Me And The Stars

One of the benefits of being a struggling actor is the ability to observe without being observed in return. You are a face in the crowd, one of thousands. You can spot peculiar behavior, and, you can see unexpected human kindness. I was one of many actors trying to make their mark way back when. I may not have rang the bell of stardom, but, I was around people who gonged... Many of you know in my twenties I made the push to succeed as an actor. I did all the actor's rituals. I took the classes. I went on the cattle-call auditions with three thousand of my closest friends. I was also an ''extra'' in shows filmed in the Chicago area. This time, the late 80's and early 90's, was a booming time to go for the gold. There was a lot of work being done. That is the secret of any struggling actor: stay busy. That elusive role will not come to you like in the movies. You have to pound the pavement like any profession. I made the rounds with casting agents. I was rejected many a time [ having thick skin is vital when doing performing ], knowing full well that I could sink my teeth into the role better than the cousin of the producer who would be hired. And, even though it was thought of as down on the food chain you had to become a ''background person'', or, ''extra''.... It went along with being seen by people in the industry. Being an ''extra'' was basically doing the grunt work. You are there very early in the morning, many times to be fitted for whatever costume you may be wearing. Then you would wait. And, wait. And, wait. The food was good, so, right away, I would find myself being drawn to the craft's service table. Unlike many of my fellow actors I never looked down on what I was doing. The pay wasn't bad, back then. Sure, you were there in the background where no one will notice you-- they are looking at the principal actors. But, there is the glamour of being around the magic of creating something that, hopefully, will be seen for many years to come. Also, in the back of the minds of all extras, there is the faint hope that lightening will strike and you will get that nod towards your destiny. That never happened to me, but, I got to rub shoulders with the stars.... My first gig as an extra was that landmark cinematic masterpiece, ''Mario and the Mob'', starring the legends known as Robert Conrad and Ann Jillian. Yes, I started at the top, folks!!! Do not bother to look up this dreck because after I saw it I felt unclean myself. But, this was my first job in movies-- around 1991-- and, I got to see how the process is done. And, it is just as slow and tedious as you have always heard. I worked one day on this flick, and, my scene consisted of sitting in an outdoor restaurant with about a dozen people around me filling space. Robert Conrad walked with another man past the tables and, then, hold on to your hats!!!, a car sped up to the curve, gangsters jumped out, and, fired with their machine guns, at all of us and Mr. Conrad. Thankfully, Robert Conrad was saved, as were we extras. Actually, you might try to find the scene because it has the rare distinction of seeing me RUN!!! After all, the mob was hunting me.... I believe my next ''role'' was in the movie, ''The Babe'' starring John Goodman as the Ole' Bambino himself, Babe Ruth. This was shot in the very hot summer of 1991 at Wrigley Field. For two smoldering weeks I sat in the hot bleachers and stands at 1060 W. Addison. And, I loved it!!! Being a life-long Cub fan who was being paid to sit at Wrigley!!! Plus, since the story took place in the 20's and 30's I had a old-fashioned suit to wear. I love those old suits-- back when they made real suits for real men. I confess that I looked like a dandy all decked up. And, it was a ball sitting and bullshitting with all the people. Doing those things together creates a bonding, and good- natured humor. When John Goodman appeared, he seemed a little arrogant and stand-offish. That is ok, since, I do not believe you bother someone who is working. He has a job to do and so did I. The finished product was a disappointment, but, you do see me at one point, clear as the morning sun. It is not at Wrigley, but, in another scene at a formal dinner. The camera pulls down from the ceiling and settles at two men in the buffet line. Yep, I am around food again. I am wearing a text, too. The words used to describe me in my monkey suit were '' stunning and striking''. I was the only person to utter those words.... Less than a month later I was back at Wrigley Field to play a groundskeeper in ''A League Of Their Own'', with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna. This was star power!!! Madonna was fresh off her book , ''Sex'', and, Geena Davis was riding high on ''Thelma and Louise''. Geena was friendly, as was the director, Penny Marshall-- although she and I didn't drink Milk and Pepsi--. Penny asked me to be a stand-in for Jon Lovitz, who was also in the movie. Since he and I share no resemblance I thought it was an odd request, but, I said yes. That job just requires you standing there while they light the scene and set the camera angles. Penny spent most of the time complaining about the cramps in her stomach. I didn't ask if Lenny and Squiggy were responsible. Madoona was closely guarded. She had some bad- assed dudes watching her every step, and, if you even looked in her direction the bodyguards would swoop in. [ The tough bodyguard might have been Rosie O'Donnell, come to think of it] I was eating lunch one day in the Cubs dugout when I saw Geena and Madonna have an argument. I do not remember what it was about, but, you could tell that they did not like each other. Tom Hanks seemed to distance himself from all that was going on around him. He played ball with his son on the field between shots. He was friendly with me. He came across as a nice guy. And, like me , he seemed thrilled to be standing on Wrigley Field. I made sure that I stood in every position spot on the field. I remember standing on third base, where Ron Santo had ruled for so many years, and, looking around. I felt the ghosts of player's past consume me. It was a a moment in my life I will never forget.... You don't really see my face in the movie, but, you see my torso. They cut out my head in the shot. I will say this: my body really looked like a temple back then..... There were other extra roles. I got thrown off the set of ''Home Alone 2'' because the director heard me tell other people how much the first movie sucked. I met Joe Pesci on the set of ''The Public Eye'' and he seemed very shy and nice. I took a picture with Dustin Hoffman on ''Hero'' and conversed with him[ he would be my vote as the best celebrity I dealt with]. I saw Jack Nicholson, ah, ''altered'' after a Bulls playoff game on the set of ''Hoffa'' [ he would be my vote as the best actor I saw perform. Jack was flawless]. I shook hands with Keanu Reeves, which made many a female want to lick my hand. I went into the bowels of Daley Plaza to film a scene with an obviously out of it Tom Sizemore in ''The Relic''. I was outside of Chicago Stadium at midnight on a Friday night watching Oprah shoot a scene for ''There Are No Children Here''. Thankfully, there were no gang memebers there, either. And, then, there was ''The Fugitive''.... This is my legacy role. The scene consisted of me and a few others crossing the street towards the camera, while Harrison Ford was walking the other way. He is going to see the guy in prison who he thought was the one-armed man. It is right before the St. Patrick's Day parade chase. Yes, you can see me clear as a bell. I am on the left, wearing a rain coat, with a suit on underneath. I have a full head of dark hair and I am thin. This was 1993, remember. I put out my hand to stop traffic. It is a simple moment, but, it is dear to me. The director, Andrew Davis, was very kind to us all. Harrison Ford was quiet, but, pleasant. If I had to pick a high point to my few years being an extra it would be this. Not just because you see me--- some friends continue to insist that it was someone else because my face looks different--- but, because, for a few moments, I felt like a true actor. I had been on stage many times, but, this one time has stayed with me..... I gave myself until I was thirty for something to click for me in acting. It did not, so, I walked away. My agent and some other friends tried to talk me out of it, but, I gave it my shot, which is what I wanted to do. I did not want to spend the rest of my life wondering what might have been. I tried and, in my mind, I succeeded in my intentions. I would not trade those days for anything. I have my memories and good stories.... And, whenever ''The Fugitive'' is playing on TV, which is often, I know, for some magical reason I always come across ''my scene''.... My scene. Sorry, Harrison....