Shelley Winters, R.I.P.

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I haven't seen it in any of the obits that are online so far but there's a great story about Shelley Winters that other actors tell. I must have heard it a dozen times just from Howard Morris.

It took place late in her career, about the time she hit age seventy. She had a string of auditions with directors and casting directors who looked like children to her and who, she felt, were not showing her the proper respect. She was, after all, Shelley Winters. So when her agent sent her to meet one particular gentleman who was casting a new feature film, she went prepared.

She sat down in the casting director's office, right in front of his desk. After some pleasantries, the man said to her, "Now, Ms. Winters…remind me what you've done."

Shelley Winters reached into a big bag she'd brought with her, pulled out an Academy Award statuette and slammed it down on the man's desk. "That was for The Diary of Anne Frank," she announced. Then she pulled out another Oscar and put it next to the first one. "And that one was for A Patch of Blue. Now, why don't you remind me what you've done?"

I don't know for sure that happened. But it should have.

I met Ms. Winters only once and only for a few minutes. Chuck McCann introduced us at a restaurant and I said something real geeky. I think it was, "You know how everyone who meets you tells you what a great actress you are. Well, I agree." And she really was great in just about everything she did, ranging from the films for which she won those statuettes to fluff like Bloody Mama and a guest villain role on the Batman TV show. I also admired the incredible candor she displayed in her books and talk show appearances. One time, she was telling Johnny Carson about how she'd go to a Hollywood spa every week and sit around the sauna, discussing the men of Hollywood with other actresses of all ages. Johnny asked, "What's the main topic?" And though NBC bleeped it, you could tell from the audience reaction and Mr. Carson's expression, she'd answered, "Penis size."

Just when the laugh died down, she added, "Your name came up the other day." Johnny quickly decided it was a good time for a commercial…and I'm not sure he had Shelley on his show again after that. He should have. She was one of the best.