13 Comments

Charles' passing leaves a hole in my heart.

Expand full comment

"Charles Grodin is the only man I would ever marry." That was my long-standing mantra until I married my husband (not Charles Grodin).

Expand full comment

I loved your tribute so much that I subscribed to your newsletter. There's so much content and so many platforms out there -- but your writing was so eloquent that it cut through the clutter.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Maryam!

Expand full comment

He was a great guy, i became friends with Chuck while coaching his son. He had heart of gold, once after i had back surgery and was going to be home for couple months he sent me a box of cds from past shows he had worked on and some books along with note that said these should help u sleep :). We used to have hour long phone calls where we would talk Giants, Mets,Knicks and always a great story or two from his days. I have a daughter with special needs and he always made a point of asking how she and rest of my family were doing. You never felt like you were talking to a celebrity, you were just talking to Chuck. I loved our golf cart rides😀

RIP Chuck

Expand full comment
author

Thanks for weighing in, Blake

Expand full comment

I had the opportunity to meet Charles Grodin twice at book signings.At one signing he graciously inscribed my old copy of ‘It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here’for my daughter and ‘How I Got to Be Whoever It is I Am’ to me. As he was signing the books we spoke about his friend, playwright Herb Gardner. He shared some memories. I mentioned that at Gardner’s memorial Tom Selleck read the speech Gardner wrote for Selleck to read at the curtain call of the first post-9/11 Broadway performance of A Thousand Clowns. Grodin told me that he was managing the memorial backstage and never heard Selleck. Fortunately, I had a copy of the speech with me.(I’d written Mrs. Gardner requesting a copy.) I was able to give it him. He struck me as a generous, thoughtful and decent man.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Scott..That must have been poignant. .I'm hoping people can share their experiences with people I write about--and people I don't, who may have wise and interesting stuff to say....

Expand full comment

Beautiful story...feeling the love <3

Expand full comment

What a fabulous memory!!!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Tamera. I hope to hear from anyone who appreciated him.

Expand full comment

I have fond memories of his CNBC talkshow and prior to that always got a kick out of his schtick when appearing on late night talkshows. He was a liberal on cable news long before it became fashionable to be a liberal on cable news.

Expand full comment
author

That's a good point. Before there was Maddow or Hayes, there was Grodin. Around 2013, when Chris Hayes was an obscure weekend anchor, Chuck sent me an email asking if I knew him. He could see that Chris had talent.

Expand full comment