My Brain Hurts

So…how about that VP candidate Sarah Palin and her pregnant daughter and her fiery speech and all that? Yeah…me too. How about that Hurricane Gustav, huh? Now they’re talkin’ about New Orleans having some false sense of security since the storm wasn’t what they said it would be. Next time, people might not leave and then there will be real trouble. (pause to twiddle thumbs) Movie trailer voice Don LaFontaine died this week. So did Jerry Reed. That sucks. I didn’t even know Jerry Reed was still alive.

This is an awkward conversation, isn’t it? I know. I know. I’m feeling a little off-kilter today. Sorry about that. You see, I’m a news hound. I watch everyday. I read everyday. I surf for news everyday. I live for information. I mean, this is, after all, the Information Age, right? The problem is…I think I’m experiencing “current event” overload. I’m tired. And my head hurts from cramming stuff into it. I never expected there to be much room in there anyway and I think after 41 years it’s finally full. And so I think it’s time to purge some old files. I can’t afford more RAM for my brain so in order to continue functioning as a productive human being I think it’s time to dump some memory. Too much trivia. So to start the ball rolling I’ve enlisted the help of the internet to wrap up some loose ends in my head that I have held onto for way too many years. "Where did all these celebrities go?" I ask.

My wife used to be surprised (but now she just gets annoyed) when I pull a name or senseless fact out of thin air. It happens all the time. We’ll be watching TV and I hear a commercial with a familiar voice…only it’s someone you haven’t seen in a long time. But I know the name. Hey…that was Richard Thomas. Good ole’ John Boy Walton. Or…hey…that was Sally Kellerman’s voice. I loved her little stints on Love Boat. Or…wasn’t that Liam Neeson? Or Gene Hackman…wait, no…that was Clancy Brown…you know, the big blond punk in that old Sean Penn movie “Bad Boys” who later went on to “Highlander” fame as the nasty Kurgan and finally is the occasional voice of Mr. Crabs on the cartoon, “SpongeBob” and now the voice of The Home Depot! That guy!

…I know…welcome to my world. I used to think it was fun…even clever of me to be able to remember stuff like that. But the older I get I’m beginning to see a pattern.

I can forget some pretty important stuff every single day... unless I write it down, of course. But there have been some key things, like picking a kid up from an after school function or from a friends house. I’ll go to the grocery store for ice cream and I come home with chocolate syrup, cones, milk, coffee creamer, a bag of broccoli florets and a bottle of wine that was on sale. But I have this feeling, this inkling, that something is missing. Damned if I can figure it out at the time.

Dawn says it’s because of my sleep apnea. My lack of proper oxygen intake over night provides little relief to my body throughout the day as I wander more than wonder about. I know that she’s right but I’m not going to admit that…come on. I’d rather blame it on simpler matters…like my brain is just full.

So to help me purge my trivia laden head I decided to host a little send off party for part of my brain. And the following is the program for this event. It’s the “one-time celebrities that you never knew what happened to them party”! Let’s find out.

Welcome Back Kotter – If you watch ESPN or any network that carries a poker tournament you’re likely to catch Gabe Kaplan as he’s actually made quite a name for himself as a competitive Texas Hold’Em player. And I needn’t waste more than one sentence on how John Travolta turned out…but what of the other “sweat-hogs”? How about the pathetically lovable Arnold Horseshack?

Born in Connecticut in 1949, Ron Palilo, was a fan favorite. According to the CelebrityNooz website, Ron is an amazing color and black-and-white pen-and-ink artist. His works have been shown and sold in New York, Hawaii, and California. He has taken his talent to the world of children's literature, where he has done illustrations for two books, A Gift for the Contessa and The Red Wings of Christmas.

Today, Ron Palillo sports a new look and an exciting, busy life as an actor, writer, teacher, artist and producer. After the series ended in 1979, Ron says, "I lost ten years. Because of typecasting, there was nothing I could do." He set out reinventing himself. "I got a nose job, started working out, took the curl out of my hair -- I just felt like I had to do something."

