Archive
Remembering Dale Olson
On Thursday, September 20th, hundreds of people gathered at The Hollywood Museum to pay tribute to publicist and Actors Fund Board of Trustee member, Dale Olson. The beautiful ceremony included remembrances of Dale by Harlan Boll, Maxwell Caulfield, Donelle Dadigan (President of The Hollywood Museum who donated the space), Diane Ladd, Charlotte Rae, David Rambo, Doris Roberts, Marion Ross, Kevin Thomas and Actors Fund Western Region Director Keith McNutt, who spoke about Dale’s commitment and dedication to The Fund.
Directed by John Bowab, the event also featured Patricia Morison, who sang “So in Love,” and Davis Gaines, who performed “Someone to Watch Over Me” – two of Dale’s favorite songs.
The last speaker was Gene Harbin, Olson’s husband and companion for over 30 years, and we especially thank him for helping us pay tribute to this incredibly special man, who we all will miss very much.
We thought we’d share some photos from the event below. For more, check out The Hollywood Reporter’s piece on Dale’s memorial, and read our interview with Dale about some of his work with Rock Hudson.
Mitzi Gaynor
Actors Fund Western Council Vice Chair David Rambo
Diane Ladd
Patricia Morison
Western Council Member John Bowab and Western Region Director Keith McNutt
Dick Guttman wearing his trademark fedora
Maxwell Caufield and Doris Roberts
Charlotte Rae and Marion Ross
Garry Marshall
Western Council Member B. Harlan Boll, Keith McNutt and Eugene Harbin
Thanks To Everyone Who Helped Make Our 2012 Gala A Success!
Thanks to The Actors Fund’s 2012 Gala honorees Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara, Harry Belafonte and David Steiner! Photo by Lyn Hughes Photography.
Everyone in The Actors Fund family is still riding high from Monday night’s incredibly wonderful Gala, during which we honored David Steiner and Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara with our Medal of Honor, and Harry Belafonte with The Lee Strasberg Artistic Achievement Award. We’ll be posting video highlights of the evening soon, so keep an eye out for updates!
We are incredibly grateful to the many, many people who contributed to the evening’s success: Angela Lansbury, for opening the evening; Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Douglas Steiner for honoring Medal of Honor awardee David Steiner; the Tony nominated star of End of the Rainbow Michael Cumpsty for making a special appeal for donations with some help from his co-star and co-nominee Tracie Bennett; Annette Bening for her amazing Actors Fund PSA; comic treasures Julie Halston, Charles Busch, Jason Alexander, Phyllis Newman & Lewis J. Stadlen, Ben Stiller, and Oscar winner Christopher Plummer for their hilarious and thoughtful tributes to Stiller & Meara; and Carmen deLavallade, Marge Champion, Tyne Daly, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Drum Circle and Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA, and The Honorable David Dinkins for their moving tributes to Harry Belafonte. Extra-special thanks go to our producers Abby Schroeder and Michael Kerker for putting on such a wonderfully moving and entertaining show!
And finally, we thank our honorees for their dedication to the entertainment industry, their commitment of social justice, and their support of The Actors Fund. We’ll also be posting their not-to-be-missed acceptance speeches, but in the meantime, here’s a bit of Stiller & Meara on Friday’s Morning Joe – we’re grateful they took some time to speak out for The Fund!
The Actors Fund On Air!
Last Thursday, Actors Fund Western Region Director Keith McNutt and Director of Social Services Tina Hookom were guests on Samm Brown’s For The Record, KPFK 90.7 FM’s weekly radio show that delves into various behind-the-scenes entertainment industry issues. Keith and Tina’s one-hour live chat with Samm included a discussion of the Actors Fund’s fascinating history, what makes our work possible, a bit on who we help and how we help them, the realities of working in the entertainment industry, and an overview of The Fund’s programs and services. They took some interesting listener calls throughout the broadcast, too.
If you’d like to check out the archived show, go to http://archive.kpfk.org/index.php?shokey=fortherecord, scroll to the April 5th program, and click the “play” link to download and listen in your music player.
There’s Nothing Like “Nothing Like A Dame”
As we prepare for 2011’s Nothing Like A Dame — the 17th annual installment of the always-unforgettable benefit for The Actors Fund’s Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative (PNWHI) — we keep finding incredible photos from DAMES past…which makes us even more excited for March 26th! Check out a few of our latest finds, then head on over to our site for more information and to purchase tickets!
A shot from DAME 1997, featuring Phyllis Newman with (l-r) Adolph Green, Mary Rodgers, Paul Libin and Florence Rowe Libin. Photo by Jerry Speier.
The always amazing Julie Andrews sings a number from Victor/Victoria in 1997. Photo by Jerry Speier.
Margo Jefferson and S. Epatha Merkerson in 1997. Photo by Jerry Speier.
Idina Menzel and Marisa Tomei celebrate DAMES 1997. Photo by Jerry Speier.
Audra McDonald in 2009. Photo by Anita Shevett.
Andrea McCardle performs for DAMES 2009. Photo by Anita Shevett.
