his acting was very often in what he didn't say, rather than in what he did. He always brought a massive presence to every role he played. He was just a great human being."

It seems that everyone who met John Thaw shared this opinion and high regard of him. David Liddiment, director of channels for ITV, called John "The consummate TV actor who caught the imagination of millions. He had a warm, caring personality that just seemed to resonate with people no matter what country they were from." And Sarah Lancashire, Thaw's co-star in his next-to-last project "Glass", perhaps spoke most eloquently when she said, "It was a privilege to have worked with him but an even greater one to have known him, albeit briefly, as a friend. John was a national treasure and will be sorely missed."

The truth was that John Thaw was one of the greatest gentleman actors Britain ever produced. There was a depth of character to him and an unassuming gentleness you seldom find in stars of his stature. In spite of his fame, he was never able to forget the poverty and isolation of his childhood, and this was perhaps the key to his success. He said that acting was "Just a way of making a living, the way others make it from football." And the secret to a happy marriage - 28 years in his case - "Was being able to see the silly side of life whenever things were all in danger of getting a bit too serious." Today there is a movement in Parliament for John Thaw to be awarded a posthumous knighthood, and a call from the citizens of Oxford to erect a lifesize staute of Inspector Morse in the town square, as a permanent memorial to the close connection he shared with Oxford and the rest of the world. Not many fictional characters have ever achieved such a remarkable status.

We'll let John Thaw have the last word. In an interview he gave three years before his death, he spoke of his future in this way: "I don't envisage ever giving it up, acting, unless it gives me up first. I don't really want to do another long series or theater now at this stage of my life, but I will take on the parts that are worth getting out of bed for."

Rest in peace, John. You will be forever missed but never forgotten.

The Memorial Service

To My Dear And Loving Husband:
"If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man.
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such i can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever."
By Anne Bradstreet, read by Madelaine Newton.

On September 4, 2002, a memorial service was held at St. Martin-In-The-Fields, Trafalgar Square, to remember John and as a final opportunity for friends, colleagues, and fans to say goodbye. In a sign of the esteem in which John was held, those attending included the Prince Of Wales, future King Of England, paying his respects to the son of a lorry-driver, born into a working class family. Little could John have foreseen, playing as a child on the streets of Manchester, what the future would hold in store for him. We have two video clips of the day's events. The first is an ITV News report from early in the morning, before the services began, that also includes scenes from some of John's most famous roles. You can view that by clicking HERE. The second is Sky New's report on the memorial service, with comments by Lord Attenborough and Kevin Whateley, and you can view that by clicking HERE. Both clips are about 80 seconds long, and might take a minute or two to download, depending on your computer.
The following written accounts were taken from different and various news sources describing that emotional day.

PRINCE CHARLES JOINS THAW MEMORIAL (BBC NEWS Sept.4) - The Prince of Wales has joined 800 guests at a memorial service for actor John Thaw in London. He joined family and friends at St Martin-in-the-Fields church, off Trafalgar Square. Thaw's widow, actress Sheila Hancock, decided to choose a number of fans to invite at random after she was inundated by messages after her husband's death in February this year. Thaw died at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer of the oesophagus. The Prince of Wales, Lord Attenborough, Tom Courtney and Maureen Lipman were among the guests in attendance. They joined acting colleagues Kevin Whately and Richard Briers, Inspector Morse's creator Colin Dexter, and Cherie Booth, wife of the Prime Minister Tony Blair, in celebrating the life of the world-renowned actor.
One of the first to arrive was Kevin Whately, with whom Thaw appeared in Inspector Morse. The character's creator, Colin Dexter, actor Richard Briers and film-maker Lord Attenborough were also among guests. Hancock said she was moved by the reaction of viewers when her husband died. "His death has touched something deep in people, making them feel as though they've lost one of their own, a man whom they knew," she told TV Times in August. "It restores one's faith in humanity that people can be so kind," she added. Two hundred members of the congregation were fans of the Manchester-born star who had sent messages of condolence and support to his wife, the actress Sheila Hancock. The church was festooned with flowers and with a portrait of the star placed in front of the altar with a border of yellow, pink, and purple flowers. The actor's own voice was also heard at Wednesday's celebration, when a recording of his final acting performance, as Captain Hook in a musical version of Peter Pan, was heard. At the end of the celebration in St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, 60 balloons were released to mark each year of Thaw's life, each bearing the message: "Today we remembered John with love."
Hancock organised the service with the couple's daughter Joanne and the children from their earlier marriages, Melanie-Jane and Abigail. "We've randomly selected a number of people who will be allowed to come from those who wrote," she said before the service. Thaw was one of the best-loved TV actors of his generation, and his death prompted tributes from across the acting and TV profession. Lord Attenborough, who directed Cry Freedom - one of Thaw's few film appearances- called him an "exceptional" actor. "John was known to millions, about 20 million people watched him - there was a very great affection for John," he said. Many friends and colleagues remembered Thaw's irrepressible humour. Sir Tom Courtney, who met him when Thaw was aged just 16, reminisced: "Another thing we were fond of doing was talking as if we didn't have any teeth - I don't know why we did this - we did it a lot." The veteran actor added that he was proud to have introduced his friend to classical music, and during the service the Medici String Quartet played the Chorale from Bach's St Matthew Passion, one of Thaw's favourites. But Thaw's sense of humour was evident too; the choir sang a choral arrangement of The Sun Has Got His Hat On, arranged by Inspector Morse composer Barrington Pheloung.
The actor is still held in affectionate regard for his performances as the opera-loving Oxford sleuth Inspector Morse. The last episode of the ITV1 show in November 2000 was watched by 13 million people. In the 1970s he shot to fame as Jack Regan in gritty police drama The Sweeney, and in the 1990s he played a crusty barrister in Kavanagh QC. Hancock, herself a respected actress and comedienne, was Thaw's second wife, and they stayed together for 28 years despite a brief separation in the 1980s. A bursary (tuition grants for needy students) at Rada - where Thaw trained - has now been launched in his name.

The following report is from Reuters / AP: - PRINCE CHARLES REMEMBERS ACTOR JOHN THAW - LONDON (Reuters, Sept.4) - British actress Sheila Hancock was joined by Prince Charles, heir to the throne of England, Wednesday at a service to remember her husband John Thaw, the actor best known as the television detective Inspector Morse. Thaw, one of Britain's most popular and beloved television actors, died of cancer in February. At the end of the service in central London, Thaw's wife, actress Sheila Hancock, and his daughters released 60 red, yellow, and blue balloons, one to mark each year of Thaw's life. "Today we remembered John with love," read cards attached to each balloon.
Cherie Blair, wife of the British Prime Minister, veteran film director Lord Attenborough and Morse creator Colin Dexter were among the friends, family and mourners who packed the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields on London's Trafalgar Square. Fans who wrote letters of condolence to the family after the actor died were among the congregation. Friends and family shared memories of Thaw at the memorial service. "John was known to millions — about 20 million people watched him — there was a very great affection for John," said Attenborough, who directed Thaw in the film "Cry Freedom." "Only once once or twice in a lifetime does someone of his talent and humanity come along. He was truly the best of his generation."
Hancock attended the service with the couple's daughter Joanne and their children from earlier marriages, Melanie Jane and Abigail. The service celebrated Thaw's accomplished career which began on the stage before moving to television where the actor found fame in the 1970s as the belligerent, tough detective Jack Regan in "The Sweeney." Thaw then won worldwide fame as Colin Dexter's curmudgeonly, music-loving Oxford detective in an award-winning series of made-for-TV films between 1985 and 2000.
He repeated the success in the 1990s as a crusading lawyer in "Kavanagh QC." But it was as Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse that Thaw became best known to millions at home and abroad as the grumpy detective with a fondness for opera, crosswords, his classic Jaguar car and a good pint of beer. More than 30 episodes were filmed among the dreaming spires of Oxford, the famous university town in southern England. The last episode, aired in late 2000, was watched by a British audience of 12.5 million.

The following story is from Sky News / ITV News - ROYAL TRIBUTE AT THAW MEMORIAL (Sept.4) - The Prince of Wales has joined the family, friends and fans of actor John Thaw in a service to remember both his public and private life. Thaw was best known to millions worldwide for his unforgettable role as ITV's Inspector Morse. The all-star cast at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square, surpassed even those seen on Bafta night. It was led by his wife, actress Sheila Hancock, and included Colin Dexter, the creator of Inspector Morse, John Thaw's best known role. Long-standing Morse co-star Kevin Whately, was among those at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London's Trafalgar Square to share memories of the well-loved star. The others ranged from Cherie Blair through actors like Lord Attenborough and Richard Briers to newsreader Alistair Stewart. Also in the congregation were the couple's three daughters, Abigail, Melanie and Joanna, John's younger brother Ray, and three of his grandchildren. Sarah Lancashire, Peter O'Toole, James Bolam, Richard Wilson, Maureen Lipman and Samantha Bond were among stars due to attend, along with Chadderton schoolgirl Dominique Jackson, who appeared with John in the TV drama Buried Treasure and Nick Robinson, who co-starred in Goodnight Mister Tom.
Sheila Hancock was so moved by the letters of condolence she recieved from the public after his death in February, that she also invited 200 fans to the service. During the service Abigail spoke movingly about her father's 60th birthday present given to him just before his death from cancer in February. She read a poem she had penned about the gift - a trip to Barcelona he could not take. Abigail was in tears by the time she had finished the poem and retaken her seat. She said: "He had wanted to go there for 20 years but was too ill. My two sisters and I went after his death." Weeping, she added: "Barcelona is a beautiful city. He really should have come too. I miss him."
Paying tribute to his friend and colleague Kevin Whately said: "There was emotion but it was mostly fun. I will miss his wolfish grin most of all. I think he'd have cringed at the attention but would have loved the music. I think he's happy up there." Kevin then spoke of Thaw's "mischievous sense of fun" and said he still found it hard to believe his friend was no longer here. "There is a lot to celebrate in John's life. His was a tragically early death but we didn't want today to be too sombre an occasion. It's nice that the public and the fans could also be here." Long-time friend Sir Tom Courtenay said his old friend would be smiling down on the service, which highlighted his sense of humour. "He was my best friend and he wouldn't want people crying." There were also tributes from friends Richard Briers and Lord Attenborough. The voice of John Thaw rang out when a recording of him playing Captain Hook in a musical version of Peter Pan that was performed at the Festival Hall, was played. It was his very last performance in April last year, one he particularly enjoyed as his wife and daughter were also in it. A poem "To My Dear and Loving Husband" was read by Madelaine Newton, wife of Kevin Whateley.
Thaw's love of classical music was reflected with the chorale from St Matthew Passion among the musical performances, a piece he chose as the one he could not live without during an appearance on Desert Island Discs. Faure's In Paradisum, which was featured in the last episode of Morse, was also performed. Inspector Morse theme tune composer Barrington Pheloung wrote a choral arrangement of The Sun Has Got His Hat On specially for today's event. Speaking before the service began, Sheila said: "This is the song that John always burst into when the atmosphere needed lightening at work. He incorporated a tap dance which, sadly, will be missing." Outside the church Thaw's three grandchildren released 60 balloons - one for each year of his life - each carrying the message: "Today we remembered John with love." Daughter Melanie paid tribute to her father after the service. She said: "It was great. Dad would have been bemused to see all these dignitaries, but secretly he'd be quite pleased." John Thaw played dozens of roles but was perhaps best loved for Morse. Thaw had a long and distinguished career on the stage and screen becoming a household name after starring in the tough cop programme The Sweeney. He then captured the hearts of the nation with his portrayal of Oxford-based detective Inspector Morse. He died in February, aged 60, from cancer of the oesophagus.

The following report comes from the Manchester Evening News - FINAL ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR JOHN THAW (Sept. 5) - Inspector Morse star John Thaw won applause right to the end. It came as 60 blue, pink and yellow balloons - one for each year of his life - were released in Trafalgar Square. Watching them rise high over St Martin-in-the-Fields in London was Chadderton schoolgirl Dominique Jackson, who co-starred with the late Manchester actor in the TV drama Buried Treasure. Dominique and her mum Jayne were among 800 guests who had just left the church after a moving service to remember Burnage-raised Thaw, who died from cancer in February.
Jayne was not alone in being touched by the hour-long service in tribute to the son of a Manchester lorry driver, which was also attended by Prince Charles. Dominique said Thaw had given her some advice. "He told me never to be too big for your boots and always be friendly to everyone," she said. "He never thought that he was better than anyone else."
There was also applause inside the church after a recording of Thaw's last stage performance was played. John’s younger brother Ray, family friend Cherie Blair and stars including Sarah Lancashire, James Bolam and Samantha Bond joined in a choral arrangement of The Sun Has Got His Hat On, written for the event. Everyone - Prince Charles included - sang along and laughed as Morse co-star Kevin Whately recalled how his friend would jokingly throw up his script after being awarded the CBE, exclaiming: "I can't say this rubbish, I'm a Commander of the British Empire!"
Upon his arrival, Prince Charles was asked about Thaw by ITV News to which the Prince responded, "He was a very special man." Attending in a private capacity, the prince joined family, friends and fans for the event in memory of Thaw, who was awarded the CBE in 1993. Prince Charles had sent flowers to John’s actress wife Sheila Hancock with a personal note the morning after Thaw died from cancer of the oesophagus in February. Family friend Richard Briers brought laughter when he recalled John’s “paraffin sausages” which were inedible at Thaw family barbecues, while Sir Tom Courtenay, John's oldest friend, who first met John at RADA when John was just 16, was choked with emotion as he recalled their long friendship. Sir Tom remembered seeing him for the first time in the canteen queue at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, "wearing a grey sweater and a manner that didn't invite conversation". The Royal Exchange favourite told how he introduced The Sweeney and Kavanagh QC star to classical music and later came close to tears when he concluded: "He was a very dear man and a very dear friend."
The Anne Bradstreet poem: "To My Dear and Loving Husband", read during the service by Kevin Whately's actress wife Madelaine Newton, was also read by Madelaine when John's ashes were scattered in the garden of the Thaw family home in Wiltshire, where John died surrounded by his family. Before reading it at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Madelaine explained to the congregation that she was doing so as "a tribute to John and Sheila's great love together" and also in tribute to the courage Sheila had shown during John's illness and after his death. Thaw's actress wife, Sheila Hancock, was flanked by her three daughters as famous faces and ordinary fans invited by the family filled the pews, along with doctors and nurses who had cared for the actor. Film director Lord Attenborough called him "probably the most decorated actor, in terms of public acclaim, of his generation" and added: "We are the privileged ones for being here at the same time as he." Lord Attenborough revealed the extent of John’s charity work on behalf of RADA, the drama academy which first gave him a scholarship enabling him to become an actor. And he revealed how Thaw’s contributions had been responsible for allowing 16 students, including some from Manchester, to take up places at the drama school. RADA is to set up “The John Thaw Bursary” in his memory.
As family and friends left the church, the theme from Inspector Morse was played before Thaw’s grandchildren released 60 balloons - one for each year of his life - in Trafalgar Square. Each carried the message: “Today we remembered John Thaw with love.” Morse co-star Kevin Whately said: “I don’t think he’d have enjoyed all the attention, but he’d have loved the music. I think he’s happy up there.”
Outside, as the bells rang out in Thaw's memory, Jayne Jackson said she hoped Dominique would realise what the whole event had been about. "The way he lived his life was a lesson for everyone," she said. "And he never forgot where he came from." Wiping away tears after the service, Sheila said: “It was lovely.” Outside, Melanie Thaw was asked what she thought her father would have thought of it all, to which she replied "He'd have been bemused, I think, to find all these dignitaries here, but secretly quite pleased. It's the sort of thing he would have loved to have been at."

The following item comes from The London Evening Standard, and gives a wonderful look at John's ever-present sense of humor - STARS' TRIBUTE TO JOHN THAW by Valentine Low (Sept.4) - The Prince of Wales, Cherie Blair and the cream of British acting talent were there to remember him, from Lord Attenborough to Sir Tom Courtenay - which, all in all, was not a bad achievement for the son of a Manchester lorry driver.
Around 800 people gathered at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square today to share their memories of John Thaw, whose performances in television shows from The Sweeney to Inspector Morse and Kavanagh QC made him possibly the best loved actor in the country. For a while today, it was almost as if they were all there to say goodbye to Morse himself.
There in the congregation was the old superintendent who was forever giving him reprimands, there was Kevin Whately, who played his trusty, much put-upon sergeant, and at the end of the service the congregation filed out to the unmistakable strains of Barrington Pheloung's dotdot-dash theme tune. The only thing missing was that familiar, irascible voice barking out "Lewis!"
Indeed there was a bit of Morse in Thaw. The actor - who died from cancer in February aged 60 - shared his character's love of classical music, and today's service included a chorale from Bach's St Matthew Passion, which he chose as the piece of music he could not do without in Desert Island Discs. The choir also sang In Paradisum from FaurÈ's Requiem, which featured in the last episode of Morse, and the Medici Quartet - with whom he used to do readings - played one of his favourite pieces, the Cavatina from one of Beethoven's last quartets
It was Sir Tom Courtenay who introduced Thaw to classical music when they were studying acting together at Rada, persuading him to listen to a Schubert trio when all Thaw was interested in was his Cannonball Adderley LP. In those days Thaw could be just as gruff as any of his characters. Sir Tom, remembered their first encounter, in the queue for the canteen: "He was wearing a grey sweater and a manner that did not invite conversation. I was the only one in our class who dared speak to him. All I got for my pains the first time was a grunt."
But the curmudgeonly exterior was just a mask for his shyness, and the two became lifelong friends. Kevin Whately recalled the actor's "mischievous" sense of humour on set. He said: "I worked with him for 15 years and despite a long line of very grumpy roles and although he was the world's leading workaholic, it was always fun working with John. He had a nose for a wind-up, he could take off to perfection anybody on set or off it.
"My favourite creations were when he impersonated the schedulers and producers who made the show. He would imitate the producers talking about him as 'that fat white-haired one'. If there was a bump or crash on set he would suddenly shout, 'And stay out!' On another occasion the actor expressed dismay at a script he had been handed saying, "I cannot say that rubbish, I am a Commander of the British Empire." "Ten years ago we were filming in Eton College Chapel. John was displaying the usual apery he thought was funny when he heard a pupil at the college say, 'Who would have thought such a classy show would be made by such a bunch of thugs'?
Liverpool's theatreland was also represented today paying a personal tribute to the actor John Thaw at a memorial service in London. At today's service of thanksgiving at St Martin-in-the-Fields, John's widow, actress Sheila Hancock, was being presented with a pictorial collage marking her husband's guest appearance in a 1967 production of Around The World in 80 Days.

REMEMBERING JOHN THAW, By Derek Robins (Sept. 4) - The courage with which Inspector Morse star John Thaw coped with the cancer that killed him is revealed in an ITV1 documentary screened on Thursday. John died aged 60, in February, from oesophagal cancer. His widow Sheila Hancock says: "He had a rough time, not agonising, he just ignored it. "He had an ability that if something didn't please him, he turned his back on it. That stood him in good stead with his illness." She says he was determined to die at his Wiltshire home surrounded by his family. "The night before, we walked around our garden. He was hanging on a bit but still very strong. We had a Lancashire hotpot and he went downhill during the night. He is much missed I'm afraid," she adds.
"When I'd say 'You're going through it', he would reply 'I have got no choice'. It made it easier for everyone around him that he wasn't moaning. "In the last months of his life he was the most loving man. He knew he only had days or weeks to live but he chose not to hear that. We only had one slight weep." The John Thaw Story is shown the day after a London memorial service for the actor. As well as Sheila and daughters Melanie, Joanna and Abigail the tribute features: Kevin Whately, Dennis Waterman, Peter O'Toole, Lord Attenborough, Sarah Lancashire and Tom Courtenay.
John Thaw never forgave his mother for deserting him as a child, according to the tribute show. He was seven and his brother Ray was five when she abandoned the family. Ray recalls that John had to care and cook for him because their father was a lorry driver who was often away. His widow Sheila Hancock says: "He never forgave her or wanted to see her. He did meet her once later but he did not like her."
Thaw's effect on women is examined in an ITV1 profile this week. His first wife Sheila Alexander says: "All the women at Rada were in love with John or Tom Courtenay." Sarah Lancashire describes him as "astonishingly sexy", while Inspector Morse co-star Joanna David talks about his "devastating blue eyes". Kavanagh QC co-star Jenny Jules says: "I used to swoon over him in scenes, he went bright red when I told him."
Thaw's gifts for mimicry and cooking are also revealed in the profile. Daughter Abigail says: "He was terribly funny, a brilliant mimic. He could do anyone instantly - from the milkman to our boyfriends - and that was very embarrassing. He could also do daft dances." Even though he was the only man in an all-female house, he also did a lot of the cooking. Although one barbecue was a disaster as the sausages he had cooked tasted of paraffin.

The following article on "The John Thaw Story" Television special comes from the Manchester Evening News - JOHN THAW AND HIS LEGACY OF LOVE by Ian Wylie - John Thaw's ashes are scattered in the garden of the Wiltshire home where he died from cancer in February. His younger brother Ray recalls: "He had a beautiful house in the country, surrounded by big, high brick walls. And one day he said to me: `Ray, come and have a walk in the garden with me.'" The Morse star asked his brother: "Remember Burnage? Do you know I had a dream that I didn't tell anybody about? And the dream was that one day I was going to have a beautiful home, with a beautiful garden, and a brick wall all around so nobody could see me, and I was safe and protected. That's what I've achieved."
West-Gorton born John's rise from a broken home in Burnage to the birdsong of that Wiltshire garden is highlighted in a 90-minute ITV1 documentary being shown on Thursday, September 5. The John Thaw Story pays tribute to Britain's favourite actor and includes interviews with his actress widow, Sheila Hancock, and their three daughters, Melanie, Abigail and Joanna. Sitting in the garden where the couple took their last walk before he died, Sheila reveals: "John often used to sit here and say: `We cracked it, kid - we cracked it!' It was very important to John, coming from the background he did, to have lovely things."
Ray re-visits Burnage to tell the story of how their mother left their father when John was just seven. Their Aunt Beattie describes those tough days and Sheila explains how John was damaged by his mother's departure. Although brought up in an all-male household, in later life John found himself surrounded by a family of females. Married for 30 years, Sheila said her husband learned to trust women again. "The great thing about our marriage was that he started off very suspicious and very defensive and very angry and all sorts of things. And I think he learned to love. Certainly, the last month of his life, he was the most loving man you could have. "And I think that was one of his biggest triumphs - that he was a boy who wasn't taught to love as a boy, but learned to love as an adult. I think that is a mega triumph."
Daughter Abigail describes a lighter side to her father, not often seen by his millions of fans. "He was terribly funny. That's the strongest memory that I have of him. He was a brilliant mimic, because he could do anybody instantly." Sheila says shy extrovert Thaw was close to his driver, dresser, stand-in and continuity girl - who he called The Scallywags. "John really needed people round him that he could trust. He didn't trust lots of people, to be perfectly honest. He was very suspicious."
Emotions have, of course, been close to the surface in the Thaw family home since his death. Sheila says: "Last night one of my daughters burnt a tart and was in tears, as we often are at the moment. And she said: `If only dad had been here - he'd have cracked a joke and it would have been all right. He would have made it OK.'" Sheila describes the last day of her husband's life as he refused to acknowledge the end was near. She was determined to look after him at home. "People kept saying alarming things that might happen, but I took the risk because I knew he'd want to be here, and he died here. That's what he would have wanted - this was what he worked for. "This was when he was himself. He wasn't Morse, he wasn't Sweeney, he wasn't any of the things that the public thought he was. He was a husband and a father and a man. And that's what he was when he died."
In the upcoming ITV special The John Thaw Story, actress Sheila Hancock pays a moving tribute to her husband. Speaking from the garden of their Wiltshire home, where the Inspector Morse star lost his battle with cancer of the oesophagus in February, and where his ashes are now scattered, Hancock remembers the couple's last walk in the grounds the night before he died. "We had a Lancashire Hot Pot, which he suddenly wanted, and then in the middle of the night I knew that things were going downhill," she explains. "We only had one slight weep together at one stage, but even then he didn't want to talk about it. We just hung on to one another. "He never moaned. He made it easy for everyone around him."
Thaw's daughters Joanna, Melanie and Abigail have each shared memories of their father for the show. Both Melanie and Abigail are actresses and have appeared at Manchester's Royal Exchange. Thaw's childhood has been recaptured by his Auntie Beattie and younger brother Ray, who now lives in Australia, but returned to Burnage, where the pair grew up, especially for the documentary. Co-stars Kevin Whateley, Sarah Lancashire, Dennis Waterman and Tom Courtenay have also added their own tributes to the screening, set to coincide with the service remembering John Thaw at St Martin-in-the-Fields church, London, on September 4.

The following story comes from the London Times - (Sept.5) TEARS AND LAUGHTER AS JOHN THAW IS PRAISED IN HIS FINAL ROLE - By Robin Young - Inspector Morse would have commended the organisation; the 800 family, friends and fans at the actor John Thaw’s memorial service yesterday commended the man. Admission to St Martin-in-the-Fields in London was by ticket only, seats were numbered, with orders of service in place - including places for medical staff who attended him and for 200 members of the public picked at random from thousands who had written letters during his illness and after his death. The Prince of Wales entered with the choir, taking his front-row seat one away from the Prime Minister’s wife, Cherie Booth, QC, probably the only QC as well known now as Thaw’s Kavanagh QC. And as Inspector Morse, Thaw’s even better known alter ego, would have wanted, there was Bach, Fauré and Beethoven led by the Medici Quartet. Some of the music was in special arrangement by Barrington Pheloung, music director of Morse. Staff from Carlton Television, for which Thaw did much of his work, acted as ushers. Among the stars were Anna Calder-Marshall, Frances Barber, Francesca Annis, Honor Blackman, James Bolam, Richard Wilson, Geraldine James, Maureen Lipman, Prunella Scales and Timothy West attended.
Thaw’s youngest daughter, Joanna, and Dinah Garrett were credited with organising the event. The influence of Thaw’s widow, the actress Sheila Hancock, was also evident. Richard Briers, a close family friend, recalled Thaw’s enthusiasm for barbecues, and his increasingly moody grunts as he tried petrol, paraffin and gin to light the charcoal. Sir Tom Courtenay remembered first meeting a 16-year-old Thaw in the canteen at RADA. Thaw was “wearing a grey sweater and a manner that did not invite conversation”, but Courtenay said he persisted beyond the actor’s grunts and was by his side when Thaw received his Bafta fellowship last year. Thaw’s daughter Abigail spoke of a trip to Barcelona that she and her sisters gave him as a gift for his 60th birthday this past January. The dates were changed when his cancer returned, but he did not live to take the trip.
The Rev Nicholas Holtam, the vicar of St Martin's, said that despite becoming one of the country's best loved actors, Thaw's ambition had been "to be good at what he did rather than be famous". Lord Attenborough said that Thaw, the son of a Manchester lorry driver, would be honoured by a bursary set up in his name at Rada, his old drama school, to help other students from poor backgrounds, revealing that Thaw had secretly provided 16 students with financial help to attend the famous drama school. "He was deeply modest - a man of courage and compassion, and totally committed to the profession which he served," said Lord Attenborough.
Sir Tom Courtenay said he introduced Thaw to classical music - a passion he shared with his alter ego, Morse - while they were sharing a student house while studying at Rada. Remembering a friend who loved to impersonate Arthur Mullard and talk as if he didn't have any teeth, Sir Tom recalled his first encounter with Thaw in the queue in the Rada canteen. "He was wearing a grey sweater and a manner that did not invite conversation," he said. "I was the only one in our class who dared speak to him. All I got for my pains the first time was a grunt. But something about him made me persist and we soon became friends."
Richard Briers, another acting friend, said he and Thaw discovered they shared a common loathing for Christmas festivities when the Brierses visited the Thaws on Boxing Day each year. Recalling one year when they retreated to the kitchen for a quiet gin and tonic, Briers said: "Sheila [Hancock] appeared at the door and said, 'I know you two don't like Christmas but don't spoil it for everyone else. Get upstairs and play charades'." "John and I shared a very great gift - we were both world-class whingers," he said.
While Thaw was famous for playing a succession of irascible curmudgeons, the main message from his friends was that he had a wicked sense of humour. Whately, who played Morse's long-suffering side-kick, Sgt Lewis, in the ITV series, recalled Thaw's love for running gags on set and his perfect ability to mimic those around him. He said that Thaw regularly burst into a rendition of The Sun Has Got His Hat On to lighten the atmosphere on set, often accompanying the tune with a tap dance. "Whenever I felt down and gloomy in the last few months since John died, I got a vision of his smile, an avuncular and benign smile, and that mischievous, wolfish grin," he said. "He had a great nose for the wind-up, sometimes affectionate, sometimes not."
Kevin Whately, the much put-upon Lewis to Thaw’s Morse, recalled his years alongside television’s biggest grump and workaholic. Whately said he remembered Thaw’s wolfish, mischievous grin. He also recalled the actor’s mocking imitation of television schedule planners discussing forthcoming plans for programmes with “that fat one, with white hair . . . that John Thaw”. After Thaw was appointed CBE, Whately related how he had a new line of attack on scripts too: “I can’t say this rubbish. I’m a Commander of the British Empire.” The congregation heard his last performance, as Captain Hook in a musical version of Peter Pan, in his “dying speech lest when dying there should not be time for it”. The theme tune to Inspector Morse played everyone out. Outside 60 balloons were released, one for each year of Thaw’s life. The Rev Nicholas Holtam said that the balloons were environment friendly. The organisers had thought of everything.

The following review of The John Thaw Story comes from the Manchester Guardian - (Sept.5) As Hercule Poirot noted, you can't libel the dead. There was no danger of that in The John Thaw Story (ITV1), a predictably deferential and affectionate appreciation of the actor best known as Jack Regan of the Flying Squad and Inspector Endeavour Morse. And yet this was no run-of-the-mill biography/ obituary/thespian love-in. Rather, it was a tender profile of Thaw, a man who genuinely seemed to deserve the adoration and accolades heaped upon him.
According to family, friends and colleagues, he had vulnerability, deep goodness, profound honesty and was without conceit. On top of all that, of course, he was an excellent popular actor. He seemed embarrassed by compliments, shy of publicity and indifferent to celebrity.
Thaw was painted as a great man, but not one without flaws. His first wife, Sally Alexander, described their marriage candidly, and his widow, Sheila Hancock, was frank in her discussion of his volatile moods as well as his sense of humour and of Thaw's desertion as a child by his mother and how it affected his other relationships with women.
The film itself was a little choppy and disjointed, but it felt like a square tribute to a decent man. As Hancock noted, 'In the last months of his life, he was the most loving man you could have. I think that was one of his greatest triumphs. He was a boy who wasn't taught to love as a boy, but he learned to love as an adult.'
DI Jack Regan would have found it a bit posh and Morse would certainly have hated the fuss. But neither of these iconic coppers, created by John Thaw in the course of his 35 year career, would have underestimated the depth of goodwill and the warmth of the sentiments expressed at the actor's memorial service yesterday.
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In going through some of my records regarding John Thaw I recently rediscovered a wonderful look back at his life that appeared through the UPI press service at the time of his passing. While most obituaries that appeared at the time did little more than give a recital of his most famous roles and performances, this article was unique in that it gave an in-depth look at John's appeal to viewers of all classes and cultures and his lasting impact on the world of acting through the gift of his talent that he left us. It was perhaps the best look at the man and his ability that I have ever read and I thought it appropriate that I reproduce it here in full for others to read as we all share in remembering John on this special day.

