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After a lifetime of part-time jobs, Bruce
Fairbairn now finds himself knocking down a nice
salary as a regular in a TV series, and he
thinks its the best job he's ever had, thank
you.
Shunting aside
all the usual ballyhoo (the networks would have
you believe that it is their agents and
producers who turn up popular talent), it would
seem that, in this instance the description fits
the case. Three weeks before Bruce was signed
for the role of Chris Owens in ABC's "The
Rookies," he was tending bar at J.G. Melon's
Restaurant on east 74th Street in New York. He
had been working there for 14 months.
His wife, Jeri,
was teaching harp, fencing and voice, and the
couple enjoyed a small apartment on 105th Street
and West End Avenue. By living modestly, we are
told, they were able to save money, no mean feat
even with both of them working. Bruce figured he
had a good job and everything was coming up
roses. Prior to tending bar, he had sold
advertising space in a Greek newspaper, washed
dishes (doesn't everybody?) and sold balloons.
Bruce had some ambition to be an actor, an
ambition he pursued, it would seem, as hard as
he pursued a career as a brain surgeon. He had
accomplished some acting, notably bit parts in
daytime serials.
In all of the
acting profession there is nothing that
describes a "bit part" better than a tiny role
in a daytime serial. They are usually the guys
who deliver the flowers, but get no lines
because that would cost the produces more money.
They are the spear carriers in vehicles that
have no spear carriers. Another example of
Bruce's acting skills, would be his experience
with a group called the Barn Dinner Theater. He
was with that outfit for four months as it
toured with "Under the Yum Yum Tree." The little
group played all the biggies, Shreveport, La;
Albuquerque, N.M.
He was still
working at Melon's when he took a Christmas
vacation in December, 1973, and visited his
mother in Los Angeles. While there, he called a
New York friend, Screen Gems talent exec. Renee
Valenti. She introduced him around, and he
landed a spot on "Police Story." The show was
aired the following March, but Bruce missed it.
He was too busy pushing booze at Melon's to
watch it on the TV set over his head.
But somebody out
there was watching. Leonard Goldberg, of
Spelling/Goldberg Productions, spotted Bruce
while looking for a young actor for "The
Rookies." On April 25, 1974, Bruce stepped from
behind the bar and on May 21 stepped before the
cameras. He and Jeri also moved out of that
small apartment on West End Avenue into an
apartment in the high rent district of the San
Fernando Valley outside Los Angeles. And he
likes his job very much.
My question is
simple: How in the world did he and Jeri ever
save any money back when they lived in New York?
By
Jack Ryan
Transcribed by Christos Spirou for use on The
Rookies Online:
http://www.therookies.gr
For entertainment purpose only. No profit or
copyright infringement intended.
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