Category Archives: Actors

“Boredom is very important in life. It helps you feel when something is wrong.” — John Strasberg

It’s John Strasberg’s birthday today. I told this story before on here years ago, when I used to write like this on here, on occasion. Figured I’d re-post it. He is very very important to me. Back in the late … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Directors, On This Day, Personal, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

“It’s an absolute miracle that I’m still around.” — Dennis Hopper

It’s his birthday today. I’m so glad I used one of my columns at Film Comment -now on hiatus – to sing the praises of Dennis Hopper’s wild and nihilistic Out of the Blue, starring Linda Manz and Hopper. Of … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Art/Photography, Directors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

For Joseph Cotten’s birthday: Gaslight: His Listening Is Active

Except for a couple of brief encounters in public settings, Joseph Cotten’s Brian Cameron and Ingrid Bergman’s Paula Asquist never meet until the final scene of Gaslight. Cameron is obsessed with the unsolved murder of Paula Asquist’s aunt, and is … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged | 12 Comments

“I don’t care how afraid I may be inside — I do what I think I should.” — Katharine Hepburn

Barbara Walters: “Kate, you always wear pants. Do you even own a skirt?” Katharine Hepburn: “I have one, Miss Walters. I’ll wear it to your funeral.” Dan and I discussed her, in my interview with him about his new book. … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

“If you are going to do good work, you have to risk failing badly.” — Natasha Richardson

It’s Natasha Richardson’s birthday. I have seen a couple of live performances I will never forget, performances where I think as they are happening: I am so lucky to have witnessed this.. It’s rare. Natasha Richardson, in Cabaret, gave one … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, On This Day, Theatre | Tagged , | 9 Comments

“You can’t study comedy; it’s within you. It’s a personality. My humor is an attitude.” — Don Rickles

It’s his birthday today. When Don Rickles died, John Stamos and Bob Saget couldn’t stop talking about him. Rickles, famously cantankerous, had loved both of them like sons. The stories they told about Rickles, on the late-night talk-show circuit were … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, On This Day | 7 Comments

“You are not acting so much as being. The result is realism.” — Gary Cooper

It’s his birthday today. Cary Grant had a funny theory about Hollywood and how stardom was being like a crowded streetcar. Peter Bogdonavich asked Cary Grant to elaborate. Grant said: Becoming a movie star is something like getting on a … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | 14 Comments

“I started at the top and worked my way down.” — Orson Welles

It’s his birthday today. When Orson Welles was just a teenager, he traveled to Ireland. And although it seems improbable (perhaps not, because this is Orson Welles we’re talking about), he decided to audition for the newly-formed Gate Theatre, and … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Directors, Movies, On This Day, Theatre | Tagged , | 18 Comments

“I’ve always had everything I wanted, and I never wanted a great deal. ” — Aline MacMahon

“I pass emotions through a filter not generally used by actresses. I find the ground to meet my characters and am able to move from one feel to another. It is real stuff — no tricks, simply expressed.” — Aline … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day, Theatre | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“I was never totally involved in movies. I was making someone else’s dream come true. Not mine.” — Mary Astor

“The reminder that there are people who have worse troubles than you is not an effective pain-killer.” — Mary Astor It’s her birthday today. Her memoir is great, by the way. Her story was told – by everyone else – … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , | 7 Comments