Farewell to two of the icons of our generation
Hello Fellow Members,
How sad this week of news. We have lost two acting icons of our generation.
First the news of Robin Williams, a mere 63, taken by his own hand.
Then that of the death of Lauren Bacall at age 89.
We grew up with them both, and we loved them.
Firstly, Bacall. She was never able to shrug off the title of Mrs. Humphrey Bogart, despite being a woman and a star in her own right.
A fashion icon, a proto-feminist and movie veteran of more than 60 films she was enigmatic, charismatic and unique.
And Robin Williams.
Who could forget how he burst onto our screens in 1978 as Mork in Mork and Mindy.
A loveable alien in that role, and in many ways one in his own real life.
As US President Barack Obama remarked: “Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny a president, a professor, a barangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between.
“He was one of a kind.
“He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit”.
I will always cherish those moments I saw him live on stage at Hollywood’s Comedy Store when I lived and worked as a correspondent in Los Angeles. He would bob up unexpectedly amongst the try-outs to test new material.
Both Bacall and Williams were Oscar winners, but more significantly both won our hearts.
She was the sassy, smart-talking tough broad with cinema presence to burn; he was a comedy genius with a serious acting ability, which continued to astound us and confound us with its depth and profundity.
Their obituaries both filled with brickbats and bouquets (thankfully, mostly bouquets).
It is not for us to judge either of their lifestyles or reputations, just to admire and savour what they gave our generations in the ultimate pursuit of their craft.
And a reminder to us all how much we should cherish the later years of our lives.
Vale Hollywood legends.
And ‘Nanoo Nanoo’.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
