HollywoodSignGuy wrote:Hello, Mr. Rollyson (Hi, Moira!)
Congrats on your new book! I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but over the years I have read your Susan Sontag, the Day by Day Marilyn, and Dana Andrews. Each was quite good and I enjoyed them all so I know I'll like your Walter Brennan. Were you able to speak with anyone who knew WB? And what struck you the most about Brennan, either in his persona life, or career...favorably or not so favorably.
Thank you!
How nice to hear from a reader of some of my other books! I spoke to several people who knew Walter Brennan. Both his sons are still alive, and I interviewed them many times. I also spoke with several of his grandchildren and friends of his in Joseph, Oregon. Kathy Nolan, who starred with him in The Real McCoys, gave me a great interview, as did Angie Dickinson (via email). Alas, many of the actors I would liked to have interviewed have died, but some of them left oral histories--like John Ireland.
I don't have to like my subjects. They just have to be good subjects. But I did like Walter Brennan, although is politics were nothing like mine. He was genuine. He really liked people, and most actors, regardless of their politics, enjoyed working with him. He did have a feud with John Forsythe about politics when they were doing a television series together, but that was relatively rare because Brennan was such a professional.