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Biography & Autobiography. Performing Arts. Nonfiction. HTML: The remarkable life, career, and faith journey of the star of The Love Boat and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. For 16 years, millions of Americans welcomed Gavin MacLeod into their living rooms every Saturday night. This veteran of stage and screen transformed himself from a seasoned character actor into the leading, lovable father-figure of The Love Boat at the height of TV's boom years. For more than 30 years, Gavin MacLeod has served as the global ambassador for Princess Cruises. Speaking to thousands of travelers each year, and signing hundreds of autographs at every port, he stands poised to celebrate his amazing journey with a look back at the golden era of American television. The consummate storyteller, Gavin shares his fondest memories of meeting and working with countless stars, such as Cary Grant, Steve McQueen, Gregory Peck, Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, Ethel Merman, Ella Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, Milton Berle, and Fred Astaire. From his humble theatrical beginnings in upstate New York, to Radio City Music Hall and on to Hollywood, Gavin MacLeod was on the fast track to success. However, a few hard life lessons�??like dealing with a divorce�??taught Gavin that the key to happiness was only through a deep faith in God, and he feels his work for Christ is more important than any award. Three years later his remarriage proved that a great struggle can culminate in a happy ending… (more)
User reviews
This Is Your Captain Speaking is the autobiography through which TV and film star Gavin MacLeod (along with writer Mark Dagostino) seeks to accomplish his Preface wish.
The story of Allan George See (later Gavin MacLeod) begins on February 28, 1931 in Pleasantville, New York. MacLeod tells his story in first person, chronologically. We go with him to hopeful script readings early in his career, meet his fellow cast members on the show that first put his name in lights as Murray in the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," meet the whose-who of the 60s, 70s and 80s through his role as captain in "The Love Boat" TV series while also cheering his personal triumphs and cringing at his mistakes. Three sets of photographs give us visuals of his colorful life.
MacLeod's writing style is warm and chatty, his memories sharp and detailed. He is very positive throughout (if you're reading this to find dirt on showbiz celebrities, you won't find much). As someone who is familiar only with MacLeod's work on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," I was interested to discover he had had multiple successes and a long and brilliant career. The book is full of names and pictures of actors and others celebrities. I'm afraid most of the name-dropping was lost on me, though, Hollywood illiterate that I am. However, despite the many sections that were about encounters with stars of whom I had no knowledge and little interest, I enjoyed the sense of positivity and gratitude that pervaded the book.
I was especially intrigued that MacLeod viewed his role of Jonathan Sperry in the movie "The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry" as the crowning achievement of his life. Sperry is a character through whom MacLeod was able to talk about and explain his late-found Christian faith. Of that role he says: "Only after I had gained that notoriety, only after I had gained a certain amount of respect, only after I had traveled the world and met people of all stripes, from all walks of life, only after I had taken this long fantastic voyage of a life did God put me in the role of Jonathan Sperry--because he knew that now, after all of that, people would listen to what the Captain had to say" p. 251.
I received This Is Your Captain Speaking as a gift from the publisher for the purpose of writing a review.
I have not seen all of his work, but I have watched both TV shows as well as the Christian films The Time Changer and The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry and enjoyed them all. The two movies are ones that I rated highly. Both have good stories as well as good messages. In a way, I am sad that Mr. MacLeod chose to retire from acting after Sperry, though as he says, God is his Captain and if God has another role in mind for Mr. MacLeod, I'm sure he will let him know to take it.