Bebe Neuwirth in 2009. Photo by Anita Shevett.
Polly Bergen brings down the house in 2010 -- she'll be returning to do the same thing this year! Photo by Jay Brady Photography.
The 17th annual Nothing Like A Dame will take place March 26, 2011, at the Gerald Lynch Theatre. Visit our website to purchase tickets!
Don’t Miss December’s Special Performances Curtain Speeches: Andrew Rannells in The Book of Mormon and Joel Grey in Anything Goes
The last few weeks have been jam-packed with incredible events benefiting The Actors Fund. From events in Los Angeles (a Musical Monday with Betty Buckley and a reading of It’s a Wonderful Life at the Geffen Playhouse) to New York (performances of The Visit starring Chita Rivera and John Cullum and Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street) our minds are absolutely spinning at the amount of amazing talent – including actors, musicians, directors, dressers, make-up artists, stage managers, company managers, theatre managers, press agents, and many others – who are donating their time throughout the busy holiday season to support The Fund.
The Book of Mormon cast with Actors Fund Trustee Bebe Neuwirth before the December 7th Special Performance. Photo by Jay Brady.
This past week also featured two fabulous Actors Fund Special Performances, the amazingly electric shows that have been a popular part of the entertainment community for more than 80 years. Each year, Broadway companies in New York and on the road add an additional performance to one of their already exhausting eight-show weeks. Everyone involved – actors, musicians, crew, ushers, and more – generously donate their time so that all proceeds go to support The Actors Fund.
On December 7th, The Book of Mormon – the Tony-winning can’t-get-tickets-to-it show – finally had a chance to give its Special Performance, as the original date in September fell victim to the wrath of Hurricane Irene. An excited audience packed the Eugene O’Neill Theatre a Wednesday at 1pm, and in a single matinee the show’s team raised $250,000 to support The Fund’s programs and services! Andrew Rannells (Elder Price), followed the curtain call with this heartfelt curtain speech:
The company of Anything Goes. Photo by Jay Brady.
A few days later, the Roundabout Theatre Company‘s production of Anything Goes gave a spectacular Sunday night performance to a sold-out house, featuring the ailing Sutton Foster’s understudy Kristen Beth Williams. After the show, Tony and Oscar–winning legend Joel Grey gave one of the most incredible Actors Fund curtain speeches to date, kicking off with a little Cabaret treat. He went on to talk about his amazing Actors Fund Special Performance history (which began with Cabraret in the 1960s), then read an emotional text from Sutton Foster, who had so wished she could be there, which thanked Kristen for stepping in with her wonderful interpretation of Reno Sweeney.
The Fund would like to thank the actors, musicians, stage managers, theater managers, company managements, and the many others that are part of both of these wonderful shows – and all of the productions that offer Special Performances – for donating their time so that all proceeds go to The Actors Fund.
We can’t wait for January’s upcoming Special Performances of Follies (January 15) and Relatively Speaking (January 29), and are looking forward to the many, many more to come! To purchase tickets to these or any of our upcoming events benefiting The Fund, visit our website.
Curtain Call: Funny Girl 2002 – Lillias White Performs “Don’t Rain On My Parade”
As we scoured the Internet for footage celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Dreamgirls 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert for The Actors Fund a few weeks ago, we discovered this wonderful video of Lillias White blowing the lid off of the iconic “Don’t Rain On My Parade” from the 2002 benefit production of Funny Girl. The concert version of the acclaimed musical about Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice took place on September 23, 2002 at Ziegfeld’s own New Amsterdam Theater, the Follies‘ home. In an unusual twist, the role of Ms. Brice was shared by a collection of Broadway’s brightest, and the evening’s performers included Gary Beach, Len Cariou, Carolee Carmello, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Peter Gallagher, Ana Gasteyer, Whoopi Goldberg, Jane Krakowski, Judy Kuhn, Julia Murney, LaChanze, Ricki Lake, Andrea Martin, Idina Menzel, Bebe Neuwirth, Alice Playten, The Rockettes, and Ms. White.
Curtain Call: The 20th Anniversary Dreamgirls Benefit Concert
It’s been ten years since the unforgettable one-night-only 20th Anniversary performance of Dreamgirls, the Tony Award–winning musical by librettist Tom Eyen and composer Henry Krieger. The event, which was a benefit for The Actors Fund, took place September 24, 2001, at The Ford Center (now The Foxwoods Theatre) — not long after the 9/11 attacks. Actors Fund President Brian Stokes Mitchell, who had a cameo in the show, began the evening with a pre-show speech to remind everyone that, in the face of the horrible events everyone in New York City had just witnessed, it was more important than ever to remind ourselves that the show must go on.
Under the Musical and Artistic Direction of Seth Rudetsky, the evening starred the incredible trio of Audra McDonald, Heather Headley and Lillas White, and also featured appearances by Malcom Gets, Darius de Haas, Norm Lewis, Alice Ripley, Brad Oscar, Billy Porter, Emily Skinner, James Stovall, Tamara Tunie and Patrick Wilson. Danny Herman and Brenda Braxton co-directed and co-choreographed the evening. Nonesuch Records released a recording of the event, which is still available.