He appears in operas and other stage performances. To date he has been in over 40 states in numerous productions including Amadeus (Mozart), for which he won a Clevie Award for Best Actor, P.S. Your Cat is Dead (Vito), for which he won a Dramalogue Award for Best Actor.. plus numerous other productions. (http://www.celebritynooz.com/watn/ron_palillo.html)

Epstein, portrayed by Robert “Bobby” Hegyes was born in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1951 and grew up in Metuchen, NJ not too far from my own alma mater, St. Joseph’s High School. His mother took him to countless plays and musicals while his dad, an ex-marine remained loyal, hard-working but distant. When Bobby ran off to Toronto to avoid the Vietnam war, his father was none too proud but never stopped believing in his son.

Today he is a husband and father of four and still acts as well as teaches secondary education at Brooks college in Long Beach, CA. (http://www.roberthegyes.com/)

Freddy "Boom-Boom" Washington – Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs - Lawrence was born in New York City on September 4, 1953, the fifth child of nine to West Indian parents Hilton Jacobs and Clothilda Jacobs. He began his acting career in the summer of 1969 and graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1971. Afterward, he studied acting with the world famous Negro Ensemble Company and the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. In 1975, he won the part of Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington on the ABC hit comedy series, Welcome Back, Kotter In 1983, Lawrence won the NAACP Image Award as best actor for his performance as Frankie in Richard Wesley's The Mighty Gents. He later gained praise afor his portrayal as Joseph Jackson in ABC-TV's highly-rated mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream, he starred on the Fox Network short lived cult science fiction TV series Alien Nation as Sgt. Dobbs, and as Rushion, the headstrong, unapologetic entrepreneur and father of Moesha's boyfriend Q in Moesha.

As an accomplished keyboardist/singer, Hilton-Jacobs has performed with numerous acclaimed musicians, such as Rick James, Johnny Gill, The Temptations, and The Sylvers. He's written/produced themes for TV shows and scores for motion pictures, and has released several solo albums. He also taught acting at The Adam Wade Workshop.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Hilton_Jacobs)

Peter Billingsley - his most famous ads were a series of commercials for Hershey's chocolate syrup in the eighties as the popular character Messy Marvin. In 1983, Billingsley starred in A Christmas Story, based on Jean Shepherd's In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, which built its audience slowly over the years and is now broadcast twenty-four hours a day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the Turner Network Television network. A Christmas Story is a story about a young boy named Ralphie (Billingsley) who wants a particular BB gun for Christmas and all the grown-ups trying to discourage him by warning that he'll shoot his eye out. Along the way, there are many side stories. This film earned Peter another Young Artist Award nomination. His career behind the scenes continued on with much success including work on The Discovery Channel's A.R.K., The Adventures of Animal Rescue Kids, Patriot Son, The X Show, Made, and Elf . In 2001, he was nominated for an Emmy Award as co-executive producer for the show Dinner for Five. In 2005, he helped produce the movie Zathura (2005). He served as an executive producer for the Universal Pictures production The Break-Up starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn in which he also plays the supporting character Andrew appearing alongside frequent collaborator Jon Favreau. Billingsley served as executive producer on director Favreau's Iron Man feature film; he also acted in the film, playing a scientist who works for Obadiah Stane. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Billingsley)

Lance Kerwin - Anybody who grew up during the 70’s would have had to be living in a cave not to remember Lance Kerwin. He was very popular and was the star of the classic 'James At 15', 'Salem’s Lot' and numerous 'After School Specials' Was the highest paid kid in TV during the 70's. But life took some rough turns for the actor. Arrested for possession of crack cocaine in San Francisco, in 1989, it turned out to be baking soda and the charges were dropped.

By his own account, Lance smoked marijuana at age 6 and was a heavy user by age 9. He says, "I went through rehab maybe 12 times."

In 1990, Lance moved to Hawaii, found a soul mate in Kristen Lansdale, and worked on sobriety. He wasn't very successful. He took bit parts and walk-on roles as his drug use escalated out-of-control and career completely bottomed out.