THE MAN WHO WAS INSPECTOR MORSE - By Martin Sieff, UPI Senior News Analyst, Published 3/1/2002 5:03 PM - WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Inspector Morse has finally died without hope of a surprise revival. John Thaw, who portrayed the beloved, cultured and sensitive Oxford detective for 15 years, died of throat cancer last month at the age of 60. No actor or entertainer had done more over the past decade to represent the best qualities of English life in the global media. None was more popular or beloved in his own country. And yet Thaw's global triumph as "Inspector Morse," which won him the hearts of millions of Americans, was only the tip of his iceberg of achievement, and a highly misleading tip at that.
Almost none of the scores of millions of viewers worldwide who since the mid-1980s have faithfully followed Thaw's Morse in 200 countries knew, or could have imagined, that the actor who embodied English cultivation and culture for them was the working-class son of a long-distance truck driver. He left school at 16 with almost no qualifications and started his working life as a market porter. He never went to college or university and when he won a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1959 at the age of 17, he turned up dressed as a teddy boy, a trouble-seeking young street thug at the time. But Thaw entered British drama at a time it was going through one of the most extreme and fruitful creative revolutions in its history. Working-class and Northern regional underdogs were coming into dramatic fashion. Class barriers were being shattered, at least for the moment, and his obvious lack of cultivation and learning and tough, weather-beaten features, even as a youth, helped him to become a recognizable national actor while still in his 20s in the low-budgeted British Independent Television series "Redcap."
It was the launching point for what appeared at first to be a solid but unremarkable career until in 1973 he starred in a made-for-television movie that became one of the most successful and radically innovative television series in British history. The movie, like the series it spawned, was called "The Sweeney," London East End Cockney rhyming slang for the "Flying Squad," the elite commando unit of the London police. And Thaw's portrayal of the hero, Inspector Jack Regan, made him a national star. The series, which lasted from 1974 to 1977 and spawned two motion films, had obvious parallels with "Inspector Morse," but the contrasts were even more remarkable. Like Morse, Regan was an unmarried police inspector fighting crime who loved his pint of beer and was often unlucky in romance and at odds with his superiors. But in contrast to Morse, Regan was a young and virile, hard-swearing, foul-talking, street-smart thug of a hero. Intensely physical, the fight scenes he was involved in were the most realistic and intense ever displayed on national television in Britain, and far more so than American network television has ever had the imagination, the nerve or the sheer talent to reproduce.
The shoot-outs and chases in "The Sweeney" were spectacular, too. No TV or movie car chase since Steve McQueen's famous San Francisco one in "Bullitt" was ever as wild or nail-biting. Jack Regan, also like Endeavor Morse, drove Jaguars, but where Morse was a famously nervous and cautious driver, the younger Thaw as Regan was a hell-raising, daring and fearless one. And in their shoot-outs, the police and criminals alike did not use U.S. police regulation .38s or even Clint Eastwood's famous "Dirty Harry" .357 Magnum, "the most powerful handgun in the world," but far more devastating sawn-off double-barreled shotguns. "The Sweeney" was Britain's answer to its American police procedural series contemporaries "Starsky and Hutch" and "Kojak," but it was far more realistic than either, especially in its grim, unyieldingly unsentimental vision of the way two generations of welfare system undermining of the family structure and disastrously permissive education and criminal prosecution policies had created a hideous new social underworld in London's vast working-class suburbs. In this, it preceded NBC's justly acclaimed "Hill Street Blues" by nearly a decade. It was also an amazingly conservative and unsentimental show. The contrast between good and evil was very clearly, even starkly defined and individual moral responsibility, not some amorphous, anonymous "system," was seen as the crucial deciding factor of fate in almost every episode. It was the most popular drama series in Britain and its popularity may well have reflected the growing wave of public revulsion from the bankrupt social and economic policies of the previous quarter-century that would lead to the Thatcher revolution in the 1980s.
The transition from "The Sweeney" to "Morse" eerily paralleled Thaw's own life and the achievements of the working-class "cultural revolution" of the late 1950s and '60s of which he was a part. Thaw grew in person into the sophisticated, cultured figure he played publicly as Morse. After an early brief marriage, he found lasting happiness with the talented British comedienne Sheila Hancock. When they met, she was far more famous than he was. Their marriage endured 29 years until his death. They had three daughters, one together, one from Thaw's first marriage and one from Hancock's. They both proved adept at playing stage Shakespearean roles. He was a huge success as "Sir Toby Belch" in "Twelfth Night" during a stand-out season with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Thaw looked tough and mature even when first playing Jack Regan in his early 30s. By the time he first played mystery author Colin Dexter's "Morse" in his mid-40s, he had a face that looked as if it was carved from the rocky slopes of the Pennine Mountains outside his native Manchester. He had already become Britain's version of Mount Rushmore.
All his life, he was associated with television productions of the highest technical quality, a striking contrast to the miserable, non-filmed taped television that still marks so much even so-called prestigious television work. His achievements were also triumphs of the free market. Both "The Sweeney" and "Morse" were productions of independent television companies, not of the state-supported British Broadcasting Corp., whose dramatic output is both critically and commercially far less successful. But for all the talents of Dexter and the Carlton Television team that produced the 33 "Morse" films and serials from 1985 to 2000, it would all have been for nothing without Thaw. "Morse" in the books is an engaging but hardly original or profound creation. Virtually all fictional detectives drink beer, clash with their superiors or are exceptionally soulful and sensitive. The Morse character was in no way original, and the characters and the mysteries he solved were not in themselves notable either. It was Thaw's unique personal combination of rugged toughness and wisdom combined with a brilliant mind and an almost excruciatingly unbearable sensitivity that makes the character so convincing and the shows so riveting. So charismatic is Thaw, and so compulsive his performance that as viewers we pay no attention to the utterly ludicrous, unrealistic and bizarrely fantastic creaking workings of the arcane, archaic and convoluted plots. Their true purpose is only to serve as an excuse to follow Morse.
Dexter was fully appreciative of what Thaw was doing for him and his character and the later Morse novels are striking for the way in which their eponymous hero has evolved to conform with the way Thaw played him. Only Sir Alec Guinness playing John le Carre's veteran spymaster George Smiley has had a similar effect in actually influencing the way the character's own literary creator saw and shaped him. It was a tribute to Thaw's intelligence and superb acting skills that someone who never made it past the British equivalent of 10th grade should be so convincing as a former student of Oxford University. Like Sir Michael Caine, Sir Sean Connery and Albert Finney, Thaw came from the most humble and physically impoverished personal background without any advantage of higher education. And like them, he started out as a revolutionary upstart shaking up British theater and drama who over the decades grew to become one of its finest gems. His work looks certain to endure for decades and even generations to come even after he himself is sadly gone. - Copyright © 2002 United Press International

The following look back at John's life comes from The London Times - John Thaw rose to become one of Britain’s favourite actors from an unpromising working-class background and with few physical advantages. He was a shortish, stocky man whose craggy face and prematurely greying hair made him look years older than he was and despite the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art’s best efforts he never quite lost his flat northern vowels.
His greatest triumph was one of the least likely, playing the donnish, opera-loving, real-ale drinking Inspector Morse in the Oxford-based television whodunnits which drew enormous audiences in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a bold, even contrary, piece of casting, for hitherto Thaw’s most famous role had been the uncouth Flying Squad detective in The Sweeney.
Although he was not an actor of great range, Thaw managed never to get himself typecast and the success of Morse did not overshadow other popular roles, such as the barrister in Kavanagh, QC. Thaw was also a considerable stage actor, as he demonstrated playing the embattled Labour Party leader in David Hare’s Absence of War. It was the theatre’s loss that he did not spend more time there, though he admitted that he could find stage work boring.
Thaw was a dedicated, fastidious actor, much liked and respected in the profession, and something of a workaholic. Away from the screen he tried to live quietly and inconspicuously, although the instant recognition that came from starring in so many high-profile television roles often made this impossible. He was proud of his success but did not enjoy fame. Like Morse, he enjoyed classical music and poetry.
His origins gave no hint of things to come. He was born in Manchester during the Second World War. His father, a miner who became a lorry driver, was left to bring up the family after Thaw’s mother abandoned him for another man when Thaw was seven. The boy left his technical high school at 16 with a single O level, in English. The lack of educational achievement, coupled with his unsettled childhood, gave him a sense of insecurity which persisted long after he became one of the highest paid performers on British television. Despite his wealth he remained committed to socialist principles and refused to exploit his fame by doing advertisements.
After school he worked briefly as a market porter and apprentice baker before moving to London in the hope of becoming an actor. Although under age, he was accepted by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where his fellow students included Tom Courtenay and Sarah Miles. He lost some, but not all, of his Manchester accent and made such progress that he soon got a part as a young policeman in the recently launched Z Cars. He also picked up theatre work at the Royal Court and in the West End and by 22 had his first television lead, as a military policeman in the ITV drama Redcap.
In the 1960s, too, he supported Michael Caine in The Other Man, a two-and-a-half-hour television play by Giles Cooper which imagined that Britain had made peace with Hitler and was a Nazi satellite. There was more theatre before in 1974 he took his first stab at situation comedy in Thick As Thieves. The series, in which Thaw played a criminal living with another villain’s wife, had only a short run but he was in distinguished company. His co-star was Bob Hoskins and the writers were Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.
The Sweeney, which started in 1975 and ran for more than 50 episodes, made Thaw, still in his early thirties, a television star. With Dennis Waterman as his underling, George Carter, and sporting the kipper ties and flared trousers fashionable in the period, Thaw’s Jack Regan was a cop for whom the ends justified the means. In a brutal series leavened by shafts of mordant wit, Regan often behaved as badly as the villains he was chasing. It was as much a landmark in police drama as Z Cars in the previous decade. When The Sweeney finished Thaw returned to the theatre, appearing in a revival of John Arden’s Serjeant’s Musgrave Dance at the National and joining the Royal Shakespeare Company for the 1983 season at Stratford, where he played Toby Belch in Twelfth Night and Cardinal Wolsey in King Henry VIII.
In 1985 he embarked on another sitcom, Home to Roost, as a grumpy divorcé whose children come to live with him. It ran for five seasons. Meanwhile, Thaw had established himself as the equally morose Morse, forever castigating his affable assistant, Sergeant Lewis, as he solved murder cases of serpentine complexity in agreeable Oxfordshire surroundings. Despite a slow pace and involved plotting, the two-hour show ran on and off for 14 years and the revelation towards the end of the run of Morse’s first name, Endeavour, made national news. Morse did not preclude Thaw from other work and in 1991 he starred in an adaptation of Kingsley Amis’s comic novel, Stanley and the Women.
Not everything Thaw touched turned to gold. The BBC series, A Year in Provence (1993), was a critical and ratings disaster, with Thaw unhappily cast as Peter Mayle, the advertising man who leaves the rat race to live in rural France. But it did him no harm, especially as he had other and better work around at the same time, including Absence of War which started at the National Theatre and was later adapted for television, and a powerful TV rendering of the controversial wartime figure, Arthur “Bomber” Harris. In 1993 he was appointed CBE.
Morse was still solving murders when Thaw was launched on Kavanagh QC, playing a bluff northern barrister, based in London, whose cases tended to have an unexpected twist at the end. It was a polished series, which, like Morse, attracted quality writers, and it mixed the cut and thrust of courtroom drama with sub-plots turning on intrigues in chambers and Kavanagh’s family life. The Kavanagh series ran until 1999 and the following year Thaw played Morse for the last time, in an episode where the character dies of a heart attack. It was watched by 13 million people. Thaw had moved on to play a crusty widower who befriends a young wartime evacuee in a sentimental TV film, Goodnight Mr Tom. He repeated the formula in Buried Treasure, as another gruff widower this time trying to cope with an eight-year-old granddaughter.
An ITV series Plastic Man, which saw him as a surgeon having an adulterous affair, made less impact, as did the curiously flat Monsignor Renard, in which he played a Roman Catholic priest working for the French Resistance. His last major television project saw him as the boss of a double-glazing firm in The Glass. He was teamed with Sarah Lancashire but two of television’s most popular names failed to lift a trite series. Thaw’s cinema films were spasmodic but he had a leading role in The Grass is Singing, from the Doris Lessing novel, and telling cameos in Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom and Chaplin. He also appeared in two spin-off Sweeney films and played a redundant former union official who becomes a house husband to Glenda Jackson in Business As Usual.
In 2001 Thaw was awarded a fellowship by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, having previously won two Baftas for his portrayal of Morse. A few weeks later Thaw, who had been a heavy smoker for 40 years, announced through his agent that he had cancer of the oesophagus, the passage from the throat to the stomach. But he added that he hoped to get back to work as soon as treatment was completed.
Thaw’s first marriage, to Sally Alexander, later a history professor at University College London, was dissolved after four years. In 1973 he married the actress Sheila Hancock, a union which survived well-publicised difficulties including a six-month separation after she had breast cancer diagnosed. He had a daughter from each marriage and formally adopted Hancock’s daughter from her first marriage. His wife and children, all three of whom are actresses, survive him.

And finally we have these thoughts from Scottish actor and fellow RADA student Michael Sheard - JOHN & BARRY - I'd like to say a few words about a couple of chums who have recently left us for that big studio in the sky, John Thaw and Barry Foster. And I want to keep it as happy as I can, I'm sure they'd want it that way. There have in fact been a goodly number of thesps who've left us these last couple of years - Shelagh Fraser, Pat Coombs, Jack Watling, Anthony Steele, Kenneth Connor. These, and I'm afraid lots of others, were grand people and my friends. But John and Barry were particular mates and aside from anything, they've only recently trotted along.
OK, it must be said. I think we all smoked in those far off days at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. I stopped when my daughter said, 'Dad, if I can do all the study necessary to become a doctor, you can give up smoking', but for as long as I knew John, and that's a hell of a long time, he did smoke heavily. But what a professional, what a friend and what an actor.
We at RADA were all, I admit, rather jealous when John landed the lead part in a filmed series called 'Redcap' before we'd even completed the RADA course! The rest, as they say, is history. I'm delighted to report that John and I filmed together several times - in 'Special Branch' and 'The Sweeney' for example and I remember missing a 'Rumpole of the Bailey', which of course didn't give him the leading role, but the 'guest' part. Hey, and I've just recalled another, 'Black Beauty'! John was the baddie, I was the copper. John should have been knighted for his contribution to our glorious profession. Perhaps his departure to that big studio in the sky I'm always talking about came a wee bit too early. Of course it did.
From the John Thaw Fan's Site at http://johnthaw.topcities.com/johnthaw.html

Shemar Moore

2010-02-13T13:41:00.001-08:00

Beverly Hills, CA -- Criminal Minds star Shemar Moore last night breezed into CBS' all-star party at the Television Critics Association Tour ready to answer any and all questions about the current controversies in his personal and professional lives. He was cool, calm and collected and had a lot to say.
About co-star Mandy Patinkin, who did not show up for work last week when Minds began its first day of production on its third season, Moore said, "Mandy has a volatile personality. He has his good days and he has his bad days. I was just with him and his wife in Monte Carlo four, five weeks ago [doing publicity for Criminal Minds]. Mandy was fine. [We] developed a pretty good friendship."
"If he reads these quotes, I'll say this to his face: 'I don't like what you did, Mandy. The way you did it. But I still learned a lot from you and respect you and I want the best for you.'"
"Nobody saw an unhappy guy," Moore continued. "Everybody thought he got the breath of fresh air he needed with the hiatus. The last day I saw him it was he and his wife's anniversary. He was leaving Monte Carlo, going through London and back to New York to go enjoy his anniversary. I said, 'I'll see you on the 11th' and he said, 'Yep.'"
"I don't want to speak against the network. It's not my place. But I can say this: It seems like the network is looking for a way to forgive him, like they're looking for an excuse as to why he would do this. The bottom line is he didn't show up to work, with no warning. He didn't tell anybody that he was going to do this. We showed up Wednesday [July] 11th for a table reading at 3 o'clock. Supposedly he called somebody an hour before that and said, 'See you in an hour.'"
"Since that conversation with Mandy nobody has talked to him. I left him a message. We just haven't heard from him. We don't know what he's doing. We know he's okay. We know there are people who have seen him. He's not in harm's way. He's fine. He's just not speaking to anybody. There's nothing wrong with him. Mandy's issues are his own issues."
"He's an emotional guy," Moore explained. "Sometimes he's the strongest man in the world, the proudest man in the world, and sometimes he was very much like a little child and you almost got the sense you had to take care of him. He felt safe around me and I was flattered by that. He would say to me that he was always uncomfortable as an actor because he's so meticulous, such a perfectionist. You can't take away from his talent. You really can't. You talk about a guy who has no shame, a guy who's not afraid to look like an ass, who will take risks. He never played the safe card. I really was inspired by that."
"When he sang is when he felt great. He feels that's the gift he was given from above. I know he's a family man. I've seen him with his children. I've seen him with his wife. He's not going to commit suicide. It's not that kind of thing. I knew he didn't like being far away from his family. His wife was always in New York holding down the fort, so to speak. His kids are grown and traveling and don't spend a lot of time in L.A. so I know at times he was lonely."
"The hours on our show are crazy," Moore continued. "We're doing 12 hours, 16 hours and the content is tough. The content doesn't bother me. It's a job. I'm an actor. I learn my lines, I say my lines and then I distance myself from it. I go back to my life. He took it a little more personally, so that's why I say, 'In the end, if you need to leave the show to kind of feel better about yourself, that's fine. You want to be closer to your family, that's fine. You want to go sing songs and travel because it makes you feel good, that's fine. But give us a head's up. Give us a warning. We just want the courtesy and the respect that we deserve. We felt like if he had given us that initially this would be much easier to deal with. But he essentially slapped us in the face. That may sound extreme, [but] he simply didn't show up for work and hasn't told us why. Collectively, we don't know what we did wrong, because we always did what we could to make him comfortable. We just don't know what happened for him to make this decision."
Asked about the future of the show and finding a replacement for Patinkin, Moore said that many names have been mentioned, including Michael Keaton and Geena Davis. "But Criminal Minds is not about Mandy Patinkin, it's not about Geena Davis, it's not about Shemar Moore. I think we have an opportunity with Mandy being gone to show this is a quality show without a particular star name. I do think there needs to be a captain. That slot needs to be filled. But I don't think we need a name for us to be successful."
Of his recent arrest, Moore admitted, "My problem is I like fast cars. Since I was a kid I've always liked fast cars and trucks. I'll drive fast late at night on the 5 [freeway]. That particular night the mistake I made was I was driving too fast. As far as any alcohol related charges, they were all dropped because they really were not an issue. The lesson I learned the hard way is I've got to slow down. I was speeding. I do it a lot. I know there are children out there. I don't want to send the wrong message. I'm not a reckless person. I'm really proud of my image. I'm really responsible as a person. I got a hard-headed momma who raised me and I got to answer to her. I'm a risk taker. I'm not above the law. I was taking my chances and I got caught."
On a lighter note, Moore smiled when he was asked about the very revealing photos of him naked on a beach that turned up on the Internet last week. "Are you talking about me 'frolicking' on the beach?" he laughed. "The worst part of that whole thing for me was the [word] 'frolicking.' To me that sounds like I'm skipping or something like that. I have no problems with it. What I have a problem with is they're making such an issue out of me being gay!"
"I'll say right now, I'm not gay. Not even a little bit. I love women. Women are God's greatest creation. But I have no problems with people that are gay. My godfather was gay. He died of AIDS. I have dear friends that are gay. I'm very straight."
"The article said that I got 'caught.' I didn't get 'caught.' I willingly went to Hawaii. I willingly went to Maui with two girlfriends of mine. I'm a single man, I had two girlfriends out there, and we wanted to go skinny dipping. They wouldn't let us do that at the hotel. I said, 'Okay, there's a nude beach down the street.' I had never been to it but I said, 'As far as I know it's a famous unisex place.' So we go to the beach. It's interesting that when you see the pictures you don't see the two girls, because that's not interesting. 'Let's make him gay and we can sell some papers!'"
"Will I do it again? Probably. I don't have a problem being naked. I just don't. We're there gay women and men on the beach? Maybe. In the article they said, 'Shemar seemingly wrestled another naked guy in the water.' Seemingly! The best part was, 'Shemar was on this beach, which has a unisex section and a gay section, and Shemar was near the gay section.' So that makes me 'nearly gay.'"
"It's been funny to me, but I know this town is very fragile with perceptions and images and a lot of people don't read articles and they only see the pictures. Even my friends were like, 'Why were you naked on a beach?' Because I had two hot chicks with me who wanted to go skinny dipping! I don't want that to be misconstrued, but I'm single and I don't have a wife. I got me."
"Let me just say this," Moore concluded. "Thank God the water was fairly warm! It wasn't my best day, but it wasn't an awful day. That's all I'm gonna say!"
-
Originally posted at Jack Myers MediaVillage.com: Where television fans, industry professionals, and advertisers meet to read and discuss original columns, blogs, reviews, interviews, videos, photos and more. MediaVillage is dedicated to enabling viewers to SoundOff to TV executives and talent, and provide ongoing feedback to TV programmers and advertisers on TV viewers' passions, preferences and emotional connections.

Jan-Michael Vincent

2010-01-24T07:07:00.000-08:00

Jan-Michael Vincent was born on July 15, 1944. Vincent has had an extensive television and film career that began in the late 1960s and lasted until the early 2000s. He is currently said to be retired from acting.
Jan-Michael Vincent's first acting job was in the movie Los Bandidos, directed by and starring Robert Conrad, in 1964. In 1970, Jan-Michael Vincent garnered critical praise for his role in the made for TV film "classic" Tribes, co-starring Darren McGavin, he also appeared in the Disney film The World's Greatest Athlete as a Tarzan-like young man who becomes a great professional athlete.
Jan-Michael Vincent became a popular and an acclaimed film star during the 1970s, especially for his co-starring role with Charles Bronson in the crime film The Mechanic. Other notable films included the Western The Undefeated with John Wayne and the cult surfing film Big Wednesday with William Katt and Gary Busey.
Jan-Michael Vincent also starred in the 1974 romance Buster and Billie as the romantic anti-hero Buster Lane. In "Hooper" with Burt Reynolds, Vincent played a young stunt man. In 1975, he also starred in the cult classic trucker movie White Line Fever, followed by the notorious Damnation Alley, based on Roger Zelazny's science fiction novel, in 1977.
In 1981, he co-starred with Kim Basinger in Hard Country.
After an acclaimed performance in the 1983 television miniseries The Winds of War, Jan-Michael Vincent was cast as Stringfellow Hawke for the action-espionage series Airwolf, in which Vincent co-starred with Ernest Borgnine. It is probably the role for which Vincent is best known and remembered, and one for which he was especially well paid. It was noted, at the time, that Vincent's salary for his work on Airwolf was the highest paid of any actor in American television.
Jan-Michael Vincent was involved in two severe automobile accidents from which he barely escaped alive. As a result of one accident in 1996, in which Vincent broke three vertebrae in his neck, he sustained a permanent injury to his vocal cords from an emergency medical procedure. This has left him with a permanently raspy voice.
In 1997 he had a small guest role on Nash Bridges playing the title character's long-lost brother. His last film role was in the independent film White Boy, also titled Menace (for the US video version), released in March 2002.
As of 2007, Jan-Michael Vincent live quietly with his partner in Warren County, Mississippi, just north of Vicksburg. He is in poor health and has little contact with locals. Jan-Michael Vincent has a daughter, Amber Springbird Vincent, from his marriage to first wife Bonnie Portman.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T18:38:00.000-08:00

Hugh Grant

2009-12-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

Birth Name: Hugh John Mungo Grant
Height: 5' 11"
Sex: M
Nationality: British
Birth Date: September 9, 1960
Birth Place: London, England, UK
Profession: actor, writer, producer
Education: New College, Oxford University in Oxford, England (majored in Literature)
Relationship: Jemima Khan (British socialite; ex-wife of famous Pakistan cricket player Imran Khan; dating since summer 2004; split February 16, 2007), Elizabeth Hurley (actress, model; born on June 10, 1965; together 1986-2000)
Father: James (carpet salesman; artist)
Mother: Fynvola (teacher)
Brother: James (banker; older)
Hugh Grant's Trivia:
# Was drunk when he bought a painting of Elizabeth Taylor which made him $17.8 million in 2007.
# According to his DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? co-star Sam Elliot, Hugh could talk himself out of any bad situation because he is so charming. (December 2009)
# Admitted that he gets so nervous about performing in big-budget movies, he has to see a psychiatrist. (December 2009)
# Now feels he is qualified to be a dad after getting plenty of practice helping with his nephews, nieces and godchildren. (November 2009)
# Says he can't get a girlfriend because of his golf obsession. He even gets up in the middle of the night to practice his swing. (November 2009)
# Said he felt so bad about his performances in movies that he wanted to die.
# Calls Sarah Jessica Parker - who he he worked with on new comedy film DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? - everyday to tell her he loves Sex and the City.
# Kicked an unnamed paparazzo in the groin as he offered the star directions to find a cab after leaving New York's Waverly Inn restaurant with a friend. (June 2009)
# Is set to star alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in an as yet untitled romantic comedy written and directed by Marc Lawrence. (October 2008)
# Pulled out of his latest movie with long-time collaborator Richard Curtis - LOST FOR WORDS - after a reported dispute over the script, which was developed by Curtis' younger brother. (October 2008)
# Grant, Daniel Craig and Robbie Coltrane raised $37,000 when a kiss with the threesome was sold at a charity auction to raise money for The National Film and Television School. (June 17, 2008)
# Is to star opposite Zang Ziyi in LOST FOR WORDS, a romantic comedy that Susanne Bier will direct for Universal Pictures.
# Grant, his ex-girlfriend Liz Hurley, and her husband Arun Nayar Thursday won damages totaling $116,000 for invasion of privacy over photos taken of them while they were on holiday in a private resort in the Maldives. (May 15, 2008)
# In 2001 he purchased an Andy Warhol painting of Elizabeth Taylor for just under $4 million. He later sold it in 2007 for $23.5 million.
# Will not face charges over allegedly kicking a photographer and attacking him with baked beans - A spokeswoman for Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence.(May 31, 2007)
# Has accepted undisclosed damages from the owner of the Daily Mail and Mail for articles published about his split from Jemima Khan. (April 28, 2007)
# Was the victim of a prank by TV journalist Cielke Sijben at the Dutch premiere of his latest film, MUSIC AND LYRICS. She leapt forward as he walked the red carpet at the Amsterdam Pathe and clamped a metal handcuff on his wrist, attaching herself to him. (February 24, 2007)
# Grant and girlfriend Jemima Khan have ended their relationship after nearly three years together. (February 17, 2007)
# Was too embarrassed at doing some dancing and singing scenes for MUSIC AND LYRICS that he had to get drunk to film them.
# Is taking a two year break from acting. (February 2007)
# Was left red-faced when he was accompanying girlfriend Jemima Khan to the relaunch of 60s clothing label Biba at London Fashion Week - he was held back by a catwalk assistant, who failed to recognize him. (September 21, 2006)
# Is said to be one of the victims of the illegal phone hacking in the UK done by journalist Clive Goodman. (August 15, 2006)
# Grant and his girlfriend Jemima Khan have launched legal action against Daily Mail newspaper over their article titled 'I never knew he was such a good actor' which he claims is false and defamatory. (June 7, 2006)
# Has bought a home in Chelsea worth $33 million with his girlfriend Jemima Khan. (May 4, 2006)
# Reportedly struck a photographer with a manila folder on the streets of New York City. (February 21, 2006)
# Claims he looks like a butch lesbian with short hair. (October 5, 2005)
# His feelings for ex-girlfriend Liz Hurley have been blamed for a rift in his relationship with Jemima Khan. (July 19, 2005)
# Was picked by Organizers of the Whitbread Book of the Year Award to join the panel of judges for the 2004 prize.
# Says his wax figure at Madame Tussaud's makes him look like 'Julie Andrews on heroin'.
# Says he likes the partying more than he does the acting when he makes a movie.
# Says he's lost interest in acting and is heading into retirement. (November 12, 2004)
# When he appeared in Oprah Winfrey's chat show, he mocked Julia Roberts literally big-mouthed, Branded Emma Thompson a real-life man and declared that Julianne Moore hates him. (2004)
# Has been teasing co-star Renee Zellweger about her weight gain for the role in BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON -- A source says, The minute he clapped eyes on Renee he hollered, 'My God, you're huge!' He's been carrying on with the fatty jibes ever since, but Renee laughs it off, saying at least she's supposed to be chunky.” (November 4, 2003)
# Played Emma Thompson's love interest in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995) and her brother in LOVE ACTUALLY (2003).
# Grant has shelled out $3.2 million for Melksham Court, a new house in England located near ex-love Elizabeth Hurley's country mansion. (August 27, 2003)
# After years as a bachelor, Grant said he wants to take some time off from making movies to concentrate on his romantic life -- He said he also wants to take a break from acting because it's something he's never loved, even though it's made him famous and wealthy. (April 1, 2003)
# Grant has been added to the new edition of Who's Who – he is among about 1,000 newcomers who will grace the pages of the famous red book, which is dedicated to the rich, famous and successful. (January 13, 2003)
# Grant admitts whenever he'd get a laugh on stage, he'd start laughing himself because he was so delighted,” and says he never came across anyone with a worse problem until he met Sandra Bullock -- the two actors couldn't stop giggling while filming TWO WEEKS NOTICE together. (January 4, 2003)
# Staff on the set of Grant and Sandra Bullock's new film, TWO WEEKS NOTICE, have taken to poking fun at the reported romance between the pair -- the stars themselves have constantly denied they are anything else but colleagues. (November 21, 2002)
# He touts Sandra Bullock as the best actress he has ever worked with on a romantic comedy as both play in TWO WEEKS' NOTICE
# Voted fourth in the Orange 2001 Film Survey of Greatest British film actors.
# Says the haircut he had in ABOUT A BOY made him feel like a woman.
# Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#43). (1995)
# Was arrested for lewd conduct after cops found him with Divine Brown, a prostitute, in his car. He pleaded no contest and got a $1,180 fine and two years' probation. (1995)
# Features in the 1996 paperback Mug Shots that includes many other celebrities who've been arrested for one reason or another.
# Got his start by performing a British comedy sketch group, The Jockeys of Norfolk.
# On the set of MICKEY BLUE EYES, James Caan gave Hugh the nickname of Whippy, because Caan said he worried about everything like the little whippet dogs that get nervous and you got to put a sweater on them when they're cold.
# Opted not to do a nude scene in FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994) when a make up artist asked if he wanted definition painted on his body.
# PRIVILEGED (1982): Is an Oxford University student feature film, reputedly the first of its kind, with a very young Grant, in the leading role.
# On the international poster of NOTTING HILL, he wears a jacket, on the US poster just a sweater.
# Scenes in NINE MONTHS (1995) where Samuel (Grant) is arrested and photographed were cut from the film prior to release, following Grant's highly-publicized arrest for lewd conduct.
# The book that his character is reading as he sits on the park bench at the very end of the movie is Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. (NOTTING HILL)
# The house in NOTTING HILL with the blue door where his character lives is real; it once belonged to NOTTING HILL screenwriter Richard Curtis (I).
# The 'movie within the movie' which he watches near the start of the movie is entitled GRAMERCY PARK is the film distribution company joint owned by NOTTING HILL's distributors, PolyGram and Universal Pictures. (NOTTING HILL)
# Turned down the role of Gilderoy Lockart in HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002), the teacher of Defense against Dark arts.
# While making FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994), he thought the movie was awful.
# BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001): While film-goers were eager to see Grant play a character opposite to his usual type-cast, it is ironic that original author Helen Fielding describes him, in real life, as being more like Daniel Cleaver, than any of his normal roles.
# Once attacked the paparazzi outside his house with an umbrella
# Directed some additional scenes for MICKEY BLUE-EYES
# Trade mark: Plummy English accent
# His production company is 'Simian Films'. so named by Elizabeth Hurley because she has said that he resembles an ape or a monkey.
# Was voted fourth in the Orange 2001 Film Survey of Greatest British film actors.
# Usually dubbed in French versions by actor Vincent Cassel
# Jay Leno told the London Independent that there are only 18 celebrities worth having on a chat show, one of them being Hugh Grant.
# Usually dubbed in French versions by actor Vincent Cassel.
# Has long wanted to make a film about his grandfather's real life escape from a prisoner of war camp during WWII.
# Long time loyal fan of Fulham Football Club (English Premier league soccer club), based at Craven Cottage, Fulham, London, England.
# Godfather of Damian Hurley, son of his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley.
# Turned down a place at the Courtauld Institute to do post graduate studies in Art History
# Used to play in a cricket team called 'Captain Scott'
# Had a skate accident when he was a teenager. Part of the bone in his elbow is still detached from the other bones and swims freely between the skin and his elbow.
# Piano teacher, when he was a child, was Andrew Lloyd Webber's mother.
# Fluent in French.
# Thomas Sangster is his cousin.
# His favorite artist is Patrick Rondat.
# Was paid $12,500,000 for TWO WEEKS NOTICE (2002)
# Was paid $7,500,000 for MICKEY BLUE EYES (1999)
# Was paid $7,500,000 for NOTTING HILL (1999)
# Was paid $100,000 for FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994)
# Also known as Hughie Grant
# Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy at Golden Globe Awards for ABOUT A BOY (2003)
# Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for NOTTING HILL (2000)
# Nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at MTV Movie Awards for FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1995)

