How I Got to Be Whoever It Is I Am - Hardcover

Grodin, Charles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0446519405 ISBN 13: 9780446519403

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

In his candid and engaging new book HOW I GOT TO BE WHOEVER IT IS I AM, successful actor, author, and activist, Charles Grodin, looks back at the major events and private moments that have shaped his life. And, since Grodin is one of the best storytellers around, he can't help but entertain while offering insight gained from a wealth of experience.

The combination of being impeached as class president by his fifth grade teacher (and then winning many school elections thereafter) with being thrown out of Hebrew School for asking too many questions (only to find a much better teacher as a result) informed Grodin's view of himself and made him adept at dealing with rejection--an important skill for an actor. Grodin's success in plays in high school and adventures in college theater led him to a career in acting, studying with the great teachers like Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg.

Grodin shares behind-the-scenes tales of working on plays like Same Time Next Year and movies like The Heartbreak Kid and Midnight Run--even how close he came to playing the lead in The Graduate. His stories feature the many actors, directors, writers, and producers, with whom he's worked, such as Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Johnny Carson, Orson Welles, Warren Beatty, and other colorful characters.

Grodin's greatest work isn't limited to stage and screen, however. He has been an award winning talk show host and commentator on Sixty Minutes II, and he reveals insights about the political and personal side of journalism and some of the larger-than-life characters he's interviewed.

Still, it is the personal aspects of Grodin's life that are truly revealing and funny. He shares intimate anecdotes of humorous dating experiences during the carefree 70s along with stories of what it was like to be a young actor then with friends and colleagues like Robert Redford, Gene Wilder, and Dustin Hoffman.

But it is Grodin's tales of the lives he's helped save with his relentless advocacy work that make you realize what a great guy Charles Grodin really is. We are lucky that the nice guy his friends call, "Chuck" brings us along to share a little of his journey of how he got to be who he really is!

The author is donating 100 percent of his royalties from sales of this book to Mentoring USA, a New York City based nonprofit that forges powerful, transformative connections for young people through the advocacy and involvement of mentors.

About this title

About the Author:

Charles Grodin is a recipient of the William Kuntsler Award for Racial Justice and has been honored by Habitat for Humanity for his humanitarian efforts on behalf of the homeless. He is best known for his starring roles in The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run and the Beethoven movies, among dozens of others. He has written six books including the bestseller It Would Be So Nice If You Weren't Here. Charles Grodin was a commentator for 60 Minutes II and is currently a commentator for CBS News. He also writes a weekly op-ed column for the New York Daily News website.

Review:

"I love this book and I'll tell you why. I've known Chuck Grodin for many years now and between you and me, I've often wondered how exactly he became whoever he is. Finally, he reveals everything and he turns out to be a regular guy. In fact, he's a great guy who quietly does good things for a lot of people and we're all better off for it. Oh yeah, he happens to be a great actor too." (Regis Philbin)

"When Chuck Grodin plays a character in a movie, no matter how funny that character might be, Chuck is relentlessly honest, detailed and probing. That's how he is in this charming, thoughtful book, which examines what may be his funniest and most interesting character: the one called Chuck Grodin." (Alan Alda)

"Millions of people know Chuck Grodin as a longtime star of stage, screen television, and radio. Now they will learn that he not only is devastatingly funny, but passionately humane and refreshingly candid as well." (Governor Mario Cuomo)

"Heartwarming, funny, brilliant. Chuck's new book is all of these, and more!" (Henry Schleiff CEO, The Hallmark Channel)

"Reading Charles Grodin's book is like sitting in the makeup trailer with him (as I was privileged to do on two films.) You laugh hysterically, you say, 'Huh? Where does he come up with this stuff?' and you shake your head in wonder at the uniqueness of his brilliant mind. And, you are moved by his commitment to giving a voice to the voiceless in our society. Then...you laugh hysterically again. That's Charles." (Mary Steenburgen)

About this edition

• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0446519405
• ISBN 13: 9780446519403
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 253