ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Youve starred in three of Neil Simons plays.
Anyone who is good with language would be a good fit for Neil Simon.
In many ways, his writing does a lot of the work for you.
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He often said, from his point of view, he was writing dramas with comic moments in them.
It may be the best play he ever wrote.
He probably sensed my nervousness and fear in meeting him for the first time.
He was very kind and gracious.
I was very relieved.
AndLaughter on the 23rd Floor?Laughter on the 23rd Floorwas exciting because it was a new play.
Getting to originate a role in a new Neil Simon play was a dream come true.
I had the thrill of going out-of-town with him and watching him in action and seeing his rewrites.
He would constantly rewrite, making it better and figuring out the play in front of audiences.
I was originally asked to play one of the comedy writers.
Then, at the last-minute, they had a reading of it.
They were going to get a big, burly actor to play the Sid Caesar character.
[The play is inspired by Simons years writing forThe Show of Showsand comic Sid Caesar.
]Sid Caesar was 62, 250 pounds.
They asked me to read the role of Max Prince, the character based on Sid.
Just for the purpose of the reading they felt I would bring the right energy to it.
Neil said to me, What you lack in height, you make up for in anger.
That particular play has always been meaningful to me.
I read Oscar Madisons tirade about Felixs annoying habits.
Hed been holding onto the rights in the hope that I would do that.
Its certainly a classic American comedy of the 20th century.
It was an honor just to be asked to do it.
Whenever I was with him, I felt 11 years old.
He was always very kind to me and appreciative.
I never wanted to let him down or disappoint him.
When I did well by him, it was incredibly gratifying because you felt you were pleasing the master.
It was mainly this working relationship.
He could be funny, obviously.
He wasnt on in the way that Mel Brooks is constantly, relentlessly funny and entertaining.
With Neil, [it was] if something [occurred] to him.
We were in my dressing room once and we were discussing a scene.
He kept looking over at this humidifier on the dressing table.
It was a big, blue water-filled tank from which steam would slowly and steadily rise.
He could be funny when he wanted to be, but it was mainly about the work.
It was doing the work because it was serious business.
[Laughs] No, I didnt really.
Hes one of the rare people in the theater.
Its one of those careers that is really unparalleled.
Certainly, he was incredibly deserving of that honor.
Frank Rich, the last two reviews of his career as a critic he reviewedLaughter on the 23rd FloorandPerestroika.
So, it does bring back memories then to be acting in it myself.
Im just very proud to have played a small part in his career and been a part of it.
Its something I will always treasure.