Johnny Depp

2009-12-06T13:45:00.000-08:00

FACT FILE
Nimi: John Christopher Depp II
Sündinud: 9. juuni 1963 Owensboro, Kentucky
Pikkus: 5 jalga 10 tolli
Vanemad: isa John Depp, ema Betty Sue Depp
vend - Danny, õed - Christy & Debbie
Ekskallimad ja -sõbratarid: Sherilyn Fenn, Jennifer Gray, Juliette Lewis, Patricia Arquette, Winona Ryder, Kate Moss
Praegune elukaaslane: prantsuse lauljatar-näitlejatar Vanessa Paradis, tema kahe lapse ema
Lapsed: tütar Lily-Rose Melody (sünd. 27. mai 1999); poeg Jack (9. aprill 2002)
Tätoveeringud: paremal õlal - "Wino Forever" ja indiaanipealiku pea, poja nimi "Jack", lendav lind; vasakul õlal - süda, mille sees ema nimi Betty Sue, kolmnurk; "Brave'i" sümbol paremal küünarvarrel, kolm ristkülikut paremal nimetisõrmel, pealuu ja ristatud luud kirjaga "Death is Certain" paremal pahkluul, number3 vasakul käel, "Lily-Rose" tema südame kohal rinnal jne.
Harjumus: võtteperioodi lõppedes näppab "suveniirideks" filmirekvisiite
Fakt 1: Deppile kuulub Sunset Boulevardil asetsev 200-kohaline ööklubi "Viper's Room", mille ees traagilisel kombel leidis oma lõpu teine andekas noor näitleja River Phoenix. Viidates Johnny varsemale narkolembusele, pidasid paljud toimunus süüdi ka Deppi ning talle saadeti mitmeid ähvarduskirju, mis ajendas näitlejat enesekaitseks ja kindlusetunde saavutamiseks ostma relva.
Fakt 2: lapsepõlvest peale kardab kloune
Kommentaar: "Seks ei ole maailma tähtsaim asi. Mind on peetud mingiks seksihulluks. Ei mõista, kust nad selle võtnud on? Olen seksuaalses plaanis samasugune kui kõik teisedki."
Autogrammiaadress: Johnnyl ei ole ametlikku fänniaadressi, kuid autogrammisoove võib saata tema agendi aadressil:
Johnny Depp
c/o Tracey Jacobs
United Talent Agency
9560 Wilshire Blvd.
#516Beverly Hills,
CA 90212
USA
Hollywoodi ühel omapärasemal ja tunnustatumal näitlejal Johnny Deppil on õnnestunud see, millest pea kõik suuremad või väiksemad näitlejahakatised söandavad ainult unistada: ta on kindlustanud oma positsioone rollidega kunstiliselt küllaltki kõrgetasemelistes filmides, samas visalt keeldudes etteplaneeritud kassatükkidest.
Süütutest romantikutest pisisangareid ja enam kui veidravõitu karaktereid kehastanud näitleja ei võta kuulsust omaette väärtusena. "Mängiksin meelsasti filmis, mis toob sisse sadu miljoneid, kuid ma ei taha seda teha ainult finantssoosingu saavutamise nimel," on ta öelnud. Nii või teisiti, mängitud osade kõrval on Johnny Depp tuntud ka rollidest, mida ta vastu pole võtnud ning millega lõikasid loorbereid teised staarid - näiteks nimiosa "Chaplinis", mida mängis Robert Downey juunior, D'Artagnan "Kolmes musketäris", mille sai Charlie Sheen, Keanu Reevesi poolt hiljem mängitud rollid "Kiiruses" ja "Bram Stokeri Draculas", Brad Pittile kuulsust toonud "teeröövel" J.D. (pange tähele nimetähti!) road-movie's "Thelma & Louise" ning keskne roll "Sügislegendides", Tom Cruise'i vampiir Lestat "Intervjuus vampiirile", Christian Slateri gangsteribande ninamees "Kurjuse impeeriumis". Taolisi näiteid võib tuua veelgi.
John Christopher Depp II sündis 9. juunil 1963. aastal Kentucky osariigis Owensboros, kust tema pere kolis päikesepaistelisse Floridasse, Miramarisse, kui poiss oli seitsmene. Tema inseneriharidusega isa oli saanud ametikoha sealses linnavalitsuses. Ema, kellelt Johnny on muuhulgas pärinud imetluse Frank Sinatra loomingu vastu, töötas ettekandjana, peale selle lasus tema õlul majapidamine peres, kus kasvas neli last. Iseseisvus aitas emal toime tulla ka peale lahutust. Johnny ei ole kunagi tahtnud tunnistada, kui väga talle vanemate lahutus haiget tegi. Et aga perekonnaelu talle tähtis on, võis järeldada tema juba tollal avaldatud mõttest: "Vanemad läksid lahku, kui olin 15, ning ma jäin peamiselt oma õdede kasvatada. Ma ei suutnud leppida vanemate lahkuminekuga, kuid usun tõega, et tänases maailmas, kus abielupaarid iga viie minuti järel lahku lähevad, sünnib siiski ka üle 50 aasta koos püsivaid liite. See on nii kaunis ja uskumatu. Kui näen inimesi, kes pühitsevad oma kuld- või briljantpulma-aastapäeva, sooviksin neilt õppetunde võtta. Millalgi tahaksin minagi endale perekonda, lapsi ja kogu seda kodanlikku värki."
Pidevad kolimised, koduvahetused, aga ka vanaisa surm, kellega Depp veetis kogu oma lapsepõlve, jätsid tema psüühikasse negatiivse pitseri. Nii käiski ta koolis vastumeelselt ning erilise lõbususega silma ei paistnud. 12-aastaselt hakkas suitsetama ja alkoholi pruukima, 13-sena jäi vahele pisivargustega ja oli esimest korda seksuaalvahekorras. Vanemate lahutus aina süvendas nooruki niigi sünget loomust. 15-aastaselt hakkas tarbima uimasteid ja jättis trotsist kooli üldse pooleli.
Õnneks leidis ta peagi endale uue huviala ja hakkas tõsiselt tegelema muusikaga. Ema ostis talle odava elektrikitarri ja iseseisvalt mängimise selgeks saanud, alustas jämmimist ühes nn garaaziansamblis. Esinedes kohalikes baarides ja klubides, teenisid noored rokkarid oma esimesed honorarid, kuid sellest ei piisanud äraelamiseks. Seega tuli lisateenistust otsida mujalt.
Umbes samal ajal abiellus Johhny 25-aastase Lori Anne Allisoniga, kellest paari aasta möödudes juba lahutas. Vahepeal oli ta kolinud Los Angelesse, uskudes, et tema "suurepärasest kitarrimänguoskusest" piisab suurte plaadistuslepingute saamiseks. Paraku nii se ei läinud.
Lori kaasabil tutvus ta Nicolas Cage'iga, kes oli sedavõrd vaimustuses Deppi välimusest, pilgust ja maneeridest, et omakorda tutvustas teda oma agendile. Peagi sai tulevane seksisümbol oma esimese väikese rolli Wes Craveni õudusfilmis "Elm Streeti luupainaja". Esilinastusel end ekraanil nähes suutis Johnny vaevu iiveldust tagasi hoida, seetõttu eelistas ta hiljem mitte kunagi oma filme vaadata.
Esimese näitlejahonorari kulutas Depp mitte üksnes tubaka ja viina, vaid ka vajaliku näitlejakoolituse peale, tänu millele sai rolli Oliver Stone'i filmis "Platoon".
Deppile hakkas tulema teisigi pakkumisi, kuid tema täht hakkas särama alles noorsookuritegusid uuriva politseiniku Tom Hansoni rolliga teleseriaalis "21 Jump Street".
Uustulnukast püüti kohe vorpida järjekordset teismeliste iidolit, kuid Depp tõmbas tahtlikult taolistele plaanidele kriipsu peale ning nõustus peaosaga John Watersi filmis "Cry-Baby".
Vaatajate ja kriitikute kiidusõnu pälvis ta nimiosaga Tim Burtoni üllatushitis "Edward Käärikäsi", kus tema partneriks oli võluv Winona Ryder, kellest sai Deppi "ametlik" pruut kolmeks aastaks. Suure armastuse märgiks lasi oma õlale tätoveerida kirja "Winona Forever", millest tänaseks on järele jäänud "Wino Forever".
Ei ole näitlejat, keda poleks seostatud alkoholi või uimastisõltuvusega. Johnnyle oli raskeim periood 1990-ndate alguses, kui intelligentne ja küllaltki õrna loomusega näitleja maadles kasvava menu ja armutu showmaailmaga.
"Vahel on lausa väljakannatamatu olla avalikkuse keskpunktis, prozektorite ja kaamerate pidevas valgusvihus, kuid see on paraku üks osa sellest tööst. Näitlejad langevad lõksu, uskudes olevat maailma ainsamad solvatud ja raskeimates oludes elavad inimesed. Ma ei usu kübetki mingisse "piinatud kunstniku sündroomi". Kõigil inimestel on raskusi, kõik tunnevad end vahel väljakannatamatus olukorras olevat. Siis on targem lihtsalt elada ja raskustele vaatamata minna edasi, üle saada. Komistasin nooruses isegi selle otsa ja sattusin täbarasse seisu. Mul on oma deemonid, piisab vaid vajutada valele nupule..."
Depp võib tasakaalu kaotades olla jõhker, enesehävituslik või isegi ohtlik, nii ümbritsevaile inimestele kui esemetele. On teada juhtum, kui ta ühes hotelli luksnumbris "prussakat taga ajades" (J.D. hilisem seletus) uude usku keeras, mis läks talle maksma 10 tuhat dollarit või kui ta ägedusehoos tollase girlfriendi Kate Mossi armutult läbi kolkis. Mõne aasta eest Londonis ähvardas ta kaikaga vehkides restorani ette kogunenud paparazzosid, kes tahtsid temast ja lapseootel sõbratarist pilte teha.
Teatud moel enesehävituslikkust näitab Deppi puhul see, et näitlejana ei anna ta endale andeks ühtegi eksimust. Töönarkomaania, mis lõi kiilu tema ja Kate Mossi suhetele, ähvardas ka Johnny enda tervist. "Donnie Brasco" võtetel sõidutati ta otse võtteplatsilt haiglasse ägedate rinnavalude tõttu. Näitleja ise uskus saanud olevat südameataki, arstid nimetasid valude põhjuseks pigem üleväsimust ja stressi.
Johnny Deppi ja režissööri Tim Burtoni koostöö on alati toonud vaataja ette midagi erakordset. Roald Dahli klassikalise romaani "Charlie ja šokolaadivabrik" ekraniseering pole erandiks. Nii nagu meeste varasemate koostööde puhul, nii oli ka tolle loo keskmes Deppi mängitud veidrik, erakust šokolaaditööstur Willy Wonka, kes kuulutab välja võistluse, mille põhjal viis last võidab Kuldpileti, mis annab pääsme külastada Wonka šokolaadivabrikut, kuhu pole 15 aasta jooksul mitte kedagi sisse lubatud. Viie õnneliku seas on ka vaesest perekonnast pärit Charlie Bucket, keda mängib tõusev lapstäht Freddie Highmore, kellega Depp oli varem koos mänginud filmis "Avastades Eikunagimaad". Dahli raamatut, mis ilmus esmakordselt 1964. aastal ja mis on eesti keeldegi tõlgitud, on tänaseks müüdud enam kui 13 miljonit eksemplari 32 keeles. Ajalehe "Guardian" küsitluses jõudis see kõigi aegade populaarseimate lasteraamatute edetabelis kolmandale kohale, jäädes maha üksnes "Harry Potteri" lugudest ja "Sõrmuste isandast". Polnud siis mingi ime, et stuudio tahtis raamatu taaskord linale tuua. Eelmises, 1971. aasta versioonis, kehastas veidrikust šokolaadimagnaati Gene Wilder. Burton ei kartnud võrdlusi kahe ekraniseeringu vahel, sest ta ise ei pea ennast eelmise filmi fänniks. "Tundsin, et meil oli võimalus minna raamatule veelgi lähemale. "Charlie..." oli lugu, mida lugesin õige varakult. See oli üks esimesi raamatuid, mis kõnetas korraga nii lapsi kui nende vanemaid. Mulle meeldis Dahli kombinatsioon emotsioonidest, huumorist ja süngetest toonidest. Ta ei kartnud üheaegselt olla hirmutav ja lõbus."
Kuuldavasti kaaluti Willy Wonka rolli muuhulgas Steve Martinit, Michael Keatonit, Jim Carreyt, Christopher Walkenit, Nicolas Cage'i ja Adam Sandlerit, ebatervet huvi rolli vastu näitas üles ka rokkar Marilyn Manson. Ent Burtoni puhul võis kõne alla tulla vaid Deppi kandidatuur, kellega see oli neil juba neljas linatöö. "Nii tore on jälle koos Johnnyga tööd teha. Näib, et iga korraga muutub koostöö aina paremaks."
Depp ei eita, et vana hea sõbra pakkumine polnud sugugi vastumeelt. "Olin meelitatud, kui Tim helistas. Kujutan Wonkat Howard Hughesi moodi erakuna, kes on end täielikult maailmast isoleerinud. Lisaks sellele on kuju aluseks minu lapsepõlveaegadest pärit telemängude juhid, kuulsused ja meelelahutajad, kellesarnaseid tänapäeval enam ei ole." Samas ei eita Depp, et Wonka kujus on nii mõndagi ka seitsmekümnendate glam-rocki tähtedest. "Suur osa tema garderoobist näib pärinevat otse rock’n’roll-tsirkusest."
"Minule on töö Timiga nagu kojunaasmine," ütleb Depp 15 aasta eest alanud koostöö kohta. "Samal ajal kummitab kuklas hirm: ma ei taha teda alt vedada. Kui võtan ette uue tegelaskuju, siis tahan, et see erineks kõigest, mida varem teinud olen. Burton on üks neist vähestest, kelle kohta julgen öelda geenius. Üldiselt tarvitan seda sõna vägagi säästlikult."
Copyright © 2005 Ivar Kümnik

George Eads

2009-12-06T13:25:00.000-08:00

Forth Worth, Texasest pärit George Coleman Eads III (sündinud 1. märts 1967) oli rahast lage, näljane ja iga hetk depressiooni langemas, kui ta tulutult ühelt castingult teise tormas. Näitlemisepisiku juba lapsepõlves saanud endisele müügiagendile ei tahetud ega tahetud ühtegi rolli anda.
Sõitmiskõlbmatuks muutunud autoloks konutas juba garaažinurgas ning noormees haudus enesetapuplaanegi, kuni äkki naeratas õnn. Siiski lühikeseks ajaks. Ta sai Aaron Spellingi seebika "Savannah" pilootseeriasse nurjatu peigmehe Travis Petersoni rolli, keda järgnevates seeriates enam elavate kirjas ei olnud. "See on mu ainus võimalus. Kama kõik, kui mul lurjust mängida tuleb, püüan anda oma parima," nägi George lahendust ja ta ei eksinud. Noormehe usinus ilmselt meeldis produtsentidele, ja küllap ka vaatajaile, sest mõne aja pärast kutsuti ta sarja tagasi, seekord Travise kaksikvenna Nick Corelli ossa. Ehkki "Savannah" jäi lühiajaliseks oopuseks, päästis see Eadsi kindlast näljasurmast.
Surm on suur osa George Eadsi elus. Tavalisel tööpäeval on tema jaoks muutunud lausa tavaks jalutada läbi vereloikude või teha lõikeid inimlihasse. Ja olgugi, et tegu pole päris vere või lihaga, on see ikkagi häiriv. Praegu saame George Eadsi näha Nick Stokesi rollis maailma ühes enim vaadatud Jerry Bruckheimeri menusarjas "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigations" ("C.S.I.: Kriminalistid"), millele nüüdseks on tehtud kaks spin-off sarja.
"Lõpuks ometi saan mängida täiskasvanut, kellel on ka midagi kõrvade vahel. Mulle meeldib kehastada meest, mitte lihtsalt mingit ilusat kutti, kes vaid plikasid taga ajab või poosetajat, kel iga asja kohta mõni tobe arvamus," arutleb näitleja oma rollist.
"See on töö, kus sa ei saa olla hellik või hirmunud. Minu tegelaskuju võtab kõike võib-olla kergelt, kuid tal peavad vahel lausa raudsed närvid olema. Selle elukutse inimesed tegelikus elus peavad astuma ruumidesse, kus seinad on verd täis pritsitud ja koletud roimad sooritatud. Osa meie lugudest on üsna kõledad, kui mõelda, et väga palju fakte on võetud tegelikkusest."
38aastane näitleja oli veidi närvis, kui ta nõustus võtma rolli uude sarja vahetult peale eelmise sarja "Grapevine" lõpetamist. "See oli kõigest kolm päeva pärast teadet sarja lõpetamise kohta. Ma ei olnud veel päris kindel, mida ma edasi tahan teha. CBS oli mu vastu nii kena, nii ei näinud ma midagi hullu selles, et läksin kohe lugemisele, kui nad mind kutsusid. Ja õnneks sattus olema hea tükk ja roll!"
"Istusin ooteruumis mitu tundi enne intervjuud, aga see pole kuigi ebatavaline. Mulle öeldi hiljem, et osalt seetõttu, et ma olin nii kannatlik ega nurisenud viivituste pärast, saingi rolli endale. Selles ametis ei tea sa kunagi, mis sulle uue tööotsa toob."
Lapsepõlves polnud Eadsil aimugi, et tema näitemängud sõpradega juhatavad ta kunagi päris karjäärile, ehkki see tõestas olevat hea treeninguväli.
"Meil ei olnud tollal videomänge või midagi seesugust, seega mängisime päevad otsa mingeid kujutlusmänge. Meil oli maja taga metsatukk, kus me poistega mängisime "Starsky ja Hutchi" või sõda. Me lohistasime madratseid maja seina äärde ja kujutlesime, et meid tulistatakse katuselt alla ning hüppasime nende peale. Ma tahtsin alati olla paha, et siis "mahalastuna" kõige dramaatilisemal moel surra."
Eads armastas telekat vaadata ja kinos käia, kuid ta oli arvamusel, et kõik näitlejad on sündinud Hollywoodis. Tal polnud aimugi, kuidas sinna pääseda. Belton High Schoolis oli ta suurepärane sportlane, kes paistis silma jalg- ja korvpallis. Ta isegi tegi kaasa mõnes koolinäidendis, kuid jalgpall oli tol ajal tema elu suurim kirg. "Mulle meeldis seista inimeste ees... võtta tõsine poos, öelda midagi vaimukat ja neid siis naerma ajada."
Alles kolled˛iaastail Texas Tech'is hakkas ta tõsisemalt mõtlema näitlejakarjääri peale. "Ma mainisin sellest ühel päeval emale, ja tema meelest oli see päris hea mõte. Olin just kooli lõpetamas, ning ta soovitas mul see korralikult lõpetada, et mul oleks igaks juhuks midagi tagavaraks."
Üleminek täielikule näitlemisele ei olnud kerge. Lühikest aega oli ta ametis keskkooli draamaõpetajana ning proovis kätt ka proovireisijana. Ent need ametid viisid teda unistusest ainult kaugemale.
"Pärast kolled˛i lõppu ei osanud ta leida ametit, mis teda õnnelikuks teeks," räägib tema ema Vivian Baker, kes oli muuseas kooli direktor. "Meie peres oli olnud õpetajaid ja advokaate, kuid seni mitte ühtegi näitlejat. George oli veidi hirmunud tundmatus kohas vette hüpates."
Kuid Eads võttis näitlemist tõsiselt ja hakkas seda kogu aeg õppima. Ta esines reklaamides ja käis telefilmide katsetel. Viimaks leidis ta endas julgust kolida Los Angelesse.
"Me olime üheaegselt õnnetud ja õnnelikud tema pärast," kõneleb tema õde Angela Tekell. "Keegi meist ei teadnud, mida oodata, kuid ta oli nii otsusekindel. Kui ta kodust lahkus, ei tundnud ta seal ees mitte kedagi ega teadnud ka, mis tal teha tuleb. Kuid lõpuks naeratas edu ka talle."
Tema esimene vedamine oli Aaron Spellingi seebisarjas "Savannah". Tema tegelaskuju Travis tapeti juba esimese seeria lõpus, kuid vaatajaile oli noormees meeldima hakanud ning produtsendid tõid ta sarja tagasi Travise kaksikvenna näol. Ehkki "Savannah" lõpetati juba esimese hooaja järel, oli George jõudnud endale juba nime teha. Muuhulgas kehastas ta külalisnäitlejana Greg Powellit menukas kitlisarjas "Kiirabihaigla".
"Meil on "Kriminalistides" väga palju tehnilist dialoogi, ning minu kogemus "Kiirabihaiglas" tuli sellele kasuks. Haiglaseriaaliski tuli mul pidevalt suust välja ajada igasuguseid meditsiinitermineid, samal ajal kui "tegin" patsientidega protseduure. Ma lahkusin sarjast kindlusega, et suudan edaspidi hakkama saada igasuguse rolliga."
Seriaalipausidel on Eads teinud kaasa ka mitmetes telefilmides. Eriti meeldis talle jalgpallifilm "Second String", kus tema partneriteks olid Jon Voight ja Gil Bellows. "See oli vahva jalgpallifilm, milles ma suure mõnuga mängisin vastikut tegelast. Näitlemine ja jalgpall koos, see oli justkui miksing minu minevikust ja olevikust."
Copyright © 2005 Ivar Kümnik

Jason Connery

2009-12-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

FACT FILE
Nimi: Jason Connery
Sündinud: 11.jaanuar 1963
Sünnikoht: London
Tähemärk: Kaljukits
Juuksed: Blondid
Silmad: Helesinised
Pikkus: 6' Kaal: 180 lbs.
Haridus: Gordonstoun
Õed-vennad: kasuvend Stephan, kasuõde Giovanna
Elukoht: Fulham, London / Los Angeles
Perekonnaseis: abielus Mia Saraga
Lapsed: Dashiell Quinn (s.1997)
Lemmikloomad: koer Ollie
Eelmine amet: kelner
Meeldib: entusiasm
Ei meeldi: rasused juuksed, mustad küünealused
Jason Connery leiab, et elu kuulsa isa varjus on olnud talle suurepäraseks inspiratsiooniks eneseteostusel. Noormees katkestas isaga kõik finantssuhted 19aastaselt, et ise raha teenida. Ehkki poeg on populaarseks saanud omal jõul, tunneb meedia tema vastu huvi ikka vaid kuulsa isa tõttu.
"Ütlesin isale juba ammu, et vahel on üsna keeruline olla Sean Connery poeg. Ma tahan seista oma jalgadel, kuigi paljud inimesed peavad mind endiselt vaid James Bondi pojaks. Mu emalt küsitakse arvatavasti igavesti, mis tunne oli magada kuulsa superagendiga ja kas too ikka joob martiinit..."
Sean Connery oli pahviks löödud, kui tema ainus poeg Jason ta vanaisaks tegi. 3.juunil 1997 Los Angeleses sündinud Dashiell Quinn Connery põhjustas lühiajalise tummastumise ka noorele papale.
Dashiell kaalus sündides vaid kuus naela. Nime sai ta detektiivist kirjaniku Dashiell Hammetti järgi, kuna "emme on mõrvamüsteeriumide suur austaja", selgitas Mia Sara, Jasoni näitlejatarist naine. Põngerjas tuli ilmale nn sünnituskeskuses, mitte kliinikus, ja uhked vanemad said poisi juba mõni tund hiljem koju tuua.
Kui Jason Hispaaniasse isale helistas, korrutas too liigutatult: "That's great, boy, that's great..."
Jason ja Mia sättisid oma elu vastavalt Dashi nõuetele - kui Miat polnud kodus, kussutas beebit Jason. "Kui meie elus midagi kindlat on, siis on see meie poeg, kes saab meilt kogu hoole ja armastuse," kinnitas abielupaar üksmeelselt.
Jason Connery on õun pirnipuult. Isa - Sean Connery alias superagent 007- superstaar ja maailma seksikaim mees elavate seas; ema - austraalia-päritoluga Diane Cilento - on samuti näitlejatar.
Jason sündis Londonis 11.jaanuaril 1963, samal aastal, kui isa mängis oma esimeses Bondi-filmis "Doktor No" ja ema kandideeris parima naiskõrvalosatäitja Oscarile filmiga "Tom Jones". Abielupaari tihe töögraafik põhjustas pikki lahusolekuid ning lõpuks ka teineteisest võõrandumise.
Jason möönab, et tal pole sugugi alati olnud kerge olla Connery. "Nüüd, kui mul endal on poeg, olen vähem kohtumõistjaks oma vanematele." Jasoni isa ja ema läksid lahku, kui poiss oli kümnene ning enamuse kasvuaastatest veetis ta kinnistes internaatkoolides. "Me kohtusime kord aastas, kuid rääkisime telefonitsi iga nädal," meenutab Jason, kes on alati kontakteerunud mõlema vanemaga. Ema elab praegu taas Austraalias koos dramaturgi Anthony Shafferiga.
Millfieldi koolis oli Jason õnnetu, ja ta keelitas vanemaid teda sealt ära tooma. Hirmu ja õudust lisas koolivenna, kes ei suutnud koolis valitsenud türanniat vanemate õpilaste poolt välja kannatada, enesetapp. Jason viidi üle spartalikku Gordonstouni internaatkooli otimaal, samal aastal, kui sinna tuli õppima ka prints Edward. Muuseas, varem õppisid selles koolis ka printsid Charles ja Philip.
Gordonstounis õppis Jason inglise keelt ja kirjandust, ühines rannavalvega ning esines koolinäidendites. 17aastaselt lahkus Jason Gordonstounist, et hakata näitlejaks, veetes kaheksa kuud Bristoli Old Vic draamakoolis, mille järel astus Perthi Repertory Theatre'ga, kus ta kuue kuu jooksul osales kuues lavatükis. Jasoni tähetund saabus, kui ta võeti Michael Praedi asemele populaarsesse teleseriaali Robin Hoodist.
Sean Connery on hoolitsenud selle eest, et oma jõmpsikat mitte ära hellitada. "Isa on pärit generatsioonist, kes kõik ise oma tööga on saavutanud. Ta kasvas üles vaeses oti peres, kus rõhutati, et tähtsaim elus on kõvasti tööd teha. Keegi ei saa võtta talt seda, mis kuulub nüüd talle," meenutas samuti töökuse poolest tuntud Jason. "Ja filosofeerides tagus ta mulle pähe, et olen ikka vaid väikemees. Inimesed arvavad ehk, et mul on hunnikute viisi pappi, kuna mu paps on väga jõukas, ent see pole nii. Kui ma koolist lahkusin, siis just majanduslikel põhjustel. Ma tean, et kui ma ütleks isale: Kuule, olen kitsikuses, saad sa mulle raha laenata? - ta annaks mulle pikemalt mõtlemata, kuid ma iial ei teinud seda."
"Minu lapsepõlv oli väga erinev teiste omast. Mitte et see olnuks parem või halvem, kuid mu vanemad olid kuulsused. Alles nüüd mõistan, et nad tegid seda, mida olukorra sunnil paremaks pidasid." Jason lisab, et enamus sellest, mis kirjutati tema näliselt vaenulikust suhtest Seaniga, oli puhas väljamõeldis.
"Juba varakult olin kui luubi all. Kõik jälgisid ja arutlesid, kas ma näen tulevikus välja samasugune kui mu isa või kas mul seetõttu on ka mingeid komplekse..."
Jasoni ja Mia viis kokku Sean Connery vana hea sõber Michael Caine. "Kohtusime välisvõtetel Venemaal, kus koos Michaeliga väntasime filmi "Bullet to Beijing"," meenutab Jason.
"Usun, et Michael ja Mia sättisid mulle "lõksu". Ma polnud Miast veel niimoodi mõelnud, kuna tal oli sel ajal keegi teine, nagu minulgi. Nii et midagi ei juhtunud enne, kui ta Venemaalt lahkus ja mina pidin veel jääma. Ta hakkas mulle helistama."
"Ma igatsesin ta järele," seletab Brooklynis sündinud Mia. "Käisin New Yorgis emal külas. Olime Greenwich Village'is, kui äkki hakkas sadama. Olime sunnitud tormama esimesest uksest sisse. Nii sattusime ühte antikvariaati. Ema küsis mu käest, milline Jason välja näeb. Olin just poes veidi ringi kolanud ning mu pilk jäi peatuma ühel raamitud fotol. Näib täitsa uskumatu, ent see oli Jasoni foto! Nii emale ütlesingi: vaata ise, selline ta ongi!"
Jason selgitab seda imetlusväärset kokkusattumust nõnda: "1986.aastal mängisin Itaalias koos Laura Antonelliga filmis "Veneetslanna". Laura oli lasknud ühest reklaamfotost kaks suurendust teha ning need ära raaminud. Ühe kinkis ta mulle, teise jättis endale. Viimane oli pärit tema New Yorgi korterist. Ilmselt siis, kui ta korteri maha müüs, sattuski foto antiigipoodi."
"Sellest hetkest tundsin, et Jason ja mina oleme teineteise jaoks loodud," resümeerib Mia, kes istutas sama mõtte ka Jasoni pähe.
Viimaks lahkus Jason Connery Venemaalt ja lendas Arizonasesse, kus Mial parajasti võtted käisid. Ta jäi sinna kümneks päevaks. Kui Jason lõpuks Mia kosis, said neist vähem kui nädalaga mees ja naine. See sündis 17.märtsil 1996.
"Me otsustasime mitte kellelegi öelda ja lihtsalt seda teha. Mu vanemad ei saa omavahel kuigi hästi läbi, samamoodi ka Mia omad. Kui oleksime nad kõik tseremooniale kutsunud, tulnuks meil kogu aeg tegelda sellega, et neid mitte teineteise ligi lasta," meenutab Connery-noorem. Pidulik sündmus toimus Las Vegases Küünlavalguse Laulatuskabelis, samas kohas kus laulatati 25 aastat varem Michael Caine ja tema naine Shakera.
Noorpaar elab nelja magamistoaga majas LA ühes vanemas rajoonis. Hollywoodi standardite järgi on maja keskmise suurusega. "See asub ainult 20 minuti tee kaugusel Beverly Hillsist, kuid siin on täiesti teine maailm, vaikne ja rahulik."
Abiellumise järel tegi Mia kaasa Jules Verne'i "20 000 ljööd vee all" uues televersioonis, taas koos Michael Caine'iga. Jason sai valmis nimiosaga kinofilmis "Macbeth", mida ka tema kuulus isa mängis 40 aastat tagasi BBC telelavastuses.
Mia Sara, keda paljud vaatajad teavad rollide järgi filmides "Legend", "Timecop" ja minisarjas "Queenie", elas aga sisse Vincent van Goghi vennanaise rolli maailmakuulsast maalikunstnikust pajatavas filmis.
Jason ja Sean otsivad käsikirja, milles nad saaksid koos mängida. Silmapiiril on üks projekt, milles noor Connery esitaks isa kangelast nooruspäevil. "Ehkki me pole kuigi sarnased, mäletan, et kui ma ühe lavarolli tarvis värvisin juuksed mustaks, tundus mulle vilksamisi peeglisse vaadates, nagu näeksin oma isa tuppa astumas..."
Näitlejapisikule lisaks on Jason Connery oma vanemailt pärinud armastuse otimaa vastu. Kuigi Sean ise elab juba aastaid Marbellas, valis poeg oma Inglismaa residentsiks maalapi üsna otimaa piiri ligidal Harvickis. "Isa oli liigutatud. Minu uus kodu on talle meeldivaks peatuspaigaks, kui ta siinmail golfi mängimas käib," nendib Jason.
P.S. Aastaid varjas Jason üht piinlikku saladust: ta jäi ilma rollist suurest kinorollist, kuna tema... munad said kõvasti viga. 1985.aastal tegi Connery mootorrattaga avarii, kukkudes kubemega vastu bensiinipaaki. Ta murdis pöidlaluu ja mõned ribid, kuid see oli tema "hargivahe", mille pärast oli tarvis meedikute abi. Sisemise verejooksuga munandikott oli paisunud juba greipfruiti suuruseks...
Näitleja sõidutati kiiremas korras Brightoni haiglasse ja riietati ümber naissanitari poolt, kes kutsus koheselt veel kaks kolleegi. Kui spetsialist saabus, teatas too, et vahetu intsisioon aitaks verel välja voolata, kuid mitte enne, kui ta saaks kohale kutsuda kümme med.tudengit haruldast testikulaarset verejooksu tunnistama...
"Ega teil ole midagi selle vastu, mister Connery?" küsis doktor. "Ei," oigas Jason. Nagu selgus, polnud sisselõiget vajagi teha ja munandid paranesid iseenesest. Ent Conneryl tuli selle vahejuhtumi tõttu ära öelda rollist filmis, mida finantseeris Michael Douglas. Kui viimane soovis teada keeldumise põhjust, häbenes Connery öelda..
Copyright © 2005 Ivar Kümnik

