This one really made me sad. In one way, I so happy he was able to (mostly) live the life that he wanted to and did,,,He made it through the crazy 80's 90's AIDS/HIV; Thank the Gods...
Our hair man has lovely stories about working with John Waters, Divine,when they were shooting "Polyester". John still has a large photo of him in his shop!
Just heard a "Fresh Air" rebroadcast and want to go listen to that and also re-watch the doc; that's on DVD too. I'm just glad for him; he was one of the good guys, a life maybe not totally open but well lived. He worked and did regional and was able to do it mostly on his terms; one of his anecdotes on the NPR thing was that Jack Warner started Warners Bros records b/c of him.. I can just imagine his stories...
Truth be told I was a little irked that no one acknowledged this thread on the great Tab Hunter's passing. He was a legend and so loved as can be seen by the many celebrities who paid tribute to him here. He was a damn fine actor and an even more genuine human being. He deserved all the love and admiration he received from his fans and his peers.
“I don't care whether people like me or dislike me. I'm not on earth to win a popularity contest. I'm here to be the best human being I possibly can be.” - Tab Hunter
Tab made two films with my idol, Natalie Wood: "The Girl He Left Behind" and "The Burning Hills" - they were very dear friends and made such a charming and beautiful screen couple:
ICYMI, this morning on CBS Sunday Morning, they did do a very brief, and "tasteful" obit. (I like Jane Pauley and it's not her fault, but that show has become such a plebeian, sound bite driven dot da dot da dot...) However, I still think that Tab Hunter lived a life of the good with the not-so-good, but he always seemed happy. (and working steadily too!)
I look through these old photos online (and in bios and tell-alls) , they truly were the original Boys In The Band. Jeffrey Hunter, Guy Madison, Tab, Rock...and more, (Rory ?)...they all must have had fun but definitely in different ways than "today's Boys In The B..." Tab just resonates, spiritually as a genuine, nice and hard working person...he really played "make believe" in Hollywood in more ways than one.
I'm on a mailing list for one of those nostalgia conventions coming to the East Coast in September with some definitely interesting attendees....Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers together; (didn't our Mr BITB write Hart to Hart for 5 years?) I wonder if "Natalie" questions/stories are off limits? Tab was friends with her too; Barbara Eden, (I'd bet she has some stories), Morgan Fairchild, Diahann Carroll and more.
On a lighter note there is even a meet and greet with Shani Wallis and Mark Lester on the 50th (?) anniversary of "Oliver!" I've actually been to one or two of these in the past 6 or 7 years and if you tolerate the hucksters and lobby hustlers they're not that bad. I met and talked with Shirley Jones once, "Timmy" from an old old show, Timmy and Lassie. Angela Cartwright from "Music" and "Space". I guess they will be dusting off their Tab Hunter photos and merch...