It was a comment by childhood friend Linda Vandendool that sparked an old memory and a nearly forgotten incident with my mom and Dustin Hoffman. I had shared on Facebook about my English teacher Mrs. Rackleff and my salvation from Dyslexia. My childhood friend Linda responded in the comments with. “Overcoming obstacles and pursuing your dream is very far frombeing lazy. I’m sure Tootsie was your cheerleader and encouraged you.” Linda is referring to my mom, who for any Cinephile of movies would love to know this bit of trivia for the movie Tootsie.  Tootsie is a 1982 American satirical romantic comedy film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Dustin Hoffman. The film tells the story of an out of work actor who supplements his income working as a server in a restaurant. After many months without landing an acting job, the actor Michael, portrayed by Dustin Hoffman hears of an opening on the popular daytime soap opera Southwest General. In desperation Michael disguise himself as a woman, gives his name as “Dorothy Michaels” at the audition. Michael ends up getting the hospital administrator part as Emily Kimberly. So, in 1981 I was a cameraman on the daytime soap opera General Hospital. Yes, that General Hospital of Luke and Laura fame. Mom and dad had come to Los Angeles for a visit, and I had asked Gloria Monty the Executive Producer if my parents could visit the set. Absolutely was Gloria’s response. When mom and dad arrived, they were treated like royalty. The stagehands had setup their own director chairs as actors and crew attending to them like loyal servants. Unbeknown to me was Dustin Hoffman downstairs watching the rehearsals on a closed-circuit monitor. Dustin and screen writers Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal were researching and gathering material for their movie Tootsie. Dustin and Gloria had worked together in theatre in New York at the beginning of Dustin’s career. On the set were roll around monitors and the camera crew took turns pointing their cameras at mom and dad. Which was a big thrill for mom and dad to see themselves on TV. When a break in the rehearsals was called the backstage door flew open and entered Dustin Hoffman. Dustin and the writers made a beeline to Mary and Paul in their director chairs. At first Dustin thought they were background actors. With mom’s hand pressed to her chest in disbelief, “Oh heavens no, that’s my son over there behind the camera.” Dad stayed silent with his customary pipe hanging on his lower lip not knowing who Dustin was. Of course, mom knew. With moms thick Oklahoma accent she and Dustin chatted for some time. If you watch the movie Tootsie all the hand jesters, mannerism, diction, and inflection that’s my mom on the screen. Now and forever Mary’s likeness is dispersed by electromagnetic spectrum into the heavens where mom and dad now reside.

Tootsie Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/c94awfb-0wc?si=opnhBPSCvsOKyNd-T