The Life and Times of A 95%er

This may sound strange coming from someone who has just written a memoir, but I have been asked to write a few words about myself, and I have no idea of what to say and suggest you read my book!In professional theater, unless you are a star, you don't usually get consistent work. In order to pay the rent, food on the table, etc., I have held a multitude of different jobs. I owned and ran a trucking company for thirty years, bartended, drove taxis and limousines, and more, as did my wife, in just as wide a variety.In New York, I had an extraordinary piece of luck. I got an apartment in Manhattan still under rent control for $37 a month. Yes, that's what I said, $37 a month. This allowed us to keep the place while we were on tour, saving us the hassle of finding a new place when returning from a six– or nine–month theater job.Both my wife, Jan, and I loved cooking fancy dinners and often made dinners for friends from the theater, school, and jobs. Afterward, we played poker and a Louisiana game called bourree (pronounced booray). These games were always penny, nickel, and dime because most of us were usually hovering just above broke. Jan had a huge tell. She had never played poker before and had a hard time remembering the ranking order of hands, so I had written a list––straight flush, four of a kind, etc. She didn't understand or approve of bluffing, so when she picked up the list, everyone knew she had a great hand and immediately folded!I knew James Earl Jones lived only a few blocks from me but didn't know where. I have a good bass–baritone voice, but I think he will go down in history as one of the best ever. I hoped to see him out sometime but never did. If I ever become famous, I hope to be left alone by autograph seekers in restaurants and would never push myself on anyone else. Present company excepted.I have been lucky to get advice from many people with two in particular. In my first professional appearance, I was a thief, stripping an apartment behind Judd Hirsh on the phone. Determined not to be accused of upstaging the star, I was really mousing around. After the show, he came to me and said, "Hey, kid, what's the matter wit' chew? You're only out there for a couple of minutes. Make the most of it! Give me somthin' to work wit!" I shall always remember that generosity. Another was Pat Corley, who, over the course of the rehearsals, gave me much sage advice.When I'm gone, I have asked to be cremated. I have loved fishing all my life and think it only fair to return the favor.

-- Harry Edwin Seymour