“I am so proud of you, my pet, you landed a three-year contract on the tonight show,” she said.
I was in shock. “Are you sure it's me? I only had two lines!” I said.
“Yes, my dear, Johnny is very picky with the people he lets around him. They asked for a background check and booked you,” she said.
"A background check? I'm fresh out of high school. What could I have done, knocked off a candy store?"
I was absolutely thrilled and couldn't wait for my next gig at The Tonight Show. I was feeling pretty proud of myself at this point. It was the beginning of everything. Everything happens so fast in Hollywood, I thought to myself. At this rate, I should be famous in no time.
Young Doctors in Love
My first real movie audition came out of the blue, but I couldn’t have been more ready for it. After being on The Tonight Show and working out all my nerves, I wanted to see if I really had what it took to be a movie star. I loved the thrill of getting in front of the camera. The audition was for a movie titled Young Doctors in Love. It was Garry Marshall’s first feature film.
I was waiting in the hall for my name to be called, surrounded by other scantily clad Hollywood ingénues who, I am sure, all thought they were the next Miss Thing. Everyone was practicing their lines, muttering to themselves in any cubbyhole they could find; making animated faces at the papers they held close. Every time someone new walked in, a landslide of icy stares fell upon them. I lived for those moments. I fed off those icy stares and jealous eye rolls. The competition got my juices flowing and melted all my nerves.
When my name was called, I walked through the crowded hallway with my head held high and was greeted by a small statured and well spoken man by the name of Jerry Bruckheimer. Jerry is now a Hollywood icon, but back then he was just starting out like the rest of us. I find it hilarious that I once auditioned for him for such a small part. There was a single camera in the room and he sat behind a fold-out card table for a desk. There was a blue ‘X’ taped to the floor and he asked me to stand there and tell the camera my name and the name of my agency.
I read my lines perfectly and it felt so good to nail it. I could tell he was pleased and was trying not to show the smile forming on his face. I kept my demeanour calm and cool as I thanked him graciously for his time. Just as I was getting ready to leave, he asked me, “Did you know there is a topless scene for this character?”
“Yes, I was told there may be,” I said.
“I hate to ask, but I really loved your reading, and I would have to see you topless,” he asked, a bit red in the face.
I stopped for a moment. I thought quickly and not too much. I had spent a lot of time modeling lingerie, but had never gone nude. After a moment's hesitation, I unbuttoned my shirt and then went for my bra. I decided then that this would be my in. Use what god gave you, ya know?
I fumbled a bit and asked for his help, although I didn’t really need it. I slowly turned around topless to show him I had everything he was looking for. He smiled and blushed at the same time. My breasts looked damn near perfect and had already long since paid for themselves with all my lingerie and bikini work. I was very proud of my body and never once tried to hide it.
“You’re great, that’s great,” he said, “I mean, I will call you soon.” He brushed his hair back and took a deep breath as I put my shirt back on. I walked out of the room with my bra slung over my shoulder and as I made my way to the door I shouted, “Good Luck y'all!” to all the waiting hopefuls. Two days later I got the call. The part was mine.
I pulled up to the set, a street lined with endless rows of trailers. My first real film, hot damn was I excited! I felt like I had made it to the big league. I was sure someone would see my part in this film and ask me to do more work. Every day felt like a world of opportunity. A production assistant saw me get out of my car and wander around for a moment, looking terribly confused. She came to save me and when I told her my name and that I did indeed belong there, she led me to a trailer that had my name on it. The trailer was a tiny little thing, but it was mine, it had my name across the door. I just about peed my pants. I was thrilled to death. She told me to wait inside and that she would come fetch me when I was needed.
I had bought a disposable camera at the drug store on the way over and I darted outside my trailer to take a photograph of my name on the door. Just as I was winding and clicking away, Susan Lucci walked by. I absolutely adored her from All My Children, and when she noticed what I was doing, I cringed with embarrassment.
“Come on sweetheart, let me take your photo next to it!” she said.
Hesitant, I handed her the camera and, with red-flushed cheeks, I smiled next to the door. I remember getting the picture back and being so thankful I had it, although, at the time, I wanted to die. She introduced herself to me and said she would see me on the set. She was such a sweet woman. Every time I saw her, she gave me the cutest grin, bringing me back to that moment and always making me laugh.
A few moments later there was a knock at my door. I went to let the PA in, but instead it was Garry Marshall.
“Hi, I’m Garry. I’ll be directing your scenes today and I wanted to go ahead and introduce myself, make sure you’re comfortable,” he said.
I was wondering if he was comfortable. I liked his awkwardness and I took to him right away. He had a calm nature about him and it put me at ease just being near him. He felt like an old friend or an uncle, and right away I knew we would be dear friends. He liked that we were both Italian and admitted to me that his real name was Marciano. He had changed it to sound more Jewish amongst all the heavy hitters in Hollywood. I admitted to him that I was a bit nervous and that this was my first real film. I had worked on television for three years, but I still had no idea what it took to make a movie.
