Namedropping

My best friend, Tom Kazar, lived in Long Beach for 8 years or so right after we graduated from college. When I moved to LA in 1998, he told me, “Irc, keep one thing in mind – you have everything you could ever want at your fingertips in Los Angeles. Enjoy it while you’re there”. So, ever since I moved here, people have asked me, “have you met anyone famous?”. Here’s the list – saves me the trouble of sitting there with a dumb look on my face when I’m being grilled. NOTE: These are folk I’ve actually met and had a meaningful discussion with. Don’t ask me about what.

Brian Wilson – The Beach Boys “genius”, Wendy Wilson, Carnie Wilson, Chynna Phillips, Marilyn Wilson – Brian Wilson’s ex, Barbara Wilson – Dennis Wilson’s ex, Justyn Wilson – Carl Wilson’s son, Jonah Wilson – Carl Wilson’s son, Ricci Martin – Dean Martin’s son, Jeanne Martin – Dean Martin’s ex, Carl B. Wilson – Dennis Wilson’s son, Michael Wilson – Dennis Wilson’s son, Billie Hinsche – former musician with the Beach Boys and now touring with Al Jardine of the Beach Boys, Anne Hinsche – Carl Wilson’s ex, Jeff Foskett – singer/musician with Brian Wilson, Jay – owner of Chez Jay’s - Dennis Wilson’s favorite hangout, Ed Figuero – former drummer for the Beach Boys, Desi Arnaz Jr., Karen Lamm – Dennis Wilson’s ex-wife, former model/actress, wonderful woman, Jon Stebbins – author of The Real Beach Boy, bio of Dennis Wilson, Alan Boyd – producer of Endless Harmony, Beach Boys bio on VH1, Ed Roach – photographer for the Beach Boys, Jerry Schilling – Memphis Mafia/Elvis’ former mgr., Carl Wilson’s former mgr., Steve Kalinich – co-writer with Dennis Wilson, The Honey’s – Brian Wilson’s girl surf band in the 60’s, Jan Berry & Dean Torrance – Jan & Dean, 60’s surf band pioneers, Earl Hamner Jr. – creator of The Walton’s, Michael Learned – mother in The Walton’s, Jon Walmsley – Jim-Bob in The Walton’s, Seymour Cassell – starred in a lot of John Cassavettes films, The Life Aquatic, Rob Reiner, Merv Griffin, Eugene Levy – SCTV, Waiting for Guffman, Carlos Alazraqui - the voice of the Taco Bell Chihuahua, Reno 911!, Bruce Boxleitner, Megan Gallagher – China Beach, Jack Klugman, Bruce Dern, Jeff Conaway, Dominic Monaghan, Cory Feldman, Mike Farrell – son of Mike Farrell from MASH, Dan Lauria – father from The Wonder Years, Alley Mills – mother from The Wonder Years, Richard Roxburgh – Van Helsing, Mission Impossible II, Tim Conway, Ernest Borgnine, Michelle Phillips – Mamas & the Papas, Doug McKeon - the boy in On Golden Pond, Dick Martin – from Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Scott Bakula, Ashton Kutcher, Steven Lisberger – Screenwriter of Tron, Martinez, A. – The Cowboys, Port Charles, Santa Barbara, Don Cornelius – creator and host, Soul Train, Corbin Bernsen – LA Law, Major League, Joe Lando – Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman .

I think I'm tickled the most by the Beach Boys-related celebs as I've been a Beach Boy groupie since high school. Everyone was extremely laid back - like old friends, and I've met them all (as has my brother, Jason) on several occasions while involved with the Carl Wilson Cancer Foundation. Eugene Levy and I had a succinct conversation while standing at the bathroom urinals at Rob Reiner's production company in Beverly Hills. Earl Hamner is an avid fisherman and has a beautiful, trophy marlin on the wall in his office in Studio City. What a thrill it was meeting him! If you didn't already know, the TV series, The Waltons, was based on Earl's real life in Virginia, and Earl IS John-Boy, who was my inspiration to major in Journalism in college. John-Boy, that is. Well...Earl, too, I guess. Also, that was Earl's voice you heard narrating each episode. Ricci Martin, Dean Martin's son, is a wonderful man and a chip off the old block (I'll get to Deano in another blog). Karen Lamm - well I'm gonna keep most of that story to myself. Embodiment of the 70's Californian girl, she was a model/actress and graced billboards, television and magazine ads, while hanging out with Jack Nicholson and Elliott Gould, and she was married to Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys twice. I first met Karen at her apartment in West LA, and as she eyed me up and down, she said that if she had met me "back in the day" she woulda "went for me in a second"...which has to be one of the most flattering things anyone has ever shared with me. Her heart gave out in 2001 and most certainly was taken from this life much too early - she was 49. I went to her funeral and the reception that followed at her sister's house. Elliott Gould, Judd Nelson and Catherine Bach were in attendance. I'm thankful I got to know her that last year of her life...and I think of her often.

I probably missed a couple. There's a bunch I've seen from afar (Tom Cruise - 20 yards) or seen and just said "hi" to (Jack Lemmon, walking his poodle) - but I didn't bother to get into all that. You might have noticed Mel Gibson and Brett Favre are not on the list. Yet.