And a lot of the obits for Richard Harris are also parsing words in odd ways. I get the idea that if their writers were allowed to throw tact to the wind, they'd all begin like this…
Richard Harris, an Irish-born actor who was best known for heavy drinking, has amazed everyone who knew him by living to the age of 72…
I saw Harris in the early-80's revival of Camelot in which he replaced an ailing Richard Burton. A night or two before, he had been on with Mr. Carson, regaling America with some tale of him and Peter O'Toole quaffing gallons of spirits one night and waking up in the damnedest place. Johnny mentioned that O'Toole was booked for the show the following week and Harris said, "Well, ask him if he remembers that night and if he says he does, he's a damned liar." Odd how I recall that and not one thing about his performance as King Arthur.