CT's own Brian Dennehy RIP | Page 2 | The Boneyard

CT's own Brian Dennehy RIP

I met Brian Dennehy at his home in Woodstock about 20 years ago. I was a couple of years out of college and had a meeting with him. I was unaware who I was meeting with because his name wasn't used in scheduling the appointment. I quickly recognized him and as he gave me that special grin he had, I was immediately intimidated. He was a big guy and he was chopping wood when I arrived. He seemed like a real man's man type. Turned out he was a nice dude, very down to earth and normal.
 
I know the kids today won't remember Totie Fields but she was a huge (literally and figuratively) female comedian back in the 60's. Kinda like Lisa Lampanelli before she lost weight, except funnier. Bigger than Joan Rivers, headlined in Vegas and died way too young.

I remember seeing her on Merv Griffin once and Merv asked her "So you're from West Hartford Connecticut?"
That raised her hackles! She said, "NO! I'm from Hartford! West Hartford is where the rich Jews live!"
 
Waquoit said:
I know the kids today won't remember Totie Fields but she was a huge (literally and figuratively) female comedian back in the 60's. Kinda like Lisa Lampanelli before she lost weight, except funnier. Bigger than Joan Rivers, headlined in Vegas and died way too young.

I remember seeing her on Merv Griffin once and Merv asked her "So you're from West Hartford Connecticut?"
That raised her hackles! She said, "NO! I'm from Hartford! West Hartford is where the rich Jews live!"
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I remember her as my mother was a big fan. We used to watch Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas as kids.
 
Waquoit said:
I know the kids today won't remember Totie Fields but she was a huge (literally and figuratively) female comedian back in the 60's. Kinda like Lisa Lampanelli before she lost weight, except funnier. Bigger than Joan Rivers, headlined in Vegas and died way too young.

I remember seeing her on Merv Griffin once and Merv asked her "So you're from West Hartford Connecticut?"
That raised her hackles! She said, "NO! I'm from Hartford! West Hartford is where the rich Jews live!"
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Yes, on the north side of West Hartford, I grew up among families where many of the adults had grown up in the north end of Hartford. Two houses away, my friend's dad had been Totie's Weaver High boyfriend, and would occasionally get mentioned in her act.
 
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Hans Sprungfeld said:
Yes, on the north side of West Hartford, I grew up among families where many of the adults had grown up in the north end of Hartford. Two houses away, my friend's dad had been Totie's Weaver High boyfriend, and would occasionally get mentioned in her act.
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Is he in this bit?
 
Moose1979 said:
Willie Pep and Lindy Remigino, Both from Hartford I think.
Johnny Egan was definitely from Hartford. Went to Weaver.
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Lindy was not born in CT but coached at Hartford Public. My father used to talk about Egan all the time as my father graduated from Weaver. Bob Nash was from Hartford Public as well and played basketball for Hawaii.
 
Moose1979 said:
Willie Pep and Lindy Remigino, Both from Hartford I think.
Johnny Egan was definitely from Hartford. Went to Weaver.
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Egan’s family lived a few blocks up my street. Two other grads from my school a few decades ahead of me were Norman Lear and comedian/actor Louie Nye. From a very old era of show business and a true giant of the time, singer Sophie Tucker a/k/a the Last of the Red Hot Mamas (more for singing style than looks).
 
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Waquoit said:
Is he in this bit?
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My hs senior prom date’s mother was a good friend of Totie. I never met her. But the first time I ever saw her and heard of her was on the Ed Sullivan show when she cracked me up by doing her routine about my hs and waving around a Weaver pennant.
 
HCCForever said:
Lindy was not born in CT but coached at Hartford Public. My father used to talk about Egan all the time as my father graduated from Weaver. Bob Nash was from Hartford Public as well and played basketball for Hawaii.
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A bunch of Hartford athletes including Ricky Mahon and Marcus Camby. Probably others I’m forgetting. Not from Hartford but a UConn guy not that famous anymore was Walt Dropo, the Moosup Moose and AL Rookie of the Year.
 
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cohenzone said:
Leaving out some sports greats. Calvin Murphy, Steve Young, Superjohn Williamson, Kaitlin(sp?) Bruce Jenner. Craig Janney, Dorothy Hammill.

Of course not a CT native, but why not claim Mark Twain? Harriet Beecher Stowe.
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Who is Bruce Jenner?
 
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cohenzone said:
Leaving out some sports greats. Calvin Murphy, Steve Young, Superjohn Williamson, Kaitlin(sp?) Bruce Jenner. Craig Janney, Dorothy Hammill.

Of course not a CT native, but why not claim Mark Twain? Harriet Beecher Stowe.
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Bruce/Kaitlin went to my high school (Newtown). For many years the football stadium was even named after him. He never had any interest in returning though and being recognized. Seems like when he had a dick, he was one too.
 
tentoes4rings said:
Bruce/Kaitlin went to my high school (Newtown). For many years the football stadium was even named after him. He never had any interest in returning though and being recognized. Seems like when he had a dick, he was one too.
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you think he is a c-word now?
 
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James Van Der Beek. From Cheshire and went to Cheshire Academy (my son's alma mater). NY Ranger Brian Leetch was a Cheshire guy, as well.

Sorry if this was mentioned; I didn't read through the whole thread.
 
don't forget morgan bulkeley. he did everything, including a stint as the first president of the National League. Morgan Bulkeley - Wikipedia
and since she is the greatest actress ever, katey, might as well have the greatest actor ever, mentioned. ol' pauly newman, he of 'oscars' deli' in westport fame. take that! the greatest actor and actress ever! must be sumthin in the water.. and don't even think for a second that sam clemens was anything but a true blue nutmegger. to fully understand his role as numero uno personality on the planet, back in the day, is a worthwhile journey. for the unaware, a gentle backroads trip thruout the lower ct river valley and shoreline, will bring you by the homes of many on the world stage today. sometimes, they're at the local store. and then there were the times when frank sinatra, sammy davis, dean martin, and such would party it up at the terramar….regularly. I hear mr dennehy would swing the clubs every so often at the Harrisville golf course. friendly guy they say. rip.
 
Deepster said:
Art Carney (Ed Norton from The Honeymooners) used to live in Westbrook. Met him walking his dogs on the beach when I was a kid.
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Norton: "Hey Ralph, I just saw a yellow-bellied sapsucker!!!"

Ralph: "Norton, how the heck do you know it was a yellow-bellied sapsucker?"

Norton: "Well, it had a yellow belly and it was sucking sap!!"
 
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