Born On This Day- October 16th... My BFF- Angela Lansbury

Seattle, 1984... the producer/writer & the director of a new TV show had contacted me through the theatre where I was appearing in the biggest, hottest show in town. The show had been selling out nightly for 6 months (& would run another 8 months). The pair had left a message that they loved my work in the play & thought that I had a real future doing comedy in TV & film. What a lovely & unexpected thing to hear. They wanted to offer me a role in a new TV show. This was unheard of… Hollywood types just plucking me from regional theatre & giving me a job, with no audition, a job that would get me my SAG card. They said the show was called- Murder She Wrote & it was starring Angela Lansbury!

I was thrilled as I made my way on foot to the location of the shoot, studying my sides one more time as I went. When I arrived at a condo building in the Belltown neighborhood, signs pointed me to a large room filled with about 20 handsome, buff guys all carrying suit bags. I knew a lot of these young men from my gym. They were the sorts who, if they looked at me at all, would give me a snort & a look of distain. You know... professionally gay. I kept thinking- “Damn! I am so stupid. You are supposed to bring your own wardrobe. How was I supposed to know that?!? Now all the gym hunks are thinking I am real nerd, for sure.” A female PA with a clipboard started calling off names & the muscle boys would each answer with a raised hand. When all the names were called & everyone was accounted for, the PA asked if anyone’s name had been left out. I sheepishly raised my hand & she asked my name. I gave her my name, all the while thinking- “I knew this was too good to be true. I am not gonna get my SAG card &I don’t shoot a TV series with Angela Lansbury. It is some cruel joke!” The PA said- “Oh, Stephen… you have your own trailer. It is around the corner & right next door to Peter Graves’ trailer. & then you need to report to wardrobe & makeup”. Well, the muscle gym boys' heads snapped as they gawk at me when a handsome male PA personally escorted me to my trailer. I walked deliberately & with my head held high as I passed each single gym bunny with their suit bags for their own wardrobe.

I spent my first day on a film set, sitting between takes, under a big umbrella on the roof of a Seattle tower with my new friend- Angela Lansbury. I reminded her that we had met once before, in the parking garage at the Schubert Theatre in LA, after a matinee of Gypsy that she was starring in. I was shocked that she was driving her own car & not taking a limo & that she was going home between shows. I stopped & told her how much I had loved the show & that she was the best Mama Rose ever. She asked about me & we had a nice 3 minute conversation. Ms. Lansbury said that she did not recall that incident & I then chided her for not remembering. She loved it & laughed. We talked about gardening & her childhood in England & the theatre scene in Seattle. What a terrific day.

Today Angela Lansury turns an astonishing 85. She continues to work after 7 decades in show biz. She appeared in A Little Night Music on Broadway this season & Madame Arcati in the 2009 Broadway revival of the play Blithe Spirit. I am sure she stays busy polishing her 5 Tony Awards, 6 Golden Globes & 11 Emmys.