The event raised over a million dollars for The Fund, and just a few of the supporters who came out for the show included Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Betty Buckley, Celeste Holm and Patti LuPone.
Check out this preview performance by Audra, Heather, and Lillas on The Rosie O’Donnell Show:
Remembering 9/11: An Actors Fund Story
On this day of remembrance, we pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 by taking a moment to remind our community that The Fund provides an important safety net for members of the entertainment industry. With a crisis like 9/11, this message becomes even more urgent. The Fund helps our colleagues to face challenges and crises that can arise in anyone’s life. In difficult times, we’re there to assist and guide. For example, through The Actors Fund Work Program, people learn how to translate industry experience into other job opportunities; through our Entertainment Assistance Program, our social workers provide intensive case management that is sensitive to the competitive nature of work in the industry. The following story is one example of how these two programs made a big difference in one person’s life.
Following September 11th, 2001, The Fund initiated a variety of programs and services to help members of the entertainment industry directly affected by the attacks. Counseling programs were initiated, social workers helped link people with special services and job search seminars were expanded for those whose sideline work was in lower Manhattan.
One of the first participants in this expanded job search seminar was a 40-year-old SAG/AFTRA actress member who had a long-term, temporary position at a major financial company located next to the World Trade Center. Having always supplemented her acting career with work as an office temp, she found herself without a job, and suffering anxiety and stress.
She learned about AWP’s job search seminar from a flyer posted at her union. She was relieved to connect, especially because her former employer provided no support and it was difficult securing assistance from other public and private support services.
She gained job search assistance, social service support and help from the weekly support group, and began working full-time as an administrative assistant where a flexible work schedule allowed her to audition. She also received mental health support and guidance, from our Mental Health Services. This is just one of many stories of those we help every day in need, crisis or transition.
We join our fellow Americans in remembering everyone we lost on that September morning. And remember: Everyone needs help sometime, and The Fund is ready when that time comes. Visit us at www.actorsfund.org.
Curtain Call: The Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement
It’s not too late to grab tickets for this weekend’s Tony Awards Party at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, which will honor the incredible actor Hal Holbrook with The Actors Fund‘s Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement. The gathering not only features the official Tony live feed–of course!–but also a special program hosted by Marilu Henner and featuring Sean Penn, who will present Mr. Holbrook with his award.
Be sure to view Marilu Henner’s appearance on Good Day LA, during which she talked up the Tony Party (skip to 2:10 to hear her promo The Fund!), and check out these photos of previous Julie Harris Award honorees from our archives.
2006 Julie Harris Award Winner Liza Minnelli
2005 Julie Harris Award Winner Stockard Channing (with Joanne Worley, Elaine Stritch and Jason Graee)
2004 Julie Harris Award Winner James Earl Jones (with Henry Winkler, Joanne Worley and Jason Alexander)
2009 Julie Harris Award Winner Chita Rivera (with daughter Lisa Mordente and Tippi Hedren)
2008 Julie Harris Award Winner Tommy Tune (with Carol Channing and Florence Henderson)
2010 Julie Harris Award Winner Brian Stokes Mitchell (with Annette Bening and Tommy Tune). Credit Bill Dow.
2007 Julie Harris Award Winner Jerry Herman, right (with composer and lyricist Jeff Marx, left)
Happy Birthday to The Actors Fund!
The interior of Wallack's Theatre at 30th and Broadway. Not long after its 1882 opening, it was the venue for the first official meeting of The Actors Fund after its incorporation.
On June 8, 1882, after years of hard work and dedication by some of the American theatre’s most ardent supporters, the New York State Legislature passed special legislation to officially incorporate The Actors Fund. One-hundred years later, to celebrate its centennial, The Fund threw a birthday bash at Radio City Music Hall, Night of 100 Stars, which was telecast nationwide on CBS. Check out one of the fabulous numbers below:
And here’s a little bit on those first official days from A History of The Actors’ Fund of America by Louis M. Simon (published in 1972):
By June 8, 1882, the Act of Incorporation, drafted by Hon A. J. Dittenhoefer, had been passed into law by the New York State Legislature. On Saturday, July 15, the first meeting officially held under the charter took place at Wallack’s Theatre at 12 noon. Mr. William Henderson presided. Permanent officers were elected to serve during what remained of the year 1882–83.
P. T. Barnum, one of The Actors Fund's first trustees.
President, Lester Wallack; Vice-President, A. M. Palmer; Secretary, Daniel Frohman; Treasurer; Theodore Moss…. Initial trustees were, according to the Act of Incorporation, the first seventeen incorporators named in the bill. They were:
Lester Wallack Edwin Booth Henry E. Abbey Joseph Jefferson M. H. Mallory Lawrence Barrett H. C. Miner W. E. Sinn A. M. Palmer Edward Harrigan William Henderson John F. Poole P. T. Barnum W. T. Florence Frank Chanfrau Bartley Campbell Samuel Colville
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