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Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > Individual actors & performers
This intimate, revealing portrait of Frank Sinatra-from the man
closest to the famous singer during the last decade of his
life-features never-before-seen photos and new revelations about
some of the most famous people of the past fifty years, including
Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Sam Giancana, Madonna, and Bono.
"If you are a Frank fan, buy this book" (Jimmy Kimmel). More than a
hundred books have been written about legendary crooner and actor
Frank Sinatra. Every detail of his life seems to captivate: his
career, his romantic relationships, his personality, his
businesses, his style. But a hard-to-pin-down quality has always
clung to him-a certain elusiveness that emerges again and again in
retrospective depictions. Until now. From Sinatra's closest
confidant and an eventual member of his management team, Tony
Oppedisano, comes an extraordinarily intimate look at the singing
idol that offers "new information on almost every page" (The Wall
Street Journal). Deep into the night, for more than two thousand
nights, Frank and Tony would converse-about music, family, friends,
great loves, achievements and successes, failures and
disappointments, the lives they'd led, the lives they wished they'd
led. In these full-disclosure conversations, Sinatra spoke of his
close yet complex relationship with his father, his conflicts with
record companies, his carousing in Vegas, his love affairs with
some of the most beautiful women of his era, his triumphs on some
of the world's biggest stages, his complicated relationships with
his talented children, and, most important, his dedication to his
craft. Toward the end, no one was closer to the singer than
Oppedisano, who kept his own rooms at the Sinatra residences for
many years, often brokered difficult conversations between family
members, and held the superstar entertainer's hand when he drew his
last breath. "Frank Sinatra fans, pull up a chair and let longtime
confidante and road manager Tony Oppedisano regale you with tales
from the entertainer's inner circle" (Parade magazine)-Sinatra and
Me pulls back the curtain on a man whom history has, in many ways,
gotten wrong.
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Viral sensation and Emmy
Award-winner Leslie Jordan regales fans with entertaining stories
about the odd, funny, and unforgettable events in his life in this
unmissable essay collection that echoes his droll, irreverent
voice. When actor Leslie Jordan learned he had "gone viral," he had
no idea what that meant or how much his life was about to change.
On Instagram, his uproarious videos have entertained millions and
have made him a global celebrity. Now, he brings his bon vivance to
the page with this collection of intimate and sassy essays.
Bursting with color and life, dripping with his puckish Southern
charm, How Y'all Doing? is Leslie doing what Leslie does best:
telling stories that make us laugh and lift our spirits even in the
darkest days. Whether he's writing about his brush with a group of
ruffians in a West Hollywood Starbucks, or an unexpected phone call
from legendary Hollywood start Debbie Reynolds, Leslie infuses each
story with his fresh and saucy humor and pure heart. How Y'all
Doing? is an authentic, warm, and joyful portrait of an American
Sweetheart- a Southern Baptist celebutante, first-rate raconteur,
and keen observer of the odd side of life whose quirky wit rivals
the likes of Amy Sedaris, Jenny Lawson, David Rakoff, and Sarah
Vowell.
What does a forty-two-year-old, small-town pastor do when he wins
one of the most popular singing competitions in the world? Todd
Tilghman and his wife, Brooke, share how decades of unrelenting
challenges have taught them a joyful mindset of embracing not only
winning The Voice but also "every little win" along the way. When
Todd Tilghman, pastor and father of eight from Meridian,
Mississippi, auditioned for The Voice,he counted it as a win simply
to sing in front of an audience other than family and church
members. Despite no music or vocal training, he not only made it
through the blind audition--with all four celebrity judges vying to
coach him--he also won the show's entire eighteenth season. Fans
were drawn to Todd's tremendous joy on stage, giving them
much-needed inspiration during the hard challenges of a global
pandemic. In their first book, Todd and Brooke share how their
focus on joy and celebrating every little win has helped them to
overcome numerous challenges over their twenty-plus-year marriage.
From adopting two children from South Korea to fighting for their
newborn son's life to pastoring a small congregation through
periods of adversity, Todd and Brooke share the lessons they've
learned and the strategies that have moved them from fear to faith
to ever-present joy.
