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IN PRAISE OF CHARLES GRODIN
In Praise of Charles Grodin
Here is our podcast where we interview Chuck on the Flipside:
I’m sorry to report on the passing of my good friend, mentor and frequent benefactor Charles Grodin. Most only saw his public persona, over the past 40 years I had a rare glimpse of his private person as well as generosity of spirit.
For example, not many are aware that he overturned the Rockefeller Laws in New York State. Charles asked me to help produce segments for his show on CNBC. Along with his daughter Marion Grodin, his long time friend John Gabriel, and his chief executive assistant Clay Dettmer, we scoured the streets of Manhattan on behalf of Chuck.
The kind of look he’d give if you asked if
he was going to finish his french fries.
Our mutual friend Luana Anders had passed away, and Chuck called me up and asked what I was doing. I said I was working on directing my next feature film. He said “Come and work in my show and create segments, man on the street interviews.” I said “I can’t.”
But after hanging up the phone I remembered when I called him to appear in my film “You Can’t Hurry Love.” He could not because he was doing a film “The Couch Trip.” But after saying no, he called back and…