Kristin Davis

2009-12-06T12:59:00.000-08:00

Sündinud: 23. veebruar 1965
Sünnikoht: Lõuna-Carolina osariik
Juuksed: pähkelpruunid
Ideaalmees: Pikk, tumedapäine, roheliste või pruunide silmadega noormees, kes armastaks (tema) koera ja tegeleks joogaga. Väidab, et on nüüdseks tüdinenud ideaalmeest otsimast. Tema kavalerideks on olnud muuhulgas David Duchovny, Reed Diamond ja Alec Baldwin.
Fakt 1: Kristinil on nõrkus vastata kõikidele väljakutsetele. Koolis õppis ta hästi, kuni hakkas vanemates klassides ohjeldamatult jooma. Et mässata vanemate vastu, kes teda alkoholivastaste loengutega ära tüütasid.
Fakt 2: Hoolimata sellest, et ta juba lapsepõlvest peale kartis kõrgusi, tegeles skydivinguga. Ajakiri "Marie Claire" heitis talle kord väljakutse, väites, et Kristin ei julge hüpata 10 000 jala (umbes 3 kilomeetrit) kõrguselt. Kristin sooritas selle hulljulge tembu ja oleks äärepealt surma saanud - suurest hirmust unustas ta langevarju avada. Tänu instruktori operatiivsusele suudeti tragöödia ära hoida.
Fakt 3: "Melrose Place'i" võtteperioodil tuli tal kord pageda seriaali purjus fännide eest, kes teda tänaval kividega loopima hakkasid. Teatavasti oli Davise kehastatud Brooke Armstrong vastikult negatiivne tegelane.
Fakt 4: Osatäitmist "Seksis ja linnas" tuli Kristinil kaua aega varjata oma vanemate, eelkõige haige südamega vanaema Flossy eest. Kui tõde viimaks päevavalgele ujus, keelas ta neil vaatamast kõige vürtsikamaid seeriaid. Ema helistas tütrele pidevalt enne sarja iga uue osa näitamist, küsimaks, kas sel õhtul võib teleka lahti teha. Ajapikku hakkas Kristini isa kasutama teemasid, mis seriaalis käsitlemist leidsid, abimaterjalina oma ülikooli psühholoogialoengutel.
Hobid: Meeldib taimedega jännata. Õpingute aegu kolledzis töötas lillekaupluses. Tosina aasta eest oli Kristin joogaõpetaja ning pidas koos sõbrannaga väikest joogastuudiot. Veel praegugi harrastab ta tundideviisi lootose poosis istumist.
"Seksi ja linna" naisneliku vahest ehk korralikuim tüdruk Charlotte York unistas oma printsist ega läinud esmakohtingul kunagi suudlusest kaugemale. Kes aga võinuks arvata, et teda kehastanud Kristin Davis on veendunud feminist, kes armastab hästi süüa ja kellel on olnud tõsiseid alkoholiprobleeme?
Lõigates loorbereid "Seksi ja linna" kergelt pipardava njuujorklanna rolliga, on Kristin Davisil tulnud välja arendada uusi andeid, millest tähtsaim on... kiirkõnd. "Kui kõnnin keskpäeval New Yorgi Madison Avenuel eriti kärmelt, peatatakse mind ehk kümme korda kinni. Kui aga kõnnin aeglasemalt, lähen arvepidamisega juba sassi..." naerab Kristin.
Sügavas lõunas sündinud Kristin Davis on piltilus, peene kondi ja hoolitsetud välimusega noor kaasaegne naine, kel on pähkelpruunid paksud juuksed. Sellega õigupoolest piirdubki näitlejatari sarnasus menusarja Charlotte'iga.
Kristin Davis kasvas üles USA "piiblitsoonis" Lõuna-Carolina osariigis. Tema ema Dorothy töötas ülikoolis, kus pidas psühholoogiaprofessori ametit ka isa Keith. Kristinil on kolm poolõde isa eelmisest abielust ja need käivad suviti Kristinil külas. Peamiselt veetis Kristin üksiklapse elu, mistõttu temast on sirgunud üsna iseseisev neiu.
"Olen alati meelsasti omaette olnud, see sobib hästi ka minu praeguse eluga. Veedan palju aega üksi, kuna reisin, töötan ja teen paljusid asju paratamatult ikka üksi. Siiski ei saa ma väita, et mind üksindus kunagi ei piina."
Kristini vabameelsed vanemad ei soovinud, et nende tütar käiks mingis erakoolis, seda nn. poliitilistel kaalutustel.
"Lõunaosariikides soosivad paljud erakoolid üsna kahtlustäratavaid seisukohti, muuhulgas vohab nendes rassiline diskrimineerimine," seletab Davis ettevaatlikult, "ning mu ema ja isa ei soovinud olla mingil juhul taoliste asjade toetajaiks. Mina olin nendega selles ühel meelel."
Kooliaeg möödus Kristinil sugugi mitte eeskujulikult, nagu võiks eeldada Charlotte'i puhul, vaid õige metsikult. Seal sündis ja juhtus nii mõndagi.
"Paitüdruk olin ehk vaid teiste silmis. Tollal ma jõin väga palju, mis oli teatud viisil mässuline tegu, sest mu vanemad ei joonud üldse, ja tegin muidki hulle tempe. Alkoholi oli alati küllaldaselt saadaval ja me istusime õhtuteviisi kanged napsud nina all. Kolledziaeg aga oli veel pöörasem. Kokaiini või heroiini ei olnud ma eales isegi näinud enne, kui kodukandist lahkusin. Kodukandis ei olnud paljudel raha, kuid teisalt seal ei olnud gänge ega ka narkoprobleeme..."
Paljud ei teagi, et omal ajal oli näitlejataril alkoholiga tõsiseid probleeme. Viimasel ajal püüab Kristin vältida uuesti lõksu langemist ja seltskonnas olles rüüpab ainult jäävett.
"Paljud ei tea sellest midagi. USAs näib moes olevat avameelsed kõnelused oma sõltuvustest ja muudest isiklikest muredest, kuid see stiil ei sobi mulle. Samas ei püüa ma seda salata. Mõistsin, et alkoholipruukimine hakkas mõjutama minu karjääri ja sugugi mitte positiivselt. Näitlemine on oma kummalisel moel väga nõudlik ala. Tundidesse pidi jõudma kella kaheksaks hommikul, rühmata terve päeva, proove teha kogu õhtu, ja see kõik ei õnnestu, kui sul on pohmakas. Olin kogu elu soovinud saada näitlejaks, see oli eesmärk ja ainus asi, mis minu jaoks tähtsust omas. Seetõttu oli mul vaja alkoholist loobuda."
Ent joomisest lahtisaamine oli raske.
"Vahel olnuks nii mõnus juua õhtusöögil klaas punast veini, kuid see polnud riski väärt. Olen rahul oma eluga ja praeguse elukorraldusega. Miks peaksin selle kaotamisega riskima?"
Kristini esimene näitlejakogemus oli kahe repliigiga osa teatrilaval, kui ta oli vaid 10aastane, ent sellestki piskust sai ta "nakkuse".
"Oli maru viibida teatrimaailmas kõigi nende hullude ja andekate inimeste keskel!" hõiskab Davis tagantjärele.
Kui Kristin oli laps, viisid vanemad ta teatrisse New Yorgis, kus ta praegu poole aastast elab (ja veel hiljaaegu töötas, sest see oli ju "Seksi ja linna" tegevuspaik), teise poole veedab ta oma Los Angelese kodus.
Keskkooli järel astus ta Rutgersi ülikooli New Jerseys, kus muuhulgas on õppinud ka Calista "Ally McBeal" Flockhart. Ülikoolijärgsed aastad olid rasked: tuli asjatult oodata rolle ja läbimurret ning töötada ettekandjana. Stsenaristide streik New Yorgis 1980ndail aastail viis lõpuks selleni, et Kristin kolis Los Angelesse, mis osutus õigeks sammuks, kuna päike paistis seal sagedamini ja ka prooviesinemisi oli rohkem. L.A.-s sai Kristin Davis oma esimese püsirolli menuseriaalis "Melrose Place", milles ta kehastas ärahellitatud seltskonnakaunitari Brooke Armstrongi. Kui sarja üks tootjaid Darren Star alustas hiljem "Seksi ja linna" tootmist, meenus talle Kristin ning ta pakkus näitlejatarile algul Carrie osa, millest Davis eriliselt vaimustuses ei olnud.
"Stsenaariumi-Carrie meenutas liialt romaani-Carriet, kes suitsetas, ropendas, kärkis ja oli küüniline. Ma ei oleks eales sellise rolliga hakkama saanud."
Lõpuks sai Kristin endale Charlotte'i, naiivsena tunduva ilusa, armsa, üdini romantilise, kombeka ja alatihti pipardava kõrgklassi kunstivahendaja osa. Charlotte tundus olevat täielik vastaspoolus sarja kolme ülejäänud peakangelanna ultramoodsele meestelantimisele ja künismile. Sarja algusaegadel erines Charlotte'i tegelaskuju peaaegu täielikult ülejäänud kolmest naisvambist. Ajapikku aga muutusid needsamad kolm palju leebemaks, tundlikumaks ja siivsamateks, samal ajal kui Charlotte muutus julgemaks, vabameelsemaks, iga asja peale enam nina ei kirtsutanud ning julges ka krõbedate vandesõnaga seltskonnas lagedale tulla. Ainus, mis Davise kangelannal muutumatuna püsis, oli tema kõigutamatu usk tõelisesse armastusse.
Seriaalis viljeldi ohtralt pimekohtinguid ning näitlejatargi on eraelus paaril korral kasutanud sarjas "selgeks õpitud nõkse meeste leidmisel". Ehkki ta ei kiirusta abiellu astuma, mõtiskleb ta vahel lastest. Seni on tema kaaslasteks koerad.

Julian McMahon

2009-12-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

FACT FILE
Nimi: Julian Dana William McMahon
Sündinud: 27.juulil 1968 Sydney, New South Wales, Austraalia
Elukoht: Hollywood Hills Pikkus: 188 cm
Kaal: 85 kg
Juuksed: pruunid
Silmad: sinised
Vanemad: Austraalia eks-peaminister William McMahon ja leedi Sonia McMahon
Haridus: õppis ühe aasta Sydney ülikoolis õigusteadust
Perekonnaseis: hetkel vaba ja vallaline, kaks korda lahutatud
Lapsed: tütar Madison
Eks-kallimad: Georgia Parker, Melissa Cornell
Eks-naised: Danni Minogue ja Brooke Burns
Hobid: armastab pesa-, jalg- ja korvpalli; kogub klassikalisi raamatuid
Fakt: 1987. aastal oleks autoõnnetuses äärepealt eluga hüvasti jätnud. Avarii toimus nii kähku ning ta pea lendas vastu tuuleklaasi. Vaid imekombel ei jäänud ta silmast ilma. Praegugi võib tema kulmu all märgata väikest armi.
Mõned aastad tagasi spekuleeriti tüütavalt palju versiooni, et Julian McMahonist võiks saada Pierce Brosnani järel uus James Bond. Siiski oli juba siis üsna ebatõenäoline, et mõnest austraallasest saab kunagi Briti luureteenistuse superagent. Filmisarja loojad on seniajani hoidnud kinni põhimõttest, et Bondi tohib mängida ainult keegi saareriigist. "Muidugi oleks tore, kui minust Bond saab. Kasvasin üles 007-sarja vaadates ja ma armastasin seda, nagu tüdrukud armastavad Barbie-nukke."
Varajasest noorusest peale vaid prominentsete tegelastega suhelnud Julian McMahon lahkus ühel heal päeval kodust, et endalt "maha raputada" rikaste ja kuulsate vanemate võsukese "hüvedekoorem" ja ning leida ise oma tee. Seni oli ta harjunud elama teenijate ja majapidajannaga suursugustes häärberites ning saama kõik mida tahtis. Lapsepõlvest peale mäletas Julian tolle hetkeni vaid ühte "tragöödiat" - see oli siis, kui ema võttis poisilt ära tema kalli kaisukaru ega lubanud tal pöialt imeda. Niisiis otsustas ta omapäi elama hakata ja... nägi nälga ja viletsust Itaalias.
"Mul oli kõrini vanemate kulul elamisest ning seepärast sõitsin Milanosse proovimaks, kas saan end ise elatada. Kuid mul ei olnud vähimatki õnne ja ligi neli kuud valdas mind sügav depressioon. Magasin teki sees kössi tõmbunult kiriku treppidel, hommiku-, lõuna- ja õhtusöögiks pugisin üksnes pastat ning kandsin iga päev samu riideid."
Julian Dana William McMahon sündis 27. juulil 1968. aastal Sydneys kolmelapselise pere teisena. Et tema isa oli 1970ndatel Austraalia peaminister, oli Juliani pere pidevalt avalikkuse luubi all ja kahtlemata on see talle hilisemas elus karastumiseks vaid kasuks tulnud.
Keskkooli järel asus ta algselt õppima õigusteadust Sydney ülikoolis, kuid tüdines sellest juba aasta möödudes ning alustas karjääri modellina. "Mu noorema õe tuttav pakkus modellitööd ja ma nõustusin pikemalt mõtlemata, sest mulle meeldis ringi rännata." Juliani fotod ilmusid firmade "Pepsi-Cola" ja "Levi's" suurtel reklaamplakatitel. 1987. aastal asus ta fotomodellina reisima mööda maailma: Los Angeles, New York, Milaano, Pariis, Rooma on vaid mõned kohad, kuhu tema rahvusvaheline modellikarjäär "paiskas".
Tol ajal leidis Julian ka oma esimese armastuse, John Cornelli tütre Melissa. Paraku läksid nad õige pea lahku. Noormees oli väga löödud, kuid ta armastas siiski rohkem oma vabadust ja tundis, et polnudki veel küps tõsisemateks suheteks. "Melissaga kohtudes oli see iha ja armastus esimesest hetkest. Ta oli ilus tüdruk: brünett, sale, intelligentne ja hea iseloomuga. Ta oli mu esimene armastus ja me elasime koos kaks ja pool aastat. Kuid siis tuli mul leppida, et meie armastus otsa sai. See oli küll meie ühine tähelepanek ja me otsustasime sõpradena lahku minna, kuid mina tundsin, et olen veel liiga noor, et end siduda. Ma vajasin aega enda jaoks, tahtsin olla vaba ja ma tundsin, et see on ainus parim asi mu elus. Suhetes peab alati mõtlema teise inimese, nagu ka enda peale ja see on eriti raske, kui sa ise alles otsid oma õiget kohta elus."
Modellinduse järel otsustas McMahon näitlejaks hakata, ehkki vanemad soovinuks poega näha pigem poliitiku või juristina. Julian tunneb heameelt, et praeguseks on ema oma suhtumist muutnud: "Emale meeldib "Nip/tuck" väga, ta on mul isegi võtteplatsil külas käinud."
Peale lühiajalist visiiti austraalia seebiooperis "The Power, the Passion" kutsuti Julian Benito Lucini rolli telesarjas "Kodus ja võõrsil", mille võtetel kohtus ka oma esimese naise Danni Minogue'ga.
Hiljem esines ta "Kodus ja võõrsil" muusikaliversioonis Inglise lavadel ning näidendis "Armastuskirjad" Sydney ja Melbourne'i teatrites.
Peale keskset osa mängufilmis "Exchange Lifeguards" sõitis ta Los Angelesse tele- ja kinorolle jahtima. 1992. aastal võeti ta Ian Raini rolli NBC päevaseriaali "Teine maailm", tehes samal ajal kaasa ka filmides "Women in Control" ja "Magenta".
Julian ja Danni abiellusid suure meediakära saatel 1994. aastal Melbourne'is, kuid läksid lahku 1997, kui Dannile avanes võimalus oma kuulsa vanema õe Kylie eeskujul Londonis lauljakarjääri alustada, samal ajal kui Julian New Yorki kolis, kus too omakorda püüdis sisse süüa sealsesse filmimaailma.
1999. aastal abiellus Julian endise "Baywatchi" kaunitari Brooke Burnsiga, kellega tal on tütar Madison. Tänaseks on seegi abielu lõppenud, kuid suhted Brooke'iga on jäänud sõbralikeks.
Peagi mõistis Julian, et kui ta soovib saavutada edu Ameerika filmiäris, peab ta olema suuteline veenvalt kujutama ameeriklast, seega ei tohi tal olla mingit jubedat austraalia aktsenti. "Ameerikasse tulles olin ikka veel austraallane, keegi ei saanud mu jutust sõnagi aru! Kui saad Hollywoodis tuntuks mõne suure filmi kaudu, nagu Nicole Kidman või Russell Crowe, ei ole hiljem enam oluline, kuidas sa räägid. Minul tuli end aga kõigepealt tõestada."
FBI agendi John Granti rollile thrillerisarjas "Portreteerija" "komistas" McMahon täiesti juhuslikult. "Ma seisin castingute saali ukse taga hommikul, kui neil oli just lõppenud näitlejaproovid. Keegi ametnikest pakkus mulle lugeda stsenaariumit ning ütles, et ma võiksin samuti kandideerida, ma näivat ideaalne selles rollis," meenutab McMahon. "Seejärel viis ta mind produtsentide jutule ning mõne päeva möödudes oligi roll minu. See oli uskumatu vedamine!"
Seriaal kestis neli hooaega ning kui see ootamatult lõpetati, polnud Julianil tööpakkumistest enam puudust. Ta tegi kaasa populaarses noortesarjas "Võluvägi" seksika deemon-politseiniku Cole Turnerina. Siis tuli juba kirurgisari "Nip/tuck".
"Kui mulle pakuti doktor Christian Troy rolli, tuli mul ausalt öeldes vastikustunne peale. Ma vihkan nõelu, pelgan arste ega suuda ühtegi operatsiooni pealt vaadata. Aga selleks, et rolli sisse elada, tuli mul arstisaateid ja operatsioone jälgida. See tuimestas mu närve piisavalt."
Sarjas tehtavad operatsioonid näivad realistlikud. "Me ei lõika tegelikult ju inimesi. Skalpell on muidugi päris ja tehisnahka lõigates on küllaltki tõene tunne. "Naha" alla pannakse kana- või veiseliha nii, et lõigates verd ja löga pritsiks nagu pärisopil." Julian on lisanud, et tal võttis päris tükk aega, et jälle kanaliha sööma hakata.
Julian ei põlgaks "kohendusi" ega keelaks ka oma sõbrataril end lõigata, samas meeldib talle mõte individuaalsest ilust: miks peaks kõik standardsed olema, väikesed iluvead lisavad ju omapära. Siiski ei välista ta ka ise kunagi ilukirurgi teenuste kasutamist: "Mõnikord on inimestel tarve end lihtsalt hästi tunda. Samas, kui inimene aktsepteerib ennast sellisena nagu ta on, näitab see tema tugevust. Mu isal olid näiteks tohutu suured kõrvad ja teda ei häirinud see üldse."
Julian McMahon on hetkel vaba ja väidetavalt vallaline, kuid ta pole välistanud uuesti abiellumist. Uus seriaal on talle toonud tohutult populaarsust ja muidugi ka palju uusi šansse naistega.
Kui "Kodus ja võõrsil" järel sai Julian McMahonist populaarne telestaar Austraalias ja Inglismaal, siis "Profileerija" tegi tema näo laiemalt tuntuks Ameerikas. Rollid menusarjades "Võluvägi" ja "Nip/tuck" on näitlejale toonud kuulsuse juba kõikjal maailmas.
Copyright © 2007 Ivar Kümnik

Tarzan

2009-12-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

Märksa varem kui tänased superkangelased Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Terminaator jne üldse väljagi mõeldi, loeti kapsaks Edgar Rice Burroughsi (1875 - 1950) jutustused ahvinimesest Tarzanist. Poisikesed, kes kinoekraanil esimesi helifilme džunglikuningast nägid, püüdsid matkida Tarzani kuulsat hüüdu. Armunud noormehed lõid tütarlapse ees seistes rusika vastu rinda ning mörisesid: "Mina... Tarzan... sina... Jane."
1912. aastal nägi jutuvihiku "All-Story Magazine" lehekülgedel trükivalgust John Clayton, kaheksas lord Greystoke, kes saatuse tahtel kasvas üles Aafrikas ahvide seltsis ning keda tema karvased sõbrad kutsusid Tarzaniks (ahvide keeles tähendavat see valget nahka). Chicagost pärit tagasihoidliku raamatupidaja Edgar Rice Burroughsi esimene raamat "Ahvide Tarzan" ("Tarzan of the Apes") lõppes sellega, et sinivereline metslane jätab maha armastatud Jane Potteri, Ameerika teadlase tütre ning pöördub tagasi džunglisse, kus teda rohkem vajatakse, lausudes: "Ma sündisin seal. Mu ema oli ahv ja tema mulle sellest, kuidas ma džunglisse sattusin, palju rääkida ei saanud. Oma isast ei tea ma aga midagi."
Lugejate tormiline reageering ning tohutu menu sundisid Burroughsi Tarzanit 1915. aastal tagasi tooma. "Tarzani tagasitulekus" ("The Return of Tarzan") lasi autor kangelasel Jane'iga abielluda ning naise Aafrikasse viia, kus loomuliku järjena sündis "Tarzani poeg" (1917, "The Son of Tarzan").
Ühtekokku kirjutas Burroughs Tarzanist 24 raamatut (nende seas: "Tarzan ja Opari kalliskivid", "Tarzan ja sipelginimesed", "Tarzan Maa südames", "Tarzan ja leopardinimesed", "Tarzan ja hüljatud"), mille eksootika vastas ameeriklaste ja eurooplaste tolleaegsele ettekujutusele džunglist, ehkki autor ise polnud džunglit kordagi näinud ega seal käinud. Tüüpilise kollase kirjanduse esindajana ei teadnud Burroughs suurt midagi Aafrikast (näiteks võitleb Tarzan tiigriga, keda esineb vaid Aasias jne), veel vähem aristokraatiast, ent vaatamata arvukatele vigadele tegi see tegelaskuju kirjaniku lühikese ajaga rikkaks meheks. Tema romaane on tõlgitud pea kõikidesse maailma keeltesse. Tarzanil õnnestus saada üheks vähestest fiktiivsetest kangelastest, kelle järgi anti nimi linnale (Tarzana California osariigis).
Esimene Tarzani-film valmis 1918. aastal. Üldiselt peetakse esimeseks Tarzani kehastajaks Elmo Lincolni, kuid ei maksa unustada, et "Ahvide Tarzani" esimeses pooles mängis Tarzanit lapsena 12aastane Gordon Griffith. Filmi ajalugu uurides selgub, et enne Lincolni valiti nimiosaliseks hoopiski New Yorgi muusik ja vodevillinäitleja Winslow Wilson, kes aga enne võtete algust sõjaväkke värvati. Lincolni kõrval mängis Jane'i Enid Markey. Elmo Lincoln esines Tarzanina veel kahes linateoses ("Tarzani armulugu",1918 ja "Tarzani seiklused",1921), siis läks teatepulk üle Gene Pollarile ("Tarzani kättemaks",1920), kellelt omakorda juba P. Dempsey Tablerile ("Tarzani poeg",1920). Neljas tummfilmi-Tarzan James H. Pierce ("Tarzan ja Kuldne lõvi",1927) ei olnud meelepärane kinopublikule, kelle hinnangul ei väärinud mees isegi mitte võrdlust oma eelkäijatega, küll aga suutis ära võluda kirjaniku tütre Joani ning temast sai Burroughsi väimees. Ainsaks jäänud Tarzani-filmi järel tegi Pierce 1932-1934 koos naisega 364 veerandtunnist raadiokuuldemängu džunglikuninga teemadel.
Kõige tuntumaks Tarzani osatäitjaks sai 190 cm pikkune ja viie olümpiakullaga ujuja Johnny Weissmuller, kelle osalusel vändati aastail 1932-1948 12 täispikka linateost. Tarzani kaaslaseks, kõige seksikamaks Jane'iks sai Mia Farrow' ema Maureen O'Sullivan. Konkureerivad filmistuudiod tõid samaaegselt lagedale oma Tarzanid - Buster Crabbe ja Herman Brixi, kuid Weissmulleri ametlikuks järglaseks peetakse siiski Lex Barkerit, hilisemat Old Shatterhandi kehastajat meiegi lugejatele tuntud Karl May Winnetou-lugude ekraniseeringutes. Barkeri järel jooksid niudevööga ürgmetsas ringi Gordon Scott, Jock Mahoney, Mike Henry, Denny Miller jt.
1960ndate lõpul ilmus Tarzan teleekraanidele Ron Elyga peaosas. Viimase veerandsajandi jooksul tehti veel mõned kinovariandid (lisaks multiseriaalidele) omaaegsest superkangelasest, mainimist väärib ehk vaid Hugh Hudsoni poolt 1984. aastal lavastatud "Greystoke: Legend Tarzanist, ahvide kuningast" Christopher Lambertiga nimiosas. Too versioon on ehk kõige lähedasem originaalile, st raamatule.
1990ndate aastate teisel poolel toodi väikesele ekraanile kaks seriaali, millel oli õige vähe seost nii varasemate filmide kui raamatutega: nö ökoloogise-Tarzaniga (1991, peaosas heledapäine Wolf Larson) ja sootuks tänapäevasema Hollywoodi temaatikaga (saurused, nõiad, vampiirid, must maagia jne) sari Tarzani eepilistest seiklustest (1996, peaosas Joe Lara). Mõlemad sarjad on jooksnud ka meie telekanalitel.
Burroughs ise põlgas kõiki ekraaniversioone, sest kirjaniku arvates tehti tema kõnelevast metsikust kangelasest vaid möirgav tolgus.
Mis puutub Tarzani kuulsasse huilgesse, siis pärineb see juba 1932. aastast, mida on hiljem kopeeritud igasse uude filmi või seriaali. Väidetavasti mängiti see kokku Johnny Weissmulleri tagurpidi joodeldusest, millele lisati kaameli karjet, koera urinat, viiuli g-keele vingumist ja öökullihuiget.

Kui kõik läheb hästi, ilmub Tarzan peagi jälle suurele ekraanile, kuna kaasajastatud džunglistoori kallal töötavad Hollywoodis jälle mitmed stsenaristid, nende seas muuhulgas "Charlie inglitele" stsenaariumi kirjutanud John August. Suure eelarvega linateos tulevat oma loomult päris lähedane Edgar Rice Burroughsi poolt loodud algmaterjalile. Filmi produtsent on lubanud, et uus džunglikuningas saab olema väga metsik ja elajalik, justkui "X-meeste" Wolverine, ainult ilma küünisteta. Eks näis.