A Sunday Times Book of the Year 'For anyone interested in Lee's
legacy, this is a roundhouse kick of a biography' - Sunday Times
'At last, Bruce Lee has the powerful biography he deserves... It
will thrill Lee's fans and fascinate the unfamiliar' - Jonathan
Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of
Lou Gehrig 'Meticulously researched' - Jimmy McDonough, author of
Shakey: Neil Young's Biography and Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al
Green 'You won't find a better match for a biographer with his
subject than Matthew Polly and Bruce Lee... A definitive biography,
told with passion and punch' - Brian Jay Jones, author George
Lucas: A Life and Jim Henson: The Biography. More than forty years
after Bruce Lee's sudden death at age 32, journalist and author
Matthew Polly has written the definitive account of Lee's life.
It's also one of the only accounts; incredibly, there has never
been an authoritative biography of Lee. Following a decade of
research that included conducting more than one hundred interviews
with Lee's family, friends, business associates and even the
mistress in whose bed Lee died, Polly has constructed a complex,
humane portrait of the icon. There are his early years as a child
star in Hong Kong cinema; his actor father's struggles with opium
addiction and how that turned Bruce into a troublemaking teenager
who was kicked out of high school and eventually sent to America to
shape up; his beginnings as a martial arts teacher, eventually
becoming personal instructor to movie stars like Steve McQueen; his
struggles as an Asian-American actor in Hollywood and frustration
seeing role after role he auditioned for go to white actors in eye
makeup; his eventual triumph as a leading man; his challenges
juggling a sky-rocketing career with his duties as a father and
husband; and his shocking end that to this day is still shrouded in
mystery. Polly breaks down the myth of Bruce Lee and argues that,
contrary to popular belief, he was an ambitious actor who was
obsessed with martial arts-not a great kung-fu master who just so
happened to make a couple of movies. The book offers an honest look
at an impressive yet flawed man whose personal story was even more
entertaining and inspiring than any fictional role he played
on-screen. Praise for Matthew Polly 'Hypnotic...Tapped Out manages
to humanize a sport once demonized as "human cockfighting" by
deconstructing the stereotype of the martial-arts tough guy.' - New
York Times 'Tapped Out is a knockout for MMA fans, who will laugh
at the intimate portraits Polly sketches of some of the sport's
most famous personalities. But it also works for those not familiar
with the sport...You won't be disappointed.' - OpposingViews.com 'A
delight to read.' - TheFightNerd.com 'Polly's self-deprecation in
the painful learning process stands out as much as the witty prose.
His delivery is Plimpton-esque.' - ESPN.com 'Smoothly written . . .
Polly has a good eye for characters.' - Publishers Weekly
If you ran into Stephen Tobolowsky on the street, you would not be
mistaken: Yes, you've seen him before. A childhood dentist? A
former geometry teacher? Your local florist? Tobolowsky is a
character actor, one of the most prolific screen and stage
presences of our time, having appeared in productions that range
from Deadwood to Glee, from Mississippi Burning to Groundhog Day.
But Stephen Tobolowsky, it turns out, is also a dazzlingly talented
storyteller and writer. The Dangerous Animals Clubis a beguiling
series of stories combining biography and essay, with a tone both
hilarious and introspective. The stories have heroics and
embarrassments, riotous humour and pathos, characters ranging from
Bubbles the Pigmy Hippo to Stephen's unforgettable mother, and
scenes that include coke-fueled parties, Hollywood sets, and
hospital rooms. Told in a voice that is "wry, discursive, and full
of generous spirit and curiosity" (Kirkus Reviews), Tobolowsky
renders the majestic out of the mundane, profundity from the
patently absurd, and grace from tragedy. The Dangerous Animals
Clubmarks the debut of a massively talented storyteller.
