The first audition I ever went on was in 1960 at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood; I was accompanied by my mother at the instruction of my father. “You have to learn how to take rejection if you really want to be an actor,” he said. He had to eat his own words. I got the job.
Vintage ‘60, a review, was very successful in Los Angeles. I made $15.00 a week on an Equity waiver contract. David Merrick took it to Broadway where it wasn't so successful – it lasted eight performances.
My father got his wish: I learned about rejection. And I got my wish: I became a member of Actors' Equity. I was 17 years old.
