Now and Forever
“I did good interview. Please don’t bury me on golf course!”
– Joy Behar imagines what Melania Trump would say to Donald! It’s even better
when you see her do it in the video – which, of course, is on our website.
Last week’s column ran REALLY long. This week is even longer. So no personal anecdote. Nothing from my colorful life. No stories about partying with one of the hottest men in Hollywood at a mutual friend’s 60th birthday last week. No telling you how many times he said, “Feel my thigh. It’s like a rock!” No, I don’t have time. Stop asking. I can’t even tell you how triggered I felt seeing a shirtless photo of Anson Williams. Yes, he looks good for 75. But I don’t want to feel anything on him – even if it feels like a rock! Don’t waste the pill on me, Potsie.
Apropos of our opening quote, let’s talk about celebrity deaths. When I moved to LA a quarter of a century ago, one of the first people who befriended me was Zsa Zsa Gabor. That is not germane to this story since she’s been dead for a while. But I’m always happy to bring up Zsa Zsa. One of the other people was Ken Page – most renowned for being the first Old Deuteronomy in Cats, a role Zsa Zsa somehow never played. One of my favorite Page stories was when he appeared with Jenifer Lewis in Ain’t Misbehavin’ – in Amish Country. He affectionately referred to that production as Amish Behavin’. I believe it was lit with kerosene! Ken was a hoot, didn’t take himself too seriously, and always put a smile on your face. He died at the relatively young age of 70.
If Ken was young, Gavin Creel was a toddler. The passing at 48 of a person often referred to as “Broadway’s Prince” was shocking to me. It was also shocking to Gavin, who only learned he had a relatively rare form of cancer in July. During his truncated career, he won a Tony, Grammy, Olivier, and a Drama Desk Award. His Tony came for Hello, Dolly! opposite Bette Midler. A tireless activist and co-founder of Broadway Impact, his family has requested that any gifts in his memory be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
As you probably know, when stage actors die, Broadway theaters often dim their lights – as they did recently for James Earl Jones. While no announcement has been made regarding this honor for Ken Page or Dame Maggie Smith, there will be an acknowledgement for Gavin…kinda. After three Tony nominations, one win, and eight Broadway shows over the past twenty years, it was announced that “select Broadway theaters will dim their lights for the late Gavin Creel”. What the fuck is that “select Broadway theaters” bullshit?
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