David Suchet

2009-12-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

"Hercule Poirot's on midagi sellist, mis tõmbab erinevaid põlvkondi. Olen saanud kirju nii väikestelt tüdrukutelt Jaapanist kui üheksakümnestelt vanakestelt Ameerikast. Usun, et neid kõiki võlub nii Poirot' persoon kui Agatha Christie võrratu kirjutamisstiil. Juba neid raamatuid lugedes, avastasin, et olen välimuselt väga Poirot' moodi. Minu pea on juba loomult munakujuline, vaja vaid panna padi kõhule ja vurrud ette kleepida," kõneleb David Suchet.
Inglise näitleja David Suchet on sündinud 2. mail 1946. aastal Londonis. Tema vanem vend on telekanali ITN hinnatud uudistetoimetaja, noorem vend aga töötab reklaamiagentuuris Saatchi & Saatchi direktorina. Suchet on saanud tüüpilise inglise kasvatuse, ehkki tunnebki end rohkem mandriinimese kui saare-britina.
"Siiski arvan, et isal on olnud suur mõju minu elus. Ta oli Inglismaa hinnatumaid kirurge, kellele minu näitlejaameti valik valmistas suure pettumuse. Seepärast ehk otsingi alateadlikult isa heaskiitu, pühendades end igasse uude rolli äärmise põhjalikkusega."
Üks David Suchet' tipprollidest on kahtlemata Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie poolt loodud eriskummaline detektiiv.
"Otsustasin olla võimalikult lähedane raamatu-Poirot'le ja püüdsin tema kentsaka karakteri tagant näidata ka inimlikkust. Ta on küll suur enesega rahulolev egoist, kellena teda paljud kindlasti näevad, kuid kelle välispinna alt leidub palju muudki."
"Peter Ustinovi mängitud Poirot avaldas mulle suurt muljet. Õigupoolest mängisin koos temaga ühes tema Poirot-filmis kaua enne seda, kui sain lõpuks ise Poirot'ks. See oli telefilm "Õhtusöök kolmeteistkümnele" (1985), milles kehastasin Scotland Yardi politseiinspektor Jappi. Terve filmi aja ma muudkui järasin midagi, igas stseenis oli mul midagi hammaste vahel. Võtete aegu sõbrunesin Ustinoviga ja muuhulgas vestlesin temaga tihti sellest, kuidas ta rolliks ette valmistus. Justkui näinuks ma juba tollal ette, et saatus kunagi sellesama rolli ka mulle pakub..."
Suchet on öelnud, et mida kauem ta Poirot'd mängis, seda lähedasemaks see tegelaskuju talle sai.
"Vahel valdas mind tunne, nagu oleksin Poirot'ga abielus. Meil oli ideaalne klapp ja ma armastasin teda piiritult. Tundsin, et võiksin seda rolli elu lõpuni mängida. Olen aga siiski professionaalne näitleja ja Poirot on vaid üks osa minu tööst. Võteteks kulub umbes neli kuud ja ülejäänud osa aastast tegelen muude töödega."
Näitleja sõnutsi oli kõige raskem võtteperioodi algus. Ligi kaks kuud enne uut hooaega tuli tal Poirot iseendast "üles otsida".
"Meil on erinevad liigutused, kõnemaneer ja hääl. Vaatasin alati enne võtteid vanu seeriaid ning püüdsin teda meelde tuletada. Olles ta juba leidnud, tundsin end tema kingades suurepäraselt."
Suchet on karakternäitleja ning tema rollide nimekiri on pikk ja aukartustäratav. Teatrilavadel on ta mänginud klassikalisi rolle Shakespeare'ist Tehhovini ning tema tele- ja kinokarjäär hõlmab enam kui 60 osatäitmist. Enamus neist on vaatajaile ehk jäänud märkamatuks, kuna mees oskab end osavalt rolli taha ära peita.
"Mind huvitab enim tegelaskuju loomus, kuna selle kaudu õpin tundma nii ennast kui teisi inimesi. Vahel võib stsenaarium ollagi kehvapoolne, kui aga roll on piisavalt põnev."
Paljud Suchet' loodud tegelaskujudest on olnud inimesed väljaspool oma loomulikku keskkonda, autsaiderid, kes võitlevad millegi nimel. Poirot'gi on natside eest Inglismaale põgenenud belglane, kes kompenseerib emigrandi tunnet demonstreerimisega, et on briti politseist nutikam.
Lisaks Poirot'-sarjale oleme David Suchet'd näinud meie telekanalitel ka sootuks teistsugustes rollides. Näiteks actionis "Kriitiline otsus" (1996), psühholoogilises kriminaalfilmis "Täiuslik mõrv" (1998) ning komöödiafilmis "Hull äiapapa" (2003). Suchet'd võis näha ka mõrvarühma juhtivinspektori David Bornina krimisarjas "Inimjaht" (2001) ja pangahärra Augustus Melmottena BBC draamaseriaalis "Teine maailm" (2002). Teatrirollide eest nii Royal Shakespeare Company, Londoni West Endi kui Broadway lavadel on mees pälvinud rohkeid kiidusõnu ja teatriauhindu. Ülemöödunud aastast võib David Suchet koos oma nimega kasutada austavat tiitlit OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).
David Suchet peab kalliks kõiki oma kehastatud tegelaskujusid. Olgu tegu Shakespeare'i kangelaste - Jago, Shylock, Richard III või ajalooliste isikutega - Sigmund Freud, Lavrenti Beria, Salieri, Napoleon. Veel on näitleja kehastanud Hollywoodi filmimogulit Louis B. Mayerit ja mitmeid piiblitegelasi. Suchet on irooniliselt tõdenud, et tal on üsna tihti tulnud kehastada välismaalasi: belglasi, prantslasi, itaallasi, sakslasi, hiinlasi, venelasi ja araablasi, kuigi ise peab end eeskätt tõeliseks inglaseks, vaatamata sellele, et tema ema oli prantslanna ning vaarisa (perekonnanimega Suinski) pärit Valgevenest. Krimisarjas "Inimjaht" kehastas Suchet lõpuks ometi ehtsat inglast. "Sel korral ei olnud mu tütrel ja pojal võimalust itsitada, et ma mängin jälle inimest aktsendiga," naerab näitleja.
Vastupidiselt Poirot'le, kes kunagi ei abiellunud ning kes suhtus naistesse kahtlustusega, on Suchet alates 1976. aastast õnnelikus abielus endise näitlejatari Sheila Ferrisega, neil on poeg Robert ja tütar Katherine.
Copyright © 2006 Ivar Kümnik

Chuck Norris

2009-12-06T11:57:00.001-08:00

Kord esitati ühes teleshows Chuck Norrisele küsimus: mida ta ette võtaks, kui teda piiraks sisse pätibande ja raha nõuaks. Intervjueerija oleks ehmatusest peaaegu mikrofoni maha pillanud, kui kuulis actionstaari vastust: "Aga loomulikult annaksin neile rahakoti!" Misasja? Kas siis tõesti ei saaks seitsmekordne maailma- ja kümnekordne Ameerika meister karates ja kickpoksis jagu mingitest tänavaröövlitest, nii nagu tema filmikangelased? Saaks kindlasti, kuid mehe arvates ei tasuks sellise tühise asja pärast nagu raha, riskida endale või teistele traumade tekitamisega. "Kui ohus olnuks minu või kellegi teise elu, siis oleks teine asi," täiendas Norris paljutähendavalt.
Norrisele on alati meeldinud jutustada, kui nõrk ja haiglane ta oli enne, kui hakkas idamaiste võitlusviisidega tegelema. Kuidas tuuled teda tõmbasid, sääsed hammustasid, tüdrukud ei armastanud... Pedagoogilisest aspektist on see muidugi noorte eneseteostusel ideaalseks eeskujuks, tegelikult aga...
Norris hakkas võitluskunste õppima Koreas. Siis oli ta USA õhujõududes esimese klassi piloot. Olnuks ta aga nii põdurake, nagu väidab, ei oleks teda armee territooriumi lähedalegi lastud. USA armee eelistab oma vägedesse komplekteerida ikka musklis jõumehi. Aga Chuck käis karmi elukooli läbi juba lapsena, võttes oma õlule perekonnapea kohustused ja koos emaga kasvatas üles oma kaks nooremat venda - Wielandi ja Aaroni. Selleks läks tal vaja enneolematut vastupidavust ja tahtejõudu. Enesedistsipliin ja jätkuv püüd füüsilisele täiusele on teda viinud niikaugele, et veel praegugi - 66-aastasena - on ta igati vormis ja võimeline ainsa jalahoobiga tapma kasvõi elevandi.
Missuguseid legende ta enda kohta ka ei räägiks, Chuck Norris on tore, lahke, sõbralik ja enesekriitiline mees, kes näiteks oma näitlejavõimeid eriti ei hinda: "Mul on alati küllaltki raske end kaamera ees lõdvaks lasta. Tean, et see ei ole jäänud kellelegi ka märkamata. Idamaistes võitluskunstides on hädavajalik hoida oma emotsioone vaos, näitlejameisterlikkus aga seisneb tunnete avamises ja orgaanikas. Kuna minu filmides esineb nii ühte kui teist, ei suuda ma alati leida kompromissi, ehkki ma väga püüan."
Carlos Ray Norris sündis 10. märtsil 1940. aastal ühes Oklahoma osariigi väikelinnas. Tulevase spordi- ja filmikuulsuse lapsepõlv ei olnud muretu. Tema indiaaniverd isa oli lootusetu viinanina, kes põhjustas oma perele (kolm last ja iirlannast naine) alatasa meelehärmi ja sekeldusi. Chuck oli pere vanim poeg. Pere majapidamisrahale lisa teenimiseks töötas ta õhtuti peale kooli kohalikus kaubahallis koristajana.
Teismelisena huvitus poiss filmidest, eriti vesternidest ning kogu oma napi vaba aja veetis ta kinosaalides. "Minu lemmiknäitlejateks olid John Wayne ja Gary Cooper. Nende kehastatud kangelased ei tunnistanud nõrkust ega hirmu, vaid olid tõelised rüütlid," meenutab Norris, kes ei unistanud iial näitlejakutsest, pigem tahtis ta lihtsalt olla samasugune kartmatu kauboi nagu tema filmilemmikud.
Tõepoolest, Chuck Norrise edasine elukäik ei ennustanud mingilgi moel uue Hollywoodi staari sündi. 20-aastaselt astus ta vabatahtlikult USA relvajõududesse ja teenis Lõuna-Koreas politseinikuna õhulaevastikus. Sealt sai alguse tema huvi idamaiste võitluskunstide vastu. Need avaldasid talle sügavat muljet: "Ükskord linnas ringi lonkides nägin kahte tüüpi, kes teineteist armutult klobides suurele inimmassile meelelahutust pakkusid. Nad võitlesid sellise kerguse ja visadusega, et jäi mulje, nagu etendaksid nad hoopis mingit balletti kui kaklust. Olin sellest pöörases vaimustuses ja otsustasin, et minulgi kuluks ära võitluskunste õppida..."
Ühendriikidesse naasnud, töötas Norris Northrop Aviaton'is, mille kõrvalt tegutses karate-instruktorina. Oma viimistletud lahingutehnika ja võrratu meisterlikkusega vallutas ta nii vaatajad kui vastased. Kaks aastat hiljem oli ta juba täiskohaga õpetaja, juhtides mitmeid võitluskunstile spetsialiseerunuid koole. Ta avas enam kui 35 karatekooli, mis mahutasid ligi 25 tuhat soovijat. Õpilaste hulgas olid mitmed kuulsusedki - Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley, perekond Osmondid. McQueen rääkis oma õpetaja kohta järgmist: "Nii imelik, kui see ka pole, aitasid tema nõuanded mind tihti ka võtteplatsil. Need andsid mulle kindlustunde, aitasid paremini keskenduda tähtsaimaks ning lisasid füüsilist ja vaimset jõudu eesmärgi saavutamiseks. Saime Chuckiga headeks sõpradeks ja ma olen selle üle uhke."
Ühel MM-turniiril (mille ta muidugi võitis) kohtus Norris legendaarse "väikese draakoni" - Bruce Leega. Chuck oli äsja 11 tunni jooksul maha pidanud 13 matši ning tema ainus soov oli ruttu voodisse heita. Siis aga astus ta juurde Bruce Lee, keda ta varem oli näinud vaid filmides ja demonstratsioon-esinemistel ning Norrise väsimus oli kui peoga pühitud. Veelgi enam: kui Chuck ja Bruce hotelli jõudsid, viskasid nad oma kompsud maha ja otse sealsamas - vestibüülis - alustasid sparringut, mis kestis hommikuni... Peale seda kohtumist mahed sõbrunesid ja hakkasid ühiselt treenima Lee koduaias.
Chuck Norrise näitlejadebüüt toimus 1969. aastal filmiga "The Wrecking Crew", mille peaosades esinesid Elke Sommer, Dean Martin ja Sharon Tate. Võitlusstseene oli palutud lavastama Bruce Lee ning just tema soovitas režissöörile anda üks väike roll ka Chuckile. Norris mängis Sommeri ihukaitsjat. Mõni päev enne võtete algust pidi Chuck järjekordsetel MM-võistlustel tiitlit kaitsma ning sealt naases ta stuudiosse mitte ainult järjekordse võidu, vaid ka vikerkaarevärvilise ja paistes silmaga. Filmigrupp oli šokeeritud, kuid õnneks oskasid grimeerijad debütandi silma alla vajaliku koguse puudrit raputada ja võtet saadi alata.
Esimese suurema osa mängis Norris Bruce Lee lavastatud "Draakoni tees" (1973), mille finaalis esitatud kahe surmavaenlase heitlust Colosseumi varemeil on peetud lausa karate filmiklassikaks. Filmi eelarveks oli vaid 249 tuhat dollarit, kuid sisse tõi see enam kui 80 miljonit ning tegi Bruce Lee kõrval kuulsaks ka uustulnuka Norrise.
Tänaseks on Norris mänginud enam kui poolesajas märulifilmis, mida aga kriitikud kiita eriti ei raatsi. Kuid mis loevad siin igavad kõrgelaubalised arvustajad, kui publikule need filmid meeldivad ja kenakese kassa kokku on kogunud?
Chuck Norrise filmides pole põhirõhk süžeel (ehkki seal on seda märgatavalt rohkem kui tavalistes B-kategooria madinafilmides), vaid efektsetel võitlusstseenidel, kus "head" lähevad kasvõi läbi tule ja vee, et "pahad" oma palga kätte saaksid.
Norrise kaks poega on läinud isa jälgedes. Mike on näitleja, Eric aga kaskadöör. Chucki vend Aaron aga tegutseb lavastaja ja produtsendina. Muuhulgas on ta tootnud "Delta Force 2" ja "Walkeri"-sarja.
Oma produtsendifirmat juhtiv ja poole tosina Las Vegase kasino omanik Chuck Norris on viimastel aastatel oma tegevuspiirkonda laiendanud Venemaale. Ta on loonud kanalile Moskva TV6 mitmeid programme ja avanud Venemaa pealinnas kasiino ja spordisaali.
Kommentaar:
Seriaalis "Walker, Texase korravalvur" ilmutab nimikangelane pea igas seerias jõu ja leidlikkuse imesid: võitleb üksipäini kümnete kurikaeltega, aimab ära vastase mõttekäike, käsitseb meisterlikult kõiksugu relvi. Seriaal on tõeliseks maiuspalaks actionisõpradele ning seda vaatavad huviga nii täiskasvanud kui lapsed. Kuid mida arvavad sellest tegelikud Texase reindžerid, nagu nimetatakse Ameerika põhjaosariikide politseinikke.
"Meile meeldib Cordell Walker Chuck Norrise kehastuses, aga ainult filmitegelasena," räägib Harry Cartwright, enam kui veerandsajandi pikkuse staažiga korravalvur. "Tõelised reindžerid ei kasvata taolisi habemeid ega kanna selliseid soenguid. Siis veel - Walker kannab pidevalt musta laia ärega kaabut, kuid mitte kunagi kaelasidet, aga see pole õige. Ja lõpuks kõige naljakam. ma mõistan, et Chuck Norris on hea karatist, kuid miks ta Texase reindžerit mängides peksab kurjategijaid jalgadega, ning mitte kätega? Meie igatahes nii kunagi ei tee!"
Vaatamata teatud puudustele, suhtuvad kõige "kauboilikuma osariigi" politseitöötajad sarja positiivselt. "Walker on otsekohene ja tõsine inimene, kes püüab kinni pidada vanade heade aegade aukoodeksist."
Seda on muidugi meeldiv kuulda filmistsenaristidel, kes politseinike järel kordavad: "Kui Chuck Norris ei usuks neid tõdesid, milledesse usub tema kangelane, ei oleks sellest rollist või tervest seriaalist midagi välja tulnud. Kui sa ei oska vahet teha hea ja kurja vahel, ei suudaks sa iial mängida sellist positiivset kangelast."
Copyright © 2007 Ivar Kümnik

Ursula Andress

2009-12-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

Ursula oli vaevalt 16, kui otse võtteplatsilt röövis ta prantsuse näitleja Daniel Gélin ja viis kaunitari Rooma. Tüdruku vanaisa lasi armunuid Interpoli kaudu taga otsida, noored aga varjasid end sel ajal juba Brigitte Bardot' ja Roger Vadimi korteris.
19. märtsil 1936. aastal Bernis sündinud sekstähe filmikarjäär sai alguse enam kui pool sajandit tagasi tolle aja mõistes eriti julges itaalia erootikafilmis "Giacomo Casanova seiklused" (1954), millele järgnes veel terve rodu samalaadseid odavaid linateoseid. Maailmakuulsuse tõi Ursulale Honey Rideri roll superagendi 007 esimeses filmis "Doktor No" (1962), mille eest sai ta honorariks 10 000 dollarit. Veel tänapäevalgi peetakse parimaks Bondi-tüdrukuks just Ursula Andressi, keda Halle Berry püüdis matkida hilisemas "bondikas" "Surra veel üks päev". Muuseas, Andress mängis ka superagendi-paroodias "Casino Royale", millest tänavu uus versioon uue Bondi-kehastajaga vändatakse.
Ehkki superagendi näitsikute ekraaniiga oli traditsiooniliselt imelühike (kes näiteks mäletab veel selliseid näitlejatare kui Lois Chiles, Daniela Bianci, Barbara Bach jne.), õnnestus Ursulal käivitada iseseisev karjäär. Kohe peale Bondi-filmi sai ta kutse Hollywoodi, kus mängis selliste kuulsuste kõrval, nagu Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley ja Charles Bronson. Ometigi polnud tema menu garantiiks siiski mitte näitlejatalent, vaid lummav ilu ja lopsakas seksuaalsus, mis aastakümnete jooksul pole oluliselt kahanenud.
Oma igavese nooruse saladuseks on Ursula pidanud seda, et on jätkuvalt kellessegi armunud. Nagu enamikes filmides, nii on ta eraeluski olnud (ehk veel praegugi?) tõeline meestekütt ja erootilisi elamusi armastav seksikuninganna. Ursula Andressi armukeste nimekiri on lõputu. Hollywoodi jõudes soovis uustulnuka kavaleriks hakata "põhjuseta mässaja" James Dean, kellele neiu aga korvi andis. Ainsa ametliku abikaasa, fotograafist näitleja-re˛issööri John Dereki (kelle kuulsateks naisteks olid hiljem Linda Evans ja Bo Derek) järel puges Andress Elvis Presley embusse. Siis kurameeris ta tervelt seitse aastat prantsuse supertähe Jean-Paul Belmondoga, kelle järel otsis lohutust Sean Connery seltsis. Veel on kauni šveitslannaga kireöid veetnud Ryan O'Neal, Fabio Testi, Cesare Barro, Fausto Fagone jpt. Tollest ajast on meestemaiast sekspommi irooniliselt kutsutud ka nimega "Undress" (lahti rõivastama).
1980. aastal täitus filmitähe ammune unistus - ta sai emaks. (Ursula oli siis juba 43 aastane!) Poja Dimitri Alexanderi isaks on Ursulast 15 aastat noorem Harry Hamlin, kellega too kohtus filmi "Titaanide võitlus" võtetel. Abiellumast Ursula keeldus, kuna eelistas säilitada oma sõltumatuse. Arvukatele armukestele vaatamata on poeg siiani tähtsaimaks meesterahvaks tema elus.
"Minu igavese nooruslikkuse saladuseks on see, et ma olen pidevalt armunud," kuulutab Ursula, kes häbenematult võtab noori mehi endale armukesteks, et siis nende energia ja vitaalsuse kõrval ka ennast noorena tunda ja säilitada.
"Jah, mulle meeldivad noored armukesed. Mis siis selles halba on? Kes ütles, et ainult hallipäised ja suure õllekõhuga vanamehed omavad privileegi nautida noori armukesi? Noored mehed on väga innukad ja kirglikud, nad on alati saadaval ja valmis oma aega sinule pühendama. Eakamad aga on liialt oma karjääris kinni."
Hoolimata peolooma imid˛ist, mis Ursula Andressist aastakümnete jooksul on kujunenud, heidab staar voodisse alati enne keskööd - seegi on tema arvates oluline reegel noorena püsimisel. "Ükskõik, kus ma viibin või kellega, ma ei lähe kunagi voodisse peale kahtteist," teatab sekspomm. "Minu distsipliin on üks relvadest, mis on võimaldanud mul vananemist võita. Pea kõik fotod, mis minust pidudel on ajakirjades trükitud, on tehtud enne kesköötundi. Inimese halvimad küljed hakkavad ilmnema just hiljem. Seepärast olen alati eelistanud lesida mõnusasti voodis, kui kell lööb. Ja kui olen veel koos armastatud mehega, on see ju suurepärane."
Hommikuti ärkab Andress kell seitse ning pidev askeldamine kodus aitab tal end vormis hoida.
"Ma hoolitsen oma aia eest ise, parandan mööblit ja torusid - mul on torulukksepa annet. Olles tööhoos tunnen end noore ja tegusana. Mul pole vaja teha mingit spetsiaalset trenni, koristustöödest piisab täielikult."
Üllatuslikult on vormika staari üheks kireks pasta. Ja kuna ta seostab õnnetundega alati ka head toitu, tunnistab ta, et sööb veelgi rohkem pastat, kui on meeletult armunud!
"Kirgede haripunktis söön ma pastat kaks korda päevas, ent liha tarvitan ma üldiselt vähe. Hommikueinena võtan piimaga kohvi ja röstitud saia meega, lõunaks on mul pasta ja salatid, õhtul söön kala ja salatit, ning kui mu armsam on läheduses, siis ka pastat."
Küllap on Ursula oma elus nautinud hulgaliselt pastat, kui otsustada tema armukeste pika nimekirja järgi. Siiski mitte kõigil armukestel pole säilinud eredaid mälestusi koosveedetud hetkedest iginoore sekspommiga. Nii näiteks helistas Ursulale mõned aastad tagasi Marlon Brando, kes palus šveitslannat vanameistri mälu värskendada. Autobiograafiat kirjutades ei suutnud Brando kuidagi meenutada, kas ta Andressiga lõpuks ka linade vahele jõudis...
Suurema osa oma ajast veedab Ursula Andress Roomas ning ta ei kavatsegi oluliselt oma eluviise muuta. Aeg-ajalt ilmub ta seltskonnapidudele uue kallimaga, kes nagu alati, on temast poole noorem.
*Peale rida odavaid kommertsfilme Itaalias "imporditi" Ursula Andress USAsse kui "uus Dietrich", ehkki legendaarse Marlenega polnud tal muud ühist kui saksa päritolu ja paar kauneid jalgu. Andressi on muuhulgas nimetatud ka meessoost Brandoks.
*Ajakirja "Empire" koostatud nimekirjas sajast filmiajaloo seksikaimast staarist oli Ursula Andress viiekümne kolmas.
*1957.aastal abiellus Ursula ameerika näitleja John Derekiga, kes jälgis ja kontrollis oma naise karjääri igat aspekti. Samamoodi voolis John rahvusvaheliseks staariks oma hilisemat kaasat, Bo Derekit.
*Rahvusvaheliseks sensatsiooniks tõusis Ursula merekarpide koguja Honey Rideri rolliga esimeses James Bondi filmis "Dr No" (1962). Järgneva aasta jooksul olid tema ekraanipartnereiks Frank Sinatra ja Dean Martin vesternis "Four for Texas" (1963) ning Elvis Presley muuusikalises komöödias "Fun in Acapulco" (1963). Veel poseeris ta ajakirjale "Playboy".
Copyright © 2006 Ivar Kümnik

David Caruso

2009-12-06T11:35:00.000-08:00

FACT FILE
Nimi: David Caruso
Sündinud: 7.jaanuar 1956 Queens, New York, USA
Juuksed: porgandpunased
Silmad: sinised
Perekonnaseis: abielus Margaret Buckleyga (alates 4.mai 1996)
Eksnaised: Sherry Maugans (1980-1983) ja Rachel Ticotin (1983-1987)
Lapsed: tütar Greta abielust Rachel Ticotiniga
Endine amet: baarmen Hollywoodi restoranis
Eeskujud lapsepõlves: sangarid vanadest filmidest
"NYPD Bluest" teise hooaja keskel suure käraga lahkunud David Caruso püüdis end suurele ekraanile murda. Paraku edutult ning praegu on ta rõõmsalt tagasi televisioonis, lahates mõrvu efektses krimisarjas "C.S.I. : Miami". Arvukatele läbikukkumistele vaatamata on suutnud punapäine telestaar alati optimistiks jääda ja positiivselt mõelda, sest ta on juba päris maast-madalast harjunud raskustest jagu saama.
David Caruso olla pole kerge, liiatigi, kui karjuvalt punased juuksed on paljudele produtsentidele liig mis liig. Seejuures pole mehe näitlejatalendis keegi kahelnud. Tosinkond aastat tagasi, innustatuna "NYPD Blue" suurest edust, üritas David Caruso oma finantside parandamiseks tegevusvälja laiendada ning jõuda tagasi suurele ekraanile, kus kunagi ammu oli pisirollides debüteerinud. Läbimurde asemel sai mehe osaks üksnes läbikukkumised. Lahkumine menusarjast polnud seega valutu. Ajakirjandus sõimas Carusot kuidas oskas, näitleja perekonnanimi muutus kinokarjäärist unistava ennasttäis telestaari lootusetute katsetuste sünonüümiks (ą la: see näitleja tegi carusot).
"Suurim eksitus kogu loos oli, et kõik arvasid, nagu tahtnuks ma ise lahkuda. Produtsendid otsustasid, et mul ei ole sarjas enam kohta, kui kibelen kinofilme tegema. Olin valiku ette seatud. Küsisin sarja tootjatelt, kas nad ei võiks võttegraafikut nii sättida, et mul jääks võimalusi ka muude projektide teostamiseks. Mulle vastati, et oleks parem, kui ma üldse minema kõnniksin," selgitas näitleja toimunut oma vaatevinklist. Laiemalt levis tollal versioon, nagu küsinuks Caruso produtsentidelt kolm korda suuremat honorari, mida keegi talle maksta ei kavatsenud ning lahkunud siis telestuudiost uksi paugutades.
Seejärel jõudis kinodesse Caruso esimene "suur" film "Surmaga silmitsi" (1947. aasta film-noir klassika remake), mis hoolimata heast näitlejatiimist (Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Hunt, Stanley Tucci) ei olnudki nii suur. Samamoodi jäi märkimisväärse kassaeduta erootiline thriller "Jade" koos Linda Fiorentinoga. Nii ei jäänudki vaesel mehel muud üle, kui saba sorgus televisiooni vantsida.
David Caruso sündis 7. jaanuaril 1956 Queensis New Yorgis itaalia päritoluga ameerika peres. Raskustega heidelda tuli tal juba beebina, kuna väike porgandipea oli haiglane laps. Seedehäirete tõttu veetis David suurema jao esimesest eluaastast haiglavoodis. Poisi vanemad läksid varakult lahku ning kui ema taas tööle asus, hooldasid põnni vanavanemad. "Minu lapsepõlv polnud kuigi õnnelik. Tulin oma tühja majja ning ronisin ülakorrusele väikest mustvalget telekat vahtima. Nii sündis minu suhe filmidega. Avastasin enda jaoks kõik 30.-40. aastate staarid. Kuna mul endal polnud isa, imetlesin suure vaimustusega ekraanikangelasi."
Pärast seda, kui Caruso oli näinud "Ristiisa", otsustas ta , et temastki saab ühel heal päeval suur täht. "Olin 16 ja mulle ei tundunud miski võimatuna. Pakkisin oma kompsud, sõitsin Californiasse ja sain peagi baarmeni koha ühes Hollywoodi restos."
Ehkki ta äratas filmiagentide tähelepanu ning need kutsusid noormehe proovivõtetele, hakkas Carusol tõsiselt vedama alles 1982. aastal, mil ta sai meeldejäävad kõrvalosad menufilmides "Ohvitser ja härrasmees" ja "Esimene veri". Järgnevail aastail tegi ta kaasa mitmetes madala eelarvega filmides, peamiselt episoodides või kõrvaltegelasena. Esimese tunnustava kriitikani jõudis ta Robert De Niro macholiku partneri rolli eest John McNaughtoni filmis "Mad Dog ja Glory".
Televisiooniga olid Carusol paremad ansid silma paista. Ta osales telefilmides "Crazy Times", "For Love and Honor", "Parker Kane", "Dream One" jne, tuntus saabus seriaaliga "CHiPs", ennekõike aga iirlaste bande ninamehe Shamrocki osaga Steve Bochco politseisarja "Hill Street Blues" kahel esimesel hooajal.
Toppama jäänud kinokarjääri järel otsustas Caruso õnne katsuda produtsent Bochco uue sarja proovivõtetel. "NYPD Blue" detektiiv John Kelly rolliga koges David Caruso lõpuks ometi tohutut populaarsust.
Menu ei toonud näitleja isiklikku ellu õnne. Tema abielud lagunesid: esimene naine ei kannatanud mehe töörabamist välja - tööpäevad kestsid sageli 14 tundi; teine naine aga pettis meest teise staariga ning väitis, et kuulsus on Carusole pähe hakanud.
Paljude jaoks on näitleja jäänudki John Kellyks. Hilisemate sarjade peategelased - "Michael Hayesi" nimikangelane ja "C.S.I Miami" kriminalist meenutavad paljuski inspektor Kellyt.
Hayes oli karmi kooli läbi teinud ekspolitseinik, kes õhtukoolis õppis advokaadiks ja sai lõpuks prokuröriks. Aus, otsekohene ja äraostmatu mees sattus nii töö kui kodus keeruliste valikute ette. Tegelaskuju karastunud olemus ei erinenud muuseas palju ka selle esitajast. Põnevusseriaali nimiosatäitja ja produtsendi David Caruso elu on olnud kui mägiraudtee. Esimeste hiilgeaegadega võrreldes on mees kaalus märgatavalt alla võtnud ning karskeks muutunud. Ta on küll veel Anonüümsete Alkohoolikute liige, kuid seal kohal käia pole juba ammu vaja läinud. Tasakaalu saavutamises on paljus abiks olnud tema kolmas naine Margaret, endine stjuuardess, kellega Caruso tutvus ühel õhureisil. "Milline fantastiline lennufirma - tipptasemel teenindamine ja kõigele lisaks saad endale naisegi," naerab Caruso, kelle töö- ja armuasjad nüüdseks korras.
David Carusol on kange kuti imid˛, ent seda on ta tegelikkuseski. Alati riskivalmis staar on filmides sageli kõik oma ohtlikud trikid ise ära teinud.
Copyright © 2005 Ivar Kümnik