The first-ever biography of Mozhdah Jamalzadah: refugee, pop
singer, and champion of women's rights. Many have tried to silence
her, but Mozhdah Jamalzadah remains the most powerful female voice
of her generation in Afghanistan, boldly speaking out about women's
rights. Voice of Rebellion charts her incredible journey, including
arriving in Canada as a child refugee, setting her father's protest
poem to music (and making it a #1 hit), performing that song for
Michelle and Barack Obama, and, finally, being invited to host her
own show in Afghanistan. The Mozhdah Show earned her the nickname
"The Oprah of Afghanistan" and tackled taboo subjects like divorce
and domestic violence for the first time in the country's history.
But even as her words resonated with women and families, Mozhdah
received angry death threats-some of them serious-and was
eventually advised to return to Canada. Traversing Central Asia and
North America, Voice of Rebellion profiles a devoted singer and
activist who continues to fight for change, even from afar.
Everyone's favourite game of dilemmas, in a handy pocket book,
perfect for parties and goodie bags! Ryan Gosling, Idris Elba or
Benedict Cumberbatch? Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin or Boris
Johnson? Your boss, work spouse or office rival? This rapid-fire
game is perfect for any party or gathering and once you start
playing, you won't want to stop! From historical figures to film
stars, music idols to secret crushes, we provide the options - the
decisions are up to you ... So get to know your
friends/family/colleagues a little better with the ultimate game of
choice - no passes allowed!
The beloved Hollywood star and New York Times bestselling author of
Unsinkable continues her intimate chat with fans in this
entertaining collection of anecdotes, stories, jokes, and random
musings from a woman who has seen it all-and done most of it. From
her acclaimed performances to her headline-making divorce from
Eddie Fisher, raising a famous daughter to hitting the road with a
successful one-woman show, Debbie Reynolds was in the spotlight for
decades. Over her more than six-decade-long career she met
presidents, performed for the Queen of England, and partied with
kings. In this fabulous personal tour, she recalls wonderful
moments with the greats of the entertainment world-Lucille Ball,
Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Phyllis Diller, and many, many
more-sharing stories that shed new light on her life and career and
the glittering world of Hollywood then and now. Debbie has plenty
to tell-and in Make 'Em Laugh, she dishes it in the warm,
down-to-earth voice her fans adore. Debbie shares memories of late
night pals and some of the greatest comedians of all time, stories
from the big screen and small, and tales of marriage, motherhood,
and children. Combining her wicked sense of humor and appealing
charm, she reveals the personal side of show business and fame in
funny, poignant, and delightful reminiscences. Nothing is off
limits: Debbie talks about her sex life, her family drama-and even
shares a few secret recipes. A true Hollywood icon, beloved by
millions of fans around the world, Debbie Reynolds died on December
28, 2016, at the age of 84, just one day after the death of her
daughter, actress and author Carrie Fisher.
Audrey Hepburn once said "I never thought I'd land in pictures with
a face like mine." Nothing could be further from the truth. As one
of the 20th century's most loved icons, her face is instantly
recognisable the world over. Here, for the first time, ACC Art
Books and Iconic Images proudly present the work of six wonderful
photographers - Norman Parkinson, Milton H. Greene, Douglas
Kirkland, Lawrence Fried, Terry O'Neill and Eva Sereny - who were
fortunate enough to capture the star at different moments of her
life. In addition, former Curator of Photographs for the National
Portrait Gallery and co-curator of the Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of
an Icon exhibition, Terence Pepper, opens up his personal archive
of vintage press prints, making this ode to Hepburn truly unique.
Throughout the book, Douglas Kirkland, Terry O'Neill and Eva Sereny
share their memories of working with the icon. They present a
wonderful mix of on-set, fashion, portrait and behind-the-scenes
photographs, including contact sheets and never-before-seen images.
With an introduction by Terence Pepper, Always Audrey is sure to
delight any Hepburn fan.
