Tim Matheson has portrayed a president and vice president. A police officer and military officer. And more than a few doctors. He's worked with Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Jackie Gleason, Kurt Russell and He appeared in episodes of everything from 鈥淟eave to Beaver鈥� and 鈥淢y Three Sons鈥� to 鈥淭his is Us鈥� and 鈥淐SI.鈥�
The 76-year-old has hundreds of acting, directing and producing credits to his name over a career that began when John F. Kennedy was president. (Yes, Matheson , too.)
Matheson transports readers to the sets of quite a few of his Hollywood gigs in the enjoyable and illuminating memoir, 鈥淒amn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches.鈥�
The book's title is a nod to the recurring line Matheson delivers as Eric 鈥淥tter鈥� Stratton, the Delta rush chairman in the all-time comedy, 鈥淎nimal House."
The section on the making of the classic 1978 film is almost worth the book's purchase price alone. Spoiler alert: Some of the actors who played Delta House members got up to their own hijinks while on location at the , the stand-in for the fictional Faber College. The description of the cast's visit to a real frat party in Eugene is a particular highlight.
鈥淒amn Glad to Meet You" isn't all fun and games, though. It features some helpful tips and tricks on acting/directing and navigating the Hollywood jungle as well as some poignant moments. Matheson recounts the time he spent with some actors/comedians who were taken too early, including John Candy, Chris Farley and Sam Kinison 鈥� plus, his 鈥淎nimal House鈥� co-star John Belushi.
鈥淵ou came for some Belushi stories,鈥� Matheson writes. 鈥淚 know. He's who I'm asked about more than anyone else I've ever worked with, and I've worked with almost everyone.鈥�
These days, Matheson is working north of the border, where his hit Netflix show, is shot.
It's just the latest in a very long line of roles the native Californian has taken on in his productive and lengthy career.
鈥淚've been lucky. I know that," Matheson writes. 鈥淚've always found a place to tell a story.鈥�
And now, he's telling us his stories. We should be damn glad he did.
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AP book reviews:
Mike Householder, The Associated Press