Garry invited me to come sit with him, watch a few scenes, so I could see the swing of things, and get the flow in my system. He introduced me to everyone we crossed paths with and I quickly felt more at home in my surroundings. I met Hector Elizondo, Sean Young, Michael Richards, and Dabney Coleman, who were all huge stars at the time. I watched in total amazement and tried to keep my excitement in check. In reality, I was totally overwhelmed and felt like I could burst at the seams any moment.
When my time came, I was ready to roll. I had been waiting for almost half the day and my nerves had already welled up and then subsided a few times. In my first scene, I was supposed to answer the door for Sean Young and Michael McKean. I was playing a party hostess and I delivered my lines perfectly. When Michael stuttered over his line, everyone started laughing. I felt so much better right away and quickly realized that this was going to be way easier than shooting The Tonight Show. Here, if I messed up, they could cut the scene and start over. What a relief!
Garry seemed instantly pleased with my work and when the scene was over, he called for lunch. Before leaving the set he came over to me and congratulated me on my first movie scene. He said it went perfectly and that I would be a leading lady in no time. I could tell he liked me right away, and when he invited me to sit with him for lunch, I graciously accepted.
I felt lost for a moment looking for Garry through the crowds of people in the commissary. When I found him, he was sitting with his sister, Penny Marshall. The two of them cracked me up with their thick New York-speak and constant jokes. I felt instantly in the company of family and Penny was such a doll. She kept me in the conversation the entire time, taking a moment to catch me up on whatever it was Garry was going on about. Garry loved to get to know the people he worked with, and, if he liked you, he kept you very close, like family. I felt lucky to be on this side of things.
Halfway through our lunch, and as Garry was in mid-sentence, Sean Young came over, sat down, and interrupted him. She was carrying a ridiculous toy poodle with her that she sat on top of the table, right next to Garry’s plate. I could hardly believe her audacity, but then it kept getting worse. She started ranting about how she wanted to change t
his and that. She never acknowledged my presence or even so much as looked at me. I tried to keep my smile under wraps by eating my salad, but Garry had the most animated expressions on his face and was clearly mocking her, though she didn’t seem to notice.
“Could you please move your dog before it gets fur in my salad?” He said when she finally stopped speaking for a split second.
“This isn’t just a dog, this is Pinky Poo. Give her a kiss, come on give her a kiss,” she said as she shoved the dog in his face.
He abruptly asked her to come back later because he was clearly already in a private meeting with me. She shot me a devil’s glare and stormed off through the commissary with Pinky Poo in tow.
“I didn’t even want to hire her; she’s such a pain in the ass, and, not to mention, clearly kooky,” he told me. “Peggy, let me ask you something; are you sure you want to be an actress? They are all a bit insane.” We both laughed and went on with our lunch.
Garry checked the shooting schedule and noticed I only had one more scene to shoot. He then told me that if I wanted, he would keep me on payroll for the entire week. He said we could shoot my scene on the last day. I wanted to reach out and give him a big kiss, he was so thoughtful. I knew he liked me and just wanted to keep me around for a bit, but who was I to turn down such an offer? I asked him what I could do all day and offered my help if he needed anything at all, but he told me, “No, no, Peggy, there are peo-ple hired to do things like that. You just tag along with me all week and learn a thing or two.” I was so grateful. I am sure I was just beaming at that lunch table. I knew in my heart it was the start to a very beautiful friendship. Everyone in Hollywood was so nice.
Chapter 2
Sylvester Stallone
How we met
The evening air was warm and still that night heading out of my apartment. I felt like I had just arrived in Hollywood, in L.A., in California, maybe even the world. Something about this night felt magnetic and I remember feeling like I was on the brink of some great discovery. Going out that night into uncharted personal territory, I felt on top of it all. Heather had convinced Antonia and me that, of all the nights, tonight was the night to be seen at the China Club. This wasn’t a hard bet because the China Club was on top of their game and any night of the week was “the night” to be seen there. She had always liked feeling like the ringleader of our escapades. We sat back and smiled, taking cues from her as we finagled our way to the front of the line, smiled, tossed our hair, and were immediately let through the red velvet ropes.
“Oh to be pretty and thin,” Antonia whispered in my ear, and grabbed onto my hand as we wound through the crowds.
The club was in full swing at this point. I was all stars and smiles from just arriving in this world. It felt like a circus, but everyone was pretty, and I do mean everyone. The only people that wouldn’t take your breath away were the rich older men, and even most of them still had white smiles, nice hair, and came bearing free drinks. The club was dimly lit, but flashes of pulsating light would come swinging through the room to remind you “you are hip, thin, and happy.”
The bartenders alone were a sight; they were all devilishly handsome and put on quite the show. They threw bottles in the air, lit things on fire, and finished every drink with a “thank you gorgeous,” before sliding it across the bar top to meet my empty open hand. The glass clanked against my heavy tiger's eye ring I always wore on my middle finger. I held on to it tightly while Heather tugged me by the elbow to a table she had navigated her way to. The table was big and surrounded by a horseshoe leather booth that sat some of the prettiest girls I’d had the chance to get to know since coming to L.A. The fact that we were all at China Club together was a clear indication for how legendary this evening would be. I took a seat at the edge of the booth so I could be seen clearly by anyone and everyone. At this point, I hadn’t received the memo that not all attention was good attention, so I was putting it all out there.