For more than 30 years, Gavin MacLeod has served as the global
ambassador for Princess Cruises. Speaking to thousands of travelers
each year, and signing hundreds of autographs at every port, he
stands poised to celebrate his amazing journey with a look back at
the golden era of American television. The consummate storyteller,
Gavin shares his fondest memories of meeting and working with
countless stars, such as Cary Grant, Steve McQueen, Gregory Peck,
Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, Ethel Merman, Ella Fitzgerald, Ronald
Reagan, Milton Berle, and Fred Astaire. From his humble theatrical
beginnings in upstate New York, to Radio City Music Hall and on to
Hollywood, Gavin MacLeod was on the fast track to success. However,
a few hard life lessons-like dealing with a divorce-taught Gavin
that the key to happiness was only through a deep faith in God, and
he feels his work for Christ is more important than any award.
Three years later his remarriage proved that a great struggle can
culminate in a happy ending.
Winner of the 2015 Gordon Burn Prize and the 2015 CWA Non-Fiction
Dagger Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and the James Tait Black
Prize Dan Davies has spent more than a decade on a quest to find
the real Jimmy Savile, and interviewed him extensively over a
period of seven years before his death. In the course of his quest,
he spent days and nights at a time quizzing Savile at his homes in
Leeds and Scarborough, lunched with him at venues ranging from
humble transport cafes to the Athenaeum club in London and, most
memorably, joined him for a short cruise aboard the QE2. Dan
thought his quest had come to an end in October 2011 when Savile's
golden coffin was lowered into a grave dug at a 45-degree angle in
a Scarborough cemetery. He was wrong. In the last two and a half
years, Dan has been interviewing scores of people, many of them
unobtainable while Jimmy was alive. What he has discovered was that
his instincts were right all along and behind the mask lay a
hideous truth. Jimmy Savile was not only complex, damaged and
controlling, but cynical, calculating and predatory. He revelled in
his status as a Pied Piper of youth and used his power to abuse the
vulnerable and underage, all the while covering his tracks by
moving into the innermost circles of the establishment.
For five decades, comedian, actor, singer, dancer, and entertainer
Bob Hope (1903-2003) traveled the world performing before American
and Allied troops and putting on morale-boosting USO shows. Dear
Bob...: Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World
War II tells the story of Hope's remarkable service to the fighting
men and women of World War II, collecting personal letters,
postcards, packages, and more sent back and forth among Hope and
the troops and their loved ones back home. Soldiers, nurses, wives,
and parents shared their innermost thoughts, swapped jokes, and
commiserated with the "G.I.s' best friend" about war, sacrifice,
lonely days, and worrisome, silent nights. The Entertainer of the
Century performed for millions of soldiers in person, in films, and
over the radio. He visited them in the hospitals and became not
just a pal but their link to home. This unforgettable collection of
letters and images, many of which remained in Hope's personal files
throughout his life and which now reside at the Library of
Congress, capture a personal side of both writer and recipient in a
very special and often emotional way. This volume heralds the
voices of those servicemen and women Hope entertained and who, it
is clear, delighted and inspired him.
This book traces the real Bob Hope from his early days performing
in Cleveland, Ohio, and New York, to his world-wide fame earned in
radio, television and films, as well as his unselfish performances
all over the world for the USO during World War II right through
Desert Storm, documented through the eyes of many of his friends
and fellow performers, as well as Bob's own comments as told to
Grudens during personal interviews, revealing a touching portrait
of a wonderful man. How many of you were unaware that Bob Hope,
whose real name is Leslie Town Hope was born in England; a
professional boxer; a very good dancer and singer who introduced
many standard songs; a full-fledged travelling vaudeville actor; a
prominent Broadway star, and a radio pioneer and television icon?
The book accurately encapsulates his story incorporating over 100
photos punctuating at each stage of his life. Here you will find
personal testimonials and tributes in their own words from
legendary actress Jane Russell, singer Connie Haines, actress
Rhonda Fleming, M*A*S*H creator Larry Gelbart, vocalist Jerry Vale,
President's Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, golfers Arnold Palmer
and Jack Nicklaus, singers Tony Bennett, Frances Langford, Margaret
Whiting, Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, and Frankie Laine, and all
recent Presidents. With a loving foreword by co-star Jane Russell,
this book provides a perfect personal portrait of America's best
loved comedian and the World's most famous citizen. This is the
book Bob Hope fans all over the world have been waiting for.
