Charles Grodin "How I Got To Be Whoever It Is I Am" Signed First Edition, Leather Bound Collector's Edition w/COA [Sealed]

Personally signed by Charles Grodin. Signed First Edition.

Easton Press 2009. Charles Grodin "How I Got To Be Whoever It Is I Am" Signed First Edition of 1,100 w/COA. Full genuine leather. Sealed without any flaws. 

Charles Grodin is a recipient of the William Kuntsler Award for Racial Justice and has been honored by Habitat for Humanity for his humanitarian efforts on behalf of the homeless. He is best known for his starring roles in The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run and the Beethoven movies, among dozens of others. He has written six books including the bestseller It Would Be So Nice If You Weren't Here. Charles Grodin was a commentator for 60 Minutes II and is currently a commentator for CBS News. He also writes a weekly op-ed column for the New York Daily News website.

About the book

In his candid and engaging new book HOW I GOT TO BE WHOEVER IT IS I AM, successful actor, author, and activist, Charles Grodin, looks back at the major events and private moments that have shaped his life. And, since Grodin is one of the best storytellers around, he can't help but entertain while offering insight gained from a wealth of experience.

The combination of being impeached as class president by his fifth grade teacher (and then winning many school elections thereafter) with being thrown out of Hebrew School for asking too many questions (only to find a much better teacher as a result) informed Grodin's view of himself and made him adept at dealing with rejection--an important skill for an actor. Grodin's success in plays in high school and adventures in college theater led him to a career in acting, studying with the great teachers like Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg.

Grodin shares behind-the-scenes tales of working on plays like Same Time Next Year and movies like The Heartbreak Kid and Midnight Run--even how close he came to playing the lead in The Graduate. His stories feature the many actors, directors, writers, and producers, with whom he's worked, such as Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Johnny Carson, Orson Welles, Warren Beatty, and other colorful characters.

Grodin's greatest work isn't limited to stage and screen, however. He has been an award winning talk show host and commentator on Sixty Minutes II, and he reveals insights about the political and personal side of journalism and some of the larger-than-life characters he's interviewed.

Still, it is the personal aspects of Grodin's life that are truly revealing and funny. He shares intimate anecdotes of humorous dating experiences during the carefree 70s along with stories of what it was like to be a young actor then with friends and colleagues like Robert Redford, Gene Wilder, and Dustin Hoffman.

But it is Grodin's tales of the lives he's helped save with his relentless advocacy work that make you realize what a great guy Charles Grodin really is. We are lucky that the nice guy his friends call, "Chuck" brings us along to share a little of his journey of how he got to be who he really is!

The author is donating 100 percent of his royalties from sales of this book to Mentoring USA, a New York City based nonprofit that forges powerful, transformative connections for young people through the advocacy and involvement of mentors.

Reviews

"I love this book and I'll tell you why. I've known Chuck Grodin for many years now and between you and me, I've often wondered how exactly he became whoever he is. Finally, he reveals everything and he turns out to be a regular guy. In fact, he's a great guy who quietly does good things for a lot of people and we're all better off for it. Oh yeah, he happens to be a great actor too." (Regis Philbin)

"When Chuck Grodin plays a character in a movie, no matter how funny that character might be, Chuck is relentlessly honest, detailed and probing. That's how he is in this charming, thoughtful book, which examines what may be his funniest and most interesting character: the one called Chuck Grodin." (Alan Alda)

"Millions of people know Chuck Grodin as a longtime star of stage, screen television, and radio. Now they will learn that he not only is devastatingly funny, but passionately humane and refreshingly candid as well." (Governor Mario Cuomo)

"Heartwarming, funny, brilliant. Chuck's new book is all of these, and more!" (Henry Schleiff CEO, The Hallmark Channel)

"Reading Charles Grodin's book is like sitting in the makeup trailer with him (as I was privileged to do on two films.) You laugh hysterically, you say, 'Huh? Where does he come up with this stuff?' and you shake your head in wonder at the uniqueness of his brilliant mind. And, you are moved by his commitment to giving a voice to the voiceless in our society. Then...you laugh hysterically again. That's Charles." (Mary Steenburgen)

Features

Contains all the classic Easton Press qualities:

* Premium Leather
* Silk Moire Endleaves
* Distinctive Cover Design
* Hubbed Spine, Accented in Real 22KT Gold
* Satin Ribbon Page Marker
* Gilded Page Edges
* Long-lasting, High Quality Acid-neutral Paper
* Smyth-sewn Pages for Strength and Durability
* Beautiful Illustrations

Charles Grodin

Charles Sidney Grodin (April 21, 1935 – May 18, 2021) was an American actor, comedian, author, and television talk show host. Known for his deadpan delivery and often cast as a put-upon straight man, Grodin became familiar as a supporting actor in many Hollywood comedies of the era. After a small part in Rosemary's Baby in 1968, he played the lead in Elaine May's The Heartbreak Kid (1972) where he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. He also starred in 11 Harrowhouse (1974), for which he also wrote the adaptation.

Grodin achieved fame through roles in Catch-22 (1970), The Heartbreak Kid (1972) and King Kong (1976). Other notable film roles include Heaven Can Wait (1978), The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), The Lonely Guy (1984), Midnight Run (1988), Taking Care of Business (1990), Beethoven (1992), and its sequel, Beethoven 2nd (1993).

Grodin made his acting debut in 1958 appearing in the NBC anthology series Decision. He then appeared in numerous TV serials throughout the next decade. He made frequent appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for the Paul Simon Special (1978) alongside Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, and Lily Tomlin. He portrayed Carl Shapiro in the miniseries Madoff (2016).

Grodin wrote eight books and three plays. He also hosted a talk show on CNBC and, in 2000, was a political commentator for 60 Minutes II. He returned to acting in Louis C.K.'s FX show Louie and Noah Baumbach's film While We're Young (2014).