Cosby—His Life and Times By Mark Whitaker (Simon & Schuster, 2014) Mark Whitaker writes the biggest Bill Cosby biography yet, and what happens? The book (which is as close to […]

Sammy Davis Jr.—A Personal Journey With My Father By Tracey Davis and Nina Bunche Pierce Where Sammy Davis Jr.’s own memoirs can get wordy and obtuse, Tracey Davis’ big photo […]

Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies Construction and Photography by John McCann. Edited and narrated by Monica Sweeney and Becky Thomas. (Skyhorse Publishing, 2014) Since irony is a big element in John […]

C3PO: But wait, where do you go? Pray, do come back! Most typical this is. O wretched fate, To be deserted by my friends most dear. These human beings care […]

“And you can…” “Um, I know a lot of people’s last words.” It was an indulgence, learning last words. Other people had chocolate; I had dying declarations. “Example?” “I like […]

Lee Marvin—Point Blank By Dwayne Epstein (Schaffner Press, 2013)   Dwayne Epstein’s unauthorized biography of Hollywood heavy Lee Marvin does a commendable job of myth-busting. Marvin’s time as a stage […]

Ian Donaldson’s excellent biography of Ben Jonson is out in paperback. I’m a lifelong fan of Jonson–my father directed a convulsive production of Volpone when I was a tot, and […]