Billy Campbell

2009-12-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Üksildastest ja vallaliste elust on trendisarjades aastaid jahutud. Vahel on selline tunne, et (ameerika) televisiooni tootmisfirmad on ülepeakaela unustanud, et suur osa inimesi abielluvad, loovad pere ja lähevad lahku. Ja vahel abielluvad taas.
"Kõik kordub" kõneleb abielulahutusele järgnevast ajast ja elust. Peategelased on üksikhooldajad, kes on lahutusest valusasti kõrvetada saanud. Uus armusuhe ajab segadusse ja kohutab.
"Lahutuse probleemide käsitlemine seletab osalt, miks see sari on nii soositud. Paljud vaatajad võivad samastuda sarja sündmustega," räägib sarja meespeaosatäitja Bill Campbell.
Selle järel, kui "Kõik kordub" viie aasta eest Ameerikas jooksma hakkas, on Billist saanud väikese ekraani uus supertäht. Mehe välimuski on muljetavaldav: ajakiri "People" valis ta maailma 50 ilusaima inimese sekka, sari aga tõusis USA 30 vaadatavaima teleshow hulka. Televaatajad nimetasid Bill Campbelli aasta soosituimaks telenäoks ja näitleja nomineeriti Kuldgloobusele. Kriitikudki polnud kiidusõnadega kitsid: leidlikult kirjutatud ja hästi mängitud, märkisid nad.
"Sarja suureks plussiks on selle realistlikkus. See on suunatud kõigile, kes kunagi on olnud armunud ja nüüd kahtlevad, kas midagi sarnast nendega veel kord juhtuda võiks. Sari on sobiv vaatamiseks lastelegi, kes käivad läbi oma piinu täiskasvanuks saades," kinnitab Billy. Vanemaks olemine ongi sarja teine keskne teema. Armastussuhetes on ju harva küsimus vaid kahes inimeses, uusperedes aga seda enam. Juba alguses on tarvis silmas pidada ka teisi sinust sõltuvaid inimesi.
Sarja ja selle tegelased on loonud nimekas produtsendiduo Marshall Herskowitz ja Edward Zwick, kes on varem loonud selliseid menusarju kui "Kolmekümnesed" ja "Minu nii-nimetatud elu".
Produtsentidel on täiesti oma töömeetod. Kui sarja projekt oli heaks kiidetud ja valmis tootmiseks, kutsusid nad Billi ja teised näitlejad korraga õhtusöögile.
"Nad küsisid kõiksugu asju. Alguses aga hoiatasid, et me vaataksime ette, mida räägime, kuna kõik võib leida kasutamist ka sarjas. Nii on ka juhtunud. Tegelased on suuremal määral näitlejate pealt "maha kirjutatud"," seletab Campbell, kes kirjeldab end, ja seega ka oma telekangelast Rick Sammlerit, pisut ebakindlaks, enesessetõmbunuks ja lootusetuks romantikuks.
Näitlejat ei häiri sugugi see, et telekarakter temaga suuresti sarnaneb.
"Suisa vastupidi, see on väga lõdvestav, näitlemine on hõlbus. Senini ei ole ma veel kehastanud tüüpi, kes mind nii palju meenutab. Ja ega keegi tea täpselt, millises stseenis ma iseennast paljastan."
Ameeriklase kohta on Bill Campbell liigagi endasse sulgunud. Ta kõneleb aeglaselt ja hoolega sõnu valides. Intervjuusid andes mõtleb ta küsimuste peale pikalt ning vastab asjalikult ja selgelt. Õigupoolest ei näigi ta olevat näitleja, pigem insener või arhitekt... Noh, aga ka Rick Sammler on elukutselt arhitekt.
Mõistagi on Bill Campbellil omaendagi elu. Ta elab üksi, ei ole olnud abielus, ega ole tal ka lapsi. Siiski teab ta väga hästi, mida kujutab endast abielulahutus.
"Lapsena kogesin õige mitut lahutust. Vanemad läksid lahku, kui olin väike. Siis nad abiellusid uuesti, läksid lahku ja abiellusid taas. Isa on siiani abielus tolle naisega, kuid ema lahutas veel korra..."
Billil on palju vendi-õdesid, veel rohkem aga poolvendi-õdesid. Ehkki Bill on elanud Los Angeleses juba aastaid, on tal lähedased ja püsivad suhted Virginias pesitseva perega. Teisalt kogu noorusaja jätkunud abiellumis- ja lahutusterumba on jätnud jälje näitlejasse.
"Muidugi on see oma mõju avaldanud. Tean, mis tunne on olla laps kodus, kus vanemad teineteisega läbi ei saa."
USAs umbed pooled abielud lõpevad lahutusega. Bill ei suhtu lahutustesse kergemeelselt, kuigi usubki, et see on parem variant, kui katastroofiline liit. Ent miks Bill ei ole ise abiellunud?
"Tulin õigel ajal mõistusele. Kuid ma olin sellele väga lähedal," tähendab Campbell, kellel oli omal ajal kuum suhe näitlejatar Jennifer Connellyga, partneriga ulmefilmist "The Rocketeer".
"Minu meelest on kurb, et nii paljud peavad lahku minema. Samas mõistan inimeste soovi end teisega siduda. Usun ka ise igavesse armastusse."
William O. Campbell on sündinud (7.juuli 1959 Charlottesville'is) ja kasvanud Virginias, näitlemist alustas juba keskkoolipäevil. Ta kolis Chicagosse, kus õppis algul kommertskunsti American Academy of Arts’is, mille vahetas lõpuks Ted Liss Studio näitekunstistuudio vastu. Teisel õppeaastal debüteeris lavatükis "Dungeon Master", mida ta ise on takkajärgi nimetanud improviseeritud mõõga ja maagia extravaganzaks. Samal ajal võttis ta tunde Chicago kuulsas Second City’s.
Kolides seejärel Läänerannikule, sai Bill vähem kui nädala pärast kutse televisioonist. Campbell esines külalisartistina Michael J. Foxi menusarjas "Peresidemed", siis päevaseebis "Hotell". Peagi sai ta regulaarse tegelase rollid prime-time seriaalides "Dünastia" ja "Crime Story".
Külalisrolle tegi Bill Campbell ka edaspidi: "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "The Naked Truth", "Heat", "Dream West", "Frasier", "The First Steps" jne.
Lavalaudadel on ta mänginud tükkides "Tõrksa taltsutus", "Macbeth", "Karusell", "Romeo ja Julia", "Torm", "Poisid ja tüdrukud" ning "Hamlet".
Muuseas, enne näitlejaks hakkamist õppis Bill illustreerimist. Ta maalib ja joonistab siiamaani oma Santa Monica mererannal asuvas majakeses.
Teiste hobidena maalimise kõrval mainib Campbell lugemist ja - hirmus mõeldagi! - rugby mängimist. Too vägivaldne spordiala on jätnud näitleja näkku ka omad julmad armid ja jäljed, mida, tõsi küll, võib märgata alles lähemalt uurides.
"Arme on mul igal pool, näos, kaelal, kätel, üks sõrmgi on väändunud. Kuid ma armastan rugbyt, see on kui tantsimine või mingi võitlus, sõjalahing. Rugbyt mängides tunnen end tõelise mehena, minus ärkab justkui midagi ürgmehelikku: mingi igivana osa minust liigahtab ja hakkab tegutsema," tunnistab Campbell.
Copyright © 2006 Ivar Kümnik
+

Billy Campbell grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago where he studied illustration. He trained at the Ted Liss Studio for the Performing Arts, as well as at the Players Workshop of Second City in Chicago and at Howard Fine in Los Angeles.
Campbell made his television debut as a guest star in the network series Family Ties and Hotel before becoming a series regular as the character "Luke Fuller" in the long-running primetime drama Dynasty. His other television credits include a series regular role in NBC's Crime Story and ABC's Moon Over Miami. Campbell also appeared in two Armistead Maupin acclaimed miniseries, Tales of the City and More Tales of the City, with Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis, ABC's Max Q and CBS's Monday After the Miracle, with Roma Downey and Moira Kelly. He was also seen as Moses in the critically acclaimed NBC miniseries In the Beginning, co-starring Martin Landau and Jacqueline Bissett and he played Ted Bundy in the USA Network original movie The Stranger Beside Me. Most recently, Campbell guest-starred in a multi-episode arc on the hit series The O.C. and starred as "Jordan Collier" in the USA Network original series The 4400. Over the last few years, Campbell starred with Sela Ward on the critically acclaimed drama, Once and Again. During the series run, the show was nominated in 1999 for a Golden Globe® for Best Drama Series, and Campbell was recognized with a nomination for Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Series-Drama. He was also nominated for a People's Choice® Award for Best Male Performer in a New Series. Campbell is still recognized for his role in the critically acclaimed cult classic The Rocketeer with Jennifer Connelly. His feature film credits include Gettysburg, Brylcreem Boys, Lover's Knot, The Night We Never Met and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Most recently, Campbell starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the thriller Enough. Among his stage credits, Campbell has starred in "Fortinbras," for which he received a 1996 Ovation Award, as well as "Backbone of America," "Hamlet," "Guys & Dolls" and "The Best Man."
Campbell currently resides in Los Angeles.

Fran Drescher

2009-12-06T11:24:00.001-08:00

Vinguvalt armas Nanny
FACT FILE
Nimi: Francine Joy Drescher
Hüüdnimi: Frannie
Sündinud: 30. september 1957
Sünnikoht: Flushing, Queens, New York
Päritolu: itaalia ja vene juut
Vanemad: Morton (esines mitmetes "Nanny" episoodides) ja Sylvia Drescher
Perekonnaseis: oli abielus Peter Marc Jacobsoniga (4. november 1978 - 1999). Lapsi neil ei ole, kuid seda aset täitis koer Chester, kes "mängis" aeg-ajalt ka "Nanny" sarjas. Chester on Drescheri sõnutsi parim asi maailmas, mida ta 500 dollari eest eales saanud. Koerake suri 19aastasena 2000. aastal.
Fakt: 1996. aastal valiti ajakirja "People" poolt üheks kaunimaks inimeseks 50 samasuguse seas
Äri: Fran Drescher on osanik firmas, mis levitab USAs delikatesse.
"Nanny" (1993-1999) oli möödunud kümnendi üks menukamaid peresarju. Sheffieldi perekonnas on kõige suurem hääleõigus jäetud kergelt ropu suuga lapsehoidjale Fran Fine'ile, kes seda ka täiel määral kasutab. Nojah, juba Molière'i näidendites oli teenijatel rohkem nuppu kui isandatel. Muuseas, käesoleval ajal on mitmed maad, sealhulgas Venemaa, teinud oma "Nanny"-versiooni, mis õige täpselt kopeerib originaali.
Fran Drescher on osanud menu nautida, sest seni oli ta näinud vaid häda ja viletsust. Tõepoolest, enne "Nannyt" polnud tal eriliselt millegagi hõisata: üksikute märkimisväärsete episoodide kõrvale mahtus kari läbipõrumisi ja mõõnaperioode. Frani põhiprobleem seisnes selles, et tema päritolu oli kuulda ja näha kilomeetrite tagant. New Yorgi Queensi tööliskvartalis 10. septembril 1957. aastal sündinud ja kasvanud tüdruk kõneles veelgi jubedamat noo yawki kui Roger Rabbitt, ja nii kõvasti, et tema häälega võis kasvõi klaasi lõigata. Nüüd tagantjärele vaadates (=kuulates) oli see just tema vinguv hääl, mis ta kuulsaks tegi!
Fran Drescher teadis alati, et temast peab saama näitleja. Queensis kasvanud Drescher võrdleb end meelsasti Barbra Streisandiga, keda ta kutsub "noh-selleks-teiseks juuditüdrukuks". "Ta alustas tühjalt kohalt ja tõusis lõpuks kõrgustesse. Ta ei teeselnud kunagi, et elu on muinasjutt, ja seda ei tee minagi..."
Kolledži järel otsustas Fran oma mõtted teoks teha ja alustas koos oma tollase kavaleri (ja hilisema abikaasa) Peter Marc Jacobsoniga hoolikalt karjääri rajama. Selle asemel, et kohe ummisjalu Hollywoodi tormata, õppis Drescher end esmalt ilutegijaks, st hakkas kosmetoloogiks. 17aastasena oli tal juba oma väike salong, mille eripäraks olid üllatavalt odavad (5 dollarit näo pealt) juustelõikused.
Unistused ei kadunud muidugi kuhugi. Aasta pärast jättis Fran käärid ja lokitangid kus see ja teine, kui sai endale välja kaubelda väikese kõrvalosa John Travolta täheks teinud tantsufilmis "Laupäevaõhtune palavik". Edasine karjäär aga ei edenenud loodetud määral ja järgnevate pikkade aastate väikesed episoodid erineva tasemega filmides ei tõotanud läbimurret. Üheks takistuseks oli muidugi Frani hääl ja kõnemaneer.
Näitlejatar püüdis vabaneda oma kohutavast aktsendist ja vinguvast hääletoonist, kuid siis ei saanud ta üldse mingit tööd. "Olen õige osav murrakuid järele aimama. Ainus, mida ma teha ei oska, on normaalsel viisil kõnelda," tunnistab Fran. "Minu agent, õpetajad ja kõik sõbrad soovitasid aastaid, et mul tuleb igal juhul vabaneda kriiskavast häälest, kui ikka tahan näitlejaks saada," meenutab Drescher. Näitlemisest oli ta aga unistanud juba siis, kui oli vaevalt kõndima õppinud. Seega ei tulnud tal mõttessegi muuta oma tulevikuplaane. Ta käis hoolega kõnetehnikatundides ja püüdis õppida kaunilt rääkima. "Minu kõne muutus väga aeglaseks. Ühes stuudioproovis öeldi mu agendile: "Fran räägib väga kenasti, kuid pisut liiga venitades - meie sari kestab ainult kaheksa tundi, Frani tekstiga tuleks seda aga mitmekordistada!" Siis otsustasin, et mul tuleb luua või leida tegelaskuju, kes räägib sama pööraselt kui mina."
Näitlejataril hakkas viimaks vedama, kui ta pääses Julie Hagerty ja Twiggy kõrvale mängima CBSi komöödiasarjas "Printsessid". Lõpuks ometi sai Fran olla tema ise ja kehastada suure suuga New Yorgi juuditari nagu ta ise. Paraku lõpetati sari juba paari kuu möödudes.
"Siis sain selgeks, et mulle sobiva sarja võin luua ainult mina ise," tunnistab Drescher, kes otsekui taevaliku kingitusena sattus samasse lennukisse CBSi produtsendiga, kellele ta lennu ajal oma uuest ideest pajatas. "Ta oli tänuväärt kuulaja, sest tal tuli valida: kas kuulata mu juttu või kolida üle turistiklassi. Ja ega ma teda enda kõrvalt minema poleks lasknudki," naerab riukalik Fran. Muide, lend kestis 10 tundi. Vaene mees!
Umbes aasta hiljem, 1993. aasta sügisel jõudis eetrisse "Nanny", "Mary Poppinsi" või "Heliseva muusika" stiilis lugu harimatust, ent heasüdamlikust Queensi tüdrukust, kes proovireisijana satub rikka leskmehe Maxwell Sheffieldi (Charles Shaughnessy) perre ja hakkab lapsehoidjaks, mis leidis õige ruttu oma vaatajaskonna eri vanusegruppidest ning tal läks paremini kui enamikul USA kõrgeimalt hinnatud showdel. Drescher kandideeris kahel korral isegi Emmy ja Kuldgloobuse auhinnale.
Kohe algusest peale tegi Fran kõigile selgeks asja, et temal on kõiges sarja puutuvasse (ja ka mittepuutuvasse!) sõnaõigus. Näitlejakolleegid räägivadki, et Drescher oli väga nõudlik, terane ja üksikasjalik kõige suhtes, mis ekraanilt paistis. Ta vahetas isegi võileivad, taldrikud või küpsised Sheffieldi söögilaualt, kui need "ei näinud nii välja", nagu staar ette kujutas!
Umbes kaheksa kuud vältava ühe tootmishooaja jooksul filmiti "Nannyt" kolm-neli päeva nädalas. Ülejäänud aja tegeles Drescher muude projektidega. Muuseas lasi välja oma autobiograafia ja mängis koos eks-Bondi Timothy Daltoniga komöödiafilmis "The Beautician and the Beast". "Nanny" külalisrollidesse suutis Drescher meelitada eriti kuulsaid staare: Jane Seymouri, Elizabeth Taylori, Joe Lando, David Bowie, Elton Johni, Robin Williamsi, Catherine Oxenbergi, Brian Setzeri, lisaks veel kõiksugu suuri ja väikseid seebitähekesi. "Alati, kui kohtasin mõnd kuulsust, tirisin ta oma sarja!"
Kui sari sai alguse, arvasid paljud, et see tugineb nii või naamoodi näitlejatari enda eluloole. Osaliselt see on tõesti nii, sest Drescher ristis mitmed sarja tegelased talle kallite sugulaste järgi. Enda ja Fran Fine'i sarnasusest toob näitlejatar välja ainult New Yorgi tööliskvartali, kus nad mõlemad lapsepõlve veetsid.
"Kõik tegelaskujud on minus, kuid mina ei ole kõigis tegelaskujudes. Olen väga vastutustundlik ja kindlasti enamusest kujudest palju konservatiivsem. Niisiis naudin ma kangelannat, kes on lõbus, reibas, seksikas ja flirtiv. Nende maailm on ka palju lihtsakoelisem kui minu oma." Fran Drescher mõtleb igat sõna kõneldes teletegelaste elu lihtsusest, sest tema elu on mitmelgi puhul olnud sünge ja segane.
Drescher ja tema abikaasa said kogeda tõelist õudust, mida peadpööritav edu, uhke kodu või igavene armastuski ei suuda mälust täielikult ära kustutada. 1980ndate keskel tungisid kaks relvastatud röövlit nende New Yorgi koju, sidusid Peteri kinni ja vägistasid Frani. Näitlejatar ei meenuta meelsasti toimunut, kuid tõdeb, et juhtunu tõstis pinnale palju minevikku maetud asju.
"Vägistamisest jäid järele palju sügavamad hingelised kui füüsilised armid. Olin kui peegel, mis purunes miljoniks tükiks, kuid püsis ikka veel raamis. Mul oli vaja liimida killud kokku, kuid selle järel ei ole keegi enam endine. Tuleb vaid soovida, et muutused on vaid paremuse suunas," filosofeeris Fran.
Uusi probleeme kerkis esile tosina aasta eest, kui Fran sai tõdeda, et armastuski ei ole igavene. Fran Drescher ja Peter Marc Jacobson teatasid teede lahkuminekust 17 aastat kestnud abielu järel. Ohtu sattus ka "Nanny" tulevik, ehkki Fran oli veel mõned aastat varem olnud vägagi optimistlik. Teraapiad ja ponnistused kandsid mõnda aega vilja, veel ametlikult lahutamata abikaasad asusid jälle kokku elama ja ostsid isegi uue maja Malibus.
Neljakümneseks saanuna haaras Frani jälle depressioon:Peter kolis naise juurest lõplikult ära (1999. aastal nad lahutasid); boyfriend Robbie Schwartz, kes ei olnud tollal veel kolmekümmendki, tüdines Frani neuroosidest ja jättis ta saatuse hoolde. Ja mis kõige hullem - telesarja vaadatavus langes ning selle tulevik oli õige pea otsustatud.
2000. aastal diagnoositi Franil emakavähk. Õnneks avastati haigus varses staadiumis ning peale oppi polnud vaja läbi teha kemoteraapiat. Oma kogemusest kirjutas ta ka raamatu. Vahepeal teatrilavalgi esinenud ja mitmeid telereklaame teinud Fran Drescher naasis möödunud aastal taas televisiooni, mängides nimiosa seriaalis "Living with Fran".
Copyright © 2007 Ivar Kümnik

Andrei Haritonov

2009-12-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Andrei Haritonov (sündinud 25. juulil 1959 Kiievis) on vene filminäitleja ja -režissöör. Tema ema oli vene keele ja kirjanduse õpetaja, isa insener. Ta kasvas üles Kiievis. Andrei käis füüsika- ja matemaatikakallakuga keskkoolis. Ta joonistas palju ning soovis arhitektuuriinstituuti astuda. Hiljem on talle tundunud, et see oli vaid enesepettus: sisimas unistas ta kogu aeg vaid lavast ja ekraanist.
Kui Andrei Haritonov õppis Karpenko-Karõi nimelise Teatriinstituudi teisel kursusel, sai ta kutse tulla mängima Kiini E. Voinochi samanimelise romaani põhjal tehtavas telefilmis. Esimest korda filmis ja kohe peaosas, pealegi nii populaarses ekraniseeringus! 20-aastasele tudengile tõi see roll 1981. aastal Monte Carlo rahvusvahelise telefilmide festivali "Kuldnümfi" ja Ukraina NSV Tarass Ševtšenko nimelise riikliku preemia ning muidugi tohutu suure populaarsuse terves Nõukogude Liidus.
Väga menukas oli ka muusikaline film, rokkooper "Joaquin Murieta täht ja surm". milles Haritonovil oli taas nimiosa, jällegi romantiline kangelane, seekord aga vaene tšiili nooruk, kes koos paljude omataolistega läks Californiast kulda otsima ja kellest sai omamoodi õilis röövel – kättemaksja gringodele nende ülekohtu ja julmuse eest. Andrei Haritonovi ülesanne oli sedavõrd vastutusrikkam, et filmi aluseks võetud P. Gruško näidend (mis omakorda tugines Pablo Neruda poeemile ja Ladina-Ameerika rahvaste folkloorile) oli noorte seas saanud ülipopulaarseks, ka heliplaat selle muusikaga (helilooja A. Rõbnikov) oli levinud tohututes tiraažides. Nii nagu Haritonovi Kiin võeti noore põlvkonna poolt vastu oma kangelasena, nii köitis tema romantiline kangelane neis meile eksootilistes olukordades, mille kaudu režissöör toob noore vaatajani paljud ka tänapäeval aktuaalsed ühiskondlikud probleemid.
Paljudel vaatajatel on kahtlemata veel meeles Haritonovi Lance Agatha Christie romaani põhjal vändatud detektiivfilmis "Musträstaste saladus". See erines eelnimetatuist kardinaalselt. On ju filmis kaua aega sümpaatsena tundunud Lance oma ahne ja kalgi perekonna kõige paadunum liige, kes söandab varandusvõitluses minna kaugemale kui ükski teine. Muide, Miss Marple'it selles filmis mängis Ita Ever.
Andrei Haritonov on kaasa teinud veel paljudes kino- ja telefilmides: "Jaroslav Tark", "Assol", "Granaadisaartel", "Vanina Vanini" jt. Enamasti mängib ta eksootilisi kangelasi, ilmudes ekraanile tinglikes, igapäevasest elust kaugetes olukordades. Eriskummaline oli ka tema nähtamatuks muutunud teadlane Griffin H.G.Wellsi maailmakuulsa ulmeromaani motiividel tehtud linaloos.
Ühes intervjuus ütles Andrei Haritonov, et tema arvates pole vaja loobuda ühestki pakutavast rollist, on ju huvitav katsetada end ootamatutes ülesannetes. Näitleja tahaks mängida nii nüüdisaegset kui klassikalist repertuaari. Tema unistuseks on Treplev Tšehhovi "Kajakas".
Tema harrastuseks on maalikunst, samuti katsetab ta laulmist.

Ivar Kümnik

David Charvet

2009-12-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

FACT FILE
Nimi: David Faranck Charvet
Sünniaeg: 15.mai 1972
Sünnikoht: Lyon, Prantsusmaa
Juuksed: pruunid
Silmad: sinised
Elukoht: Los Angeles/Pariis
Pikkus: 183cm
Kaal: 75kg
Pere: ema Christianne, isa Paul , kasuisa Dov. Davidil on viis poolõde: Irene, Tania, Debra , Elizabeth ja Gina ning New Yorgis elav poolvend Daniel
Eelmine amet: oli Levise firma ja Bugle Boy teksaste modell, esines ka Coca-Cola reklaamides, seda kõike veel enne 18aastaseks saamist!
Esimene suudlus: "See oli teises klassis, olin kaheksane. Mängisime pudelimängu Truth or Dare ning mul tuli tüdrukut, me hüüdsime teda DJ-ks, suudelda. Olin õudselt närvis, kuna ei teadnud, mida oodata. Mulle meeldis see tüdruk väga."
Esimene roll: episood telefilmis "Lost Angels" (1989)
Parim iseloomujoon: "Olen väga aus ja otsekohene!"
Suurim kahetsus: "Et ma koolis nii vähe õppisin. Elasin kogu aeg vaid hetkele. Jäin paljudest asjadest ilma, kuid nüüd püüan kaotatud tasa teha - loen palju psühholoogiast ja teisi vaimu arendavaid raamatuid."
Hobid: kirglik ujuja ja rallisõidu fänn Tegevusalad: näitlemine, laulmine, peale selle tegeleb heategevusega aidsi haigestunud laste jaoks
Sõbratar: "Baywatchi" väntamise aegu kurameeris Pamela Andersoni ja Nicole Eggertiga, praegu on noormehel ka keegi, kuid tema nime jätab David esialgu enda teada.
Seks: Kuigi David pole eales poseerinud alasti, liiguvad internetis kümned pornograafilised ja isegi homoseksuaalsed fotod "ajast, mil David ei olnud veel kuulus".Mõistagi on seal tegu vaid võltsingutega.
Fakt: ajakirja People küsitluse põhjal on teda valitud maailma 50 ilusaima inimese hulka

Õigupoolest sai lugu alguse lihtsast soovist näitlemise kõrval mingit muud rakendust leida.
Metsikutel pidudel teismeeas oli David vahest ainus, kes timmis lahjasid jooke. Õieti oli ta isegi sedavõrd alkoholi vastane, et tema koolikaaslased peitsid oma õllepurgid alati ära, kui David juhtus neist mööda minema. Populaarsete telesarjade "Baywatch" ja "Melrose Place" staar pöördus kangema kraami vastu pärast seda, kui oli näinud selle laastavat toimet oma isa peal. "Mu isa saabus Prantsusmaalt Ameerikasse 57 dollariga taskus ja rajas multimiljonilise bisnise Sassoni teksade kompaniiga. Kuid kohe peale rikastumist sattus ta sõltuvusse uimastitest ja alkoholist. Nägin, kuidas see mees totaalselt oma elu hävitas ja varandust raiskas. See oli raskeim asi maailmas, mida mul näha tuli." David püüdis isale nõu anda, kuid poja abistav käsi
lükati kõrvale. "Ma püüdsin aidata, kuid ta tõukas mu kogu aeg eemale. Ta unustas mulle sünnipäevadel helistadagi - justkui poleks mind olemaski."
Sellest tulenevalt tõotas noormees endale, et ei võta kunagi suu sisse viina ja muud kanget värki. "Olles näinud, mis narkots ja dringid tegid mu isaga, otsustasin, et mina ei hakka nendega oma elu rikkuma." Ja ta on oma sõna pidanud siiamaani Davidi kindlameelne otsus ei leidnud mitte kõigi tema kaaslaste silmis imetlust.
"Koolis ma ei olnud kuigi popp kuju. Kuid mõne aja möödudes, usun, mind hakati austama. Käisin pidudel ja kui juhtusin klassivendadest mööduma, peitsid need kohe oma kraami mu silme alt. Ja ma mõtlesin, miks nad siis piinlikkust tundes üldse jooma peavad!?"
Pikapeale sai Davidi isa oma "tõvest" jagu. "Ma ei saanud ta heaks midagi teha enne, kui ta otsustas ise end aidata. Nii ta lõpuks tegi ja on sellest ajast peale olnud kaine."
Isa ja poeg klaarisid oma erimeelsused ja olgugi,et vanemad lahutasid, said neist head sõbrad. Muuseas, koos isaga peavad nad aeg-ajalt koolides loenguid uimastite kahjulikkusest.
David Charvet (ta kasutab oma ema neiupõlvenime) sündis 15. mail 1972. aastal Lyonis seitsmelapselise pere vanimana. Kui ta oli kaheksane, kolis koos emaga USAsse, algul New Yorki, seejärel Los Angelesse. Tema klassikaaslased narrisid teda ta naljaka aktsendi pärast. Ehkki inglise keel on praegugi tema esimene keel, on David säilitanud euroopaliku õrnatundelisuse. Ta tunnistab, et tunneb end siiani autsaiderina. Seda näitab ka tema elamise viis ja tahe ellu viia oma soovid. "Oma emaga kõnelen ma prantsuse keeles. Ema ei kasvatanud mind nagu ameeriklast. Siin oli rohkem kultuuri, rohkem taju ja maitset toidu, õhkkonna, elada elu, mitte lasta elul elada sinust. Ameerika on alati orienteerunud suurtele asjadele, sellele, kui palju miski on väärt. Inimesi hinnatakse selle põhjal. Mu ema püüdis minus kinnistada, et elus on teisigi väärtusi. Sa võid kasutada oma käsi, aju, arendada oma võimeid, et muuta end teistest erinevaks."
Juba varases nooruses ilmutas
David huvi spordi ja näitlemise vastu. "Ma vaatasin John Wayne'i filme ja tahtsin olla kauboi, nägin Fred Astaire'i kauneid muusikale ja tahtsin tantsida ja laulda nagu tema. Iga kord, kui juhtusin nägema kaamerabussi, käisid mul värinad üle selja, kuid ma tundsin, et olen äraneetud ja ilma andeta..."
Esimene heliplaat, mille David ostis, oli Michael Jacksoni "Off The Wall". Poiss kuulas seda oma Walkmanis päevad läbi ja keksis juukseharjaga peegli ees.
"Olin omal ajal tohutu Jacksoni fänn. Tema uuemast repertuaarist ei ole ma siiski enam huvitatud. Olen alati armastanud muusikat. Näitlemine tuli aga juhuslikult minu ellu," räägib David. Ta oli oma populaarsuse tipul, kui ta otsustas, et näitlemine ei ole ilmtingimata see, mida ta teha tahab. "Ma ei ütleks, et see mulle ei meeldi, ent muusikast hoolin ma rohkem. Muusika annab mul olla mina ise, filmides tuleb mul aga kellekski kehastuma." Viimaseks tilgaks oli näha Elton Johni kontserdit. Ta ütles oma emale: "Ma kohe pean muusikat tegema, ma tõesti armastan seda." Ema saatis ta kitarritundidesse. "Ma mängisin kogu aeg, ja kui meile tulid külalised, tegin ma alati õusid peale õhtusööki." David võttis ka näitlejatunde, kus tema õpetaja andis talle õppetunni, mida ta mäletab siiani. Talendist üksi on vähe, tuleb ka kõvasti tööd teha ja higistada, et tulemusi saavutada.
"Näitlemise või muusikaga ei olnud meie peres keegi enne seotud, sooviksin, et oleks, siis olnuks mul ehk kergem elu," naerab David. Agaralt koolinäidendites kaasa löönud poiss sõlmis teismeikka jõudnuna lepingu Elite Model Managementiga, misjärel töötas modellina Levi’s, Miller’s Outposti, Coca-Cola jt. plakatreklaamides. Reklaamidest saadud honorarid investeeris David ettenägelikult näitlejakooli, kus käis kursustel 25 tundi nädalas. Meeldiva välimusega noormeest märkasid peagi filmiprodutsendid ning ühe väikese kõrvalosa järel telefilmis, palgati ta vetelpäästjaks "Baywatchi". "Ma olin just samal päeval oma tüdrukust lahku läinud, kui käisin "Baywatchi" katsetel, olin väga emotsionaalne," meenutab David ja tunnistab, et talle pole kunagi rannad eriti meeldinud. "Ma ei tunne mingit sidet mere või ookeaniga..." Rannaseebi tegelaste hulka kolmandal hooajal ilmunud Matt Brody oli ärahellitatud 17aastane nooruk, kes elus armastas kolme asja: motikaid, rannabeibesid ja ...erutust, mille tekitas temas tunne olla vetelpäästja! Matt nägi rannavalvuri töös eeskätt võimalust põgeneda oma kuulsa kirjanikust isa varjust.Regulaarse liikmena saavutas David Charvet rahvusvahelise tähestaatuse, mida ta mõistagi nautis kogu südamest. Algul oli kõik kena: kaunid näitsikud, päikeseline rand, austajad... Kuid kolme hooaja järel hakkas noormeest tüütama see igahommikune rinna raseerimine ("Millegipärast on David Hasselhoff sarjas ainuke, kes võib karvasena ringi lipata!"), tervisele mitte just eriti hästi mõjuva California päikese käes pidev drillitamine ja populaarsuse kasvule vaatamata endiselt väike honorar. Samadel põhjustel olid enne Charvet’ tulekut rannasarjast lahkunud Erika Eleniak ja Billy Warlock. Niisiis tuli leppida või lihtsalt lahkuda. David tunnistas avameelselt, et nuttis nädalaid, enne kui kogus julguse kokku ja võttis "Baywatchist" lõpparve."Istusin võttepausi ajal garderoobis ja nutsin kui poisike. Ühest küljest tahtsin tööd nende kenade inimestega jätkata, kuid teisalt mõtlesin, kas see ärplemine õigustab seda palka, mida sain," seletas Charvet, kellele ilmselt ei tahetudki rohkem maksta. Otsustanud mitte enam pikendada lepingut, tegi Charvet vaid paar külalisesinemist "Baywatchi" kuuendal hooajal, et selgitada oma tegelaskuju kadumist teleekraanilt. Tema mitmed negatiivse alatooniga intervjuud tol perioodil andsid aimu, et näitleja ei soovi jääda tuntuks vaid punaseid shortse kandva rannapoisina ja et sari tervikuna ei olnud tema jaoks enam väljakutseks. Õnneks ei tulnud telestaaril kaua tööta istuda, sest teised produtsendid ei koonerdanud. David mängis kolmes telefilmis, millest üht juhtus nägema seebikuningas Aaron Spelling, kes eks-rannavalvuri kohe "Melrose Place’i" intriige punuma kutsus. Spellingi sarjas kehastas Charvet Los Angelese prominentse ärihai võsukest Craig Fieldi, kesihaldas bossitooli reklaamifirmas D&D, mistõttu ta otsekohe Amandaga (Heather Locklear) tõsiselt tülli läks. Raha ja võimu nimel oli Craig valmis igasuguseks alatuseks. "Minuga ei ole sellel karakteril midagi ühist, mina ei soovi kellelegi liiga teha," väitis Charvet, kes on vahest liigagi positiivne. Kaks hooaega hiljem jäi
Davidil televisioonis "king kitsaks" - üheks põhjuseks oli ilmselt ka see, et tema tegelaskujuga seotud stseene kärbiti pidevalt kuni minimumini - ning ta lahkus sarjast tunduvalt varem, kui nägi ette tema kontrakt. Craig ei näinud oma elus muud lahendust, kui lasta endale kuul pähe, David aga asus teostama oma teist ammust unistust.
Ostnud endale villa Malibus, kus tema lähimaks naabriks on muuseas Mel Gibson, otsustas Charvet näitlemises väikese pausi teha. Samaaegselt oli üks sõber Pariisis aidanud Davidi jaoks - rohkem küll lõbu, mitte menu pärast - kokku panna prantsuskeelset musaprojekti, lihtsalt lisaharrastuseks näitlemise kõrval. 1997. aastal nägi ilmavalgust CD, millelt pärit singleid "Should I Leave" ja "Regarde-toi" müüdi kumbagi üle 300 tuhande eksemplari. Plaat ise tõusis korraga edetabeli tippu ja püsis seal 26 nädalat.
"Oli kevad, elasin Prantsusmaal, ning kõik näis minevat imekenasti. "Melrose Place" oli tippsari kõikjal maailmas ja minu esimest muusikaüllitist müüdi minulegi ootamatult edukalt. Sünnipäeva puhul tulid vanemad mulle külla ning me üürimise jahi... Vaatasin enda ümber, ja mulle näis, et kõik, mida ma eales olen soovinud, on mul juba käes," meenutas David.
"Tegin selle plaadi lihtsalt ajaviitest ja lõbu pärast, selle tegemine oli tore. Ma ei mõelnudki, et see üldse mõnesse edetabelisse jõuaks. Noh, muidugi ma soovisin seda. Oli uskumatult vahva kodus öelda, et olen suur popstaar Prantsusmaal."
Nii jättis noormees näitlemise üldse tahaplaanile, instrueerides samas plaadifirmat mitte lasta CD-d müügile kuhugi mujale. "See polnud minulik, ma polnud veel valmis. Soovisin tegema hakata täiesti oma muusikat, ja teha seda omadel tingimustel," selgitas David.
Järgnevad aastad tegi David enda kallal tõsist tööd: õppis vokaaltehnikat, lihvis oma kitarrimänguoskust, asus laule kirjutama. Seejärel sõitis Inglismaale, otsides välja parimaid laululoojaid, kellega koostööd alustada. Et verivärsket materjali lindile saada, suunas David kogu "actioni" oma Malibu rannamajja, mille elu- ja magamistuba "ohverdati" tehnika viimse sõna peal kodustuudio ülespanemiseks. Tiimi juhtis produtsent Olle Romo, kes on paremini tuntud superprodutsendi Mutt Lange parema käena.
"Oh, taevas, see mees oli super!" meenutas Charvet. "Ta on imestusväärne meister. Tema oli "vastutav" ka Shania Twaini viimase megamiljoneid müünud plaadi, Elton Johni "You're the One" ning Bryan Adamsi albumi hiigelmenu eest!"
Sidemed on vahel head asjad. Romo kaudu sai Charvet tuttavaks Adamsiga, ning juba lõid mehed koos laule debütandi albumile. Üheskoos lükkasid Olle ja David hooajamuusikutest kokku superpundi, et lauludele rokihing sisse puhuda.
"Kõik pillimehed ja ka produtsent elasid minu juures, ja me elasime õlg-õla kõrval töötades nõnda kaheksa kuud. See oli oivaline viis plaati teha, töötasime kui üks meeskond. Keegi meist ei staaritsenud, ei ajanud küünarnukke laiali, meist said head sõbrad. Õppisin neilt meestelt palju."
Tulemuseks enesekindel, äge, kirglik ja professionaalne album, mis annab aimu David Charvet' oskustest nii esineja, laulukirjutaja kui ka produtsendina.
"Olen selle plaadi üle väga uhke. See on kindlasti üks selline asi, mille puhul söandan öelda: Kui peaksin siit planeedilt homnepäev lahkuma, olen viimaks maha jätnud midagi sellist, mis on läbinisti mina ise."
Ei saa märkimata jätta, et David Charvet on kena välimusega. Ta oleks justkui trendiajakirjade lehekülgedelt maha astunud. "Mul võttis kolm aastat uue plaadi valmistamiseks. Kas minu välimus aitas sellele kaasa? Võib-olla, kuid see pole see, millega tahan plaate müüa," ütleb David jahedalt.
David tunnistab, et on teinud elus palju vigu. Nendest on nüüd sündinud mõned lauludki.
"Olen armastuses kõrvetada saanud, nagu kindlasti igaüks. Olen teinud selliseid vigu, et ainuüksi nende meenutamine paneb mind punastama. Kuid aja jooksul sündisid neist laulud. Olen alati olnud väga isepäine, ning sel viisil olen kõike õppinud. Pealaest jalatallani," naerab David kergendatult.
"Leap Of Faith" kõneleb sellest, kuidas inimestel tuleks osata riskida nii era- kui tööelus.
"Ümberringi on palju inimesi, kes lepivad "ägeda" paarisuhtega. Minu arvatest peaks otsima Seda Õiget. Minagi otsin veel seda tõelist armastust. Ei tohi leppida vähemaga. Alati peab soovima paremat," rõhutab David. Riskimine on vähemalt seni Davidile ainult kasuks tulnud. Hiljaaegu ilmus David Charvet'lt uus singel ja album.
Need, kes loodavad Davidit taas näha seriaalides, peavad kurvastama, või siis - väga kaua ootama: "Näitlemise juurde ma enam tagasi ei pöördu, kuna olen leidnud oma tõelise armastuse muusikas. Olen õnnelik ja rahul ning nõndaviisi ei ole ma end tundnud juba päris kaua aega..."
Copyright © 2006 Ivar Kümnik