TO LIVE AND DREAM IS A WICKED DANCE. MY DREAMS OFTEN COME TRUE- A
CURSE, AND A BLESSING. PAMELA ANDERSON's blond bombshell image was
ubiquitous in the 1990s. Discovered in the stands during a Canadian
football game, she was quickly launched into superstardom, becoming
Playboy's favourite cover girl and an emblem of Hollywood glamour
and sex appeal. Yet the Pamela Anderson we think we know was
created through happenstance rather than careful cultivation. Love,
Pamela brings forth her true story, that of a small town girl
getting tangled up in her own dreams. Growing up on Vancouver
Island, the daughter of young, wild, and unwittingly stylish
parents, Pamela lived a hardscrabble childhood but developed a deep
love for nature, populating her world with misfits, apparitional
friends, and injured animals. Eventually overcoming her natural
shyness, Pamela let her restless imagination propel her into a life
few can dream of, in Hollywood and the Playboy Mansion. As her star
rose, she found herself becoming a fixture of tabloid fodder, at
the height of an era when paparazzi tactics were bent on destroying
a person's image and self-esteem. Pamela forged ahead with grace,
finding sanctuary in her love of art and literature, and emerged a
devoted mother and activist. Now, having returned to the island of
her childhood, after a memorable run starring as Roxie in Chicago
on Broadway, Pamela is telling her story, a story of an
irrepressible free spirit coming home and discovering herself anew
at every turn. With vivid prose interspersed with bursts of
original poetry, Love, Pamela is a pensive, layered, and
unforgettable memoir.
A look inside a dancer's worldInspiring, revealing, and deeply
relatable, Being a Ballerina is a firsthand look at the realities
of life as a professional ballet dancer. Through episodes from her
own career, Gavin Larsen describes the forces that drive a person
to study dance; the daily balance that dancers navigate between
hardship and joy; and the dancer's continual quest to discover who
they are as a person and as an artist. Starting with her arrival as
a young beginner at a class too advanced for her, Larsen tells how
the embarrassing mistake ended up helping her learn quickly and
advance rapidly. In other stories of her early teachers, training,
and auditions, she explains how she gradually came to understand
and achieve what she and her body were capable of. Larsen then
re-creates scenes from her experiences in dance companies, from
unglamorous roles to exhilarating performances. Working as a
ballerina was shocking and scary at first, she says, recalling
unexpected injuries, leaps of faith, and her constant struggle to
operate at the level she wanted-but full of enormously rewarding
moments. Larsen also reflects candidly on her difficult decision to
retire at age 35. An ideal read for aspiring dancers, Larsen's
memoir will also delight experienced dance professionals and
fascinate anyone who wonders what it takes to live a life dedicated
to the perfection of the art form.
One of the most beloved actors of our time shares the New York
Times bestselling story of how he learned to live with an open
heart. Early in his career, shortly after rising to fame as
television's Dr. James Kildare, Richard Chamberlain took on the
role of Hamlet on the English stage. The play contained a lesson
the actor has remembered throughout his life: "To thine own self be
true." But for Chamberlain these were not always easy words to live
by. Even as he won the adoration of millions of fans, this
handsome, charming, debonair leading man seriously questioned his
own self-worth, living a life haunted by personal insecurity
despite decades of immense popular success in memorable roles in
Dr. Kildare, The Thorn Birds, Shogun, and other television dramas.
Finally, with the help of friends and guidance from spiritual
teachers, including Krishnamurti, Chamberlain began the sometimes
painful but deeply rewarding process of reconciling his deepest
self with his public persona. Now, in Shattered Love, he poignantly
recounts his lifelong struggle to find happiness. Tracing a
fascinating path through his meteoric rise to success, he
chronicles his struggle to come to terms with his own
imperfections, his growing desire to be honest about his sexual
orientation, and his yearning to live with an open heart. And along
the way he imparts the lessons he has learned about overcoming our
own self-imposed obstacles to happiness: the importance of
listening to our own instincts instead of listening only to others,
not demanding the impossible of ourselves, and allowing ourselves
to explore negative feelings in order to move forward.
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