I wanted to comment here about what it feels like from the other side of fame. As many here know, I have a son who is an actor. He's been at this quite a while and is doing very well. It is only recently that he is being recognized wherever he goes from his success on showtime's, "Billions." There is something about a recurring role on a TV show that is different from film or theater. When people see you from week to week, they think you are the character that they see. Steve's character is rather obnoxious and humorous too. People love to hate him! We were in the airport a few weeks ago, and someone came over to him for a selfie. It's happening a lot these days. People have been very kind so far. But my son is NOT that character....anything but!! He is sensitive, humble and intelligent. He is kind to those who approach him. He has taught his 10-year-old daughter how to handle this.
A few weeks ago, he and Damian Lewis were walking around Brooklyn, and they had a whole line of people following them. Shop owners actually shut their doors after they entered to allow them to shop.
I can only imagine what Tony and Genie went through during the height of LnL. So far, this has all been fun and a measure of success. I'm so proud of my son and the way he is handling this.
I think that a person should choose another profession if they really want anonymity and a private life. Otherwise, an actor needs to realize that success breeds familiarity. You are going to get attention if you are doing well.
I hope that Tony finally has the chance to live quietly as he seems to want. Lord knows, he deserves it.
Good to see you posting Ginger. Hope you’ve been
well!
About to post a podcast with Jackie where she talks
a lot about how close she was with Tony from the
beginning.
Happy belated birthday to Tony. I hope that he is enjoying life wherever he is and whatever he is doing.
Laura, we really did have an amazing connection with him, didn't we? I so appreciate all his work but most particularly the work he did with Genie. I still watch Youtube videos of them, and I must say that it is still as brilliant as it was when they originally created it. FE things stand up over time as well as LnL. Aside from the stellar acting, it was the writing too that made those characters so real.
You mentioned how different Tony was from Luke. That's definitely true. Over the years he poured his playful humor into that character. He made it an unpredictable adventure to watch that show. Those ad libs and his creative ear for writing Luke made him such a special character. Genie's contribution to the pairing was underrated at the time. It was the combination of the two of them together that made them iconic.
It's such a delicate balance to create a character that takes on a life of its own. An actor tries to make it real, but then the audience thinks that's who he is. I can understand why he tried to avoid the attention and fame that intruded on his personal life and ability to do other things.
So, thanks Tony for the sacrifices that were made to create your masterpiece. We'll enjoy the memories for many years!
For Tony, my birthday wish is that he is finding as much joy living life exactly how he wants it as he gave all of us for so many years. My second wish is that he’ll continue to amaze new generations as much as he has all of us.
I am so grateful I got to meet him! And so grateful that Ginger told me in advance I wouldn’t be meeting Luke Spencer—becauseTony is Luke toned down about 100 notches. He focused on me when I met him; he was soft-spoken, a gentleman. In the frenzy that was going on at the Broadway Cares event, it seemed like Tony and I had our private moment. I will always treasure that. At the end of our conversation, I told him that I credited all of Luke’s clever lines to him—-and that’s when I saw the “Luke twinkle” in his eye! He said very humbly, “They do give me certain freedoms.” I just smiled, said my good-byes and he leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. That is a sweet gesture I will always hold dear to my heart. My biggest takeaway from that first meeting was how easy it was to get lost in his very intense blue eyes. (The camera rarely did them justice.) I wondered how Genie ever remembered her lines looking directly into THOSE blue eyes! But, we know how sensational Genie is, which just gives me even more love and respect for the two of them together!
Happy Birthday and best wishes for many more, Tony!!
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