Somebody asked me who was the nicest actor I'd ever met. That's a tough one because although I'd never met any I had seen several while driving for UPS out in Beverly Hills. For example, I delivered to comedian and actor Steve Martin. He answered the door in his robe. No exchange of words but his demeanor cracked me up.
Ms. Natalie Schafer, the actress who played Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island, signed for her own package. Yes, in the days when packages were signed for.
Delivering to a business on Melrose Avenue west of La Cienega, I parked my truck, grabbed the package, and stepped from the truck to the sidewalk when I look up to see Ali McGraw walk past and give me a nice, sweet smile. She was gorgeous.
On Canon, I saw a couple of movie actors. I rode the elevator--just the two of us--with Victoria Principal. She wore intoxicating perfume. She was so petite that she seemed fragile. I was in live with her before we'd ever net. Lol.
I saw Jim Backus, one of my favorite actors growing up, being wheeled into a doctor's office on Canon.
Years later when I was seeing Margaret Ayers, 1998-1999, walking down Canon I walked past Dick Martin, 1922-2008, of Rowan and Martin fame. That was a hoot because I liked his TV personality and Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, 1968-1973.
Up at Santa Monica and La Cienega in a Fat Burger, I saw actor Victor French of Highway to Heaven fame, 1984-1989, enjoying lunch.
I saw Richard Crenna, 1926-2003, shopping in the antique stores of Melrose. He was excellent in First Blood, 1982, but I liked him in The Real McCoys, 1957-1963. But his previous role as a young man in Ms. Arden's English class with his high-pitched voice was odd.
Making a stop on an afternoon pick-up at an antique store on the west side of La Cienega south of Santa Monica, I walked past JoBeth Williams. She was nice with a kind disposition.
A daily pick-up on my route was Andy Williams Studios on the east side of La Cienega just north of Waring Avenue at 816 N. La Cienega Blvd.. His brother seemed to be the guy managing his business but on occasion I would see Andy. He and his brother were twins. Never verified that, but, boy, did they look identical.
Sonny Bono used to own and operate an Italian restaurant at the corner of Melrose and La Cienega, actually at Clinton and Melrose, called
With 2 or 3 packages in my hand, I opened the door of a small boutique, stepped inside, reached for the door's knob behind me to close and someone was pulling on it behind me, Heather Locklear. She played Officer Stacy Sheridan on T. J. Hooker, 1982-1986.
Though I never saw Don Rickles, I did deliver to his house in Beverly Hills a few times, and the maid always gave me a couple dollar tip. It was nice and unexpected.
I delivered to Buddy Hackett's place almost daily. His sisters ran his company out of their garage, and they were always great and friendly, frequently offering me a soda. I miss their kindness.
O, and finally I was standing in line at a small market on the south side of Melrose just east of La Cienega behind Jamie Lee Curtis. She was petite and beautiful and friendly.
And though I didn't see her, one of the clothing boutique's manager on Melrose west of La Cienega said to me as I walked into her shop with packages, she says, "Do you know who was just here?" I said no, who, and she says, Jackie Onassis." She was shocked, I was shocked.
I'll never forget how two of Carly Simon's hits used to play endlessly on the radio back in those years. "You're So Vain," 1973. Ugh. Something about her voice depressed me.
And in 1984 as a young man making money, I started lusting for one car and that was the Ford Mustang, 4.0. Gorgeous car. I went to Vancouver British Columbia twice that year with Kathy Braidhill. Once in October, and the second time for the Thanksgiving weekend.
