Brett Benton

 

 

It’s been quite a week for Jimmy. Got some real sad news about a dear, dear friend (and one of my biggest fans), Brett Benton.

 

Marcia and I live busy, busy lives. So we have long been supported in bringing up James Jr by our live-in nanny Brett Benton. (Yes he’s a man but come on guys, it’s 2011! Ain’t you ever seen Who’s The Boss?!).

 

Brett was a high school friend of Marcia’s. But it was only after Marcia married me that they bumped into one another again, and really hit it off. About a year later – OK maybe not a year, probably a few months less, call it nine months – James Jr was born and we asked Brett to be our live-in nanny.

 

He’s always been there for Marcia, particularly when I’ve been on the road. Supporting her in raising James Jr, helping her round the house, and making sure she’s got everything she needs, day and night. And James Jr just loves him. They’ve got loads in common – including a rare genetic skin condition. What are the chances! And you know what, he and I really bonded too over the years. He always seems to know, instinctively, when things might not be going so well with me and Marcia, and is there for me, counselling me, advising me to go on the road again to give her some time and space to herself. Brett’s a star. A friend. A rock. A shining light for us Baldwins.

 

Well, not any more. He’s dead. He died last night, crushed to death under a death-dealing ten-ton truck of death, no plates, nothing. Funny thing is, he’d just left a message asking me to call him. Said he had something he had to tell me, something I deserved to know. God knows what it was – Marcia certainly has no idea. She hadn’t seen him for days (she’s been busy on a Heavy Goods Vehicle training course for her new movie, Truckin’).

 

I guess this is what they mean by the mystery of death. Anyway, Brett, if you’re reading this blog (via www.heaven.com, I’m sure!), please know that we’re all thinking of ya.

 

Peace out.

Walk of Shame

OK, so I know I missed my cue (a bit of actor jargon there – can’t help myself!), but I only just spotted this story. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Matt Damon and nada for Ben Affleck? Hey Hollywood, you need to check yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I love Matt’s work. In fact, Titan AE is one of my favourite films (Hell, anything Don Bluth touches turns to gold!).  And can I just say now this has nothing to do with him rejecting my script for Project Greenlight, although Ape Cop would have made an awesome family blockbuster.  This is about an old bugbear of mine, which is this old business called show getting in between friendships. Believe me, I’ve been there. As a Young Artist Award winner, it damn near ripped apart my relationship with Joey Lawrence when he was nominated year after year with no success. Finally he won for his wonderful TV movie Scared Straight, but by that time, it was almost too late to rebuild those bridges. We sure did though, and how! But that’s a story for another time.

When you let Matt Damon put his surprisingly petite hands in the cement outside Grauman’s, you are at the same time kicking Ben in the balls.  When you lay that star in the walk of fame, it’s like you’re saying Paycheck isn’t worth two hours of your time. Just want to let you know I’m rootin’ for you Benny, and you get a Jimmy B gold star any day of the week!

Letting it all hang out

 

Well guys, we start previews next week and, let me tell ya, it’s a weird feeling. We’ve had such an intimate rehearsal period, shutting out the real world, entering into our make-believe one, becoming like family with the cast and crew, baring our souls to each other – and more! Sharon and I have an explicit yet tasteful sex scene (or, as I always call them, love scene, check the pic above for some masters at work! Sizzle!) at the end of Act One. That’s a whole different post, but let’s just say little Jimmy sometimes don’t like taking direction from big Jimmy… Sorry ’bout that Sharon – and please remember, it’s a compliment!

 

Anyway, we’re almost there. Dress (that’s actor speak for ‘dress rehearsal’) is on Tuesday and then first preview is on Wednesday. Woking Playhouse, watch out for Jimmy! Or maybe that should be Jimmy, watch out for Woking Playhouse! Because after weeks of rehearsals, of self-analysis, introspection, time spent getting into each other’s characters – and into each other (the cast is DYNAMITE) – we’re suddenly on display to strangers. It’s like that first time you get naked with a partner. I remember with Marcia it was a fraught experience. I was SO into her, she was a little bit out of it (it was the press night of Relationshits and we’d all had some ‘assistance’ to enjoy ourselves – ‘nudge, wink, say no more’, as those crazy Pythons like to say!) – and having her check out my body felt like the final test I had to pass before being allowed into the hallowed chambers of some sexy sorority house. Thankfully, I got in – at least that’s the way I remember it – Marcia claims she can’t remember a thing! So much for romance!

 

I’m getting kinda the same nervous feeling now, waiting to see what the people of London think of my performance (and no, I’m not just talking about the love scene!). So go easy on us, guys. Not because the show isn’t great (it’s AWESOME), but because we’re out there, naked, exposed, letting you penetrate our characters with your eyes and your minds. So come on in – you’re very welcome – but please be gentle.