In the years just before he died, actor Charles Nelson Reilly toured in a one-man autobiographical show that I wish I'd seen. Everyone I know who did said it was an incredible evening with an incredible man. At some point in his life, Mr. Reilly got typed as an outrageous presence on talk shows and game shows…and I suppose you could argue that he had no one to blame but himself. Whatever the cause, a lot of folks forgot or never knew that he was an accomplished actor with impressive Broadway and off-Broadway credits. He was also a well-respected teacher of his craft and a generally fascinating man, beloved by all who knew him.
Fortunately for those of us who didn't get to see it, The Life of Reilly was recorded as a movie that received some theatrical exhibition and a stealth DVD release. You can buy a copy, as I did, from this website for $17…but before you do that, you might enjoy a little sample. The producers have put all or most of the film up on YouTube and you can watch the opening on this page and if you like it, find your way from there to the other parts. Or you can just sample one chapter that I've selected and embedded below. It's a story Mr. Reilly told about his appearances with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show and one particularly memorable moment…