Jane Fonda

2009-12-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

Fonda on perekonnanimi, mis äratab tähelepanu, võib tagada kuulsuse ja edu, samas aga kohustab paljuks. Henry Fonda (1905-1982) oli Hollywoodi hiilgeaja populaarseim meesnäitleja, tema poeg Peter (1939) legendaarse road-movie "Easy Rider" täht, kes end hiljem ka võimeka re˛issöörina demonstreeris, ent praeguseks ajaks rambivalgusest peaaegu taandunud. Viimase tütar Bridget (1964) jätkab peretraditsioone, ehkki pole oma kuulsa tädi Jane'i tasemele (veel) jõudnud.
Jane Fondast võib kirjutada mitmeti. Ta on olnud auhinnatud näitleja, poliitiline aktivist, rahvusvaheline seksisümbol, aeroobika ristiema, kulinaariateemalise raamatu autor, naisõiguslane. Viimastel aastatel oli tema põhikohuseks olla vaid meediamoguli Ted Turneri abikaasa ja... piisonikasvataja. Filmides Jane ei mänginud. Põhjus tundub üllatavana, kui pidada silmas tema feministlikku minevikku: "Ted ei ole mees, keda jäetakse koju, kui mina võtteplatsile lähen."
Enne Turneriga abiellumist teatas ta, et jätab pere nimel alatiseks näitlemise ja staarisära. Kuid saatus mängib tihti meie elus vingerpussi. Seetõttu, lahutades neli aastat tagasi oma miljardärist abikaasast ning leidmata täit rahuldust piibliuurimisest, võitlusest teismeealiste raseduste vastu ja raamatute kirjutamisest, otsustas Jane lõpuks naaseda kinoekraanile.
21. detsembril 1937. aastal New Yorgis sündinud Jane Seymour Fonda ei tundnud puudust millestki peale perekonnaõnne. Isa oli harva kodus, nõrganärvilist ema Francest veeti ühest kliinikust teise. Kui Jane oli 12aastane, sooritas ema enesetapu. Teismelise neiu suhe isaga muutus keeruliseks ja hirmusegaseks. "Kartsin isa kohutavalt ning püüdsin mitte teha asju, mida ta heaks ei kiida. Tahtsin nii väga, et ta minuga rahule jääks. Meil vennaga tuli elada perfektsionistist isa kehtestatud normide järgi."
Plikapõlves oli Jane enda meelest kohmakas, priske ja õudselt tagasihoidlik. Jumalast hüljatuna - nagu ta end nimetas - püüdis tüdruk leida lohutust söömises, millest tekkis pikaks ajaks lausa hullus. Jane on hiljem tunnistanud, et proovis omal ajal rohkesti ravimeid hoidmaks söögihimu ja kehakaalu normis ning kestmaks üleväsimust ja unepuudust. Hiljem leidis ta tablettidele alternatiivi tantsimise näol. Veelgi hiljem tuli juba aeroobika.
Eakaaslaste seas tundis Jane end alati liigsena. Et mingilgi moel sõpru leida, hakkas ta igasuguseid lugusid välja nuputama, et end teiste silmis huvitavamaks teha. "Kooli popimal tüdrukul Sally Jonesil oli oma hobune ja kõik pidasid teda meisterratsutajaks ning põnevaks isikuks. Nii mõtlesin minagi välja loo oma olematust hobusest. Seejärel ei julgenud ma kedagi külla kutsuda. Kartsin, et äkki tahetakse mu hobust näha. Oma valede pärast tuli mul tihti kannatada."
Kui hiljem erakolled˛is, kus Jane ilma erilise innu ja eduta õppis, muutusid kallistused ja julgemad sorti embamised omaette "väärtuseks", üllatas ta kaaslasi järjekordsete lugudega, nagu oleks ta poistega flirtides palju kaugemale läinud...
Järgnesid rahutud Pariisi-aastad noorte kunstiinimeste seas, pisut maalikunstiõpinguid ja populaarsete öölokaalide külastamist. Peagi tõi isa üleannetu tütre tagasi Ameerikasse. Oma näitlejadebüüdi tegi Jane isa kõrval Omaha näiteringis, hiljem mängisid nad koos vaid filmis "Kuldse tiigi ääres" (1981), mis tõi Henry Fondale tema ainsa Oscari.
Seejärel asus Jane õppima kuulsas Actor's Studio's Lee Strasbergi juhendusel. Kaamera ees alustas Jane esialgu modellina. Tema fotod ilmusid prestii˛ikate ajakirjade (Vogue, Esquire jne.) esikaantel. 1959. aastal toimus üheaegselt Jane Fonda lava- ja ekraanidebüüt, mõlemal juhul oli lavastajaks perekonnatuttav Joshua Logan. Abielludes prantsuse re˛issööri Roger Vadimiga, mängis Fonda mitmetes tema filmides, millest erootiline ulmekomöödia "Barbarella" (1968) tegi tast rahvusvahelise sekspommi. Oma põlvkonna tunnustatuimaks naisnäitlejaks tõusis Jane Fonda peaosadega filmides "Cat Ballou" (1965), "Äraaetud hobused lastakse ju maha" (1969), "Klute" (1971) ja "Kojutulek" (1978). Kahe viimase eest pälvis ta parima naispeaosa-Oscarid.
1970. aastate alguses kasvas Jane Fonda poliitiline aktiivsus. Ta reisis Vietnamisse ja õhutas ameeriklasi pommitamisi lõpetama. Tema radikaalsed võtted ja president Nixoni vastane kampaania olid teatud ringkondades nii tugev, et näitlejatar sattus mitmeks aastaks põlu alla. Alles sõja lõpp ja Watergate'i afäär muutsid ühiskondlikku situatsiooni tema kasuks, et ta sai taas oma loometegevust jätkata.
Jane lõi filmifirma, mis peamiselt produtseeris tema enda flme ("Hiina sündroom", 1979; Vana gringo", 1988 jt.). Kaasstsenaristi ja produtsendina osales Jane ka dokfilmide "F.T.A" ja "Tutvumine vaenlasega" valmimisel.
1980. aastate lõpul ei toiminud Fonda nimi enam kassamagnetina. Nooremad, eelkõige Meryl Streep ja Jessica Lange, olid tema koha hõivanud. Nii alustas Jane aeroobika-äriga (videod, õppeprospektid, raamatud). Samal ajal lõppes ka tema teine abielu poliitiku Tom Haydeniga. Tänu (väidetavate) iluoppidele ja noortele kavaleridele (nende seas Rob Lowe ja Jimmy Smits) sattus Jane aeg-ajalt kõmukroonikasse ning pääses ka kinoekraanile. Jane Fonda viimaseks filmiks jäi melodraama "Stanley ja Iris" (1990), milles tema partneriks oli Robert DeNiro. Näitlemisest loobununa nautis ta meeleldi koduperenaise rolli, ning tema vaated olid varasemaga võrreldes palju liberaalsemad. Nendes muutustes mängis oma osa tema tollase abikaasa Ted Turneri varandus ja positsioon. Kuid mässuline naine ei tahtnud igavesti jääda oma mehe varju...
Maikuus jõudis ekraanidele Robert Luketici romantiline komöödia "Monster-in-Law", milles täiesti uues ampluaas astub üles 15 aastat filmimaailmast eemal olnud Jane Fonda. Viola Fieldsi-nimelist hullu ämmamammat kehastava legendaarse staari partneriteks selles filmis on Michael Vartan ("Alias") poja ning Jennifer Lopez minia rollides. USA esilinastusele järgnenud nädalalõpul tõusis see vaadatuimaks filmiks, teenides 24 miljonit dollarit.
Veelgi rohkem üllatas miljoneid austajaid aga näitlejatari autobiograafia "My Life So Far" ilmumine. Selles lubas Jane paljastada oma tormilise eraelu kõik saladused!
Ehkki tema armukesteks on aastate jooksul olnud jalgpallur, juuksur, näitleja, poliitik jne, avameelitseb ta raamatus peamiselt kolme seadusliku abikaasaga veedetud perioodidest. Oma esimesest mehest, Roger Vadimist, on Jane juba varemgi küllaldaselt õuduslugusid rääkinud. Vene päritoluga prantsuse filmire˛issöör, kes pisut varem tegi kuulsaks Brigitte Bardot' ja Catherine Deneuve'i, abiellus Fondaga 1965. aastal. Jane mängis tema neljas filmis ja temastki sai Vadimi soovide kohaselt uus seksisümbol. Neil sündis tütar Vanessa. Kuid abielu see enam ei päästnud. Juba tollal räägiti, et tähepaari kodus korraldati regulaarselt seksiorgiaid. Alles kolmkümmend aastat hiljem kinnitas Jane nende juttude õigsust. Filmistaar pihtis ajakirjanikele, et Roger sundis teda pidevalt tegelema grupiseksiga tema ja juhuslike tüdrukutega, sageli tänavalt üleskorjatud prostituutidega ning alandas võrdlustega (mitte Jane'i kasuks) eelmiste naistega. Nad lahutasid 1973. aasta jaanuaris.
Mõningaid pikantseid seiku on nüüdseks teada ka Fonda abielust Turneriga. Saatus sidus neid 1991. aastal. Meediamagnaat, suurima teleagentuuri CNN omanik Turner hellitas oma naist esimestel aastatel avalikult. Näiteks kinkis ta sünnipäevaks 10 miljonit dollarit, millega Jane avas oma heategevusliku fondi. Jane omakorda demonstreeris, et on armsama nimel võimeline mitte ainult loobuma filmikarjäärist, vaid ka hakkama loomakasvatajaks. Nende Montanas paiknevas hiiglasuures rantos kasvatas ja aretas Jane koos mehega piisoneid. Sõbrad ja tuttavad imestasid: kuidas saavad koos elada ja olla õnnelikud niivõrd erinevad inimesed, sest Fonda on ju loomult mässaja, revolutsionäär, Turner aga kondijuurteni konservaator! Tõsiste lahkhelide tekkides 2000. aasta jaanuaris kolis paar lahku, kuid lubas oma abielu kallal veel tööd teha. Fonda märkis, et on abikaasaga saavutanud kokkuleppe, mis lahendab kõik nendevahelised küsimused, ehkki tunneb, et nende abielu on "pöördumatult purunenud" ning"taasühinemiseks lootust ei ole".
Ühes intervjuus rääkis Fonda, et otsuse lahutada tõi kaasa tema kristlusse pöördumine. Turner vastas ajakirjanike küsimustele lahutuse põhjuste kohta delikaatselt: "Ma olen alati olnud ateist ning seetõttu ei suutnud ma leppida Jane'i hullumeelsest vaimustusest kristlusest, mida pean luuserite religiooniks." Hiljem, kui eks-naine hakkas andma avameelseid intervjuusid, rääkides muuhulgas mehe arvukatest truudusemurdmistest ja viimasest tormilisest armuafäärist kunstnikuproua Frederique D'Argoniga, tunnistas miljardär: "Jane tahtis minust teha pühakut, aga mina olen vaid tavaline patune!"
Fonda sõnul on Turner ahne mees, kes ei mõista armastust: "Ta vajab inimest, kes oleks kogu aeg tema kõrval. Ta arvab, et see on armastus. See pole armastus vaid lapsehoidmine." 2000. aasta maikuuks oli abielu ametlikult lahutatud.
Enne Turnerit ja peale Vadimi oli Jane Fonda abikaasaks 17 aastat poliitik Tom Hayden, kellega tal on poeg Troy. Tol perioodil pühendus Jane tõsiselt võitlusele rahu nimel, esines kõnedega Vietnami sõja vastu ning mängis oma karjääri kõige paremad rollid. Midagi intrigeerivat tema elus tollal justkui ei toimunud. Perekonnaelu kulges vaikselt, rahulikult, andmata mingeid põhjuseid kuulujuttudeks. Võimalik, et Jane hoidis lihtsalt keelt hammaste taga, aga nüüd on ta otsustanud paljastada mõned seigad ka sellest abielust. Nii või teisiti, hiljutisel promo-turneel, mis oli seotud nii tema come-back-filmiga kui autobiograafia ilmumisega, lubas Fonda tõelist sensatsiooni...
Peale turneed käis Jane niudeluu operatsioonil. Maikuus astus ta publiku ette uuenenud kujul: kaunimana, kui kunagi varem, ning valmina uuteks elukäänakuteks.
"Saatus on mulle alati üllatusi valmistanud - need olid uued tunded, uued asjaolud.. Senikaua, kuni ma pole kaotanud soovi ja võimalust muutuda, arvan ma, et mul on veel kõik ees!"
Copyright © 2005 Ivar Kümnik

Julie Andrews

2009-12-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

Andeka lapsena, kellele oli looduse poolt antud hämmastav lauluhääl, debüteeris Julie Andrews varakult inglise vodevillilavadel, enne kui temast sai tõeline staar Broadway muusikalis "Minu veetlev leedi". Tervele maailmale on ta aga siiani armastatud ja tuntud eeskätt kui elurõõmus guvernant kapten von Trappi seitsmele lapsele läbi aegade menukas "Helisevas muusikas", mis märtsi algul pühitses oma 40ndat juubelit.
Julia Elizabeth Wells sündis 1. oktoobril 1935. aastal Walton-on-Thamesis Inglismaal. Nime sai ta oma kahe vanaema - Julia Morrise ja Elizabeth Wellsi - järgi. Tema isa Ted Wells oli raua- ja puutöö õpetaja ning ema Barbara Morris Wells andis klaveritunde ja töötas poole kohaga oma õe Joani juhitud tantsustuudios pianistina. Kui Julie oli kaheaastane, tegi ta oma lavadebüüdi, esinedes tantsukooli lõpuballil haldjana.
1939. aastal sai Barbara pianistikoha varietees, kus teiste artistide seas esines kauni tenorihäälega kanada laulja Edward (Ted) Andrews. Peagi moodustasid nad populaarse vodevillipaari laval ning armunutepaari eraelus. See ajas sassi Julie vanemate suhted ning nad lahutasid.
Julie uus isa hakkas tüdrukukesele õpetama laulmist, justkui ettekäändena, et kasutütart paremini tundma õppida. Kõigi suureks üllatuseks oli Juliel täielikult väljaarenenud laarünks (kõri), perfektne helitunnetus ja laiaulatuslik nelja oktaaviga vokaal. Just Ted oli see, kes avastas, et tüdrukuke oma kauni häälega võiks kuulsaks saada tervel Inglismaal. Nii asuski üsna auahne ja musikaalne abielupaar Juliest imelast koolitama ja teda oma turneedele kaasa tirima. Laval esines tulevane superstaar juba seitsmeselt. Ta võttis endale kasuisa perekonnanime ning muutis eesnimes viimase tähe.
Kaheksa-aastaselt hakkas Julie võtma laulutunde Madame Lilian Stiles-Allenilt, kes oli omal ajal olnud mainekas estraadilaulja. Neist kahest said head sõbrad ja just tänu Lilianile omandas Julie perfektse diktsiooni.
Teise Maailmasõja lõppedes oli Julie kümneaastane ning ta võis ametlikult koos vanematega laval esineda. Koolivaheaegadel veetis Julie suurema osa ajast üleriigilistel turneedel, olles ametlik (ja populaarseim) osa oma vanemate showprogrammis.
Raadios debüteeris Julie 1946. aastal, lauldes koos kasuisaga duette BBC meelelahutusprogrammis "Monday Night at Eight".
5.detsembril 1946 esines Julie juba iseseisvalt Londoni Stage Door Canteen'is. Publiku hulgas viibisid muuhulgas kuninganna (hilisem kuninganna-ema) ja printsess Margaret. Pikapeale jäid Ted ja Barbara tagaplaanile ning Juliest sai põhiesineja, kes peagi üksi turneedel käis.
12aastasena sai tüdruk osa Val Parnelli revüüprogrammis "Starlight Roof", mida esitati 649 korda Londoni Hipodroomil. Samal ajal tegi ta oma debüüdi ka Londoni Palladiumi teatri programmis "Royal Command Variety Performance". Juliest sai noorim esineja, kes eales kuninglike kõrguste (kuningas George VI ja kuninganna Elizabeth) ees Palladiumis laulnud.
Julie alustas oma professionaalset karjääri, lauldes kuulsaid aariaid nagu "Polonees" ooperist "Mignon". Tema etteasteid saatis säärane edu, et peagi kutsuti väike lauluime taaskord esinema kuninglikule perekonnale. 1947. aasta detsembris saadeti üks filmiproov stuudiole Metro Goldwyn Mayer, ent sealt vastati, et tüdruk on liiga kõhnuke ja ebafotogeeniline. Sellest hoolimata sai Julie tuntuks kui "Inglismaa noorim laulufenomen", ja ta esines edukalt nii lavadel ja raadioprogrammides. Kõikide lavastuste või showde pealkirju pole mõtet siia kirja panna - nimekiri tuleks liiga pikk!
Lauljatarile anti peaosa pantomiim-muusikalis "Cinderella". Kui ameerika produtsent Cy Furer nägi Julie Andrewsi Londoni lavastuses "Boyfriend" (1953-1954), tegi ta näitlejatarile ettepaneku sama osa mängida uue trupiga ka Broadwayl. Julie oli vastu, sest ta ei tahtnud kodust lahkuda, pealegi oli temast saanud pere ülalpidaja. Tüdruku pärisisa õhutas teda minema: igal juhul annaks töö ookeani taga uusi kogemusi juurde. Julie nõustus võõrsil olema vaid aasta. Ühendriikides tegi Julie ka teledebüüdi, mängides koos Bing Crosbyga Maxwell Andersoni "High Tor'i" muusikalises variandis.
Aasta sai otsa ning lõppesid ka "Boyfriendi" etendused, Julie oli naasmas kodumaale. Veel enne käis ta Richard Rodgersi ja Oscar Hammersteini juures proovilaule esitamas uue muusikali "Pipe Dream" jaoks. Rodgersile Julie meeldis ning too küsis, kas laulvale näitlejatarile on tehtud veel teisigi pakkumisi. Andrews vastas, et käis prooviesinemistel härrade Lerneri ja Loewe'i juures, kes on loomas muusikali Bernard Shaw' "Pygmalioni" ainetel. Richard oli hetke vait ja ütles siis: "Kui nad sind võtavad, ära neile ära ütle. Kui sa neilt rolli ei saa, on meilgi sinu jaoks tööd."
"Pygmalionist" sai igihaljas muusikal "Minu veetlev leedi", mis tegi noore lavatähe tuntuks mõlemal pool Atlandi ookeani. Koknit purssivat lilleneiut Eliza Doolittle'i, kellest professor Henry Higginsi käe all saab kombekas suurilmadaam, kehastas Julie nii Londoni West Endis (18 kuud) kui Broadwayl (kaks aastat) ühtekokku 2717 korda.
"Mängisin Elizat väga kaua, vahel see oli lausa piin. Kaheksa etendust nädalas, ilma raadiomikrofonideta, nagu nüüd kombeks, laval olid vaid mõned püsimikrofonid. Sageli tekkis mul probleeme häälega - see tekitas mulle tõelist hirmu. Energiat jätkus mul küllalt, ent hääl... Keegi ei taha ju publikut petta, kõik tahavad olla värsked ja suurepärased ning anda oma parimat," meenutas Andrews.
Seejärel esitas Julie nimiosa otseülekandena esitatud telelavastuses "Tuhkatriinu" (1957) ning abiellus noorpõlvekallima, kostüümi- ja lavakunstniku Tony Waltoniga (Muuseas, pulmakleidi disainis tulevane abikaasa isiklikult!). Sündis tütar Emma Kate.
Pärast Julie Andrewsi nägemist kuninganna Guinevere'ina muusikalis "Camelot" (1960), kus tema partneriks oli kange naistemehena tuntud Richard Burton, pakkus Walt Disney näitlejatarile esimese filmirolli.
"Walt tuli mind kulisside taha vaatama, et pakkuda mulle kuulata "Mary Poppinsi" muusikat ja näidata filmi jaoks tehtud story-boardi," meenutas Julie, kes oli veendunud, et ei sobi filmi. Walt meelitas teda, kutsus isegi koos endaga Disneylandi ning demonstreeris oma võlumaailma. "Võite arvata, mis tunne on koos härra Disneyga Disneylandis ringi kolada. Inimesed jäid seisma, kõik ahmisid õhku... Ta sõidutas meid Tonyga väikesel raudteel, ise energiliselt kõike seletades. Lõpuks temast täielikult võlutuna ma nõustusin."
Kuna Julie mees oli hiljuti üliedukalt maha saanud ühe lavatüki kunstilise kujundamisega Broadwayl, võttis Disney ta oma filmile kunstnikuks.
"Võtted olid rasked, kuna see oli mu esimene kinofilm ning eriefektide tohutu hulk nõudis poole rohkem aega kui tavalise mängufilmi puhul. Minu kannatus pandi rängalt proovile ja tihti ootasin ma kolm-neli tundi, et siis lõpuks vaid üht stseeni filmida. Poole võtteajast veetsin ma igatsorti trosside otsas rippudes. Mõnikord liigutati ka tervet lava ühe triki tarvis."
Õigupoolest oli "Mary Poppins" (1964) teatud mõttes lohutuseks, et Julie Andrews ei saanud rolli "Minu veetleva leedi" (1963) filmiversioonis.
"Mõistan nüüd paremini, miks mind "Leedisse" ei valitud. Neile oli vaja "nime", mis kindlustaks filmile edu. Audrey Hepburn oli selleks ideaalne variant (ehkki ta ei osanud laulda ja seda tegi tema eest Marnie Nixon - I.K.), mina oli tuntud aga ainult kui Broadway näitlejatar. Õnneks tuli "Poppins" vahetult pärast seda ja ma ei osanud erilist pettumust tunda. Vaid hiljem olen vaikselt kurtnud."
"Minu veetlev leedi" oli nomineeritud aasta hiljem igas suuremas "Oscari" kategoorias, välja arvatud parim naisnäitleja. Selle kuldkujukese sai endale aga... Julie Andrews imepärase Mary Poppinsi rolli eest. See oli justkui väike kättemaks.
Sel ajal, kui "Mary Poppinsit" alles monteeriti, sai Julie peaaegu üheaegselt kaks uut filmipakkumist. Arthur Hiller võttis näitlejatari oma sõjavastasesse filmi "Emily amerikaniseerumine" (eesti keeles tuntud ka pealkirjaga "Ainult ohvitseridele"), Robert Wise aga palkas ta kapten von Trappi seitsmele lapsele koduõpetajaks "Helisevas muusikas" (1965). Kui esimene läks pehmelt öeldes aia taha, siis teisest kujunes läbi aegade menukaim filmimuusikal, mis päästis stuudio 20th Century Fox pankrotist, milles oli suuremal määral süüdi superkulukas ja super-ebaedukas "Kleopatra" Elizabeth Tayloriga nimiosas.
"Oli raske teada siis, mida mõistan nüüd, et "Helisev muusika" oli suurepärane anss, mille keegi kunagi üldse saada võib," nentis Julie.
Nüüd ruttasid kõik suuremad lavastajad üksteise võidu näitlejatariga filme väntama. Hollywoodis liikus kõnekäänd: kui saad oma filmi Julie, saad kogu maailma. Agendid, advokaadid, produtsendid - kõik tahtsid osa saada sellest maagilisest puudutusest. Näitlejatar lausa uppus töösse.
Mõnede kolleegide mõtteid.
Lava- ja filmitäht Roddy McDowell: "Säärane menu eeldab jõudu olla valmis tagajärjedeks. Lõputu kummardamine võib olla tappev. Ühtäkki kõik määravad, mida tohib teha, mida mitte: peaasi, et imago rikutud ei saaks."
Koreograaf Michael Kidd: "Ta on väga südamlik, inimene, kellega on kerge suhelda. Kõik tahaksid emmata seda imearmast olevust, kes on erinev kui karm maailm meie ümber."
Ja Julie ise: "Arvan, et mu töö räägib enda eest. Tegin toreda filmi "Havaii" koos George Roy Hilliga, lõbusa "Moodsa Millie" jne, kuid ma ei mõistnud, ja kes olekski seda siis mõistnud, et suurim menu lööb inimesele märgi külge. Surmatunnini mäletatakse ikka inimese edukaimat tööd. Näiteks Clark Gable'i puhul kindlasti "Tuulest viiduid"."
1966. aastal mängis Julie koos Paul Newmaniga Alfred Hitchcocki spioonithrilleris "Rebitud eesriie". "Mind erutas väga mõte teha tööd koos Hitchiga. Ta oli mu vastu väga kena, kõneles palju ja muudkui õpetas. Ta selgitas mulle objektiivide erinevusi ja lubas kaamerasilmast piiluda, kuid ei andnud mingeid juhtnööre stsenaariumi ja rolli osas. Taipasin, et teda lõbustasid kõige enam roimad ja muu selline, mitte dialoogid ja armastusstseenid. Ta oli suur manipulaator. Kui Paul ja mina palusime luba proovida oma stseeni enne võtet, vastas ta alati: Mu lapsed, tehke, mida ise tahate."
Tohutu menu ja töökoormus lõid kiilu näitlejatari eraellu. Julie läks Tonyst lahku.
"Kui ta vajas rohkem tuge, kui mina suutsin anda, üritasin eeskätt edeneda omas ametis. Ma ei tea, kuidas seda oleksingi saanud lahendada. Kui sulle äkki langeb sülle selline tohuvabohu, nagu meil, inimestega ikka juhtub nii. Lähedased inimesed elavad üle hirmsaid hetki. Me ei saanud hakkama," meenutas Walton.
"Kuid me oleme jäänud headeks sõpradeks," väidab Julie. "Tunneme teineteist läbi ja lõhki, praktiliselt lapsepõlvest peale. Elasime koos palju aastaid. Kahju ainult, et meie abielu koos ei püsinud."
Ebaõnn hakkas haarama ka Andrewsi uusi filme. Publik, kes oli harjunud oma lemmikut nägema malbete ja igati kombekate neidude rollides, ei võtnud omaks intrigeerivat ja menu nimel kõigeks valmis olevat Gertrude Lawrence'i Robert Wise'i "Staaris!" (1968). Ka esimene koostöö tulevase abikaasa Blake Edwardsiga "Kallis Lily" (1970) ei toonud loodetud (kassa)tulemust.
"Kui ma Julie'ga kohtusin, tundsin õige pea, et temas on veel palju kasutamata andeid. Seni oldi teda täielikult klassifitseeritud Mary Poppinsiks või Maria von Trappiks, ent järsk imid˛imuutus, mida me püüdsime ette võtta, ei tulnud kasuks ei filmidele ega talle endale," meenutas Edwards.
Julie hakkas esinema televisioonis. Tema nime kandev show võitis 1973. aastal Montreux festivalil "Hõberoosi" auhinna, ometigi võeti seriaal programmist maha esimese hooaja järel. Alati optimistlikult meelestatud staar tundis end äkitselt jõuetuna ning hoidis mõne aasta teatri- ja filmielust eemale. Julie Edwardsi nime all kirjutas laulev näitlejatar neil aastail paar raamatut pisikestele lugejatele ("Mandy", 1971 ja "The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles", 1974). Nende peres kasvasid peale Julie tütre Emma ka Blake'i Jennifer ning adopteeritud vietnami tüdruk Amy Leigh (hiljem adopteerisid Edwardsid veel ühe orvuks jäänud tüdruku Joanna Lynni), kes vajasid hoolt. Kui lapsed olid juba suuremad, ja vimm filmide ebaedu suhtes vaibunud, astus Andrews taas rambivalgusse.
Edukat comebacki tähistasid Blake Edwardsi satiirilised ja musta huumoriga vürtsitatud "10" (1979), "S.O.B." (1981) ja eriti "Victor Victoria" (1982), mille uuendatud lavavariant 1995. aastal tõi Julie Andrewsi üle pika aja taas teatripubliku ette. Rolliga kandideeris ta "Oscarile", kuid see jäi saamata. Küll aga sai ta "Kuldgloobuse".
"Blake üllatab mind pidevalt, nii võtteplatsil kui argielus. Ta on mulle pakkunud alati erinevaid, isegi provokatiivseid rolle, nagu "S.O.B."-s, kus mul tuli esmakordselt paljastada oma rind."
Edwardsil oli kavatsus teha üht päris isiklikku, osalt autobiograafilist perefilmi. Ta mõtles kohe, et tore oleks selles näha enda sõpru ja lapsi ning muidugi oma naist. Melodraamas "Selline on elu" (1986) tegid kaasa Julie, Emma, Jennifer, Jack Lemmon, tema naine Felicia Farr ja nende poeg Chris. Praktiliselt ilma stsenaariumita, vaid 80-leheküljelise loo üldjutustusega vändati see Edwardsite Santa Monicas asuvas majas vähem kui miljoni dollari eest.
Nimetatud filmis kehastas Julie Andrews vähki põdevat lauljatari, samal ajal kui Andrei Kontalovski draamas "Duett ühele" (1986) interpreteeris ta kuulsat viiulikunstnikku, kes haigestub polüskleroosi. Kas mitte liiga palju õnnetusi üksteise otsa?
"Need olid täiesti erinevad rollid. Blake'i filmis pidin ma olema tugev naine, kes kurtmata võitleb oma haigusega ning on jätkuvalt oma perekonnale toeks. Kontalovski linateoses, vastupidi, mässasin oma ülekohtuse saatuse vastu, plahvatasin ja karjusin. Blake kasutas tähtsa sõnumi edastamisel komöödiaimpulsse, sellal kui Andrei kasutas raevukaid sõnu - suure jõu ja võimuga, nii filmis kui stuudios."
Julie Andrews arvab, et kino on kurnavam kui teater.
"Mul on vaja, et re˛issöör mind usaldaks ning mõistaks, et vajan kuumenemiseks pisut aega. Ma pean aru saama, kas olen õigel teel, või pean oma tegelaskujus midagi muutma. Mis puutub kaamerasse, siis on päevi, mil seda minu jaoks ei eksisteeri ja teisi, mil tunnen väga tugevasti selle kohalolu. Stsenaariumilt ootan eelkõige okki, tugevaid emotsioone. Kui minu ja tegelaskuju vahel midagi toimub, siis tean juba, et see roll on minu jaoks. Kuid see peab olema suurepärane roll ja tore lavastaja. Õieti on väheoluline, kumb tuleb esimesena."
Kuigi tänases Ameerikas on turg enamjaolt noortele orienteeritud ja sobivaid rolle on üha raskem leida, usub Julie, et on mõnede oma eakaaslastest kolleegide, nagu Diane Keaton, Shirley MacLaine ja Barbra Streisand, õnnestunud nihutada seda saatuslikku barjääri, mida kujutab endast vanus naise ja näitlejanna jaoks. "Samuti peab igaüks olema võimeline leidma oma isiklikku sisejõudu. Minu oma pärineb minu kujunemisajast lavalaudadel, ajast, mil ma ei mõelnud tõepoolest, et see võiks kuidagi mõjutada mu edasist karjääri. Mõtlen sageli sõnadele, mida ütles mulle "Minu veetleva leedi" libretist - ta arvas, et mängida pikka aega ühte rolli on palju etem kui killustada end väga laiaulatusliku repertuaariga. Tal oli õigus. Publiku ees peab igal õhtul treenima, end täiustama - et olla tõeline. Ilusa rolliga õpitakse palju."
Üle pika aja külastas Julie Andrews Londoni West Endi linnaosa ning seda kahel vägagi mõjuval põhjusel. Temast sai "Hõbesüdame", Suurbritannia Variety Clubi kõrgelt hinnatud autasu laureaat ning tema häält sai pärast pikka vaheaega (40 aastat!) taas kuulata Londoni teatrilaval. Andrews oli autasu vastu võttes silmnähtavalt liigutatud ning oma tänukõnes ütles ta muuhulgas: "See süda leiab erilise koha nii minu kodus kui ka minu enese südames ja seda väga pikaks ajaks." Endiselt võluv staar rõhutas, et pühendab selle autasu kõigile neile, kes tema kõrval aitasid luua neid populaarseks saanud muusikalisi teatritükke ja linateoseid, milles tal oli au kaasa teha.
Näitlejataril ei tundu olevat erilisi lemmikuid oma linatööde hulgas, välja arvatud need, mis jätsid mälestuse harmoonilistest võttepäevadest - muidugi "Helisev muusika", "Emily amerikaniseerumine", "Victor Victoria" ja eelkõige "Selline on elu".
Üht igatses ta kaua aega: "Tunnen puudust publikust saalis. Kui ma viibin vaatajana etendusel, mis mind vaimustab ja kuulen aplausi, mõtlen endamisi: mulle meeldiks praegu ise olla laval..."
See probleem sai lahendatud 1995. aastal, kui Blake Edwards võttis üles 14 aastat varem filmitud "Victor Victoria" käsikirja, mille siis koos heade semude Henry Mancini ja Leslie Bricusse'iga kohandas Broadway jaoks. Julie mängis taas naissoost meesteimiteerijat Victoria Granti, kes olude sunnil esineb meessoost naisteimiteerijana. Tähenduslik Broadway lavastuses oli veel see, et näitejuhina tegutses Julie tütar Emma Walton.
Andrews osales ka "Dr. Doolittle'i" uues lavaversioonis, andes oma hääle papagoi Polüneesia käsutusse. Lavastusest, kus tegid kaasa suured loom-nukud, kujunes unustamatu elamus nii lastele kui nende vanematele.
Kuid siis juhtus midagi paratamatut: lauljataril tekkis tõsiseid probleeme häälega ning ta otsis abi kirurgidelt. Operatsioon aga ebaõnnestus ning Julie kaotas võime laulda. Kuid Andrews ei lasknud pead norgu ning asus esinema draamalavastustes. Muuhulgas ühines ta taas oma "Heliseva muusika" kapteniga, kanada näitleja Christopher Plummeriga, et mängida rolle Hallmark Television telelavastuses "Kuldse tiigi ääres", mida kinoekraanil olid esitanud Katharine Hepburn ja Henry Fonda. Hiljaaegu võisime Julie Andrewsi näha meiegi kinodes jooksnud komöödiafilmis "Printsessi päevikud" ning selle järjes, milles ta tegi esimese katse peale õnnetut operatsiooni taas laulda.

