THE SAD MAN
In all of the 1940's and well into the 50's, Dana Andrews was a major Hollywood star with films like "The Ox-Bow Incident" with Henry Fonda, "Laura" with Gene Tierney, "State Fair" with Jeanne Crain, "My Foolish Heart" with Susan Hayward, "The Best Years of Our Lives" with Frederick March and Myrna Loy and "Elephant Walk" with Elizabeth Taylor. In 1958, he even had a fling with Broadway replacing Henry Fonda in "Two for the Seesaw." In the mid-sixties he signed on to do a production of "Paint Your Wagon" at the Meadowbrook.
Somewhere in his illustrious career, he began to drink (a little too much). And while he fought to control it, the death of his eldest son David from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1964 pushed him over the edge. Sadly, soon after, we met.
He was a kind man, but had his demons. (Janet Murray, his first wife and mother of David had perished from pneumonia after only three years of marriage.)
Upon realizing that he was so intoxicated at dress rehearsal for "Wagon," by his slurring of words and forgetting lines, the producers were forced to take action and a replacement was brought in to do the show. After that dress rehearsal I never saw him again. He sent someone to pick up his things as I'm sure he was too embarrassed to return to the theater.
Much later in life, he did get the drinking under control and even did Public Service announcements about the disease. He ultimately died from complications of Alzheimer's Disease, but fought a valiant fight.
I never heard him utter an unkind word and remember him fondly for his smile and his friendly manner even though it may have been a façade for a very sad man albeit one with an enormous talent.
Somewhere in his illustrious career, he began to drink (a little too much). And while he fought to control it, the death of his eldest son David from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1964 pushed him over the edge. Sadly, soon after, we met.
He was a kind man, but had his demons. (Janet Murray, his first wife and mother of David had perished from pneumonia after only three years of marriage.)
Upon realizing that he was so intoxicated at dress rehearsal for "Wagon," by his slurring of words and forgetting lines, the producers were forced to take action and a replacement was brought in to do the show. After that dress rehearsal I never saw him again. He sent someone to pick up his things as I'm sure he was too embarrassed to return to the theater.
Much later in life, he did get the drinking under control and even did Public Service announcements about the disease. He ultimately died from complications of Alzheimer's Disease, but fought a valiant fight.
I never heard him utter an unkind word and remember him fondly for his smile and his friendly manner even though it may have been a façade for a very sad man albeit one with an enormous talent.
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