Heather leaned across a few girls, coming really close to my face. I remember wondering if she was going to kiss me until I realized she wanted to tell me something. In my ear I heard, “Don’t look now, but Sylvester Stallone is burning a hole through your right side with his stare. He knows I’m talking about him; he’s still looking. Just laugh,” Heather said. So I did just that. I laughed a bit as if she had just told me something witty; I threw my head back and took a long drink before slowly looking over my shoulder to meet his smouldering gaze.
His table looked like it was full of gangsters and they all seemed to be in on whatever was being said about me. He quickly sent over a bottle of Cristal. I was flattered, but, to be honest, at the time I wouldn’t have known the difference between a bottle of Cristal or Andre. I smiled over to him lifting my glass in a toasting gesture. I kept telling myself, “stay cool, stay cool,” but the truth was, I could feel my heart beating in my ears. I could hardly comprehend that this was really happening.
He sent over an associate of his, who said, “Excuse me miss, would you like to join us?” I didn’t mean to say no, but I literally could not form the words to come out of mouth. I heard my brain tell my lips, but still nothing, no sound came out. I just looked away and he left. I thought the situation had all but passed and I had rejoined reality, laughing and talking with my girlfriends, until I saw this look on Heather’s face that I will never forget. She looked like she had seen a ghost as he himself had begun to approach our table. I thought I was going to pass out right there on the table in a pile of vodka sodas and clutch purses.
He whispered in my ear, “Please forgive me.” I should have known then that these would be the three words I would hear from him more than any others.
“I should have asked you myself. Would you be so kind as to join me at my table for a drink? I find you very attractive and would like to have the pleasure of getting to know you.” His voice was deep and breathy, and, as he whispered in my ear, he sounded exactly like he had in the movies. I was so taken by him. Then, I am not sure exactly what happened to me. I can look back and see myself, but I cannot remember really being there. It’s like a movie reel that I’ve watched a million times in my head, but still have a hard time believing that girl was really me.
I took a seat at his table, nearly disappearing beneath his massive arm. Despite their Mafioso appearance, the men he was with were gentlemen, and I was welcomed by a warming toast into the group. I noticed my girlfriends craning their necks to the side, one by one, to keep tabs on what was going on. I caught their eyes every now and then and tried to swallow my laughter. I was sure they all found this hilarious. Sly held me tight and I felt instantly secure in his presence. The grandeur of the club felt dwarfed once I was with him. He seemed to command attention from those around him and I felt proud to be with him, if only for the moment. I sat there for a while, feeling engulfed in his world, before I remembered the clan of girls I had left behind. They were carrying on just fine without me, as they had been joined by several male models that had their hands all over Heather and the girls. They laughed and drank and laughed some more. I settled further into the niche of Sly's embrace.
He whispered in my ear, “Come back to my house with me. I’m having a private party.”
“Can my friends come?”
“Yes, of course.”
The club was off in the distance with pounding music and flashing lights before I knew it. My girlfriends and I had literally been whisked away through some private door and into private cars without asking a single question. Something about big name celebrities makes you feel safe, as if you know them, although you most definitely do not. We all followed freely and happily into the uncharted evening.
The cars took us winding through Hollywood and into Bel-Air. We rolled down the windows, laughing and singing to the music, the wind whipping our already-flush, drunken cheeks. Thinking back now, it was one of the happiest nights I had in Los Angeles, because everything was still such a dream. It was like the moments leading up to a big
vacation where you can still expect all the wonder of the world.
Even in the darkened drunkenness of the evening, I could tell his home was huge. I felt like a child standing in the foyer, the big vaulted ceilings towering over my friends and me. The party was already in full swing and probably had been the entire time he was out at the China Club. The drinks were flowing freely; I felt they were being offered from all angles. I could hardly drink more, but I accepted one just to be polite. There were people everywhere, but most of them just looked at Sly and I, and very few actually spoke to him. I had the feeling that all these “friends” were not friends, indeed. I assumed most of them were friends of a friend who had jumped at the chance to socialize at Sly’s house, much like my friends and I.
I liked Sly right away in this strange father-like paternal sense, like he was going to save me from myself or something dramatic like that. I wanted to be near him because I felt safe and things felt solid. It had to have had something to do with his hulking presence. I had always seen him as Rocky or Rambo, but I felt at ease when we first met. I was wearing a white two-piece number, a skirt and top set that let my midriff have a nice view, and he kept running his hand over the skirt. His hand was so big that most of the skirt disappeared beneath it, and he was left holding the hem. I remember thinking how small I looked next to him, and it drove me further into his arms.
Once Upon a Star - Celebrity kiss and tell stories Page 2