The Ones That Hurt
People die every day. That includes famous people. I've noticed the rhythm getting a little faster, a little steadier as I get older myself and the famous people who die are less often just names I know and more often those whose work I know. Even then, it's mostly regret that they aren't here to continue doing the things for which I admired them.
But sometimes it really, really hurts.
I was a huge fan of "Mork and Mindy" in my pre-teen and early teen years. I wanted to be Pam Dawber because she was beautiful and she got to hang out with this good-looking and absolutely crazy guy. And then I followed along as he switched to movies, some of which I could rewatch daily as he put together yet another character that was always so much more than just funny. Dead Poets Society, Good Morning, Vietnam, Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Awakenings, The Birdcage... He spanned generations and will be sorely missed.
I wish I could say I'm surprised by the preliminary reports of suicide. Even when he was at his peak in a role, especially when playing a character with some damage, the things that drove him to drugs and alcohol were always there, under the surface. I think the only major role that fully masked it was Aladdin, since it was just his voice.
O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
But sometimes it really, really hurts.
I was a huge fan of "Mork and Mindy" in my pre-teen and early teen years. I wanted to be Pam Dawber because she was beautiful and she got to hang out with this good-looking and absolutely crazy guy. And then I followed along as he switched to movies, some of which I could rewatch daily as he put together yet another character that was always so much more than just funny. Dead Poets Society, Good Morning, Vietnam, Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Awakenings, The Birdcage... He spanned generations and will be sorely missed.
I wish I could say I'm surprised by the preliminary reports of suicide. Even when he was at his peak in a role, especially when playing a character with some damage, the things that drove him to drugs and alcohol were always there, under the surface. I think the only major role that fully masked it was Aladdin, since it was just his voice.
O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.