In 1994, Lance and Kristen gave birth to a baby girl named, Savannah. It was inspiration enough to reclaim his life and career. He and Kristen split, and Lance moved to a Bible Ranch in Perris, California. During the week, he occupies a studio apartment on the group's complex with daughter, Savannah. His last movie role was in 1995s, "Outbreak."

As of 2006 Lance served as an assistant pastor with Calvary Chapel Romoland/U-Turn 4 Christ, a non-profit Christian rehabilitation, restoration, and discipleship program located in southern California, helping men and women overcome similar addictions to those he developed as a young actor. Word is he he still gets notices for acting work, but turns them down. (http://www.celebritynooz.com/watn/lance_kerwin.html)

Kim Richards – Remember The Disney “Witch Mountain” movies? Well,
Kim also starred as Prudence Everett in the television series 'Nanny and the Professor.'

This piece of trivia really shocked me. Kim has two very famous nieces... Nicky and Paris Hilton.

The connection there is her sister is Kathy Richards, who is now Kathy Hilton (Paris and Nicky's mom).

In 2001 she moved to Arizona to be with her ailing mother, who had breast cancer. Her mom passed away in March 2002.

She is back in Los Angeles now and said to be returning to acting since her youngest child is in school full time.

(http://www.celebritynooz.com/watn/kim_richards.html)

Adrian Zmed - Adrian is best known for his roles as "Johnny Nogerelli" in Grease 2, and as "Officer Vince Romano" (seen here with William Shatner) in the T.J. Hooker television series. Often mistaken as "the kid” in One Day At A Time" who was actually Glenn Scarpelli. Zmed played "Jay O'Neill" in 1984's Bachelor Party, alongside Tom Hanks.

In 2006 he filmed a 30 second PSA on chained dogs for humane non-profit Dogs Deserve Better.

If you watch the soap opera 'Passions' then you may have recognized Adrian as the "floating head". I really have no idea about this but it's listed as a credit!

Next up for Adrian is an appearance in the Holiday special for TV, 'Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular'. (http://www.celebritynooz.com/watn/adrian_zmed.html)

David Soul – First the personal connection – David dated my aunts best friend from high school and I think he came to my cousins birthday party in the 70’s. I have no idea of the accuracy of this information…but all I know is that I either “did” or “almost” met him many years ago. Since I can’t remember, it really has no meaning now, does it? I think it was this connection that was the reason my poor sister was smitten with the actor a long, long time ago. All I can say to you, Barb, is “Don’t Give Up On Us Baby”.

David Soul is the son of a minister who was at one time serving as the religious affairs advisor to the U.S. High Commission in Berlin. At 24 years of age, David joined a North Dakota musical revue, was noticed by a talent scout, and signed to a studio contract. He went on to study acting with the Irene Daly School of The Actors Company, and with the Columbia Workshop in Hollywood.

In 1973, Soul was fortunate enough to be cast as one of the corrupt motorcycle cops in the Clint Eastwood thriller Magnum Force, where his talents came to the attention of several TV execs who were looking for someone to play one of the lead roles in the upcoming "Starsky and Hutch" TV series.

Romantically involved with actress/singer/composer Lynne Marta (my aunt’s friend from high school!!!) throughout the run of "Starsky and Hutch" (1975) but they split up after the show ended. He's been married four times. He's been divorced four times. Hmmm.

He is an avid skier, tennis player and loves to go "exploring" with his children. He is fluent in both German and Spanish and became a United Kingdom citizen in September 2004.

David has thrown himself into theater. In 2005, he has took over the lead role of "Jerry Springer - the Opera" at London's Cambridge Theatre.

In 2006 he was on tour in England in the revival of the stage musical 'Mack and Mabel' playing the lead role Mack Sennett. (http://www.celebritynooz.com/watn/david_soul.html)

Well , there you have it. Some throwback trivia to hopefully entertain you and, now that it is out there, perhaps I can dump this pointless information from my brain and make more room for other stuff. Like remembering where I put my wallet.