Julie Andrews pole vaatamata kõrgele eale oma ustavate fännide suureks rõõmuks veel loorberitele puhkama jäänud. Käesoleval ajal on Juliel käsil autobiograafia kirjutamine. Hiljaaegu lasi ta välja CD-kogumiku "The Julie Andrews Collection".

Julie Andrwes on ema viiele täiskasvanud lapsele: tütar Emma, Blake'i kaks last Jennifer ja Geoffrey ning kaks 1974. aastal adopteeritud tüdrukut Amy ja Joanna. Ja muidugi on Julie Andrews ka vanaema. Aga sellest me siinkohal ei räägi.......

Uudis! Julie Andrews naaseb jälle lavalaudadele. Andrews lõpetas oma lauljakarjääri peale 1997.aastal aset leidnud kurguoperatsiooni, mis nõrgendas tema kuulsat häält, kuid järgmise aasta kevadel astub ta üles Londonis, edastas Helsingin Sanomat. Andrews on lubanud kontserdil esitada hitte oma muusikalidest. Suurbritannias sündinud, kuid praegu USA-s elav Andrews pole Suurbritannias esinenud juba 20 aastat.

TÄHTSAMAID DAATUMEID JA FAKTE 1935 -2005
1.10.1935 - kell 6 hommikul sünnib Julia Elizabeth Wells, Edward ja Barbara Wellsi tütar.
23.10.1947 - Professionaalne debüüt muusikalises revüüs "Starlight Roof". Tükki esitatakse 649 korda!
1.11.1948 - Debüüt Londoni Palladiumis showprogrammis "Royal Command Variety Performance".
08.10.1949 - Julie teledebüüt BBC programmis "Radiolympia Showtime" koos Vera Lynni ja Stanley Holloway (hilisem mister Doolittle)
5.07.1953 - Julie esineb koos Roy Terrey Orchestra'ga, enam kui 3700 inimest seisab Greenwichi sadamasillal, kust kontsert kantakse üle BBC Showboat'ile.
30.09.1954 - New Yorgis esietendub "The Boyfriend"
1.10.1954 - Julie Andrews saab 19aastaseks ja suurepärased arvustused esinemise eest "The Boyfriendis".
10.03.1956 - eetrisse jõuab esimene spetsiaalselt televisioonile vändatud mustvalge telefilm "High Tor" Bing Crosby ja Julie Andrewsiga peaosades.
21.03.1956 - Broadwayl esietendub "My Fair Lady".
31.03.1957 - Richard Rodgersi ja Oscar Hammersteini muusikal "Cinderella" Julie Andrewsi ja Jon Cypheriga antakse otse eetrisse. 107 miljonit televaatajat - tollane absoluutne rekord!
10.05.1959 - Pulmad Tony Waltoniga, lapsepõlve armastatuga, St. Mary kirikus, Otlandis. Pulmakleit on peigmehe enda disainitud!
3.12.1960 - Broadwayl esietendub "Camelot". Julie partneriks Richard Burton.
27.11.1962 - Sünnib tütar Emma Kate Walton.
27.08.1964 - "Mary Poppinsi" maailma esilinastus Graumani Hiina Teatris, Hollywoodis.
08.02.1965 - Julie saab oma esimese filmiauhinna - Kuldgloobuse rolli eest "Mary Poppinsis"
2.03.1965 - "Heliseva muusika" maailma esilinastus Rivoli Teatris New Yorgis.
5.04.1965 - Julie saab parima naispeaosatäitja "Oscari" Mary Poppinsi rolli eest.
31.01.1966 - Julie saab parima naispeaosatäitja "Kuldgloobuse" rolli eest "Helisevas muusikas".
08.04.1966 - "Helisev muusika" võidab viis "Oscarit", muuhulgas parima filmi ja parima lavastaja kategoorias. Julie jääb paraku ilma.
26.03.1966 - Julie kirjutab nime ja jäädvustab oma käe-ja jalajäljed tsementi Graumani Hiina Teatri ees.
15.02.1967 - Julie nimetatakse maailma armastatuimaks filminäitlejaks "Kuldgloobuste" show'l. Sama aunimetuse pälvib ta ka järgmisel aastal.
13.11.1969 - Abiellub William Blake McEdwardsiga (Blake Edwardsi täielik nimi) nende kodus Coldwater Canyonis.
5.10.1979 - Julie Andrewsi Päev Hollywoodis, kui näitlejatar saab oma täheplaadi Kuulsuste Alleel.
07.10.1989 - Julie saab Briti Filmi- ja Televisiooni Akadeemia (BAFTA) spetsiaalse "Tribute" auhinna. Ühtlasi on ta esimene näitlejatar, kes selletaolise auhinna on pälvinud.
1.04.1993 - Julie comeback lavale 30 aastase vaheaja järel, "Putting it Together" esietendub Manhattani Theatre Clubis.
25.10.1995 - Julie comeback Broadwayl, esietendub "Victor Victoria".
1999 - kolmandat korda mängib koos James Garneriga telefilmis "One Special Night". Eelnevalt mängisid nad filmides "Emily amerikaniseerumine" ja "Victor Victoria".
Mai 2000 - Julie nimetatakse Buckinghami Palees kuninganna Elisabeth II poolt Dame Commander of the British Empire. Samal aastal on Julie taas kinoekraanidel Noėl Cowardi komöödias "Relative Values" ja Walt Disney-stuudio filmis "Printsessi päevikud".
2001 - Julie Andrews ja Christopher Plummer mängivad esimest korda peale "Helisevat muusikat" koos Hallmark Televisionis live'ina eetrisse antud lavastuses "On Golden Pond".
Detsember 2001 - Julie austamisõhtu The John F. Kennedy Centre'is tema unikaalse ja hinnalise panuse eest filmis ja muusikateatris.
3 - 21.12.2002 - Julie osaleb "Kuninglike Jõulude" ringreisiprogrammis Ameerika ja Kanada viieteistkümnes linnas koos Christopher Plummeri, Charlotte Churchi ja 150 tantsija, laulja ja muusikuga.
August 2003 - Julie Andrews teeb oma lavastajadebüüdi tükiga "The Boy Friend", milles ta omal ajal debüteeris näitlejana Broadwayl.
1.10.2005 - Julie Andrews saab 70. aastaseks!
Copyright © 2006 Ivar Kümnik

Raquel Welch

2009-12-06T08:46:00.000-08:00

"Hollywoodis on kõigel oma hind. Ehkki ma ei näe nii eakas välja kui passist lugeda võib, tunnen end ikka nii vanana. Miks peaksin minema viskama kuus aastakümmet elukogemusi? Minu elu on tulvil rõõmu, leina, valu ja armastust. Täis kõike seda, mis tunnistab ühte: sa oled inimene ja sa elad."
1966. aastal põhjustas karusnahast minibikiinides Raquel Welch filmi "Miljon aastat enne Kristust" afiidel tõelise oki ja pani kogu maailma meeste südamed kiiremini põksuma. Paari nädalaga sai boliivia päritoluga noor naine kõige populaarsemaks seksisümboliks Marilyn Monroe järel. Ta oli siis 25aastane ja kadestamisväärselt kauni kehaga: pikkus 165 cm, kaal 47 kilo; strateegilised mõõdud 93-55-86. Tollal oli tal juba kaks last, poeg Damon ja tütar Tahnee, lühikeseks jäänud abielust kooliaegse kallima James Welchiga.
40 aastat hiljemgi pole Raqueli mõõdud oluliselt muutunud - tõeline looduseime! Sensuaalne brünett virsikpehme naha, särava jume, gasellijalgade ja täiusliku rinnapartiiga kinnitab, et on suutnud säilitada oma ilu vaid tänu enesedistsipliinile ja tervislikele eluviisidele. Skeptikud võivad mõelda, mida tahavad...
Boliivlasest isa ja šotlannast ema tütar Raquel Maria Tejada unistas lapsepõlves baleriinikutsest, kuid tema tantsupedagoogi sõnul oli plika juba siis rohkem huvitatud enda näitamisest kui tantsimisest. Neiuks sirgununa jagus tal küllaga võimalusi end arvukatel iludusvõistlustel demonstreerida ning sealt tema karjäär alguse saigi. Neil aastail oli Raquel abielus oma noorusarmastuse James Welchiga, kuid seda perioodi meenutab staar kibestumisega, tõdedes, et pelgast seksuaalsest külgetõmbest ei piisa püsivaks kooseluks. Pärast lühiajalist fotomodelli- ja teletööd sõitis Raquel Hollywoodi. Reklaamiagent Patrick Curtis kohtus filmilinna saabunud kahe lapse emaga baaris, kus too ettekandjana töötas. Vormiliselt sai neist abielupaar, tegelikult aga perefirma, mille direktoriks oli Patrick, turustusobjektiks Raquel, esimeseks investeeringuks aga pikk valge kleit nabani ulatuva dekolteega. Väljakutse võeti vastu, kuigi alguses sugugi mitte nii, nagu see oli mõeldud - luksusprostituudikarjäär naist ei huvitanud. Peagi õnnestus Patrickul siiski üks filmi kõrvalosa välja peilida ning edaspidi naist teistessegi "turustada". Murranguliseks sai kuninganna Luana roll filmis "Miljon aastat enne Kristust", mis omal ajal meiegi kinodes menukalt linastus. Võtetel käitus Raquel üpriski väljakutsuvalt ja imid˛ivastaselt. Ta olevat tahtnud näidelda ning tihtipeale pakkunud välja oma lahenduse ühe või teise stseeni tarbeks. Lavastaja olla seepeale käratanud: "Misasja!? Sina jookse vaid selle kivi juurest tolle otsa ja pea suu!" Algaja sekspomm kuuletus, kargas kivilt kivile, kehakatteks vaid imetillukesed nahast bikiinid, ning enne kui ta õieti arugi sai, oli temast täht saanud. Peale seda kiviajafilmi jätkas Curtis "pakendi" viimistlemist, mille tulemusena Raqueli turuväärtus kasvas. Peagi sai tast üks Hollywoodi kõrgemini tasustatud naistähti. Tõsi, filmid, milles Welch osales, kuulusid aga mõttetutesse B-klassi oopustesse. Miks ta siis need rollid üldse vastu võttis? Talpolnud valikuvõimalust. Ta oli noor ema, kes pidi oma lapsi katma ja toitma. "Ma teadsin, mida minult oodatakse, aga ma proovisin esitada seda nii intelligentselt kui võimalik. Ikka ja jälle kinnitatakse, et ilu on needus, aga keegi ei kirjuta sellest, milline võluvõti ta tegelikult on. Ma ei ole sugugi nii väga rinnakas, minu kitsad puusad ja laiad õlad lihtsalt teevad mind selliseks. Aga kui keegi väidab, et ma olen ihaldusväärne, siis pange mu kõrvale Sophia Loren ning ma näin täiesti tavaline."
1971. aastal läksid Raquel ja Patrick lahku. "Ma ei suutnud ühendada koduproua, näitlejatari, seksisümboli ja ema rolle," selgitas naine tollal.
Pärast seda on Raquel Welchil olnud mitmeid lühemaid või pikemaid armusuhteid, nende seas abielu prantsuse päritolu kirjaniku, fotograafi ja produtsendi Andre Weinfeldiga, kes (eriti Raqueli kõrval!) tundus erakordselt inetu mehena.
Pärast 1976. aastal valminud "Mother, Jugs and Speed'i" pole Raquel Welch praktiliselt kinolinale ilmunud. Mõneminutilist episoodi 1994. aastal ekraanidele jõudnud Leslie Nielseni idiootlikus komöödias "Naked Gun 33 1/3", kus teda isegi tiitrites ära polnud märgitud, ei saa ju arvesse võtta.
1980. aastal vallandas Metro Goldwyn Mayer näitlejatari ilmist "Cannery Row", mispeale Welch stuudiobossid kohtusse kaebas. Viis ja pool aastat väldanud protsessi järel sai Raquel valurahaks algselt küsitud 25 miljoni asemel 10 miljonit dollarit. Ent seegi oli ilmne võit. Võidurõõmu lisas seegi, et film, milles tema rolli mängis Debra Winger, kukkus läbi. "Naisel on filmiäris kahtlemata keerulisem oma tahet maksma panna kui mehel. Mis Clint Eastwoodil viga! Vahest peaksin ka mina kauboikaabu pähe tõmbama, 44se "Magnumi" pihku haarama ning mõned pead otsast kõmmutama."
Filmitäht möönab, et õnnetuseks pole kinokunstil, mis naiste vastu alati karm olnud, temaealistele sekspommidele suurt midagi pakkuda. Raquel on kinkinud oma skulptuurse ilu ja ande nüüd televisioonile ja teatrile, mis on tema üks suuremaid kirgi.
Kümne aasta eest esines Raquel Welch Broadwayl musta huumoriga vürtsitatud muusikalis "Victor Victoria", söandades mängida rolli, mida enne teda olid hiilgavalt teinud Julie Andrews (nii Blake Edwardsi samanimelises filmis kui lavavariandi algkoosseisus) ja Liza Minnelli. Raquel Welch teab, et iga kord, kui ta riskib, tasub see ennast ära - olgu siis tööalases või isiklikus elus. Teda ei huvita kunagise kuulsuse ära kasutamine, vaid uued väljakutsed.
Füüsiline vormisolek, fotogeeniliseks jäämine on näitlejale väga oluline, samuti on talle tähtis siirus. Vaatamata sellele, et Raquel Welchi on sageli nimetatud maailma kauneimaks naiseks, tunnistab ta, et pole mitte alati ilus ja seksikas: "Mõnel päeval ma lausa vihkan ennast ja püüan mitte peeglisse vaadata. Kuid ma väldin minnalaskmist, sest see tekitab minus õudust."
Raqueli noorusliku välimuse saladus on jooga, samuti oma keha vooruste ja puuduste tundmine. Iga päev teeb ta poolteist tundi harjutusi, isegi reisil olles. Tubakast ja alkoholist hoidumine ning looduslikest produktidest valmistatud toit on Raquelile absoluutseks reegliks. Dieediprobleemid huvitavad teda väga, samuti make-up ja sportimine. Näitlejatar sooviks asutada luksusliku hotell-klubi kaunis maakohas, kus naistele õpetataks nooruslikkuse säilitamist.
"Teismelisena otsustasin kaunina vananeda. Lubasin enesele, et viiekümnesena ei näe ma välja päevagi vanem kui kolmekümmend viis." Raqueli arvates on selline asi jõukohane igaühele, tuleb ainult järgida teatud elustiili. Näiteks, kui võtted algavad kell kaheksa hommikul, tuleb tõusta paar tundi varem, et võimelda, õhtuti aga võtta ürdivanne.
Plastilise kirurgia abi kasutamist Welch eitab kategooriliselt. Raquel ütleb, et pole kunagi lasknud oma nägu ümber teha, ehkki ta elus on ette tulnud ka ränki katsumusi. Eriti raske oli 1988. aasta, mil tal opereeriti emakakasvaja ja tema kolmas abikaasa ("inetu mees") Andre Weinfeld nõudis lahutust. Kolm kuud oli Raquel enda sõnutsi peaaegu surnud, ta arvas, et ei toibu iialgi. Kuid sisemise jõu varal tal see siiski õnnestus.
17. juulil 1998. aastal oma Beverly Hillsi kodus purjetas Raquel Welch juba neljandat korda abielusadamasse. Tema väljavalituks oli temast 13 aastat noorem restoraniomanik Richard "pitsamees" Palmer, kellega oli kohtunud ühel peoõhtul ja armastus oli süttinud esimesel silmapilgul. Tähtsat sündmust austas oma kohalviibimisega enam kui 140 sugulast ja lähedast sõpra, nende seas näitlejatar Dyan Cannon ja koomik Jon Lovitz. Päeva absoluutseks täheks oli muidugi mõista valges pruutkleidis inglina hõljuv Raquel.
"Tahtsin, et Richard ei unustaks iial seda hetke, mil ta mind meie pulmapäeval esmakordselt nägi. Soovisin, et see nägemus seisaks igavesti tema silme ees," kommenteeris õnnelik pruut, kes oma välimuse eest hoolitsedes polnud midagi juhuse hooleks jätnud.
"Seksisümboliks võib olla vaid 35-eluaastani, pärast ei saa seda ometi tõsiselt võtta. Seda enam, et seksisümbolid lõpetavad kehvasti," ironiseerib Welch, kes söandas isegi iseennast parodeerida filmis "Tortilla Soup" (2001). Raqueli kaasa Richard aga on veendunud, et vähemalt tema jaoks jääb Raquel alati seksisümboliks
Copyright © 2005 Ivar Kümnik

Tobias Moretti

2009-12-06T08:40:00.001-08:00

FACT FILE
Nimi: Tobias Loeb Moretti
Sündinud: 11.juuli 1959
Sünnikoht: Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
Pikkus: 185 cm
Elukutse: näitleja, muusik, režissöör
Lemmikloom: saksa lambakoer Pico
Keeled: saksa, itaalia, inglise
Perekonnaseis: abielus Julia Wilhemiga (alates 31.augustist 1997), tütar Antonia, poeg Lenz
Vennad: Tomas, Cristoph ja Gregor - kõik temast nooremad
Hobid: kiirus, meeldib kihutada mootorrattal
Pahe: suitsetab liiga palju!
Pisifaktid: enne näitlejakarjääri töötas mõnda aega veoautojuhina. On diplomeeritud farmer. Tema vend Gregor Bloéb on samuti näitleja ning mänginud mitmekülgseid rolle Salzburgi teatrifestivalil
Autogrammiaadress: Tobias Moretti c/o Kirch Gruppe Robert Bürkle-Straße 285737 Ismaning Germany
Näitlejale võib saata ka e-kirju: tobias@moretti.at

Kui Tobiase käest peaks keegi küsima, kas ta vahel igatseb taga "Rexi"-aegu, vastab ta pikemalt mõtlemata: "Nein, bitte! Neli aastat õlg õla kõrval koeraga, olgu too pealegi nii tark kui Rex, on minu meelest siiski rohkem kui küllalt. Tahtsin ka ise vahel mängida, ausõna! Mul ei ole midagi koerte vastu, kuid olla ekraanil ainult nende viiendaks käpaks, on vägagi tüütav. Pealegi on töö seriaalides niigi kurnav. Oli päevi, kui kogu minu päevamenüü koosnes vaid õunast ja kahest pakist sigarettidest. Ja kui ma kurameerisin veel oma tulevase naisega ja öösel talle sõna otseses mõttes roidunult peale kukkusin, pühkis ta pärast minu visiiti terve päeva mööblilt koerakarvu. Kuidas ta pärast kõike seda nõustus veel minuga abielluma, on mulle jäänudki arusaamatuks..."
Kolmanda hooaja lõpuks hakkasid mees ja koer teineteist vaikselt vihkama, kusjuures pealtnäha paistis kõik nii, nagu oleksid nad suured südamesõbrad. Reginald tormas sageli Tobiast "suudlema" ja "embama", kattes vaese näitleja näo ja riided sülje ja karvakorraga - nagu nimme teades, et mees neid õrnusi ja hellitusi silmaotsaski ei salli! Moretti ei suutnud kuidagi vabaneda läbitungivast koerahaisust, mis oli otsekui tema nahasse süüvinud...
Lõpuks andis näitleja alla ning lahkus sarjast. Aga koer jäi, et jätkata sõprust uue paarimehe - Gedeon Burkhardiga, kellega tutvus juba mõni aeg varem, kui mees külalisstaarina ühes episoodis "amokijooksjast" kurikaela mängis. Uute staar-partnerite suhted olid tõeliselt sõbralikud, ilma igasuguse pettuseta. Paraku andis vanus end juba tunda ning koer vahetati peagi noorema liigikaaslase vastu.
Niisiis, neli aastat ja 54 seerias jahtis Tobias Moretti inspektor Richard Moserina Viini tänavail kurjategijaid, kaaslaseks truu politseikoer Rex. Siis aga otsustas ta menusarjast lahkuda, et ühe koha peale mitte liiga kauaks peatuma jääda. Uus soodne leping veel viieks aastaks ei köitnud näitlejat enam.
"Olin juba hulk aega varem otsustanud, et osalen sarjas vaid kaks hooaega. Nõustusin veel tegema kolmandagi ja lõpuks kahetunnise finaali. Mulle oli tähtis, et minu lahkumine sarjast kulgeks sujuvalt, ehkki pressis kahtlustati minu lahkumisplaanide taga olevat üksnes reklaamitriki või suurema honorari küsimist."
Kui "Rexi" vändati, sattus ohtu Tobiase suhe oma naise, oboemängija Julia Wilhemiga. Isegi ühiselt veedetud puhkusel ei jäänud aega romantikaks, kuna mees pidi tegelema stsenaariumite lugemise ja tähtsate tööalaste kokkusaamistega. Õnneks oli abielupaaril suhe rajatud kindlale alusele.
Kõik testid, mida tehti rasedale Juliale, näitasid, et sünnib poiss, abikaasadel oli isegi kõlav nimi - Lenz (lühend itaaliapärasest nimest Lorenzo) - valmis vaadatud. Ja ennäe saatuse vingerpussi: ilmale tuli hoopis tüdruk, kes sai nimeks Antonia. Lenzi-nime sai aga Morettide peres 2000. aasta veebruaris ilmavalgust näinud poeglaps. Tänu ülipopulaarsest sarjast saadud honoraridele oli Morettil pulmade järel võimalus teostada oma ammune unistus maakohast ja farmist Tirolis.
Perekond on Tobias Moretti elus alati kõige alus olnud. Kuhutahes teda filmivõtted ka ei vii, niipea, kui tal õnnestub välja kaubelda mõni vaba päev - või isegi tund - ruttab näitleja koju.
Karismaatiline Tobias Moretti sündis 7. juulil 1959. aastal Austrias, Innsbruckis. Ta on pere neljast poisist vanim, noorim vend Gregor on samuti näitleja. Tobias ilmutas juba varakult oma mitmekülgseid andeid - ta oskab mängida klaverit, orelit, klarnetit, löökpille, ja innuka sportlasena armastab ta mägedes turnida, suusatada, autode ja motikatega kihutada jne. - mees on õppinud kompositsiooni Viini muusikaakadeemias ja näitlemist Falckenbergi draamakoolis Münchenis, kus ta peaaegu et koolipingist prestiižikate teatrite Kammerspiele ja Residenz näitlejakollektiivi haarati. Viimases tegi ta koostööd muuseas legendaarsete Rainer Werner Fassbinderi ja Ingmar Bergmaniga. Teatrilavadel töötab Moretti meelsasti veel tänapäevalgi. Tunamullu lavastas Moretti teatris Mozarti ooperi "Don Giovanni".
Paljudes austria, saksa ja itaalia teleprojektides kaasa löönud Moretti tegi "Rexi"-sarja kõrval suure ekraani debüüdi saksa ühe viimase kümnendi ühes menukamas komöödias "Workaholic" (1996), peale mida on ta mänginud keskseid rolle itaallase Giovanni Soldati minisarjas "Mia, alatiseks minu" (1996), Heide Pilsi draamas "Süda jälle noor" (1997) ning Cinzia Torrini psühholoogilises thrilleris "Ombre" (1998). Tobiase maine on kandunud Hollywoodigi, kus talle on pakutud rolle Isabella Rossellini ja Stingi partnerina. Hiljaaegu mängis ta Richard Harrise ja Christopher Walkeni kõrval Inglise-Ameerika telefilmis "Julius Caesar" Cassiust ning kehastas Adolf Hitlerit Heinrich Breloeri kolmeosalises dokudraamas "Speer und er". Käesoleval aastal valmis kinofilm "Io, Don Giovanni", milles ta taaskord maailmakuulsat persooni kehastas, seekord Mozartit.
Moretti naudib võimalust proovida võimeid erisugustes ja nõudlikes rollides. Mis saabki näitleja jaoks olla põnevam, kui süüvida tegelaskuju sisemusse ja äratada ta ellu. "Naudin elu. Näitleja elukutse maagilisus seisnebki selles, et saame alati viskuda uude aega ja uude kohta. Näitlemine on kui ajamasinaga reisimine!"
Mis puutub koertesse, siis on Tobiasel koduski lambakoer, Pico, kellega "Rexi" võtteperioodil oli mehel üsna kriitiline läbisaamine. See normaliseerus, kui näitleja võttis sarjast lõpparve ega tulnud enam võõra koera lõhnaga koju. Näitlejal on veel üks kirg: toiduvalmistamine! Oma firmaroana pakub ta külalistele kodu-pitsat. Räägitakse, et ta ei lase oma naist köögi lähedalegi - kõiki roogi tahab ta ainult ise teha!
Copyright © 2005-2006 Ivar Kümnik