Posts Tagged ‘Newsicons’

As you’ve likely heard by now, Bernie Schwartz, better known as Tony Curtis, died today at the age of 85. Normally, a celebrity death, while tragic, wouldn’t mean much to me. But upon hearing the news of Curtis’ passing, I choked up a little, because I had the honor of getting to know the actor and artist in his later years.

I first encountered the Hollywood icon at his 80th birthday part, held in a few ballrooms at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There, I also met his lovely (and much, much younger) wife, Jill, who runs a wild horse refuge. It was the first time I’d seen his art — a collection of paintings and assemblage boxes — and I was blown away by the depth and complexity of his creations.

I had started writing for a new, Los Angeles-based magazine called Art+Living around that time, and by chance, the publisher assigned me a profile of Curtis, who I then got to know over a series of interviews, both by phone and in person at his house. After that, I’d see Curtis around occasionally at VIP events, even after he was wheelchair bound due to illness. I haven’t spoken to him in years, but I still have a place in my heart for the tough, yet warm and generous man who opened up his life and home to me, baring more than a few parts of his soul to a relative stranger.

My original profile was a 4,000-word epic. The publisher only wanted about 1,600. It seemed impossible (and unfair) to condense the life of such a man into so little words. I turned in something at about 2,500 words and let the editor do the rest. Unfortunately, what was published wasn’t only heavily edited, but some parts were completely rewritten, not because what I wrote wasn’t solid (to this day, this is one of the few things I’ve written of which I’m truly proud), but because there were outside forces wanting this to be more of a fluff piece.

So, in honor of Mr. Curtis on the day of his passing, I’m presenting the pre-edited, 2,300-word profile in its entirety for the first time ever. It’s after “the jump” for brevity’s sake. Hope you enjoy.

(more…)

Find a service project in your area now.

‘Twas sad news all around for Hollywood today as two actors moved on to the big casting room in the sky: Patrick McGoohan, who portrayed Number Six on 1960s sci-fi TV show The Prisoner, and Ricardo Montalban, best remembered as Mr. Roarke from ’70s/’80s TV hit Fantasy Island — but those of the geekier persuasion most likely love Montalban from his role as the vengeful title character from Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. I sure do.